What is the best tool you have in your arsenal

[Nigel Watts]

It depends what is meant by best.

The tool I would least like to part with is my trusty Stanley Jack plane, bought in the mid 1970s when I was a teenager. When new its sole wasn't quite true and its sides weren't quite perpendicular but the basic design was sound and over the years I have adjusted it and improved it and built up a set a well-polished blades for it which I sharpen on a regular basis.

I have since bought some much flashier and better made planes by Lie Nielsen with beautifully finished bronze bodies and thick, pre-polished blades in very high quality steel. They are a joy to look at and use but they can't displace my humble Stanley.

 

[parkview094]

Agreed that this certainly depends on the situation, but if I could only have 1 tool, it would surely be a pair of grips. I've lost count of how many times they've got me out of jail. They're like a spanner, hammer, pliers and door-handle substitute all in one!

 

[Penners]

I have since bought some much flashier and better made planes by Lie Nielsen

I once looked at buying a Lie Nielsen plane, but I wasn't prepared to re-mortgage the house. Superb tools, though.

 

[plasticpigeon]

The tools I use most are a Stanley block plane, and a cordless drill/driver. Mine is Bosch and has a 4Ah battery so lasts a long time. I also wouldn't be without a set of Sorby chisels, a rebate plane and I find a bucket trowel very useful. I have lots of cheap trowels and floats etc, but for mixing and measuring, by filling buckets etc the bucket trowel gets used the most. Also for lime plastering a sponge float is a godsend.

 

[Nigel Watts]

I once looked at buying a Lie Nielsen plane, but I wasn't prepared to re-mortgage the house. Superb tools, though.

If you think Lie Nielsens are expensive, take a look these these:

http://www.holteyplanes.com/index.html

 

[Penners]

Those are so perfect that, in the unimaginable event that I owned one, I can't believe I would ever actually use it. I would just sit and gaze at its flawless beauty.

 

[Jacksdad]

Definitely Makita 18v Li-ion Impact driver- changed my life!