High End and Specialty Tools

[Julie Moriarty]

Thought it would be interesting to have a thread about tools we might drool over or just think cool to have. Feel free to add your own...

The first high end tool that comes to mind is the Hotley A1 jointer. You can get it for just under $10,000.
http://www.holteyplanes.com/images/A1_1284.jpg

In the specialty tool category, tools used in post and beam construction come to mind. Can I interest you in this chain mortiser from Mafell? It's only $3,000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfsYGC9292Q

[Mike Henderson]

When I first started in woodworking, I would look at the tool porn, but eventually realized that I can do very good woodwork with everyday tools.

Mike

[Rick Alexander]

Ah come on Mike - don't you want to at least look?

For me - it's a sawmill - preferably a Woodmizer LT40 Super Hydrolic with the diesel upgrade, debarker - all the bells and whistles. The guy that does our milling has one and I'm completely jelous every time he comes over. I need one like another hole in the head but still ------ oh baby. But then I'd have to have a huge barn to store all that wood in - a wood kiln - and a straight line machine - and double sided planer - a slippery slope indeed.


271545

[paul cottingham]

DL Barrett and sons bridle plow plane.
Set of Matt Bickford moulding planes.
one can dream.

[Jeff Duncan]

If it's hand tools I'm going for an older Scottish infill plane. Something well made and well used but still in good condition! Or a full set of pattern makers chisels.....sharing the same pre-requisites;)

If it's power tools I'm thinking maybe either a Bauerle or Martin tilting spindle shaper. Or a Wadkin PK saw like Jack's...now that would be nice:D

JeffD

[Steve Rozmiarek]

I've always wanted to add a number 44 to my plane collection. Not a user, but sure a neat looking plane.

http://www.supertool.com/StanleyBG/44.jpg

[Bill Neely]

A climate controlled downdraft paint booth.

[Jim Andrew]

Have to admit I have fallen into this trap. MP32 sawmill, skidsteer with forks and grapple, barn full of wood, woodshop and an addition, trailers to haul logs and lumber, spent 400 on new clamps just this month, no end to the madness.

[Adam Diethrich]

...spent 400 on new clamps just this month, no end to the madness.

Good man. We're proud of you.

A.W.D.

[Adam Diethrich]

This is quite possibly the coolest small power tool I have ever seen.
My PC biscuit joiner is feeling a bit inadequate right now, and rightly so...

Thanks for sharing Julie :)

A.W.D.


In the specialty tool category, tools used in post and beam construction come to mind. Can I interest you in this chain mortiser from Mafell? It's only $3,000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfsYGC9292Q

[Metod Alif]

I'd be quite content with high end skills and smarts. Their allure is probably due to the act that one cannot buy them...
I do admire high end workmanship of tools and done by tools.
Best wishes,
Metod

[Richard DiCerb]

Makita makes a nice one also , gave mine to a timber framer . Sure miss it occasionally.

[Stephen Cherry]

Something like this would do me fine:
http://www.hesswoodwork.com/images/Machinery%20equipment/Oliver%20Planer%2010-12-07%20022%20ps%20400.jpg

[Andrew Joiner]

Older German machines. This saw has some beautiful curvy cast iron.

http://www.machinestock.com/~traderpic/1006/1006-14428-12072011083106289.jpg

[Jamie Buxton]

A shop bigger than a two-car garage!

[Jim Rimmer]

A shop bigger than a two-car garage!
Me, too, with climate control.

[John Piwaron]

[QUOTE=Julie Moriarty;2159084]Thought it would be interesting to have a thread about tools we might drool over or just think cool to have. Feel free to add your own...

The first high end tool that comes to mind is the Hotley A1 jointer. You can get it for just under $10,000.
http://www.holteyplanes.com/images/A1_1284.jpg

Will the Hotley jointer plane result in a surface flatter than what my Record can give me? When someone pays the required $10,000 to acquire one, will using it result in a surface that is *absolutely* flat? :)

'Cause whatever I buy has to provide a noticeable benefit to justify whatever price it cost. That's getting harder to do. In the beginning, anything I bought was a better tool than the one I didn't have. When the time came to replace that one, it was pretty easy to replace the "buffalo tools" router/drill/whatever that I had been using with something that worked better. But now I'm on the other side of the bell curve. What sort of marginal improvement will the Hotley plane give me over a Lie-Nielsen? Or even a Record.

