Your most useful tools in the shop

[Signalprick]

Without question my most useful tool is my mini mill. I've saved thousands alone by using it to make a surface grinder attachment for my 2x72 and Kennedy gauge. It doesn't hurt that I got a great deal on it either. One of my best purchases ever!

 

[Mark van Elteren]

I bought some cheap (10€) digital callipers about a year ago, before that I only had vernier callipers. They are no good for absolute dimensions, but for making knives, where pretty much everything is relative, they work great. I use them all the time, even more so when making folders. When I need to make something more precise, I use a micrometer.

I also use a small hammer a lot - I made a very short, ~12mm handle for it, I use it for everything between centre punching and peening.

 

[Natlek]

I bought some cheap (10€) digital callipers about a year ago, before that I only had vernier callipers. They are no good for absolute dimensions, but for making knives, where pretty much everything is relative, they work great. I use them all the time, even more so when making folders. When I need to make something more precise, I use a micrometer.

I also use a small hammer a lot - I made a very short, ~12mm handle for it, I use it for everything between centre punching and peening.

12mm is really , really short handle BW , good one vernier calipers are pretty much precise

 

[Britt_Askew]

My computer and Shop Talk
before I came here and started reading I knew absolutely nothing about working with metal. Would have never learned how to make a knife or build and use a grinder or HT oven without Shop Talk and the fine bunch of folks here that share their knowledge so people like me can learn the craft

 

[Mark van Elteren]

12mm is really , really short handle BW , good one vernier calipers are pretty much precise

Whoops, that was meant to say 120mm

 

[WValtakis]

I do a lot of small layout work (big surprise) and these pens are indispensable...they write on metal with very little trouble and they're WAY finer than an Ultra Fine Sharpie (second picture).