Stuart: One of the powers I have as ToolGuyd owner, editor, and multiple hat wearer, is the ability to send an awesome contributor on a $200 tool shopping spree, no strings attached. (I enjoy doing this for readers too, as with the recent April Tools Day event.) I saw it as a perk, a potential learning experience, and I was curious to see what Ben would go for, as everyone spends money differently when it’s “free money.” I’ll let him tell the story:
When Stuart asked me to go on a $200 tool shopping spree, my first reaction was: “Mmmm, okay?” It took a few emails back and forth for me to finally understand that he just wanted to see how I would spend it. After a few weeks to think about what I wanted, and a few shopping trips later, I finished spending all his money. Here’s a summary of what I purchased and why.
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Parts for My PanaVise
Being an electrical engineer, I’m pretty spoiled for equipment. While most people get by with a Weller soldering station, I complain if I don’t have a Metcal in front of me. I’ve been slowly building up my electronics equipment at home, and one of my must-have tools is a PanaVise.
A few years ago, I purchased the bare minimum setup I needed: a standard base, and a circuit board holder. I figured this would be a good time to pick up the tray base and the standard vise head.
The tray base makes the vise less tippy and provides six separate trays for temporary parts storage. It also comes with anti-skid pads so it won’t slide around when you are trying to work. There’s also an accessory set for this base which includes sponges, a soldering iron holder, and a solder spool holder, but I never really found those accessories useful.
Cost of tray base: $21.
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PanaVise also makes a standard vise head for the base I own. The vise has nylon jaws that are less likely to damage a circuit board, and insulate electronics from the metal vise so you can power them up for testing. It’s also really handy for other hobby uses, as the base allows you to position the vise in any position between horizontal and vertical.
Cost of standard vise head: $24.
Buy Now (PanaVise Store on Amazon)
Gerber Shard Keychain Tool
I have a minimalist key ring. It consists of four keys on an aluminum binder post. I made duplicate keys for our Jeep and Silverado and cut them down to the size of the other keys. Recently, we sold our Jeep and bought a Honda CRV. If you’ve ever seen a Honda key you’ll know I’m not cutting that monstrosity down, I refuse to even carry it with me. This meant I needed a fourth key on my ring to make the spacing right for the binder post. That’s where I hope the Gerber Shard fits in.
Stuart wrote about the Shard a few years ago. Just to review, it has a Phillips screwdriver, small flat screwdriver, medium flat screwdriver driver, bottle opener, lanyard ring, prybar, and wire stripper. It’s a little longer than my keys and the lanyard hole is a little larger than I would like, but it really was the closest option I could find.
Cost of Gerber Shard: $6.
Buy Now (Gerber Shard via Amazon)
Klein 2-in-1 Rapi-Driv Screwdriver
In the summer of my sophomore year in college, I worked for a master electrician who was a friend of my dad. My dad thought it would be great experience for an electrical engineer, and he was right, at least about it being a great experience.
One of the tools I fell in love with was the Rapi-Driv type screwdriver. When you are trying to screw a dozen wall plates into place, making sure to get all the slots vertical, and not cracking the plate by over tightening it — there isn’t a better tool.
For some reason, when I went to Home Depot to grab one, they didn’t have the standard 3/16″ blade version in stock. All they had was the new 2-in-1 interchangeable tip version. Not wanting to run all over town to find one, I just grabbed the 2-in-1 and justified it by thinking that it’d be nice to have both Phillips and slotted tips.
When I played with the Rapi-Driv at home, I noticed that the shaft seemed a little thicker and the slotted bit a little sloppier, but a smile still came to my face though when I tried it out, so I think I’ll keep it.
Cost of Klein 2-in-1 Rapi-Driv $13.
Buy Now (via Home Depot)
Cresent 8″ Diagonal Nose Pivot Pro Pliers
Last time I had to cut some piano wire, none of my beat up pairs of cutting pliers could do the job. I ended up beating on an end-nipper with a hammer until the wire dented enough so that I could snap it. At that point, I decided I should probably buy a decent pair of cutters – that was several years ago. When this shopping spree opportunity came, I resolved to finally buy a pair.
I wanted a set of diagonal cutters that didn’t hurt my hands when I tried to cut nails and wire. This meant I was looking for high leverage pliers with padded grips. Cruising the aisles of Home Depot, I spotted the Crescent 8″ Diagonal Nose Pivot Pro pliers that Stuart posted about last year.
Crescent hasn’t let me down before, and while the second pivot point seemed a little gimmicky, these looked like they were built well. I wasn’t disappointed either, when I got home I was cutting nails and piano wire like they were made of copper.
