What do you want for Christmas?

[Robert]

Yes a bit early I know but it happens every year and I don't have an answer!

I do favours for friends and family during the year like making a cupboard or fixing a door - you know the kind of thing. They pay for materials but I don't want payment for labour. I wouldn't do it for reward as I'm done with having a job but people like to buy you something and they get a bit insistent at this time of year

So have you seen any woodwork tools or gadgets worth having in the £20 - £50 price range? I'm sure the budget could increase for some but its not about how much.

Guess you can never have too many clamps but better ideas welcome

 

[RogerS]

This is my Go-To all the time. I have four of them. (Why so many ? I'll be posting the answer to that in another thread soon.)

 

[StevieB]

Could they each buy a chisel of a certain size to get you a full set from multiple people?

 

[Malc2098]

This is my Go-To all the time. I have four of them. (Why so many ? I'll be posting the answer to that in another thread soon.)

Router square jig with four of them?

 

[Malc2098]

I asked for a bottle of glue from SS No 2.

 

[Robert]

Could they each buy a chisel of a certain size to get you a full set from multiple people?

That was done 10 plus years ago when i first started woodworking. Still have never used some of them. discovered I'm not too keen on hand tools unless it can't be done with a power tool.

 

[Coley]

The Katsu router would be one tool I wouldnt be without now.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

 

[9fingers]

I have a similar problem but in spades as between now and christmas I have a wedding aniversary and a birthday as well. Even more difficult are presents for SWMBO who (curiously!) has a wedding anniversary and birthday in the same period too.

Last year my eureka! gift idea for me was a gluebot. It is really one of the best low cost tools in the workshop.

I'll be watching this thread with interest. Like Robert, I'm not into hand tools but genuinely useful gadgets to make tasks easier or more accurate are of interest.

I do virtually no marking out but instead use fences and stops to obtain identical matching parts so not favouring Rogers suggestion and in any case this can be fulfilled with a combination square and I have several.

Bob

 

[Mike G]

Clamps. An extra battery for a drill/ driver. Bandsaw blades. A tilt-gauge thingy.

Top of the list for me would be router plane blades but I appreciate this isn't likely to appeal to you.

 

[Robert]

A tilt-gauge thingy.

That could be one for the list Ta.

Need more though

Intrigued as to what you do with 4 layout squares.

I'm also thinking one of those roofing rafter squares. Not for roofing but something tough and square that you can use and abuse and do it no harm. Reviews say the cheap ones are rubbish so you are around £20 for a decent metric one.

 

[Robert]

The Katsu router would be one tool I wouldnt be without now.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

Been there got 2

 

[9fingers]

A tilt-gauge thingy.

That could be one for the list Ta.

Need more though

Intrigued as to what you do with 4 layout squares.

I'm also thinking one of those roofing rafter squares. Not for roofing but something tough and square that you can use and abuse and do it no harm. Reviews say the cheap ones are rubbish so you are around £20 for a decent metric one.

Yes a roofing square is very useful for a lot of jobs as well as roofing. Mine happens to be my most accurate square apart from an engineers reference one that I keep for very special jobs.
I think I was just lucky but they should be fine adjustable with some well aimed centre punch marks.

These are quite handy too
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aluminum-Roofi ... 5181&psc=1

Bob

 

[AndyP]

Why restrict yourself to tools? How about non perishable consumables? Quality stuff that you can dip into during the year.

 

[9fingers]

Why restrict yourself to tools? How about non perishable consumables? Quality stuff that you can dip into during the year.

I do quite few small jobs for people and only ask that my materials costs are covered but when people insist, I often classify the jobs in terms of a number of bottles (of full bodied red wine).
Most jobs are singles with the occasional two bottle jobs.
Best result was when I had a long sequence of emails with a chap in Germany getting a complex interlock system working on a woodworking machine. I did not even think of any reward as it was an interesting job but in a couple of weeks a mixed case of 12 reds turned up out of the blue!

Bob

 

[Woodbloke]

Gadgets? Wearing my Victor Meldrew hat I can quite cheerfully saw that I hate gadgets for woodwork as it's just another opportunity for most companies to 'persuade' you that this is the new 'must have' tool, gizmo or whatever when in actual fact, you don't really need any of them, but the most useful jig or gadget is my shooting board which is absolutely indispensable...you can't buy one, but it takes around half an hour to make from odds n'sods loafing about the workshop.
That said, when I was at the International Woodworking Festival on Sat I think a handy little gizmo that would be wonderful in Bob9F's Christmas stocking is one of these little jobbies from Olly Sparks table. For a for a trifling £60 it's got to be worth a case or three of Mouton Rothschild :lol: - Rob

 

[9fingers]

That scriber is not really my sort of thing Rob. Just would not get used.

