Hobby Thread - September 19, 2026 [TRex]

Welcome hobbyists! Pull up a chair and sit a spell with the Horde in this little corner of the interweb. This is the mighty, mighty officially sanctioned Ace of Spades Hobby Thread. For this week, the Wheel of Hobbies (TM) is feeling lucky and decided on a tool plus theme for this Hobby Thread.

Tool plus? What's that? Tool content with additional bonus content! Hooray!

What time is it? Tool time!

[Top photo: Craftsman Hand Tools Catalog, 1964]

This started as a tool thread, but I found a few other things along the way that warranted space in the content. You're welcome to talk tools, screws, framing, cannons, whittling, art or anything else related or adjacent.

If you wish to stay on topic, I'm very interested in knowing what cheap tools perform just as well as expensive ones? This often comes up in the context of "what should I buy or not buy at Harbor Freight?" More below.

What are you hobbying?

The theme may not be your favorite but give it a chance before you judge and bail out. Any adjacent hobbying is in scope, so jump in with your interests, stories and questions.

In any event, the thread is not limited to to the theme. Anything (legal) you are hobbying is welcome. Even if the theme does not speak to you, you might learn something or be entertained. If not, offer something else relating to hobbying. If all of that fails, just check in and say hello.

As per usual Hobby Thread etiquette, keep this thread limited to hobbying. Leave politics and religion to threads elsewhere (unless your hobby is building or restoring churches). Pants? Nope. As always, puns are welcome and encouraged.

Play nice and do not be rude. Do not be a troll and do not feed the trolls.

Wow. Just wow.

I don't know what this tool is or what it is used for but it is a combination of awesome and terrifying.

This is a great topic - what cheap tools perform just as well as expensive ones?

I would not have guessed that a Forstner bit was on the list.

Higher price typically means more precision and durability. The more parts, the more risk with cheaper. The more that specific metals and materials matter, the more risk with cheaper. A clamp or extension cord from Harbor Freight probably works fine. A caliper, measuring device, a heavy-use table saw, or chisel might not.

Having said that, there are always exceptions and bargains. What cheaper tools or hobbying equipment or supplies or cleaners work just as well as expensive ones in your experience?

Screw knowledge

I never use Torx. Perhaps I should??

Not sure where I got these photos, but they've been sitting in my computer folder waiting for the right opportunity to shine. Where did this wrench come from? I've never seen a wrench with Ford lettering. An old Ford toolkit? A Ford factory?

I appreciate people that appreciate history. I appreciate people that can make things. I also appreciate clever people that can tell a story in an amusing and engaging manner.

Impressive (well done theme, art and video). Could you do this?

JTB - this guy has a video for you:

Cross stitch framing at home on a budget:

How about a professional frame maker? Lots of useful knowledge, but the jigs and templates in this video alone earned it a place in the content.

If you're not a reloader, can you melt down spent bullet casings to make brass stock for hobbying? Turns out the answer is yes!

I know what you're saying. Isn't this the same guy that made his own cannon? Yes. Yes it is. I think making a cannon at home qualifies as hobbying.

Did you miss the Hobby Thread last week? We did a tractor theme. The comments may be closed, but you can re-live the content.

Notable comments from last week:

Words of wisdom:

"Because despite all our troubles, when things are grim out in that wide round world of ours, that's when it's really important to have a good hobby." Posted by: tankascribe at June 22, 2024 07:41 PM (HWxAD).

Reminder: if you put links in the comments, use a URL shortener and describe what you're linking to. Failing to do either or both makes you barrel-eligible. Don't make people click to find out what you're linking.

Send thoughts, suggestions and photos of your hobbying to moronhobbies at protonmail dot com. Or just email to say hello. Do mighty things.

posted by Open Blogger at 05:30 PM

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