"Why didn't I get one before?"

[maroon]

Hmmmn...

Probably sheet shears. Can't believe I spent so long cutting with tin snips. You also get an added bonus of filler rod

Piston flat sander. Nuts to d/a's, then having to hand block

The most frequent tool I use is a bit of bar/pipe be it for leverage, pushing plate, or using it like a snooker cue slide hammer. And a vice.

 

[James1979]

Torque multiplier

That’s soon I hope.

 

[Turbo]

I have also acquired a lot of the aforementioned tools & also found them very useful. One of those bike lifts is now on my wish list!

One thing I acquired was a good anvil after many years of looking for one at a sensible price that wasn't knackered! I picked one up a while ago & it sat in a shed unused until I got a space organised for it in the workshop. Got it set up a few weeks ago & I find I'm using it nearly every day for something!

 

[Keithmac]

ProBike are a great company, we have their lifts in our workshop and they supplied our Texa Diagnostics kit.

Not cheap but all great quality.

 

[Fiji]

We've all done it I'm sure, putting off buying a tool/machine/bit of kit because it's expensive and you've done fine up to now. Then you give in, buy one, then spend a while thinking and saying to people "I should have got one years ago."

Well this is my most recent example, a shiny new 500kg electric/hydraulic bike lift which also has side extensions for mowers, quads etc. The difference it makes to my neck and back working at whatever height I need at the press of a button is amazing.

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View attachment 366972

I have a cheap Chinese one at the moment, had it a few years. Got it as part payment for a job. It works ok but don't really trust it with big bikes although I've had an XS650 on it. It's also a bit short. I'm going to need another when I get set up on my own so may have a splurge and just keep the old one for the smaller bikes.

 

[Cato]

I have a cheap Chinese one at the moment, had it a few years. Got it as part payment for a job. It works ok but don't really trust it with big bikes although I've had an XS650 on it. It's also a bit short. I'm going to need another when I get set up on my own so may have a splurge and just keep the old one for the smaller bikes.

Given the new prices and supply lead time issues you'd get a decent price for it if you put it on eBay.

I ordered and paid for mine at the end of July and it arrived late September.

 

[8ob]

I get that why didnt I do this before moment every time I use my home made engine stand/hoist gadget. I dont have to chase an engine around the floor when torquing up and I dont have an engine stand and lifter to be constantly tripping over. Be lost without them

And the similar little gadget to work on the chainsaws.

 

[Cato]

That chainsaw mount is a great idea. I'm definitely nicking that.

 

[Richiew]

Possibly still in the honeymoon period, but I have got myself a wood chipper/garden shredder. Wish I'd bought it years ago. Getting too old to spend hours chopping branches with secateurs and loppers, especially as the weather turns. It's nice in early September, but cold October soon comes round. Clearing a space for a new shed at the back of the garden, and there's a lot to remove. I have plenty of bushes and fruit trees that need pruning regularly, so I won't be getting rid of this anytime soon. It is pretty small and the chutes are only held on with a few bolts so can be made smaller for storage. I can get a lot more crap in the bin and recycling when it is chopped up like this.

 

[Screwdriver]

Something I should have done YEARS ago:

Plane the front of the bench flat/square and drill some holes for those holddowns.

 

[brightspark]

Up to a year ago i always put screws in with a bit holder in a small cordless and thought "why do they need those noisy impact drivers"...one day i picked my mates driver up to drive a 100mm screw in some timber post The following day i went out and bought 2 impact drivers,one for home and one for the van.

i got one given mainly the only time i use it is for removing old rusty woodscrews on outside lights.using a drill driver they just round the heads off good for driving long screws through wood without pilot drilling ass well

 

[Richiew]

Impact drivers are worth their weight in gold when it's cold and wet in February, and you're asked to make a quick repair on a fence that has fallen down in the gales. Just zip 6" screws into anything that's left which isn't rotten. Home in time for tea and medals. Sort it out properly when it's warmer.

