We have all seen new gadgets advertised.
How many of them really work?
How many are really worth the trouble?
How many really get used?
I invite everyone to tell us about your favorite gadget or two, and how much you really use them.
I’ll start by showing two of my favorites. Both are shown in the picture below.
1. The first are the “Board Buddies”.
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=11262&filter=board%20buddies&cookietest=1
They work great to prevent kickback and to hold your stock against the fence. When mounting them rotate them from 2 to 5 degrees toward the back of your saw. This will force the stock into the fence.
Quick to adjust and seconds to take off.
The only problem that you might encounter is when you are using a T-Square type of fence. This is
because if you adjust them to put too much down pressure you might lift the rear of your fence.
But this can be solved in two ways. The first is to only adjust the wheels to about 1/4
lower than the surface of the wood, and the second is to put a clamp on the end of your fence.
I use the first method and I have had no problems.
How often do I use them? Every time I cut larger sheet stock and rip long boards.
2. Is Wixey’s little digital angle gauge (you can see it stuck to my fence at the bottom of the picture)
http://www.wixey.com/
This little thing is great, and I wish I had one long ago. It uses magnets to stick to your table where
you press the “zero” button and then stick it to you raised blade and set your angle to 1/10 of
a degree. Since you use your table as a reference to zero it, it doesn’t matter if your table is level or not.
How often do I use it. Every single time I move the angle of the blade.
-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX
10 comments so far
Bob Babcock
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1804 posts in 2256 days
#1 posted 2127 days ago
Sure Gary have everyone post all their favorite toys….eerr…indespensible tools. How am I going to explain the sudden activity on the credit card to my wife?
-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org
Don
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2592 posts in 2347 days
#2 posted 2127 days ago
Garry, I have the Board Buddies but stopped using them when I purchased the Grippers, of which I have two. They are from Micro-Jig.
I find these perfect for handling the small pieces when making small boxes. The Board Buddies are great for ripping larger sheets, which I seldom do.
Another great safety device is the Magswith available from Rockler It is held to the surface of the TS by rare earth magnets which are easliy disengaged by turning the mall knobs.
-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.hillsbiblechurch.org/
Lee A. Jesberger
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6499 posts in 2150 days
#3 posted 2127 days ago
Gee, I wonder what my favorite would be?
Maybe something to do with table saws.
Naw, can’t think of anything.
Lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com
mot
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4912 posts in 2206 days
#4 posted 2127 days ago
Now Lee, that was a perfect opening for shameless self promotion. But, if you’re not going to, I will. How about this, for a gadget that has terrific usefulness?
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
JT Thomas
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14 posts in 2127 days
#5 posted 2127 days ago
Gary:
I also have the board buddies. They are great for sheets of plywood!
My favorite tool is my Incra TS-LS Table Saw Fence. It allows me to get accurate and repeatable cuts to .001 inch. I have it on an old saw right now, but if I was going to buy a new saw I would move it to the new one first thing.
Another great tool is the Leigh FMT (Frame Mortise and Tenon) Jig. I can cut mortise and tenons repeatedly with a perfect snug fit.
-- JT - "It only costs a nickle more to go first class!"
USCJeff
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1041 posts in 2238 days
#6 posted 2127 days ago
I use a push shoe with most of my machines. The only limitation to the Skil Push Shoe I use, is that it won’t allow for thin strips or small pieces to be routed. The blade/bit is in the way with those applications. I think I payed about $15 from Lowes. It also works as a depth gage for setup.
-- Jeff, South Carolina
woodspar
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710 posts in 2270 days
#7 posted 2127 days ago
My Incra gauge is mighty handy:
-- John
GaryK
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10263 posts in 2158 days
#8 posted 2035 days ago
Nothing else?
I need to buy something and I would like it to be useful!
Gary
-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX
Peter Oxley
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1423 posts in 2045 days
#9 posted 2035 days ago
Hmm, FastCap has some pretty cool gadgets.
The Third Hand
Speed Roller
and, of course FastCaps
I’ve had three of their really cool tapes, but every one has 1/16” too much play in the hook :(
Preval Spray Guns do okay when you don’t want to set up a real spray gun for touch ups and little jobs. Somewhere I saw a similar product that could be charged with an air compressor.
I’ve read some great reviews about The Chestmate but I don’t have one and I’m on the fence about buying it
I’ve been drooling over the Beall Wood Threader for ages, but can’t justify the purchase yet.
Everyone has a multi-tool, but I use my Gerber Tool all the time in the shop.
Are these the kinds of things you are looking for?
-- http://www.peteroxley.com -- http://north40studios.etsy.com --
Emily Whitman
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19 posts in 1573 days
#10 posted 1489 days ago
Final Cut sanding discs. Not really expensive, and work really well. Best part is that you can put them on table saw blades that you already own.
Also, ever heard of or tried the JackRabbit Drill and Drive. It’s another pretty handy tool. You can find it cheaper if you do a google search for it.
-- Thanks- Emily, Washington, www.carbideprocessors.com
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