Pres Posted August 6, 2023 Report Share Posted August 6, 2023 I have been looking at some digital scales and other tools lately, and wondered what others would buy if they had some extra bucks. QotW: If I gave you $150 to spend on a tool/tools, what would you buy? Myself, I figure I'll go for the digital scale. Only have to figure which one! best, Pres Hyn Patty 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hulk Posted August 6, 2023 Report Share Posted August 6, 2023 Good question! I'd be tempted to widen the definition of "tools" to include track shelving* and a rolling cart. Then a few more buckets. The Studio needs (aah, I need!) the wall put up and mini-split installed; so, so hot! I'm good for tools right now, looking forward to setting up and firing the new kiln when it arrives! There's some open space in the Studio now, but still lots of organizing, demo and remodeling to do. I'm getting lots of miles out of relatively inexpensive (it's $26 on ah maze on right now) US Balance "US-Benchtop-Pro" scale; it performs consistently and well. Its max is 2000 grams, hence, for larger glaze batches, there are more steps. If choosing again, I might go with the 3000 or 5000g models, maybe; the 3000g model can be had for less than $40 ... *I like the metal tracks that screw to the wall; shelf support brackets snap into the track. Higher up and on the end there, for glazes, glaze materials and some other stuff that's nice to have handy but aren't used every day; at "wheelhouse" level, green and bisque ware queue-up space. Pres and Babs 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeU Posted August 7, 2023 Report Share Posted August 7, 2023 oooooo.....you pushed my "back in the day" larceny button (gone, but not forgotten)! I'd take the $150, tell you I bought such & such, and go spend a night at the beach off season. Actually, since I indulged myself when I set up my studio, I have all the tools I need & then some. Pres, Babs and Roberta12 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEP Posted August 7, 2023 Report Share Posted August 7, 2023 I tend to prefer simple and inexpensive tools. If I was being forced to spend $150, I would spend it all on various ribs. Different sizes, shapes, and materials. The one expensive tool that I would buy again in a heartbeat is the Giffin Grip. Pres and Babs 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted August 7, 2023 Report Share Posted August 7, 2023 Ribs and mudcutter wire tools which I use to cut sponge holders in my jig. I have plenty of spares so it would be a waste of $ Pres 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Beller Diesel Posted August 7, 2023 Report Share Posted August 7, 2023 So $150 US is closer to $180 CAD, so i got a little more to work with (evil smile!) The first thing that jumped to mind was more mason stains, or tracking down some rare earth minerals for colourants. I don’t own a digital scale, and that’s on my list of nice to have things. But like a lot of folks, I already have a bunch of stuff, and most of my go-to tools are really cheap ones. The things that have been a worthwhile $150 bucks included proper shelving and a glaze screen that fits over a bucket nicely. And a good corded drill capable of mixing grout. The piece I was kind of surprised to use as much as I do was a good banding wheel. I inherited mine, but a new one is in that range, so worth a mention. Babs and Pres 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted August 7, 2023 Report Share Posted August 7, 2023 (edited) Oh now I have to choose mentally, ( my son gave me a gift voucher for $150 ) and with Pres's I would have 300!!! Prob only $150 of Callie'sCanadian Power drill of my own, mmm, delicious New worktable...., well just think I need proper tool organisers and brush holder. Put $ towards slab roller..... Prob. My indecision shows nothing screaming at me. Edited August 7, 2023 by Babs Pres 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyK Posted August 8, 2023 Report Share Posted August 8, 2023 I'd say "Thanks" and suggest that you give it to someone who would really need it! I do, however, like the inspiring thought and it prompts me to build an expansion box for my homemade extruder... Pres 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denice Posted August 8, 2023 Report Share Posted August 8, 2023 Shelves for my new kiln, I could use at least two more. I make a lot of tile you can't have enough shelves. The last two I bought were $50 each and $50 shipping and handling. $150 would cover the cost nicely. Denice Pres and Roberta12 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly in AK Posted August 11, 2023 Report Share Posted August 11, 2023 Since you caught me right after I mixed up a bunch of glazes and tests, my shopping list starts with a digital scale! The leftover money goes to Veegum. Pres 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Posted August 22, 2023 Report Share Posted August 22, 2023 £117. A floor mounted extruder for the community centre. (They won't let us attach to a wall.) Callie Beller Diesel and Pres 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted August 22, 2023 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2023 I used to have a Bailey extruder at the HS. It was mounted on a tripod mount with two wheels, used it with students for years. Later on I found out that Bailey had only designed that for the power extruder, as the manual extruder was deemed to be dangerous to use, falling over on the operator. We continued to use it until I retired. best, Pres Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyn Patty Posted August 22, 2023 Report Share Posted August 22, 2023 (edited) On 8/6/2023 at 2:41 PM, Pres said: I have been looking at some digital scales and other tools lately, and wondered what others would buy if they had some extra bucks. QotW: If I gave you $150 to spend on a tool/tools, what would you buy? Myself, I figure I'll go for the digital scale. Only have to figure which one! best, Pres If I strictly stayed on 'tool' focus maybe some new calipers. I use a slide rule most of the time but real calipers for my sculpting so I can double check proportions faster would be nice. Ones clearly marked with measurements so I can stay on focus with percentages. I will add that if you don't already have a nice digital scale that lets you flip between grams and ounces, I recommend one! I use mine both for finicky ingredients measurements but I also use it to weigh my parcels for shipping labels! Mine by the way is a digital scale for measuring food - they are cheap but pretty reliable and works great for me. I rarely have anything over 10 lbs to weigh at a time. Edited August 22, 2023 by Hyn Patty Added comment about digital scales Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hulk Posted August 23, 2023 Report Share Posted August 23, 2023 I have several of these inexpensive plastic calipers*, handy in the Studio, a few dollars at your local hardware store or online. If/when they break, bend, wear out - not a big loss! Plenty accurate within a small fraction of a mm (depending on one's eyesight); the vernier is decent. Typically, the depth bit on these cheapies don't line up with zero, but that's easily accounted for... For larger wares, I'm using a fifteen inch Fiskars stainless steel ruler, graduated in mm and inches, which I find handy... *when a more accurate measurement is required - within a thousandth or two (inches) - I'll break out a spendy caliper or micrometer. I haven't yet needed to use any expensive measuring equipment when working with clay. The one exception was testing to see how small a vertical wheel head wobble is perceptible - a few thousandths is enough to be annoying, yep. In my ceramic practice, within a fraction of a millimeter is almost always "close enough" - and for ordinary projects as well, e.g. bolt/screw/drill size, blind hole depth, et cetera, a cheap plastic caliper is practical, useful, and low ri$k... Pres 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pyewackette Posted November 7, 2023 Report Share Posted November 7, 2023 I already have a digital scale, they're not that expensive. I have several actually but I got this one just for weighing out glaze stuff. American Weigh Scales L-3000 - I paid $38, currently on sale for $36. Highly highly rated in the baking community, and some of us there are pretty an... err, focused on ... the accuracy of our scales. $150 doesn't begin to touch how much I am getting ready to spend on tools. Bats, for instance. I'm spending more than that on just bats. I only have 4 atm. But then I'm just getting started (for realzies this time). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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