 

[AVI_8]

Lathe
Table saw
M12 cordless ratchet.
Torque multiplier

I have many tools I pick with utter glee knowing they have saved me countless hours of **Language**ery

Can you recommend a torque multiplier I’ve been thinking about getting one, the ones I’ve seen seem to be for tightening wheel nuts on trucks.

On the subject of impact drivers I’ve had one for a few years and until reading this post had no idea they could be used on screws I would have presumed they’d strip the screw heads, I’ve only used it with sockets. Very handy to know

 

[mtt.tr]

Can you recommend a torque multiplier I’ve been thinking about getting one, the ones I’ve seen seem to be for tightening wheel nuts on trucks.

Branded second hand have a 1/2 to 3/4 snapon and a 3/4 to 1" britool

I think my total outlay is about £200

 

[MetalMonkey]

On the subject of impact drivers I’ve had one for a few years and until reading this post had no idea they could be used on screws I would have presumed they’d strip the screw heads, I’ve only used it with sockets. Very handy to know

Impact drivers are for screws (hex chuck), Impact wrenches are for bolts (square drive).
There is a lot of crossover between the two, you can use either for both applications with an appropriate adapter, and sometimes they are very similar spec machines, but they can also be quite different. Often impact wrenches are beefier and more aggressive for obvious reasons.

If you are stripping screws with an impact driver it is either a bit rubbish or you have yet to get the feel of it.
On a decent machine, once you get your trigger finger calibrated to it, it should be possible to set screws with a lot of precision and a very light touch or alternatively whack in six inch spax as and when required.
I use mine for everything and often delicate tasks such as screwing things to soft plastics, putting up plastic backboxes, setting drywall screws etc. I know some guys that even use them to do up terminals on MCBs, although personally I think that's a step too far.

 

[DanZac]

Can you give us a few details on the chipper there please @Richiew (supplier link would be good if available).
I've been thinking about one for a while and that looks ideal if the price is right.

 

[AVI_8]

Impact drivers are for screws (hex chuck), Impact wrenches are for bolts (square drive).
There is a lot of crossover between the two, you can use either for both applications with an appropriate adapter, and sometimes they are very similar spec machines, but they can also be quite different. Often impact wrenches are beefier and more aggressive for obvious reasons.

If you are stripping screws with an impact driver it is either a bit rubbish or you have yet to get the feel of it.
On a decent machine, once you get your trigger finger calibrated to it, it should be possible to set screws with a lot of precision and a very light touch or alternatively whack in six inch spax as and when required.
I use mine for everything and often delicate tasks such as screwing things to soft plastics, putting up plastic backboxes, setting drywall screws etc. I know some guys that even use them to do up terminals on MCBs, although personally I think that's a step too far.

Thanks for clearing that up, I’ve got an air impact gun but have been using the impact driver more as it’s just handier but obviously less capable.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

once you get your trigger finger calibrated to it, it should be possible to set screws with a lot of precision and a very light touch or alternatively whack in six inch spax as and when required.
I use mine for everything and often delicate tasks such as screwing things to soft plastics, putting up plastic backboxes, setting drywall screws etc

Likewise. Slight pressure and it doesn't rattle either

 

[Screwdriver]

I have a little Bosch 12v impact driver and it will drive the biggest longest screws I use into wood with just enough pressure to keep it engaged in the head. It is very controllable and surprisingly powerful.

Doing the same job with a regular drill driver (in my case also a little Bosch 12v unit) and you have to push really hard to keep the screw engaged and resisting the torque is much more difficult as it tries to wrench the tool from your hands.

They are night and day different for driving screws or even light drilling duties into masonry.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

I have a little Bosch 12v impact driver and it will drive the biggest longest screws I use into wood with just enough pressure to keep it engaged in the head. It is very controllable and surprisingly powerful.

Doing the same job with a regular drill driver (in my case also a little Bosch 12v unit) and you have to push really hard to keep the screw engaged and resisting the torque is much more difficult as it tries to wrench the tool from your hands.

They are night and day different for driving screws or even light drilling duties into masonry.

Little two speed driver with a 2 stage trigger by any chance?