JimB1 Posted February 9, 2011 Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 I was doing some cleaning and found some things I purchased that ended up just having limited (or no) use and was shuffling them around to be able to get at things I use all the time more easily and it got me thinking. What was I thinking when I got some of this stuff and what things have I bought that were just unbelievably useful. I think my top two accessories that I use all the time are my Featherbow and painting pyramids. The bottom ones are probably extra empty glue containers that have been sitting around for a few years or possibly one of those wobble type dado blades that I don't think I ever used but bought on clearance for $4. What are your favorite or smartest buys in accessories? or if you like, what were your worst purchases? -Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keggers Posted February 9, 2011 Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 My all time favorite shop accessory has got to be the GRR-Ripper. I use it all the time and like it so well I've just bought a second one. It's a great safety feature while using the table saw. My worst accessory - if you can call it an accessory - is my panel saw. I bought a Milwaukee panel saw from Grizzly three years ago and have used it maybe 5 times. I now lean wood against it. It needs a new home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTR Posted February 9, 2011 Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 I love my painter's pyramids! I got them for sitting through a very bad seminar at a woodworking show a few years ago. I remember my dad saying that they were crap and he just used a piece of wood with a nail or golf tee through them. When I was in his shop at Christmas - I saw a stack of them on his finishing table! I use my Veritas/Lee Valley large saddle square all the time - It has it's one pocket in the apron. Useful for shop stuff as well as laying out framing. I also like the small 4" double square. As long as i'm on measuring stuff - I also really like my Wixey caliper that reads fractional and decimal. Kreg Klamp - have 3 plates mortised into my bench so I can move them around and use them where needed Small shop stuff I hate - GluBot (it needs a one-way air valve to let air back into the bottle.) Chip Brushes from HF - they look like such a good deal but loose bristles and ruin whatever I am doing. I try to use them for disposable shellac/sealcoat application. Bad Dog bits - got suckered into these at the woodworking show 5+ years ago. They don't drill - they grind a hole in the material. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtrust Posted February 9, 2011 Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 I have two. One is a small pancake air compressor. Don't know how I managed to go years without compressed air in the shop. What was I thinking. The other is a sanding block called the 'Preppin Weapon" from rockler. The BEST sanding block ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeGauss Posted February 9, 2011 Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 I have several things like that On the good list: 6" Starrett Combination Square that I have used on every project since I have bought it.An 18" Woodpecker Speed Square - It's huge but great for squaring the fence on my MFT and Festool Rails or laying things out.A Lee Valley Apron Plane - This little guy is so very handy and I reach of it all of the time. On the bad list:Festool Angle Unit - It is worthless the angles are incorrect and it is difficult to use.Swanson Sliding Bevel Gauge - No matter how much you tighten it the angle wont hold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 9, 2011 Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 My stool, so I can sit down. Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulMarcel Posted February 9, 2011 Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 It kills productivity, but the computer monitor is wall-mounted over the bench with Apple keyboard and trackpad (wireless!). Nice setup. Sometimes too nice. The "bad": while it works very well once you set it up (read: relearn it), I never use the Leigh D4R. Once I redo my kitchen, I'll sell it... and I might talk myself into 28 hand-cut drawers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChetlovesMer Posted February 10, 2011 Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 I have a few things I really love having in my shop. - Does the heater count as an accessory. I love mine. - I also have an 18" Woodpecker Speed Square. - I have this Rockler jig for concealed hinges. I'm not sure how I got by without it. - I have a push block that another woodworking friend made for me as a joke after I cut off a small chunk of my right middle finger in a jointer incident. Anyway it has a beautiful black walnut handle, a consumable soft maple stock, and a consumable hardboard catch. I use it for about everything. It is really nice, especially considering I think he made if for me so he could poke fun at me. The only thing I can think of that I don't like is I have an old set of 1/4" router bits. I never use them because I've got 1/2" shank bits to replace just about all of them. But for some reason I keep them around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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