I recently installed new light fixtures in my garage. My OCD mandates perfectly square and parallel placement. In the past it was a chalkline but always messy to clean up on drywall. I picked up this little laser level and it was a breeze, Install the first light and slap the laser on the side and the next one lined up perfectly.
That tool you have no idea you needed
- Thread starter Dentaltec
- Start date
bwringer
Well-known member
Yep. There are some cuts you just can't make any other way. And they're especially amazing if you're, uh, "challenged" like I am in the area of precision woodworking and often need to shave off a bit here and there.
I remember seeing these when they first came out years ago and falling immediately in lust. I couldn't afford a set at the time, so I bought a 10mm and my life changed...
Got my first set of Knipex pliers a few weeks ago. Holy ****, you can do things with these you can't with lesser pliers. Soooo sharp and precise...
Don't laugh, but the tool that I had NO idea that I needed is the Craftsman 11812 NEXTEC 12V 3/8-Inch Drill/Driver:
https://www.protoolreviews.com/tool...ls-drivers-cordless/craftsman-nextec-12v/909/
This is my go-to tool 95% of the time when doing repairs around (and over) the house. My DeWalt set stays in the tool box most of the time. I ended up purchasing about 7 of their tools on the cheap because they did a very good job at what I needed and met my expectations. My 18v DeWalts have tons of power/torque but what I need (most of the time) is a finesse tool ... and this is it. Unfortunately, Sears no longer seems to sell these. Fortunately, there is still limited availability online at places like ebay for as low as $30.
Just built a 60' PT pine fence from scratch with one of these, two batteries, two driver bits and about 1,000 exterior screws!
https://www.protoolreviews.com/tool...ls-drivers-cordless/craftsman-nextec-12v/909/
This is my go-to tool 95% of the time when doing repairs around (and over) the house. My DeWalt set stays in the tool box most of the time. I ended up purchasing about 7 of their tools on the cheap because they did a very good job at what I needed and met my expectations. My 18v DeWalts have tons of power/torque but what I need (most of the time) is a finesse tool ... and this is it. Unfortunately, Sears no longer seems to sell these. Fortunately, there is still limited availability online at places like ebay for as low as $30.
Just built a 60' PT pine fence from scratch with one of these, two batteries, two driver bits and about 1,000 exterior screws!
MushCreek
Well-known member
Any nail gun is a revelation if you've never used one before. It's the difference between driving a truck through the mud and pushing a truck through the mud.
TheSasquatch
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2016
- Messages
- 144
Quite a few of your newer vehicles require a funnel like this to properly burped of air. If your vehicles have a pressurized overflow tank and no radiator cap, then yours most likely will to.
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Snakebyt
Well-known member
I work at a dealership, and this time of year i do several flushes a week, this funnel is a must have. But i can see it not being practical for personal use though
crewchief888
Well-known member
being alone working out in the field my biggest "obstacle" is being able to see what the hell i'm doing 
even being outdoors, in bright sunlight, the "inner workings" of const eq can be a nightmare to see.
a good, bright, rechargeable LED flashlight has been the best tool ive bought in a L O N G time....
it really hurt to spend $70
on a friggin flashlight !!
even being outdoors, in bright sunlight, the "inner workings" of const eq can be a nightmare to see.
a good, bright, rechargeable LED flashlight has been the best tool ive bought in a L O N G time....
it really hurt to spend $70
on a friggin flashlight !!Venhill ‘birdcage’ Tool to form the bitter end of cables for soldering to brass cable fittings. It was useful for adapting modern cables to old military vehicle pull-style t-handles.
Tell me more about this tool. I've put several Ford 8.8's in Jeeps, and have yet to find a method I really like for crimping an end lug on the E-brake cable.
As far as my most useful tool, it has to be a 6" bench grinder with coarse and fine wire wheels.
