Most useful tool you overlooked at first

[texchappy]

What tools - thingamajigs, whatzits, and whatchamacallits - did you think were junk/useless gadgets until you used them and then didn't know how you could live without them?

so useless before and then great after using them.

Let the tools start rolling in

 

[Elwood42]

Not much of a tool but it worked great when I was removing the ball joints on my suburban.

 

[jeremy v]

I would have to say I have several. They are all tools that I was hesitant to buy at first, but I went ahead anyways and now use quite often. I constantly find myself surprised at their expertise in areas where the more widely used options fall short.

-1/4" and 3/8" drive Stanley rotator ratchets.
-10" Knipex Plier wrench.
-Various Craftsman and Gearwrench ratcheting wrench to socket (aka socket cap) adapters.
-Dremel for fine cutting, sanding, and polishing tasks.
-Ridgid E-110 hex wrench
-Double-X pliers for reaching way into narrow or tight areas to retrieve small parts, grab wires, etc.

 

[Dan Babb]

Bought a pick set about 6 months ago. Cant believe I lived without them for so long.

 

[Leadberry]

Bought a pick set about 6 months ago. Cant believe I lived without them for so long.

+1

Freaking hook and pick set. How did I EVER live without them?

 

[jeremy v]

Bought a pick set about 6 months ago. Cant believe I lived without them for so long.

Oh yeah, I totally agree. I forgot about those. I have regular larger picks and they are nice and used occasionally, but up until a year or so ago I didn't have any dental style small picks. I decided to try them out for usefulness by just getting the couple dollar aluminum handled Harbor Freight set and I can't get enough. I love them for working on electronics, cleaning grease and dirt from stuff, picking off small o-rings, etc. I even use them along with my Wiha screwdriver magnetizer/demagnetizer for picking up small stray metal flakes that I find occasionally hanging around where they shouldn't be.

Now that I think about it, my Wiha magnetizer/demagnetizer is another one. It took me over a year of deep contemplation to finally pay the horrendous $5 to buy one, and now I kick myself for not having one for so many past projects it could have greatly helped with. Being able to magnetize and demagnetize my small precision Wiha screwdrivers on demand is really nice.

 

[Fastbird]

Mine was a long handled flex head 1/2" ratchet. Picked one up in January this year, how did I ever live without that!

 

[Mike007]

Funny, I was considering a similar thread. I wouldn't say I thought they were useless or junk, but I had no idea how useful they were until I had one.:

1-Die grinder
2-Quality belt grinder
3-A disk grinder with wire wheels

 

[Elwood42]

+1

Freaking hook and pick set. How did I EVER live without them?

I second that, just got a set last week in a huge tool set and they were the first tool I used.

 

[devoncoolman]

A under the hood fluorescent light. I dont know how i worked on cars without one for so many years.

 

[BuckHenry]

oscillating multi tool

 

[gsingh]

For me it was the AT204 1/4" air ratchet. Man i don't know what i would do without it.

 

[RCPro87]

A under the hood fluorescent light. I dont know how i worked on cars without one for so many years.

AGREED!!!

I feel the same about the Topside Creeper. Now my knees hurt from leaning in to check the oil. Don't know how I rebuilt engines without it.

 

[OHMS LAW]

My magnetic pickup. Saves me almost always.

 

[G_P]

A 1/2"x9/16" very thin and very long double open end Craftsman No.2 wrench. I have been told it is a "tappet wrench".

Has come in very handy working on my old compressor where a long thin wrench makes the job a lot easier.

 

[Conductor562]

Great idea for a thread.

As previously stated, flex head ratchets! I still have times where I want a standard rat, but I've definitely learned to appreciate a flex head. Love the Proto/Facom palm control rats.

 

[larry_g]

A scotchbrite wheel or belt for the grinder. Very handy tool.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[rslaback]

flap disks

 

[silviaboy89]

oh my god so many i now love these tools
1.picks(1$ at hf)
2.gasket scraper
3.swivels/u joint
4.impacts
5.jack stands
6.an actual tool box(hf red tool cart ftw)
7.high tooth count ratchets
8.hf long handle wrenches
9.wire wheels

 

[diesel research]

striking prybars
air hammer
flex ratchet
cordless impacts
air drills


I knew all that stuff existed, but I went a long time w/o ever using one, and had no idea how simplified certain tasks could be.