All my metalwork is done without any marking out using a digital readout on the milling machine so no application there and in the woodshop, stops and fences.

No use for a shooting board either I'm afraid. Last time I used one would have been at school in 1964/5

Bob

 

[RogerS]

.....
I do virtually no marking out but instead use fences and stops to obtain identical matching parts so not favouring Rogers suggestion and in any case this can be fulfilled with a combination square and I have several.

Bob

Ah, but you're missing a trick, young Bob. All will come clear as soon as I get my finger out and post up.

 

[RogerS]

The Katsu router would be one tool I wouldnt be without now.

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Been there got 2

How strange. Mine is still in its box. I hate it. Must sell it. Would you like a third, Robert ?

 

[RogerS]

These are very handy. I've got three sets on different length bars.



Regarding the roofing square....why not make yourself a Square of Thales (or three) ?

 

[9fingers]

How about some spiral solid carbide router bits for pattern work in the router table.

Bob

 

[Woodbloke]

Yes a roofing square is very useful for a lot of jobs as well as roofing. Mine happens to be my most accurate square....
Bob

I've got a battered, rusty old steel Stanley thingie which is nowhere near square and was liberated from a former life. I could be wrong (and frequently am :eusa-whistle: ) but I understood that they were the most inaccurate squares you could possibly buy? - Rob

 

[9fingers]

+1 for bar gauge heads. I've often wondered about making some of those.

Bob

 

[9fingers]

Yes a roofing square is very useful for a lot of jobs as well as roofing. Mine happens to be my most accurate square....
Bob

I've got a battered, rusty old steel Stanley thingie which is nowhere near square and was liberated from a former life. I could be wrong (and frequently am :eusa-whistle: ) but I understood that they were the most inaccurate squares you could possibly buy? - Rob

Indeed they can be. I was lucky but they can be tweaked. I use mine a lot for sheet work and larger jobs.


Bob

 

[Mike G]

........I've got a battered, rusty old steel Stanley thingie which is nowhere near square and was liberated from a former life. I could be wrong (and frequently am :eusa-whistle: ) but I understood that they were the most inaccurate squares you could possibly buy? - Rob

Whilst they can be, they are also the easiest to adjust, and the most robust. My old thing has kicked around building sites for 20 years and been dropped countless times. It's still absolutely bang-on (I checked it carefully last week, as it happens). As with any square, the more expensive ones only guarantee that you have to look through fewer to find one that is right. In any batch of roofing squares there will be a few which are spot on or close enough to adjust to spot on.......and a few which are only fit for roofing.

 

[Jonathan]

How about a set of these
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 1867168353

I've had a set of 8/10mm head size for 25 odd years and they get used alot.



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[Robert]

These are very handy. I've got three sets on different length bars.



Regarding the roofing square....why not make yourself a Square of Thales (or three) ?

Those bar gauges - I do the same with the old planer blades and a mole wrench Guess yours is a bit safer but I'll continue to live dangerously.

As to the square it is the other possibilities with the rafter square being strong that interest me - like maybe clamping it into a corner to hold something square and not worrying if I drop it etc. The protractor and line drawing might get used sometime too.

I don't need 3 katsu routers. I have homemade dovetail jigs and with 2 routers I can set everything up at the same time. plus I have found the little routers genuinely useful elsewhere. Only negative is the depth stop doesn't stay put as the over centre clamp is not strong enough. I solved that with an exhaust clamp that I put on first when I want a lot of repeated accurate depth cuts.

Thanks for all the replies... but keep going

 

[9fingers]

Lip and spur drill bits can be of very dubious quality but I've found the ones sold by Wealden singly are superb.
Well ground and with wider lands than many, they cut very well.
And you can buy just the ones you need.

Bob

 

[RogerS]

This Mirka hand sanding block with built-in dust extraction is brilliant

 

[9fingers]

+1 on the sanding block.

Bob

 

[Malc2098]

+1 on the sanding block.

