Technical Best non-essential tool purchase

2023 AutoCad and plotter. Full size patterns for the skill challenged (me).

 

vise grip(s)
Hello,

When we started our hot rod build-rebuild, we had an old pair of vise grips. It was essential to our cutting, welding and acting as another hand when we needed something held securely, until we could do our business to make it permanent.

Our welding gloves were nice to have on, when we were cutting and gas welding metal parts together. But, when clamped with a vise grip tool, it was two teens putting metal pieces together and a third guy holding it as close to the flames as possible. All without much fanfare.

Then we found other uses for the vise grips in our desert motorcycle racing adventures. Now, the original size vise grips were too large to carry around, but we had several other sizes to fit into small 10 inch tubular tool boxes we put on our motorcycles. Extra plugs, towel, candy bar and several small vise grips. All enclosed in a capped off tool tube.

Jnaki

If and when something broke out in the 40 mile away varied landscape, desert course, if it could be temporarily fixed with a pair of vise grips, (one needle nose) then they were handy. It did not matter what it looked like, if it worked and we were able to start the bike and motor off back to the course and/or pits, all was well. We were not “lost” out in the desert scrub area.

When the chrome hood latch snapped off when I was lifting the 327 powered, 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery hood, the latch still worked. But, when closed, I had no way to open it for whatever. So, I used a normal size vise grip to be able to lift up what was left of the hood latch. It opened with some finagling and until we could get a new one on our weekend visit to our mom’s Long Beach house.

Why? The large antique auto parts store was several blocks away from our mom’s house. It was the easiest access right off of the freeway exit on the way home to our Westside of Long Beach house. So, one stop shopping for a new chrome 1940 Ford hood latch was as easy as money in the pocket.

One year, my wife saw me struggling out in the garage doing some small work on my collection of Hot Wheels/Matchbox little cars. So, one Christmas, she surprised me with a very small version of the larger vise grip I still have from our early hot rod days. My brother took and used the original, smaller versions we used out in the desert years. I have "teeny" clamps, but the needle nose grip is easier to use and always comes in handy, when able to lock. YRMV

 

I guess we can all agree by now that there is no non-essential tool. Yes you can make do but you feel like a genius when that tool saves you time and grief.
A 6" vice with a rotating head that locks once you clamp an item. A friend gave it to me and I thought, "What a silly feature!" I use that feature almost every time to position the piece better for filing, etc.

 

I finally found a pretty good non essential tool. It's a 400 lb. chunk of steel for $25 so I couldn't pass it up. One of these days I'll find a use for it.

 

Some of you don't have a grasp on what "essential" means

I thought of a non-essential tool I plan on purchasing soon: a permanent magnetic chuck.

 

I guess almost every redundant tool I own is non-essential. But I probably have 6 adjustable wrenches that have ended up in my shop for various reasons that I never use…

 

The Swag press brake (finger) is $50 cheaper if you order from Swag rather than Amazon, unless I’m not comparing apples to apples.

That’s for the Welder Series. It works on the old orange HF press as well as the new one.

 

I got one of those, I definitely need practice, but it makes cutting a whole lot better. The only thing is that once that little air compressor kicks on I have to stop cutting, or I'm in the basement flipping a breaker.

 

Vintage Whitney Jensen No. 5 Jr. punch. Cheap, dependable, and I use it all the time.

Though I generally agree that there aren't too many non-essential tools. Like Henry Ford said, "If you need a machine and don't buy it, then you will ultimately find that you have paid for it and don't have it."

 

No such thing........

 

When I taught high school auto shop, the few adjustable wrenches we had were kept in my bottom desk drawer.

 

I needed a new grinder.

Almost bought an essentially non-essential big 220v 10"dia model you'd see in a shop...
... just cuz I like big old heavy powerful well-built cool looking perfectly smoooooth and quiet operating cast iron tools and equipment.

But sanity prevailed and I bought a more modern one that I can actually carry.

 

I've got the cut 40. The kicker is the consumables. But the hack is Amazon. You can buy them in bulk cheap!

 

I don't have any non-essential tool's. I can make a Bullshit excuse up as to why I NEED it, that even the Pope would believe! LOL!!!

 

Convincing the wife is a whole different thing

 

Ridge cutter, ball hone and Cam bearing installation tool. 3x tools required for low buck re-ring rebuild for demo eng, or low buck refresh

 

Double sided disc are nice.

 

There is a channel on YouTube called the "torque test channel" They are professional mechanics that test tools, If you are into automotive type tools it is definitely a recommended watch they test things from hand tools like wrenches all the way up to impacts it ratchets and whatnot. Anyways the Milwaukee impact is insanely high in its torque rating I don't remember what it was off the top of my head but it blew me away because just 15 years ago or so cordless tools were absolute garbage. That being said I don't want to buy batteries every 5 to 10 years when they go bad so I will stick to my pneumatic tools that will outlive me or my hand tools That always work with or without electricity.

 

Set of Adjustable reamers... Never knew I needed them till owning a set...

 

Just ordered one of these simple toe alignment jigs, https://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/R2470.html

Can't wait to try it out. Having 5 vehicles at the house with a solid front axle I figure it will be worth the money

 

I have tools that I bought because I couldn't find the ones that I already had until I bought the new ones.
Those are my "Category 1" Non-essential Tools.

I also have a few pounds of tools that I bought because I needed them just the month before and didn't have them. I haven't needed them since so they are still new, in the box, taking up essential space.
Those are my "Category 2" Non-essential Tools.

Essentially, I have some tools that are or have been potentially essential...... but I can't really narrow it down to which of those are essentially the "best" or most essential.
..

 

Not necessarily a tool. It's nice for keeping the car dry and clean but I don't have any room for parts or work in my shed....Might move my workbench and whatnot in there

 

How does it do with high winds?

 

It would probably take off like a kite. I live in a windy place too and so I avoided buying one.
Like to know too.

 

It's been through a couple of 50+mph winds. You get it anchored down good and holds up. I had some trouble with the little anchors that came with it so I bought some 2 footers for overkill

 

I have a spot on the side of my house that is between the house and a hill that is mostly shielded from high winds. I think I will try one of these out. I currently have more vehicles than garage space

 

I'm in the "the tool you need is essential" camp. However, I get the point of this thread and I can think of a couple:

Mag drill. I bought it because it was a display model deal and it was too good to pass up. It was a while before I used it but when I did, I fell in love with it.

Shake and Break impact screw remover: Rarely used but makes life easier. It works 1000x better than anything else.

https://www.amazon.com/Shake-Break-Impact-Screw-Remover/dp/B000BHJ7JM/ref=asc_df_B000BHJ7JM?tag=bngsmtphsnus-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80333185695396&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583932713518396&psc=1

 

Shrinker and Strecher - big help for shaping sheetmetal.

 

I have had one for nearly 20 years, replaced the cover once, now it’s down to a tarp on top to keep the rain off one of my trailers. The big problem is heavy snow, but if you use a push broom from the inside, the snow will slide off. Just ordered a new one.

 

Biggest complaint about my portable garage tent is the big gap under the back panel and there's nothing bracing it. So if you have an old rusty car in there it's constantly rubbing and chaffing