What tool would you buy with an extra $50?

[twistsol]

I'd pick up three of these because I can never see what's in the little drawers and tend to pull them out to far and drop the contents all over the floor.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=65889

[WoodTherapist]

Do they make something with at sanity button on it?

I don’t know about a sanity button, but I’m pretty sure there is a sanity clause.

[germdoc]

Interestingly I am taking over a shift tonight for a colleague and he will be giving me a $50 check for helping him out.

Hmmm--I doubt I will buy a tool, though, maybe a pair of hiking boots??

[natausch]

The challenge is to have it be something that you'll use for years and will have actual value. Of all the arcane and profanity laced activities that happen in my garage sharpening has to be the one my wife understands the least about.

So, I'd go with a honing jig or some stones that would speed up and make the process a bit more safe. That would help spare me another strange look after the home-made jig pops the blade at the wrong time and slices another knucle.

[pelligrini]

Spiral bits are a good idea. I have an inexpensive version of the Dozuki saw, a real one might be nice.

I've got a Bakuma and a Dozuki that I've had for several years. I picked up a Takuma Ryoba from Rockler last Friday and used it over the weekend. I really like it. Being both a crosscut and rip is very handy. I didn't know how dull my old ones were getting too.

Those Incra marking rules are nice. Very accurate. I first got mine mainly for tablesaw setup, but I use it constantly for layouts too. The marking slots work well with my mechanical pencils.

[dbhost]

Bill,

Since I am not sure what your needs are, or what tools you have that maybe don't have the accessories for here are some suggestions...

#1. Got a bench gridner? Get some aluminum oxide wheels for it. Grinds MUCH cooler than the stock gray wheels, great for sharpening everything from plane irons to turning tools.

#2. Got hand planes / and / or chisels? Honing guides and stones are great to have.

#3. Got a bench sander? Harbor Freight has a $49.00 coupon on their belt / disk sander in this month's Wood Magazine...

#4. Got enough clamps (like that can happen!)? The HF bar clamps are a great bang for the buck.

#5. Got a glue spreader set? I got one as a promo from Woodcraft last year, I use it way more than I thought I would...

#6. Got T-track and hardware? Rockler frequently has their 48" t track with tbolts and star knobs on sale for $19.99, I have a decent supply of the stuff to build jigs and such with...

#7. Got a workbench with dog holes? How about some holdfasts, or bench dogs?

#8. Any particular router bit profiles you have been wanting but just can't seem to justify buying for yourself?

#9. Got Bench Cookies? I got mine as a gift, they are WAY better than I expected...

I could go on and on, but you get the idea... There are lots of little $50.00 or less fillers you could drop as gift hints...

[LarryG]

I'm trying to figure out how literally to take your "something you want but might never buy for yourself" stipulation.

There are tools I'd sorta-kinda like to have but basically only as a lark; tools that would be fun to play with, or to make conversation over, but are not useful enough (to me) that I'd ever spend my own money on them. And then there are tools I would like to own but have not purchased myself, either because I simply haven't gotten around to doing so or because I have something else that serves well enough and thus reduces the lusted-after replacement to an indulgence.

I'm going to go with the second. I hereby nominate a marking knife from Blue Spruce Toolworks. I have always gotten by just fine with a mix of well-sharpened #2 pencils and an X-Acto knife (I read, a couple years ago, that Lonnie Bird is a fan of the latter) but the Blue Spruce knives are simply too elegant for words. If someone in my life asked me for a $50 gift idea -- which is, you'll note, exactly what the Blue Spruce knife costs -- that would be my immediate and unqualified answer.

[DustyandLefty]

Gift from Uncle Bessey

I'd get one or two of the newest K body clamps from Bessey. Since I've got lots of pipe clamps I can't justify spending my money on them, but if somebody else is buying...! I'd even engrave "Present from UB, 2010" on them.

[BrazosJake]

Better get it quick, I hear they're raising taxes in your state.

Depends on what's closeby. I'm very lucky in that regard, as there are 2 HFs, 2 WoodCrafts, 2 Rockler Stores, and limitless BORGS in driving distance. LOML also frequently gives me gift cards for all the above (I keep telling her, get em all from the same place so I can save for something big!).

Here's some of the things I have used them for:
Groz QR vise (FWW best buy, I agree)
Japanese DT saw
Scrapers
Power tool switches
Turning tools
Materials for shop projects

BTW, the Narex chisels from Lee Valley are said to be an excellent value and under $50.

[Mr__Bill]

And there was no joy in Whoville that night

Well I certainly misjudged things. No $50 tool for me It was a fast trip with few stops on the way there or back. The time I did have in Portland was by my self so no $50 was forthcoming for a surprise self bought birthday present. At least we did not stop at the outlet stores for the birthday surprise in some clothing store. Now I have to figure out where we are likely to go in the next two months and what stores may be there. Oh well, at least it wasn't socks.

I did spend time the the Harbor Freight there and the prices were higher than the ones I normally shop at and there were no In Store Discounts the other ones had. Perhaps those are gone in all the HF stores. Wound up spending $4 on some very fine wet-dry sandpaper and got my free flashlight.

Home Depot was a let down too, only hit up one of them, I think there are about 10 in the metro area, and no deep discounts on any tools. When I asked I was told that all the discontinued stuff was in the clearance section. At least they had help there willing to help, wondering if they are starting to see the light on customer service.

Lowe's was another story. I had two pair of noise suppressing ear muffs that the plastic springy thing that goed over the head and connects the muffs together broke. They were about a year old, Lowe's took them back at full credit and the tool department man recommended the Husqvarna professional hearing protectors from the chainsaw department. They sure seem to be better than the AOSafty ones in the tool department. I'll see how long they last until the plastic breaks, this time I'll save the receipt. The new one only cost $.76 more than what the refund was so I think I made out rather well on the deal.

I skipped Rockler's and Woodcraft, with no time to do any browsing and nothing specific I was looking for; and they both being a pain to get to when you don't remember exactly how to get there it seemed better to pass on them.

At least the rain didn't start until I hit the coast so there was only a bout 4 hours of driving in the rain last night.

Bill, now back in the boondocks.

[leehljp]

To me - Clamp guides! Rockler or other

Beyond that - Clamps and more clamps and different kinds of clamps!