Power Tools

[m_brothers]

Okay, well I'm sure some of you lucky smiths on here have all the power tools & tools that anyone would ever want or need. I'm wondering what you should have, and what WOULD be nice to have. From what I've been doing so far, I really need a drill press & bandsaw. I'm getting a drillpress in about a week. BTW, for those of you who were wondering, my shop is done, everything is really sweet (for me at least. lol). I'll get pictures as soon as I can, camera isn't working.

John & his friend quentin.

[psilogen]

I've worked in a modern shop a little bit, and I can say that I would love to have a disc and belt sander, and an oxy-acetylene setup. Whenever I find myself a semi-permanent place to live and some shop space, those are probably first on the list, along with a drill press. Punching holes isn't glamorous enough to justify the hassle, in my mind. Drawing, tapering, welding, bending, on the other hand...

As far as bandsaws are concerned, I'm told that you're not likely to find one that does both horizontal and vertical operations equally well for any useful value of "well", but there may be models out there that work satisfactorily in both configurations. I have not done any independent research, due to the time period of my usual work and my available funds and space.

Also, I think it is really hard to go wrong with a MIG as long as you learn to use it well. It makes short work of many long tasks.

[JAFO]

I consider a drill press and a bench belt sander essential for my shop. Fortunatly I can get away with using the bench sizes and dont need the big floor models.

[Dave M]

I like tools that are multi taskers and for power tools there are a couple of great ones. I have bench mounted drill press with HF. X,Y table I use it for drilling, sanding and lite milling & polishing. Next would be the hand held 4.5" right angle grinder used for grinding, sanding, cutting, wire brushing and polishing. 8" bench grinder for grinding,polishing, sharpening and wire brushing. Disc and belt sander for sanding and sharpening. Miller mig welder. Miller stick welder used for welding, Hardfacing, gouging and if need be carbon arc cutting. Now a couple of power tools I don't use all of the time but when I do they pay for them selves. Plasma cutter, 80 gal. compressor and 14" chop saw.

[ApprenticeMan]

A good grinder, and not just for blades, a good grinder can be used for a MULTITUDE of different things in the smith's shop bladesmith or blacksmith. When I say good grinder I mean a good grinder, no grizzly or HF. A grinder is like any other essential tool, you should spend enough to get a good one, instead of getting one "for now".

[Sabre]

i use my grinder allmost everyday its a 6 " bech grinder.... i would recomend u get 1ive also got a drill press bansaw 14" chop saw compressor 2 mig welders an arc welder... i never use a prill press and find that the forged work is just tbo solid to drill!

[Mills]

The best money I have spent on tools is a milwaukee portaband and a dewalt 4 1/2' Angle grinder. the portaband CAN be chucked into a vise and used as a vertical saw but is best and safest when the stock is held and the saw moved around. The grinder is very multipurpose and having a good strong one for the most common operation, usually grinding, and filling in with HF cheapo's for cut off, wire wheel, flap wheel, fiberdisk and more.
A drill press would be next inline with a MIG right behind it.

[keykeeper]

Currently I have a small benchtop drill press, 4 x 6 bandsaw, flux core Mig welder, 4-4-1/2 inch angle grinders (keep different wheels on all of them), bench grinder, and a small air compressor. The drill press is indispensible in a shop, IMHO. The bandsaw is very handy with vertical use, instead of killing your arm and shoulder with a hacksaw. Those cheap angle grinders are good, more or less disposable, but for me and my hobby use, not a bad investment.

Things I'd like to have: Power hammer (either manufactured or a "rusty" type), a good arc welder to handle everything mig won't, larger compressor so I can make the most of my air tools, and a decent, older metal lathe. And, Oh yeah, a bigger shop wired for all the above.

[Trollhammer]

The things I use daily and would be lost without:
A multitude of angle grinders...you can never have enough, especially when they're only
$20 apiece at HF
Drill Press
Old Lincoln Buzzbox
O/A Torch
Combo Benchtop Belt/Disc Sander
Benchtop Grinder/Wire Wheel
Heavy Duty Sabre Saw
Dremel with a bunch of accessories
Chop Saw
275gal Air Compressor

I never needed most of that stuff until I got it. Now, if any of them go down, my day is stopped dead. I've become too reliant on power tools.
Mickey

[Frosty]

Lights, gotta have good light. I have a couple single 150 (I think) watt halogen work lights and a double on a stand.

cutoff saw. I have a Jet 7x12 horizontal vertical and use it as much or more than anything.

Grinders: Bench either wheel or belt preferably both. Hand, 9" for heavy stock removal and 4 1/2" for fine work, the more the merrier.

Drill press for precision holes, hot punching is faster but not nearly so precise.

Elec welder, preferably a multi-process unit with a lot more capacity than you need. (it's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.)

Torch set, I use an All State's oxy/propane rig.

Lathes, mills, shaper, power hammer(s), press rolls, forging press, more power hand tools than Norm Abrams has, the more the merrier. Can there ever be to many power tools?

Hydro-electric power plant on a good year round fishing stream.

Frosty