What's some good under $20.00 necessities or accessories? Like a Vix bit for instance

[Rich Engelhardt]

Hello,
I'm wondering what other deep dark secret (to us newbies) tools &/or accessories there are lurking out there?
No doubt to many of you more seasoned, things like a Vix bit are commonplace. I had literally no idea until a month or so ago that such a tool existed.
I can't begin to describe how much easier all the hinges I've had to repair or replace over the years would have gone had I known about a Vix bit.

Help us newbies out here. What are some of the obscure things we should be tossing into our shopping carts?
(Much to SWMBO's chagrin, I like to toss an $5.00 to $20.00 item in the cart every time I visit a store.)
I figure that at some point I'll need it,,,,even if I don't know what it is or does :D

[Roy McQuay]

I, like you, always look around in the store to see if I can find something to make a task I have done easier. Everyone is different though. You should get things that apply to your skill level and projects. I also look for things that will add to, not duplicate, what I already have. An exception was Forstner bits. I bought a set and though they work, I don't care much for them. I was looking around at Woodcraft and spotted Bormax bits. They are pretty pricey but I bought one to try. I no longer use Forstner bits. The Bormax bits are the best thing I ever used for large holes, with no burning.

[Steve Roxberg]

Go to Lee Valley and search for Veritas Bar Gauge Heads.

They are 12.95 for a set, and buy the brass pins.

I use my sel all the time and plan to buy another. Hard

Veritas® Bar Gauge Heads

Here is the description from Lee Valley's web site.

Simple bar gauges are among the most useful tools in a shop. Much like cabinet scrapers, once you have used them, you wonder how you got along without them.
They have two primary purposes, comparing measurements (such as ensuring equal diagonals in drawers or carcasses to guarantee squareness) and transferring measurements.

Any time you can transfer a dimension directly, without converting it into numbers, you avoid a primary source of error.

Bar gauges not only shine in basic measurement transfer, but are unequalled for inside measurements, such as for sizing shelves or interior trim in windows.

They can also be used as "story sticks" for complex built-ins where nothing is square.

Gauge head openings are 1/2" x 3/4"; you just rip 1/4" slices off standard 3/4" lumber to make bars of the length you want (wood is not included). Made of brass and ABS plastic. We now include two brass pins for transferring inside or outside measurements smaller than the length of the sticks or for transferring outside measurements without making hook tips. A pair of brass pins is available separately to retrofit a previously purchased set of bar gauge heads (although a pair of small nails will also do the trick).

[Don Stanley]

Here's my contribution.

http://www.leevalley.com/images/item/woodworking/markmeasure/60n4602s1b.jpg

Web page:
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=32570&cat=1,43513,43529

Inches on top edge of scale, center measurement on bottom edge.

-Don

[Doug Shepard]

This little 3" Incra T-rule gets lots of use in my shop
http://www.hartvilletool.com/product/10841

[josh bjork]

Incra T-RULE06 Precision Marking T-Rule
http://www.amazon.com/Incra-T-RULE06-Precision-Marking-T-Rule/dp/customer-images/B00004TRBW

I really like lowes brand C clamps with the quick release button. They are handy when you need some crunch for only $8 or so.

[Randy Acton]

A good combination machinists square is worth it's wait in gold in my shop.

Be aware though that there are a lot of real gimmicky items out there and Veritas seems to be a good one for that (not to say they don't have some real helpful tools).

For instance; if diving into the world of handcut dovetails you might be tempted to purchase a dovetail marking gage when a sliding bevel will do the job equally as well and have a plethora of other uses in the shop.

[Jamie Buxton]

Earplugs. (I'd put safety glasses in the same line, but I hate the $20 ones with the plastic lenses. They scratch too easily, and they attract sawdust. I use a pair with glass lenses, but I bought them at an optician for more than your $20 limit.)

A set of screwdriver tips for your drill. Get a set with a variety of tips plus the magnetized shaft they fit into.

Sheet-rock knife. A sharp knife is very useful in a shop, and these resharpen so easily.

Good framing square. Look for one which is close to ninety degrees, and then tune it until it is exactly ninety. I prefer the steel ones.

