Best tool ever?

[LCHIEN]

fluorescent lamps - $8 per fixture +$2 for bulbs.
Without them I'd be working in the dark.

[Tequila]

Great question.

Cordless drill/driver is by far the most useful tool, and the best value for the money.

The lowest price/usefulness ratio for me is the tradesman jointer I bought on ridiculous clearance last year, only because I haven't had time to use it in a project yet.

[kmk]

um.. electricity!

[BobSch]

Best tool ever? Why the next one on my list, of course!
Griz bandsaw, planer, jointer, drum sander...

[LarryG]

Tough questions, but attempting to answer them as you asked them:

Most Useful Tool Based On The Low Price I Spent On It: my router table, the ex-Otter "Ryoborghini." Cost me a tank of gas and a Cracker Barrel breakfast for Otter, who graciously and generously made me a gift of the table when I was first setting up my shop. (My continuing thanks, Otter!)

Least Useful Tool Based On The High Price I Spent On It: None, really, because I'm pretty careful to buy only what I need, or know I will need (in which case I will sometimes go ahead and buy when presented with a deal too good to pass up). I have a couple items, like my Delta mortiser and an expensive set of cabinet door bits, that I've not really used yet, but will soon on some upcoming projects. I guess those would have to qualify as least used, but I don't know if it'd be fair to call them least useful.

[messmaker]

Impact driver or brad nailer. I never cease to be amazed how handy they are.

[linear]

card scraper: best bang for buck ever. Runner up is my $40 HF benchtop DP.

I'm just about to deploy the scrollsaw in some interesting ways, but to date it has the lowest useful output/cost ratio in my shop.

[linear]

card scraper: best bang for buck ever. Runner up is my $40 HF benchtop DP.

I'm just about to deploy the scrollsaw in some interesting ways, but to date it has the lowest useful output/cost ratio in my shop.

[Tarheel]

Well....I have two favorites. A DowelMax dowelling jig and a Dewalt biscuit joiner. You can't beat the Dowelmax for spot-on dowell joints!!! The biscuit joiner is great as well for panel glueup's. Both really save some $'s when using narrow stock for making panels!

Wayne

[os1kne]

Best tool bang-for-the-buck would be my pocketknife. Never go anywhere (except on a plane) without it. For powertools, it would have to be my trusty old 9.6v Makita drill/driver. I've been tempted to upgrade, but it just keeps going.

[Cody.h]

Best bang for the buck and most used is my Dewalt drill driver/cir saw combo..paid $150.. nib...use it all the time. I gotta second the card scraper post though..I'm still tryin to get it figured out but I find myself reaching for it all the time...IIRC I paid like 13.00 for the set on sale at rockler or woodcraft.

I to fell into the roto-zip trap...I have the full blown craftsman set-up...probaly 6 years now..maybe used it twice.

[vaking]

I am not sure about most useful so I will only answer for the least:
Scroll saw and external speed control for the router take the prize. Some time ago I would have put a rotozip also on a list of useless stuff, but since I got a dremel base - it came to life. I realized it is a nice little router. I even started using it for small circles with its native circle cutting attachement without dremel base. Scroll saw I used before I got a band saw. Since that time band saw does all the scrolling I need. As for speed control for a hand held router - hand held bits work fine at maximum speed.

[Hoyden]

most usefull for the money is the Ryobi cordless set, especilly the drill. use all the tools in the set.
Least usefull is the hmmm I guess I use all the tools I have. Don't know if I would give any up.

[430752]

Tape Measure!

tape measure, pencil and scribing tool.

I challenge anyone to argue those, especially when bang for buck is factored in.

On the other hand, I disagree witht the brain thing. For the amount of money spent on school and books and etc., the bang for buck thing is low in terms of woodworking.

However, the best all time tool, not necessarily in my shop per se, but used in diy consturction, etc. is my Stanley SurForm. You can use it on dryall, studs, wood, plastic, cheese, etc. Without that, virtually none of my diy projects would've come out nicely.

curt j.

[scorrpio]

Top bang for buck among tools bought at their actual price? Gotta be my tape measure. Though my Dewalt reversible VS drill runs close. Bought for $40 in 1995, it has made countless holes and drove countless screws, and still runs like new.

Least needed tool? Can't name one. I buy tools only when project demands it, and when I feel that money spent will be justified. By that definition, every tool I own has at least paid for itself.