Is there a certain tool you use everyday for your job?

[OmegaDPW]

Please forgive me if this has been asked a million times before, but I'm new here and didn't find anything with the search function.

Is there a certain tool you use every day for your job? Something that's either in your pocket or always within reach? I'm just curious what type of job and tool always go together.

I'm the Public Works Director for my little town but rarely get to spend time in the office. I'm also the water and sewage guy, so a lot of my day is spent dealing with wells, water towers and our sewage treatment plant. I carry an 8" adjustable wrench in my pocket every day with a water meter lock key attached to it. I know the adjustable wrench catches a lot of flak on these tool forums, but for me it's the easiest thing to grab when I have to fix something water related.

How about you? What do you do and what tool is always needed?

 

[BTL-A4]

Mechanical pencil, computer mouse, calipers/tape measure, pocket knife.

 

[HalfTonTom]

A fork, spoon and knife. I'm retired.

 

[larry4406]

I used to carry a Gerber multi-tool that was awesome, then I lost it. Bought a new one and it was a POS so it got returned.

Carry nothing now....

 

[tarmy]

My brain…seriously.

 

[AEAdam]

Search for EDC (Every Day Carry) and you will get tons of hits from garage journal.

 

[JradM]

My brain…seriously.

It would worry me if you didn't.

 

[no704]

6” Dial calipers.

 

[gizardlizard]

Industrial maintenance mechanic at a plastic injection molding facility. Can’t walk anywhere without a multimeter.

 

[Beerhippie]

My job title is Plant Manager at a brewery. Most of my job anymore is ordering supplies and doing plant maintenance.

So, my most used tools are what I can fit in my pockets:

Good lock-back knife, kept sharp.

5" Knipex Cobras--these replaced both the 4" Vice-Grips (Peterson, of course) and the 4" adjustable I used to carry.

6-way screwdriver. 2X standard, 2X Phillips, 1/4" and 5/16" nut drivers.

Pocket loupe. Bausch and Lomb 10X Hastings triplet. Don't leave home without it.

Cell phone. Probably 60% of what I use it for is visual enhancement--data plates on equipment are never easy to get to, and recently, the text has gotten really small and fuzzy on them. Also much easier to source parts when I can just send a picture of the data plate to my supplier--it eliminates any possibility of transcription errors on my part.

Mech. pencil, notebook and Sharpie.

Readers.

Adjustable wrenches get about as much use around the brewery as fixed end wrenches as. like you, much of what I need to wrench on is plumbing fittings that don't seem to conform to any known standard.

I have a fairly well-stocked shop, but these are what I carry at all times.

 

[LeonardY]

I am an Industrial designer in the entertainment industry. When I did work I always used a notebook and a fine tip marker. I would sketch designs and jot down notes.
Now that I'm retired, I still do. Old habits die hard.

 

[Achilleus]

Big dewalt bag containing ALL my safety equipment. It's really light weight and goes with me everywhere. It's been a game-changer for me. I'm tired of running back for ear muffs, or dust mask, gloves, safety glasses, face shield, breathing filter, leather gloves, nitrile gloves, wrist supports, emergency sardines.

 

[unslow1]

A pocket prybar and small folding boxcutter.

 

[richfinn]

I couldn't live without my little Current Clamp Multimeter (Uni-T), Besides being a Volt/Ohm/surprisingly accurate non intrusive Ammeter. It also has NCV (non contact voltage detection) which works really well for testing individual ignition coils are firing.

Great tool for a roadside mechanic when quickly checking out non starts (ignition/fuel pumps/alternator/battery)

 

[tarmy]

It would worry me if you didn't.

Now, we have all seen, been around or are married to people that have no idea how to engage that brain when necessary. Hell, we pay good money and waste time watching these brainless types everyday In life, at movies and, mostly, while driving.

To answer OPs actual question…I am retired, but when working a phone was handy as I was out of the office basically full time dealing with politicians, agency staff and various clients in Silicon Valley.

 

[4x4Pete]

Multitool, flashlight and pen on my belt. 30 year old well tuned tool carry all is always close by.

