[JohnR]

How about some manly man tool talk. Post your new tool here.



I love my new cordless impact driver, even though I've not used it yet. It's got three torque settings and doubles as an impact wrench too. And a light. Whoa.





PS Home renos circle still needs a facilitator. Like manly tool talk? Just drop me a line and you can sticky this thread.

[rajacat]

I love my impact driver . They are especially handy if you need to drive hundreds of screws like when building a deck. I find that using a regular drill to drive screws exerts a twisting motion on the arm which can cause tendonitis.

[Bob in St. Louis]

Here's a couple "new" (to me) tools.
They're both about 65 years old. After some tune-ups, new lube, new blades and some cleaning, they're the two smoothest operating tools I've ever owned.
Ahhhh.... cast iron.... The perfect material to make tools with. 

[JohnR]

Whooooah! Those are real tools. So that first one is a 65-year old De Walt radial arm saw?

The blade's going the opposite way? I'm sure there's a good reason. NM I just figured it out 

[Bob in St. Louis]

Yes. I haven't called DeWalt, but they still give out the production dates of vintage tools if you call them with the date code stamped on the tag.
I shot a bunch of photos before I replaced the wood "deck" and blade, but just shot this quick for the thread. If you're interested, I've got more.

I never "really" wanted a scroll saw, but it was given to me for free and about 90% operational. It took $25 and a few hours of TLC to get it working.
Since, I spent another $35 on new pulleys to smooth it out and eliminate vibrations. Not sure how often I'll use that one, but the ultra fine cuts it can make are amazing.
I also replaced the brittle wiring and switches with more modern electrical components.

Bob

[JohnR]

It's very darn cool mate. Both of them. I'm just shaking my head going "wow."

[Bob in St. Louis]

Yes, me too. The level is build quality is amazing. They're just ....SOLID.
I've pretty well given up new (large) equipment. Just too cheap.

[JohnR]

That's so awesome. I went through a couple of vintage phases. Amps at one point, then later on cameras. I never thought of tools - and I'm not about to start now. But they're, interestingly enough, not obsolete! (You know what I mean?)  You even have the DeWalt hooked up to your vacuum system.

[Bob in St. Louis]

Yes, it's on the dust collection system. My workshop is two steps from my HT room (white carpet), so I have to be vigilant about keeping things clean.
That white carpet isn't forgiving at all. 

To be honest John, if you keep your eyes on the used market, you can find pretty good deals on old equipment.
I paid $350 for the DeWalt "RAS" (Radial Arm Saw). The guys on the wood working forum think I overpaid and that better deals would come along, but this unit wasn't used much, so I jumped on it. In comparison, a new Craftsman (junk) saw is more than twice that price, and made of plastic and pot metal. You won't get me to believe that unit will still be working in 65 years, and won't be worn out and unable to track a straight line.

So vintage tools, unlike vintage audio, is actually affordable. 

Here's a 4" jointer I got for free. It works, but just barely.
I haven't had the time to mess with it yet, but I think I can revive it without spending any money.
I think it just needs to be taken apart, cleaned, and lubed.

[ACHiPo]

Here's a couple "new" (to me) tools.
They're both about 65 years old. After some tune-ups, new lube, new blades and some cleaning, they're the two smoothest operating tools I've ever owned.
Ahhhh.... cast iron.... The perfect material to make tools with. 

Me likey!!!

[Bob in St. Louis]

Thank you!

Another tool that's new for me this year is a JET drum sander. It's a pretty amazing machine in it's own right.
It's not vintage, but still pretty "stout".
I don't have any photos, and can't take one right now, as it's upside down getting casters installed.
If all goes well, I'll shoot a few pics this afternoon (assuming the surgery goes well).

Bob

[mcgsxr]

Interesting heavy gear!

For Xmas I received a Ryobi sliding mitre saw.

Looking to do some simple projects around the house and have long been afraid of my hand held radial saw.\

A decent homeowners piece.

[aldcoll]

Is that a tin can being used as a lamp shade??? 

[Bob in St. Louis]

That's a good looking unit Mark!
When my 10" chop saw died, I thought about buying a model (roughly) like you've got, but ended up going with the old RAS instead.

Too many tools....so little space.... 

aldcoll...."YES" that is a soup can used as a light fixture. 
I was going to modernize that, but my 16 year old son that it was "epic" and I should leave it alone.

[Bob in St. Louis]

Here's a couple shots of the tin can lighting. 
(before I cleaned it all up)

[mcgsxr]

That's an awesome light, I am with the kid!

I once used a shaving can lid (plastic) as the housing for a tail light in one of my rougher GSXR bikes.  It was being put back on the street after some track time, so the rear tail section had no provision for lights.

Cheap n cheerful indeed.

[Bob in St. Louis]

Indeed!
In fact, the guy that built it, needed a washer for the top nut (around the cord) and all he had to use was the striker plate for a door knob.
So yea...there's that being used as a washer right now. 

Just got finished mounting casters on the drum sander.
Here's some more tool porn,
The JET 16-32 Drum Sander

[rif]

Add to the list of old can be better than new - vintage hand planes.  I never had the money or true justification for buying them.  Another hobby that will drain your wallet quickly.

[Scott F.]

Relatively new, we picked this up last spring.



This thing is a whole lotta awesome

...headed out to dinner. I'll post some more pics of what she's been used for when we get back.

[Scott F.]

Oh BISL, that jet sander is awesome I also am diggin the old DeWalts. I know I LOVE my 50 year old Craftsmen table saw. Like you said, smooth as butter and it beats the crap out of my new(er) Ryobi...which is collecting dust in the corner of the shop.