Favorite purchase over $100, excluding the saw

[Linda in Phoenix]

Looking back over everything you've bought over the years (to do scrolling of any kind), excluding your scrollsaw or bandsaw, if you had to pick the one most useable and/or favorite item in your shop that cost over $100---what would it be and (briefly) why? This might help rookies to explore the experiences and opinions of people more experienced, and more experienced people might latch onto a new idea or thought from other's eyes. (I excluded saws because that one tossed around most frequently).

On the $100+ side, I love my 16" open end horizonal drum sander---to make sure my wood is truly flat on both sides because wood cuts better when it is 100% flat on the bottom, and when flat on top the pattern doesn't distort and I get a much better cut every time.

[Rapid Roger]

I would have to include a drill press among one of the most used tools in my shop.
I build a lot of different projects out of wood and I would say that on almost every one including scrollsaw work, the drill press is used in some way. Drilling holes using a #53 bit to a 2-1/2" forstner bit or sanding round or curved items can be done with this tool with good precision.

Rog

[GrayBeard]

My Bosch table saw!
Without that I would be totally lost. Cutting everything from 1/16" plywood to 2 x 12 lumber.
I had a cheapo Skil that was just passable but when I got the Bosch it is so accurate and easy to use I would be hard pressed to do most of my projects without it.
I just bought 2 new blades..60 tooth & 80 tooth...cuts so smooth the finished edges will literally cut you if you are not careful.

~~~GB~~~

[tbolt]

Planer for sure

[crupiea]

nothing in my shop cost me over $100.

My dewalt scrollsaw I picked up from some guy a couple months back for $130.  It was so new it still had the original blade in it and the coating on the table.

[EIEIO]

Ridged drum and belt sander. Easy to get I to small spaces or to sand a wide surface, and the oscillation helps extended belt life.

[Al W]

Almost impossible to answer as I use the table saw, jointer, planer, miter saw, drill press, and other tools on almost every project - even a simple scroll project.  From taking a rough sawn board or a small log to usable sized pieces, cleaning up after the scrolling, sanding on the drill press or oscillating sander - wow - really hard to say.

I guess I would have to include a lot of different tools.

[spirithorse]

In my opinion, health and safety should be considered first so, I would have to say
new scrollers should definitely consider a good quality dust collector.
God Bless! Spirithorse

[julief]

It's a toss up between my Ridgid oscillating belt/spindle sander and my drill press.  I use them both on most projects.

[newfie]

i would have to say my drill press i use almost everyday  seeing that i work with wood and metal.

[Toneman]

I guess it would be my sliding mitre saw, but, the drill press would also be a must. I just do not like using my table saw and do not have a band saw. Yes, my belt/disc sander is used a lot, but, if I had to pick one and do
away with the rest, it would be the mitre saw.

Tony,aka,Toneman

[Kepy]

Excluding saws, I would have to include my drill press, planer and 6" belt sander as they get used on almost every project.

[BilltheDiver]

I'm with Al W.  I usually start with rough cut hardwood, so everything goes through the process and hits most of the tools.  I also have a 16-32 sander and consider it indispensable.  My router table (built into the extension wing of my unisaw) is also a very frequent flier.

[Danny]

Agree to everything said above, but the Random Orbital Sander in my shop is used before any
project gets started.  Danny  :+}

[yyyyyguy]

My 35 yr. old Craftsman table saw has been with me almost as long as my wife, I couldn't live without her...I mean it!!

Pete