Your Favorite Hand Tool?

"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura) 07/06/2017 at 15:58 • Filed to: None

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Of course there would be many, but pick the one tool in your toolbox that is your favorite to use. This one, I bought in Germany in 1990, when I lived there. So it has sentimental value as well as superb utility. And it’s great for applying even, moderate torque. I use it frequently and I simply enjoy using it.

crowmolly > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 16:02

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3/8" drive torque wrench. Just something really satisfying about final torquing stuff. Head bolts, main studs, suspension parts, whatever.

Clicks mean forward progress. Or something like that.

EL_ULY > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 16:04

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awmaster10 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 16:05

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Vice grip

OPPOsaurus WRX > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 16:06

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I use this thing like once a day

Urambo Tauro > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 16:06

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Ratcheting wrenches! (flex-head, of course)

Ash78, voting early and often > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 16:07

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24" pry bar. Everything from tearing up siding to getting tree stumps and rocks out of the ground.

Nibby > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 16:08

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perfect for cutting up humans for a delicacy

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 16:08

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I would post a photo of a 10 mm end wrench but I can’t find any on the internet.

I have the Ace hardware version of these hex wrenches, have used them for almost 20 years. Looks exactly the same down to the color of the plastic wrench holder.

ttyymmnn > EL_ULY 07/06/2017 at 16:13

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You’re doing the Lord’s work EL_ULY. God bless you.

Pickup_man > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 16:13

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My dad has an old wood handled JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) screwdriver that I absolutely love. For those not familiar the JIS looks just like a Phillips head but is slightly different and superior in every way. It’s an absolute lifesaver working on old Japanese motorcycles. It’s spent a few years being secretly swapped between our toolboxes until I finally gave in and let him keep it. I really should just order my own.

shop-teacher > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 16:14

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Oh man, that’s a tough one. If I have to pick one single tool, I reckon it’s my S&K 3/8" flex head 70 tooth ratchet. I found it in an abandoned house. It’s my go-to ratchet.

Die-Trying > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 16:14

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dont know if it counts as a hand tool per se, but the oxygen, propane torch is one of THE greatest tools i have gotten to know. it cuts, it welds, you can bend metal with it, shrink metal, use it to remove stuck bolts, cook /reheat lunch/coffee/tea . BAR NONE, greatest “hand” tool i have ever owned....... second in line 9/16 1/2 stubby box end wrench....... and third in line, fencing pliers, you can make just about ANYTHING out of a length of barbed wire/coathanger, pliers, and some creativity/determination.........

HammerheadFistpunch > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 16:15

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my simple 10 piece 3/8th 6 point metric craftsman socket set. its not glamorous but if you have a Toyota truck its pretty much all you need.

Shockingly durable, with just enough spare case space for adapters and extensions.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 16:15

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Can’t really articulate much of why I like it, but there’s a double-box-end 9/16-1/2 in my dad’s toolbox with offset ends that is my go-to for either of those two sizes. The right mix of weight, handle length, offset, etc. Dimensions similar to this:

...but with a forged/pebble finish and a little shallower angle on the offsets.

There’s also an old electric “Bulldawg” impact I like. Not that strong, but ergonomically just right, and I like the sound.

ttyymmnn > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 16:16

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Pickup_man > Nibby 07/06/2017 at 16:16

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If you’re gonna cut stuff up at least do it right and use a Sawzall, a corded one, not that wimpy battery powered garbage.

diplodicus > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 07/06/2017 at 16:16

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I’m not a fan of allen wrenches with ball ends

benjrblant > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 16:17

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At present, a Vessel Megadora JIS driver:

It fits in the hand nicely, has a good weight and grip to it, and it’s got the best fastener engagement of any screwdriver I’ve ever used. JIS and Philips compatible too.

KevlarRx7 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 16:18

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A old locking yoke bar (from a farm I worked on) used it for digging, hammering, and adding length to breaker bars ect. But someone robbed it from my driveway.

Literally lost without it.

DipodomysDeserti > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 16:18

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Vessel Impacta JIS impact screw driver. Very high quality tool that came in weird Japanese packaging. Also, there’s nothing more gratifying than getting forty-five year old engine case screws to loosen without stripping them out.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Pickup_man 07/06/2017 at 16:19

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We need an image.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > benjrblant 07/06/2017 at 16:19

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Nice ergonomic handle on that guy.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > HammerheadFistpunch 07/06/2017 at 16:20

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I have had several Craftsman ratchets of that design fail under occasional use. Newer Craftsman ratchets, of different design, are improved. But yes, highly utile.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > DipodomysDeserti 07/06/2017 at 16:21

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The Phillips head screw needs to go away and be replaced by Torx.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > shop-teacher 07/06/2017 at 16:22

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And all the better because it was a find. Makes it much more special, doesn’t it? Not something you’d have gone out and purchased.

HammerheadFistpunch > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 16:22

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I’ve heard that as well, but I’ve been using this one for years without a hickup. I have a backup with me on my kit though.

MonkeePuzzle > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 16:23

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10mm socket. DUH!

#memes

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > diplodicus 07/06/2017 at 16:23

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They are great for bolts at angles, I use them on bicycles almost exclusively.

benjrblant > DipodomysDeserti 07/06/2017 at 16:23

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I have one of these in the mail. Hoping it will be a great pair to the megadoras!

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > OPPOsaurus WRX 07/06/2017 at 16:23

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Yup. An Oregon redneck — Oregon has a specific ilk of rednecks — once told me that he achieved his spiritual oneness when he had one of his guns in his hands. I told him I got the same satisfaction from my cordless drill. I think he thought I was making fun of him, but I was totally serious. I would show the exact same model of drill, but I was thinking of automotive maintenance in the original post.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ttyymmnn 07/06/2017 at 16:23

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Is that the new one?

shop-teacher > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 16:26

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Yeah, definitely. Everything is better, when it has a story attached to it :)

HammerheadFistpunch > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 16:26

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This is my 2nd choice. my Bondhus Metric T-handle hex set. Oh man these are satisfying tools to use, but I don’t use them as often as I used to.

Justino6969 > ttyymmnn 07/06/2017 at 16:26

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My Strat will always be my most prized possession.

DipodomysDeserti > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 16:26

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The best is when you think they’re phillips heads and they’re actually JIS heads. I swapped the screws out for allen heads. Torx are the best.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > KevlarRx7 07/06/2017 at 16:28

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I’d like to see what that looks — looked — like.

It looks like you have not been approved for authorship yet. You might shoot an email to oppomoderator@gmail.com and ask them to bestow you accordingly.

Give the Oppo Manual of Style a quick read (takes about two minutes):

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/a-slightly-revised-oppositelock-handbook-for-commenting-1750418920

Tell them you’ve read it.

Cheers!

Die-Trying > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 16:30

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torx is horrible....... just close enough to allen wrenches to get the whole mess stripped out. still like the old phillip.....

Nibby > Pickup_man 07/06/2017 at 16:31

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sawzall is good for limbs but it’s not delicate enough for finer pieces

ttyymmnn > Justino6969 07/06/2017 at 16:35

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This is a relatively new horn for me. I’ve had the same Bach Strad for 40 years, but I just switched to this Yamaha a couple of months ago. It’s amazing.

ttyymmnn > Justino6969 07/06/2017 at 16:35

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This is a relatively new horn for me. I’ve had the same Bach Strad for 40 years, but I just switched to this Yamaha a couple of months ago. It’s amazing.

ttyymmnn > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 16:35

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Yup.

jariten1781 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 16:39

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My 10 lb maul was a life saver. Lived in a house with solely a turn of the century wood burning stove for heat for a number of years. Went through a number of axes, hydraulic splitters, manual splitters, etc trying to find anything to make the prep easier. Eventually found a fiberglass handled 10 lb maul that was like a miracle...split 2-3 foot diameter 12 inch rounds like butter no matter how knotty they were. Looks like the picture but much more worn with a slightly larger head...apparently there’s no pictures of that weight/style on the internet.

KevlarRx7 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 16:50

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Thanks for that, I’ll take a look into it,

I badly outlined it, but it’s super strong and the perfect length for pretty much anything, best of all it was free.

Pickup_man > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 17:17

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Just like this, but with the JIS head. It might actually be a Phillips head, but the shaft for the driver is square, not round like most, and it works incredibly well.

Edit: Tried to post an image but Kinja.

Pickup_man > Nibby 07/06/2017 at 17:18

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I’m usually in too much of a hurry to worry about being delicate.

boxrocket > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 17:25

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bshappy > DipodomysDeserti 07/06/2017 at 17:39

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A must have for working on my FJ40. Too bad the previous owner(s) didn’t know that...

OPPOsaurus WRX > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 17:49

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O I’ve used it on cars before.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > shop-teacher 07/06/2017 at 18:37

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I love my S-K tools. My grandfather left me a ton of their tools in his old toolbox when he moved into assisted living. I gave my brother a set for being my best man at my wedding.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 18:38

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I’m okay with hex, although those get rounded pretty easily as well. Squares and triangles are the best, but for some reason they’re still not popular.

shop-teacher > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 07/06/2017 at 18:52

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That’s awesome! I only have a few, but they are great tools. Especially the old ones.

Birddog > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 18:54

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Smooth jaw Channellocks. I work with a lot of chrome and stainless plumbing fixtures and these are the best.

Honestly, all true Channellocks are worth their weight in gold on the job.

shop-teacher > Birddog 07/06/2017 at 18:59

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A few years ago I went all Channellocks for everything I could. It was money well spent.

Birddog > shop-teacher 07/06/2017 at 19:08

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Channellocks and Ridgid. There are no substitutes in the trades.

Maxima Speed > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 19:34

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This is awesome, 14 bucks at a flea market, thing is built like a tank.

MM54 > shop-teacher 07/06/2017 at 20:10

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I have a bunch of old SK tools both from inheritance and lucky yard sales, they’re the bomb.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > DipodomysDeserti 07/06/2017 at 20:11

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Or Pozi-Driv...

MM54 > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 20:12

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I stopped using/recommending craftsman when I broke a friend’s <1 year old ratchet by hand. Apparently I can apply more torque to a stuck fastener than it can handle. Fortunately there was a sears a couple miles away - the only thing worse than breaking your tools is breaking someone else’s.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Die-Trying 07/06/2017 at 20:12

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I’m thinking mainly about deck screws and such. Phillips always strip out and the bits don’t hold up, unless it’s #3 Phillips, then you’re generally okay.

You never claimed your prize in the 9C1 lottery.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Pickup_man 07/06/2017 at 20:15

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Old school wooden handles.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > OPPOsaurus WRX 07/06/2017 at 20:15

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Same.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 07/06/2017 at 20:16

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Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Birddog 07/06/2017 at 20:18

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Agreed, but I do not think the Channellock brand is all that it once was.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > MM54 07/06/2017 at 20:23

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I’m not endorsing Craftsman tools; they just happen to be acceptable and somewhat readily available. And they have a lifetime guarantee.

Birddog > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 20:23

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I can’t argue that. I’ve busted knuckles on a few new tools. They’re still more consistent than Craftsman or others outside of Knipex.

wafflesnfalafel > Birddog 07/06/2017 at 20:24

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totally agree - I have two favorites, a couple Channellocks and my ancient, original Leatherman I daily carry in my work bag. Both have saved my heiny multiple times.

shop-teacher > Birddog 07/06/2017 at 20:37

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Yes! When it was time to buy a tubing cutter when I was working on my house, I didn’t even consider anything but Ridgid.

shop-teacher > MM54 07/06/2017 at 20:38

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Nice! I really need to scare up some more of them.

Die-Trying > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/06/2017 at 21:33

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yeah, i started reading the thread, and seen that Manwich really won according to the rules. no worries.........

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/07/2017 at 00:23

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craftsman 3/8 11' ratchet 44833. It’s about as old as I am and the first thing I grab starting a project.

(not my photo)

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 07/07/2017 at 12:41

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Ratchets have been around for 75 years? ;o)

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/07/2017 at 18:50

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haha give a take about 4 decades.

BayAreaMiataBoi > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 07/08/2017 at 03:35

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Short-offset 1/2" and 9/16" wrench. Found in one of my five Pintos, unrusted. Great for working on American cars, because none of my work-on-car buddies has one of these in his tool box.

Not my brand, but you get the idea. . .