Handy tools

[Wayne Gollop]

What tools do you have that you find handy. I'm looking to get some new tools and was wondering what you guys find useful. Other than the obvious!

 

[Essexboy7]

A little 3.5mm tap to clean out lugs on back boxes.A lifesaver on many occasions

 

[DNS1]

Hmm, the "obvious" varies a lot...

Here's my main kit....

- Wera 7 piece VDE screwdriver set
- Random other VDE drivers as backup
- NWS side cutters
- NWS croppers
- Draper rod set (yep, I was being cheap! Much better are available!)
- Ratchet crimper (mine is cheap, but has done the job for years!)
- Bosch 18V combi drill/driver
- Mini claw hammer
- Mini adjustable spanner
- string
- Big box of bits... (could be anything in there really! Usually mine contains Wagos, crimps, ties, clips, a condom just in case (keep it away from the nails and screws), choc blocks, tape etc...)

 

[babylonsBurning]

- Bosch 240v 250w multi tool, Recent purchase but finding loads of uses for it.
- 3.5 tap (as essex said).
- 2xAA Maglite (LED).
- RoughNeck Utility bar (great for board lifting).
- Dewalt Impact driver 18v.

 

[GT1]

Head torch.

 

[Wayne Gollop]

A little 3.5mm tap to clean out lugs on back boxes.A lifesaver on many occasions

They sure are!!

Hmm, the "obvious" varies a lot...

Here's my main kit....

- Wera 7 piece VDE screwdriver set
- Random other VDE drivers as backup
- NWS side cutters
- NWS croppers
- Draper rod set (yep, I was being cheap! Much better are available!)
- Ratchet crimper (mine is cheap, but has done the job for years!)
- Bosch 18V combi drill/driver
- Mini claw hammer
- Mini adjustable spanner
- string
- Big box of bits... (could be anything in there really! Usually mine contains Wagos, crimps, ties, clips, a condom just in case (keep it away from the nails and screws), choc blocks, tape etc...)

Why a mini claw hammer??
Box of bits!! I had to buy a 4 tier organiser. But it was the best thing I've done.
Im looking for the unusual tool that gets me out of a sticky situation or makes the job quicker and/or easier.

 

[bigbaddave]

Ive worked with a few tools... And they deffo not handy..

 

[KevinS]

Bosch oscillating multi-tool

 

[telectrix]

rotary stripper to take the sheath off flex without piercing the conductor insulation. got mine from cpc farnell.

 

[pinty]

apart from the obvious gash.............a pair of clear bolle wrap around safety specs ( cool ones )....had a nasty incident with spring loaded consumer unit screws once....always wear em when on't tools now lad..............and angry birds on your android fone...for the quiet times........head torch ...life safer....at least one in every jacket...tool belt......tool box....glove compartment.....I could go on......

 

[pinty]

oh and a tidy lil earth leakage clamp meter.....apart from its obvious uses....its hey misses.....watch this lil jasper go up when you try your tumble dryer......faulty fridge...etc.....you trusting person you

 

[markc123]

I've got a extending thin magnet in my toolbox...handy when you drop little screws or whatever down small gaps you can't get to.

 

[Wayne Gollop]

oh and a tidy lil earth leakage clamp meter.....apart from its obvious uses....its hey misses.....watch this lil jasper go up when you try your tumble dryer......faulty fridge...etc.....you trusting person you

Clamp meter! Which one do you recommend? At good price!

 

[Stroppy]

Head torch is a must - you're never in your own shadow or have a light shining in your eyes, and have both hands free.

Another good one of mine is a tack-lifter. I didn't buy it for and never use it for lifting tacks, but the cranked end is perfect to nibble away the insulating foam behind thermaboard when fitting fast-fix boxes.

Magnet on a bit of string is a life-saver too.

 

[daca]

SDS+ drill & chisel set and a circular saw.

 

[Phillcbr400]

The apprentice...... he's a proper tool

 

[telectrix]

most useful....... an apprentice that does what he's told without having to resort to using a hammer on his head.

 

[oldtimer]

Yep got a 3 led torch set for £6 included was 2 metal torches and a head torch

 

[One_of_them]

rotary stripper

does that come with a pole

 

[KAS1]

Company credit card. 3M stripping tool.

 

[BigSi]

I can’t believe nobody has mentioned it yet...................A KETTLE!!!! :90:

 

[Stroppy]

That, strictly speaking, should be supplied by the customer.

 

[GarryJ]

Good quality torch and a pair of long nose pliers are handy imp2:

 

[Guitarist]

Petzl head torch (how anyone works without one is beyond me).
Knee pads which I cut to fit in my Dewalt trousers. (buy the kneeling pad from screwfix and cut your own, much cheaper than buying actual kneepads).
400mm high folding "step-up". Fits between a bath and loo for those awkward shower pull-cord jobs (again, worth its weight in gold).
Dilog clamp meter.
Small files for deburring surface boxes.
3.5mm tapping tool plus 75mm screws for those deep box jobs.
Crimping tool with cutter for 3.5mm screws

 

[craigday]

saved me hundreds of times

I've got a extending thin magnet in my toolbox...handy when you drop little screws or whatever down small gaps you can't get to.

