What purchase made the most money?
AaronRosenthal
| Posted in Tools for Home Building on
Thinking the other day as I measured up some baseboard with the PD40, what did I buy this year that saves me the most time/money on a job?
For some of you, it may have been a Kubota loader, for me it’s the Hilti PD40, and for others, estimating software.
What did you get in 2007 that will help you the most, going forward to save toime/make mony?
Quality repairs for your home.
AaronR Construction
Vancouver, Canada
Replies
I didnt buy much in 07 but my router table comes to mind. Between the router, the table, and the raised panel bits, i'm in for about $600. When I build raised panel wainscoting I charge about $100/ft.
What did you get in 2007 that will help you the most, going forward to save toime/make mony?
The good answer is a new DW.
But the real answer is a Senco baby compressor. No more hauling around a big, heavy compressor when I don't really need it.
What did you get in 2007 that will help you the most, going forward to save toime/make mony?
His name is Jose Angel Morales.
My first helper in almost 7 years.
Jose on the stick
Yea he's on the stick.
No Mon. morning brown bottle flu.
All legal like.
No unwanted smart-mouth.
Mostly "intelligent" questions.
Hablas better than most teenagers these days..
Excellent manners with homeowners (sir & ma'm).
Well kept appearance.
'bout 3 more like him, I might consider going back into business.Live in the solution, not the problem.
even though it was Christmas '06, my bandsaw was the best. I usually don't get many tools during the year. otherwise it may have been the laser level or the paint stirring attachment for a drill.
I love using my paint stirrers to mix up mortar and concrete in a bucket.Can mix up a third of a bag at a time start with water first just keep adding mix until stiff, way cool. Another thing get a drill attachment for your sds plus hammer drill and you can mix faster in hammerdrill mode.WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?
REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST
PLS 5x and the Powers Trakfast C3 gun, with drywall stilts. All of these together made a huge job easy for 3 guys.
Me on stilits with the PLS 5x and the Powers C3 gun Installing F channel and two other guys putting soffitt in. Then after I ran enough F channel for the day I would follow up behind the other two running soffitt applying the fascia.
At over 8$ a lineal ft we ran almost 4k lineal ft. of soffitt and fascia in under 1 week.
It was one of those jobs you can actually feel the money hit your pocket as you are on a dead run.
I don't ever brag, but this is one job I would like to see 3 other guys try to keep up on. I am sure most of guys can think of a job that was much easier than you had planned. This was one for me. It made me forget about the deadbeat contractors that bent me over in the last few years. Thank god for that.
I put this job together hoping we could pull it off, and we did no problem at an amazing rate. Another tool that helped was an old framing square I cut the tongue off of and bent to fit the brick so the PLS magnetic braket could hang while I installed the F-channel.
Woods favorite carpenter
FKA- Stilletto
Matt, tell me more about that Powers trak-it c3... was it this one? ----> http://www.warehousebay.com/catalog/trakit-gun-the-cordless-power-tool-by-powers-p-2465.htmlWhat were you fastening and what type fasteners? How does it compare w/ the standard powder guns? Sounds like a great tool.
Mr Pinko
That gun in the link is the same exact one I bought.
It is a gas powered gun that operates on a fuel cell and a battery.
It blew my mind, I was fastening aluminum F-channel for soffitt with it into brick.
I was shooting the 7/8" masonry pins and bought some washers that you had to individually load for each shot. THe washers have a plastic fiiting that locks it into the end of the barrel.
I would take this gun over a powder actuated one in a second. The pins were always set on every shot. Like the gun had an auto depth gauge on it or something. It kicks much less that a powder actuated tool as well. THis made alot of difference when I was on my 4' drywall stilts.
On all that F-channel I nailed up I had two bricks pop loose, I was nailing into the top course that was tied into nothing all the way around the building. I would love to see a ramset come close to that number.
It works great for fastening steel stud tracks up to concrete, or even steel I Beams. You have to buy the right pins for each application.
Any other questions feel free to ask, this gun is a money maker for me. It's performance was topnotch, two mis fires in all the time I have owned it. Thousands of pins. The misfires were because of a bad fuel cell. Woods favorite carpenter
FKA- Stilletto
Thanks for the info. Sounds like a really sweet (but pricey!) tool. I guess my only other questions would be what other applications have you, or would you, use it for? And would you consider buying a used one, or no?
