1) Rotozip tool. The infomercial was very well done. Even grandma from the audience could handle the tool. It was amazing how there was no dust. When I first tried this tool I immediately broke the first bit when trying to cut some pine. I was also amazed at how I had to use two hands to try and keep the tool from wandering (meanwhile, I was remembering the grandma from the infomercial who practically only used one hand…she must have biceps of steel under that blouse….apparently she is the women’s reigning arm wrestling champ). So, after replacing the blade I thought I would give the tool one more try. This time on some drywall. I decided to add an electrical switch to the inside of our master wall in closet. Of course after seeing the infomercial there is virtually no dust. I neglected to remove my wifes and my clothes from the closet. When the bit touched the drywall there was an immense cloud of white dust realizing my error but feeling that I must finish “the cut”. I plunged away leaving our entire wardrobe covered in this fine gypsum. Luckily, the little woman wasn’t home so I could quickly clean up the mess. The tool sits in it’s box, selling it on craislist or a garage sale sounds like a good next step.

This is the only tool that sticks in my mind at this time. I will need to walk the shop to find the others that have been erased from memory.

One other thought. This episode made me think about one of your first where you posed the question about whether it was wise to buy your 2nd tool first?

3. Dremel Tool (bought it when I was making custom built flyrods for cutting the rod blank. A 5 second job peformed once during construction. I have 5 five rods in the last 7 years for a total of 25 seconds of use)
2. Electric staple gun (you covered all the reasons for that one in the podcast. I sold mine on ebay a few years back)
1. My complete Router Workshop router table and jig set. Have you seen the stuff these guys make??? What was I thinking???!!!!

#3 8″ miter saw – only cut left or right, no compound cuts. I was desperate for a miter saw and convinced myself this would be the right saw for my fledgling shop.

#2 Rotozip Rotary Saw – they said it would cut in a variety of materials like wood. It did, but never with as much control as they showed on TV. I used it when I renovated the master bedroom in our old house, but sold it in a garage sale (not ours but a different family member’s in a different town.)

#1 Modular Sharpening System from Sam’s Club – self contained unit that consisted of a small motor (and I do mean small!). Had a module for sharpening drill bits (a hole that didn’t support the bit during sharpening). A module for sharpening chisels and plane blades (the small grinding wheel was about 1/4″ wide so balance was key). And my favorite module…the knife and scissor module (the only one that worked).

Anyhow, one of the repair techs took a smashed up DeWALT 18v drill, and cut off the top housing, removing the chuck, motor and transmission so only the switch, handle and battery were left. He then taped the B&D electric tape measure on top of the drill handle and wired the drill switch into the battery contacts in the tape measure. We now had an 18V tape measure with forward/reverse control and variable speed! It was then awesome enough to be un-embarrassing. it shot out of that so fast it left little bruises where it hit your arm. I don’t think the motor held out too long, though.

Also, I am surprised you got 10 inches of grout cutting out of that versa-pak tool. That COULD be a record.