tool poll

a simple question. beside a hammer and a hand saw what would you people of the tool comunity say is the top five best to have or most used tools in your workshop/tool colection

the handsaw is fine, turn the hammer into a mallet
only five tools after that....hmmm
steel square
1" T-auger or brace/bit
chisel
circular saw
chain morticer

I thought about my original post and realized I had no way to make pegholes.... I would still need to add a pencil or awl to the square.

Circular saw
framing square
combo square
1.5" chisel
router

Framing square/tape measure/knife/pencil/ERASER!(more cheating)
Circular saw
1 1/2" chisel
slick (at least 2 1/2")
rabbet plane (LN 10 1/4)

Addendum:someone else will have a chain mortiser

framing square
tape measure
1 1/2" chisel
a good axe
chainsaw

dang is that already five?

Oh I have to get in on this,
mostly because the one I find most important is yet to appear on anyone’s list...
And I can’t resist a little verbal fun.

A taut line
A well honed ax

These two being extensions of the body and the three most important tools in your kit...

A practiced hand
A focused eye
And a sharpened mind, well versed in the task ahead.

The string at the top of the list, the only one of the bunch that doesn’t require regular tuning, making it uncommon among good tools

Yay, Will!

Might I also add: a good radio

*TG*

will,

On a side note, what do you use to sharpen your mind? I tried water stones, but I just wore them out.

A radio is fine if you are lucky enough to have a good local commercial free listener suported community radio station to tune in. Otherwise get an I-pod with speakers. Shop dust kills CD players. Ear buds under hearing protection are dangerous.

Will, don't you mean a sharp eye and a focused mind?

Tom,

I could have used those words interchangeably, but no, I was pictureing my eye focusing on that line and the points to be ticked off beyond it...

But now you've given me a whole new mental image, it was funny imagining Gabel taking a waterstone to his head, but not so much so with him sharpening his eye, bet the slurry stings something awful.

Second the motion on the Radio.

Although I would not refer to my friends and coworkers as tools, I think they are without substitute.

Timber Goddess, say hello to Dwight, he was my partner when we built a truss for the Guelph bridge, I regret I haven't seen him since.

I find it easier to count the five or six tools still in the box at days end
As for the brain, I just use the squishy original equipment.
More of a blunt instrument some days.....