I bought mine new for just under $600. THat price you posted is high.
Any application you need to shoot into steel or concrete this gun will do it.
I have a big bid out right now for a casino that is going to be built soon, I will be using this gun to attach hollow steel door frames to the cement decks if I land it.
For wood basement walls I shoot a treated 1x down to the slab then frame my wall on to it. With 2x top and bottom plates.
Sparkies and plumbers use them to attach conduit and pipes to masonry materials. They use clips that I think Powers sells.
I would buy a used one, if it was in good shape. I'd probably look on Ebay for cheap new one first.
I had the barrel of my .27 caliber Hilti powder actuated nailer blow up in my hands, luckily I only got a few cuts. Ever since I have avoided powder guns. Woods favorite carpenter
FKA- Stilletto
Upgrade to a full size one ton van.
I can carry more stuff and have fewer trips. It has been dubbed a hardware store on wheels.
I thank Gunner often for those pull out drawers I bought from him, man every one that sees them is awed how handy they are.
And the Jet Rack ladder holder inside means no more step ladder on the roof or on the goods inside.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Sucess is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
Makita impact driver - small thing; big difference
Forrest
here, here. My impact driver weighs a lot less than the 18 v drill i used for everything b4. now i only tire my arm out after work doing 16oz curls at the waterhole...
For me, it was the eCabinets software package, and it was a free download.
Where do I find that eCabinets software???
Kurt
http://www.ecabinetsystems.com/ Duh.
It ain't easy to get proficient, and you really need to be someone who makes or buys kitchen after kitchen after kitchen.
Are you that kind of bizness?
Sorry, I went to ecabinets.com. I will assume the Duh was a self effacing comment.
Kurt
Housh Custom Kitchens
Guess a couple of things. My little MK tile saw just blew me away with its ability. Only problem was that they (MK) didn't say anywhere that the blade that comes with it ONLY does ceramic. After some meandering cuts in porcelain did I figure it out. I finally got a new stud finder after about 25 years. No more banging it on the wall trying to make it work.
A nice new but heavy 32 foot ladder and some aluminum ladder jacks. Now if I could find some 20 foot 2x12 planks that weight next to zip I would be really happy.
I also bought some plumbing crimpers that saved me a lot of time and mess.
I buy stuff all the time. Oh I forgot by PC lefthand skill saw. Sweeeeeeeeeeeeet. Bought lots more and enjoy it all and it all made me money. I NEVER buy something unless I have an immediate need for it and will be paid for.
roger
Ski mask and pistol.
I won't limit it to '07 because I don't know if I made any major investments in this year other than the truck.
But for the whole career, I have to say some of the big ones have been the chop box, the laser level, and CAD.
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
Heres another tool that put alot of money back in my pocket.
Woods favorite carpenter
The thumb that stuffs the dead presidents in your pocket!Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Sucess is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
Has to be.
Not brown enough to be the other one.
;)Remodeling Contractor just on the other side of the Glass City
Oh man, that was bad. Funny, but bad.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Sucess is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
Heheheh.
I'm tryin' to figure out who took the picture.Remodeling Contractor just on the other side of the Glass City
I had to start using my thumb in pictures because Mike Smith yelled at me for using the index finger.
I am a wanted man in Rhode Island for all the wrong reasons, all 12 people that reside in that state don't like me because of him.
Woods favorite carpenter
Yeah, he is the official hand model for BT.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
Use the finger two over from the thumb next time, sends an entirely different message - ;)Remodeling Contractor just on the other side of the Glass City
Thats the finger my neice points with, about the funniest thing I have seen in quite a while.
A 3 year old putting that finger in the air asking for candy is awesome.
Of course my laughing and pointing the same way hasn't curbed her behavior at all. LOL
Sorry for the story. Woods favorite carpenter
Stories are good.
Three yeard old flippin' of the general public is even better.
Glad my kids were too young to remember some of the stuff we did, taught them, on golf league night. - ;)
That's what nieces and nephews are for - to corrupt.
Ever wonder why grandparents have so much fun.
Have a good holiday, wash up that other thumb, it'll be back to the grind on Wednesday.Remodeling Contractor just on the other side of the Glass City
Have a good holiday too Jhole, I have to work tommorrow so thumb cleaning might have to wait til next week. ;) Woods favorite carpenter
Matt:
Get a stand-in next time. Someone with better looking fingers.
