What's your favorite tool? Options

[Dwight Brown]

Do you have a favorite tool. Maybe one you made yourself or one your teacher gave you? In my days as a photographer I had a spot meter from my teacher/boss that had been used by Ansel Adams to set up some Zone System photographs. It was kind of a holy relic, like Saint Peter's shin bone :-)

Dwight

(Who has spent the last 4 days fixing the sprinkler system and air conditioner)

[Michael_Molnar]

What a loaded question. Burgess will have a field day with this one.

[lyndon]

i have a favorite tool, its been used a lot, but it doesnt work half as good as it used too, but this isnt really the place to talk about it, but if youre asking what is my favourite violin tool, i would have to say my soundboard removing knife, totally unreplaceable, unlike anything i have ever seen and very thin and flexible, too thin some would say but thats what i like...

[Bill Yacey]

Ahem,... speaking strictly about violins here, I find that a difficult question to answer.

It all depends what particular task is at hand. I do have a favorite peg shaver for fitting pegs, there's one specific gouge I always reach for first, A finger plane that I use more than the others, a jointing plane that I prefer amongst my other planes, a rasp that I prefer over the others.

Problem is, I have too many choices; life would be simpler if I didn't have to make these decisions all the time. I do use my spindle sander and belt sander for many rough-out tasks.

[NewNewbie]

Why that's a hard one as I have so many to choose from.

I think with some effort, I can narrow it down to these 3 'Tools" !

[Don Noon]

For many reasons, my Delta bandsaw is my favorite. It is what I use most often, it is what I have invested a lot of time and effort in modifying to variable speed and dual 2 1/2" dust ports, and in general it really appeals to my motorhead engineering aesthetics. I had shown a photo before, but again:







I won't mention that it's a 14" tool, as that would detract from the seriousness of this answer.

[NewNewbie]

For many reasons, my Delta bandsaw is my favorite. It is what I use most often, it is what I have invested a lot of time and effort in modifying to variable speed and dual 2 1/2" dust ports, and in general it really appeals to my motorhead engineering aesthetics. I had shown a photo before, but again:

I won't mention that it's a 14" tool, as that would detract from the seriousness of this answer.

Now that's what I call a bandsaw! Yikies! Nice speed control!

What speed settings do you use the most?

Do you want to see mine? Huh?

This post is rated PG .... as in Prima Grande!

[Marijan]

My old desk light with it`s allmost dead light bulb in it. It gives a perfect light/shadow and it can be lowered down to the bench.

[David Burgess]

What a loaded question. Burgess will have a field day with this one.

I'm thinking of combining the topic here with the one on fitting bridge feet with sandpaper. Will probably start a new thread if and when I get the video done.

[JimMurphy]

Thin flexible Scrapers.

What's "sandpaper" ??

Jim

[Scott S]

I just removed varnish from the neck of a violin that had been revarnished, neck and all. After softening the varnish....Fingernails are great tools and indespensible.

Silicon Carbide Scott

[DonLeister]

My laptop! Since I'm always checking to see what everyone is up to! It has made a difference in many ways.

[luthier9010]

Now that's what I call a bandsaw! Yikies! Nice speed control!

What speed settings do you use the most?

Do you want to see mine? Huh?

This post is rated PG .... as in Prima Grande!

That's a big ol Momma.

[Anders Buen]

I think these tuneable tuning forks are my favourite tools. There are six of them covering the frequency range from about 60Hz to around 700Hz in half note steps. They are after my great grandfather. I use them, as he did, for taking out plate tones, and occasionally for tuning and other purposes.

They belong to my father, and at some point I should get some new ones, but they do not seem to be produced any longer..

Attached thumbnail(s)

 

[christian bayon]

The set of my favorites tools!

[Anders Buen]

The set of my favorites tools!

Look great and sharp. Made the handles yourself?

[Mountain Luthier]

Look great and sharp. Made the handles yourself?

My "nickle" balance weighing a headstock for 1/4 size violin.
A nickle weighs 5g new pennies since 1983 2.5g:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14995534@N05/...57623073065403/

Bigger balance for weighing <10kilo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14995534@N05/4423583334/

My neck setting tool centers on the middle ridge of the fluting on the scroll.
It consists of a washer suspended between wing nuts on a bolt set perpendicular
in a block. I flip the vn over left to right and adjust the mortise as needed.
I use it in conjunction with blocks I made to set the overstand and height of
fingerboard end.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14995534@N05/...57623073065403/

Rib tenderizer for loosening wood fibers for bending big ribs;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14995534@N05/4815754664/

Rib working tool for big instruments, has a gauge for marking ribs for thickness:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14995534@N05/4760598738/

Angle grinder with 24-32 grit hoggs off material quickly. Better not flinch.
A little crazy guy used to sneak up on
me while I worked. That's the guy missing his
nose and ears....
I bar the door behind me now.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14995534@N05/...57623547946586/

[christian bayon]

Look great and sharp. Made the handles yourself?

Of course, it´s more easy than make a violin!
In Norway, people use wonderful knives too!

[Nicolas Temino]

When I grow up I want to own a sawzall like David Burgess'.
Meantime I have been attracted to the dark side of the Dremel.

[joerobson]

this
on we go,
Joe

Attached thumbnail(s)