Tool Links

Pawnshops are good places to shop for tools, but you should pay 1/4 to 1/3 of it's value, if it's in nice shape.  Ask to plug it in, if they won't, then leave and never come back.

Given a choice I'll pay extra to have a new tool with the factory warranty.

Radioshack

True Value

Yoshi DeHerrera's Inside the Modder's Toolbox

automatic center punch

This eliminates the hammer and makes it a lot easier to make a mark, right where you want it.

It cocks it's self and punches, all by just pressing down lightly with the punch.

Then you can "feel" where to put the drill point.

Big holes need a "pilot hole" drilled first.  

It's a "Master Mechanic" but looks exactly like a Black & Decker.

It has blade storage and it's fan blow shavings away from the cut.

Duct tape the work or the saw's shoe, and use a 28tpi blade of finer or it will take you and your case for a nasty ride.

Speed is adjustable by moving the belt on the top pulley assembly.

$150 at TrueValue

Drill Size Chart

$69 at Wal-Mart

Some of this stuff I've dragged around since college.

Dial-Calipers Opti-Visor, Soldering Iron, cordless drill, wire-strippers, stereo speaker wire, Voltage and Ohm Meter, Metric compass, black electrical tape, end-cutters, 3rd arm, ball-peen hammer and punch.

Brownell's and Radio Shack

Use a grill for a fan template.

Another trick is to drill and install one screw to help hold things in place until you get the other 3 plotted and drilled.

here is an 80mm fan template, if you use a color printer, make sure all scaling is OFF.

A CD is exactly 120mm in diameter.

Need to locate the four mounting holes?

Just use the grill and a square.

This works at a good fan template for any size.

Another trick is to cut the big fan hole, then use Super Glue to hold it in place until you get the four screw holes drilled.

Hole saws always come in English measure so you need to convert to metric.  

Download this calculator.

CCalc2.1.exe

I got this at True Value.  I don't remember the price.

A variable speed Dremel tool, 30,000rpm.

Also there is a cord-less Dremel tool.  These are pretty gutless, but handy for small jobs or when you need two different bits chucked up. 

Mike's Advise: Don't buy the cordless Dremel unless you don't need hardly any power. This does NOT have the power to whack a window.

This was great for boring large holes in smaller work pieces.

I think I would ONLY use this in the drill press, not a hand-drill.

I found this at one of those bargain tables.

A Delta 10" saw for $107.25, including tax.

REVIEW

HG1000

Heats from 100º to 1500º F

Nibbling Tool 

These are best for aluminum, not heavy steel.  Air and Electric Nibbling tools are a different story.