 

[leadfoot415]

Pocket screwdriver and a ballpoint pen.

 

[Shitbox]

The little pocket flathead screw driver with the magnet the Snap On, Mac, Matco guys give you. Never work without one. It’s a scribe, harness connector release, magnet, screw driver, and finger nail cleaner all in one.

 

[PelicanPines]

Utility knife and bandaids.

 

[rkevins]

Hospital maintenance tech: snap on ratcheting screwdriver with the bits I use, plyers, crescent wrench, pocket screwdrivers, fluke volt tick, 1/4, 5/16, 3/8 impact nut driver bits, Gerber razor knife, Zebra inch pin.

 

[dchawk81]

I am that tool.

 

[Beerhippie]

Fine woodworking, ala Beerhippie:



I built that bench a decade or two ago. I also did the fine repair work on the '70s captain's chair--must have been a while ago, as I no longer have any idea where I'd get carriage bolts that long around here.

 

[Bert_]

I always carry a pocket knife, use it for everything. Wire stripper is second

 

[cody1325]

I used to carry a Gerber multi-tool that was awesome, then I lost it. Bought a new one and it was a POS so it got returned.

Carry nothing now....

Honestly, what is going on at Gerber? Prices are going through the roof, and what's US-built is usually pricey upscale offerings, and most of the lineup is imported (China). Can't have been THAT long as my MP450 is awesome--I got it for my 18th birthday a decade ago.

My Center Drive is pretty nice, but that's after ages of break-in. Oh, and the carbide machine tool inserts they use as replaceable wire cutters crumble at the sight of most steel wire. My favorite Gerber is one of the first MP600 versions--the Multi-Lock ca late '90s. Still has "SIMONDS USA" stamped on the file like the old ones without locking tools.

 

[sparky 1971]

I always have some type of three blade stockman pocket knife and a flashlight on me and I usually have some type of Leatherman tool.

 

[cody1325]

Knife, multitool, and/or Swiss Army Knife is usually dictated by what I need to do.

Around the house--usually a small Swiss Army Model (Wenger Pocket Toolchest is my most-common) alongside a fairly lightweight, small knife.

EDC--SOG Powerpint. Does exactly everything I need to do in minimal weight. While larger and heavier, I like the Leatherman Rebar and Victorinox SwissTool Spirit XC as well.

Hard use--Super Tool 300, Gerber Center-Drive, or Gerber MP600.

Additional gear--pen (used to be Space Pen--but Walmart has a metal hybrid-ink pen that's nice for about $3 for a two-pack), small pry tool (note to self, quit losing the pricey Snap-On)--formerly stuff I impulse bought on chance tool truck encounters, but I'm going with Lang--though the free Sherwin-Williams paint can opener "church keys" work great. Lights--predominately Maglite Solitaire for pocket use, Coast headlamp for work. The Pelican Stealthlite is my favorite harder-use light.

Watch--not a thing wrong with cheap Casios.

The Knipex 125mm Pliers Wrench recently replaced the Cobra. Doesn't open up as much, but won't ruin nuts/bolts, and is invaluable as a pair of smooth jaw pliers for precision tasks. Regardless of what's on me, it's usually in my pocket as a part of that EDC.

 

[Beerhippie]

Fine woodworking, ala Beerhippie:



I built that bench a decade or two ago. I also did the fine repair work on the '70s captain's chair--must have been a while ago, as I no longer have any idea where I'd get carriage bolts that long around here.

How the hell did I post that to this thread?

Was supposed to be in the fine woodworking thread and forum.

 

[FigN⋅m]

How the hell did I post that to this thread?

Was supposed to be in the fine woodworking thread and forum.

Ya gotta ease it with the DustOff

 

[Hannahranga]

Insulated 13mm nut driver as a signal technician for a railway

 

[Semi-hole mechanic]

A safety box cutter is always in my back pocket. I’m a manager for TSC so I’m always opening boxes.

 

[kyrbz]

Please forgive me if this has been asked a million times before, but I'm new here and didn't find anything with the search function.

