So, April is over, but what tools found their way into my hands the most? Well today, we are going to talk about just that. I think it is always interesting to look back at your recent projects and see what tools you reach for. If you follow me on Instagram, you know I have been building a table and benches for our home. Thankfully I have all the tools I need for the job, but some were nothing short of indispensable. Let’s run through my April Tool Favorites.
Skilsaw Miter Saw
This is a new tool for me, but I have to say, I love it. I was so glad it came at the time it did because it made building this table a breeze. I love a good miter saw, and I would say it is my most used tool in the shop overall. Skilsaw did an amazing job as a whole with this saw. It has plenty of power, tons of useful features, and runs circles around my previous saw’s accuracy. I did an initial review a few weeks ago in my First Look, and the Full Review will be coming soon! I definitely felt like this saw made the entire project pleasant and gave me a chance to really get a feel for all of its capabilities.
Bosch 6-inch Sander
I gotta tell you, I love a good Sander. To me, there are very few tools that can enhance a project quite the way a good sander can. This sander from Bosch – the 1250DEVS, is an incredibly powerful sander. It is not for the faint of heart, but when I need to really get aggressive with sanding, this bad boy can run right up there with a belt sander in its ability to remove material. This was very handy at not only smoothing the wood seams but also removing the excess epoxy from when I was filling those seams. I always pair my sanders with Diablo Sanding pads and nets, and this is no exception. Bosch definitely knew what they were doing when they designed this sander!
DeWalt Router
I love my Router Table, but for some jobs, you need to be able to use a router handheld and need serious power too. Trimming the overhang on this table was definitely one of those times, and the DeWalt 1618 was a champ. I paired it with a Freud Flush Trim Bit and the pair is definitely a dynamic duo. I’ve owned this router for years, and it has been one heck of a well-used and loved tool. Ironically, never to be one to start small this was my first Router purchase and a few things stood out, the Soft Start, ability to switch between ¼-inch and ½-inch bits and the plunge base. Overall, it’s got pretty much all you could want in a router and then some.
Empire Squares
I am a massive fan of all things measuring. In woodworking and building in general, being off a degree or two can make or break a project. These Empire squares though have a few specific features that I truly love. I have found them to be very accurate, which of course is essential, but I also love the scribe guide. I posted a short clip of this on Instagram, but the scribe guide allows you to quickly draw a line at a measurement quickly and accurately by using the notches and moving the square against the edge. There is a whole lot to love on that for a huge range of users. In this case, this feature provided accuracy and precision, something important when mapping out a pattern of any kind. This one feature made quick work of my line marking and provided accuracy I would have had to compromise on had I used another method.
Centipede Tables
I always love a good portable workbench. If you’re like me, there isn’t unlimited space in your shop, so at times you have to resort to portable workbenches to get the job done. Thankfully, Bora Tools has their Centipede Tables. I have the K100 model and the K6S and I use them constantly. Every time I talk about these with people I am always amazed at the projects they have used these tables to make. My experience with them has been incredible. Not only have I used these for makeshift sawhorses and workbenches, but in the case of making the table and benches, this was literally the backbone of the whole projects. Once set up, they support a minimum of 1500 pounds, they have incredible stability and gave me the freedom to preserve my other workbenches for needed tools. These Centipede Tables are a perfect solution for jobs just like these!
April Tool Favorites Conclusion
This is a photo of the April Project, a large dining room table with two benches. I loved how this table came out, and there will be more to come on this amazing project and how I built it.
I hope you enjoyed a look inside my most used tools this month! April was an awesome month in my shop, as a big project like a table is no easy feat. I am thrilled with how these tools made their jobs easy and effective. I always say there are usually several tools that you can use to get a job done, but sometimes, the right tool for the job makes all the difference in the world.