by truenorth on Mon Oct 14, 2013 9:46 pm
I'd accumulated a lot of shop tools over the years, but not a large grinder. I asked someone who finished a PocketShip near me and he said it wasn't necessary. So far, he's right. A good random orbital sander (ROS) with 60 grit can slough off a lot really fast. I've used mine to smooth out lead and grind down hardened epoxy. You'll might want a small angle grinder for minor metal work like trimming back bolts, but not a big grinder. For me, the indispensable tools are the ROS, jigsaw, drill, table saw, and miter/chop saw. You may not need to own these if you can borrow them, but I use at least 2-3 of these every time I'm in the shop. Random, smaller essentials (for me) would include powered scissors, a couple hand planes, wire crimper/cutter, needle nose pliers, easyout, and a 90 degree drill head. Tools I'd put in the really nice to have category are the band saw, drill press, router (you can roundover with a ROS), and brad nailer. That said, if your budget allows, it certainly can't hurt!