Is there a certain tool you use every day for your job? Something that's either in your pocket or always within reach? I'm just curious what type of job and tool always go together.

I'm the Public Works Director for my little town but rarely get to spend time in the office. I'm also the water and sewage guy, so a lot of my day is spent dealing with wells, water towers and our sewage treatment plant. I carry an 8" adjustable wrench in my pocket every day with a water meter lock key attached to it. I know the adjustable wrench catches a lot of flak on these tool forums, but for me it's the easiest thing to grab when I have to fix something water related.

How about you? What do you do and what tool is always needed?

Have you tried a Knipex Plier Wrench? Does everything an adjustable wrench does and a bit more. IMHO might be a little more versatile tool for your situation.

 

[Robinson1]

General contractor/carpenter, I also operate a small farm. I carry a Milwaukee fastback utility knife and a Leatherman Rebar. I use the Milwaukee many, many times a day to the point that I’m changing blades every couple days. The Leatherman is simply something to get me through a small task that requires a pair of pliers or a screwdriver without having to walk all the way back to the truck. To be honest I really don’t like it but it’s the best of what I’ve tried atleast for my uses. If I’m working I’ve almost always got a Stanley 25 foot tape measure hanging off my pants pocket as well

Other tools I use practically daily: 6 in 1 screwdriver, Channellock 430 pliers and a dewalt impact driver

 

[larry4406]

Honestly, what is going on at Gerber? Prices are going through the roof, and what's US-built is usually pricey upscale offerings, and most of the lineup is imported (China). Can't have been THAT long as my MP450 is awesome--I got it for my 18th birthday a decade ago.

My Center Drive is pretty nice, but that's after ages of break-in. Oh, and the carbide machine tool inserts they use as replaceable wire cutters crumble at the sight of most steel wire. My favorite Gerber is one of the first MP600 versions--the Multi-Lock ca late '90s. Still has "SIMONDS USA" stamped on the file like the old ones without locking tools.

Mine was an MP600 made in USA version that I loved and lost...

 

[Shoreline_]

Oring pick. No matter metric or standard machine, orings gotta come out.

 

[MushCreek]

As a retired tool maker (plastic injection molds) it's hard to pin it down to one tool. Sometimes I'd be on one machine for weeks- lathe, mill, grinder, etc. I'd say a dial test indicator reading down to .00005" (50 millionths) would be a top contender. I probably used a scientific calculator every day, too. A 0-1" micrometer gets a lot of use, but not every day.

 

[OmegaDPW]

Have you tried a Knipex Plier Wrench? Does everything an adjustable wrench does and a bit more. IMHO might be a little more versatile tool for your situation.

Not the Knipex version but the Irwin Vise Grip one. It resides in the toolbox on the truck. I like it for certain situations but there's one thing the adjustable does a lot better. A lot of water meters have the cut off valve in odd directions compared to the main line and most are covered in dirt when I need to get to them. Normally, I forget the trowel to dig them out and the handle on the adjustable wrench will dig better than pliers handles.

 

[reader2580]

I work in IT so the tool I use every day is my mechanical keyboard. I bought it myself as it improves my typing so much. I have one at home, and one at work. About a dozen years ago the cleaning crew broke my keyboard. My boss replaced it as the cleaning crew was employed by the company.

 

[goldtang]

Retired now I only have a spoon to stir coffee, when I was working 6in/150 mm rule in pocket ,still have them in multiple places at home

 

[txvwnut]

I carry a fair amount of sarcasm, and a lot of disdain for our purchasing department.

 

[OmegaDPW]

Search for EDC (Every Day Carry) and you will get tons of hits from garage journal.

Thanks! Honestly, I purposely skipped searching for EDC. I really liked the idea of EDC for many years- when it was mostly pocket knives and multi-tools and the people actually used them. Now, I can't stand the people that have taken over the EDC forums and Facebook groups. How fidget spinners and little Lego men fit into usefulness, I don't know. But, I'm getting old and don't understand much of the newer generation nowadays.