Must Have Tools

So glad I bought these at the dollar store the other day;

Knitting needles!

Very handy on a recent mountain bike fork service.

 

Knipex Pliers Wrench

The best tool I've purchased in awhile... Maybe ever, I can't think of any tool I've ever bought that's impressed me this much.

I've used channellocks and other brands of tongue-and-groove pliers on a daily basis for awhile , and this tool is BRILLIANT.

My trade is extremely varied in what we do day-to-day. One day could include high voltage wiring/ modifying structural steel/ doing finish stainless work with metric hardware/ or plumbing a sealed hydraulic system... Ect. We do a lot of everything, so channellocks are always a must have, because you might not always have the exact right tool the exact time you need it and they work in a pinch... Knipex just took the concept and combined it with parallel jaws like an adjustable wrench and some creative compounding leverage principles.

10:1 ratio from the handle to the jaws, which are smooth and don't mar or round off nuts.

Definitely one of the most Bad ass hand tools I've used, very versatile, astoundingly simple, exceptional build quality.

 

Spring puller tool. I got mine from the snap-on truck, great for snowmobile exhausts and doing drum brakes. I've smashed my knuckles more than enough just using needle nose pliers.



Trim removal tool for those stubborn plastic fasteners and removing door panels so you don't scratch plastic up I usually have mine covered in masking tape.

 

A good tap and die set.....course and fine. I bought mine from Matco over 20 years ago.

Brake caliper tool.

Right angle head for a grease gun.

Dead blow hammer.

Not that unusual, but a good creeper makes all the difference in the world when you don't have access to a lift.

To avoid making a mess changing tranny fluid on cars that require dropping the pan to replace the filter, take a trash can lid and drill a dozen or so half inch holes towards the middle. Lay it on top of whatever you're using as an oil drain pan. It'll act as a funnel and catch all the tranny fluid that starts pouring out from around the sides of the tranny pan as you loosen the bolts.

I have both a magnetizer and a demagnetizer for my screwdrivers.

 

a locking tool box, so that people stop f*cking stealing my tools.

 

thing looks beefy and plenty of adjustable settings.

 

Lots of fancy tools, but what about...

 

Jeremy Clarkson thinks you only need one tool

 

I just got a set of these, I have only used the drill bit in the past. They are made in the USA, I would have thought they would come from Canada.

 

portable drill and hammer drill set

 

I have been using these all weekend. Cheap and handy. HF less than $2.

 

yes very useful. I use them for cleaning guns also

 

Ratcheting crimper for electrical connectors

 

I saw extendable magnet earlier, ill add extendable/flexible mirror
Tap and die set

For wood working, oscillating tool. When i moved into my house i had a lot of rotten trim boards on the exterior. Rather than pull the board off, i vutout the rotten parts with a nice clean cut, and placed in a new section. Nearly invisible and with the price of lumber, paid for itself. Also handy when cutting door jambs for laminate floors.

 

I'm liking WEN products lately. They seem to be one notch above the HF, Ryobe etc tools.

I have a wood lathe and planer by them.







I just ordered a 9 inch tabletop band saw. It was the only one in it's price range with a rip fence. They are available thru Amazon and Home Depot.

 

Knipex Plier believer here

A good set of screwdrivers and a beater set of screwdrivers that you inevitably use as a pry bar, center punch, etc.

Multimeter

As a PNWer: a proper knowledge of how to use the words skookum and chooch

 

Not mentioned yet... a motorcycle jack. I don't own a motorcycle any more, but I still use the jack often... removing/ installing axles, transmissions, fuel tanks, working on riding lawnmowers, just having it to move heavy stuff around the shop makes it worth having...

I'm a certifiable tool junkie... IMO, if you have a tool, you WILL find a use for it...

-Bear