By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more
Forum sponsored by:
Forum sponsored by Forum House Ad Zone

What's your best tool purchase ?

All Topics | Latest Posts

Search for:  in Thread Title in  
Gas_mantle.11/05/2015 19:16:01
avatar
359 forum posts
269 photos

I'm just starting out in this hobby and slowly building up a set of tools, just wondered what's your best purchase ?

What's your worst ?

Bezzer11/05/2015 20:04:09
203 forum posts
16 photos

Best is the next thing you buy, worst!!!, there's no such thing☺

Douglas Johnston11/05/2015 20:17:48
avatar
814 forum posts
36 photos

Try not to buy cheap when it comes to important items like measuring instruments. It often makes economic sense to buy quality tools as they will last a lifetime and the enjoyment in using them will make you feel good. A poor tool will cause endless heartache and will probably be replaced at some point in the future.

Doug

Clive Hartland11/05/2015 20:27:39
avatar
2929 forum posts
41 photos

Without doubt a good quality Lathe and Milling machine. Buy quality if you can and then learn how it works and how to use it.

Accessories as you need them. Drills and taps and good files.

Clive

martin perman11/05/2015 21:05:02
avatar
2095 forum posts
75 photos

Peter,

My best purchase is the small machine I bought very recently, I dont actually do model engineering but I do restore old stationary engines for which I make my own fuel tanks, its a roller/guillotine/box bender which means I can get rid of my modified mangle and angle iron.

Martin P

Alex Collins11/05/2015 21:06:51
avatar
147 forum posts
38 photos

Like most people, I buy tools as and when I need them.
If it's a real 1 off and I can borrow a tool then so be it. If I need it a 2nd time I will usually buy it.

As for the Best tool, Anything that I have paid Good money for good quality. They work and last well.
Dormer Drills, Taps and Dies come high up on the list.
If you are working in Brass / Bronze get a Slow Spiral Drill set. Drilling is an absolute breeze. No Snatching or Grabbing.
Map Gas torch for Silver Soldering. (see the 16mm IDRIS Thread) has made Silver Soldering so easy
My Myford Lathe so nice to use compared to the Chinese machine I bought and started with.

The worst Tool ?
Probably the cheap milling vice. I gave it away after I used it once.
The trick with tools is to buy the best you can afford. The cheapest often fails to last or perform well.

Neil Wyatt11/05/2015 21:15:52
avatar
19226 forum posts
749 photos
86 articles

Worst? Cheap drills, nothing worse than snapping a big drill in something.

Best? My mini-lathe. Without it I would/could never have gotten into this hobby.

Neil

Cabinet Enforcer11/05/2015 21:33:36
121 forum posts
4 photos
Best, without a shadow of a doubt, 6x4 band saw. Even though it was 2nd hand junk that needed fettling.

Second best, 6" mitutoyo digital calipers, 10x the price of an aldi set and worth every penny. Though a couple of aldi calipers for mucky work are great too.
Thor 🇳🇴12/05/2015 05:24:19
avatar
1766 forum posts
46 photos

My best buy would be the Emco Compact 8 I bought decades ago, it is still delivering good work. Worst buy, as Neill says, cheap drills.

Thor

john carruthers12/05/2015 07:05:42
avatar
617 forum posts
180 photos

best tool was a 2nd cut Sheffield steel file, a joy to use.

worst were some 'cheap' drill bits.

Oompa Lumpa12/05/2015 08:15:14
888 forum posts
36 photos

Best tool I own, my glasses. Second best is cash. Can accomplish most everything with these two tools.

graham.

Jesse Hancock 112/05/2015 08:22:00
314 forum posts

Worst tools : Indian spanners. Absolute rubbish and dangerous with it, I might as well have made paper gliders out of the money.

Best but not including ridiculously priced snapon are German SACO spanners they have never lost against loctite, self locking nuts, garage air-guns, or rusted/corroded nuts and are still in excellent condition.

I also have a set of mini screw drivers made by CW of Germany they are good but they weren't cheap either.

