A Pocket Full of Tiny Tools

[Garcky]

So, you're going to the garage sales or the flea market, or...well...who knows where? A guy has to have some tools, wherever he goes. But you're on foot, and your toolbox is not going with you. What do you do?

Here's my answer - my pocket full of tiny tools. A 4.5" pair of vice grips, with wire cutter. A 4" Channellock pliers. A stubby 2-in-1 screwdriver, and three little combo wrenches. Well, my pocket knife is in there, too, of course.

What's in your pocket in those situations?

 

[PugetDude]

Substitute a Leatherman for the pocket knife and a 4" Crescent for the three metric wrenches. That's what I keep in the console on the truck.

 

[LXCam]

Pffft. A cordless reciprocating saw and extra blades.

 

[Garcky]

Pffft. A cordless reciprocating saw and extra blades.

You must wear some big-*** pants!

 

[bobg03]

Substitue a Leatherman for the pocket knife and a 4" Crescent for the three metric wrenches. That's what I keep in the console on the truck.

I like the minimum approach too.
a Leatherman, A 6n1 driver, a 6" adjustable and a small LED flashilght

 

[71firebird400]

You carry an 11mm wrench around?

 

[Garcky]

You carry an 11mm wrench around?

No skips.

 

[Pexto]

A small pliers-wrench can do everything the Channelocks and wrenches can do, and take up much less space.

 

[oldmachinenut]

I have used a 4”crescent wrench as a keychain for over 50 years. Damn, I feel old now since I just remembered how long ago I started doing that.

 

[JradM]

A pocket knife is the only tool I carry ALL the time, but mini cobras, the 5" pliers wrench, an Olight S1R and a Skeletool all make frequent appearances in my jeans.

The "no skips" comment made me laugh.

 

[PelicanPines]

Custom Leather Pocket Protector
1. Roller Ball Pen
2. Black Sharpie
3. Mini Gerber Dime leatherman
4. Finger Lancet with custom made finger cot sleeve
5. Utility Blade Knife
6. 2 or 3 blood sugar test strips hidden behind a plastic shield

 

[nadogail]

TL-29

 

[65Goat]

 

[lardy1]

I worked on the deck of great lakes freighters as an able seaman. I found over time that the multi tool was the way to go. My choice was a Leatherman Wingman. I still have it.

 

[KnurledNut]

You carry an 11mm wrench around?

Don’t let the 11mm fool you. Its really a 7/16.

 

[RedneckWelder]

I don’t carry any tools other than a good sharp knife daily outside of work but at work it’s the knife, a Milwaukee folding utility knife, a flashlight and the set of mini Mac prybars.

 

[BarrelRoll]

Custom Leather Pocket Protector
1. Roller Ball Pen
2. Black Sharpie
3. Mini Gerber Dime leatherman
4. Finger Lancet with custom made finger cot sleeve
5. Utility Blade Knife
6. 2 or 3 blood sugar test strips hidden behind a plastic shield

Got a picture of the pocket protector? My tools keep wearing a hole in my bib overall pockets at work.

 

[BarrelRoll]

At work I carry
-Utility knife with a couple blades
-Snapon straight pocket pry bar
-8" proto adjustable wrench
-7" Knipex cobra
-7" Knipex pliers wrench is on trial, not sure if I want to add it as an addition or replace the 8" adjustable or demote it to my tool box
-Knipex cabinet key
-Lockout multiplier
-4 Lockout locks

At home I don't carry anything unless I'm headed out in the boat, I'll bring a leatherman fishing.

 

[turnthewrench 2.0]

A folding knife and a flashlight, as someone said above. Also -- like in the old commercials -- a Capital One Card would help..."What's in your wallet?"

 

[Marsim]

Im an a&p mechanic, and wear a fanny pack full of small/miniature tools. It's been a life saver when I'm working in fuel tanks or in a really confined space.

 

[PelicanPines]

Got a picture of the pocket protector? My tools keep wearing a hole in my bib overall pockets at work.

Not one here... Mine is a Levenger leather pocket protector... 25 years old... Barely a stitch out of place. I added an elastic loop along the outside edge to hold a pen. I have a second one... I have to snap a picture of tomorrow.

 

[CS454]

At work:
- pen (Zebra F701)
- light (Streamlight Stylus Pro)
- Mac mini prybar

At home:
- pocket knife (Spyderco or Opinel typically)
- light (Prometheus Alpha)

That's it.

I've tried all sorts of iterations and trinkets, carried a LM Surge religiously for the better part of a decade. Found this is what works for me day in and out.

 

[d.mcfarland]

What are you possibly planning on fixing at yard sales and flea markets?

Bring your wallet and a cell phone!

 

[Bubba Fett]

Cell phone (with lots of handy apps).
6p-Style flashlight, which can take a single 18650, or two CR123 batteries.
A Streamlight Microstream for up close work, and also as a backup light.
Leatherman Sidekick (I may upgrade to a nicer model, but I like this one).
A pen, usually a Zebra F-301.
Klein 10-in-1 screwdriver. (Lighter and less bulky than the 11-in-1).
Sometimes I carry a utility knife if I'm going to be opening boxes, etc.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I take the MacGyver approach, I'll figure it out when I get there. Credit card and cash, funny how allot of places won't take credit cards, cash only, especially if you're going to a yard sale.

 

[Bad Eye Bill]

Pffft. A cordless reciprocating saw and extra blades.

What are you getting for your cats?

 

[joel63]

No skips.