Bob

:text-+1:

Bought mine plus the hose cheap at Yandles show a couple of years ago.

 

[RogerS]

Bet he's got one

 

[Woodbloke]

Lip and spur drill bits can be of very dubious quality but I've found the ones sold by Wealden singly are superb.
Well ground and with wider lands than many, they cut very well.
And you can buy just the ones you need.

Bob

I'm mightily surprised you don't convert ordinaires jobbers HSS drill bits into lip n'spurs Bob...all you need is a decent square edged high speed grinding wheel but when the drills get sub 4mm it's a trifling tricksickle (I've had a couple of beers or three bscene-drinkingbuddies - Rob

 

[Robert]

The Mirka goes on the list

Guess I can add some Abranet too.

I'm decorating at the moment and have been sanding some filler with a dustpan held underneath in the other hand. It was a right PITA and I still got dust everywhere.

Mind you that extraction hose just looks like a bit of flexible conduit so I'll think about that.

 

[Doug]

Dunno if you use the 150 circular Mirka sanding pads but Mirka now make “the roundy” designed to take those pads
https://tools-paint.com/mirka-roundy-st ... 5083-p.asp
I’ve the one Rog has but wish the Roundy had be en available when I bought mine as it would save buying two lots of abrasive.

 

[RogerS]

The Mirka goes on the list

Guess I can add some Abranet too.

I'm decorating at the moment and have been sanding some filler with a dustpan held underneath in the other hand. It was a right PITA and I still got dust everywhere.

Mind you that extraction hose just looks like a bit of flexible conduit so I'll think about that.

It's essential, Robert, otherwise the Mirka just clogs up. Plus one end fits the Mirka (no faffing around with adaptors) and the other end is a good fit directly into my Nilfisk.

 

[RogerS]

Dunno if you use the 150 circular Mirka sanding pads but Mirka now make “the roundy” designed to take those pads
https://tools-paint.com/mirka-roundy-st ... 5083-p.asp
I’ve the one Rog has but wish the Roundy had be en available when I bought mine as it would save buying two lots of abrasive.

But you waste a lot of the abrasive disc surely ?

 

[Robert]

I was thinking I already have 20 and 25mm flexible conduit not doing without. As you say though the adaptor for the vac prob makes it worth getting.

I used to do similar to that disc adaptor with sticky discs and a block of wood. You don't waste the bit up the sides as you just peel the disc off and put it back turned 90 deg.

Do those abranet discs work with a normal 6 hole 150mm ROS or is it a special base? Just thinking dust getting in all over the mesh disc will mess up the velcro on a 6 hole base.

 

[RogerS]

.....

I used to do similar to that disc adaptor with sticky discs and a block of wood. You don't waste the bit up the sides as you just peel the disc off and put it back turned 90 deg.

Ah I see it now. Clever

.....
Do those abranet discs work with a normal 6 hole 150mm ROS or is it a special base? Just thinking dust getting in all over the mesh disc will mess up the velcro on a 6 hole base.

My CEROS simply has holes in the pad through which the dust gets sucked. Never had any issue with the velcro.

 

[chataigner]

A current detect relay to start and stop my bench vac automatically when using a sander etc - it has one integrated but after some years of service it has started playing up. It starts when switching on a tool, but it doesnt ever stop again, I have to unplug it to reset. Annoying cos it's a great vac.

I notice one or two votes for a tilt gauge - I have one by Wixey and use it all the time for setting TS blade angles. It's accurate enough for mitres on things like picture frames. Wouldn't be without it !

 

[9fingers]

A current detect relay to start and stop my bench vac automatically when using a sander etc - it has one integrated but after some years of service it has started playing up. It starts when switching on a tool, but it doesnt ever stop again, I have to unplug it to reset. Annoying cos it's a great vac.

This looks like the kernal of what you need https://www.amazon.com/Current-Sensing- ... B07N1P6TWL
In its own right it will only switch 1/2 amp at 240v but adding a relay rated for the starting current of the vac should make a good replacement.

Does not seem to be on Amazon UK so I'll try and find an European source.

Bob

EDIT: here it is https://www.amazon.co.uk/Current-SZC23- ... B07X26ZLYQ

EDiT2: Or at an even better price https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000323 ... b201603_52

I'm going to order one to play with.


Edit 3. It has now arrived (23-11-19) and I've done a write up here
viewtopic.php?f=22&t=4284