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Discussion That One Tool You Never Expected to Love… But Now Can’t Live Without it!

Stuart Little said:
Expensive here in England.
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I agree, it’s priced on the higher side, unfortunately. But this isn’t the kind of tool you buy often, and it doesn’t require consumables. Think of it more like a precision vise: it doesn’t need to be fixed to a table, and it offers tremendous freedom and flexibility that’s ideal for delicate or detailed tasks. That said, it’s not a replacement for a standard vise; it’s a specialized tool, best suited for details work.
 
Swiftie said:
Hi Roger can you tell me the brand name of the caliper thanks
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Hope Roger doesn't mind my answer. This is an iGaging calliper.

OriginCal Caliper

Thank you for interested in iGAGING products. iGAGING® is a part of the International Precision Instrument Corporation (IPIC). IPIC is one of the largest precision measurement tool manufacturer and importer in North America. We have a very large customer base which includes: Boeing, Lockheed...
www.igaging.com www.igaging.com
 
Yeah, I have those reamers too. They’re great!

Those digital calipers are common as grass. Unless you want a Sterrett, you should be able to find them at your local home improvement store. They’ve become a “no-name” item. Regardless of the brand name marked on them they all seem to be the same.

Edit: Actually the one shown above is a fancy one as it reports results in fractions. Mine reports in mm or digital values of inches. This is not a problem as over time I have pretty much memorized digital-fractional equivalents of inches. I suspect that many others have too.
Roger
 
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Hoss6262 said:
would have expected more responses, but I have an idea, Jim. If you'd like to see a LOT of responses, ask, "What tools did you think you needed and bought and NEVER used?".ROTF I would guess this thread would still be getting responses to that question when Christmas rolls around.
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... actually, this is a brilliant idea, please open the thread, without further delay.
 
Jimsky said:
Greetings friends,

Let’s take a small detour from ship specs and planking debates, and talk about something we all use: tools. More specifically, that one tool you never thought you’d need, but now couldn’t imagine building without.
We all start with the usual basics: a hobby (#11) knife, sandpaper, maybe a pin vise, but somewhere along the way, something odd or unexpected finds its way onto the bench. Maybe it was a tool someone recommended, or something you picked up on a whim, thinking, “I’ll probably never use this.” And now? It’s glued to your workflow (hopefully not literally).

So here’s the question: What’s that one unexpected tool that quietly became indispensable for you? No need for a long explanation, just share your story, and if you like, a photo of the tool in action. I’m sure many of us will recognize our own favorites in each other's stories… or maybe even discover a new one to try.

Looking forward to seeing what’s in your toolbox that surprised you. Fair winds and happy modeling!
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1. Scalpels with #11 blades and an ergonomically sanded wooden handle made from any wood.
I have a dozen.
 
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I have 3 or 4 regular Dremel rotary tools But about 20 years ago I bought this Dremel Stylus rotary tool. I’ve used I’d almost exclusively since
then. It’s easier to and more comfortable to use than the regular dremel rotary tool. Unfortunately Dremel discontinued it some years ago. - can’t understand why - it’s still woks flawlessly. Recently I bought another one (used) for just $10 at our club’s annual auction.
 
I love my proxon disk sander. However I got this "Nail drill" from Amazon for $10 about a month ago. I think the pice is up now. It is powered by a USB brick (think cell phone charger) You can buy rechargeable ones for more. It comes with some shaping tools and a small replaceable drum sander that you can get different grit drums for very cheaply. As opposed to a Dremel it only weights in at a few ounces and has decent torque. it is compact and light weight and fits easily in your hands. The one down side it that the shaft size is different than a Dremels so it can not use the array of rebel tools. For quick and very accurate sanding though it is excellent!

 
Jimsky said:
Hope Roger doesn't mind my answer. This is an iGaging calliper.

OriginCal Caliper

Thank you for interested in iGAGING products. iGAGING® is a part of the International Precision Instrument Corporation (IPIC). IPIC is one of the largest precision measurement tool manufacturer and importer in North America. We have a very large customer base which includes: Boeing, Lockheed...
www.igaging.com www.igaging.com
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No problem at all Jim :).

Swiftie said:
Hi Roger can you tell me the brand name of the caliper thanks
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Swiftie, I purchased the caliper from LeeValley tools in Canada. It’s called a Blind Man’s Fractional Electronic Caliper comes in 4” and 6” lengths. Link attached:

Blindman's Fractional Electronic Caliper - Lee Valley Tools

Discover the Blindman'S Fractional Electronic Caliper. Buy this product now on our Lee Valley online store.
www.leevalley.com www.leevalley.com
 
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In my case there's one tool I never expected to love and now can’t get far enough away from (while remaining on the same planet).

That would be my brother-in-law.

;)
 
STOOPID AI/SEARCH OPTIMIZATION!!!!! When Glen recommended broaches I went on amazon to get pricing but stupid amazon would return NOTHING but BROOCHES! No matter how I altered the search, even if I searched in specific categories like tools, it would take me back to brooches. I even went to google to look on amazon and it wasn't until like third or fourth page before I finally was linked to some broaches. I am so over AI and search optimization. /rant
 
Jimsky said:
Lately, I've been looking for ways to improve comfort and precision at the bench, especially when working with small, delicate parts. And I think I may have found a real gem worth sharing. Some of you may already know it, but for those who don’t, meet the Omnidirectional Spherical Vise.

It’s not just a pretty piece of engineering (though it definitely has the look of sci-fi hardware). What makes this vise stand out is the incredible freedom of movement it offers, thanks to its spherical base, which can rotate and tilt in nearly any direction, making it much easier to find the perfect angle for carving, sanding, or assembling. The clamping system is adjustable and precise, and it holds even irregular parts securely without damage. And yes, it is really heavy, about 2 Kg, it holds firmly and stays firm at the base.

For those of us doing fine work, it’s a quiet but powerful ally. I know many of us improvise with clamps and third hands (I still do), but this tool surprised me in a good way. Just wanted to share, in case others are considering upgrades to their workbench setup. What other vises or clamping solutions do you all use? Would love to hear what’s working well in your shop.

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The range of Dspiae tools are very well made and good quality. I purchased the Omni-Directional Table Top Vise some months ago and have it on one end of my workbench. It’s a good functional vise. Although the Spherical Vise Jim @Jimsky shows is double the price it looks even more useful.

I showed the image of the Spherical Vise to my wife. She asked me why I needed it so I told her I needed it for the other end of my workbench to balance out the table top one I already have. She just gave me one of those looks ROTF.
 
RogerD said:
The range of Dspiae tools are very well made and good quality. I purchased the Omni-Directional Table Top Vise some months ago and have it on one end of my workbench. It’s a good functional vise. Although the Spherical Vise Jim @Jimsky shows is double the price it looks even more useful.

I showed the image of the Spherical Vise to my wife. She asked me why I needed it so I told her I needed it for the other end of my workbench to balance out the table top one I already have. She just gave me one of those looks ROTF.
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Just tell her you need it to prevent side fumbling in the lunar wainshaft.
 
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