What is your most valued tool?

[MiteyF]

I was surprised I didn't see a thread like this with a quick search (although that might be my searching skills).

Just curious, what is everyone's most valued tool? Not which is your most "valuable" tool (necessarily), but which tool could you never sell, or stand to lose? Whether you use it every day and couldn't be without, has the best story behind it, something with family history etc.

I was recently given, among other tools, the owner's stamp that belonged to my great grandfather. I couldn't tell you exactly when he had it made, but likely somewhere just before or after the turn of the century. I also have some tools of his that he stamped with this, including a type 4 Stanley plane, and some wooden sauerkraut mashers he made. We have some stamped tools, but thought the stamp itself was gone, until it recently turned up.

Apparently the stamp maker spelled his last name wrong, and for one reason or another he decided to use it as-is (my son's middle name is the same as his last, although spelled correctly).

Just a neat piece of family history.

 

[Beerhippie]

I keep my most valued tool between my ears. My second and third most valued are at the ends of my arms.

 

[Junkdrawer Dog]

Either my Klein needle nose pliers or #422 Channellocks. I've previously had both hands injured in work accidents and neither work as well as they used to. My pliers are my force multipliers (see what I did there) for every day gripping and twisting action. One or the other is always close by.

 

[Madjik Man]

I keep my most valued tool between my ears. My second and third most valued are at the ends of my arms.

My most valuable is between my legs.

Unfortunately the one between my ears is way down line, getting me into a lot of trouble with the aforementioned one.

For real though, it’s an old hammer. Nothing special in terms of quality but it was my grandfather’s. I like knowing his hands held this tool as is mine are today.

 

[Kscardsfan]

I'm the first one in my family to have a real serious addiction/bent towards tools, but I found a 2 or 3 foot long Ridgid pipe wrench cleaning out my Papaws lawnmower shed and a couple of his old axes he had used before chainsaws became accessible for the common man. Neither sees much use but they're mine.

 

[M635_Guy]

Oof - that's a complicated question because "valued" jumps all over the place in my mind.

I greatly value the workbench I made years ago. It made me learn new skills and techniques to build it, and I can't think of anything substantial I'd change about it if it went away, other than maybe making the top out of a bunch of laminated 2x4's (which would mean more new skills, but...) instead of the butcher block top. But that's just fanciness vs. need - it's been an absolute tank. I use it all the time and would be super-bummed if I somehow lost it. (I don't really have a good pic of it. This is the old garage, and doesn't show all the dog holes that are there if I need them)


I use this pry tool all the damn time - it's wild how often I use it and how often it makes things faster I would have struggled with before. I don't see them in regular stores, so I value that I "discovered" it (through GJ) and have gotten tons of value from the several I have spread around my garage and various tool kits. (Also given several as presents).


I love my M12 Surge impact. It does so many things gracefully that my drills never did and my regular impact couldn't (they're more powerful, but lack the finesse the Surge is capable of), all without busting up my eardrums or rattling my hand. I actually have a second one in my auto kit already, but if I lost my 'main' one I'd instantly go get a replacement.


The last one off the top of my head is my QuickJack. I **** at putting cars up on jackstands, and hate the process. The QJ is safer than I am, and it's easier too (though I wouldn't say faster).


I'm methodical and crazy about what I choose to buy, which is especially true of my tools, so I value nearly all of my tools pretty highly - some more for function than anything else, some for sentimental reasons and some just because I'm glad to have them.

 

[micromind]

Large hammer.

I'd be in serious trouble if I didn't have a BFH nearby......well, sometimes anyway........

 

[designer485]

Google / Access to the Internet. Access to information is an incredibly valuable tool.

 

[paulsomlo]

 

[Fixr]

I keep my most valued tool between my ears. My second and third most valued are at the ends of my arms.

The ones at the ends of my legs have been very useful at times, too. Don't fail me now!

 

[jblnut]

I inherited my grandfathers wooden toolbox full of all kinds of stuff that I take out and look at and occasionally use to tinker on the Farmall H or Moline R that he used to own that also live in my shed. One can only use a few wooden handled screwdriver or a hammer with a chunk of rebar for a handle for so long. So I’d say that toolbox and its contents. It has many fond memories within its self.

As far as my most used tool it’s got to be the channel lock pliers that is on my hip every day. It’s been there since I was 18. Same damn pliers for 20yrs this year. I remind my wife sometimes I’ve had it longer than her. That goes over well. We’ve spent more time together as well lol.

 

[tarmy]

My brain…

The rest can be upgraded, replaced and thrown out.

 

[BTL-A4]

In no particular order:
-Victorinox Pocket knife. The toothpick and tweezers are used all the time
-Vessel screwdriver handle and bits
-Starrett micrometer my machinist grandfather owned. I was not close to him at all, but it's just cool that they've stayed in the family. They have his initials on them, too.
-I have some import calipers I've had since college that still measure just fine. They have my initials on them.
-Cordless drill. Currently Ryobi, but any brand will do.
-Pentel P2xx mechanical pencils (0.3mm, 0.5mm, 0.7mm, 0.9mm). I've had mine since I was 14.

These were the ones that came immediately to mind.

 

[JustVicingIt]

My very old cabinet makers workbench. I beleive it's a Christiansen workbench.

 

[Semi-hole mechanic]

Dad’s 1/2” drive CMan socket set from 1948. He either bought it with his HS graduation money or Grandma and Grandpa gave it to him. It is in the original tin box and has two of the original sockets, the speeder wrench, and the breaker bar. I still use it to this day (especially the breaker bar) and think of Dad every time I grab something from it.

 

[GTO]

For me it would be whatever tool gets the current job done and saves me time and money from paying someone else to do the job.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

The tools I inherited/ and or were gifted to me. Obviously I use them, but I also keep them on a very short leash/ keep tabs on them.

If I need to narrow it down to one single tool for the purpose of this thread, I’d say it’s my grandfather’s pocket knife.

Everything besides those inherited and gifted tools can be re-bought, replaced, exchanged for similar, (…).

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[gizardlizard]

Two post vehicle lift. Absolute game changer. After 40 years of serious wrenching, I can’t imagine how I laid on my back on top of concrete during a Wisconsin winter to change oil. It sucked ***. If you have the means, get a lift….any lift.

 

[Chipm]

I don't have a specific favorite, but it would be any of the handful of tools I received as a kid from my grandfather or my parents. Ace Hardware socket set is high on the list.

Nice car. My dad had a silver 635 for a while - my wife and I took it on one of our early dates.

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

A couple years back, a kid slid into me at a red light and smoked my lower back. I used to be a mule, now Im challenged from sun up to sun down. This thing has been a life changer for me, randomly another guy on this forum asked me to find him one of these. I ended up buying it when he didn't want it. Now I wish I had picked one up when my back was good. This thing allowed me to sell my forklift that was only used in my shop, freeing up allot of space ( Ive got a skid loader and compact tractor with forks to get things into the shop ).

This gets transmissions and T- Cases onto my steel break down bench with ease, as well works great as a mobile workbench for heavy stuff that I would fix on the floor. There are allot of things I CANT do now with a bad back, and this helps me mitigate that problem allot.

 

[txvwnut]

Hmm... I'll say my crankshaft balancer, dad bought it new sometime in the 60's.

 

[Ultradog MN]

My Solberga.

 

[kctgb]

Google / Access to the Internet. Access to information is an incredibly valuable tool.

My computer is the most valuable tool for me. If I run into a problem there’s always someone on the web who had the same problem. And always there’s comments on how to fix the issue. Saves a lot of time for me when someone already fixed an issue.

 

[jerry67]

My tractor, because it makes hard work easy

 

[Rinspeed]

 

[RMERR]

Seems like there was a thread like this, maybe "tools you can't live without" or something. Anyway, I'm with Busted_Knuckles, my Presto counterweight shop lift and my manual Presto lift would be top of the list. While I'm at it I'd have to include the liftgate on my 2004 F250. I got lots of other tools I like and love, but much of the cabinets, machines and projects in my shop would simply not be possible without these "tools". I'm grateful and appreciative every time I use them.

