Five game-changing maker tools
These instruments are instrumental in creating great things
Welcome to another free Friday story. Today: a list worth sharing. ~JRC
Most makers have a favorite tool. It could be as simple as a painter's set of brushes. Or as complex as a milling machine. Regardless, having a cherished tool can transform how we create, and when we find one, we want to keep using it.
I'm going to share a list of five tools that have been serious game-changers for me over the years. And while far from exhaustive, this list includes tools that continue to surprise me in all they can do.
Let's get started.
Dremel Moto-Tool
It's a drill. It's a grinder. It's a shaper, sander, and smoother. It's a router. And it's an engraver. The Dremel does it all.
I've spoken and written about this little tool many times. It was my first power tool ever, and the one I have now is the same one I had when I was a teen. It's a simple rotary tool that uses various bits and adapters to do so many different things.
Sure, there are fancier brand rotary tools. And purpose-built tools do each task a Dremel does, only better. But the Dremel Moto-Tool is the Swiss Army knife of the power tool world. And in a pinch, it will get you out of more jams than many other devices, just like said knife.
Why it's a game-changer: the Dremel is often a young maker's first power tool. It's safe to use, even for a kid, so long as you follow simple safety protocols (eye, hearing, and lung protection). And it is easy to learn. With a bit of practice, you can shape and carve all sorts of materials - from plastic to steel. In many ways, the Dremel Moto-Tool is a gateway into the large and diverse world of power creating.
Table saw
It's known as mission control for the maker shop. The table saw - with it, you can cut straight as an arrow. Everything from cross-cutting stock to ripping finish trim is possible.
The table saw is well equipped for wood, plastic, and even soft metals like aluminum. The only real drawback to this machine is the safety factor; it's hands-down the most dangerous tool in a shop. But with the right amount of respect, a whole world of making will be at your disposal with a table saw.
Why it's a game-changer: a big part of making is changing the shape and size of raw materials to suit a build. A table saw allows you to re-size stock in almost any dimension. It's that versatile. What this means for making is with a table saw, you aren't restricted to off-the-shelf sizes anymore. Need a 5/32" x 1/2" x 47" strip of curly maple? You can make it yourself with a table saw!
Thread tap
This might be the most unexpected tool on this list. After all, a thread tap only does one thing - it, um, threads holes. But boy, do we ever use threaded fasteners; it seems like almost everything made these days has at least one screw. So being able to thread your own opens up so many possibilities in creating. Plus, making mechanically attached parts using threaded holes is satisfying.
From the crunchy cutting of the threads to the smooth insertion of a screw, the whole process feels good from start to finish. And it's one of the easiest methods to create a professional-looking build - a hand threaded hole can be indistinguishable from an industrially machined one.
Why it's a game-changer: Threads can seem mysterious in their precision. So being able to make a threaded hole demystifies an essential part of creating. Doing so also inspires the maker to thread more holes - which leads to more maker confidence. If I can thread this hole, what else can I do?!
Welder
With an electrical current, a welder melts a filler material along with the edges of the parts being welded. These solidify into one cohesive piece, making a weld one of the strongest bonds anywhere. Although we often think of welding steel, the process is not limited to this alloy. Welding other metals is possible, too, from cast iron and stainless to aluminum and even titanium.
One of the best all-around ways to fuse metal is with a MIG (metal-inert gas) welder. A MIG welder has a wire feed (the filler) and uses a shielding gas. The gas (usually an argon-carbon dioxide mix) protects the molten metal, allowing it to solidify without impurities from the air. There's even a "flux-core" option that foregoes the shielding gas making welding even simpler. Either way, this technique opens up so many creative paths for the maker.
Why it's a game-changer: A machine that uses electricity to melt metal and bond it together. What isn't a game-changer about that?
115 piece drill bit set
Okay, almost anyone who makes has a set of drill bits. These often come in 12 to 20-bit sets, and occasionally you'll see "complete" 29-bit fractional sets (1/16" to 1/2" by 16ths). But the 115 piece set? This is the drill-all of drills. The 115 piece set includes all the fractional sizes plus numbered sizes 1 to 60 and A to Z lettered sizes. Many folks don't even know all these sizes exist!
This mega-drills set covers a fantastic array of diameters, from the smallest No. 60 (0.04 inches) to the largest 1/2 inch (0.5 inches). Such a diverse array means there's likely a bit close to perfect for whatever it is you're doing. Bonus: with so many different sizes, you're probably only a thousandth or so away from any metric size you might need too. So even though the set is American standard units, they can serve for almost any drilling - even metric!
Why it's a game-changer: With the smaller drill bit sets, there's always a compromise. You either go too big and make it loose, or too small, and fuss with wobbling out the hole afterward. But with a 115 piece set, you'll almost always have the exact size you need. And having the right tool for the job always makes making better.
Okay, this shortlist of exceptional tools is anything but complete. I tried to pick tools that performed in ways that genuinely transformed how I make. But many runner-ups almost made the list too. Router, pneumatic nail gun, wood planer, air compressor, cordless drill, and multimeter, plus several others, have changed my making over the years and deserve attention too. Alas, not today. Instead, I’m itching to grab one of these great tools and go make something new.
Until next time.
JRC
P.S.: Do you have a great tool you’d like to mention? Share in the comments!
Dremel was also my first power tool. I love having every drill bit size, but my only problem is breaking the smaller ones and trying to find replacements.