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favorite tools

gremlin1234 - 12/11/25 at 05:21 PM

I will start with my trusty small pocket knife/ swiss army penknife, and an equally small flat bladed screwdriver.
Had both for > 40 years!

[Edited on 12/11/25 by gremlin1234]

adithorp - 12/11/25 at 06:51 PM

Teng jigger-jigger that lives in my pocket at work. Combo 10+13mm ring spanner so saves a lot of walking back to the tool box.. Apparently the name comes from rowing to adjust the outriggers.

I have a regularly updated "favorite new tool". Current one is a spanner extention. Always thought what's wrong with a piece of pipe or link another spanner on but having got one, it's a game changer. Before that was a mini needle gun for cleaning rust/dirt from difficult to remove brake pad carriers. Before that a cheap Aldi bit driver. Then JIS screwdriver (why have I never had that before?)....

Slimy38 - 12/11/25 at 07:59 PM

My black and decker powerfile has been my most trusted tool throughout the build. Aggressive enough to profile RHS steel, but also able to take burrs off drill holes with no effort at all.

Although mine's a bit 'triggers broom' by now, I think I've replaced each part at least twice!

Coming up a close second is my 3D printer, it's been very useful for making all sorts of brackets and bits. Stuff that either costs a fortune or can't be obtained to the 'exact' spec.

roadrunner - 13/11/25 at 07:10 AM

Mine is my Stanley 220 block plane and (I know it's two) 4" engineer's square.

theconrodkid - 13/11/25 at 08:19 AM

i have a hammer called "Marley" for some strange reason,got it when i started werk at the tender age of 15, i still have it, original handle and all at the age of 72....think i got my monies worth out of Marley

roadrunner - 13/11/25 at 10:09 AM

quote:
Originally posted by theconrodkid
i have a hammer called "Marley" for some strange reason,got it when i started werk at the tender age of 15, i still have it, original handle and all at the age of 72....think i got my monies worth out of Marley

It's not like Triggers brush is it?

nick205 - 13/11/25 at 11:02 AM

For life in general it has to be my Swiss Army knife (lives in my rucksack/pocket day to day and gets most things done for me and most people).
(Although a Pozi screwdriver on it would be handy)

For garage life it has to be an old pair of pliers. Possibly worn out, but hey they do the job (comfy handles)!

[Edited on 13-11-25 by nick205]

jacko - 13/11/25 at 11:56 AM

My favourite tool is the tool Im using at the time to do the job
G

gremlin1234 - 13/11/25 at 01:06 PM

so many great tools, and strangely most of them inexpensive.
this is almost turning into;
what should I get a young engineer for christmas? list...

nick205 - 13/11/25 at 01:43 PM

Another one to add...

300mm steel rule
SO much better than plastic and it gives straight edge too!

Slater - 13/11/25 at 01:53 PM

yep, 300mm steel rule, I've used it soo many times and it's still good as new.

even used it's sharp edge to smooth off edge of perspex fly screen

gremlin1234 - 13/11/25 at 02:00 PM

quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Another one to add...

300mm steel rule
SO much better than plastic and it gives straight edge too!

and they start from the end, not just a small random couple of mm offset.

roadrunner - 13/11/25 at 02:15 PM

quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Another one to add...

300mm steel rule
SO much better than plastic and it gives straight edge too!

Dam, I forgot about that one.
Always in my pocket when in the workshop.
Cant read the digits now though.

loggyboy - 13/11/25 at 03:39 PM

The only tool I need, myself.

jacko - 13/11/25 at 07:29 PM

As a body builder building wagons now retired the best rulers I’ve had is a 2ft steel folding one and great for transferring marks from one side of a panel to the other side

Also you can get circumference 2ft folding ruler

gremlin1234 - 13/11/25 at 07:51 PM

quote:
Originally posted by jacko
As a body builder building wagons now retired the best rulers I’ve had is a 2ft steel folding one and great for transferring marks from one side of a panel to the other side

Also you can get circumference 2ft folding ruler

I was trying to think why a bodybuilder (mussel man) might want a ruler, but no, you build bodies

jacko - 13/11/25 at 08:58 PM

Yep truck body’s /.prison vans / horse boxes / aluminium tipper truck body’s / Luton van body’s
Riot van conversion / make MAN trucks into sleeping cabs
Plus lots more
G

scudderfish - 14/11/25 at 07:24 AM

My laptop. It's unlocked all the information I needed to go anywhere near this hobby.

Sanzomat - 14/11/25 at 09:04 AM

I got my first ugga dugga gun last year and the novelty hasn't worn off yet so it gets my vote for favourite

nick205 - 14/11/25 at 09:26 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Sanzomat
I got my first ugga dugga gun last year and the novelty hasn't worn off yet so it gets my vote for favourite

Eldest son, learning the mechanics trade, has his heart set on an "ugga dugga gun"

They have piped air at work and some air tools, including an air "ugga dugga gun"

He wants his own electric one though!

steve m - 14/11/25 at 01:27 PM

Sir keir starner

jacko - 14/11/25 at 02:46 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Sanzomat
I got my first ugga dugga gun last year and the novelty hasn't worn off yet so it gets my vote for favourite

From what I have just read is a Ugga dugga. The same as a ft tight

gremlin1234 - 14/11/25 at 03:02 PM

quote:
Originally posted by jacko
From what I have just read is a Ugga dugga. The same as a ft tight

yea and youtubers regularly go to 3 or more uggadugga. I am surprised they don't strip or snap the bolts.

