Is it possible to be 100% satisfied with any of your power tools? Rich Engelhardt of SawmillCreek thinks so, and asked his fellow forum members to chime in on tools that “worked out exactly as planned or better than planned.” This thread is such a rich resource for woodworkers that we decided it deserved to be worked over a little for the betterment of the ToolCrib community.
The thread has over 91 comments so you can imagine there’s quite a list of perfect tools.
This quote, from Creeker Al Willits, sums up why this thread is important: “Actually [I] have a lot of tools I’m happy with, but its taken years to get there.” It can take a lifetime to find those perfect tools. We hope that this write up of the thread helps you find power tools that you love.
Scroll to the bottom for a link to the SawmillCreek thread and other resources.
Top 11 Favorite Power Tools (got more than 2 votes):
1) Kreg Pocket Hole Jig 10 votes
2) Bosch 1590 Jigsaw 8 votes
3) Festool Tools 8 votes
4) Ez Smart Circular Saw Guide System 5 (EZSmart review)
5) Dowelmax 5
6) Byrd Shelix 5
7) Porter-Cable Routers (see models in PC section below) 5
8) DeWalt Router (see models in DEWALT section below) 4
9) Starrett combination square 3
10) GRR-Ripper 3
11) SawStop 3
Two Votes (in no particular order):
Ridgid T1300 planer 2
Powermatic 66 table saw 2
JET Mini Lathe 2
Dewalt DW735 planer 2
Bosch Colt palm router 2
Delta DJ-20 Jointer 2
Fein turbo vac 2
WoodRat Joinery Machine 2
Bessey clamps 2
Oneway lathes 2
General 650 cabinet saw 2
Hitachi M12V router 2
DeWalt 12v Impact Driver 2
Makita LS1221 12″ CMS 2
Everyone Else By Brand:
DEWALT:
DeWalt 6″ ROS
Dewalt jig saw
DeWalt DW-746 table saw with 52″ extension and sliding table
DeWalt table saw blades
Dewalt DW618 router kit
Dewalt 618 three base router kit
Dewalt dual base router
Dewalt 621 Router
Dewalt 18V portable drill
Dewalt 708 SCMS
Porter-Cable:
-
Porter-Cable biscuit cutter
Porter-Cable cordless 18 ga gun
Porter-Cable 250 finish nailer
Porter-Cable 333 RO sander
Porter-Cable plunge router
Porter Cable 3 hp router
Porter-Cable 890 Router
Porter-Cable 7518 table router
Porter Cable 690 D-Handle router
Bosch:
-
Bosch ROS
Bosch 4212L compound miter saw
Bosch 1617evs router kit
Bosch 12v Impactor
Bosch PS20 pocket driver
Hitachi:
-
Hitachi contractor table saw
Hatachi sliding compound miter saw
Hitachi Hammer drills both 3/8 and 1/2″
Hitachi 12v cordless drill
Makita:
-
Makita 9.6 volt drills
Makita 7 1/4 skil saw
Rigid:
-
Rigid 14v cordless dril/driver
Ridgid 10″, 90 tooth crosscut tablesaw blade
Ridgid TS3650 Table saw
Delta:
-
Delta crown staple gun
Delta Cabinet saw
Delta Drill Press
Ryobi:
-
Ryobi 1/4″ collet router/router table combination
Ryobi 18V impact driver
Jet:
Milwaukee:
Everyone else:
-
General Int’l Cabinet saw(50-250)
Powermatic drill press
Big Johnson 25′ tape measure
Incra fence
Incra LS positioner
sharpe paint gun
Husky Heavy-Duty X-Sawhorse
Leigh D4 dovetail jig
Sharpe T1 pressure pot HVLP spray gun setup
Wenzloff dovetail saw
Fuji Q3 HVLP Sprayer
6″ Metabo sander
Rikon 18” Bandsaw
Jointech Cabinet Maker Router Table System
G444Z Grizzly Contractor Table Saw
Veritas bevel gage
Trend T5 (1/4″) Router
Triton circular saw
Biesemeyer fence
Paslode impact finish nailer
Related Posts:
“Good” tool purchases – 100% satisfied
Bad tool purchases
BOSCH Places Second in Battle of Power Tool Brands! Guess Who Got First…
I would like to have voted but some of my best and favorite tools weren’t listed, making it a bit difficult for accuracy. For example, my favorite 1/2″ drill is made by Milwaukee, but the Magnum, not the one listed. But then my favoritest tool is not powered, but thanks for providing us with this inofrmation
I agree that the Kreg jig should be #1. I do more and better work with this jig than you can imagine. A very good product for a fair price when you consider the time saved not waiting for glue-ups to cure or, not even using glue many times.
I can’t believe Milwaukee didn’t get more votes. I’d buy Milwaukee and Dewalt and that’s about it these days.