 

[GT1]

A pair of long curved forceps ...!
Handy for threading wire through a busy CU..

 

[martinh287]

Bosch osolating multi tool has to be the best no essential power tool. Loads of uses

 

[BillyH]

Magnet and chain attachments for super rod kit. Don't know how I coped without

 

[GLENNSPARK]

What tools do you have that you find handy. I'm looking to get some new tools and was wondering what you guys find useful. Other than the obvious!

hmm....i have a cristal ball here...now, let me see...
ah yes...for the forseeable future all you`l need is a hammer & bolster...

 

[baldyspark]

Lightmates and clamp meter are priceless.

 

[somersetsparks]

mole grips

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Lightmates and clamp meter are priceless.

plus breakout box

 

[DNS1]

Good quality torch

Nah, it will only get lost anyway!

I've got a stack of 99p LED torches! They do the job as well as any of the quality alternatives but it doesn't matter when I'm an incompetent --- and leave them under floorboards or drop them in the bog...

 

[GT1]

One of my best head torches is currently entombed in a floor void.

Maybe one day a few hundred years in the future, some will pull it out of a pile of rubble and be pleased at their find..!!

 

[Guitarist]

Agree with the Bosch multitool. Invaluable for cutting tongues on floorboards, small sections out of plasterboard, plus numerous other uses. Go to sharkblades though for replacements, much cheaper than originals.

 

[Phillcbr400]

M6 threaded rod bent back on itself for a hook
I've lost the bugger now but we did have some good times Together

 

[markc123]

M6 threaded rod bent back on itself for a hook
I've lost the bugger now but we did have some good times Together

Now that's a more sturdy version of my metal coathanger un tangled into a line with a hook which sits in my rhino pipe tube somewhere

 

[Billythekid]

The two right angled screwdrivers, so simple yet so effective!

You know when the semi skilled put pipes right in front of conduit boxes, or a programmer 2" above the "wiring center".

 

[La Poste]

I guy I worked with once had a bicycle inner tube cut into a 15mm long section then slit down the middle and tuned into a flat piece of rubber.
Sort of like a rectangular piece of rubber.

He kept four cable ties with it and said he always kept it handy just in case he cut through a water pipe with his circular saw whilst taking floor boards up.

The idea was to wrap the piece of rubber around the damaged pipe then secure with the cable ties to stop the leak.

He said it would save him for just long enough before a plumber arrived.

It doesn't quite fit into the category of handy tool but I think it is close enough.

I never did see it in action.

 

[shanky887614]

I guy I worked with once had a bicycle inner tube cut into a 15mm long section then slit down the middle and tuned into a flat piece of rubber.
Sort of like a rectangular piece of rubber.

He kept four cable ties with it and said he always kept it handy just in case he cut through a water pipe with his circular saw whilst taking floor boards up.

The idea was to wrap the piece of rubber around the damaged pipe then secure with the cable ties to stop the leak.

He said it would save him for just long enough before a plumber arrived.

It doesn't quite fit into the category of handy tool but I think it is close enough.

I never did see it in action.

see what screwdrivers you use most often and what you really need and keep a spare in your bag, for example i keep a couple spare 2.5mm drivers and a spare pair of snips.

terminals are so easy to break if your not careful

 

[Thefailsafe2012]

Blade runner for SWA, time saver and you can get into smaller spaces then you can with the hacksaw

 

[shanky887614]

Blade runner for SWA, time saver and you can get into smaller spaces then you can with the hacksaw

why not just use the hacksaw blade in hand to strip it.

if the blade is too big, cut it smaller

 

[Thefailsafe2012]

why not just use the hacksaw blade in hand to strip it.

if the blade is too big, cut it smaller

Or instead of faffing about doing that, I could get me blade runner out and be done! Instead of using a screwdriver you could file down a bolster and use that eh?

Haha :biggrin5:

 

[grantr37]

Draw tape/snake although they can be rip-off priced......they always get pilfered, I end up buying 6 at a time, which last about 2 days before all gone....again....

 

[trev]

I've got 2 pairs of long handled surgical forceps, one has an angled nose. Invaluable for reaching into places where there's not a lot of room and grabbing stuff.

 

[paul_h]

Tin snips
Trunking/conduit cutters -ratchet type cutters ( for plastic obv)
Cold chisel 300mm long 30mm wide- great for taking out brick after chasing
Bosch multi use drill bits for drilling a variety of materials
bosch quick change holesaws
spirit level lolz
Ratchet crimper
decent screw bits and holder for battery gun
rechargeable torch
rod set
decent steps with holes to place drivers / drill etc
decent ear defenders/dust asks/eye protection

 

[Deleted member 72666]

Dimmable head torch and a volt stick, oh and a cordless dremmel type tool!

 

[KFH]

Apart from the obvious I have a pair of Wiha Inomic needle nose pliers. These are the ones with the nose at 90 regress to the handle. Having large hands and fat fingers they are invaluable for fitting cables into those awkwardly placed terminations. Normal long nose pliers are just not as easy to use. Can't manage without my head torch either

 

[Deleted member 72666]

A couple of not so useful tools.... bush spanners that don't fit the brass bushes any more now that they are making them using less material, grrr!

 

[Stroppy]

We've all forgotten our most useful tool we use every day: