Most important, but least used tool?

[kb1982]

Im going to have to go with one of these heavy cumbersome contraptions also. When you need it, they are a life saver. Just used it the other day to remove some screws from a door cup so i could remove the panel. A combination of moisture from exposure to rain along with change sitting in the cup made the screws perfect canidates for stripping out.

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[Lisamelting]

A level accurate to .01mm/meter.

 

[nikerret]

My *****.

12 Gauge Remington

My first two thoughts were a firearm (real answer) and my ***** (funny answer, but not true).

Im going to have to go with one of these heavy cumbersome contraptions also. When you need it, they are a life saver. Just used it the other day to remove some screws from a door cup so i could remove the panel. A combination of moisture from exposure to rain along with change sitting in the cup made the screws perfect canidates for stripping out.

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Got a link to where I get one of these. I don’t know what it is or how to use it, but it’s got a few votes. Now, I want one.

 

[kb1982]

That specific one is a proto J7099A impacting screwdriver. Accecpts bits for screws and torx on one end, then you turn the body and smack it with a hammer. This causes it to rotate the fastner, with the added benefit of applying alot of pressure to prevent cam out. Works great on getting out stubborn fasteners.

Heres a video of one in action,

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[clinebarger]

*Snap-on Vantage Pro scope
*Snap-on power steering pump pulley service tools
*Lisle relay test kit

 

[JRC3]

*Snap-on Vantage Pro scope
*Snap-on power steering pump pulley service tools
*Lisle relay test kit

Drink the KoolAid.

 

[Gladiator]

A slide hammer

 

[driftpin]

Crow's foot flare nut wrench set. When nothing else fits.

I vouch for the Impact screwdriver as a must-have tool. I use it often because i work on old motorcycles frequently. My oldest Impact screwdriver I bought when I bought my first bike, a used 1967 Honda 305 Scrambler, from a college roommate, the original owner, in 1971. That makes the Impact screwdriver 48 years old. I had read enough and had watched friends work on their bikes to know i needed one. Now I probably have 4 different ones, but the first one i owned is the one i use the most. It has a 1/2" drive, though I have one 3/8" drive. Simply, "they work, well."

 

[nikerret]

That specific one is a proto J7099A impacting screwdriver. Accecpts bits for screws and torx on one end, then you turn the body and smack it with a hammer. This causes it to rotate the fastner, with the added benefit of applying alot of pressure to prevent cam out. Works great on getting out stubborn fasteners.

Heres a video of one in action,

Sent from my LML713DL using Tapatalk

Thanks!

Yep, I need one of those.

 

[clinebarger]

Drink the KoolAid.

Better Power Steering Pulley service tools......Are? K-D & the rebranded K-D kits are ****.

Better stand alone Non PC based scope/graphing meter......Is? I bought mine used for $500.
I like the PICO.....But the Vantage Pro does A LOT of stuff most don't realize, Like connector pin-outs & known good waveforms.

 

[lewey]

Torch

 

[homebuilt burner]

Relay switch

Snap on twist out sockets

 

[pardonthewait]

One that comes to mind for me is my Cricket squeeze ratchet. It's great for those tight spots where you can only get one or two clicks with a standard ratchet. A few quick squeezes and the fastener is out. I don't need it but a few times a year, but when I do, it's nice to have.

Pretty sure this has prompted my first post - what a genius idea. I think I’m going to buy one for myself so I can hardly ever use it too. Fantastic and simple idea, I love it.

 

[Dieselhammer]

Fire extinguisher, hands down. Don't ask, this is from personal experience.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Something my neighbour already owns.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I was moving a few tools around the shop and thinking about this thread. I have two tools from MASTERCOOL. I seldom use either of these, but when I need either one, they are magic.
Over time, I bought a complete set of RIDGID series 400 tube benders. Most came from Craigslist, one came from NAPA. Very limited use, but, for me a must have.
I like and use lots of WEATHER PACK connectors. I bought the DELPHI and MAC crimpers for the WP pins. There is no substitute. BTW I like the MAC crimper the most.

 

[Toast.]

Im a computer geek - a paper clip has saved me many times.

 

[Shiftless]

Fire extinguisher, hands down. Don't ask, this is from personal experience.

Me too!

 

[richfinn]

Automotive Lockout tools

Locking wheel bolt remover kit

Equipment for extraction of broken fasteners

Anything you really dont want to have to use, but sometimes you just have to have it!!!!

 

[Kensico]

Obd2 scanner

 

[Made in USA]

Often my brain.

Yup. Me too.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Here is another important tool that is almost never gets used. It is a Cummins barring tool for "B" series Cummins engines. I bought it from SnapOn. I use it on Cummins 4bt engines.

 

[Old Donn]

Drum brake tools.

 

[johninct]

Your brain...

 

[luvtheheat]

Manual impact driver. I used this once in 1975 and next about 6 months ago. So, once every +- 45 years.

Was damn glad I had it.

 

[richfinn]

One of these. It hardly ever get's used but when it does it saves my bacon.

I use mine a lot, on brake rotor screws and for removing locking wheel nuts when the owner has lost the key.

 

[Cc_windsurfer]

Broken tap extractor

 

[chris_1001]

check book

 

[VolksWomble]

I have an impact driver, but never really have much luck with it...

The rear hub nut on a vanagon needs to be done up to 500Nm torque. Under or overtightening rather reduces the life of the bearing so I found a 3/4“ torque wrench that goes up that far on FB marketplace recently. It’s huge and will only ever get used for this job, which I have r needed to do recently, but having the right tool is invaluable…

 

[humber2]

My mirror because I try to avoid looking back oot often.

 

[isb cornbinder]

My 16 inch South Bend lathe absolutely fits this situation. I have a much smaller British lathe that gets used much more often.
The South Bend is important, just not so often. It is not for sale.

I did not start looking for a bigger lathe until I had a need for one. This was about a week after the South Bend I bought was posted on Craigslist.
By the time I called, the seller was in a terrible mood and had a big hate on for Craigslist time wasters.
I was the first caller to show up to view the SB16X120. The seller told me to just take the f'n lathe. I told the seller that the lathe is what I want and I refused to take it for free. I offered $1000 and he refused. We settled on $900, plus delivery.
The SB16X120 came with 6 chucks and several boxes of tooling. The seller included the new and installed BALDOR 5 hp motor and a 20 foot power cord.
I like and use this lathe for repairing damaged spring perches on ole IHC pickup trucks. I have trued up sections of pipe that turned into mufflers and oil mist separators. The 120 inch bed has a big footprint, so I made removable deck plates so I can set things on the tail-end of the ways.
I would like to see this lather restored, but that is a low priority for me, right now. Top of my list is to get out to the garage soon. I have not been out there in nearly a year because I was not well.
The date on the lathe coincides with my b'day. HMM.

 

[tak1313]

The most important but least used tool I've come to appreciate is the last one I sold/got rid of because I thought I would never need it anymore...