Tools

[boomerang]

I found an Ideal brand pair of strippers at Home Depot on clearance for $10 last year, so I snagged them up.
http://www.amazon.com/Ideal-Industri...wire+strippers

Looks like Klein is actually cheaper, which boggles my mind:
http://www.amazon.com/Klein-Tools-11...JW0DQC0ATRCZNT

Anyway, this style is that I am used to and they work great and last forever.
8-22 AWG covers pretty much anything a homeowner, engineer or electrician would use on a daily basis.

I've wanted a pair of those for years and years but could never justify the purchase in part because I use them so infrequently. It's one of those things that when I'm doing the rare bit of electrical work I want them badly and when the job is done, the want is forgotten - until next time.

 

[Greenman]

I don't think I've ever owned top notch wire strippers. Might have to pick up those Kliens.

 

[IronWing]

Offset racheting screwdriver. Sometimes, it is the only way.

Also, a top of the line cordless Dremel is amazingly handy.

 

[natto fire]

I don't think I've ever owned top notch wire strippers. Might have to pick up those Kliens.

When I first started in the field almost 4 years ago I almost picked up some of those style strippers but was told not to by my journeyman. I'm glad I listened to him, as I have been through 4 pair of strippers now. I never see that style in the field at both companies I've worked for.

They might be great for occasional stripping, but seem too cumbersome and heavy to keep on a tool belt, up and down ladders, and they will still dull out like regular strippers.

I started with plain yellow handle Klein, then got Ideal T-strippers, then Greenlee 1956A, and then blue handle Klein curves. I lost the Greenlees, but will get another pair when my Klein curves wear out. I actually prefer the Ideals over the Kleins as well, Klein gets dull really quick and the locking mechanism is not intuitive in my opinion.

I do like Klein's plain red handle dykes, and their Jman linesmans are top notch, although I keep hearing Knipex is supposed to be better for the linesmans. I've had my Kleins for 3 years now, and it amazes me how sharp they are after cutting lots of stuff I shouldn't have.

I know I prefer Knipex Cobra pump pliers over Channel Lock or Klein.

 

[xaeniac]

Do you have to thin paint with these paint sprayers?

 

[Greenman]

Do you have to thin paint with these paint sprayers?

What paint sprayer?
What paint?
What surface?

We can give you reasonable advice, but we have to understand exactly what you're asking for first.

 

[xaeniac]

What paint sprayer?
What paint?
What surface?

We can give you reasonable advice, but we have to understand exactly what you're asking for first.

Was referring to earlier posts. I will be painting exterior but have decided that brushing will be best die to exterior of house.

 

[DrPizza]

Was referring to earlier posts. I will be painting exterior but have decided that brushing will be best die to exterior of house.

I picked up a sprayer for about $50; I think it's a Craftsman. It has a valve so that when the compressor is running, I can also pressurize the paint tank. It does a much better job than one of those Wagner sprayers, and doesn't require the thinning and filtering through pantyhose that I had to do with the Wagner to keep it from splattering gobs of paint. I painted some cabinets & they look like brand new - just like a factory finish. And, I've used it with a heavy white rustoleum paint to do some doors - again, flawless finish. You have to be patient with it to know what rate to paint at to avoid running paint, etc.

Also, re: palm nailer. Just picked one up a couple weeks ago (along with a finish nailer, brad nailer, crown stapler, and some other stapler, and an impact wrench and ratchet). When I was working on my shed/barn, it was invaluable in a couple areas where there simply wasn't room to swing a hammer.

 

[mrblotto]

Got a Dremel a few years back.....omg what a timesaver!

Ripped out the carpet at our business a while back. Of course there were nails right into the cement/concrete. Dremel to the rescue!

About a week ago I thought to myself 'You know Blotto, our Crepe Myrtles really need a pruning....' About an hour later I was hanging upside down when my leg got stuck in a 'Y' section of a branch lol. 15 minutes later I manage to exctricate myself, and I head down to Ace Hardware and get an electric pole saw. The hell with climbing trees any more to trim them lmao.

TL;DR
-Dremel
-Electric Pole Saw

 

[DrPizza]

handheld grinder

I use it for everything. Grinding mill scale, grinding welds, cutting small bits of metal, grinding down tools to fit certain things, grinding nail heads off, etc. I really need 2-3 more so I can have a cutting wheel, grinding wheel, flappy disc, and brush all available so I don't have to switch out heads.

I prefer using electric over air for these things as the air can spin up too high and I usually have the air hooked up to something else.

