I have a Ryobi cordless leaf blower. It's turned out to be one of the most useful tools I have.

Apart from blowing leaves, after using sanders or saws I give them a blast with the leaf blower and all the dust and filth is blown away leaving spotless tools.

After coffee this morning I washed the bits and pieces from the stove top coffee machine, and a variety of odd shaped things including the bottle brushes used to wash the coffee making stuff. A quick blast from the leaf blower and all the water was blown out of the nooks and crannies.

I have heating and air conditioning units on the roof of my house. The leaves from the neighbour's trees collect around the units and make a mess. A quick blast and the leaves are gone (possibly back over the fence ;-) )

I find the Ryobi +1 tools awesome value for money for the DIYer. I was thinking of replacing my Ryobi petrol leaf blower with the battery version.

As for my fav/best tool, it would be the Ryobi trim router. Much easier to use than my plunge router which I now almost only use on a router sled.

Ryobi battery leaf blowers are fun with unwanted cats too
be careful with blowing dust around, the dust you that you can't can see is ok sort of health wise, it's the dust you cannot see that is bloody dangerous to your health.

Ratcheting ring spanners with flexible heads are one of the best tools invented in my lifetime.

EDIT> right up there with curved needle nose pliers

Select to expand quote

knot board said..

EDIT> right up there with curved needle nose pliers

+1, I never imagined when I got them they would be so damn handy.

A bit like my curved drill bit (adapter) actually. Can drill around a corner like the pliers grip around a corner.

If you get a cordless leaf blower, get one with variable speed control. It's a million times better than just having an on/off switch.

You really only need about 20% power for 95% of the time, so you don't need to annoy your neighbours and the battery goes for weeks between charges. Also allows you to blow leaves/dirt into a neat little pile.

Battery leaf blower awesome for getting the charcoal in the Webber up to speed. Mind the sparks!

Blowers are the worst invention ever.
Maximum benefit/satisfaction is annoying the neighbours with noise and blowing stuff across their property and onto the street.
Sadly some goes down the street gutters into our waterways.
Vacuum method is the most environmentally friendly but too much effort to keep empting the bad and does not look cool.
A nice big broom provides excellent exercise for water sports but just not cool.
I love it when so called professional lawn mower guys blow grass into neighbours and across the road- very professional.
Blowers seem to just make some guys feel powerful.
My rant so now I feel good.

Select to expand quote

warwickl said..
Blowers are the worst invention ever.
...

All my leaves go in the bin. With precision control of the power and direction of the blower you can almost blow the leaves into the pan and drop them straight in the bin. When doing that there is almost zero noise. I had a blower vac and it was too noisy and gum nuts would get into the tube and rattle around.

Anyway the thread is supposed to be about best tools. What's your best tool? Extra points for a tool that is more useful than you thought it would be because of different or innovative applications.

I quite like my 6' demolition bar. I used it to dig out 12 tree stumps close to the house that could not be grubbed out. Nothing is makes you feel more manly than destroying stuff with a big lump of steel.

Select to expand quote

Gorgo said..

warwickl said..
Blowers are the worst invention ever.
...

All my leaves go in the bin. With precision control of the power and direction of the blower you can almost blow the leaves into the pan and drop them straight in the bin. When doing that there is almost zero noise. I had a blower vac and it was too noisy and gum nuts would get into the tube and rattle around.

Anyway the thread is supposed to be about best tools. What's your best tool? Extra points for a tool that is more useful than you thought it would be because of different or innovative applications.

I quite like my 6' demolition bar. I used it to dig out 12 tree stumps close to the house that could not be grubbed out. Nothing is makes you feel more manly than destroying stuff with a big lump of steel.

Stay tuned as I have a list so need to prioritise.

Compressor , so many uses.

Select to expand quote

Imax1 said..
Compressor , so many uses.

Yep, limitless uses......except for the length of your hose

Quite a fan of my 54oz gearwrench brand dead blow hammer. Even though I struggle with paying $160 for a rubber mallet

Vise grips

Once you own a good Mig welder you'll wonder how you existed without one.

Select to expand quote

knot board said..
Once you own a good Mig welder you'll wonder how you existed without one.

I own a crappy one and one day hope to know what its like to own a good one. Mmmmm mig welding... I got rash recently and bought a cheap TIG. I should have just stuck with mig. TIG is too slow, probably better for someone with patience.