Dingz - 16/11/25 at 08:03 PM

Just reminded me of my 300mm steel rule, it was issued to me in the design office at Vauxhall when we went metric, ‘71?
People who borrowed it wondered why my initials were VM.

nick205 - 19/11/25 at 08:29 AM

Another is of course the trusty 10mm ring/open end spanner.

David Jenkins - 20/11/25 at 04:05 PM

Mitutoyo 150mm/6 inch digital vernier - mine gets so much use, either in the garage or when I'm designing for 3D printing. It's used almost daily, often several times per day.

There are much cheaper alternatives (I have one) but this just works - continues to work - no matter how badly I use it. If it stutters, a wipe with a slightly oily rag along the scale always fixes it. The cheaper ones turn themselves off after a short while, to save battery, often in the middle of a tricky design or machining process. The Mitutoyo one stays on, and they claim that if you're fairly good at turning it off when you're not using it then the battery should last 12 months - if you keep leaving it on then it should last 6 months. I think the 12 months is more a recommendation to change the battery before it leaks into the caliper body!

In fact, I have two Mitutoyo calipers - the old one is probably at least 20 years old. It started getting unreliable so I replaced it... then fiddled with the original and made it work properly again. Its display is tiny, and its zeroing isn't as convenient, but it still has a place on my bench. The best one lives in a cupboard in the house (mostly used for 3D print designing) and the old one gets used for the majority of work in the garage - it's still accurate (more accurate than I am, anyway).

HowardB - 20/11/25 at 07:16 PM

My Metabo SDS drill/chisel - ok it was a BOSCH blue until that drowned in a flood, but boy does an SDS make light work of tough things -

want to remove all the plaster from all the walls in a house - SDS, chase out for wires - SDS, socket holes,. SDS, break out concrete - SDS etc,. it also has a clutch so is great for diamond core drilling - not good for building kit cars, but I have been working on a house

SteveWalker - 21/11/25 at 12:02 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Dingz
Just reminded me of my 300mm steel rule, it was issued to me in the design office at Vauxhall when we went metric, ‘71?
People who borrowed it wondered why my initials were VM.

I used to carry and use a steel rule at school, partly because I was building a 5" gauge steam loco at home with my dad. It was always fun when people pulled out a plastic or wooden rule to start a rule "sword" fight. They tended to back off quickly when I pulled out a steel rule .

nick205 - 21/11/25 at 08:38 AM

quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
Mitutoyo 150mm/6 inch digital vernier - mine gets so much use, either in the garage or when I'm designing for 3D printing. It's used almost daily, often several times per day.

There are much cheaper alternatives (I have one) but this just works - continues to work - no matter how badly I use it. If it stutters, a wipe with a slightly oily rag along the scale always fixes it. The cheaper ones turn themselves off after a short while, to save battery, often in the middle of a tricky design or machining process. The Mitutoyo one stays on, and they claim that if you're fairly good at turning it off when you're not using it then the battery should last 12 months - if you keep leaving it on then it should last 6 months. I think the 12 months is more a recommendation to change the battery before it leaks into the caliper body!

In fact, I have two Mitutoyo calipers - the old one is probably at least 20 years old. It started getting unreliable so I replaced it... then fiddled with the original and made it work properly again. Its display is tiny, and its zeroing isn't as convenient, but it still has a place on my bench. The best one lives in a cupboard in the house (mostly used for 3D print designing) and the old one gets used for the majority of work in the garage - it's still accurate (more accurate than I am, anyway).

Nice - I have a Mitutoyo at work and as said, it just works!

I got a cheaper one for home and binned it fairly quick. It ate batteries, was unreliable and was unpleasant to use.

JoelP - 22/11/25 at 05:41 PM

6" chainsaw by milwauki. The best thing ever when scavenging logs. Plus I have 4 batteries that fit it.

JoelP - 23/11/25 at 09:52 PM

quote:
Originally posted by JoelP
6" chainsaw by milwauki. The best thing ever when scavenging logs. Plus I have 4 batteries that fit it.

I forgot it was a cheap copy that uses milwaukee batteries... And it broke today on its second outing lol

Charlie_Zetec - 23/11/25 at 10:28 PM

quote:
Originally posted by jacko
Yep truck body’s /.prison vans / horse boxes / aluminium tipper truck body’s / Luton van body’s
Riot van conversion / make MAN trucks into sleeping cabs
Plus lots more
G

Nice to see someone else in the CV industry on here! I've been working with GRP for 14-odd years now in that sector, and my (late) father in the GRP & panel industry for 40+ years before that.

Charlie_Zetec - 23/11/25 at 10:34 PM

quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
Mitutoyo 150mm/6 inch digital vernier - mine gets so much use, either in the garage or when I'm designing for 3D printing. It's used almost daily, often several times per day.

There are much cheaper alternatives (I have one) but this just works - continues to work - no matter how badly I use it. If it stutters, a wipe with a slightly oily rag along the scale always fixes it. The cheaper ones turn themselves off after a short while, to save battery, often in the middle of a tricky design or machining process. The Mitutoyo one stays on, and they claim that if you're fairly good at turning it off when you're not using it then the battery should last 12 months - if you keep leaving it on then it should last 6 months. I think the 12 months is more a recommendation to change the battery before it leaks into the caliper body!

In fact, I have two Mitutoyo calipers - the old one is probably at least 20 years old. It started getting unreliable so I replaced it... then fiddled with the original and made it work properly again. Its display is tiny, and its zeroing isn't as convenient, but it still has a place on my bench. The best one lives in a cupboard in the house (mostly used for 3D print designing) and the old one gets used for the majority of work in the garage - it's still accurate (more accurate than I am, anyway).

I'm 100% with this - my trusty Mitutoyo digital verniers were well-used when I received them 20+ years ago, and only really started to fail the other year. I think the battery cover is loose which means the dial sometimes flickers on/off, but the model is redundant and I've not found a replacement part as yet. I was treated to a new set (same brand, but didn't feel quite as well made), and they are a reliable go-to every time. I also have a manual set, but tend to keep those for the broader use rather than the more precision lathe/drill machining.

My other top tools are a Leatherman Skeleton which pretty much goes with me everywhere and is a practical tool for emergencies.

And my top garage tool is a Snap-On 1:4 torque multiplier that is great for stub axle hub nuts (was originally purchased for my Defender, but also on the Westy too).

David Jenkins - 27/11/25 at 07:55 PM

quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Nice - I have a Mitutoyo at work and as said, it just works!

I got a cheaper one for home and binned it fairly quick. It ate batteries, was unreliable and was unpleasant to use.

I also have a cheap one - I used it on the lathe, set my target dimension, and it would turn itself off just as I approached the last measurement! It's not a bad thing to use, apart from this "auto-off"... but this 'feature' is a show-stopper for me.

jps - 28/11/25 at 01:01 PM

quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins

quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Nice - I have a Mitutoyo at work and as said, it just works!

I got a cheaper one for home and binned it fairly quick. It ate batteries, was unreliable and was unpleasant to use.

I also have a cheap one - I used it on the lathe, set my target dimension, and it would turn itself off just as I approached the last measurement! It's not a bad thing to use, apart from this "auto-off"... but this 'feature' is a show-stopper for me.

Not exactly progress, but after the same sorts of problems with a cheapo digital one, I just bought a dial vernier instead!

MikeR - 28/11/25 at 04:43 PM

I inherited my fathers Mitutoyo Digimatic 500 series digital verniers. No idea of the age but they don't look anything like the current model on sale and are beautiful to use. They live in their case on my desk. I will not take them into the garage. I use lidl/aldi versions in the garage (as well as a lidl version on my desk for quick measuring 3d prints).

jacko - 28/11/25 at 06:12 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Charlie_Zetec

quote:
Originally posted by jacko
Yep truck body’s /.prison vans / horse boxes / aluminium tipper truck body’s / Luton van body’s
Riot van conversion / make MAN trucks into sleeping cabs
Plus lots more
G

Nice to see someone else in the CV industry on here! I've been working with GRP for 14-odd years now in that sector, and my (late) father in the GRP & panel industry for 40+ years before that.

Yes I started work as an apprentice in. 1972 age 16 .
In them days the truck body’s were manly. Wood so it was more like wood work
Then as time moved on it went to aluminium much lighter body’s for more load weight
Very early box vans where covered in hard board nailed on to wood framing then moulding over the joints
Later on GRP ( glass re enforcers. Ply ) and no framing

And the world goes on .

Thinking about it one of my favourite tools years ago was my draw knife it’s a blade with two Handles one at each end for working on wood
Graham

David Jenkins - 3/12/25 at 04:18 PM

quote:
Originally posted by jps
Not exactly progress, but after the same sorts of problems with a cheapo digital one, I just bought a dial vernier instead!

I have a 12" dial vernier, but most of my work these days is in metric - modern verniers have dual measurements (maybe just the slide,not the dial) and I have been tempted to get a metric equivalent but, for the number of times I'd use it, the imperial one + a calculator will suffice!

I'd love a 300mm Mitutoyo digital vernier but there is no way on this earth that I could justify buying it!

jollygreengiant - 4/12/25 at 09:16 AM

My Favourite tool used to be my trusty bottom arm/ball joint Lever tool. Most arm would come loose by wedging (with a chisel) down the bolt clamp gap, but when they didn't, out came THE TOOL. Other mechs in the garage used to take the wee out of my tool, UNTIL they got a tight one, then it saved them too.