I have a couple sheets of roofing to trim; was going to get a blade for one of the circular saws, and having just skimmed through this thread, thought "why not." Just have to wait 2 days for it now.

 

[Greenman]

I have a couple sheets of roofing to trim; was going to get a blade for one of the circular saws, and having just skimmed through this thread, thought "why not." Just have to wait 2 days for it now.

They're pretty darn handy. I use them for cutting sheet metal, stone, tile, stucco, scoring concrete, and once in a while, grinding.

 

[Muse]

Cordless drill (the first one I had was one of the first, a Skill. It didn't have a readily removable/replaceable battery, but I did buy and install a replacement at one point. That tool finally died.)

Cordless screwdriver (I like the Black and Deckers, cheap but their stupid Versapak batteries are expensive. Still, as long as the batteries are good, they are handy tools).

My grinder, which believe it or not, I made myself from a a motor that came from a dryer and parts I bought. I also adapted that to make a table saw!

Circle saw (Porter Cable Saw Boss, it's compact, light, not a cheapie, but does 90+% of what a bigger/heavier circle saw will do).

Dremel (yeah, from time to time you'll be glad you got one).

Jigsaw

Orbital sander (Makita) and belt sander (Porter Cable).

Manual stapler with adjustable spring-applied tension. I have a couple that use anywhere from 1/4" to 9/16" staples. I use those staplers pretty frequently, keep 1/4" staples in one, generally 1/2" in the other.

Miter box

Level

Square

Tool bucket

Tool belts

Head lamp with rechargable batteries!

My trusty every-day-carry mini flashlights with rechargable AAA battery!

Knee pads and a variety of gloves

A variety of solvents, including a gallon of acetone (pour them off into smaller containers)

Ear protection (the kind that look like big headphones). Slap them on your head when using electric tools that make a lot of noise or are otherwise generating ear splitting noise, e.g. with a hammer. Don't mess up your ears.

Multimeters, even the cheapies at Harbor Freight, are a must for the DIY inclined.

A variety of soldering equipment including a propane torch and iron.

Porter Cable 382 5" Random Orbit Sander

Although... does a workbench technically count as a tool?

One day I spotted a desk someone had put out on the curb and brought it home in my station wagon. I converted it into a workbench by jury rigging leg extensions onto it. It has several great easy-slide drawers. I added a lower shelf between the legs (on which sit most of my portable power tools), installed a tough veneer top, bench vise and wood vise, have shelves extending upward from the back edge. My homemade bench grinder sits on it and it has a couple of swivel lamps on either side, the kind you see in Pixar film credits. It's sweet, and sits in my tool room. It's solid as a rock. I don't think I could buy a better workbench anywhere.

One of the biggest advantages of being a Tool and Diemaker I guess is if I don't own something, the shop has something I can borrow, or one of the other guys owns one

Yeah, that would work. I'm less than a two minute bicycle ride from my town's tool lending library. I hit them up occasionally.

Which reminds me...taps and dies are epic to have.

I use my taps (complete set) frequently, but have just an 8-32 die. I have used it many times, however. I've made a lot of bolts out of nails! May get a die set someday, just haven't seen the deal I like.

Any recommendations on the digital calipers mentioned above?

Harbor Freight often has them for real cheap (IIRC, something like 7 bucks), that's where I got mine. I use it once in a while, is reasonably accurate for my general usage, you can zero the thing quick.

I have somehow managed to live without wire strippers all my life and I really feel I need to invest in them. Ran a new 20a circuit last week and it was a PITA using a knife to nick the insulation.

I waited a really long time before I bought my wire stripper, until I finally saw one I liked. It's had a lot of use. It's a cheapie, strips various size insulated wires, also cuts and you can clean threads of smallish bolts with it.

 

[Muse]

Totally agree.

I bought my Ryobi 18v drill and driver set about 6 years ago and they still go strong. I have done a LOT of work with them (renovated 2 houses, including building a 20x25' deck with tons of lag bolts and deck screws) and dropped both off of ladder numerous times.

I just noticed that a few places are offering the same set for $99 right now.
I thought about buying it just for the 2 batteries that come with it and to have the backups in case mine ever do die.

Link to $99 Home Depot deal

That deal is $129 right now.

I have drill/drivers, don't know what an impact driver is. I've seen them for sale for years. What's an impact driver for? What's the advantage over a drill/driver? I have cordless screwdrivers, drill/drivers, 12v and 14v. Never had an 18v anything. My stuff is NiCd, which is generally a hassle because the batteries very often have little or no power when I finally need them. I don't use them on a regular basis.

