Top Ten Tools I Use Every Day in the Shop

I get lots of questions about the tools that I use in my videos, so today we're going to do a round-up of the top ten tools that get used for just about every project.
Tools in this video:
*This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
4x6 Bandsaw (Harbor Freight): www.harborfreight.com/horizon...
Starrett Intenss Pro-Die Band Saw Blade (Amazon*): amzn.to/3cIVAKM
Allen Metric Metric Hex Key Set (*Amazon): amzn.to/2BVUYNw
Allen SAE Hex Key Set (*Amazon): amzn.to/2BsnIfP
Knipex Pliers Wrench 3-Piece Set (Amazon*): amzn.to/2ruzS8m
NogaFlex Indicator Holder with Fine Adjust (Amazon*): amzn.to/33FwerY
Shars Ultra Precision 1-2-3 Blocks (pair) (eBay*): ebay.to/2RxwqWc
Baldor 332B 3/4HP Buffer (Amazon*): amzn.to/2GqOCMZ
6" Silicon Carbide Deburring Wheel (MSC): www.mscdirect.com/product/det...
8" Aluminum Oxide Deburring Disc (MSC): www.mscdirect.com/product/det...
Wilton 6-1/2" Tradesman Vise (Amazon*): amzn.to/33fqPXz
Roller Thrust Bearing: www.mcmaster.com Part number 5909K36
Washers for Roller Thrust Bearing: www.mcmaster.com Part number 5909K49
Mitutoyo 6"/150mm Digital Caliper (Amazon*): amzn.to/3qJTtKv
Noga Deburring Set (Amazon*): amzn.to/2xMfiPz
Dewalt Bifocal Safety Glasses (Amazon*): amzn.to/35eCYhl
Raw Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

[@MitutoyoAmerica]

We're happy to see your Mitutoyo caliper made your top ten list. Great tips on usage as well!

[@philipbyrnes7501]

And so they ought to be, Mitutoyo calipers have to be the best money can buy. I’ve used cheap copies for years and having saved up enough for a real set, I am stunned at how good they are, truly worth every cent, thank you so much

[@skylark4901]

They're all I ever buy! In fact I just dropped mine recently and need to order some new ones! It happens.....

[@firstmkb]

Can you tell me why the depth rod has a notch out of it? Great products, thanks!

[@skylark4901]

@@firstmkb I always assumed if you are holding it up against the wall of a hole, it's to make sure you are at the very bottom of the hole if there is a small radius at the bottom of the hole, but that's just my assumption, I am a machinist but I never inquired into it.🍻

[@firstmkb]

@@skylark4901 great answer. Totally obvious to me after you explained it!

[@robertdubard7959]

No exaggeration, this is the best "shop advice" video I have ever seen! You not only identify the great tools, but demonstrate what makes them so useful without wasting my time. Many thanks!

[@darrenshepherd3984]

You said what I was thinking but better. Cheers.

[@bkailua1224]

'"I know where it is so I am not constantly running around the shop looking for where I put the tool. Ok I don't always put it back on the rack so I do actually spend a lot of time looking around the shop". This is exactly what I do and this comment was priceless. Great videos.

[@every1665]

I find a camera (phone one will do) is handy when disassembling things so that you can put things back together the right way by referring to your pictures if necessary. Also - a glass syringe. Glass syringes and a thick gauge needle (say 19 gauge or less - lower number = bigger needle) is really handy for flushing chips out of tapped holes where cutting oil tends to hold the chips in place. The rubber pistons in plastic syringes will swell up in solvent and make them unusable, plus glass ones clean out much easier. You can squirt solvent down blind tapped holes or any similar tight spot with quite a bit of pressure to flush gunk out.

[@jasonwood765]

Your slight amount of sarcasm and humbleness keep me coming back. Good job man 👊

[@billminckler6550]

Wow! This presenter is SO CLEAR and helpful. Both camera and communication skills are superb! Thank you!

[@chevyfahrer]

i own a digital caliper for about 30 years and now in 2021 you tell me that step-trick,holy cow,you never get to old to learn something .Had to go to my workshop at 10pm to check that :)

[@MrDaytonakarl]

I thought I was alone in learning this! Old dog with a new trick, had to go try it out! Now subscribed to learn more wee tricks and hints

[@rpavlik1]

There's actually a surprising number of folks that don't know that. And almost, but not quite, as useful as the depth pin...

[@harveysmith100]

If it makes you feel better, I have only known that trick for about 12 months and I am 55 now.

[@chevyfahrer]

@@harveysmith100 so you learned it at 54,so did i :)

[@harveysmith100]

@@chevyfahrer What did we do before You Tube?

[@UncleKennysPlace]

Is _swearing_ a tool? 'Cuz I often use that as the second tool, after I misuse the first. It makes me feel better. It doesn't usually stop the bleeding, however.

[@somebodyelse6673]

Something that DOES stop the bleeding (for small nicks that don't warrant bandaging) is a styptic pencil. Yes, the exact one used for shaving nicks. Couple of bucks, toss it in your toolbox miscellaneous drawer, and stop bleeding on your drawings, books, and parts.

[@mikelastname]

Duct Tape.

[@edwardconway5955]

As the medics in my tank battalion used to say, "rub some dirt in it; everything stops bleeding eventually"

[@railgap]

and why is it that non-swearing words DON'T make us feel better? Swearing is weird, but I'm stuck with my potty mouth. ^_^

[@bedlamite42]

No, just like grimacing and sticking your tongue out the side of your mouth, swearing is a technique that takes a bit of time to master. Once you get it right, you may not even need a tool to get to the bleeding part.

[@blakewerner4368]

safety glass bifocals have changed my life in the shop. they are very convenient and work well for me.

[@joew.harris7018]

This video brought back many memories. I served a 4 year apprenticeship to become a Machinist with the AEC (Atomic Energy Commission) and one of the first projects that I did on my own was to build a 2 piece set of 1-2-3 Blocks. Roughed them, drilled and tapped them, squared them up, heat treated them to 60 Rockwell and finish them on a surface grinder. They were within .0002 of size and square all over. I carried those blocks around with me for 20 years and lost them when my machinist tool box was stolen, along with ten thousand dollars worth of Machinist tools. I missed those blocks more than anything else. Sentimental, you know?

[@kevindailey4412]

Hey Joe, I'm just starting out, I have a bench top mill. Can you recommend what brand of 123 blocks i should buy?

[@oldroyster]

I did the very same thing at my Boeing 4 year apprenticeship (started 1952) lost one, block but still have the other, havent used my machinist tools for 50 years.

[@CrimFerret]

Great video. For those paying attention, it's also a lesson of knowing where you can spend less on a good enough tool and where you shouldn't. You've got a Harbor Freight bandsaw and tool cabinets which are prefectly good for their purpose. You aren't the first one I've heard talk about the Noga indicator holders being far better than the imitators. The Knipex plier wrenches are seriously amazing. Well worth not busting your knuckles with a crescent wrench again. This is a case where you'll want the name brand ones. All the cheaper knock-offs of Knipex pliers I've seen are universally horrible.

[@scottb8175]

Thanks James, a few of these are now on my shopping list. I'll add a few I found I used daily when I was a full-time tool maker - a surface plate, a 3" smooth jaw precision ground machinist's vice (Palmgren), a big wall chart of Decimal - Fraction and Drill and Thread sizes (mine includes the weird British stuff like BA and BSP, I think it was from Dormer or maybe Sheffield) a $10 solar powered scientific calculator, 0.5mm mechanical pencil and a 8-1/2 x 11" pad of paper (not post-its; no adhesive), a carbide pocket scribe with a magnet on the end (a great "pick up tools dropped in the ways" tool, and "is it magnetic or ferrous?" detector), a small pocket flat blade screwdriver like the ones often given away as promotional items, and a quality set of micro-cut jeweler's and riffling files. Edit - and a 2" machinist's square....

[@HouseOfHacks]

Found a couple items to put on the wish list. Thanks! I picked up some cheap calipers several years ago on an impulse purchase having never used them before. They quickly became my #1 measuring tool to reach for.

[@vincentguttmann2231]

As a german, I can confirm Knipex is good. They really are the pinnacle of pliermaking. They also offer small electronic sidecutters with magnetized jaws. They catch all the pieces of legs, and are really nice.

[@LambertZero]

Do they make leads on electronics components out of steel in Germany? Here they are made of copper.

[@vincentguttmann2231]

@@LambertZero Good stuff uses copper, but cheap resistors off eBay (good enough for my hobbyist projects), some pin headers and IC legs (ofc not all, but the ones I use) uses something magnetic. Maybe nickel? And electronics components are the most international things I can think of, so that would be universal to cheap components.

[@LambertZero]

@@vincentguttmann2231 Yeah, nickel, that's cheap. :-)

[@Bob_Adkins]

I love those pliers. If they ever run an 80% off sale, I'm getting some.

[@Ropetangler]

@@Bob_Adkins You could be waiting a while! Next lifetime maybe.

[@DrVick-xw2yc]

Thanks! Love this kind of content--I was actually just starting a search for a good vice... 😂

[@spencercampbell8396]

I have to say, one of my favourite tools I use everyday is my 6" pocket rule. I actually have 2 of them, one with and one without the end hook. Extremely handy

[@scottb8175]

Yep, I have one I acquired with a used set of old tools at a garage sale that is about an inch wide - because besides one side having engraved (not printed) fractional inch and mm scales, the other side has tenths and hundredths of an inch scales. It also has a micro-printed decimal-fraction-mm conversion chart on one side and a letter and number drill table on the other. It was made by Craftsman, and sadly I've never seen another like it.

[@johnmosier6899]

those Knipex pliers are invaluable, By far one of my happiest buys. I hope more channels do videos like these!

[@wayneevans5050]

Wow, that was one of the best tool videos I've ever seen. I'm a 40 year woodworker and in retirement am playing with metal much more, I have a good south bend 8" lathe, a Chinese mill. and I have the same band saw now. Looks like I have to order a couple more things now. thanks for doing this.

[@GeoffTV2]

Great vid! I watched it during a coffee break from the workshop. I did not know about the caliper step measuring trick. Just went back out there and sure enough mine do that too (I guess they all do). So that was a great tip, thanks!

[@jpkatz1435]

Really like your selection. "Money spent on quality tools is NEVER wasted."

[@donkuwik3390]

Your videos have helped me so very much, thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge.

[@JohannSwart_JWS]

You forgot to mention your broom/shopvac. Your shop always looks so clean!

[@Clough42]

It's becoming clear I need to do a sequel. Lots of great comments about tools I missed.

[@edhibbard1030]

An exceptionally well presented video. Not just the selection of tools, but ready examples showing how specific features are used and why it's important. Thank you!

[@glfarwell]

Yes, I used all of the afore mentioned tools when I was working, but to add a few, A good 6" rule, a good scriber, a bevel edged solid square and layout dye. The shop could always use more tools and a few that I would customize or make, like vise parallels. jaw stops, copper chuck jaw pads. the list is endless, but I respect your top ten. We all take different approaches to the work.

[@kingblatz]

Thanks for taking the time.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Outstanding presentation! Thanks!

[@donaldnaymon3270]

Great tools for every day in shop. Thank you for sharing.

[@buildsbyrami4209]

This was really helpful, will be making some purchases to make my life easier! Thank you!!

[@bcwrangler]

Great list!

[@mpower1956]

Thanks for your time and info!

[@keithmonarch447]

In all 10 items that you mentioned, the 2x3 blocks, big yeah 👍. When I finally move forward, the bandsaw will be the choice. Very inexpensive, the ability to part something. And that was my problematic situation, without a huge investment, thanks for your video!!

[@billybike57]

Thanks for your shop tour. Lots of cool tools.

[@jobersudyobodou9362]

One tool that I use in every project is an optical center punch.

[@kenfcrafts]

Helpful list and thanks for the links!

[@22lambo]

The trick with using the 123 block as a surface gauge is super cool, definitely going to use that one!

[@darrenshepherd3984]

It's weird how I can use things everyday that people don't know but people show me new things everyday. 😀. I hope this made sense.ta.

[@jothain]

Oh yes, you know the good stuff. 5:35 Those Knipex pliers are best adjustable wrench alternative. Also handy for doing small bending etc. As an industrial mechanic I quite often carry small ones with me as they can extend to fairly beefy bolt sizes and cover mm and inch stuff mixes like for instance pneumatic connectors etc. The best pliers to own in addition to more damaging Knipex pipe pliers.

[@ProfSimonHolland]

my top ten tools [1] starrett 150 mm thin ruller [2] starrett scriber [3] Alpen brand drills [4] Rhome vice [5] tap set with tap size drills [6] deep hole marker [7] 1 2 3 blocks [8] knippex and japanese enigeer brand pliers [9] scotchbrite sanding discs [10] Bahco allen keys

[@argee55]

The Knipex pliers set and the Allen wrenches have bee on my Amazon wishlist for sometime. Guess I’m going to have breakdown purchase them for myself.

[@ypaulbrown]

all great tools, thanks so much for making and posting, Cheers, Paul

[@TomChame]

Well done, thanks.

[@RambozoClown]

You left out your apron. Having big pockets to put tools in is the only thing that keeps me from having to look around the shop to figure out where I put something down.

[@nemocacihlas4876]

Noga base totally upped my game...expensive but worth it hands down.

[@acme4786]

I have the exact same 6 1/2" Wilton vise and used your tip by adding a roller thrust bearing and washers. Much improved, smoother to operate and takes less energy to get a good clamp. Thank you Sir...

[@andrewdoherty8847]

The same principle of replacing screw friction with clamping force by using a thrust bearing also applies to collet chucks with a bearing nose.

[@Paulctan]

Whoa!! Can confirm on those Starret Saw Blades. I had bought one after watching your video as a spare since my existing blade was still working. Well, the existing blade broke today (they were a bosch replacement of the original already), and I replaced them with the Starret. WOW! That blade cut thru 6061 1" square stock 3 times faster than my old blade! Definitely worth the extra money for them!!

[@bulletproofpepper2]

Thanks for sharing

[@pauldevey8628]

Great channel. I need to get the Noga tooling but most important the bi-focal safety glasses. My most useful tool in the shop is paper and pencil. Sorry, not sexy but I used it for calculations, simulate part fitments etc. Yes, I need to move to CAD but my workflow is still significantly paper and pencil

[@arthurmorgan8966]

That was excellent sensei. Top notch explanation and choice of tools.

[@danielpena5530]

Great info very useful. Thank you you are very thorough and thoughtful.

[@sega702]

Awesome top ten, I really enjoyed learning about the bifocal safety glasses.

[@randysullivan3575]

I never knew about the step measuring trick. I'm gonna use that from now on. Thank you.

[@machinesandthings7121]

GREAT VID! Learned a bunch.

[@hosseinhayati9820]

Thank you. Step measurment with caliber was new :)

[@TheUnimaker]

Really good list, and well presented. Most were already my faves, but a couple I'll now be buying. And some good tips... like the caliper thing. 🤦‍♂️👍

[@Graham_Wideman]

Aaaanndd the number one most-used tool in my shop is.... my wallet... hahaha... but seriously, great video, and I think I learned at least eight things I can put to use. Which will probably end up exercising my number one tool.. doh!

[@railgap]

*ding* this

[@Midlife-Adventures]

Didn’t make it through the video before ordering a Kipinx plier.

[@enoz.j3506]

Great Video,Thank you.

[@JohnQuillen]

Excellent video & list. Thank you! I appreciate the vise rollerbearing mod. I'll be doing that! Ordering some bifocal safety glasses, deburrer, and t-handle hex drives now! Interesting to note how much more expensive things have gotten in 2 years! The H-F band saw is now 350 and they now do 10% discounts at the holidays, not 20-25%

[@mokuroglucnc]

I see an inspiring, beautiful and disciplined working order and I am fascinated

[@richardfry7891]

used to carry 6" Knipex, 6" LED flashlight, and standard Allen wrench set on the job when doing Tool & Die or running Metal treatment / Ecoat paint systems, able to fix most issues without getting the big roll around drawer chest

[@rustyshackleford928]

AHHH thank you so much for the bandsaw blade tip. I've been burning through those cheap ones. I'm grabbing the "Allen's" as well. Great Video!

[@stu-po]

Nice tips and mods!

[@johnedward7538]

I have about half of the tools from your top 10 list and in the coming weeks I will be completing the top 10. One tool though that is really useful for me is a variable speed Dremel. I never knew how indispensable it would become for me until I bought one, now I can't get along without it.

[@RobertBrown-lf8yq]

James, In every video you make, your shop is always clean, neat, and VERY well organised 👌 Regards Robert

[@Clough42]

Keep in mind I choose where I position and point the cameras.

[@MrCubflyer]

Love Noga products.

[@rickguyevans]

I am a hobbyist and motorcycle restorer: I, too, use all ten of those items as well a quality 4" square. Great video and am a new subscriber! Rick from Canada😎

[@richardsprojects]

You use them all everyday , amazing how new they all look

[@TheAyrCaveShop]

Nice list James !

[@benbixel3252]

Great info Thank you !

[@lugopena4438]

Great viv, tips etc, thanks

[@petermetaxas9696]

Thank you for your top10 tools. My most used tool is a 22 x 66" movable work table I made from a miscut 1-1/8" plate. Four 800lb capacity casters 2 moveable 2 fixed [lockable] , rolls reasonably easy. 5" vice attached and 4 holes @ 4-1/2" diameter near each corner. I thought they would not be used very often but they are very usefull, especially with my mag-drill. work table has a shelf about 12" above the floor where I keep usable scraps of material. Now I have to think of tool #2 thru 10. Thanks again for a very pleasant video.

[@AXNJXN1]

Of all the videos on YT for 'helpful' hints, this one tops them all for shop recommendations. Vid well done!

[@fredscott413]

good show,thanks.

[@philipbyrnes7501]

Excellent, thank you. After many years loving and enjoying still working with wood I am now in my retirement delving into the joy of machining metals with both a small mill and a small lathe. Every little tip helps, especially ancillary tools like these and thoroughly enjoyed your straight forward, comprehensive presentation. One new subscriber and a few of the tools I have, a few I’ll get through your links so thank you for making my life better in this small way. Take care and thank you again 11 out of 10 👍, oops, that’s Woodworking accuracy for ya lol or is it just Australian, not sure, the rulers are all upside down lol 😎👍

[@MichaelLloyd]

Nice list. I did not know about the step function of a caliper.

[@obe22099]

You have a really useful channel. Great content thats easy to digest as a new DIYer.

[@capt.kennethabney8789]

Great vice hack. Thanks

[@Buddha-of8fk]

The first and most important tool in the Tool and Die shop is a good coffee cup. Insulated with a lid so you don't get chips, grinder dust or EDM oil in the coffee.

[@Kinkivette]

The digital caliper trick on 22:00 is new to me and will be very usefull, thank you,, great video!

[@gregiven]

Thanks for the knipex hint, didn't know about those they look good. I'm ordering them now.

[@EZ_shop]

Cool video. Might pick some up.

[@andrewmcgillivray1881]

great video! thanks!

[@rene-jeanmercier6517]

Very very interesting and informative vidéo. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Regards. RJM

[@warrengalliano6103]

If you have the extra money I would choose a JET bandsaw, I toiled with the $200 version for years and when I switched locations I popped the extra bucks and I'm glad I did, the extra wide blade, extra size along with extra rigidity is a blessing. I also opt for the calipers with carbide jaws, both inner and outer, these act as indestructible scribers. Good video, I see way too many people using a hand hacksaw when they could save a s-load of time buying a chaep cutoff saw.

[@rondumontier1187]

I was getting tired of same ole stuff on utube. So i found your video. Much impressed as i am turning my drill press into a somewhat of a milling machine for my leathertools. Great stuff from new subscriber.👌

[@thenetwerx]

Good stuff man!!

[@martincacer7033]

Thank you, It is a great video

[@ParsMaker]

nice video, thanks for shear

[@waynespyker5731]

For # 11 I had a 1 1/2" X 3" cutoff of unhardened Vega tool steel about 7/8 " thick ground flat on the bottom drilled with the tap drill and nominal hole diameters to provide a guide for hand held drilling and tapping for 56 years. Still have it but in hind sight I should have made a hardened bench block with the same features.

[@stephanc7192]

I realy enjoy your videos

[@thomasgreen8532]

There is quite a few things I didn’t know about. Thanks

[@csimet]

1-2-3 blocks are indispensable in woodworking as well. A pair of them, plus a set of aluminum/brass gauges (1/16 through 1") and feeler gauges, make for great setup devices with table saw and router cuts. Much easier than trying to get a ruler or tape measure to register properly and more accurate. I even have a pair of 2-3-4 blocks when I need something even larger to setup off of. Gets me everything from .001" to 8+" of cut setup capacity.

[@sharks3010]

Had to give a like for the caliper trick alone, never knew that. Thanks 👍🏻

[@shannonsears3496]

1-2-3 blocks are great tools. I made mine in high school, a copy of the Moore tools version, and use then almost every day. Made from CRS and still accurate after 32 years.

[@jamesdavis8021]

My number one tool in the shop is the Bausch &Lomb loupe that clips on to my eyeglasses and swing out of my line of sight.They feature 20mm glass lenses.They come in single and dual lenses.Mine comes with a 5X and 3X.Combined 8X.They are so light,I sometimes forget I am wearing them until I notice people giving me weird looks.That’s when I stare at them and say,”resistance is futile,you will be assimilated.”

[@paulharper362]

Thanks ! I have ordered the Noga magnetic base and deburring tools and will pick up the bifocal safety glasses from Bunnings on the weekend. Great tips. I just know how good the bifocal safety glasses will be, after years of changing glasses and losing them constantly.

[@daveys]

As others have said, the vernier depth technique is a great tip. I didn’t know that one.

[@paulmorrey733]

Thanks

[@davejudd5421]

James, that was a great video. I used your link to McMaster Carr to get to thrust bearings for my Wilton vise. My Wilton is a 1950's model that I purchased on an I-beam stand for $15.00 Different thrust bearing, but you clarified the need for a spacer, ( it's nice to have no surprises) after adding 5/64" of bearing. I made a spacer (or washer) out of 1/8" aluminum and it works like a dream. Man, it works great! Thanks big time!! I'd add a pic but I don't know how...

[@Greg-nq4dj]

Makes me laugh growing up in the shop things you take for granted I like the glasses Thanks new subscriber

[@larrymoore5811]

I have a Belsaw stand mounted belt sander with 1" sanding belts. I couldn't live without it. Bought it in the 1970's and have not done anything to it except regular maintenance and belt changes. I even grind lathe tool bits on it from time to time.

[@jjbode1]

If you also do any glueing, those unused HF band saw blades can be cut to short lengths, and fitted into a slit in the end of a dowel for a handle, they make a very good glue spreader.