Cost of Crescent Pivot Pro Pliers: $18.
Buy Now (via Home Depot)
Compare (via Amazon)
Various T-Tack Clamps and Jigs
I’ve been using pocket holes more and more in my shop, but I just don’t have the setup to easily clamp everything down when I drill the holes and assemble the joints. A while ago I built the above auxiliary clamping table for quick clamps, but I found that the quick clamps get in the way too much to be really useful.
When I saw Rockler’s new auto-locking T-track clamps, I was really impressed. So much so that last time I visited Rockler, I decided that I was going to build another clamping table, this time modeled after Rockler’s T-track table. T-track accessories like the Rockler’s auto-locking hold downs will replace quick clamps.
Cost of two T-track auto-locking hold downs: $50.
Another use of a T-track table is to align and hold frames in place while gluing them. That’s where clamps like these other Rockler Auto-lock T-track clamps come in handy. They’ll apply force horizontally against the frame to keep the glue joints tight.
Cost of two T-Track Clamps: $50.
One really neat idea I saw on display at Rockler was to use their Clamp-It as a corner clamp on a T-track table. You can secure it to the table with T-bolts and use it as a solid right angle to clamp against. So I picked up one of those too.
Cost of one Clamp-It: $13.
Buy Now (Auto-Lock T-Track Hold Down Clamp via Rockler)
Buy Now (Auto-Lock T-Track Clamp via Rockler)
Buy Now (Clamp-It via Rockler)
After all was said and done I spent $195 before tax and with tax I went a little over.
What Would You Have Bought?
Alright, now that I’ve shown you what I bought, let’s hear about how you would spend $100 or even $200. Pretend that you had a gift card or prepaid credit card to spend on tools anyway you saw fit. There are no constraints, other than it being tool related. Would you buy materials for a cool project, get the latest new drill/driver combo, or buy a bunch of hand tools from your Amazon wish list. Let us know in the comments.
Kurt
I would get a Work Sharp 3000. It’s perfect for this kind of windfall in that I would like it, could use it, but don’t absolutely need it.
jeff_williams
I’m with you. I could use a better sharpening solution but don’t absolutely need it.
Benjamen
I actually looked at a floor model Worksharp being sold at a pretty good discount, but I really didn’t see how it would save me any time over sandpaper on glass and sharpening media would be more expensive. I could be wrong.
Now a Tormek with all the right attachments…
jeff_williams
Worksharp 3000 or a slow speed grinder. My lathe tools, plane irons, and chisels need a better solution than what I have now.
Jim Felt
I forgot about the Panavise base. Good find!
As for the Klein swivel driver you’ve clearly shown the shortfall of the Home Depit experience. The multi tip model is a dorky DIY model.
Always get the dedicated version. More streamlined and can’t lose a tip. Ever.
Great article gents!
Drew
+1
I actually didn’t know you could buy just the base. I may have to put one of these on my list.
Personally, I never really liked the pcb gripper but then again, I’m usually doing rework under a stereoscope.
adam
I have been using a lot of spade bits lately, and have hand sharpened a few, but would really like a machine to take care of the work. So I’ve kept my eye out for the Drill Doctor SB (model DDSB). I found myself drilling bigger holes than needed because the size bit I wanted was too dull. It would be nice to keep everything in top working order
Ryan
I’d love to see a picture of how you attach the Clamp-it to the table. Just drill holes for the 5/16″ bolts and add some star knobs over big washers?
Benjamen
There are holes in the Clamp-It at the end of each leg:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bU77u8kiXjk/VR7HL8KuVAI/AAAAAAAAHSc/gOzf1NlGXvY/w1129-h847-no/IMG_20150403_115759.jpg
So you just use some T-bolts and knobs through those holes:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wNTQH3RIPF0/VR7HL8vbeSI/AAAAAAAAHSc/r4xZs-lEbgA/w1129-h847-no/IMG_20150403_115724.jpg
Something like this:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-R7NGxKwScz0/VR7HLzG_F-I/AAAAAAAAHSc/iQ2SBUc6srk/w1129-h847-no/IMG_20150403_115652.jpg
I used my router table since I haven’t finished my T-track table yet. On a proper t-track table you can put one leg on a horizontal track and one leg on a vertical track so it’s square to the table.
