Your favorite hand tool? Your favorite people may never have used/heard of?

[mouppe]

Mine has to be the Incra T-rule.

http://www.incra.com/product_trules.htm

 

[John D]

One of my favorites is the Lee Valley Veritas Saddle Square

You can use it to accurately transfer a mark from one face of a board to the other (for some reason I'm always marking the wrong side of the board).  The large saddle square also has a neat center line for standard 2 x 4 stock.  Of all of the clever tools I've bought these seem to get used on nearly every project.

John

 

[thalvor]

This Hultafors knife/chisel is a favorite of mine:

http://www.hultafors.se/asp/produkter/shop/ArticleBigPic.asp?BigPicID=1893&ArticleName=ST%C4MKNIV%20STK

Tom

 

[Mac]

I love my Incra 7" square. It's beautiful.

 

[ForumMFG]

One of my favorites is the Lee Valley Veritas Saddle Square

You can use it to accurately transfer a mark from one face of a board to the other (for some reason I'm always marking the wrong side of the board).  The large saddle square also has a neat center line for standard 2 x 4 stock.  Of all of the clever tools I've bought these seem to get used on nearly every project.

John

Just a little FYI to all the Saddle Square lovers and to the people who make fun of and laugh at people who purchase Bridge City tools, you wouldn't be able to enjoy a Veritas saddle square if it wasn't for Bridge City.  They were the first one to design and offer a saddle square and that?s how Veritas got the idea to make one themselves.  That?s a fact.

 

[Winchester]

This is a great thread. 

My favorite tool(s) that fit this category would be my set of Narex Chisels, from Highland Woodworking.  They cost about the same as a set of "big box" chisels, but are of equal or similar quality to the best brands you can think of. 

My job allows me to travel pretty extensively (especially in the Southeast), and whenever I am in the Atlanta area, I try to stop by Highland.  It is a great store, with a great staff. 

Another tool that I really think falls into this category is the Festool Sanding Block.  I was actually given one as a "comp" for my Festool purchases, and I have since purchased two more as gifts and another for myself.  It is evidence that the great Festool engineering doesn't only apply to power tools.

I recently bought some narex chisels and they are absolutely amazing for their price.

 

[Winchester]

My favourite hand tool varies, since I do such a variety of things.

I use my speed square a lot, no matter what task, I guess.

A good pencil and ultra fine sharpie are a must!

And my trusty knife

and yes, this already posted

Oh and I almost forgot my persuader.... one face saved for tapping chisels and the other face saved for persuading tight fits.

 

[Rob-GB]

I have been thinking about this for a while [scratch chin] and have come to a decision!

Top is a Record Rebate hand plane No.071, the silver one is a side rebate plane Stanley No.79, then bottom is a RecordNo.020
Compass plane. Extra view below.

Why?
Because over the years they have got me out of a tricky situation time and again in a timely fashion. Particularly with stair installations but with other works too. The real bonus is that they are an absolute joy to use [big grin] Much the same way as I am finding Festool tools more of a pleasure to use than some of the items being replaced.
Regards Rob.

 

[Wonderwino]

I really, really, really like my Bridge City Tool DSS-6 Double Saddle Square.  I have taken it to Lebanon for training twice and it is the "hit" of the classes.  Everyone wants to take it home.  I suggested to Marcel (from Germany) that Festool have Bridge City make a custom version.  I could see the wheels turning.   [wink]

http://www.bridgecitytools.com/pop_zoom.php?img=DSS6_web.jpg&dir=products&id=510&prefix=zoom

 

[Winchester]

I really, really, really like my Bridge City Tool DSS-6 Double Saddle Square.  I have taken it to Lebanon for training twice and it is the "hit" of the classes.  Everyone wants to take it home.  I suggested to Marcel (from Gremany) that Festool have Bridge City make a custom version.  I could see the wheels turning.   [wink]

http://www.bridgecitytools.com/pop_zoom.php?img=DSS6_web.jpg&dir=products&id=510&prefix=zoom

That is a very nice-looking tool.

I picked up a lee valley saddle square and find myself using it often.

I may try and order one of those

edit:.... nevermind, I looked it up and I'm not fighting for space in my toolbelt that badly.  [scared] [tongue]

 

[Jonhilgen]

Can't get through a cabinet install without using this.  Invaluable.

http://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-843-Compass-Scriber/dp/B00004T7R8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1273697654&sr=1-3

 

[Winchester]

amazing how often I use this.

has a spot in my toolbags for sure

 

[RONWEN]

amazing how often I use this.

has a spot in my toolbags for sure

About how long is that blade and where did you buy it -- that looks like I would have good purpose for that tool.

 

[Wood_Junkie]

I use this one a lot:  http://www.lenoxtools.com/pages/Product.aspx?id=TrifoldSaw

[attachthumb=#]

Very convenient is it accepts standard reciprocating saw (Sawzall) blades for metal, wood, etc.  Tool-less blade changes; three blade positions.  There's a newer version at the HD, but same thing.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I can relate to Rob-GB's three hand tools.  I have those three and they will sometimes sit in the tool cabinet for months without use, but then they save my butt in a tricky situation, especially the compass plane - what other tool goes from concave to convex with the spin of a dial???

 

[Winchester]

amazing how often I use this.

has a spot in my toolbags for sure

About how long is that blade and where did you buy it -- that looks like I would have good purpose for that tool.

about 240mm.  it's a pull saw and works very quickly. there are a few different blades you can buy too.
my friend's got the shorter one, i think about 210mm and that is nice too, actually would fit in my pouch a little better.

I got mine from http://ultimatetools.myshopify.com/pages/silkytools

They also sell them at KMS tools.

Or online here: http://www.silkytools.com/catalog/p_gomboy-fine-teeth.html

 

[Rob-GB]

I can relate to Rob-GB's three hand tools.  I have those three and they will sometimes sit in the tool cabinet for months without use, but then they save my butt in a tricky situation, especially the compass plane - what other tool goes from concave to convex with the spin of a dial???

Never thought of it that way! And I cannot think of any. [scratch chin] Every time I use it I get a good feeling, partly because it does the job but mostly because my other half bought it for me as a birthday present after I mentioned one day that I would like one. [big grin]
Rob.

 

[Oyvind]

The Hultafors Atle nail puller.  Not a tool I use very often, but indispensable when I need it.  E.g. for pulling deep set nails, when It's impractical to get a prybar under the fastened piece of wood or when the head has snapped off.

It's a surprisingly expensive little tool, BTW.

 

[Brice Burrell]

The Hultafors Atle nail puller.  Not a tool I use very often, but indispensable when I need it.  E.g. for pulling deep set nails, when It's impractical to get a prybar under the fastened piece of wood or when the head has snapped off.

It's a surprisingly expensive little tool, BTW.

I've tried those types of nail pullers in the past and I could never figure out how to use them.  Give me a good old Estwing cat's paw and I'm all set.

 

[Corwin]

I have an old nail puller that is somewhat similar to that one, only it has an outer grip on the handle that slides up and down which enables you to pound the tool down to catch the underside of the nail using this grip.  Handy tool.