Thread: Soundman's annual gear or gadget chalenge

The last WWW purchase was a Delta variable speed scrollsaw - a wee ripper!

This year I managed a 12speed bench model drill press - hopefully even more useful.

Worst purchase was probably a Taiwanese half blind dovetail jig.

They work o.k. (sort of) but a complete PITA to set up.

Best purchase, probably thr TSC-10HB (like Alex )

Worst buy, cheap clamps.
Why do I keep buying cheap clamps? They only get thrown across the shed when they slip. Cheap clamps are never cheap enough!

Best buy, has to be the pedistal drill. It has been used as a small mill, lathe, sander and has even drilled a hole or two.

I've suffered from cheap clamp syndrome, but I've been replacing my smaller clamps with the jorgensen style clamps from carbatec & I'm very happy with them. They are reasonably cheap and seem quite well made. I just need more.

Worst buy has to be my Bessey K body clamps. Total waste of money them things. So overated its not funny.

My best buy had to be my Jet air filter - love, use it all the time and it's still going strong after 3 years.

Lots of small stuff. Always some interesting things and usually some good bargains.

Never really bought a dud at a show. In fact I can't think of anything I don't use regularly. My duds have all come from Bunnies

The best buys for me last year were the large extension table for the triton, dust extraction and the triton multistands, with the 12V Ryobi impact driver being the runaway success - very happy with that tool.
Cheers
Michael

Err, BTW this year I picked up the 14.4V Fein cordless hammer drill for around $300 off retail. Hope that one is as good as I've heard. Also picked up a Japanese hand saw and marking knife.
The only slight disappointment were the back issues of Australian Woodsmith. I've recently read through my b-inlaws collection of Time-Life Woodsmith custom woodworking books and I have to say that the rehashed and butchered jig, storage and shop projects are a poor, poor transfer from the parent publications.

Cheers
Michael

Originally Posted by mic-d

The only slight disappointment were the back issues of Australian Woodsmith. Cheers
Michael

Different expectations, I guess. I think Australian Woodsmith is the most useful of the woodworking publications in Australia. It is, of course, almost entirely a metrication of the original American articles.
I have made several of the smaller projects and a number of the jigs, if not exactly, then using their plan as a guide. and a batch of Queensland maple here is ready to make two of the medium sized projects.

Kind regards
Brian