I think over the years I have grown a preference for German hand tools. Items which have everyday use anyway but not necessarily model engineering.

mick7012/05/2015 08:43:46
524 forum posts
38 photos

worst cheap drills.

best is hopefully going to be my 1939 southbend 9" lathe when it arrives and i have got it sorted.

brought some of bits back other week just waiting for trailer to pick it up.

Involute Curve12/05/2015 09:23:22
avatar
337 forum posts
107 photos

Best is a Hurco Miller for 60 quid, and this was tha cost of moving it, and a Facom socket set, expensive but worth it, worst is cheap hacksaw blades........

martyn nutland12/05/2015 09:29:03
141 forum posts
10 photos

Not my best buy, Peter, but if you want a bit of exotica in your early days you might try a tailstock scroll chuck from Chronos. It's hard to find on their website by describing it, so use the reference number 154032.

I'd been looking for one of these for a tong time, in preference to the rotating Jacob's variety. A firm in America called Bison make them and I'm sure they're a splendid engineering job, but they cost mega-bucks. The Chronos job is cheap and cheerful (about 70 quid) and, I think, as the Americans would say, it's quite 'neat'!

Enjoy your machining and good luck.

Martyn

Nick_G12/05/2015 09:40:48
avatar
1808 forum posts
744 photos
Posted by martyn nutland on 12/05/2015 09:29:03:

. A firm in America called Bison make them

Martyn

.

I thought Bison was a Polish company. - Or is there more than one.?

Nick

Nobby12/05/2015 09:47:38
avatar
587 forum posts
113 photos

A Myford Super 7 rusting away in a coal bunker for a fiver needed some work
Nobbyusing fixed steady

GarryC12/05/2015 09:59:17
avatar
740 forum posts
1043 photos

Hi Peter

Best would be the Warco Lathe that I have now also on a par with it the Chester Mill. Worst has to be a drill bit sharpening jiggy thing that I haven't even been able to try and also a tiny 3" rotary table that I could never get anything to fit onto - I have a 6" now which is great. Cheap drills I'm not so sure about now as a lot depends as to how and when they are used and what they are asked to do, they can be handy to buy and have in bulk especially if the budget is tight and you get asked or need to do some less critical jobs - but you absolutely can't be without quality drills to hand to be able to make the choice me thinks.

Have fun with the new lathe.

Garry

Ady112/05/2015 10:41:29
avatar
6137 forum posts
893 photos

In the past I found that Halfords did some really good gear (tools for life purchases) at very reasonable prices

Don't know what they are like nowadays

Ady112/05/2015 10:49:07
avatar
6137 forum posts
893 photos

Not my best buy, Peter, but if you want a bit of exotica in your early days you might try a tailstock scroll chuck from Chronos. It's hard to find on their website by describing it, so use the reference number 154032.

It's a "unimat style" 3 jaw chuck, the old unimat SL used them and they can be beautifully made

Their downside is they don't grip as tightly as a jacobs keyed chuck and you bash your fingers a lot getting them unscrewed

There is a keyed version, item number 281343093107 on a well known auction site, 120 quid though

Edited By Ady1 on 12/05/2015 10:57:20

All Topics | Latest Posts

Please login to post a reply.

Magazine Locator

Want the latest issue of Model Engineer or Model Engineers' Workshop? Use our magazine locator links to find your nearest stockist!

Find Model Engineer & Model Engineers' Workshop

Sign up to our Newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter and get a free digital issue.

You can unsubscribe at anytime. View our privacy policy at www.mortons.co.uk/privacy

Latest Forum Posts
Support Our Partners
cowells
Sarik
MERIDIENNE EXHIBITIONS LTD
Subscription Offer

Latest "For Sale" Ads
Latest "Wanted" Ads
Get In Touch!

Do you want to contact the Model Engineer and Model Engineers' Workshop team?

You can contact us by phone, mail or email about the magazines including becoming a contributor, submitting reader's letters or making queries about articles. You can also get in touch about this website, advertising or other general issues.

Click THIS LINK for full contact details.

For subscription issues please see THIS LINK.

Digital Back Issues

Social Media online

'Like' us on Facebook
Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter
 Twitter Logo

Pin us on Pinterest

 

Donate

donate