Best tools you own

[Snoranger]

Flush cutters. few different companies make them. Small and light to get into tight spaces. Cuts the zip tie perfectly flush with the end of the square part.

The only proper way to cut a zip tie is 3/4” long at a 45° angle.

 

[Ranger850]

Might I suggest "pockets".

Where do you think I put my Bluetooth speaker and all my screws, and cell phone, and my dykes?

 

[Uncle Gump]

I don't think we're allowed to say it on here...

 

[Snoranger]

I don't think we're allowed to say it on here...

Prison purse?

 

[Uncle Gump]

Gives new meaning to "hey... hand me my dykes"

 

[Roert42]

Where do you think I put my Bluetooth speaker and all my screws, and cell phone, and my dykes?

Nail apron. That way you have room for extra beers too.

 

[DILLARD000]

Then I would have to (A) carry a small pry bar AND the dykes up a ladder, or (B) make extra trips up & down the ladder to get the job done.
It's really more of a "multi-tool" than "just a pair of dykes" I've pulled nails with them, and also drove nails in with them. Used them as a lever to level a frame to a house and use them as a wedge to separate a frame from a house. I use the handle to pry open the aluminum "C channel" so the fabric will slide in without catching the corners. Believe me when I say, I NEED these things to get sh!t done.

Should qualify statement for those who use 'dykes" in electrical work:
don't advise removing\damaging handle insulation, can result in a fatal shock!

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Should qualify statement for those who use 'dykes" in electrical work:
don't advise removing\damaging handle insulation, can result in a fatal shock!

Yep. I thought the circuit i was working on was isolated but when i cut the housewire..ZAP! And another set of piers with a hole where no hole should be. Almost had to change my panties too...

 

[scotts90ranger]

My favorite is my stupid little Leatherman Squirt E4, it's tiny sized folding wire strippers with a good assortment of extremely useful stuff... I've been carrying them around since like 2009... the tiny pliers on the end are handier than you would think, wire strippers work really good, cutters are very sharp still (only cut copper or soft steel like concrete tie wire). The little phillips screwdriver is very handy and works surprisingly well, don't know what I would do without it some days... After a couple years they changed it up to the ES4 by adding scissors for some reason and got rid of the little phillips and tweezers (great for splinters...).

Anywho, originally they sold for like $35, you could get them on Ebay for like $15 for a while, now they're up to around $80 last I looked... been discontinued for several years...

I have other favorites, but I really like those silly little things...

 

[bilbo]

My favorite tool is the cordless Multimaster. It's not a real one, it's DeWalt's version. It seems to find its way into just about any project I'm doing. I originally got a corded one from HF to trim some laminate flooring and a door jamb and I didn't think I'd use it again. I was wrong, and then the cordless one is even more handy!

The only proper way to cut a zip tie is 3/4” long at a 45° angle.

Exactly! How else are you going to slice up your hands when it’s -10 degrees and you are blindly reaching for something in the engine compartment in the dark on the side of the road?

 

[Ranger850]

To be clear, I don't do electric stuff. And the nail apron gets in the way of the impact gun hanging off of my belt

 

[Curious Hound]

To be clear, I don't do electric stuff. And the nail apron gets in the way of the impact gun hanging off of my belt

Those cheap cloth 2 pocket nail aprons are great for electrical work. Large wire nuts in one side, medium in the other side. Screwdrivers, wire strippers and side cutters in pockets. I once had a job doing commercial electrical maintenance for a huge insurance company. I kept one of those aprons loaded with large wire Nuts, tiny blue wire nuts, stripper and nut driver for replacing ballasts. It was perfect. Of course, it was common to replace 20-30 ballasts and several hundred flourescent tubes in a day.

 

[DILLARD000]

Just to be clear: "Wire Nut" vs "Wired Nut"

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

My favorite tool is the cordless Multimaster. It's not a real one, it's DeWalt's version. It seems to find its way into just about any project I'm doing. I originally got a corded one from HF to trim some laminate flooring and a door jamb and I didn't think I'd use it again. I was wrong, and then the cordless one is even more handy!


Exactly! How else are you going to slice up your hands when it’s -10 degrees and you are blindly reaching for something in the engine compartment in the dark on the side of the road?

You know, I spent a few years scoffing at the Multimaster tool until I had to help a remodeling contractor I know with replacing 8 or 10 doors in a house. We got the first door installed and there’s wedges sticking out all over and I pull out my utility knife and prepare to be irritated and this guy pulls out a multimaster and says “this is the best tool ever” and zzzzziiiiiipppp. There goes all the shims cut flush. Fork me, I need one of those! Lol.

So I plopped down the cash and bought the best one out there at the time in a deluxe kit and have been happy since. Want to add the Milwaukee Fuel version to my cordless gear.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

To be clear, I don't do electric stuff. And the nail apron gets in the way of the impact gun hanging off of my belt

My solution to that sort of problem was a modular tool belt. I have a belt and a variety of pouches to hang on it, so I can have say, a pouch with screws, pouch with assorted hand tools, tape measure holder, and have everything out of the way of the impact. Even have a drill/impact holster if I want to be fancy