Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Multi-Purpose Shop Tools 1 2

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  Dec. 2, 2010 9:44 a.m. PHeller Dork

  As a low-income tinkerer, I need tools that serve multiple purposes.

  For example, my big 12" screw driver is used a pry bar.

  I need tools that can be used for building/modifying furniture (shelves, tables, etc), but also for fabrication (metal brackets, cutting bolts to length, etc).

  In question:

  • Saw for cutting 2x4, plywood, screws and sheet metal.

  • Grinder/Buffer for making vintage motorcycle parts pretty again.

  I have a Dremel, but that is the largest cutting device I own.

  I've been thinking of getting a work bench with grinder/buffing wheel, but then I can't use that for grinding or buffing things that are on the bike or car.

  Harbor Freight has a cheap corded circular saw, but I don't know if I could use that for cutting sheet metal.

  Suggestions?

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  Dec. 2, 2010 9:48 a.m. WilberM3 Reader

  miatame's got the 14" chop saw and it is beautiful.

  http://www.evolutionpowertools.co.uk/us/index.html

  Dave

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  Dec. 2, 2010 9:49 a.m. Marty! Dork

  4 inch grinder. Does cutting, grinding, buffing, turkey carving, you name it....

  My number 1 go to tool.

  Minivans - Pleasing Soccer Moms since 1984....

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  Dec. 2, 2010 9:52 a.m. itsarebuild Reader

  Marty! wrote: 4 inch grinder. Does cutting, grinding, buffing, turkey carving, you name it.... My number 1 go to tool.

  +1 on the grinder. i love it but have never tried to cut wood with it. especially a 2x4/ maybe a reciprocating saw would work for both? the cuts in thin metal aren't that clean though. but it will cut both....

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  Dec. 2, 2010 10:03 a.m. Ranger50 Reader

  itsarebuild wrote:

  Marty! wrote: 4 inch grinder. Does cutting, grinding, buffing, turkey carving, you name it.... My number 1 go to tool.

  +1 on the grinder. i love it but have never tried to cut wood with it. especially a 2x4/ maybe a reciprocating saw would work for both? the cuts in thin metal aren't that clean though. but it will cut both....

  It will cut it, but if you use your metal carbon disc, the gum clogs it up pretty bad for when you go back to metal. BTDT.

  Brian

  "Never trust an intelligent man with no money to play fair."

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  Dec. 2, 2010 10:04 a.m. oldtin Dork

  For light duty, a decent jigsaw - can handle sheet or heavier steel, plastic or wood with blade changes. It is the devil when cutting metal since the blades pulls swarf up throwing it directly at your eyes. Safety glasses and face shield for this one. The grinder is a constant go to tool and a few hand files if you want pretty and precision. Wouldn't really use it as a buffer though - probably too high speed.

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  Dec. 2, 2010 10:28 a.m. bludroptop SuperDork

  My grandfather was a professional carpenter for his entire life, starting in the early part of the last century. He was fond of reminding me that he built houses for 30 years before he owned his first power tool.

  Cross-cut hand saws, hack saws, coping saws and the like can be found for spare change in thrift stores and junk shops. Metal is obviously tougher material to work than wood, but time and patience can overcome a lot.

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  Dec. 2, 2010 10:34 a.m. pilotbraden Reader

  bludroptop wrote: My grandfather was a professional carpenter for his entire life, starting in the early part of the last century. He was fond of reminding me that he built houses for 30 years before he owned his first power tool. Cross-cut hand saws, hack saws, coping saws and the like can be found for spare change in thrift stores and junk shops. Metal is obviously tougher material to work than wood, but time and patience can overcome a lot.

  I agree, I use my grandfathers 2 man crosscut saw at least once per year to cut a tree for firewood. It works very well.

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  Dec. 2, 2010 10:37 a.m. Keith SuperDork

  Angle grinders rock. I like the 4.5" size, and I picked mine up for about $30 in a pawn shop years ago. You can cut wood with them with the right blade.

  But for wood, I'd rather use a Sawzall. With the right blade and some practice, they can give a precise, straight cut. Makes much less of a mess than the angle grinder with a cutting wheel too. I use mine all the time. It's not a detail tool for carving your kid's names out of a 1x6, but for house carpentry work it would be fine.