Boxes of screws. Each one will set you back $5 or so, so maybe this is a multi-trip deal. What sizes you need depends on what kind of work you're doing.

Dental pick.

Decimal-inch tape measure. Decimals simplify. Lee Valley sells them for $4 or so. While you're at it, get a 6" machinists rule -- also in the $5 area.

[Randy Acton]

I love the FastCap flatback tape measure. It's only about $8 and once you get used to the blade not having the rigidity of a steel tape, it's a wonderful tool for woodworking.

Another measuring device that is real handy when cabinet making is a folding tape.

[glenn bradley]

This could go on for awhile but here's a few:

Veritas Saddle Square - http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=44836&cat=1,42936,50298
Vix bits - http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10610&filter=self%20centering%20bits
Split-ring drill depth stops - http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10617
Compass - http://tinyurl.com/33jnj5
Pocket rule - wherever
Good counter sink bits - http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.aspx?c=1&cat=3,41306,41328,32308&p=32308
Rubber caps - http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=1&p=45858&cat=2,42194,40727

[Ted Miller]

Micro adjust making gauge, one at Rockler was $10.99 yesterday, I use it daily...

[Rich Engelhardt]

Hello,
Excellent suggestions.
Just what I was looking for.
Thank you.

I guess I can add my own suggestion here also for anyone reading this and looking for an inexpensive indespesible tool to make life easier.

Shur-Line 05200 Paint Brush & Roller Cleaner

I've had one of these spinners for close to 30 years now, and they work extremely well. There's a couple of knock-offs floating around that don't have as good a quality steel grippers. They break after a number of uses.

[Mack Cameron]

Here's an inexpensive item from LV.
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=54892&cat=1,43456
If you have ever fiddled around trying to lay out the drilling hole pattern for a bench-mounted vise (or anything else), you know why you need transfer punches.

Instead of trying to mark the hole with a pencil (and getting it almost right), you just put one of these hardened punches in the hole and tap it to transfer the exact hole center to the material to be drilled.
Use them for hardware mounting, for jig making or as size gauges for small holes that defeat standard calipers. Made of Rc46 ferro-blacked steel, the set of 28 punches ranges from 3/32" to 17/32" and comes in an indexed stand.

[Byron Trantham]

The two tools I use a lot are a 6" combination square and folding utility knife. Both came from my Brother-In-Law for Christmas. <$20:D

[Cary Swoveland]

I came to this thread late, and find many of the items I would suggest have already been mentioned. They would include Incra's 3" T-rule, Lee Valley's saddle square, bar heads and counter sink bits, and Fastback Flatback tape. That does not mean I'm out of ideas. Here are some inexpensive items I use all the time:

- Dripless glue bottle, small and/or large size, widely available. http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=48304&cat=1,110,42967

- 4" digital caliper, eBay.

- Split depth collars for drills. http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=32244&cat=1,180,42334,42335

- 6" hook rule. http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=40923&cat=1,43513

- Flush-cutting saw. http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=32928&cat=1,42884

- LV tapered plug cutter (esp. 3/8"). http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=32320&cat=1,180,42288

- Crepe block (for removing sawdust from sandpaper). http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=20192&cat=1,42500

- Rockler aluminum push stick. http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10271&filter=push%20stick

- Bench Dog offset push stick. http://www.amazon.com/Bench-Dog-10-025-Push-Loc-Docking/dp/B000FW3VQ8

- 3" brass 45 degree triangle. http://www.amazon.com/Brass-Angle-Setup-Block/dp/B000NPCHXK/ref=sr_1_2/102-0685333-2398569?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1173121045&sr=1-2

- Set of brass setup bars. http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=16399

Cary

[glenn bradley]

Oh yeah, pick up a couple different size transparent plastic triangles at the office supply store. A yellow tint helps with visibility. Great for drawing or a quick check for square.

[Gary Keedwell]

I'm a little late, too, but would like to share the handiest little tool that I have been reaching for , alot lately. I;m kinda fussy when I want to mark a hole and usually reach for an awl to give me a little indentation for my drill bit.
Now I reach for this Optical Center Punch. You line up the cross hairs and take out the glass and put in the punch and you have a perfectly placed indentation for your drill bit.


http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&cat=1,42936,50298,45502&p=45502:)