When I played with the demo at Rockler, it was kinda a pain to slide on and off the track and position it. So in reality you probably want just enough thread on the t-bolt so you can pop the knobs off and lift the Clamp-it off the table, position the t-bolts then put the Clamp-it back on the table.
ktash
Thanks for this info. I have these and have only used them by clamping them to the workpiece for square. Don’t use them much. I do have the rockler clamping table, so will definitely use this method.
ktash
Like you, I’d buy the Rockler hold-down clamps, since I already have the inline version. I’d also buy more of the Rockler stops, probably a couple of long stops. Not sure what else I’d buy, still thinking it over.
ktash
Oh, and some of those diagonal cutters and pliers of the same type. I’d get the Klein stuff, only the pro versions. Also a decent pair of wire strippers, probably the Klein ones. I’m about to do some rewiring. Also I’d get the Knipex pliers wrench, large size.
Stuart does influence these purchases. I have much better tools than I would have without this site.
Benjamen
Not sure what type of strippers you are looking for but I like my Klein-Kurve 20-30 AWG strippers
http://www.kleintools.com/catalog/klein-kurve/klein-kurve-wire-strippercutter-solid-and-stranded-wire-0
ktash
Thanks, Benjamen. I’m getting them, but the ones for residential wiring.
BikerDad
$200?
hmmmm…..
A Lie-Nielsen Rabbet Block Plane. And a diamond wheel dresser.
garrett
For $200, and just coming off of a Stuart-provoked tool-buying frenzy…I think I’d buy a 1/4 inch SK socket set and some of those new-fangled compound-action diagonal cutters, either Irwin or NWS (I’m not partial).
Love the site, keep up the good work…new format rocks!
Dave
I’d buy a Milwaukee m-12 FUEL Rotary hammer drill
But it's me!
Lee Valley is where I would spend it. Deciding what to purchase is the problem. Nice Jointer plane, maybe?
Nathan
for what little electronic work I have done – great point about the panavise bits.
I’d have probably bought a whole set since I don’t have one.
I’m shocked you have no good wire cutters – (sarcasm doesn’t really translate does it). I would have liked to see more choices in there and more detail. there are many I’d love to buy with 200 free dollars – but again I also think you can get buy with 2 different ones.
Love my klien rapidrivers.
Dang_itt
I need to do a lot of caulking around my house What I have my eye on is a battery powered caulking gun. The one I’m most interested in is the one at Home Depot for $249 dollars. A little pricey but right now it is my dream tool. Here it ishttp://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-18-Volt-Ni-Cad-Caulk-Gun-DC545K/202248814
Jon
Get the Ryobi if you’re not going to use it professionally and long-term. Then use the rest of the cash to buy something that you will get more use out of. You’re not going to re-caulk your home again and again. Don’t get me wrong, that’s a GREAT tool. The DeWalt and the Milwaukee are excellent and priceless for professional work, but way too much tool for homeowner needs.
Joel
I’m still on my infancy when it comes to tooling.. so if I have extra $200, I would probably spend it on getting a decent router.
MattP
Curious, what did the winners of the giftaway get? How about the mystery prize from before?
Rick
Consummables! Screws, washers, nuts, bolts, sandpaper, utility knife blades, painter’s tape, kerosene, BLO, etc. All the stuff you say you’re going to bite the bullet and buy… but when you get to the store there’s that new shiny tool and suddenly you’re a moth being drawn to the porchlight. So when you buy that new shiny tool you grudgingly add one little item at a time.
But you never really get enough or get the ones you need RIGHT NOW.
Benjamen
Yeah, that’s a really good idea! I always underestimate both the time and expense of a project because I have to run to the store to grab a box of screws or 100 grit sandpaper, etc.
Jon
I buy hardware and other consumables at a local industrial liquidation place. Store returns, damaged freight, etc. HUGE discounts. All the screws, nails, bolts, staples, nuts, etc. I could ever need for FIFTY CENTS PER POUND. Actually the last time I went that entire department was on a 70% off sale. I got as much as I could carry out without a cart (because their parking lot sucks) for like $3.
Quarts of BLO, Denat, Mineral Spirits, Turpentine, etc. for $2-3 each. Five gallon buckets of Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams paint (including the expensive industrial enamels and such) for like $5-15. Specialty tapes, like double-sided masking tape for template routing, for $1 per roll. Casters of all grades for $1 per inch in diameter. All mild steel stock is 50 cents per pound. Aluminum is like $1 per pound. Stainless is similar. That’s cheaper than sorting through the scrap yard!
And they have tools! $50 circular saw blades for $15. Entire tool combo sets in damaged boxes for 50% of retail. It’s amazing.
Everyone should try to find a store like NPS in their city. They aren’t everywhere, but they do exist.
joe homeowner
One harbor freight cement mixer please, of course I’d use their 20 percent off coupon and buy some 80# bags of concrete so I can do my outdoor projects without busting out my back. Thank you very much……