My favourite workshop hand tools / General Chatting / Forums

Forums

4hv.org :: Forums :: General Chatting

« Previous topic | Next topic »

My favourite workshop hand tools

previous 1 2 3 4 next

Move Thread

LAN_403

Mads Barnkob

Wed Sept 23 2009, 06:36PM

Registered Member #1403 Joined: Tue Mar 18 2008, 06:05PM
Location: Denmark, Odense C
Posts: 1968

My hands.

Arcstarter

Wed Sept 23 2009, 07:35PM

Registered Member #1225 Joined: Sat Jan 12 2008, 01:24AM
Location: Beaumont, Texas, USA
Posts: 2253

All this talk about flames and torches reminds me. Another very handy tool i have used quite often is a pencil torch. It is currently broken, but i used it to solder copper strapping, or other copper things that dissipate too much heat for a soldering iron. I also use a 250 watt soldering iron for that. Just a cheapo 9 dollar thing. A transformer with around 2v output that shorts through the tip. Red hot in about 10 seconds or less.

Nik

Wed Sept 23 2009, 08:54PM

Registered Member #53 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 04:31AM
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 638

All this talk about flames and torches reminds me. Another very handy tool i have used quite often...

Fire Extinguisher, I forgot to add that one.

Electroholic

Thu Sept 24 2009, 02:11AM

Registered Member #191 Joined: Fri Feb 17 2006, 02:01AM
Location: Esbjerg Denmark
Posts: 720

Harry, I absolutely love multicore solder, too.
I'm down to the last layer on my spool...

Right now on my bench,
Lindstrom 8160
Leatherman E4
Gerber MP600 with tungsten carbide inserts
Wiha System-4 ESD bit set + few other common size drivers
Bondus ball end allen keys

My "fix all" kit.
Pair of vice grips
Full size hack saw
Spool of safety wire
3M duct tape(surprise no one mentioned it, yet.)

Chris Russell

Thu Sept 24 2009, 06:20AM

... not Russel!
Registered Member #1 Joined: Thu Jan 26 2006, 12:18AM
Location: Tempe, Arizona
Posts: 1052

My cheapo Bernzomatic plumbing torch is probably my favorite tool. A low flame will nicely solder AWG 12 and 14 in a hurry, as well as PL-259 connectors that just take forever with the soldering iron. It's also obviously great for joining copper pipes, gets the barbecue going in a hurry without any funky tasting lighter fluid, and caramelizes sugar on desserts in a pinch.

Steve Conner

Thu Sept 24 2009, 10:35AM

Registered Member #30 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 10:52AM
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 6706

Chris Russell wrote ...

caramelizes sugar on desserts in a pinch.

Chris, you are so 21st Century Man

Anyway, if we're going to allow power tools in this thread, I have to vote for the Dremel. It has a wide range of uses, like modifying PCB tracks, carving up small metal and plastic parts, and so on. With a Dremel and a cordless drill/screwdriver, you're pretty much set.

Watch out for the cheap no-brand rotary tools, though. They can have huge amounts of runout that makes them vibrate like crazy and be absolutely useless for fine work, as the bit flaps around in a circle instead of running true. In my experience the actual Dremel brand tools have been better. And as Chris knows, they'll froth up a cappucino in a pinch too

Coronafix

Thu Sept 24 2009, 11:59AM

Registered Member #160 Joined: Mon Feb 13 2006, 02:07AM
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 938

I have to vote Dremel as well. I had my first one for about 9 years before I burnt the motor out on it grinding flats on an armature to make a synchronous motor.
Went straight out and bought another one.

Proud Mary

Thu Sept 24 2009, 10:45PM

Registered Member #543 Joined: Tue Feb 20 2007, 04:26PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4992

Chris Russell wrote ...

My cheapo Bernzomatic plumbing torch is probably my favorite tool. A low flame will nicely solder AWG 12 and 14 in a hurry, as well as PL-259 connectors that just take forever with the soldering iron. It's also obviously great for joining copper pipes, gets the barbecue going in a hurry without any funky tasting lighter fluid, and caramelizes sugar on desserts in a pinch.

I have a Bernzomatic too - with MAPP gas it's really a great tool for brazing copper tube - nothing better!

Killa-X

Fri Sept 25 2009, 02:22AM

Registered Member #1643 Joined: Mon Aug 18 2008, 06:10PM
Location:
Posts: 1039

Hard to pick...

Free kobalt Screwdriver (make account on their site and get one free from home depot..last year). It has 4 in one..small and large double sided bits, with a + - end on each.

RoboGrip Wrench - Love these! Very good for takign things apart by force with little hand force (like E core transformers)
Soldier Iron + Wire strippers as always
Needle nose pliers, Dremel, Power drill, and hopefully my new Hand-held jigsaw (like a sawsall, but not as powerful, a lot lighter, and uses any jigsaw blades)

Dremel, like most people, made me say "I should have got one a long time ago" I have used it for sanding woods, cutting nails to size, Cutting perf boards, Buffering metals, cleaning motors, and so on...It's by far, my most used tool I own.

Proud Mary

Sun Sept 27 2009, 02:14PM

Registered Member #543 Joined: Tue Feb 20 2007, 04:26PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4992

Not a hand tool exactly, but I couldn't live without my Black and Decker Workmate Professional - an additional piece of workspace that I can pack away, saw bench, clamp, and all the rest - invaluable!

previous 1 2 3 4 next

Moderator(s): Chris Russell, Noelle, Alex, Tesladownunder, Dave Marshall, Dave Billington, Bjørn, Steve Conner, Wolfram, Kizmo, Mads Barnkob