 

[Bill Ramsey]

3/8 drive stubby ratchet. All the extensions and u-joints I've used to get on a fastener...when I could have just reached in there with the stubby!

 

[shoggoth80]

1/2" drive impact wrench. I never even had access to air tools growing up wrenching. This thing can spoil ya. Mine isn't even super fancy... but it's bread and butter for my job now. Along with that... my 3 jaw oil filter wrench. Cheap little ****** from HF ($10) but it has already paid for itself a few times over. I never thought about it when younger, as I did most all my own maintenance...I never cranked filters on stoopid tight (always by hand). At work, I come across some that get pretty mangled coming out because they're on so tight. Picks are great for getting hoses loose. All sorts of things that make life easier... this list will likely grow. Lol.

 

[blackz26]

$1 HF pick set
3/8 stubby ratchet
Flexible extention

That's all I got..

 

[Jeeper]

1. Hooks and picks. Especially mini.
2. Multitool
3. Flex ratchets
4. Interior trim tools
5. Good mix of punches

 

[texchappy]

Thanks for all the excuses to buy tools er I mean answers to my questions

3/8 drive stubby ratchet. All the extensions and u-joints I've used to get on a fastener...when I could have just reached in there with the stubby!

Saying that, I can think of several jobs recently that I could have used one. Who all makes 3/8 drive stubby ratchets?

 

[tjmonsen5]

16 oz dead blow ball peen hammer, flex head ratchets, knurled extensions, swivel impact sockets, knipex pliers

 

[redwrench60]

Pnumatic fan clutch wrench set.

Solid brass carpenter's dreidel.

 

[blackz26]

My HF tool chest. Thought the would be cheap flimsy ****. Best 240 ever spent.

 

[ATC]

A cordless 3/8 impact. Price kept me away until now (a friend and I made a deal). I do a lot of automotive work and maintenance on my fleet of vehicles. Just changing the differential fluid on one truck involves pulling off about 30 bolts and then putting them back on. So long manual ratchet!

 

[Holt]

Knipex concrete nippers that the B&M Sears sells. Ive used these thing for some much but never the actual use they are made for. Pulls nail through wood and removing screws that the head is stripped out.

Milwaukee M12 occilating tool. Thing thing is a amazing if you do any work around your house.

 

['71 VW 1302]

Tool belt. Not a "garage" tool, but last year I helped a friend with some extensive home renovations. It took a while to find the right belt, and then the right layout of tools, but I swear the belt saved me two hours every day by allowing me to keep what I needed at hand at all times.

Paul

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Hmm...I bought the Snappy PWZ0/1/2 Set of Green Handled Plier Wrenches on a whim...got em mostly because price was right and they were green....come to find out, they are AMAZING. Used them a couple times already and I can see them definetly being used often.

 

[Les Brock]

This Forum

 

[turbowoodworker]

Milwaukee Sawzall.
I make furniture so I never thought I needed it but once I owned it, I use it all the time. No more sore arms from using a hacksaw on ****.

 

[Brownsfan]

Spec tools offset driver. Milwaukee makes a similar tool as well. Adequate but not as good as the spec tool version. Can be found here. http://www.spectools.com/spec.htm. These will save your **** and pay for itself many many times over.

 

[rusty65]

Double post please delete.

 

[rusty65]

My roto head ratchet I picked up a 1/4 snap on one in brand new shape for a very good price and ever since it has become my go to 1/4 ratchet and 1/4 drive swivel sockets.

 

[ironmutt]

my 1/4 12v impact, driver and rachet i himmed and hawed for 6 months now that i have had them for 6 months i dont grab any thing else when going in to do dash work

 

[Airframer]

Thanks for all the excuses to buy tools er I mean answers to my questions



Saying that, I can think of several jobs recently that I could have used one. Who all makes 3/8 drive stubby ratchets?

Got mine from Amazon- Wright Tools. I believe SK makes one also.

 

[Toolhorder]

Got mine from Amazon- Wright Tools. I believe SK makes one also.

Get a Snappy 3/8 stubby and never look back..