  I have a small bench belt sander that gets used for all sorts of work. I think it's a 36" belt, maybe 48". Great for getting things flat, cleaning cut edges and shaping. Between that and my angle grinder, I haven't used my bench grinder for over a year.

  Square left in 50 caution ocean!

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  Dec. 2, 2010 11:00 a.m. benzbaron HalfDork

  A skill saw is pretty usefull. Put a carbide on it and cut metal, with a diamond blade granite, marble, and stucco will fall, the masonry blade isn't great but does work, maybe needs to be wet cut.

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  Dec. 2, 2010 11:07 a.m. DukeOfUndersteer SuperDork

  Hammer: nice for adding extra force to stubborn parts and for taking frustration out on your car...

  We are flashin trannys... wait that came out wrong

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  Dec. 2, 2010 11:09 a.m. Turboeric New Reader

  benzbaron wrote: A skill saw is pretty usefull. Put a carbide on it and cut metal, with a diamond blade granite, marble, and stucco will fall, the masonry blade isn't great but does work, maybe needs to be wet cut.

  The masonry blades work fine when they're wet. A kid with a hose set on "trickle" works fine. Patience is required, however, and your saw won't necessarily like the cement dust that gets everywhere.

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  Dec. 2, 2010 11:15 a.m. benzbaron HalfDork

  Thanks for the info Turbo, the huge cloud of dust that shoots out is my favorite part, just don't breath it.

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  Dec. 2, 2010 11:42 a.m. paanta Reader

  I love my circular saw, but it wouldn't be my first purchase unless I was doing a lot of work with plywood. It's not a very nimble tool. I hate it when I need to use it anywhere near my face, and I don't think I'd use it under the car for anything. It's a little scary.

  Keith is right that a sawzall is awesome. They're the duct tape of the power tool world. Never the perfect tool for the job (unless you're demolishing something), but also never the wrong tool. Get one of those long big metal cutting guides that you clamp down to your workpiece and it'll make long straight cuts just fine. Also try to find one that doesn't require a tool to change the blade, 'cause they do eat blades at a pretty good clip.
  

  And yeah, if you're doing any metal work, you just plain need an angle grinder. Get a decent-but-not-super-expensive one and it'll last forever. My Makita has been abused like crazy for 15 years and still works perfect.

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  Dec. 2, 2010 11:47 a.m. HiTempguy HalfDork

  Channel Locks = Hammer Large Screw Driver = Hammer Electric Impact = Hammer Ratchet = Hammer Sledge = precision bending tool

  I have lots of multipurpose tools in my garage

  Rallying; It's like skydiving, except you have to dodge trees on your way down!

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  Dec. 2, 2010 11:55 a.m. PHeller Dork

  Ok good info.

  I'm planning on building a lot shelves and work benches, as my motorcycle project is quickly filling up floor space.

  So, I'll likely be using a fair share of plywood and 2x4, but once that stuff is built it'll be mostly small stuff, probably metal.

  I can think of a few small brackets that the bike will need, most will be out 1/8" or 1/4" sheet metal. Some of these brackets will be fairly detailed as well, think of something to hold a speedometer gauge or indicator lights.

  So, a skill saw might have uses for the small stuff, but I've never cut an 8' piece of plywood with such a thing.

  Easy to understand analysis of options:

  Jig Saw - Small precise cuts of metal or wood, problems may arise with 2x4 and long stretches of plywood.

  Circular Saw - Good for plywood, 2x4, and big metal, but not so good for detail (or cutting bolts on cars).

  Reciprocating Saw - Good for just about everything, but not as detailed as Jig Saw.

  Grinder - works for shaping metal, cutting short pieces of metal, not so good for plywood.

  Miter saw - good for 2x4 and metal tubing...that's about it.

  Band saw - stationary but can do just about anything.

  Table saw - stationary but can do just about non-detail work.

  Bench grinder and buffer works for things I can remove, but not for stuff around the house or attached to the car.

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  Dec. 2, 2010 12:05 p.m. Grtechguy SuperDork

  Wood? 8" circular saw from craigslist

  metal? 4-4.5" angle grinder

  Craigslist. That site is like Krispy Kreme doughnuts dipped in crack cocaine for any connoisseur of bad ideas

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  Dec. 2, 2010 12:15 p.m. snipes Reader

  WilberM3 wrote: miatame's got the 14" chop saw and it is beautiful. http://www.evolutionpowertools.co.uk/us/index.html

  That thing is amazing! video

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  Dec. 2, 2010 2:57 p.m. Ian F Dork

  For dual purpose: Recipricating Saw (Sawzall), Jig Saw, Band Saw (in that order). However, you MUST use the correct blade for the application.
  

  I buy metal blades for my recipricating saw in bulk and rarely use a hack-saw anymore. I've always had a circular saw so I've never tried, but I can't imagine trying to make a long, straight cut with a recipricating saw...

  I've used my jig saw for metal work, although it's not ideal. It's hard to resist the urge to go too fast and burn up the blade. Be sure to buy a saw with a speed control if you plan to do metal work so you can set the maximum speed. I've done long plywood rip-cuts with a straight edge, but accuracy is still hit or miss.

  While there are metal blades for band saws, few saws can go slow enough not to overheat the blade. Plus, there is the issue of mixing materials. I really don't want metal debris in my woodwork or vice-versa... I've used the band saw to cut PVC... however, the cleanup takes 10x as long at the cut does (PVC cuttings go static and stick to everything, so you have to vacuum it off and there's a lot ot clean on a band saw), so unless I have a lot of cutting to do, I use a hand saw.

  Blade speed is the main issue. Metal working tools are geared to run slower. Wood working blades run faster than metal blades and that is the main difference between wood working and metal working tools that otherwise appear identical.
  

  For building shelves, the only power tool that would be hard to live without would be a circular saw for cutting the shelf platforms from 4x8 sheets. Of course, if you buy pre-made parts it would be easier. A chop-saw would make cutting posts and rails a lot faster and more accurate, but you can get with a hand saw or a circular saw.

  Don't bother with a table-saw until you have space to set it up and use it. BTDT. A bandsaw is much more useful.
  

  Keep in mind, when cutting wood with power tools, dust will go EVERYWHERE, regardless of dust-collection attempts. Since wood dust in a car shop is a big no-no, I do all major cutting outside. I have the band-saw on a mobile base so it can go outside when I need to do anything more than a quick, single cut.

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  Dec. 2, 2010 3:16 p.m. Keith SuperDork

  Ian F wrote: I buy metal blades for my recipricating saw in bulk and rarely use a hack-saw anymore. I've always had a circular saw so I've never tried, but I can't imagine trying to make a long, straight cut with a recipricating saw...

  It can be done. You have to pay close attention, but you can do a pretty good job of making it straight. The heavier the material (and the slower the cut) the easier it seems to be.

  Square left in 50 caution ocean!

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  Dec. 2, 2010 3:20 p.m. Ian F Dork

  Yeah... I can imagine with heavier plywood, the blade wouldn't wander or deflect as easily.

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  Dec. 2, 2010 3:28 p.m. EvanB Dork

  DukeOfUndersteer wrote: Hammer: nice for adding extra force to stubborn parts and for taking frustration out on your car...

  Hammers are great stress relievers. My friend and I were pulling the drivetrain from a rusty Fox mustang and whenever we got frustrated with the car we smashed various body panels with a sledge.

  Formerly jdmae92

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  Dec. 2, 2010 4:15 p.m. novaderrik HalfDork

  just start buying tools as you need them.. over the course of a few years, you'd be amazed at how big your tool collection will become.

  that being said, i love my Dewalt reciprocating saw (Sawzall is the generic term...), Craftsman 4.5" angle grinder, and my drawer full of vice grips and various different pliers..

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  Dec. 2, 2010 7:34 p.m. PHeller Dork

  I bought a $40 circular wood saw from Harbor Freight, then called a buddy for a post-purchase analysis.

  He suggested a Reciprocating Saw because it can do detail and large work, and since the bulk of what I need to do in the near future is smaller and of differing materials (wood and metal) the sawzall can do both well.

  I can always have Home Depot pre-cut my plywood, too.

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  Dec. 3, 2010 3:59 p.m. SgtRauksauff New Reader

  

  Done.

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