Well howdy all! I know we have HF gems but what else out there do you find that for the price, you can’t really do without!
As for me…JoAnns and Michaels have 12in wooden dowels in all kinds of sizes. A bunch in a bag for .99. I go through them like water.
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Screwdriver bit assortments. They’re not very good, but come in handy when you need a special bit in a pinch.
You won’t know you need some bits until you need 'em, at which point you’ll be glad you had that $10 assortment.
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I would definitely say the Collins Miter Clamps. I bought these for doing trim work in my house, and they are indispensible for gluing up miters. I already want to buy more.
http://www.amazon.com/Collins-Miter-Spring-Pliers-Clamps/dp/B00EXU3APA
Also for me, this type of screw hole punch is handy. I use it to mark my holes before drilling and keep the bit from walking.
http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-58-013-Self-Centering-Screw-Punch/dp/B00002X1YB/ref=pd_bxgy_469_img_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0ZX1J6ZBX0159GC7HCFE
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I’ve never seen those miter clamps, those could be very useful. And I feel dumb admitting this, but I’ve only ever used my spring punch on metal, it never occurred to me to use it on wood! 
I like to buy store brand tools (Craftsman/Husky/etc) because they typically have a painless warranty exchange. They’re usually decent quality, and if they break I just take 'em in next time and swap for an equivalent piece.
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Inexpensive but good folding knife. I like the Kabar Dozier. Gets the job done and at around $21 it isn’t a big deal of I lose it.
Kabar Dozier
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Also I have two of these counter sink/ driver reversible bits and I love them. Especially if you only have one drill, or a drill and no impact driver. You can countersink and predill, then flip the bit and drive the screw without having to change out your bits. Very quick and handy. Also very easy to switch out the drill bit if it snaps or get dull.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_280534-68081-80093_0__?productId=1208445
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Just bought a set of those clamps!..look awfully handy!
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Got a ton of them…especially the torx…from t70 all the way down to T2…pain in the butt to find but im a tool junkie!
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Speed square for pretty much any wood working, especially a 12" or larger one. There are plenty to choose from but here is one that certainly seems like a good price.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005XUHIA2/ref=cm_sw_su_dp
I have been using them for years for marking, measuring and to get right angle cuts with circular and jig saws. Only recently I have also started using them to mark out angles other than 45 and 90 and well as keeping things at 90 during assembly, acting as a temporary ‘foot’ for something standing vertically and so on.
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I agree on a good speed square. I have a metal one from when I was framing houses. For the shop I mostly prefer my combination square, as I love being able to adjust the ruler for measuring depths of dados or rabbets, or setting the height of the blade on the table saw. It is also really handy for marking lines a set distance from the edge or end of a board.
I think this might be the model I have.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_119897-1099-TC132___?productId=1006481&pl=1&Ntt=combination+square
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Cheap Harbor Freight wrenches to cut and weld to make custom wrenches…especially 32mm. Lol
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Utility knife. In my world a good utility knife has a few must have characteristics.
The first characteristic is there must be NO WAY that the stored blades can sneak out. Yes, I’ve run across utility knives without a “lip” in the two halves, which allowed the blades to sneak out and slice the heck out of the user’s palm. Fortunately, I noticed it before it sliced my hand. Such knives immediately have all blades removed on the way to the nearest trash can.
Second characteristic: Bright colors. I want to be able to find the damn things when I set them down/drop them.
Third characteristic: Retractable. This, of course, is personal preference. Some folks like the fixed blades. Not me.
Fourth characteristic: Easy blade change. Preferably not involving a slotted screwdriver.
Fifth: Comfortable in the hand, no slip.
Currently, my go to utility knives are made by DeWalt and Milwaukee. Less than $10 each.
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This is a good addition to the list. I personally love my Milwuakee Fastback 2 utility knife. The bearing folding mechanism is very smooth, I even used this as my EDC for a short while.
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Acetate handle flathead screwdriver.http://guideimg.alibaba.com/images/shop/88/11/20/7/screwdriver-acetate-handle-tip-group-slotted-keystone-slotted-tip-size-3-16_1246247.jpg
Many uses other than driving flathead screws on the jobsite.
5 dollar ones will have a long life of being beat with hammers. I saw an elcheapo ones handle explode sending shrapnel all over a bathroom while another plumber was attempting to split a halfway cut piece of castiron pipe with it. I’ve avoided those ones like the plague ever since.
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Any full tank 3/4" chisel, use for beating the crap out of, pry, scrape, wedge, even nail setting. From time to time I use an angle grinder to put an edge back on. Also a “5-1” painters tool… never used one for painting but so handy to have in my tool belt and use it for everything except what it was made for.
I have 5 of these got em on sale for $2.99 ea
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1289987
Just picked up 3 packs I cant wait to brake em!!!
Have had one of these in the toolbox for decades. Get used all the time for all sorts of small jobs.
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I have a couple of the previous model. Good action and very comfortable handle. Perhaps the best of this type of utility knife.
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+1 on Milwuakee Fastback 2 utility knife, I recently got one and it is very useful.
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