The One Tool You Cannot Have Too Many Of

[Garcky]

I have lots of tools. I have multiples of some tools, like 10mm sockets. But, there's one tool I have literally tens of. It's the tool in the photo. Not that brand in particular - just that type of tool. Wherever I am, there is one within reach. Kitchen junk drawer. Laundry room junk drawer. The drawer in my desk. Every glove compartment. Every toolbox. Every surface where I work on things. Here and there and everywhere!

I need that tool more often than any other. I use it more often than any other tool. It's so useful, in fact, that I have a hard time checking out at the hardware store or the auto parts store without grabbing one of them at the checkout counter - just in case there's somewhere I don't have one, or somewhere where I've taken one of the bits out and used it in my cordless drill somewhere and left it where I used it. This tool:

 

[SyluxGuy28O3]

I agree. You can’t have too many screwdrivers. I have a drawer full of them. I feel the same way about flashlights.

I have a streamlight polystinger mounted next to my bed. I have a streamlight hpl in my “man bag”. I have a streamlight microstream in my pocket, a maglite xl50 in the side door of the car, and a coast pocket light in my box at work.
Plus, here is my man bag:

 

[M6erfan]

Utility Knives. . .

 

[tarmy]

Brains…can’t have to much of one.

 

[Garcky]

Utility Knives. . .

Well, I have an Old Timer 80T stockmans knife in my right jeans pocket at all times, so I don't really need boxcutters everywhere.

 

[M6erfan]

Well, I have an Old Timer 80T stockmans knife in my right jeans pocket at all times, so I don't really need boxcutters everywhere.

I have probably 7 utility knives. Could never find one of them when I needed it. Now they are in drawers scattered around the shop and house, I always put them back in their proper place. My blood pressure dropped 20 points after I made that change.

 

[RTM]

Clamps





From a woodworker

 

[Fedwrench]

Locking pliers or vise grips. Some are better than others. I've always viewed them as disposable to be used and abused.

I also feel that a pocket screwdriver (Alexander made with a magnet on top) is one of the most versatile tools a mechanic/tech can have. Not a fancy pocket pry bar but, the ones that used to be free swag off of a tool truck.

 

[canuckian]

Measuring tapes

 

[strutaeng]

10 mm sockets!

 

[Garcky]

Brains…can’t have to much of one.

Well, everyone has one. How well it works varies widely, though.

 

[lolaetype]

Dollar bills. With enough of them you can fix anything.

 

[Shocker]

+1 on the measuring tapes. I am always putting them somewhere and I never remember where. It is kinda fun. Like Christmas when I find them 6 months later. It is a rotating stream of tapes in and out of the drawer.

 

[p00p]

Cordless tool batteries.

 

[KnurledNut]

Hammers.

 

[crewchief888]

cheap HF oring picks. i have at least 10 in my service truck, i use em for a lot of stuff

 

[fatfillup]

For me its kneeling pads. I have them in both trucks, multiple places in 3 shops, multiple sizes and types.

Buy them anytime I see them cheap at auctions and flea markets. One of the few things I rarely sell

 

[isb cornbinder]

Petersen Vise Grip Locking Pliers, Dewitt, Nebraska. I have over 200 pair
I have two of the VG combination multitools. I guess they might be handy. I have never used them.
I have everything in my shop on quality casters. I can roll something out and roll it away when I am done with it, much like drawers.
I cannot have too many machinist toolboxes. I have 4, now. I would not say no to another MTB, at the right price.

 

[PBCampbell]

Is the idea of the thread "the one tool you have too many of" or the one tool you cannot have too many of?

 

[p00p]

Is the idea of the thread "the one tool you have too many of" or the one tool you cannot have too many of?

the later.

 

[jeffmoss26]

screwdrivers!

 

[ecotec]

Scissors.

 

[redwrench60]

Tape measures. I bet I have dozens. In the truck, several places at work, all over the house and garage, even my chest of drawers. Always one within reach. Pretty much all Stanley Powerlocks or FatMax tapes since I hate everything else.

