Top 10 Favorite Tools you have or use

[SVSooke]

A toaster oven so I don't have to stink up the house when I force cure paint.I like doing that because I NEVER let paint dry properly.Got that tip from azr.
But the best tool bar none is the one between your ears.Know when to take a break if a problem gets frustrating,let your subconscious work on it.When you get back the answer is obvious,well a lot of times anyway.

[hjfisk]

Mine are ;
T handled metric allens
metric ratcheting wrenches
My Handy lift
caliper
JIS screw drivers
Ultra sonic cleaner
My shop
and GSR

[rustybronco]

Automotive related tools

Air compressor
Impact wrench
BFH
Floor jack
Volt meters
Various socket sets
Screwdrivers
Dial calipers
Wire strippers
4" grinder
Pry bars

[wally]

Gentle persuader....



works for all jobs - big or small!

[rustybronco]

Forgot about that one. Good call.

http://s32.photobucket.com/user/rustybronco/media/PICT3820.jpg.html

http://s32.photobucket.com/user/rustybronco/media/PICT3858.jpg.html

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d44/rustybronco/PICT3899.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d44/rustybronco/PICT3918.jpg

[bwringer]

Good call on the digital calipers -- they're accurate enough to measure unknown shims.

Even better, Harbor Freight now sells a very nice digital micrometer -- about $30 with coupon. Dead-nuts accuracy, and no pesky conversions from inch to metric.


Other things to add along the lines of "persuasion":

- Rubber mallet. The even gentler persuader. I keep two or three around because they get used daily.

- Large copper hammer. Great for persuading bearing races into place without marring the steel. I didn't even know I needed this until I inherited one.

- Bearing and seal driver set from Harbor Freight. Made from aluminum so it won't mar bearings. Much more civilized than pounding on sockets.

- Assortment of nylon prybars -- also excellent for gentle persuasion without damage.


"Universal" Spares:

- Large collection of metric hardware, mostly stainless.

- Large assortments of Buna-N metric and inch o-rings.

- Viton o-rings for intake boots to fit most GS models.

- Assortments of cotter pins, roll pins, e-clips, etc. Have saved the day and a trip to the hardware store many times.

- Aluminum, steel, and stainless bar stock for making brackets and suchlike.

- Assorted PVC, steel, aluminum tubing, mostly used for making fork spring spacers.



One EXTREMELY useful category I forgot above:

- Left-handed drill bits. Incredibly effective on stuck fasteners -- most of the time, the fastener will "catch" on the bit and unscrew itself, usually just before the head pops off. Believe it or not, Harbor Freight sells a VERY high-quality set of lefties. No idea how or why -- their regular drill bits are horrible. You can also get lefties individually from McMaster-Carr.

[Jethro]

All the normal tools go without saying, so I'll list some I never really knew how valuable they are until I got them:

Heat gun- I could not survive without one
Real drifts- wow, what a difference to use a real drift instead of a big screwdriver
Step bits- expensive, but amazingly worth it
A good set of snap ring pliers- so much more superior to cheap ones
Strap wrenches- useful in a lot of ways
Allen bolt sockets, both bondhus and straight- sometimes the straight wrenches are useless
A good fuel siphon- I don't miss the occasional mouthful of gasoline
Mity-vac tools- awesome for bleeding brakes by yourself but also a ton of other uses

[Nessism]

Not exactly a tool, but a zinc plating kit from Caswell's Plating proves indispensable while rebuilding GS's. Can clean and replate a small batch of hardware in about 20 mins. start to finish.

[willie]

Definitely some interesting responses on this thread. I read through them, agreeing with most and appreciative of a few as well. One item that I didn't see though was a pair of safety glasses. I'll admit that I rarely wear them but keep a pr in my box and have reached for them on occasion. Stains or pits on the lenses offer a sober testament to their worth.
Willie

[eddie21]

As Harry Callahan said in Magnum Force, "A man's gotta know his limitations". I know that anything other than basic routine maintenance is beyond my abilities! Therefore, this is my favourite tool!

[bccap]

As Harry Callahan said in Magnum Force, "A man's gotta know his limitations". I know that anything other than basic routine maintenance is beyond my abilities! Therefore, this is my favourite tool!

Rob takes credit cards ???

[Steve]

Rob takes credit cards ???

Yes, he does, but he doesn't give them back.

.

[Gorminrider]

a Clean drop-sheet to catch parts. Not a tool as such and many things serve the purpose, but REMEMBERING to do this first, on the roadside, or even on the shop floor where things dropped bounce away into spider holes... has been the first "tool" out of the bag.
I sure agree with the heat-gun and a decent pair of cir-clip removers,and these: as posted by CharlieG

the one I got for $10 at Canadian Tire also cmme with a sockets and many other drive heads (that incidentally I can use in my impact driver too!)

and some reminders for my list are here!

[eddie21]

Rob takes credit cards ???

Ha ha! I use the card to buy him the beer that keeps him focused!

[mrbill5491]

My favorite tools....ones that work like they were designed too.