Hydraulic/pneumatic lift motorcycle workbench.
Best money I ever spent on something I didn't think I really needed - saves the back and knees a heap of hurt

I'm loving Ozito. 18volt wet and dry vac, the jigsaw, orbital sander, spraygun, multi tool, impact driver, drill ect . Hope they bring out a router and heat gun soon!

Select to expand quote

Gorgo said..
Anyway the thread is supposed to be about best tools. What's your best tool?

My opposable thumbs.

I find them very handy.

I notice that people are often sneaking a sideways glance at me and saying 'what a tool'.

I guess they are just jealous ?

I found the need for ball end Allen keys last week whilst working on my car

On that day it was the best tool ever

My favourite roybi +1 tool atm is their tyre inflator, does car, bike tyes. Sports balls. Inflate deflate air mattresses too.

I used it to pump up the bulk of a inflatable sup, just need to work out how make a fitting to get the pressure.

I know it would flog it out in no time, but the six year warranty means I don't care too much

The Multi tool.best inventiom in the last 10 years.

Select to expand quote

Carantoc said..

Gorgo said..
Anyway the thread is supposed to be about best tools. What's your best tool?

My opposable thumbs.

I find them very handy.

I notice that people are often sneaking a sideways glance at me and saying 'what a tool'.

I guess they are just jealous ?

You know what they say about a man with big thumbs ?........








Big gloves

Select to expand quote

Carantoc said..

Gorgo said..
Anyway the thread is supposed to be about best tools. What's your best tool?

My opposable thumbs.

I find them very handy.

I notice that people are often sneaking a sideways glance at me and saying 'what a tool'.

I guess they are just jealous ?

You have opposable thumbs? I would have given that a 50/50 chance, but its good to hear.

What about walking upright?

Select to expand quote

FormulaNova said..

Carantoc said..

Gorgo said..
Anyway the thread is supposed to be about best tools. What's your best tool?

My opposable thumbs.

I find them very handy.

I notice that people are often sneaking a sideways glance at me and saying 'what a tool'.

I guess they are just jealous ?

You have opposable thumbs? I would have given that a 50/50 chance, but its good to hear.

What about walking upright?

Goes nicely with red thumbs

I love my Triton Super Jaws.

My $1 Phillips screw driver.

I've had it 20 years, it fits far more screw heads than it should and there's not a square millimeter of rust on it.

Unlike the expensive sets I have that are ill-fitting rusty POS

The best tool that I bought was a Hitachi impact driver. It was awesome for driving screws in, and the worry became going too far and pulling the screw right threw the timber.

I've shorn the tip off quite a few philiips bits with this thing that i started buying lots of spares.

2 tone lifting straps , don't realise how handy they are until you have some

aeg rattle gun - makes a 30 min job into a 5 min job had mine for 10 years still going

metal band saw : I weld stuff while it's cutting stuff Basically an extra hand

Cordless recip saw ; used for metal, wood and cutting mid section of grain fed steer for my freezer.

Select to expand quote

Gorgo said..
I have a Ryobi cordless leaf blower. It's turned out to be one of the most useful tools I have.

I love my eGo blower... try it and tell me how you feel about the Ryobi.

Select to expand quote

jedda said..
I love my Triton Super Jaws.

Me too, I also bought the AEG version bunnings for $170 so $30 less... it's bigger and heavier but less practical and is more fiddly to fold up/down.


My favourite tool is a toss up between the eGo blower and the SLX V2.5 62mm Ceramic Coated Herb Grinder... the grinder is just soooo buttery smooth and effortless.

special mention for the Empire 12 Inch Aluminium Rafter Square, oh and the JFLEX Retractable Air Hose Reel.

Select to expand quote

warwickl said..
Blowers are the worst invention ever.
Maximum benefit/satisfaction is annoying the neighbours with noise and blowing stuff across their property and onto the street.
Sadly some goes down the street gutters into our waterways.
Vacuum method is the most environmentally friendly but too much effort to keep empting the bad and does not look cool.
A nice big broom provides excellent exercise for water sports but just not cool.
I love it when so called professional lawn mower guys blow grass into neighbours and across the road- very professional.
Blowers seem to just make some guys feel powerful.
My rant so now I feel good.

Them and jet skis, two worst inventions ever.

Select to expand quote

southace said..
I'm loving Ozito. 18volt wet and dry vac, the jigsaw, orbital sander, spraygun, multi tool, impact driver, drill ect . Hope they bring out a router and heat gun soon!

I'ld be keen to know how the Ozito spray gun worked out... I have a Wagner spray gun (supposedly) slightly better product, and I can't get it to not 'splatter'.... I thought I might need to thin the paint out a little more...