what is your favorite power tool

[arltralite]

I started thinking about what power tool I could not do without when my 12V cordless drill batteries stopped taking a charge. New battery packs are $90 a piece, a new drill with 2 batteries, a case and charger is $250.
I can do without my cordless drill for a while. I would not want to go without my 5" grinder. The grinder is the most used tool in my shop. It cuts, grinds, planes, sands, hammers, drills a 5" hole. When I need to do more detailed work, I have a 7" grinder that does everything the 5" grinder does in half the time and half the effort.

[Bill Huson]

6" DA sander . . .

air operated in random orbital mode using 6" stick on disks that you can buy on a roll from your local auto paint shop in a variety of grits. Norton 40 grits were very popular at the Hokey Hydro. Motto: 40 grit, time to quit! har har

I love the DA sander - fast work. Cook a disk, peel and stick and back in action in seconds. Way better than changing sheets on a vibro pad sander.

[Bill Huson]

cordless drills . . .

forget 12 wimpy volts, go 14.5 volts at least, or for steady shop work 18 volts. Volts are the electrical equivalent of the ol' internal combustion engine rule, there is no replacement for displacement.

[Bill Huson]

and grinders . . .

my fav grinder is the 4" angle grinder, very handy for cleaning up welds and such seeing as how my welding nickname is "Slag." Also have a 2 hp 10" angle grinder. With 24/36 grit disks on that puppy I can do some damage! Easy conversion to 10" wool bonnets which I use to buff out paint.

[pops67g]

Broad definition of "tool"

My 44XS is my favorite power tool!

Sorry I just couldn't resist. Hope I didn't taint your thread too bad.

[alky6]

At first I thought the milling machine was the best. Then I found the belt sander, that thing makes everything fit... after that, don't know why I had such a phobia about working with wood.

[Steve Johnson]

Tools

TOOLS : it just wouldn't be racin with out them. My air compressor from which all power comes. Anyone remember George Luce back in the 80's ? I'm pretty sure he had air power in his race trailer. 2ed choice Cordless drill. 3rd choice, being a mod guy, Dremmel tool.

HTP's
steve

[17W]

It's a toss up...

I also would be lost w/out my 12v Dewalt Cordless drill, But my generator comes in very handy...especially @ the nationals when the "Bad Apples" Racing crew decides it's movie time! But when all else fails I get the MATCO 3lbs hammer out & pound the piss out of the project!!

[brian]

Not really a tool but it is better than one

Modern epoxies!!! Say no more.......

[dcrummett]

Hey, anyone who hasn't done finish work with a Sawzall just hasn't lived!

Kinda like that belt sander that 'makes everything fit.'

I'd go with my Dewalt 14.4 cordless drill in this chadless election.

Dan
O-49

[Bill Huson]

Oh Yeah!

Got me a Ryobi sawzall. Lawsy, can a guy fueled on beer do some damage with that tool! "Don't cry, sweets, I jest need to trim a bit more off and it'll be fine." heh . . .

[Dick Tyndall]

Bridgeport mill............?

Would a Bridgeport milling machine count? It's got to be MY favorite "power tool"............

[arltralite]

I just got this old southbend lathe today. I had sold my 10" lathe and 9"x42" bridgeport mill with digital readout and power feed a few years ago, to pay for a bunch of hours flying a helicopter. I am glad to have a lathe again, eventhough it is pretty small. I could'nt complain about the price either. FREEBEE. It's the only tool I know of that can make itself.

[joelbrown]

my favorite power tool would have to be the cordless drill .