Best Money Spent on a Shop Item?

A

AndyM

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Sep 21, 2016
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"classic rock.....sometimes a little too loud!"

When I see the door open and see the BH's arms going and mouth moving, I know I am perhaps a little too loud!
 
D

D2Cat

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"Best money spent" doesn't mean it has to be fancy or cost a lot, does it?

The best money spend, for me, might be a magnet. Neodymium Rare Earth Magnets are inexpensive and save me a lot of time finding my falls!

Used one just today finding the metal part of the isolation clamp on an injection line that fell right out of may grasp.
 
Lil Foot

Lil Foot

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Someone needs to invent an inter-dimensional retriever. I must have several small passages to other dimensions scattered around the shop, because I regularly drop small things that disappear from this world, never to be seen again.
 
D

DaTow'd

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what ever it takes to get the job done
Aug 13, 2013
184
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Bella Coma BC Canada
I have so many useful items in my shop I'd have to say the Miller plasma torch is right up there.
next would be the two post 10,000 lbs. hydraulic hoist I've lifted many things other than trucks and cars-It is very handy lifting our Kubota tractor for maintaining and greasing
cheers
Hank
 
Ortimber

Ortimber

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Sep 27, 2016
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In no particular order:

vented propane heater
lift
cordless 18V Milwaukee tools
battery grease gun
good lighting
 
skeets

skeets

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BX 2360 /B2601
Oct 2, 2009
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OH and along with the sound system one should not forget a thermal receptacle for adult refreshments
 
F

fatjay

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Kubota B8200, B7200, ZD21
Nov 12, 2016
303
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Eastern PA, USA
Costco had 4' LED lights on sale for $20. Picked up a pair and hung them. Amazing difference, especially not having to worry about if the lights will turn on in the cold.

My auto-darkening helmet was $30 from harbor freight, makes a huge difference.

18" magnet on wheels, I use that thing like a push broom whenever I'm done and it finds the damnedest things.
 
Kubota Newbie

Kubota Newbie

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M4500, New Idea Cut-Ditioner, JD 14T Baler, IH "Plow Chief" plows, Oliver Rake
Dec 28, 2010
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Mount Vernon, Ohio
I'll jump back in on this - I really like the plasma cutter idea have thought about that countless times. I have access to all the HD shop stuff (lathe, Bridgeport mill, surface grinder & etc. at the B&L's shop without having to own it so I'm a bit spoiled there.
One other thing that is terribly handy and probably gets used more than any other single item is the 5 inch angle grinder with a cutoff wheel. Has made the hacksaw almost obsolete.
 
Kubota Newbie

Kubota Newbie

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M4500, New Idea Cut-Ditioner, JD 14T Baler, IH "Plow Chief" plows, Oliver Rake
Dec 28, 2010
531
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Mount Vernon, Ohio
Hey, is anybody keeping a $ tab on this thread???? How much are we up to outfit a home shop with all the stuff mentioned so far?:eek:
 
William1

William1

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D2Cat said:
"Best money spent" doesn't mean it has to be fancy or cost a lot, does it?

The best money spend, for me, might be a magnet. Neodymium Rare Earth Magnets are inexpensive and save me a lot of time finding my falls!

Used one just today finding the metal part of the isolation clamp on an injection line that fell right out of may grasp.
Click to expand...
Got an old computer/hard drive? Get that magnets out of that, they are killer!
 
skeets

skeets

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BX 2360 /B2601
Oct 2, 2009
14,157
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I think the total is around 1.4 mill,, but thats the government price :D
 
B

bucktail

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L1500DT, 6' king kutter back blade, boom, dirt scoop ford disk JD212
Jun 13, 2016
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Tooljunkie said:
Magnets from out of retired microwaves are pretty powerful too.
Click to expand...
Don't they have some capacitors in them that can be a bit nasty if not properly discharged?
 
R

RCW

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Chenango County, NY
skeets said:
OH and along with the sound system one should not forget a thermal receptacle for adult refreshments
Click to expand...
Skeets - Some days that is the most important shop item!!!:p:p

The formula is something like this:

((6 swearing fits + 6 beers of reflection)*degrees(F))/3.14159 = We'll try it again tomorrow......
 
bearbait

bearbait

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Dec 9, 2011
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New Glasgow Canada
RCW said:
Skeets - Some days that is the most important shop item!!!:p:p

The formula is something like this:

((6 swearing fits + 6 beers of reflection)*degrees(F))/3.14159 = We'll try it again tomorrow......
Click to expand...
I like the way you 2 think.
 
Y

Yooper

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May 31, 2015
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Neodymium magnets can give you nasty blood blisters! Do not ask me how I know this.
 
R

RCW

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BX2360, FEL, MMM, BX2750D snowblower. 1953 Minneapolis Moline ZAU
Apr 28, 2013
8,383
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bearbait said:
I like the way you 2 think.
Click to expand...
I call it the Theory of Reflectivity.....a cold one (or two?) after a project gives us a tough time. Beverage of choice of participants.

Popular theory at Redneck Ag & Tech College....been a student for many decades....I've yet to graduate.....:p

It's a common practice in many garages, shops, sheds and man caves throughout the world.

It's usually combined with some story-telling, most if which surround victories with much more difficult projects, and over-estimations of our respective masculine and mechanical prowess. Heat source and/or fans at discretion of user(s) and season.

Not a shop item necessarily, but I hope a shop function for everyone on occasion!
 
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