 

[Muse]

They're pretty darn handy. I use them for cutting sheet metal, stone, tile, stucco, scoring concrete, and once in a while, grinding.

Link to one? Thanks!

 

[edro]

What's an impact driver for?

It is the same as a drill, but is intended for screw and bolts instead of drill bits (even though it can use drill bits).
It has a ratcheting hammer action that drives screw in much faster and easier than a normal cordless drill. Since it is using an impact rotation, it is basically hammering the rotation of the screw. This allows it to use much more force on the screw with very little torque on your hand/wrist.

You really need to try one to understand it. Ever see an air (pnuematic) impact gun for taking off lug nuts from a car? It's the same, but battery powered.

 

[Muse]

It is the same as a drill, but is intended for screw and bolts instead of drill bits (even though it can use drill bits).
It has a ratcheting hammer action that drives screw in much faster and easier than a normal cordless drill. Since it is using an impact rotation, it is basically hammering the rotation of the screw. This allows it to use much more force on the screw with very little torque on your hand/wrist.

You really need to try one to understand it. Ever see an air (pnuematic) impact gun for taking off lug nuts from a car? It's the same, but battery powered.

Thanks. I'll keep my eyes open for that Ryobi deal at $99 and pick that up. Right now at HD, you get just the batteries for $99. Amazon has the kit for $119. I'll wait.

 

[shortylickens]

- Micro bit driver set.

- A great big post hole digger that weighs 20 pounds. I use it to break up ice. Much easier then those crummy scrapers.

- Three gallon air compressor.

- Digital calipers

- Impact driver, impact ready driver bits (much sturdier than cheap bits)

- firemans nozzle for garden hose

- Quick disconnect fittings on all hoses and nozzles/devices

- Curled garden hose

- Grabby arm

 

[shortylickens]

Oh, and powered screw drivers for the computer room:


http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-A...e-Screwdriver/

http://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-...0-Screwdriver/

 

[shortylickens]

That deal is $129 right now.

I have drill/drivers, don't know what an impact driver is. I've seen them for sale for years. What's an impact driver for? What's the advantage over a drill/driver? I have cordless screwdrivers, drill/drivers, 12v and 14v. Never had an 18v anything. My stuff is NiCd, which is generally a hassle because the batteries very often have little or no power when I finally need them. I don't use them on a regular basis.

http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-CLPK27-1...-Ion-Batteries

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duva2f1KKfg


Better than a regular driver for special needs. I used mine to take out a deeply set screw that wasnt moving with just a regular power driver.

But having both is nice. The impact driver makes a crapload of noise.

 

[Muse]

http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-CLPK27-1...-Ion-Batteries

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duva2f1KKfg


Better than a regular driver for special needs. I used mine to take out a deeply set screw that wasnt moving with just a regular power driver.

But having both is nice. The impact driver makes a crapload of noise.

Is that the Bosch CLPK27-120 12-Volt Max Lithium-Ion 2-Tool Combo Kit (Drill/Driver and Impact Driver) with 2 Batteries, Charger and Case? The Anandtech redirect fails to bring up anything but a "sorry" at Amazon.

For whatever reason your links to Amazon bring up this:

Looking for something?
We're sorry. The Web address you entered is not a functioning page on our site

 

[Greenman]

I just picked up a Drill Doctor for sharpening bits. It works as advertised. I don't think it would be cost effective for the average homeowner, but if your a hard core weekend builder it would probably pay off.

Once I started digging, I was surprised at how many dull bits owned.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BKTA00/...ll+doctor+750x

 

[Booty]

Awesome thread!

Some tools I own and use a ton or found useful:

- Track Saw (I have a Dewalt - probably would go with the Festool in hindsight, but still love it)
- Kreg pocket hole kit
- Milwaukee right-angle drill (bought this for assembling a shelving project that I could have planned better, but have used it a ton since then for awkward/tight spaces)

 

[Greenman]

I've reached the point that when I'm looking at a new tool my first question is, where am I going to put it? I have just enough room in my garage for my V-Rod, the rest is tools. It's a little out of control.

 

[Zorba]

I'll say the two "tools" I enjoy having the most are a nice floor jack and a very nice 42" tool chest.

I also like my torque wrenches, Dremel and good ratchets and sockets.

 

[shortylickens]

Fucking anandtech redirect.

Yes, it was the compact driver and impact kit, one charger, two batteries.