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Unread 02-12-2012, 17:07
Patrick Flynn Patrick Flynn is offline
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Re: Tools to have?

Quote:
Originally Posted by ksafin View Post
Budget Aside, I wanted to get your input on my ideas about a few new tools to buy..

Here's a list:
16" Variable Speed Scroll Saw $64.99; $59.99 with coupon. http://www.harborfreight.com/16-inch...saw-93012.html
3-1/2 HP 14" Industrial Cut-off saw $99.99 http://www.harborfreight.com/3-12-hp...saw-68104.html
18 V Cordless Jigsaw $29.99 http://www.harborfreight.com/power-t...saw-68242.html
When would your team use these tools? If you can't think of a time that you think you would use these tools most likely they wouldn't end up getting used. It seems to be that if you are building your robot out of metal components that the Scroll saw and Jigsaw might go unused. But if you think that these would be used in the prototyping phase then they would be good purchases.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ksafin View Post

115 Piece High speed drill bit set $35.99 http://www.harborfreight.com/115-pie...index-528.html
130 Piece Tool Kit with Case $34.99 http://www.harborfreight.com/130-pie...ase-68998.html
60 Piece Alloy Steel Tap/Die Set Metric & SAE Fractional $39.99 http://www.harborfreight.com/60-piec...set-35407.html
3 Piece Folding Hex Key Set $6.99 http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-to...eys-94905.html
I think that while this is a good list of tools that your team may use i would recommend considering what tools you used last season or wished that you many have.

The list above are some on the tools I wonder if you would actually use. IMO having a full set of taps and dies aren't needed. There are very few times in FIRST where i have even considered using a die to be necessary. And while in some rare cases it might be useful to have a full tap set why not buy multiples of the few sizes that your team uses. If you only use 1/4 20 hardware the other sized taps would be unnecessary.

I would say the same thing about the multi-tool and allen wrench sets if you think that your team may use all these different tools than this would not be a bad purchase, but i think you could better spend your money having more than one of the sizes that you use most often. Nothing is worse than losing the one needed wrench size, and having to make due.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ksafin View Post
Multi-purpose Workbench with Lighting & Outlets $99.99 http://www.harborfreight.com/multipu...let-99681.html
Workbench w/ 4 drawers, 60" hardwood $159.99 http://www.harborfreight.com/60-inch...nch-93454.html
Lastly the work benches, I think that your team could built much cheaper ones that would better fit your work space. Buying some 2x4's and making some tables could be a fun team activity allowing some newer members to get acquainted to your teams tools and or shop.