Tools of the Trade: We Went Shopping and Things Escalated

We Bought Some Tools. Then Bought More. Then Bought a Morticer.

There comes a time in every builder’s life when a battery drill just isn’t cutting it (literally). For Snap Pod, that moment came somewhere between designing modular glamping pods and realising we needed to mortice the heck out of some timber.

So… we went shopping. And things escalated.

Let’s introduce the new recruits.

Pillar Drill – The Lumberjack DP16-910B-VS

Nicknamed “The Punisher” by absolutely no one but us, this beast is a variable-speed, depth-gauged, cast-iron legend. It makes holes in wood so clean we considered framing one.

• Variable speed: Because sensible adults need options.
• Depth stop: So we stop pretending we're good at guessing.
• Cast iron base: It’s not going anywhere. Ever.
• Bonus: We got it during a sale and used a cheeky promo code. (You’d be proud.)

It now lives proudly on the bench, silently judging lesser cordless tools.

Morticer – The Lumberjack BM16

This thing? This is square hole supremacy.

• 550W motor: It means business.
• Chisel up to 16mm: Which is wider than most people’s ambition on Mondays.
• Sliding cast-iron table: Like a posh dinner tray, but for violent woodworking.
• Clamp system: Holds timber like it owes it money.

We've already used it to cut joints so snug they audibly sigh when assembled. It’s also extremely satisfying to operate, which is dangerous, because now we want to mortice everything. Door? Morticed. Shelf? Morticed. Sandwich? Could be.

Why This Matters (besides feeding our tool addiction)

These tools aren’t just shiny distractions (although… they are very shiny). They’re the foundation of the Snap Pod workshop — and essential for the kind of precision joinery our modular pod designs rely on.

Curves, joints, extensions — all of it depends on accuracy. And that means proper machines, not just vibes and battery drills.

What’s Next?

We’re not done. In the coming weeks, we’ll be picking up:

• A bandsaw (for curved glulam cuts)
• A table saw (for all the glorious long rips)
• A router (for fancy edges and repeatable joints)
• And a solid bench setup that doesn’t wobble like a jelly on a tumble dryer.

Basically, it’s going from “shed in a field” to “woodshop with ambition.”

Final Thoughts

Are we over-prepared? Maybe. Are we loving every second of it? Absolutely.

If you’re into glamping, modular design, or just love a good bit of kit, stick around. We’ll be sharing more Snap Pod build progress, workshop chaos, and possibly a guide on how not to mortice your own foot.

Want to see these tools in action?
Follow us on Instagram and Pinterest where we’ll be posting behind-the-scenes madness and probably some dramatic slow-mo of sawdust flying in golden hour light.