Million Dollar Tools

[Texsun]

I worked in a garage through high school and college; the mechanics would refer to tools that were one of a kind and performed their purpose with superlative ease - "Million Dollar Tools". Like the 12" piece of flexible tubing you could slip over a spark plug and thread the plug into it's place where you had no chance of getting your hand into.

Yesterday I reached the end-of-life for my Gorilla lugnuts. The key had become worn enough to not grip and spun on the lug nut, rounding it off. I found this lug nut extractor on Amazon and it worked beautifully - delivered the same day as an added bonus. Definitely a Million Dollar Tool!

What tools would you all consider to be in this category?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009WRKX4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[hangfirew8]

When my 10" Knipex Pliers Wrench helped me remove an inner tie rod end (that the local auto stores didn't have the correct rental tool for), it vaulted itself from "I love this tool" to Million Dollar Tool.

 

[kctyphoon]

I had some not so honest friends growing up.. wheels locks were no match for a 12pt socket and a hammer.. all they do is inconvenience annoy the owners. They are not stopping anyone.

 

[Wileel]

We have had many over the years in the AF, seemed like every airframe would have its own "special tool" that was completely invaluable! Normally, they were some ridiculously modified and hacked up tools welded together straight out of a Dr. Souse nightmare but damn they worked!
I remember one we used on F-4's to get out a bolt that had to be an engineers practical joke on maintainers...if I recall correctly is was no less than 4 different tools formed into a piece of evil modern art.
On f-15's we had a 18" rod with a "T" on the end for gripping, the other end was a dog bone (ratcheting wrench) that had been cut in half, shaved, profiled then connected so it would freely move. That damn thing took HOURS off of MX time!!

 

[nine4gmc]

The main thing I took from that was same day delivery. Is that really a thing?

 

[jd_1138]

The main thing I took from that was same day delivery. Is that really a thing?

If you live in a major city.

 

[Mikeske]

We have had many over the years in the AF, seemed like every airframe would have its own "special tool" that was completely invaluable! Normally, they were some ridiculously modified and hacked up tools welded together straight out of a Dr. Souse nightmare but damn they worked!
I remember one we used on F-4's to get out a bolt that had to be an engineers practical joke on maintainers...if I recall correctly is was no less than 4 different tools formed into a piece of evil modern art.
On f-15's we had a 18" rod with a "T" on the end for gripping, the other end was a dog bone (ratcheting wrench) that had been cut in half, shaved, profiled then connected so it would freely move. That damn thing took HOURS off of MX time!!

Been there done that also. I had a 1/2" box wrench that was bent into a U shape and a pipe welded on the end of it for a bolt under the seat of a 777 I used for 20 years that worked every time I had to install a nut. When I retired in April the supervisor comes to me and asked for the wrench. I refused to give it to him. I made the tool and it was mine. I finally relented and gave it my work partner who then refused to give it to the company as it had been specially made to fit that nut under the seat.

 

[jallyn]

The other day I saw a helicopter pulling high voltage cable for a new transmission line. New towers were erected and bucket trucks had their arms in position to catch a stray cable from hitting highway traffic below if it were to fall.

The helicopter may not be quite A Million Dollars, but it was in impressive and expensive tool nonetheless.

 

[uncwstudent]

As dumb as it sounds, my two million dollar tools are a Craftsman extendable magnetic tool to pick up dropped bolts (I swear, I drop more bolts and clamps in an engine bay than anyone else I know) and the Craftsman hand impact driver (I hate Hondas and their rotor screws),

 

[ChaseDE]

Had to helicoil a spark plug hole that was destroyed in my wife's old Honda pilot.

I wasn't gonna take the head off, transv V-6 and it was the hole on the firewall side.

The tap the kit came with was meant to be placed in a socket but the socket was too thick to slide down into the spark plug hole.

I took a short 3/8 extension, lined it up, and JB welded it to the end of the tap, let it sit overnight and was able to tap the hole no problem. I still have this contraption in a drawer in the garage.....just in case.

 

[engineer2]

My cordless impact driver. It's my most frequently used tool and huge time saver for construction.
Can't believe I used to drive (and sometimes strip) Phillips screws with a drill.

 

[tarbellb]

The other day I saw a helicopter pulling high voltage cable for a new transmission line. New towers were erected and bucket trucks had their arms in position to catch a stray cable from hitting highway traffic below if it were to fall.

The helicopter may not be quite A Million Dollars, but it was in impressive and expensive tool nonetheless.

"Nothing goes over my head, my reflexes are to fast.. I would catch it"

 

[MikeF2316]

My cordless impact driver. It's my most frequently used tool and huge time saver for construction.
Can't believe I used to drive (and sometimes strip) Phillips screws with a drill.

I used to do that with a hand screwdriver... and back in the day, they had hand screwdrivers and flat blade screws.

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

My cordless impact driver. It's my most frequently used tool and huge time saver for construction.
Can't believe I used to drive (and sometimes strip) Phillips screws with a drill.

Trying to use a drill to drive screws is the most miserable thing you can do


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[Rick B.]

I had some not so honest friends growing up.. wheels locks were no match for a 12pt socket and a hammer.. all they do is inconvenience annoy the owners. They are not stopping anyone.

Locks and security devices are merely to keep honest people honest.

 

[Wileel]

Been there done that also. I had a 1/2" box wrench that was bent into a U shape and a pipe welded on the end of it for a bolt under the seat of a 777 I used for 20 years that worked every time I had to install a nut. When I retired in April the supervisor comes to me and asked for the wrench. I refused to give it to him. I made the tool and it was mine. I finally relented and gave it my work partner who then refused to give it to the company as it had been specially made to fit that nut under the seat.

If there isn't a way a good mechanic will make a way.

Im sure you also had an adaptor on it to attach a torque wrench... lol