Show us a hand tool that is unique to your profession!

[zuk123]

In the field service tech, show us your tools thread, several interesting tools came up.

So, I thought it might make a good thread.

Show us a hand tool that is unique to your profession!

I'll start with a tool from the theatre (live plays, not movies) industry, the GAM Chek.

It's shown next to its more familiar cousin. It is for checking continuity and polarity on the "stage pin" cables unique to the theater industry.

There is a female socket in the end so you can connect both ends of a cable to check it when it's not powered.

zuk

 

[toomanytoyzz]

I just picked this jewel up at a local flea market last weekend for .50 cents. I know I might have overpaid, but the fact that it was as dull as Ben Stein helps when mixing body filler together. It's size also helps when you're mixing small batches of filler or metal glaze.

Oh yeah, I'm an auto bodyman.

 

[odelay01]

Dull as Ben Stein

 

[jeffmoss26]

I have many...I will take pictures later

 

[Jawn]

http://www.canare.com/ProductItemDisplay.aspx?productItemID=119

I install a lot of cable.

 

[metaleltr]

Shrinking Dolly-Bodyman
Funny story about these, instructor of local collision repair course thought we made up their existence because shrinking hammers are far more common.

 

[The Frisco Kid]

When I was a Car Audio installer, I remember this gem:

PLASTIC handled SnapOn panel popper. None of this new mamby pamby sissified soft grip stuff! I used it several times a day, every day!

When I was installing home theater systems, this little baby was my favorite!

Phase tester/tone generator. When running dozens of rooms of audio, it really did make a difference to make sure the speakers were in phase, and that they were all labeled correctly. I'm sure people working on those installs these days still sing my praises ;-)

I find myself using both even to this day.

Favorite generator tool:

LOOOOOOVE this one, but it sure was pricey! Solid dependable crimp, every single time!

 

[coolright]

zuk123: When I got my GAM check everyone called me crazy. Have used it for good part of 20 years now.

 

[Brownsfan]

When I was a Car Audio installer, I remember this gem:

PLASTIC handled SnapOn panel popper. None of this new mamby pamby sissified soft grip stuff! I used it several times a day, every day!

When I was installing home theater systems, this little baby was my favorite!

Phase tester/tone generator. When running dozens of rooms of audio, it really did make a difference to make sure the speakers were in phase, and that they were all labeled correctly. I'm sure people working on those installs these days still sing my praises ;-)

I find myself using both even to this day.

Favorite generator tool:

LOOOOOOVE this one, but it sure was pricey! Solid dependable crimp, every single time!

I have that panel tool along with the 3 others in the set it came with. Have some others but these are my favorite

 

[torqueman2002]

Just like a lot of members:

 

[kxxr]

Used to pry open the throat, visualize the vocal cords and pass a tube between them for breathing. There are variations, even ones with a tiny video screen on the top of the handle. They all have a bright light at the tip. There is no substitute.

 

[ffemtdisp]

OH YEAH!

Give me a Miller blade, though....

 

[MarkG]

The laryngoscope looks familiar!! I was a respiratory care student for a little over a semester and in my first clinical before I realized health care wasn't for me---- I enjoy working with tools, machines, blue-collar jobs much better and dropped out!! (My '5 minutes of fame: 'bagging' a guy in the ED while the doc re-positioned his breathing tube) Live and learn, I guess. Now I'm signed up for a welding and machine shop class at a local college----can't wait!

 

[jeffmoss26]

Jawn, are you an A/V guy?

 

[Jawn]

Jawn, are you an A/V guy?

<-- Yep, thus the avatar.

 

[Sam B]

Used to remove oil filters on newer Toyota/Lexus/ect. vehicles. Has no other use, and no practical substitute.

 

[skeletonizer]

Much like more common tool manufacturers... Sig Sauer aren't what they used to be. I am mandated by my current employer to use the issued tools and am prohibited from using my own. I would use a different brand and round if left to my own devices.

 

[ff.emt33]

Used to pry open the throat, visualize the vocal cords and pass a tube between them for breathing. There are variations, even ones with a tiny video screen on the top of the handle. They all have a bright light at the tip. There is no substitute.

What blade you prefer? Im a Miller 3 guy myself

 

[CAOS]

Journeyman Steamfitter/Pipefitter:

 

[71flh]

I had to laugh because I'm working from home...

 

[zuk123]

Hey Caos, what do you use the wedge for? Is it non-ferrous? I found a couple like it at an estate sale, have no idea of the use. They appear to be bronze?

