If you own a home or even live in a rental property, you know that repair and maintenance tasks are never ending. To keep up with that honey-do list, most people at the minimum have one of those orange Home Depot tool boxes loaded with a hammer, a couple of screwdrivers, a pair of pliers, and a roll of that ubiquitous duct tape.
I’ve got all those things as well, but I’ve got quite a few more stashed in my shop. No, I’m not like those folks on the A&E Hoarder TV show, but I suspect I have more workshop toys than average. Maybe it’s because I used to be a building contractor, or perhaps because I’m always looking for an easier and more efficient way of doing things. Let’s take a look at a few.
Handy pocket hole woodworking joinery tool
First, how about the Kreg K4 Pocket Hole Jig? This is used for woodworking joinery. There are many, many joinery techniques, and each was developed to address a particular class of tasks. For example, dovetail joints are perfect for things like drawers where so much day-to-day stress is applied. The Kreg Jig allows you to create “blind joints” on things like shelves and chair legs; it’s perfect for fast and strong repair jobs or initial construction.
How about that handy Whitney Punch? I used mine on a daily basis when I was a ceiling mechanic. (Yes, that’s a real job title.) This is a grip-and-punch-a-hole tool through materials like sheet metal, leather, etc. Then you can secure two items together with screws or pop rivets. The Whitney kit comes with a range of die sizes.
Bosch RotoZip Spiral Saw
Then there’s the trusty RotoZip Spiral Saw. This thing is like a Dremel tool on steroids. In the past few years, the basic model has spawned a slew of specialized tools, but the basic concept remains the same. It’s a hand-held tool with a collet into which you insert various bits or connect attachments. This thing will remove grout, cut tile with the Dry Diamond Cut-Off Wheel, grind, and much more. It’s now a staple for drywall hangers because it’s just faster than a drywall saw for cutting out for electrical outlets, etc.
These are just a few of the unusual tools I own. The upside is that having them will always make a job quicker, more efficient, and more accurate than just having the orange Home Depot box-o-stuff. The downside is finding a way to hoard, I mean, store it all.