 

[richfinn]

Diagnostic/Test equipment, you can never have enough, believe me I have tried!!!!!

 

[dnschmidt]

Benjamin's - Dollar bills aren't cutting it.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I’d say any type of tool you can’t have too many of. Definitely can’t have too many screwdrivers or sockets. Can’t have too many pocket screwdrivers either those are the most handy. I laugh when I walk over and see someone trying to pull up those tabs on wiper blades by hand then I pull out my fancy tool and show em how it’s done lol. Like I’ve heard many mechanics say you never trust a mechanic who can fit all his screwdrivers in one drawer. I have a drawer for screwdrivers but I have the main ones in my cart so not all of them fit in the drawer so you can trust me haha.

 

[ItsNemo]

Flashlight
Knife
Screwdriver
Measuring Tape

 

[nadogail]

Credit, credit is a tool just like an axe or a saw; the proper use of any tool can make a job go well; improper use can really mess up a job.

A good workman keeps his tools, that includes credit, in good condition.

 

[cjarvis]

Stanley Power Lock (33-425) tape measures. I have at least half a dozen in multiple locations.

 

[JWC86]

Flashlight
Knife
Screwdriver
Measuring Tape

^ this

 

[IndyGarage]

Tape measures. I bet I have dozens. In the truck, several places at work, all over the house and garage, even my chest of drawers. Always one within reach. Pretty much all Stanley Powerlocks or FatMax tapes since I hate everything else.

When my Father in Law died I was cleaning out his stuff and I found dozens and dozens of tapes. Everything from little keychain jobs to a 300 foot tape.

I went to a buddy's house and there were tape measures all over the place. He said "I got sick of always looking for one, so I just bought 50 of them and put them all around the house and garage so I'd never have to look far".

 

[Xcursion88]

Brains…can’t have two much of won.

I think you meant

 

[Rockable]

Clecos. If you do much sheet metalmwork, you can never have too many Clecos.

 

[CJM8515]

i have tons of those 6 in one screwdrivers, one of my fav tools. right now theres a tape measure in reach and a utility knife too lol

 

[AirMech#406]

Clecos. If you do much sheet metalmwork, you can never have too many Clecos.

Preach.

 

[redwrench60]

When my Father in Law died I was cleaning out his stuff and I found dozens and dozens of tapes. Everything from little keychain jobs to a 300 foot tape.

I went to a buddy's house and there were tape measures all over the place. He said "I got sick of always looking for one, so I just bought 50 of them and put them all around the house and garage so I'd never have to look far".

That’s me. I hate wondering what the dimensions of something are or if something will fit. I’m always inspecting or laying something out. Building or modifying. I’m extremely likely to want a piece of furniture perfectly centered on a wall or have window blinds fit perfectly so I’m always reaching for a tape at work or home.

 

[bctexas]

Bottle openers!

 

[xjfish]

Caulking gun?

 

[BFBOB]

I have lots of tools. I have multiples of some tools, like 10mm sockets. But, there's one tool I have literally tens of. It's the tool in the photo. Not that brand in particular - just that type of tool. Wherever I am, there is one within reach. Kitchen junk drawer. Laundry room junk drawer. The drawer in my desk. Every glove compartment. Every toolbox. Every surface where I work on things. Here and there and everywhere!

I need that tool more often than any other. I use it more often than any other tool. It's so useful, in fact, that I have a hard time checking out at the hardware store or the auto parts store without grabbing one of them at the checkout counter - just in case there's somewhere I don't have one, or somewhere where I've taken one of the bits out and used it in my cordless drill somewhere and left it where I used it. This tool:

Yup, that's one of my four ADED tools.

 

[Kuma601]

For my uses it would be drill bits followed by abrasives. Mechanical pencils or pencils with 2B or 4B lead. Saw blades, router bits, end mills, basically any type of cutting tool.