Intriguing idea for a discussion from Adam. What’s your least used, but most important tool?
Mine is an obvious one. I don’t use a torque wrench all that often, but when I truly need it, it’s for something damned important.
Handyandy23
Well-known member
I feel like almost half my tools could fall into this category. You have hardline tools like sockets, ratchets, wrenches, screwdrivers, circular saw, etc that you use often. Then the rest are specialty tools that you have for very specific circumstances, or 'what if'.
Least used I'm sure there are tools I have that I've never had to use, or maybe used once. But one of those tools could be my most important tomorrow when I need it!
Tap and die set is something that comes to mind I recently used. The metal case is always covered in dust and rarely used, but when I mess up a thread I really need them!
I use my 1/2" torque wrench fairly often on lug nuts and big stuff, but I very rarely use my 1/4" torque wrench. But then that's one that for certain jobs you need it, as the other bigger torque wrenches don't go down low enough or fine enough.
I also have specialty tools like a drywall screw gun or rotary hammer. Not often used, but if I need to hang drywall or drill a big hole in concrete both are pretty essential.
Least used I'm sure there are tools I have that I've never had to use, or maybe used once. But one of those tools could be my most important tomorrow when I need it!
Tap and die set is something that comes to mind I recently used. The metal case is always covered in dust and rarely used, but when I mess up a thread I really need them!
I use my 1/2" torque wrench fairly often on lug nuts and big stuff, but I very rarely use my 1/4" torque wrench. But then that's one that for certain jobs you need it, as the other bigger torque wrenches don't go down low enough or fine enough.
I also have specialty tools like a drywall screw gun or rotary hammer. Not often used, but if I need to hang drywall or drill a big hole in concrete both are pretty essential.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
Engine or engine family specific timing tools. Baby cement mixer is nice to have when you need it, much easier than an old wheel barrel.
TRWham
Well-known member
Fire extinguisher
48RON54
Well-known member
Fluke meter
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
Thinking outta the box.
Professional Tool User
Well-known member
My Harbor Freight service wrench set. When I need to deal with something where only a low profile wrench will work, it saves me the hassle of finding a wrench to modify.
engineer2
Well-known member
My vintage Bear engine analyzer that takes up too much room. Use it a couple of times a year for the battery/alternator tester or the emissions analyzer. Has a pretty good scope too. Amazing that most everything on it works after 30 years.
SilverDeck
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- Joined
- Jun 7, 2016
- Messages
- 481
First phrase that popped into my head as well!
danscobra6
Well-known member
Common sense
rlitman
Well-known member
Alton Brown says its the only "unitasker" he allows in his kitchen. I'll give you a +1. One of mine paid for its weight in gold when it got used.
One of these. It hardly ever get's used but when it does it saves my bacon.
I'll give a +1 here too, as a second place to the above. To be fair, so far I've used my hand impacts several more times than my fire extinguishers (though both could be counted on my fingers), but these too have saved my bacon each and every time they've come out to play.
KBigg
Well-known member
A cheater pipe.
nelstomlinson
Well-known member
Half or more of my tools fit that description.
Magnum440d100
Well-known member
A few for me....
1-1/4” deep socket for the crank bolt on mopar engines. I don’t use it often, but I’m glad I have it.
Fuel injection quick release tools. I don’t do a lot of work on newer cars, but I’m glad to have them when I need them.
Manual pickle fork(s). The air gun is nice, but sometimes on rusted out POS’s, it’s nice to have a pickle fork to wail on with a 10lb sledge... plus in the pick a part, air is not always available...
I think this question is subjective. Many people’s needs vary as far as what they work on. But it will surely be interesting to see the answers. Maybe we will see tools we never have thought about!
1-1/4” deep socket for the crank bolt on mopar engines. I don’t use it often, but I’m glad I have it.
Fuel injection quick release tools. I don’t do a lot of work on newer cars, but I’m glad to have them when I need them.
Manual pickle fork(s). The air gun is nice, but sometimes on rusted out POS’s, it’s nice to have a pickle fork to wail on with a 10lb sledge... plus in the pick a part, air is not always available...
I think this question is subjective. Many people’s needs vary as far as what they work on. But it will surely be interesting to see the answers. Maybe we will see tools we never have thought about!
fsae0607
Well-known member
One of these. It hardly ever get's used but when it does it saves my bacon.
Yes!!!
Junkdrawer Dog
Well-known member
In the early 70s, when I was getting into dirt bikes, I bought four tools that were not used frequently but were very important. A hand impact driver, a flywheel puller, a top dead center gauge and a chain breaker. Each one opened the door a bit farther to being able to do my own maintenance and repairs.
turnthewrench 2.0
Well-known member
23mm socket
FigureItOut
Well-known member
The first thing that came to mind was my thread restoring set, but that may be because I just finished using it, probably for the first time this year. I have a VIM master set with many of the weird torx variations, I remember well the day I decided I needed to buy that, it wasn't a good day, and I can avoid those situations now. That set surely qualifies for the question.
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Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
jblnut
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Depends on the type of work I'm doing but for hand tools it's a micro calipers and power tools has to be our 1" impact gun. Neither are used often but both are definitely important.
It I'm doing the fieldwork type of work my 1/2" link 30' chain is something I cannot live without. It goes with me in whatever tractor I am driving. It saves my skin when I get stuck with our tillage rig. Unhook the tractor, drive out and pull the disk out with the chain. Works amazingly.
When this happens ....
I break out the big chain !!!
It I'm doing the fieldwork type of work my 1/2" link 30' chain is something I cannot live without. It goes with me in whatever tractor I am driving. It saves my skin when I get stuck with our tillage rig. Unhook the tractor, drive out and pull the disk out with the chain. Works amazingly.
When this happens ....
I break out the big chain !!!
The Tool Tyrant
ALLIANCE MEMBER
My Snap-On 'Slimline' wrenches...thin to win when nothing else fits!
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Distributor wrenches ! (I have not been "up close and personal" with a distributor in probably 30 years !)
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Cone wrenches...
Nick Danger
Well-known member
I used mine Sunday to check the sacrificial rod in the water heater.
The previous time I used it was three years ago, to check the sacrificial rod in the water heater.
KBigg
Well-known member
Lol I have a couple dedicated ones. Working in a machine shop has its perks.Least used? It's the handle to my jack.
Water tap re-seating tool. I do a fair bit of my own plumbing and when a dripping tap won't fix with a new washer out its nice to be able to repair the tap by cutting a new smooth seat. If your water is hard or has a high mineral content, its a handy tool to have.
IndyGarage
Well-known member
I would have to say it's a tool that is used very infrequently that saves a ton of money or time. To those who said Fire Extinguisher - that's probably an excellent example. First Aid kit is in the same boat. I recently had to use some Celox that I had on hand. If you don't have it in the shop, buy some tomorrow.
I'm going to go first with the clamp-tite tool. I don't use it very often, but every time I do I need it real badly.
Runner up would be some type of adhesive - rescue tape is similar.
My walking foot sewing machine is an awesome tool that I don't use nearly enough.
I'm going to go first with the clamp-tite tool. I don't use it very often, but every time I do I need it real badly.
Runner up would be some type of adhesive - rescue tape is similar.
My walking foot sewing machine is an awesome tool that I don't use nearly enough.
This isn't my least used tool, but it serves a very important purpose the few times I need to break it out. On our ranch we have several insulated stock tanks we water cows out of during the winter. Once in a while the water line coming up the standpipe will freeze if we experience an extended duration of below 0 temps. Usually this happens if the drain back did not work when it was shut off and we need to use it or not enough cows were drinking to keep the water moving. Since these tanks do not have electricity near them, I have found Dewalt's DXH70CFAV cordless forced air propane heater to be invaluable for thawing out those frozen water lines. I really wish more power tool companies would come out with their own versions of this heater.
Brian Puccio
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- Joined
- Aug 30, 2017
- Messages
- 105
Fire extinguisher.
Smoke/CO detector.
Plunger.
Smoke/CO detector.
Plunger.
Fluelikesymptoms
Well-known member
Sham
Well-known member
Amen.
unknownroad
Well-known member
I wish I got less use out of my first aid kit... My skin isn't as tough as it used to be, and it's a drag.
For me (hobbyist/general DIYer), the first thing that came to mind are my steering wheel/flywheel/hub pullers. Most of the time they're gathering dust and being awkward to store, but for those couple times a year that I need to break one out...
Dingleburry
Well-known member
This thread repair tool. For threads you cant get a die or thread reformer on. Thread files work too, but this much easier
JRC3
Well-known member
I have an Earthquake one man auger. It gets used every few years or so. When it comes out of the shed for use it certainly makes my life better. I can't imagine how long it would take to dig a hole I auger handles deep with it using a regular posthole digger...Let alone 6 or more. Makes me hurt thinking about it.