11mm can serve as 7/16. Now you have 4 wrenches.

 

[Garcky]

11mm can serve as 7/16. Now you have 4 wrenches.

True. Depending on what I'm doing, sometimes I carry these three stubby Proto wrenches, instead. Old car swap meets, for example:

 

[PelicanPines]

Custom Leather Pocket Protector
1. Roller Ball Pen
2. Black Sharpie
3. Mini Gerber Dime leatherman
4. Finger Lancet with custom made finger cot sleeve
5. Utility Blade Knife
6. 2 or 3 blood sugar test strips hidden behind a plastic shield

I actually have TWO... Brown is for around the house and life, Black is for the shop/garage. Just realized... I don't have a picture of my utility knife... its a mini knife handle that "swings" open.

 

[joel63]

True. Depending on what I'm doing, sometimes I carry these three stubby Proto wrenches, instead. Old car swap meets, for example:

Very useful set. I have them in a Craftsman set that I bought in the early seventies. They go everywhere with me.
I like that set so much that I made up two sets with Snap on, one in 12 point and one in 6 point.

 

[milkovich]

A cheap micrometer and a leatherman "Crunch."

 

[Garcky]

Very useful set. I have them in a Craftsman set that I bought in the early seventies. They go everywhere with me.
I like that set so much that I made up two sets with Snap on, one in 12 point and one in 6 point.

Indeed they are. I just bought them on eBay. I had an identical set long ago, but one by one, I lost them. My Dad gave me those three Proto wrenches when I was just 16. It was part of a small set of tools he gave me to go with the 1958 Harley Davidson 165 he gave me on my 16th birthday. I was missing them, especially the rare 7/16" & 1/2" one. That combination of sizes is very rare. I found one on eBay, and the seller also had the other two. So, with three wrenches, you covered every SAE size from 5/16" to 5/8". Amazing! I also have a stubby Craftsman 5/8" and 3/4". With those four wrenches, I can handle all of the common fasteners on a lot of American cars. All with wrenches 6" long and shorter. What a deal!

I'm looking for a similar metric set, actually. Stubby DBEs are pretty rare in metric sizes, though. I'd like a set from 10mm to 15mm. Reasonably priced, of course. Haven't found what I want yet, though. If I can find those, I'll carry both sets in a small pouch. Don't need 16, because the 5/8 will do for that.

I notice that some guy named ED owned the 7/16 & 1/2 one. I hope it didn't get stolen from him. Apparently, he loved that wrench like I did.

 

[PelicanPines]

Indeed they are. I just bought them on eBay. I had an identical set long ago, but one by one, I lost them. My Dad gave me those three Proto wrenches when I was just 16. It was part of a small set of tools he gave me to go with the 1958 Harley Davidson 165 he gave me on my 16th birthday. I was missing them, especially the rare 7/16" & 1/2" one. That combination of sizes is very rare. I found one on eBay, and the seller also had the other two. So, with three wrenches, you covered every SAE size from 5/16" to 5/8". Amazing! I also have a stubby Craftsman 5/8" and 3/4". With those four wrenches, I can handle all of the common fasteners on a lot of American cars. All with wrenches 6" long and shorter. What a deal!

I'm looking for a similar metric set, actually. Stubby DBEs are pretty rare in metric sizes, though. I'd like a set from 10mm to 15mm. Reasonably priced, of course. Haven't found what I want yet, though. If I can find those, I'll carry both sets in a small pouch. Don't need 16, because the 5/8 will do for that.

I notice that some guy named ED owned the 7/16 & 1/2 one. I hope it didn't get stolen from him. Apparently, he loved that wrench like I did.

I got this set plus some "extra spares"... the 3rd one from the top is 10mm/11mm so they go from 6mm to I believe 20mm

 

[Garcky]

I got this set plus some "extra spares"... the 3rd one from the top is 10mm/11mm so they go from 6mm to I believe 20mm

Nice, although I don't really prefer the offset ones. I like the 15-degree angled ones better. But, I'll go check those out, for sure. SK makes exactly the set I need, but they're too darned spendy for my liking. I mean, they're really feel-good wrenches for me, rather than mission critical tools.

 

[kbeefy]

Leatherman Skeletool and Streamlight Wedge (rechargeable LED)

 

[PelicanPines]

Nice, although I don't really prefer the offset ones. I like the 15-degree angled ones better. But, I'll go check those out, for sure. SK makes exactly the set I need, but they're too darned spendy for my liking. I mean, they're really feel-good wrenches for me, rather than mission critical tools.

Yea... the offset isn't too bad on these. It's a combined set of wrenches I cobbled together on eBay. I'd be willing to let them go for postage + the cost of a starbucks coffee if you are interested. PM me. I have not used them in several years. I believe they are all USA...

 

[Ohmthis]

I carry a Victorinox multi tool. It has saved my bacon several times. I’ll never go on the boat without it.

 

[f121]

Leatherman Skeletool and Streamlight Wedge (rechargeable LED)

The wedge is brilliant! I’ve got one that lives in the pocket of my jeans.

 

[slowtwitch73]

'Show me your pocket tiny tool'.

Hmmm.

 

[kbeefy]

The wedge is brilliant! I’ve got one that lives in the pocket of my jeans.

For 7 years my carry flashlight was a streamlight strion LED. I still have 2 of them and they are very good, but kinda big for pockets and I don't like the belt clip configuration.

The wedge has solved all the issues I had with the Strion as a carry light. I only wish it had wireless charging.