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Tools you don't use often

mattygee

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Joined
Apr 30, 2011
Messages
1,180
Location
MA USA
12 ton shop press. Seldom use it, but it pays for itself just about every time I do.
 
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wolf_from_wv

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Joined
Sep 24, 2012
Messages
493
Location
WV
Triangle screwdriver bits. Worked better than grinding a corner off a Robertson bit...
 

MagnumForce

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Joined
Jun 3, 2014
Messages
1,392
Location
Ohio
Craftsman pass through sockets, when I need them about twice a year there is no substitute

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reivertom

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 11, 2015
Messages
70
Location
Eastern Kentucky
Tube nut wrenches
Easy out set
stripped nut remover sockets
18" ratchet extension
socket universal extension
clutch screwdriver
 
Joined
Oct 2, 2015
Messages
5
Location
Southern California
I have to second a lot of people buy saying my crows feet. I use them to break the back right corner nut loose on Honda/Acura V6 front motor mounts....other than that its rare.

My pass through set is rarely touched. And often times I just use ratcheting wrenches instead. But when some grunt is needed they come in handy.

I don't think I've ever used my Number One Screwdriver until I replaced the lok cylinder on my Blue Point Roll Cart haha it still looks brand new

I also have a set of long drivers that I almost never use but they came in handy on my Jeep and the long flathead is a great help getting drive belts on sometimes.

Also my Matco Smart Ear Lite doesn't get used too much but when a car comes in with noise it is pretty darn helpful. Used it recently to find a tiny coolant leak on hose running under the intake manifold of a late model CR-V.

I know there are some missing from this list but those were the first that came to mind.
 

maxpower_hd

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 17, 2015
Messages
2,230
Location
Massachusetts
For me it's my new plasma cutter. The first time I used it I said I was going to take everything else I own that can cut metal and throw it in the woods. That's not quite true though but close.
 

Finky198

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 25, 2014
Messages
2,120
Location
North East
Plasma cutter, 3/4 drive chrome, large air hammer, 12 lbs Slide hammer. The list goes on but there all tools I would not want to be without when the time comes though
 
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BMack37

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 28, 2015
Messages
1,091
Forgot about it until I needed it yesterday; Slim ratcheting 1/4" hex wrench...I will never understand whyTF engineers put screws in some of these places, when they can simply move an item to the left a couple inches.
 
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trxrx7

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Joined
Jan 6, 2014
Messages
65
i was gonna say hog ring pliers when changing seat heaters since most vehicles now have velcro or just use zip ties instead of hog rings when installing, but now that i think of it i still use them every once in a while. tho i could probably count on one hand how many times i have used my manual window handle/cranker removal tool.
 

MechEngPaul

Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2015
Messages
6
First post of the forum for that?


I found this thread and couldn't help smiling reading everyone's responses and thinking there are lots of people like me around this world.

My apologies if my post didn't measure up. Guess I have some practicing to do...
 

IsaacJ

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 9, 2014
Messages
122
Location
Iowa
someone on this forum once said, "I use 5% of my tools 95% of the time, the other 5% requires 95% of my tools"
That said, my compression tester doesn't get used much, as well as my soldering equipment. when I need it though, nothing will substitute.
 

Finky198

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 25, 2014
Messages
2,120
Location
North East
Exactly^^^

Most of us here have to many tools to count but each has there purpose and place in which most other tools just wouldn't get the job done. Isn't all this talk just more reason to go out and buy Moar Tools :thumbup:
 

PJNJ

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 20, 2013
Messages
1,047
Location
Iowa
Slide hammer, Mityvac, crowsfoot wrenches - both regular and flare style, Little Giant ladders.

:beer:
 

kunkernator

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 27, 2012
Messages
2,438
Location
US of A
Camshaft gear setting tool for Caterpillar 3500's. I made it, but always forget I have it when I do the procedure. I end up using a big socket to hammer on like I used to.....
 

Dennis Leigh Henry

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 8, 2013
Messages
6,302
Location
South Central, IN USA
I found this thread and couldn't help smiling reading everyone's responses and thinking there are lots of people like me around this world.

My apologies if my post didn't measure up. Guess I have some practicing to do...

Welcome to the GJ MechEngPaul.. Don't sweat it.. We're glad you're here and sounds like you have the same blood that runs thru many of us regarding tools. Shoot us your least used tool.. ;)

IsaacJ and Finky198.. Ditto to both and I agree you're spot on.. Some tools are worn out and probably get replaced frequently.. others take up space and are just like new. The worn our ones make incremental money for us each day.. The less used versions make us a ton of money that infrequent instant they are used ..

I've got a number of tools I don't use, and those are because they are more of the "collector" vintage that either are super neat/rare and conversation pieces or remind me of a time gone by with people who are no longer with us. They take up valuable space on my peg board, but with those purposes solely.

My Dunlop screwdrivers remind me of my Uncle and Dad who had them, and I grew up using.. However they aren't used at all, as I usually reach for a more capable Craftsman or my Milwaukee drill with a screwdriver bit.

Dennis
 

gsingh

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 26, 2012
Messages
1,003
Location
NOVA
For me it would be triple square sockets, crows feet, my uv light, compression tester, leakdown tester, special tools to remove suspension components.

But when you need em,you need em.
 

maddawg1952

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 29, 2012
Messages
676
Location
Peabody.Ma.
In the 46 years I've worked in some form of construction or the other I've made lots and lots of stuff I couldn't buy, either I couldn't find it in a hurry or couldn't afford it for a 1-2 time thing so you Mc Giver'd the tool you had or cut and bent something else or turn a tool or socket in a lathe. Don't even ask where most of that stuff is ,between home my work truck the shop at the family's construction co yard . But just for the sake of adding something exclusive to this thread would be a set of flare nut crow's foot wrenches. For changing hydraulic hoses on large yellow iron 1- 1/8" -2 5/8's.
 
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Empty Pockets

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 21, 2015
Messages
4,942
Location
Rural New York
Years ago, I was at sears. They had a tap and die set on sale. As I didn't have one, i bought it. My wife gave me an earfull. The set went on the shelf. One Saturday I came home from work to find the chest type freezer was not working. The blower motor that blows air across the radiator had quit. The only appliance store had one, right size, wrong holes. Out came that set. Freezer fixed. Wife has never said anything about tools since. I haven't used it since in over 25 years

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