Wooden Boat People
By McKenzieDriftBoat.com
Favorite Rotary or Oscillating Tool
I am considering purchasing an oscillating tool of some kind, like a Rockwell or Dremel
I would be using it for cutting small notches (chine channels for example) and for rasping/sanding in small areas where a hand rasp just doesn't cut it. What are your thoughts on these? Is it worth having in the shop?
JD
I would be using it for cutting small notches (chine channels for example) and for rasping/sanding in small areas where a hand rasp just doesn't cut it. What are your thoughts on these? Is it worth having in the shop?
JD
Views: 218
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Lawrence E. Long on
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Jordan: working on my 9th boat now- never owned one of those things. I do like Japanese pull saws. Started using one while cutting dovetails for seachests. Very easy to keep a line and a much smaller kerf than our traditional "push" saws. A good set of sharp chisels and some scrapers can get into some tight areas on a boat. Learning how to use hand tools gives much satisfaction verus using some "gizmo". But then its hard to teach an old dog new tricks.
Good Luck
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Permalink Reply by John Greenleaf on
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Jordan, I've really liked the "multimaster" type tools for both the boat and general carpentry. They can both cut and sand plus a variety of other jobs; doing both in some pretty tight spaces. My first one was a dremmel brand - worked well, but eventually after 2 yrs & some hard use started comming apart (I thin the heavy vibrations really kill these things). Definitely liked he tool though and will be askng Santa for another brand maybe Fein or something.
While I would not call it an essential tool, and still often rely on the trusty hand tools, it can be a real time saver in sanding and also get you out of a jam if you need to plunge cut something out (especially after the fact - I think I had to notch a transom for one of the rails this way). The other side of the coin is, speed can kill; especially with delicate cuts. Sometimes I like to make my mistakes slowly. J.G.
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Permalink Reply by lhedrick on
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Just a general comment on sanders.
I have 3 orbital sanders, PC and Dewalt. Other shop members have about 5 more. They work and you need to wear a respirator when using them. One good thing, they don't cost much.
Another member of the shop uses Festool sanders. Down side, 500 bucks but, they are almost dust free and well made. As cheap as I am I have to say they are worth it.
I have seen the multimaster and would say the same thing. Festool and Fein stuff is worth it over the long run. One more tool note, The Festool domino mortice tool is the coolest thing I have seen in years and I have to get one. Some much for another 800 bucks.
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Permalink Reply by Jordan Davis on
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Thanks all. This is awesome info! It seems like one of two things; Less coffee before entering the shop = SLOW DOWN! Or, make mistakes a little faster... :D Oh well. lol
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Permalink Reply by Dave Z on
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I'll hijack, but love to talk about tools.
I can't work without:
my dads old t-bevel
my grandads old marking gage
my dads old Disston crosscut hand saw
my grandads old marking knife
my small collection of low angle block planes- Stanly 220s and 9-1/2s
radius plane. I never use a router anymore
chamfer plane. I liek chamfers now more than radiuses.
my dads old 16 oz. Estwing leaher handled hammer. I love this thing.
'lectric tools-
12" disc sander. I can't live without this thing.
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Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on
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Back in '66 My old shop teacher Merle Barnhill taught the class about flat scrapers. How to sharpen them and how to use them. Great tool, makes for a nice surface, doesn't use any power and with practice you can do a wonder job. Sort of like "Karate Kid"; wax on, shavings off! You can even shape them to a specific contour. Woodcraft has several different styles and sets. I have only ever used the hand-held flat-blade units.
Rick Newman
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How about this one.
Remember the old Yankee reversible screw driver that was 18 inches long.
My dad had 2 of them and they are both saddly, long gone.
L
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Permalink Reply by Brad Dimock on
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When I was interviewing Buzz Holmstrom's brother Rolf for the Holmstrom biography in 1996, I mentioned I hoped to build a replica of Buzz's boat, the Julius F. As I was about to leave, Rolf told me to wait a minute. He wandered Into the back room and returned with an old Yankee screwdriver. "You'll need this," he said. "There's a lot of screws in that boat." he handed it to me and added, "This was Buzz's."
We drove about a zillion bronze screws into the Julius with that screwdriver.
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Brad, if I had Yankee from Buzz Holmstrom, it would be in my river repair kit. I would brake it out now and then on the river just for the hell of it. I bet 98 percent of the people on every trip under the age of 40 would have no idea what is was.
I would use it to drive at least one screw into every boat I build.
Great story.
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I have one of those reversable screwdrivers. Brings to mind my collection of brace and bits. I installed every screw on my last build with a brace and bit.
Yeah, cabinet scrapers. I also use a ton of them. old beat up ones are great for removing excess epoxy on scarf joints.
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Just got a new Harbor Freight Tool sale paper with their oscillating tool for $29.99.
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I went to try the oscillating cutter at the demo bench at Home Depot this morning, but it wouldn't turn on. So I guess they are useless!
The heart of my shop, other than the big floor-mounted tools, is the rack of Dewalt 18V tools. Four drills, two circular saws, a jig saw, a reciprocating saw, a side-grinder--even the flashlight is a great tool. There are only a few I don't have and I want them! Once you go cordless it's hard to go back. My old corded tools are getting pretty dusty.
There are also a bevy of great, cheap air-sanders and grinders that each do things that there's not many other ways to do.
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