Toys for Christmas

Which workshop 'toy' costing under £50 would you like for Christmas?

Jim (who is seeking ideas for himself! to pass on to the family!)

If there were a good drill sharpener... Madam has decided to spend as much on a new coat I don't need as would buy a Tormek that I do!

A box of 10 turning or milling tips would be very acceptable, also perhaps a gift voucher, I believe EKP supplies and Chronos do them.

Milling cutters, now I've retired I can't get them from work any more! had to resort to buying them, tried the ARC premium ones and now I'm a convert. Just got to get over the "I can't buy you that for Christmas" that occurs whenever I ask for a lump of cast iron or little bits of shiny metal scenario. Why do the family think I want a silly jumper or a car wash kit!

My top tip - justify workshop expenses by occasionally making or mending things that your family like or find useful, maybe they will then see the little bits of shiny metal as more suitable for presents.

Buried in the words on seller's site. "because many chucks in China have false standards"

Its is a similar problem for me every xmas and birthday "what do you want?" the family all ask,

"metal please - I have a list here" is my reply

"We can't just buy you metal!" is their response.

Sometime we come to a compromise and I convince them that I need a kit from Hemingways Tools for example.

I would rather that they convert their money into something useful for me to use in the workshop than waste it on unwanted rubbish - I would sooner they not bother.......Bah Humbug !!!

Regards to all

Derek

.....or drop hints that with an "XYZ" widget, I could spend more time in the workshop, whereas without one I would spend more time in the house instead. Might receive a positive response !!

£50 is quite a low limit for workshop tools.

Maybe some workshop fluids, cutting, rust prevention, cleaning spray, marking etc.

Perhaps a reference book of some sort?

Some nice scribers?

Swarf brushes?

There is a really good product called Eye-Muffs, which are ear defenders, with built-in eye protector 'glasses'. I have got a pair of these and they are really good; you can put it on and take it off very easily and quickly, and you don't have to put the arms of your eye protectors under the ear cups, which is uncomfortable and compromises the hearing protection. Eye-Muffs are made by an Australian company.

I think socks, jumpers etc are what people buy when they don't know what else to get you, so it's always worth dropping hints, and even having a Christmas present list. I keep a list of books, CDs, DVDs etc, that I would like to get. If asked, I can show the list to someone who wants to buy me something.

Something by Starrett. Might be more of a last minute Cyber Monday deal but this looks handy for lass than £25

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Starrett-10MH-150-Square-Student-Combination/dp/B003XU78JA

the 'I need this tool with impossible/unrevealed requirements' threads were a good source of inspiration for me.

A few imperial & metric empty drill index' to sort my drills into some kind of order. My family knows my strict rule. If it is not on my Amazon wish list I dont want it. Its great because you can add things to the list that Amazon do not stock as well. Every year we all swap lists and usually get the items we want.  I say if people want to club together to get larger items it is Ok by me.

regards

Edited By Oldiron on 28/11/2022 11:48:39   spelling again fat fingers.

Edited By Oldiron on 28/11/2022 11:49:26

+1 for Starrett, even some of their cheapest products are beautifully finished and most come in really nice little red boxes so that family like to give them as presents. I'm about to try and persuade my wife that she wants to buy me a no.18AA centre punch

Brian G

Just bought one of the Starrett squares from Amazon, as a pre Christmas insurance against a new jumper, well thats my excuse anyway.

Thanks for posting the link.

I would get the negative response - You spend too much time in there as it is!!

150mm rule, M&W or Starrett or Brown and sharpe always useful stocking filler.

Having got a R&S spectrum analyser for my birthday and new mill for our annivesary I'm not pushing my luck for Christmas

I was thinking extra QCTP toolholders, but then discovered I have a couple more than I thought I had, so may try for a Hemingway kit - the tailstock die-holder.

Although a nice rule with engraved graduations would also be useful - do they still make them?

Rob

Take it from me that does not work I am now at the end of redecorating the bathroom.

The up side is Her in doors has ordered some very nice presents for the workshop so there is a bright side having to decorate

Well I have treated myself to a twice priced over the usual food shops ones,you know who I mean,auto darkening welding helmet. I am extreamly pleased with it, had a cheapy years ago but never trusted it used to close my eyes instead of looking at the target area, went back to my flash in the dark from 50 years ago, just me lol. Really please with the helmet and service from R-Tech, can I say that?

Pete.

My Starret small combination square from Amazon as linked to above in Jack's post arrived this morning, nicely finished with very easy to read graduations, Christmas present to self! I thought I would point out to any intended purchasers that the rule that comes with it is graduated solely in metric, not met/imp as shown on Amazon, doesn't worry me as I work in strange combinations of both, but might dissappoint true imperialists.

Reflecting on the Starrett tools i've bought over the years, it dawned on me that the Starrett micrometer that came with the basic toolkit given out when I started my apprenticeship in 1973 ( mic cost £16.50 paid back to the firm at 50p a week!, all our parents had to sign as guarantors) will be fifty years old next September, what happened there then?.

Edited By Dave Wootton on 30/11/2022 13:13:48