What is your neatest tool

Nicad

Nicad

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Several years ago I took a welding course and learnt some of the rudimentary basics. Still have no mastery of Tig but have dabbled with success in stick and Mig. (No success with sheet metal unfortunately))
At the time I decided I also wanted to get a Plasma cutter, so researched them on the welding forum. A fantastic deal came up on the brand I was most interested in (Hypertherm).
It was a brand new Powermax 600 located at a Montreal liquidator for about $600 USD (They were retailing for $1900 or so before they were replaced by the smaller Hypertherm 45.

My Brother who lives there picked it up for me and it sat in the corner of the shop for some time since the area of my space is currently too full to safely set up a dedicated welding area.(And I was a little afraid of it!!) Anyway, I built a cart for it last week and am quite pleased with the way it turned out.
The air and moisture filter at the top of the cart is the 1 critical thing a plasma cutter needs to operate reliably. Fitting it in the spool of an extension cord holder I added to the top for the 25 foot lead was a real bonus.



So how does it work? Just amazing. I have some nice tools for cutting metal. A horizontal band saw made in Minnesota and an old vertical Delta metal/wood bandsaw,
But this thing slices through metal like butter. I'd estimate it went through the 1/8 steel in this shot in ten seconds. Probably two feet of torch travel.


It will do 1/2 Plate at a much slower pace. Anyway, it seems like a miracle and should really help when you want a piece of plate for whatever projects you can think of.
Made and invented in the USA….interesting corporate structure too
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertherm

What tool(s) in your collection are you most impressed with?
 
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Maybe not the neatest but obviously everyone's favorite, am I right?
 

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I have a few that are a bit odd, but I use regularly.

I put together a CO2 tank to air my tires back up after going off road in my Jeep (you air your tires down to about 10-15 psi for traction). Anyway, my Jeep rarely sees dirt, but I use this CO2 tank all the time for home projects. The mobility is great for nail guns, which incidentally don't consume too much volume. I also use it to drive an impact gun at salvage yards. One must use the gun sparingly as it will eat a 10lb tank in no time.

These cost a lot if purchased out right. I bought my tank from a beverage supplier, along with a 150 psi fixed regulator. I have an inline regulator that I use with the nail guns. I've also subsequently replaced the crappy coiled hose.

1608163543_62c6e80a30_o.jpg



Another handy tool is my hitch mounted vice. It's good for projects at friends house, or lending it out to my buddy who has no work bench. I built it back when I was renting and hand no real work space. I use it at home if there is something that I don't want to grind in the garage. You don't want steel sparks hitting automotive paint. I have a welding blanket that goes over the back of my jeep for protection.

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My 10yo harbor freight reciprocating saw is a workhorse. I use an angle grinder for most metal cutting. This saw spends most of it's time in the yard. With a 9" pruning blade, you can take down a serious tree. You can insert the entire blade into the earth and cut a stump out of the ground. I've removed 5 trees in my yard with this tool. Fear not, I've planted more trees than I've removed. :)

recip-pruning-blade-on-sawzall.jpg
 
Love those Markos. I'd like to have a trailer hitch vise. Nothing does seem to stop a sawzall too.

Pretty screwdriver, but flat blade screws and I don't get along well.
 
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Letting my ear lobe hair grow can be costly, once I pulled them with my fingers and was stopped by two motorcycle cops in Uruguay and fined for being on the phone while driving. No amount of explaining convinced them I was pulling hairs and the shiny color they saw was my divers watch.

My best tool now are these swiss tweezers so precise I can pluck nascent hairs and avoid sleazy cops...
 
You inspired me to rent a plasma cutter next week. It costs $80 per day. It is not unreasonable that i would hit half that amount in blades and cutoff disks. I will likely save hours of cutting time.
 
I was surprised how little fumes smoke and dust were created.
You should wear some respiratory protection and the usual body and eye coverings. WHat are you cutting up?
I was hoping to cut a dump truck in half if I get the chance.
 
Nicad said:
I was surprised how little fumes smoke and dust were created.
You should wear some respiratory protection and the usual body and eye coverings. WHat are you cutting up?
I was hoping to cut a dump truck in half if I get the chance.
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Thanks for the tip. I'll bring my respirator and my auto-darkening welding helmet. I will be cutting up an old car (not mine). I'll post some pictures...
 
i find that my favorite tool varies depending on what i am trying to do. right now, this is it. okay, i'm not using it the way it was designed for (adjusting carbs), but OMG, did it make taking off the belt trim nuts behind the rear window a whole lot easier. will see how it does to put them back on.

TM65.jpg
 
I expected several of you to say, "VSR/Mario is my favorite tool."
I'd put him right up there with my best ratchet, car lift, and AC Hydraulic jack.

John
 
bfeng said:
I expected several of you to say, "VSR/Mario is my favorite tool."
I'd put him right up there with my best ratchet, car lift, and AC Hydraulic jack.

John
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He might not like being referred to as a "tool"
From Urban Dictionary:

1. tool
One who lacks the mental capacity to know he is being used. A fool. A cretin. Characterized by low intelligence and/or self-steem.
That tool dosen't even know she's just using him.

Not Mario!
 
rsporsche said:
i right now, this is it. okay, i'm not using it the way it was designed for (adjusting carbs), but OMG, did it make taking off the belt trim nuts behind the rear window a whole lot..."

That is a nice piece. I can hardly wait till the snap on/off truck comes by!
Click to expand...
 
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