 

[thool]

My wife bought me a Husky 26 gal oil-less air compressor (kind of like this one) 20+ years ago. It's been used extensively and the only repair I've made is replacing the drain valve. It's been bulletproof and drives tools, air nozzles, sprayers, etc without fail. It's a little loud and struggles with higher volume jobs (like spraying) but has earned the title of Favorite for me.

I've built upon its capabilities by supplying my garage with air through copper tubing with drains, a 2-stage air dryer + regulator, and a hose reel. I use it at least once a week.

 

[richfinn]

I've been thinking about this one for a few days.

1. PICO automotive oscilloscope (no update fees, it teaches me new tricks all the time, it makes life much easier if you are involved in Vehicle Diagnostics).

2. Milwaukee M18 tyre inflator, I use this thing everyday (roadside assistance tech), it's just a simple awesome tool that saves me time.

3. Veto Pro-Pac OT-MC, it's just a tool bag (but turned up to eleven) it keeps my stuff organized and easy to grab.

4. Panasonic Toughbooks, I love those things

 

[nadogail]

Probably the hydraulic lift table and cart.

I use it to raise things to a convenient height for assembly and repairs.

It has a hinged extension that serves as a ramp for loading and unloading.

I have also used it to move washers and dryers to and from rentals.

 

[Chris_Hamilton]

Delete

 

[TurnipTruck]

This loader-equipped tractor has been a life changing tool for the last decade. I have put 100 hours a year on it lifting, unloading, brushing, moving trailers into impossible spots, plowing, snow blowing, holding, carrying, organizing, stashing, smashing, stumping, burning, unstucking, tensioning, logging, you name it. I would be a bed-bound invalid living in a cold unfinished house without it.

 

[Ohmthis]

Without a doubt it’s my 2 post lift. Besides easing basic maintenance on the vehicles, it’s opened up repairs I wouldn’t have tried without. Shops around me wanted $1800-$2200 to replace timing changes, tensioners, and VVT phasers in our old GM 3.6. I dropped the engine/transmission, cradle and all on Jack stands. The lift did all of the hard work. I sat in front of the engine and did the easy stuff. Drop the car back down on it and start connecting it back up. That one job paid for my lift. I cannot imagine not having it! My shop is 15 x 22, I’d love more space, no way in hell I’d give up the lift to have it!

 

[Crazyjake8493]

My tractor.


My only regret is not buying it ten years sooner when I bought the house.

 

[CoogarXR]

I use my Hitachi 12v set (impact, drill, mini-sawsall) probably every day, if not several times a day. It's tiny, light, strong, and it makes most jobs easier. If it was ever damaged or stolen, I'd order another one the same day.

Other than that, give me my reading glasses, magnetic flashlight, fluke meters, xcelite flush cutters, dykes and strippers, my 1/2" and 1/4" socket set and I can comfortably handle about 97% of the tasks I run into. I have 5 roller boxes full of tools for the other 3%, lol.

 

[M635_Guy]

I don't have a specific favorite, but it would be any of the handful of tools I received as a kid from my grandfather or my parents. Ace Hardware socket set is high on the list.

Nice car. My dad had a silver 635 for a while - my wife and I took it on one of our early dates.

The back seat is terrible for dates...

 

[Gangly]

M12 3/8 Stubby and M12 3/8 Ratchet. I flip between the two, but it's usually the stubby.

 

[WWheeler]

The hand tools my grandfather left me. He left me two chests of mostly 1960-1980 Craftsman stuff, and a couple tombstone welders, etc. I don't actually use most of them near as much any more, but I'd never sell any of it for any price, and I've been offered some pretty insane prices for some of it, waaaaay more than I could buy a new Snap-on like tool for. People are stupid crazy about some of the harder to find USA Craftsman stuff. But it aint for sale. Ever. They'll go to my boys when I'm done with them. A lot already has.

I'm that way with anything ever given to me as a gift though.

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

While I'm at it I'd have to include the liftgate on my 2004 F250.

Funny, Ive got a Tommylift on the back of 2007 Silverado 2500 !

 

[RMERR]

Funny, Ive got a Tommylift on the back of 2007 Silverado 2500 !

Great minds think alike. Or probably more accurately, guys with creaky backs think alike!

 

[GrayFlattop]

Powermatic 66. Over 40 years of faithful service without any problems or repairs except occasional cleaning.