I sometimes post about tools I need to get for the shop, or things I want but don’t need.
But there are a few things I constantly use, everyday, and if I don’t have them or lose them amid the mess I go nuts until I find them. I don’t just work in clay and paint. I also fabricate my own metal parts, I make my own electrical pieces, I sew things sometimes, I have a quote that I go by:
“My theory is that if you look confident you can pull off anything – even if you have no clue what you’re doing. Enthusiasm is a hundred times more important than perfection!” Personal note on this, if you follow the previous quote perfection comes later.
When I attempt something in my shop I just go ahead and do it assuming I can pull it off, I don’t even think about failing. This is why I make all of my own stuff for each of my pieces even if I haven’t ever done it before. OK back to my list of must haves
1. Sharpies: The multi-use pen. It will write on just about anything.
2. A good glue gun: I’m not talking about a glue gun from a craft store either. But a good one from a hardware store. I have gone thru about 5 in the last 3 years. The one I have settled on is the The Arrow TR550. The main issue with most glue guns is that if they aren’t hot enough you can force glue into them and it fills the body of the gun with melted glue and it eventually kills them. This glue gun has a clutch mechanism that prevents this from happening. A Grim recommended item.
3. Metal scribe: I have a metal scribe that I keep with my sculpting tools, I use it for sculpting as well as scribing on metal things I fabricate. They are cheap $3 or so.
4. Pencils: I always have a box of pencils on hand. The one I sharpen falls off the workbench I step on it I get a new one. Problem solved.
5. A good pencil sharpener: In every shop I have ever built as well as my fathers workshop and my grandfathers workshop there has been a manual pencil sharpener on the wall. I continue the tradition. I use it all the time. My kids use it when they need to sharpen pencils. I love this item. So much better than a hand held one or an electric one.
6. Tape: Packing tape, Blue masking tape, Regular masking tape, Gaffers tape, Duct Tape, Electrical tape, Scotch Tape, Teflon Tape.
7. Something to measure stuff with: I have big issues here. I lose every measureing device I own; tape measure, squares, triangles, etc… at times I end up measuring with an 8.5×11 piece of paper. Good thing I have a good eye and took lots of drafting in school.
Great post!
Big smile….so we are not the only ones who still use pencils…we have a drawer full of them and a really good old school sharpener! It is our favorite tool in the shop, sketching, marking for cutting, we have even drawn on our work surfaces when setting out a template and just wash or rub it off when we are done ….and occasionally they are use to mix epoxy when we are out of popsicle sticks
Must have at the graveyard.
Cheers!
Terrific list, Grim. As always, your workshop staples are worth paying attention to. I’m rocking the cheap craft store glue gun myself, so seeing the monster you keep strapped to your hip has me thinking it’s time to upgrade.
That’s what I love about this site. I’m always walking away with a suggestion to explore or a new tool to give a go.
I can hear my glue sticks shivering with fear in the studio.
I am so with you on number 6. There is never enough tape.
Also 7, but I tend to not bother measuring anymore, unless it’s something that needs to be correct to support it’s own weight. I’m currently using a block of wood to get my right angles …right.