I just got one of these for christmas today for my MX5.
pendragon1998
Well-known member
Hose clamp pliers. Never needed them until I literally had to have them to release a very obstructed clamp on my cooling system. When you need them, they're indispensible. I would have bought them just for that one clamp job.
southalabama
Well-known member
Wobble extensions. Bought a cheap set at HF on a lark. They allowed me to get to a nut I was having trouble reaching. I've since upgraded.
isb cornbinder
Well-known member
I wanted to have a drain pan for my motorcycle. I wanted something to hold the drain plug off the bottom for easier location. I was at a food service kitchen supply store for some other reason when I saw these hot table stainless pans, it was an Oprah AH_HA moment. The pans are available in several depths and sizes.
I often place wet parts from the power solvent tank on the screen to drip dry.
In the back-ground is a Gear Vendors over-drive behind a Ford C4 automatic transmission. the transmission is behind a supercharged Ford Flathead V8 with EFI
I often place wet parts from the power solvent tank on the screen to drip dry.
In the back-ground is a Gear Vendors over-drive behind a Ford C4 automatic transmission. the transmission is behind a supercharged Ford Flathead V8 with EFI
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jonesg
Well-known member
There's a proper drain pan with plug catcher for that.
Vegaman_Dan
Well-known member
I always thought cordless impact guns were gimmicky. I have air impact wrenches. I have socket wrenches. These things are silly.
They I got a Ryobi drill and impact driver cordless set. I wish I could have gone back in time and slapped myself silly until I got one back then. Cordless impacts are fantastic for garage use. Strong enough that I have to be careful not to snap cheap bolts on things. I like it a lot.
Another tool was the Evolution metal chop saw. I had a horizontal band saw and built a nice stand for it. I liked it a lot. I had an abrasive chop saw that was noisy and messy. Both worked, and I thought that was the way you cut metal for projects. I eventually decide to try an Evolution saw on sale.
Wow.
Okay, that was amazing. You shouldn't be able to chop up angle and square tubing likt it was wood. And with accuracy! No more sparks, clean cold cuts, all the hype actually had substance behind it. I immediately built a mobile chop saw station with drop leaf extensions and I cannot believe I cut metal any other way. The horizontal band saw is in my cargo trailer awaiting a trip to the local auction house. Such a huge difference.
They I got a Ryobi drill and impact driver cordless set. I wish I could have gone back in time and slapped myself silly until I got one back then. Cordless impacts are fantastic for garage use. Strong enough that I have to be careful not to snap cheap bolts on things. I like it a lot.
Another tool was the Evolution metal chop saw. I had a horizontal band saw and built a nice stand for it. I liked it a lot. I had an abrasive chop saw that was noisy and messy. Both worked, and I thought that was the way you cut metal for projects. I eventually decide to try an Evolution saw on sale.
Wow.
Okay, that was amazing. You shouldn't be able to chop up angle and square tubing likt it was wood. And with accuracy! No more sparks, clean cold cuts, all the hype actually had substance behind it. I immediately built a mobile chop saw station with drop leaf extensions and I cannot believe I cut metal any other way. The horizontal band saw is in my cargo trailer awaiting a trip to the local auction house. Such a huge difference.
Great idea, except for the inconvenient fact that on many motorcycles the oil pan drain plug is located such that many drain pans won't work. How can a drain pan not work?
The bike's centerstand doesn't allow the pan to get properly under the drain. One may not discover that there is a problem until finding half the oil is running across the floor 
while the other half is making it into the drain pan.DAMHIKT.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Need an image !
When i now started doing my own auto repairs, my handiest tool was my magnetic pickup, i was always throwing down stuff. Now my flashlight gets used 4-5 times a day, starting to use it more and more. Wanna upgrade to a decent LED maglite
yamaha0343
Well-known member
Lisle wheel stud install tool. Makes that job much easier and harder to screw up.
Diesel Mercedes
Well-known member
My brother tried to remove the rear axle shafts, he used torx instead of XZN bits, stripped two bolts off.
Had to get an XZN set. Planned on packing the shafts but never got to it.
Had to get an XZN set. Planned on packing the shafts but never got to it.
dede2897234
Well-known member
MushCreek
Well-known member
Speaking of flashlights, the 'throw-away' that came with my Milwaukee M18 set has become one of my favorites. With the battery, it sits steady, and you can swivel the light where you need it. My wife used to go through the expensive light bulbs, knocking it over all the time, but I bought an LED bulb, and now it doesn't break. It will also go more than 24 hours on a charge.
3" cutoff saw . Now if I don't have the exact length replacement or fabrication bolt, I'll just put in whatever and cut off the excess.
Use it for grinding to even though you're not supposed to
https://m.harborfreight.com/3-in-he...l-68523.html?utm_referrer=direct/not provided
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Use it for grinding to even though you're not supposed to
https://m.harborfreight.com/3-in-he...l-68523.html?utm_referrer=direct/not provided
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77Mini
Well-known member
1/4" pneumatic mini air ratchet. Picked one up cheap on a whim and have found it really handy for assembling things.
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Hagatronics
Well-known member
I too need to know more about this. Image/ manufacturer/ part number please.
Crazyjake8493
Well-known member
Lisle exhaust hanger removal pliers.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012S9A5U/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I1W7KG6XTBC5WV&colid=26D2JI1HZ43PN&psc=0
This is my answer as well. One of those tools that don't get used often, but when you do it's worth it.
AZ Pete
Well-known member
Leatherman Wave. I thought they were a glorified Swiss Army knife, but carried one every day, the last ten or so years I worked. Used it every day, usually several times a day.
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homebuilt burner
Well-known member
Mini usb inspection camera that plugs into my smart phone. Best $25 I ever spent.
Right angle die grinder, I have 5 and have one of them out almost every minute I’m in the shop. Why 5? One each for surface prep disc, cutoff wheel, 1” dis. flap wheel, wire wheel, and flap disc. SOOOO much more handy when you have each one ready to go.
Right angle die grinder, I have 5 and have one of them out almost every minute I’m in the shop. Why 5? One each for surface prep disc, cutoff wheel, 1” dis. flap wheel, wire wheel, and flap disc. SOOOO much more handy when you have each one ready to go.
100% this. Fighting with a big hook on the exhaust hangers and silicone spray for 5 minutes each versus literally 10 seconds with these things.
Funny that I have literally everything people have mentioned in this thread short of the funnel and knipex cobras (I have lots of channellocks though). I was hoping to find more tools I could buy lol
Makoto
Well-known member
dude those pliers are AWESOME. a buddy brought some when he had his RS over for some help with his catback swap. i will be purchasing some before i ever do another exhaust install. definitely a game changer especially in tight spaces. the whole job took like 30 minutes.
Partsguy57
Banned
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2016
- Messages
- 456
Lol..you have never used one... not a funnel... Very usefull on a applications where the rad fill is below upper hose. Go do a search on a ls engine tech site where guys are having issues on first time start up overheating. ( burping a ls)Most have never heard of this. I used on my ls conversion see pic look at fill height compared to upper hose. The other issue is location of t stat that can be a problem and this solves this. Lol. You have no clue what you are looking at. It seals to the radiator so you can start engine and slowly fill with out spilling a drop. Ever seen what coolant does to highly polished aluminum when spilled and blown everwhere by the cooling fans?
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77Mini
Well-known member
I just ordered a set of those......
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
LoadPro test leads. Makes a lot of electrical diagnosis very quick and easy.
That's the first that comes to mind, there are many others.
That's the first that comes to mind, there are many others.
PrometheusFD3S
New member
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2013
- Messages
- 3
1/4” drive Milwaukee M12 electric ratchet.
Bruh, it is the most useful damn thing.
Scary how long I’ve gone without.
Bruh, it is the most useful damn thing.
Scary how long I’ve gone without.
BDT/NWMN
Well-known member
My old relic alligator wrench.. It is twenty tools in one.. Not that I use those inclusive twenty tools, but the look on people's faces when I drag that thing out is priceless.. Very few tools are capable of doing this..
I present you 'The Filetor'.
Came with a job lot and though 'What a worthless thing, who on earth would pay money for that!'. Turns out I would. Maybe not its catalog price of 80 euros but I find myself reaching for it all the time. I'm basically getting instant access to 10 thread charts without having to faf with the laptop.
Came with a job lot and though 'What a worthless thing, who on earth would pay money for that!'. Turns out I would. Maybe not its catalog price of 80 euros but I find myself reaching for it all the time. I'm basically getting instant access to 10 thread charts without having to faf with the laptop.