Of course, if I were a lottery winner and wished to buy it simply because it's beautiful, no problem.

[jack forsberg]

Older German machines. This saw has some beautiful curvy cast iron.

http://www.machinestock.com/~traderpic/1006/1006-14428-12072011083106289.jpg


yes more German machines but i like the more shapely ones271608271609

but by far the koolest is the swing chisel Maka mortiser. I love it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJUJ796jxls

271610

[Jeremy Hamaker]

I would not turn down a 5-axis waterjet...

[curtis rosche]

Something like this would do me fine:
http://www.hesswoodwork.com/images/Machinery%20equipment/Oliver%20Planer%2010-12-07%20022%20ps%20400.jpg
I get to play with one of these twice a week

[Peter Quinn]

yes more German machines but i like the more shapely

but by far the koolest is the swing chisel Maka mortiser. I love it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJUJ796jxls



A Maka oscillating mortiser...Jack, you got my number. Somewhere out there on youtube there is a video of a modern CNC version, a sort of milling work station. In the video it hogs out all the mortises for a complete 6 panel door in about 25 seconds, moves the wood itself, self feeds and out feeds. Amazing. Probably have to make 200 doors a day to pay for the thing, but still I want one in my home basement shop. Why? Why not. It makes as little sense as a $10K infill plane, or maybe almost as little in my circumstance, but dream tools don't have to make sense. Thats the dream aspect. My real dream is to win the big lotto, then set up a non profit member shop, like a low budget coop for wood workers, pros, amateurs, craftspeople. Something run by pros that are well trained, not a free for all where people hack off fingers. The central idea would be to give access to the large machines that many small shops can only dream of, wide belts, 24" jointer, big spiral head planer, straight line rip saw, shapers, maybe a real decent spray booth and drying tent. A place to get the things done you can't do at home. Offer memberships at a very reasonable cost, training on machines prior to access, some things just have to be run by a dedicated operator, but you get your stuff done quick, and you can alway catch and direct. Thats my real dream tool, to create a place where everybody that is inspired can realize their visions....and I get to play with tons of large iron.

[Adam Diethrich]

...Thats my real dream tool, to create a place where everybody that is inspired can realize their visions....and I get to play with tons of large iron.

You sir, should be smiled upon by the woodworking lotto gods, and allowed to realize your dream :)

A.W.D.

[bobby milam]

Thought it would be interesting to have a thread about tools we might drool over or just think cool to have. Feel free to add your own...

The first high end tool that comes to mind is the Hotley A1 jointer. You can get it for just under $10,000.
http://www.holteyplanes.com/images/A1_1284.jpg


And I thought the $10,000 price was an error. Where do they mount the computer for it? I know it has to be a cnc for that price!

[Jeff Duncan]

Something like this would do me fine:
http://www.hesswoodwork.com/images/Machinery%20equipment/Oliver%20Planer%2010-12-07%20022%20ps%20400.jpg


That's from the Hess shop located in Hawaii right??? If so that right there IS the dream shop. I've drooled over that shop, and equipment, and heck.....location, more than once:D

[Dan Hintz]

I would not turn down a 5-axis waterjet...

This.

And a 5-axis fiber laser would be nice, too (working on getting a 3-axis right now).

[David Kumm]

That's from the Hess shop located in Hawaii right??? If so that right there IS the dream shop. I've drooled over that shop, and equipment, and heck.....location, more than once:D

Chuck is in Asheville, NC now. Moved everything and set up a new shop. The 299 is pretty unusual in that it is a type II retrofitted with an ITCH head. Generally you only see them on the later type III which isn't quite as desireable. Dave

[Larry Fox]

A climate controlled downdraft paint booth.

A big +1 on this. If I am really going to swing for the fences, I wouldn't mind having a nice 3000+ sq/ft shop with a nice big Altendorf or Martin slider in it.