Comments on: MAKE Asks: Your Go-To Tools

By: CJ

CJ — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 16:27:54 +0000

Seriously I don’t know how anybody could pick just one. I think I rewritten this about 13 times now. So I have to generalize. My Truck (Tacoma). I can’t get myself or my stuff where I/they need to be without it. More importantly since I can’t pick just one I have to have something to load them ALL in to get them there. I use it as a saw horse, a lunch table, a security box, haul, pull, push, a cell phone charger, it plays music, gives me the news and most importantly at the end of it all gets me back to the ones I love. I suppose the same could be said for just about any vehicle, but they way I live I couldn’t do without it. I would love to list about 50 other tools but my problem is I’m a jack of all trades, master of none. Which is sad because I would love to Master anything.

By: Eofhan

Eofhan — Thu, 31 May 2012 14:17:55 +0000

Scott E-Vest, Leatherman Skeletool, and a 2AA Mag-Lite (modded with an aftermarket LED and buttcap switch). These are never far from me.

Bosch tablesaw.

Excel. Yes, the spreadsheet application. If there isn’t a formula for it, VBA can do it. Biggest difficulty is remembering it’s NOT the right tool for every job.

By: Simon

Simon — Thu, 31 May 2012 11:06:29 +0000

Picquic Mariner and Multique screwdrivers.

I cannot understand why trade people carry a full tool pouch of screwdrivers when the Mariner and the Multique can replace all of them.

By default, my Mariner have the Robertson (square) #2 and the Multique have the Phillips #2 (star) bits ready for 90% of all screws that I encounter. Switching bits is a breeze (no end cap to mess with it) and you can use them in your power drill as well.

Aside of these screwdrivers, I carry 6″ linesman pliers, a LED Maglite, electrician scissors and knife and a small pen-style multimeter. That’s all a need to thackle tasks through my work day as a telecom/alarm tech.

By: pogofrog

pogofrog — Wed, 30 May 2012 21:29:34 +0000

Stanley Fatmax folding utility knife, just get one !

By: rocketguy1701

rocketguy1701 — Wed, 30 May 2012 18:37:43 +0000

My goto tools:
-Leatherman Wave
-Wiha screwdriver (the one with the 4mm bit set, adjustable length) for small stuff,
-Snapon ratcheting screwdriver for rackmounting/demounting equipment, and bigger stuff. (this is possibly my best tool ever, and my only snap-on tool)
-Vise Grips, curved jaw, both the large and small, also the needlenosed small.
-Estwing blue handled hammer, 12oz
Power Catagory:
-Super Sawzall (blade assortment for various tasks, including the trimming blade, will trim trees faster and cleaner than a small chainsaw!)
-Hakko 928 Solder station (oldie but a goodie)
-Hitachi 18V NiMh Cordless Drill/Driver (Plenty of power, batteries last a long time)
-Milwaukee circular saw (w/Diablo 60 tooth blade, very smooth cutting)
-Strong tools ST-250 one hand bandsaw (cutting conduit or other lengths of metal material is cake).

And of course the Replicator, but not sure that really counts.

I’m about to augment that with shop tools, but since I don’t have them, I can’t go to them yet…

By: Jake Spurlock

Jake Spurlock — Wed, 30 May 2012 18:30:52 +0000

I love screwdrivers, and I have them stashed all over my house.

By: Dak

Dak — Wed, 30 May 2012 18:29:32 +0000

The Leatherman Juice S2 is my go-to EDC tool. Just barely small enough to be OK in jeans or dress pants, it’s the tool that’s always ‘on me’ for when something is broken, and has full size scissors (or trade the scissors for a corkscrew with the C2, or go a little bigger with the Cs2, etc.). Rounding out the tool set are my iPhone (4S) so I can look up reference data, take photos of areas I can’t see (no inspection mirror needed), and plan work.

If I can bulk up (minimal tool bag): add a Picquic Multi screwdriver. This is the best replaceable driver screwdriver that I know of, and the bits are long and robust enough to be used with power drivers and drills (AND you have to put the last bit away to get the next one out, so you do NOT lose them).

By: trkemp

trkemp — Wed, 30 May 2012 16:44:55 +0000

I have several tool kits for various jobs and the two things all of them have are an X-Acto knife and a Sharpie. A close third would be a screwdriver; especially one of the convertible ones with four screwdriver tips and two hex wrenches.

By: burnsbothends (@burnsbothends)

burnsbothends (@burnsbothends) — Wed, 30 May 2012 16:26:14 +0000

It’s usually a three-way kit of an awl, fresh xacto, and my leatherworking marble slab. The slab is unusual, as it’s a foot square heavy non-active tool, but if I need more weight to press books? Slab. To prop something up? Slab. Smoothing? Slab surface. Dulling striking impact/ protecting surfaces, display, keeping something slightly cooler than room temp, surface for creasing, straight edge, extra hand, it does it all. If the slab can’t help, and I can’t poke or cut my way into a solution, it’s time to break out the kit.

By: nisker

nisker — Wed, 30 May 2012 13:23:19 +0000

Sonic screwdriver of course – no seriously the one single tool that I think gets the most use would be a small flat head screwdriver. It’s good for prying, scraping, nudging, poking, probing, wedging out the center pin in a security screw, marking, and well to drive a screw (including phillips/pozi).
A close second would be a pair of needle nose pliers