KXXR, awesome. If I ever need it, I hope someone who knows how to use their tools is there.

Coolright, that pic is actually my wife's. I MADE mine after seeing another guy using his homemade one. Then the GAMCHEK came out later. (I'll look for it, lost track of where it is. Mine only did continuity,no voltage.) GAM is really good at working with inventors to get a product to market. I hope the original guy was involved...

Skeletonizer, my exact same sentiments to KXXR go for you too

metaleltr, I don't do sheetmetal, so I've never understood how the shrinking works. Never heard of a shrinking dolly either, although I have heard of the hammers.

jawn, that stripper looks serious... I've never used the Canare cable or termination but it looks a lot like the Extron system, or amphenol ends. I hated that style termination! After a few hours, my fingers turned into monkey paws and I couldn't hold that pin to save my life. Then I found a crimp tool just for the pin. You drop the pin in, use the tool to put the pin on the center conductor, then squeeze. 4 little things crimp the pin. Done. I'll try to find it and get a pic. Since switching companies, and cable to Liberty, I've only used the Liberty compression fittings. Quick, easy, ONE PIECE!

Sam B, no driving a screwdriver thru the filter cross-wise to use as a handle? Are there a lot of tools like that for Toyota that you have to buy? (Not just "this specialist tool helps me work faster" but "this is the only one that will work"?) I'm learning a lot about the business of being an auto mechanic here on GJ and most of it surprises me.

Cool tools!

zuk

 

[JDS968]

Sam B, no driving a screwdriver thru the filter cross-wise to use as a handle? Are there a lot of tools like that for Toyota that you have to buy? (Not just "this specialist tool helps me work faster" but "this is the only one that will work"?) I'm learning a lot about the business of being an auto mechanic here on GJ and most of it surprises me.

Those tools are for opening the canister-type oil filter housings, which hold the actual filter elements inside. The screw-off lid does not get replaced, just the o-ring. So no stabbing it. When I worked for BMW, there were actually two different versions of that tool for different canister housings, now at Jaguar there's only one (not the same as either of the BMW ones), as the 5.0L V8 is the first Jag engine with a canister filter, and as of now, is the only engine available on any US-spec Jag.


I had to get a special tool for BMW that measured OEM brake pad thickness through a hole in the pad. But other than that, most brands don't seem to have a lot of special tools you buy yourself that are completely brand-specific. Most are just unusual...like I had to get a 14mm 12-point spark plug socket from AST for the 12-point spark plugs some BMWs use...really love the satin finish on that thing, wish all my sockets looked like that. But it's not really BMW-specific, I use it on 14mm 6-point spark plugs on the Jag 5.0s, too, works great. Things that are really brand-specific are the factory special tools, which are generally dealership items (or I guess if you have a brand-specific independent shop).

 

[RV8guy]

 

[machine_punk]

From my day job, a stethoscope. The only piece of equipment a Registered Nurse really needs to do his or her job...listening to heart sounds and lung sounds as a part of an assessment.

From the business I am developing as a chef and cooking instructor, a chef's knife. With this one knife, a chef can prep just about everything for a meal. It is nice to also have other specialty knives, but the design of this one knife is universally functional in the preparation of food.

From the volunteer sound engineering I do, a cable tester. The bane of live soundmen is the wiring fault...it is invisible to the naked eye, but easy enough to find with this tool.

From The Aerodrome Studio, a pneumatic rivet squeezer. It doesn't work everywhere you need rivets, but it is one of the tools that makes me want to just drill holes and fill them with rivets to watch it work. Once you get it set up, this is one amazing tool.

View media item 11624

 

[zuk123]

Hey RV8guy, what on earth do you use that for?

Zuk

 

[CAOS]

Hey Caos, what do you use the wedge for? Is it non-ferrous? I found a couple like it at an estate sale, have no idea of the use. They appear to be bronze?

When fitting up a pipe joint, each pipe has a bevel and there is a gap between the two pieces. The gap is there too make a full penatration weld. The first pass is called the root, second is the hot pass, then you have your fills and then your cap is the final step. Anyways, your gap allowance is taken into account when the spool drawing is laid out. Sure 3/32", 1/8". 5/32" doesn't seem like a lot to worry about, but when your talking a couple hundred joints all those little numbers add up.

I will use 2205 stainless as an example, when fitting up such a joint. Each piece of pipe will be beveled to a knife edge, spacing it with a 5/32" gap for the root allowance. Too keep your welders happy you want to keep the gap as evenly as possible, but most importantly when tacking with stainless each tack pulls like crazy, so you want to insert your wedge keeping your proper gap then make your tack and allow the tack to cool with the wedge in place. this keeps the tack from pulling the joint out of square. When welding stainless, you almost lose all of that 5/32" gap allowance it pulls that much after the root has been laid. You want the best fit up possible for your welder, each job has a different x-ray percentage usually between 5-100%.

I use ferrous and non ferrous wedges depending on which type of material I am working with.

 

[Jawn]

jawn, that stripper looks serious... I've never used the Canare cable or termination but it looks a lot like the Extron system, or amphenol ends. I hated that style termination! After a few hours, my fingers turned into monkey paws and I couldn't hold that pin to save my life. Then I found a crimp tool just for the pin. You drop the pin in, use the tool to put the pin on the center conductor, then squeeze. 4 little things crimp the pin. Done. I'll try to find it and get a pic. Since switching companies, and cable to Liberty, I've only used the Liberty compression fittings. Quick, easy, ONE PIECE!

It works well once you get it set up right. I have done thousands of connections with the Canare stripper and crimper. My only problems with doing them for days/weeks on end is eventually my fingertips get calloused and my fingernails get torn up.

Here's the Canare crimper for coax:
http://www.canare.com/ProductItemDisplay.aspx?productItemID=121

I have used those 4-fingered crimpers you describe, but only for crimp-type DB9/DB25/etc. These are spendy (on the order of $300), but there are cheaper ones out there:
http://www.dmctools.com/Products/miniature_adjustable_crimp_tools.html

 

[RV8guy]

Hey RV8guy, what on earth do you use that for?

Zuk

Camloc installation pliers

 

[GMZ]

I have a bunch, Ill take some pics today since I'm on duty.

 

[Sam B]

Sam B, no driving a screwdriver thru the filter cross-wise to use as a handle? Are there a lot of tools like that for Toyota that you have to buy? (Not just "this specialist tool helps me work faster" but "this is the only one that will work"?) I'm learning a lot about the business of being an auto mechanic here on GJ and most of it surprises me.

Yeah sorry, as was said, can't just stab these GM Ecotec filters are the same way, special socket and all.

As for specialty tools (all makes, not just Toyota), it depends on the job you're doing. I find that the majority are the "makes the job easier/faster" type. Personally, I'll happily pay for less frustration.

Keep in mind that there are also tools that cut a job from several hours to 20 minutes. If you're a DIYer, that tool is a luxury, but if you're on the clock, then it's pretty much necessary.

The "required" ones are few, in my experience, and sometimes tough to see coming. This is where your parts/tools guy can bail you out if you're on good terms. Research on a particular job is the best way to avoid being caught unprepared.

 

[zuk123]

Camloc installation pliers

That IS specialized! I'm guessing that is for removable panels?

zuk

 

[zuk123]

I have used those 4-fingered crimpers you describe, but only for crimp-type DB9/DB25/etc. These are spendy (on the order of $300),

yeah, mine is only for a limited size of pin, nothing interchangeable.

I'm sure it was cheap, or the company wouldn't have bought it. (It has red handles, but I can't find it at the moment...) Even smashing your fingers with rocks would be less frustrating and more productive than trying to crimp the pin with the combo, pliers type crimpers

zuk

 

[zuk123]

Coolright, that pic is actually my wife's. I MADE mine after seeing another guy using his homemade one. Then the GAMCHEK came out later. (I'll look for it, lost track of where it is. Mine only did continuity,no voltage.) GAM is really good at working with inventors to get a product to market. I hope the original guy was involved...

zuk

Coolright, I was telling my wife about the thread today, and she says she worked with the guy that invented the GAMCHEK. He was involved in the process from the beginning to end. He even gave her a white early prototype. I'll see if I can get pix.

zuk

 

[BHH]

Anyone got any guesses what I use this for? Or what I do? (not my hand or pic haha)

 

[zuk123]

Some sort of duster for optics?

z

 

[BHH]

Some sort of duster for optics?

z

Yeah, sensor cleaner for DSLR. That was easy

 

[zuk123]

<--- worked for a projector manufacturer.

z

Never saw that particular tool. Looks perfect for the job. Where can I get one??

 

[CAOS]

I was going to guess gynaecologist!

 

[BHH]

<--- worked for a projector manufacturer.

z

Never saw that particular tool. Looks perfect for the job. Where can I get one??

http://www.visibledust.com/

 

[hunterguy86]

OH YEAH!

Give me a Miller blade, though....

MAC 4 for me usually, but it's whatever works at the time.

Here's my favorite tool: