[mdlug] OT: DIY Geek Tools

[Garry Stahl]

Joseph Vartanian wrote:
> I'm sure at more than a few of you on this list are DIY geeks, so this
> is for you.  What tools would you want in your toolbox?  Types of
> tools, specific products, specific brand names...whatever.  What tools
> do you think are important in a good DIY geek toolbox?
>
> I'm really asking because I want to see if I can get any good ideas
> from you for my own toolbox that I'm building (I'm feed up with my
> lousy tools), but I also figure others would find it useful.  If you
> know of a good place to get these tools, online or brick and mortar,
> that would be cool too.
>
> I know you may be thinking this all depends on exactly what type of
> projects you're working on.  Since I'm not really interested in just
> one specific thing, lets assume that you're going to be working on a
> little bit of everything.
>
> I'll start out with a really easy one myself...a Dremel 400 Series
> rotary tool.  I'll leave the more difficult ones up to you guys.
>   

Money spent on good tools is never wasted.  --The Tao of Phoenix.

Brand.  It is difficult to go wrong with Craftsman hand tools.  I prefer
them in my tool box.  Stanly is also good.
A good general tool box should have.

Hammers, claw and ball peen of about 12 oz minimum.  Additional hammers
that are useful are a small sledge, a rubber mallet.  A dead blow hammer.

Screwdrivers.  No geek can live without them.  While you can buy manual
screwdrivers of every kind I prefer a single grip with interchangeable
tips.  It saves a lot of space in the toolbox.  My set of driver tips
take a hell of a lot less space than it would with a handle for each as
well.  You cannot go wrong if you have one power tool and that is a
power screw driver.

Pliers.  For geek work you cannot go wrong with a good set of micro
pliers.  They will include wire cutters, end cutters, long needle nose,
flat jaw and a curved jaw at larger versions of the small pliers, and
vice grips are never a bad thing to have.  I would call at least one
pair of vice grips basic.  Full sized pliers would be the classic slip
joint and channel locks.  If you are buying Craftsman a set of the
robogrip pliers replace any slip jaw set.

Wrenches.  At minimum a crescent wrench.  I do not like adjustable
wrenches.  I prefer combination wrenches in the exact size I need.  I
have many wrenches.  Sockets are also a good to have.  At least a set of
1/4 drive sockets.  Also available now are ratchet wrenches that combine
the function of the socket and wrench.  I would look into those.

Saws.  A hack saw and a good backsaw are geek minimums.  Saws, like
hammers, come in more flavors than ice cream.  Everyone has their favorites.

Geek Specials.  That would be wire strippers, soldering tools, cable
making tools.  Each as you need it.  My box has a basic circuit tester,
a soldering iron, cable crimper and strippers.  An Ethernet cable
tester. a computer PS tester.

Things you thought you would never need.  Wood chisels. cold chisels 
Putty knives, clamps (you cannot have too many clamps) wonder bar,
cordless drill, combination square and a quick square, level, more as I
think of it.

I prefer the Stylus Dremel tool myself.  Nice tool all around,

And, I am barely touching on power tools.

-- 
Garry  AKA  --Phoenix--  Rising above the Flames.

Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis habes
Star Trek mort. Viva la Star Trek admiraetur
The Olde Phoenix Inn Http://phoenixinn.iwarp.com