Thread: Your Favorite Tool?

Guys-I didn't really grow up around tools much for various reasons. Basically, I was a bookworm with father issues and a skeevy shop teacher, and just never really learned my way around shop tools much. I've been learning over the last 10 years or so mostly by just doing, by reading tutorials here (and watchin a lot of videos!). So I now I have a shop full of tools that I (mostly) know how to use, but one that I have bonded with more than any other, and that I can use very confidently, is my Alan Lacer Uber Skew with a rosewood handle. I saw it on one of his videos as I was just getting started on the lathe, and knew I had to have one. I keep it razor sharp with a progression of diamond paddles, a couple of small Ark stones, and a bench strop, and use it for probably 90% of my turning cuts (though it's too big to get inside for cove cuts). It is incredibly heavy in the hand, steady on the tool rest, and just satisfying to handle and use. I look at it as a functional work of art.


Please post pics of your favorite tool and why it is your favorite.

Hmmm-- Favorite tool you say.

That's a tough one but I'll give it a go. I do hope it's fitting.

My father apprenticed to become a machinist for 8 years under a man by the name of Bill Templeton. It wasn't full time apprenticeship only during the none harvest/field work time which was basically winter months.

Becoming a machinist was one of my dad's proudest accomplishments.

When I was in early grade school I came home with a mimeographed piece of paper with various lengths of lines. The instructions simply said: 'Measure the lines'.

I asked my dad for help and he pulled a 6" Starrett Ruler out of his shirt pocket. This is it:





So dad explained that this is one inch, half of that is a half inch, half of that is a quarter of an inch all the way down to a 64th of an inch.

I'd measure and then he'd measure to see if I had done it correctly and if so then I would write something like 2 and 13/64ths of an inch.

I proudly turned my paper in and when it was handed back every answer was WRONG!

When I showed my dad the paper he was livid! He called the teacher at home. The teacher said the lines were to only be measured to the 1/8th of an inch.

My dad informed the teacher that when you measure you measure to the closest tolerance you had available and that he'd double check my work and my answers were all correct.

The teacher marked my answers as correct-----------------------but we didn't measure to the 64th of an inch after that.

So this is my favorite tool. While I rarely use it but whenever I do I remember that event, my father helping me and then standing up for me.

Damn I miss that cantankerous old bastard.

This isn't a workshop tool, but it does come in handy from time to time.
I've carried this one in my pocket for 50 years.

The elastic belt loop was salvaged from a Jansport backpack.

Paul-I was given that exact model of Swiss Army Knife for my birthday about 30 years ago. I wish I knew where it was.

A P-38 and a church-key.

Originally Posted by JBHoren

A P-38 and a church-key.

Now there is a like minded fellow, a p38 and my church key have always been with me

I was just reading an article a couple weeks ago about the benefits of that skew profile. It looks quite interesting!
I've been trying to decide if I should re-profile my current skew to that, or buy a second one to try them out side by side, without wasting a ton of steel if I don't like it.
Have you found any negatives to having that sweeping arc, rather than a straight angled skew?


I wish I had a story about tools handed down from previous generations, but sadly, my father was never the handy type, and the only tool i have from my grandfather, despite the fact that he was a carpenter, is a horrifyingly dished, generic 2 sided sharpening stone.

I'd be hard pressed to pick a favorite of the ones I have. They all serve a purpose!

Kavid-I still have and use a traditional straight-edged skew, especially where I need to get in tight. But I probably use the curved one 90% of the time.

Interesting, thanks!
I have 2 skews, one larger and one smaller... I suppose i could leave the small one straight for the tight cuts, and try the curve on the big one
So many things to ponder, while still not finding any time to actually make things lately lol

I’m hard pressed to pick a favourite tool. I have many and most of them have their time and place. I have multi tools and there is always one in my ditch bag. There is a compass in there too. It depends what went sideways and what I need to get done what needs getting done.