What tools have proved to be invaluable to you?

[PlymCrazy]

The gas axe was a top tool until I got a plasma cutter and the sawzall is another one. Haven't used the gas axe or the plasma cutter one in awhile now but the sawzall still gets used from time to time.....

Always thought the plasma cutter would be handy to have around. Never pulled the trigger on one. Still may just do that one day…

 

[WileE]

My Craftsman Tools with Lifetime Warranty.

Mine are 50+ years old.

 

[WileE]

The gas axe was a top tool until I got a plasma cutter and the sawzall is another one.

My Milwaukee sawzall is over 40 years old and used like a workhorse over that time. The Porter-Cable battery one I recently got works great for many situations.

 

[moparwacko]

I've had quite a few "favorites" over 50 years. But recently, as a gift I received my latest favorite > a Porter-Cable portable battery SAWZALL..... I LOVE IT .... the many different things I've done with this over the past 2 years since I got it has made me very happy !! View attachment 1396289

How many Cats does one have to sell before someone could afford one of those?
Asking for a friend.

 

[WileE]

How many Cats does one have to sell before someone could afford one of those?
Asking for a friend.

Don't know, got it as a gift.

 

[JDmac72chrgr]

DAMN BOLTS!!! Usually drops JUST out of reach, SUM-BITCH!! Saves on the back.

 

[demonram]

How many Cats does one have to sell before someone could afford one of those?
Asking for a friend.

They aren’t that expensive. Lowes sells them. I haven’t bought any porter cable battery tools but I do have some older plug in stuff. Always good tools. I think Stanley owns the name now. All my battery tools are Ridgid, I’m at 35 pieces now. The one thing I like is the lifetime warranty if you register them. If you don’t, it’s still a 3 year. I’ve had 2 issues in ten years, a sawsall and an oscillating tool. They fixed them no problem. Still have the originals and haven’t even lost a battery. Those are lifetime also, if bought in a kit. If bought separate, it’s 3 years.

 

[YY1]

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Introduced to these in HS auto shop.

I found one about 10 years ago by accident, and found another a few years later. $100 for the first one and $125 for the second.

It's almost as good as having a lift without the potential stress on a questionable concrete floor.
(They even work on a dirt floor with carefully placed 2x6 stock)

They are super sturdy with a heavy positive stop.

I've never seen one that didn't work, even ones that spend their entire lives outside.

They even make models heavy enough to lift busses and dump trucks!

I made cushioned adapters for my 73 bumper slots.

 

[YY1]

...and my fingernails.

I have sturdy nails that can be used as tweezers or light pliers and paint/gasket scrapers.

I feel lost and naked if I break one hand have to trim it down to where I can't use it as a tool.

 

[demonram]

View attachment 1396719
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Introduced to these in HS auto shop.

I found one about 10 years ago by accident, and found another a few years later. $100 for the first one and $125 for the second.

It's almost as good as having a lift without the potential stress on a questionable concrete floor.
(They even work on a dirt floor with carefully placed 2x6 stock)

They are super sturdy with a heavy positive stop.

I've never seen one that didn't work, even ones that spend their entire lives outside.

They even make models heavy enough to lift busses and dump trucks!

I made cushioned adapters for my 73 bumper slots.

I use to have a manual one. It was great to use. Used it all the time, couldn’t use it on today’s stuff.

 

[YY1]

I've used it with wood and soft padding to lift a modern car at the rocker panel/pinch weld.

 

[PlymCrazy]

Mine are 50+ years old.

30+ years on most of mine. Noticeable difference in a lot of the Stanley era Craftsman items. And warrantying tools ain't like it used to be.

 

[PlymCrazy]

View attachment 1396719
\
Introduced to these in HS auto shop.

I found one about 10 years ago by accident, and found another a few years later. $100 for the first one and $125 for the second.

It's almost as good as having a lift without the potential stress on a questionable concrete floor.
(They even work on a dirt floor with carefully placed 2x6 stock)

They are super sturdy with a heavy positive stop.

I've never seen one that didn't work, even ones that spend their entire lives outside.

They even make models heavy enough to lift busses and dump trucks!

I made cushioned adapters for my 73 bumper slots.

pneumatic?

 

[YY1]

Yes.

...and I've run it off of a 2.5 CFM compressor a few times with really no noticeable degradation in performance..

 

[PlymCrazy]

Yes.

...and I've run it off of a 2.5 CFM compressor a few times with really no noticeable degradation in performance..

What kind air pressure is required? Is there some type of incremental latch mechanism? Sorry for all the questions. I have never seen one in person nor known anyone who owned one. I'm intrigued. Looks handy to have a pair of those from the sounds of it.

 

[YY1]

There's a 3/8" thick (or maybe more) hinged metal tang on the back that stops against similar blocks on the stationary part of the vertical housing.

It's really not going anywhere with just that once it's brought back down to rest.

 

[Photon440]

View attachment 1396719
\
Introduced to these in HS auto shop.

I found one about 10 years ago by accident, and found another a few years later. $100 for the first one and $125 for the second.

It's almost as good as having a lift without the potential stress on a questionable concrete floor.
(They even work on a dirt floor with carefully placed 2x6 stock)

They are super sturdy with a heavy positive stop.

I've never seen one that didn't work, even ones that spend their entire lives outside.

They even make models heavy enough to lift busses and dump trucks!

I made cushioned adapters for my 73 bumper slots.

That reminds me of the portable jacks we had on the railroad. I think they were rated for 50 tons each, we'd lift locomotive bodies and freight cars with them. They were 600V electric.

 

[YY1]

Nice.

I've often wondered what kind of a jack was made to contact those "jacking pads" on the side sills of locomotives.

Now I know.

 

[Islandkent]

I have had lots of tools that come in handy from time to time. But right now, at this time of my life this one comes to mind. No not the chair. Ok maybe the chair too.

Put the trunk hinge torsion bars/springs in today. Cake walk! Just sat there and muscled them in. Didn't even chip the paint.

 

[blue69runner]

One thing I find to get small screws I dropped or to get into tight places is a set of forceps. Set of long and short, big and small ones. My fingers are just too fat. LOL.