Tools you don't use often

[Badasssapper67]

Miti Vac vacuum gauge pump. Invaluable when you're trying to figure out if you have a bad timing chain or bad rings or bad valve seal. Once you use one you wont be caught without it.
Somehow, I ended up with two.

 

[Brownsfan]

I will 3rd the E-torx. There is absolutely nothing else that you can substitute for it when you need it. I have only needed them a handful of times and but saved my *** because I had them.

 

[joeyd01]

Very interesting!
Where does your company buy the gas?


http://www.chemtane2.com/#!chemtane2/c1dj4

We buy it from the local Jackson welding supply shop. I think the regulators are the same as propane regulators. It takes some getting used too but its great. The cones in the torch don't get brighter when you pull the oxy making it difficult to set the torch imo. Regulators are set at 1# for gas and 50# for the oxy. Its actually a pretty neat set up. The rose bud works great and you can really crank it up.

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[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Shoot, half my tools are things that barely get used once a month, some are once a year, but when you gotta have 'em, you gotta have 'em!! And if you didn't have 'em, the job might not even be possible.
Just a few off the top of my head:
Optical Tachometer
Temp gun
3/4 drive torque wrench - over 600lb range
Mini inspection camera

 

[Bighead38]

The shock value is what is great about these. take for example those PITA Philips screws that hold brake rotors to the hub. perfect tool for those.

I don't even try a screwdriver for them anymore. I just grab the hand impact. I think it's the only time I use the hand impact.

 

[CJM8515]

Line levels. Bought them to use with mason line to do some retaining walls and havent used them since for anything.

 

[themiller]

torx bits in stupid big sizes.

 

[AA/FC]

E-torx sockets...... .....NEVER BUY LISLE ONES.

Why? Are they really that bad?

 

[dave89iroc]

torx bits in stupid big sizes.

Only size I don't use often is t60

 

[jsaw]

Tilt steering column pivot pin puller,
Steering column lock plate tool,
Harmonic balancer installer
3/4" socket set
Dial indicator
Brake spring pliers
Timing light

 

[racin72charger]

Cam bearing installer, Mopar upper ball joint sockets, GM tilt column puller.

 

[cliftonbros89]

Precision screwdrivers, ignition wrenches, 1/2" drive crowfoot set, or in-line wrenches. Also, I don't have to use my pullers or our port-a-power very often. But they're nice to have. I've never needed any of my e-torx sockets and I've yet to use my 3/8 air ratchet.

 

[Thax]

Half Moon and S wrenches , dont get used everyday but are sure nice to have when needed.

 

[firworks]

Air impact. Since I bought my Snappy 18v, I don't think I've used it once

I've been strongly considering getting the M18 FUEL 1/2" impact and the M12 FUEL 3/8" Ratchet but I fear that I'll never pick up my hand ratchets again.

 

[winlinmac]

Once you install quality brake pads, it doesn't become an annual thing. I use this Brake Caliper Toolset "once in a blue moon."

 

[AmateurMechanic]

Once you install quality brake pads, it doesn't become an annual thing. I use this Brake Caliper Toolset "once in a blue moon."

Doesn't a C-clamp (with the old brake pad as a backing piece) basically do the same thing?

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[63spyder]

My three hundred dollar iron worker, it's so nice to punch holes or shear plate stock.

 

[L.Cheapo]

Doesn't a C-clamp (with the old brake pad as a backing piece) basically do the same thing?

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Some rear brake caliper pistons need to be rotated as they are pushed back in. I believe this tool does that.

 

[davethorik]

Some rear brake caliper pistons need to be rotated as they are pushed back in. I believe this tool does that.

Interesting, I have an old random 1/2 drive snap on drag link socket I used on my wright 1/2 ratchet to turn the Pistons in on my Honda accord. It worked fine

 

[theoldwizard1]

Once you install quality brake pads, it doesn't become an annual thing. I use this Brake Caliper Toolset "once in a blue moon."

Doesn't a C-clamp (with the old brake pad as a backing piece) basically do the same thing?

C-clamp works fine for front calipers. Most of the rear caliper I have dealt with require you to "wind" the piston them back into the caliper.

I finally broke down and bought my own set this year because between my car and my friends I did 4 or 5 axles.

I doubt I will ever use my brake spring retainer tool or brake spring pliers again. They are right next to my distributor wrenches !!!

 

[SweetD]

Safety bit set. Just used it for the first time yesterday after having it for a few months in the box drawer. Used the "tri-wing" bit to try to get into a broken Wii gaming system...got the bolts out, but didn't get the fix...oh well...

 

[Kent_B]

Small 3-jaw puller from HF. Saved my bacon today and it paid its way. (Crank sprocket on a Subaru Legacy.)

 

[ssdave]

Air chucks to pressurize cylinders through the spark plug hole. Essential when you need them, not used often.

Sockets to fit the top of strut and shock cylinder rods. Again, essential to take off rusted shocks/struts, not used often (usually use a crescent wrench) but when you have a stubborn one, really great to have.

Stud removers. For when pliers and vise grips aren't enough.

Left handed drill bits and splined broken bolt removers. Unfortunately, used more than I would like to.

I've got probably 100 tools like this that are low use, but essential. Hard to remember them, but great to have them when needed.

 

[chipper]

Triple squares.... i never even heard if them before i owned a vw

 

[BajaScout]

Same here. Working on an 81 VW Rabbit. Stripped the head on a bolt and then could see these were 12 point. Replacement bolts at the local VW parts store were the regular 6 point.

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[L.Cheapo]

Triple squares.... i never even heard if them before i owned a vw

My 1970s Beetles have them on the CV shafts. The only time I've ever used one.

 

[---]

That would have to be my Bosh Jig Saw. I bought it 7 or 8 years ago for a project and haven't used it again since.

 

[Farmall 1066]

50 ton shop press, 10 ton porta power, PosiLock gear pullers all come to mind.

 

[Aerogt01]

Gigantic channel locks. Saved my **** 3 times in the past two years. Those are the only times they have been used.

 

[BMack37]

Forceps are one. Those will really save your **** when you can't use needle nose or you just need a tiny clamp.

 

[joeyd01]

I've used tweezers a lot recently, to dig out broken keys in ignitions

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[d.mcfarland]

I've used tweezers a lot recently, to dig out broken keys in ignitions

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Some Wal-Mart stores have a stainless steel pair made by E.L.F. in the cosmetic section that sell for $1. Well worth having in the toolbox.

 

[defektes]

Doesn't a C-clamp (with the old brake pad as a backing piece) basically do the same thing?

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Not for the twist piston style. Those have built in E brake on the rear caliper and the only substitution is to use channelocks, which can damage the piston.

 

[bassbone52]

Skewdriver.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002BBYGQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Farmall450]

Steering wheel/harmonic balancer puller, 2 & 3 jaws, slidehammer, crows feet, sockets over 1.5"

 

[RustnGrease]

Interesting, I have an old random 1/2 drive snap on drag link socket I used on my wright 1/2 ratchet to turn the Pistons in on my Honda accord. It worked fine

Dave: I Just did the same thing the other night when doing rear brakes on my G/F's accord! Only time i use that socket, until i get my jeep project done. It has that style drag link on it.

Joey:How does the chemtane compare to cutting with propelyne? Also how about cost? Next time i get to the LWS i'll have to ask about it.

x5 on the half moon wrenches. Especially handy when changing the air compressor on a Cummins N14. Of course they had that one bolt that can barely be reached by the tips of your fingers to get it started and somewhat ran in.

 

[FigureItOut]

Skewdriver.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002BBYGQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Unless I'm mistaken that offset part is the same as this Milwaukee branded adaptor-

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002BBYGQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I use it all the time under and in the dash, I love that thing.

My contribution to the topic is....flat head screwdriver.

 

[bwringer]

I've got a HUGE, and I mean HUGE goddamn slide hammer. Big ugly crude Chinese *******, about four feet long. The weight is ridiculous -- I am far from small, and seriously using this thing takes maximum effort.

I toted it home while cleaning out my Dad's garage. I don't think he ever used it, and I don't know where he got it. You thankfully don't need the beast very often, but when you do... whatever you're thwacking WILL move or it WILL break.

 

[burke753]

1/2" Pneumatic drill, 8 pound 36" Wilton bash hammer, my big a** Matco long barrel air hammer, and honestly the one thing that I thought was the most gimicky thing when I first saw them was a pass through ratchet and socket set. I saw them for a long time and realized one day after I busted a knuckle so bad doing a valve adjustment on a DT466 I picked up a gear wrench pass through ratchet set. I don't use it often but that is my favorite tool that gets almost no mileage.

Oh I also was doing a lot of rebuilding of transmissions so I bought a quality dial indicator. And since then ever trans that has had issues that I've pulled was so far gone it just needed to be replaced. I haven't used the thing and I've had it for almost 2 years.


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[joeyd01]

Dave: I Just did the same thing the other night when doing rear brakes on my G/F's accord! Only time i use that socket, until i get my jeep project done. It has that style drag link on it.

Joey:How does the chemtane compare to cutting with propelyne? Also how about cost? Next time i get to the LWS i'll have to ask about it.

x5 on the half moon wrenches. Especially handy when changing the air compressor on a Cummins N14. Of course they had that one bolt that can barely be reached by the tips of your fingers to get it started and somewhat ran in.

I was told it was only like 10 bucks more a bottle. The bottle is smaller but its completely gas. And I've never cut with propelyne so I wouldn't know.

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