Tools - One of my favorite subjects

I am not counting tools in the $10K total for the remodel. I figure anything additional I buy, I will use well beyond this project.

I have been "collecting" tools for about 20 years. I have a few expensive tools, but for the most part I buy economical ones. At the risk of offending the tools snobs out there, I rely on Harbor Freight Tools for a lot of of the small things I need. Their air tools have never let me down - and I have been using a simple little finsh nailer regularly for a number years. That being said, if I were back in the trades, I would buy the heavy duty tools - Dewalt, Senco, Ewing, ...

So here is my major tool list:

Saws

• Tables Saw - 10" Craftsman professional series. The heart and soul of my shop.
• Chop Saw - 10" Harbor Freight sliding compound miter. Has worked great for 5 years
• Skill Saw- basic model - 2nd one so far
• Reciprocating Saw - Ryobi
• Saber Saw - Ryobi
• Cordless Circular Saw - Ryobi
• Japanese Pull Saws - Use these all the time for finish work - TopMan from Harbor Freight
• Tile Saw - Harbor Freight 1HP professional series table model

Planers

• 7 inch jointer - Harbor Frieght
• 3 inch portable planer - Ryobi

Sanders

• 5 in random orbit - Ryobi
• Palm sanders - Harbor Frieght, Rigid
• Belt Sander - Craftsman

Routers

• 3/4 HP router - Craftsman
• 2 HP industrial router / shaper - Craftsman
• 1/2 little trim router - Harbor Freight - one of my favorite tools, since I can run it with one hand.

Drills

• Corded - Dewalt 3/8" Professional Series.
• Cordless - 18V Ryobi; 12V Craftsman
• Table top drill press - Craftsman

Air Tools

• Compressor - Husky - next to the table saw the most important tool
• Finsh Nailers - Harbor Frieght
• Staplers - 1/4 crown 18 gage - Harbor Freight. I ground down the tip of one from a flat to a 45 angle so I could get in really close on corners - indispensible
• Coil Roofing Nailer - Harbor Frieght
• Framing Nailer - 21 deg - Harbor Frieght
• Latex paint sprayer - Husky - yes an air tool that sprays latex, looks like glass once applied
• Low profile cut-off wheel - Harbor Freight

Misc

• Shop Vac - Ridgid
• Bench Grinder - Ryobi - this is another high-value tool, since it keeps stuff sharp.
• Lots (OK, too many) hand tools: hammers, crow bars, chisels - various.
• Clamps - Quick Grip are the best by far, don't skimp here.
• 1/2 heavy duty industrial drill for mixing morter, grout, concrete - Dewalt
• Biscuit Joiner - I really dont use this very much
• Basic electrical, plumbing, sheetrock, masonry tools
• Laser level - works great for laying out floors, etc.
• Automotive sissor jack - great for making things fit when they dont want to.

Custom Tools - ones I fabricated

• 3' x 5' work bench.
• Cutting sleds for the table saw - use this all the time, especially for large lots or repeative cuts
• Wooden squares that can be clamped as guides for saws, routers, etc.
• Special straight-edge for laying out and pre-shimming doors - saves a lot of time
• A busted screwdriver ground down to a sharp tip, used as an awl, punch, drill pilot, etc. This takes the place of a real sharp pencil in many cases
• Short saw horses that we use for painting, setting up low tables using planks. Well worth the time to make these.