Mike
Whats so bad about my hoof?
If you are looking at the finger and not the saw you have some problems. LOL
Kinda like going to gentlemens club and commenting on the shoes the entertainers are wearin. Woods favorite carpenter
SHOES?
Huh.Remodeling Contractor just on the other side of the Glass City
Exactly. Woods favorite carpenter
Neat! I saw that at the JLC show in Seattle a month ago. The price was very good and would do exactly what I wanted it for but I didn't "need it" right then. I keep thinking about it though and still have the pamphlets.
roger
You just need to lower your "need" threshold, so you can pick up tools whenever you want without guilt.
Best two things I bought this year: PLS 360 w/detector, and a Hitachi NV83A2 coil framing gun. Bought a buttload of scaffolding too, I guess that makes money although it sure isn't sexy.
I probably spent about 3 grand this year on relatively small stuff which is pretty much an average year I kinda think. As I get older I'm starting to think that pretty soon I'm going to get too old to use some of this stuff before too long. Very new and strange feeling.
I've lived and moved all over the place and had to get rid of stuff each move but I still have too much stuff I probably won't use which could make room stuff I would like.
I got a refrigeration black light/ dye leak detector that cost me about $800.00 and used maybe 3 times. 2 power threading units one of which hasn't been powered up for over 10 years, together cost about $5000.00..Plus lots of other stuff.
A big problem is where the heck do I store this stuff plus leftovers from jobs. As you know living on an island where land is extremely expensive a vacant lot for storage would be cost prohibitive. But, I 've got good health, a fantastic wife, everything paid for and lots of food in the fridge. Doesn't get any better than that.
Merry Christmas Dave
roger
Buy it and figure out what to use it on.
Better than needing it and not having it.
I use it every chance I can, it has yet to disappoint me. Today I cut a ton of 4x6's to length for a deck. Cold blooded today because it's all of 20 degrees out but after one cut it was ready to rock.
Buy the swing table too if you do any amount of framing, it lays to saw over to 72 degrees for those odd rafters you run in to from time to time.
Woods favorite carpenter
The tool that has made the biggest difference this year has been my 12" Delta dual-compound miter saw. I have had several jobs this year with 5-1/4" base and having the ability to cut base upright has really increased the speed and accuracy.
Last year, Collins clamps were my best purchase for less than $50-- very handy. The Makita Li-ion impact driver was a leap forward too.
In 2005, the best bang for my buck was my 23ga. micropinner.
2004, the Kreg pocket hole jig made an impact
rare that i ever consider a tool purchase bad.... if i make really good use of anything even one time... I'm pretty pleased...
my list of things that I know have more than paid for themself
my dumptruck... 16ft stake bed lined in 1/16" steep steel... I'll build new sides someday but... as it is i can haul just about as much as you can get into a rollback... it's a GMC with a detroit diesel air brakes and i got it from the local university for $1800 with 43K miles on it... it'd never left the shcool grounds i was told... all i've ever done is fix a few flats change oil and paint it... pretty nice to be able to save roll off fees... cost me $66 per dump... and the dump i use is only 5 min past where i eat lunch so... it adds 30min to lunch on days i dump... in 5 years i've used less than $200 in fuel...
bobcat... my first was an old 610 (still have it) for $750 it paid for itself the first week i used it... my current is a 753 still less than 700hrs i have the 709 backhoe for it, forks, a concrete/mud dump bucket i made...... i just have no idea how anyone works without one...
have a nice hilti level with the remote... but i swear i use a $19 one i got at sams more... it doesn't rotate but it'd dead on and i don't have to baby it like i feel i must with the $$$ hilti...
Zero Turn Mower... grasshopper brand... i cut all my own grass... and this puppy flies... sharp blades and if i don't wait too long between cuts... i can cut every property i have in the summer if i start at 4m... i'll get home right at dark... thats cut'n what i'd have to pay $350 to get cut... so if it gets cut 3-4x a mo... i've saved 1050 to 1400 mo... not bad when i was paid to haul the mower away... with it's sister and the 709 backhoe and a 6504 wd john deere tractor......
think those are my top picks...
p
Ryobi table saw for job site.
Other table saws I have are strictly shop. The Ryobi save me a lot of time.