Shop Tools

[Anonymous]

Seeing I am still a green horn in G Scale. What are the most needed shop tools, leased needed but handy and tried but sits on the bench???
How many of a kind, etc...

I did see at Wal-Mart a rolling tool chest about 4' high with all kinds of drawers for $19.95. Thought that would be a great thing for track side.

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bluebonnet - 71

Seeing I am still a green horn in G Scale. What are the most needed shop tools, leased needed but handy and tried but sits on the bench???
How many of a kind, etc...

I did see at Wal-Mart a rolling tool chest about 4' high with all kinds of drawers for $19.95. Thought that would be a great thing for track side.

most needed tools?

Xacto knives, big blade and small blade type
Xacto razor saws, the big one with the miter box, and the small sawblade for #11 handle.
Non-cut work surface
Any and Every kind of Tweesers, Hemostats, Dental picks.
Hobby Clamps
Hobby Vise.

Well these are the most used on my bench.[;)]

[bman36]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bluebonnet - 71

Seeing I am still a green horn in G Scale. What are the most needed shop tools, leased needed but handy and tried but sits on the bench???
How many of a kind, etc...

I did see at Wal-Mart a rolling tool chest about 4' high with all kinds of drawers for $19.95. Thought that would be a great thing for track side.

All depends on what it is you intend on doing. My tools have been collected over a number of years. Most used? Hmmm...depends on the day it seems. You'll know as time progresses what gets used most. Never takes long before you find your self saying "Now if I only had..." [:D] Later eh...Brian. [8D]

[Anonymous]

Hi bluebonnet-71
The things I seem to use a lot :-sprue cutter, sharp modeling knife, various blades, lots of clamps including clothes pegs, lacky bands, bulldog clips
and propper modeling clamps, razor saw, miter box and a small 2" engineers square 6' 150mm rule and auto points file.
Believe me there is always something you think I could do with one of those.
I will be very suprised if you don't get a different answer from every one who contributes to this topic.
But some tools will show up consistently these are probably the ones to get first you may well find you already have them[:D]
regards John

[Anonymous]

I have some inexpensive "hack saws," an X-acto set, a battery operated "Dremel" (good for wood) motor tool, screw driver sets everything else I barrow from my dad or brother's shops.

[Anonymous]

I would like to see some of your shop pictures. Just send them to me email. Makes me think of ideas.
I did have this idea of several benches I have now are 4'x8' 3/4" plywood (beefy one too)
Well the heavier tools can "nest" under the tables while on inservice. Place a electric strip at the back side (note, each strip has 26 hook ups).
I am not going to use all of them at once [:D]

Just thought I would run that by you if you can see what I am takinging about.

[Anonymous]

No tool box is complete without a good hammer, set of pry bars, and vicegrips. And lets not for get about a roll of duct tape. With these things, a mechanic can fix any thing. Other than that, a set of small files would be very helpfull.

[smcgill]

#1 Wife/girlfriend to tell you how good your doing even if your not!
#2 Place for the tools
#3 Lights!!!!!
#4 Good chair!
#5 Phone near bye ( It will ring @ wrong times)
#6 Place for coffie cup!
#7 See above great Idea's

You can naver have to many tools!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by smcgill

#1 Wife/girlfriend to tell you how good your doing even if your not!
#2 Place for the tools
#3 Lights!!!!!
#4 Good chair!
#5 Phone near bye ( It will ring @ wrong times)
#6 Place for coffie cup!
#7 See above great Idea's

You can naver have to many tools!

Lets see #1 would have to be older than I and have $$$ and love trains.
I have found the younger ones dislike trains so I have to kick them to the curb. (leased here) [*^_^*] and I just dont think I will find one.
Other #s I can do! [:)]

[Marty Cozad]

Personally, as you grow with this hobby, a brad nailer and air comp. will save you so much money and keep your wife happy also. you can make buildings, brdiges, and honey dos.
Plus a good saber saw with metal blade for cutting rail, don't waste time doing it by hand.
These two have built most of my RR. OH, and a wheel barrow, to move the wife around the yard to save gas on those date nights.

[Anonymous]

Oh man, guess you all have me married off all ready! [:D]

[Anonymous]

I guess I have most tools mentioned above, however I need to purchase a band saw to mill scale lumber. Lots of cedar in my shop but no saw to cut it with[:(] other than my table saw and miterbox. The band saw would enable me to save my fingers.

[Anonymous]

I hate to keep talking about what Jack Verducci has to say but if you get the Kalmbach book "Garden railroads the Hobby" or similar he lays out what you need and except for a few that are just too expensive for a normal hobby person, they will all come in handy. A few we just don't have in Australia and i do not have any use for as well.

Some things I get a lot of use out of are:-
1) A gutter getter this is a scoop for removing leaves from your gutters, cheap, works just great as a scoop mainly for crusher fines and gravel.

2) A jewellers blow torch and Resin cored solder, plus bakers fluid for extra flux.

3) A paint scraper

4) several types of spirit level, i also have a laser level as well.

5) A mattock and a crow bar you Americans call them something else i'm not sure a Boston digger and a pry bar (not sure though).

6) A shovel as opposed to a spade.

7) A strong helpful 15 year old lad.

8) A hacksaw and drill of some type.

9) A Warrior, this is cheap Dremel, very good but its attachments aren't so get Dremel tools.

10) A Jig saw (Sabre saw) and a circular saw on a bench.

11) A drill press.

12) 9 litre bucket I think it is about 2 gallons several in fact.

13) A good credit card with plenty of credit on it.

14) A stepping block with 10 mm steps and a 1 metre straight edge this will automatically give you the percentage of gradient.

15 ) A tamper this is not the pace in Florida "Tampa".

16) A bottle of the cheapest white vinegar available, this is great fro cleaning up brass so that you get a good electrical connection as it is nearly pur acetic acid.

rgs ian

Your idea of a tool box is far too large, much samaller with a few tools you use all the time is better and keep the ones you don't use so often in your garage in a handy spot.

[Marty Cozad]

Matt
Use a plywood blade in your table saw. to rip lumber. I have a large band saw and no matter how i set it and use the fence, it does not rip as good as a table saw. I rip cedar lap siding for my buildings.

[Anonymous]

Marty, I have thought of doing this. I would still like to have the band saw though.
A zero tollerence throat plate( the plate you remove that surrounds the blade during changing) would make it easier and safer. I make my own zero plates from scrap 1/4" plywood. Lower the all the way and install the plate, then turn the saw on and slowly raise the blade up through the plate. Now you have a plate that won't pull the wood down in the table or bounce around as much.