Favorite tools

[Simplicity]

Originally Posted by Rivetboy

Is this it ? https://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-7.../dp/B084SWJJCZ

Same design, just from HF. Some of their stuff is actually pretty good.

[Rwnielsen]

Originally Posted by Simplicity

Same design, just from HF. Some of their stuff is actually pretty good.

I have a cheap version of that, the magnet saves the day. I have several rechargeable headlights that I use at work but sometimes they're just not the right angle to see what I need to do

[bridg73988]

I did a roof raise so the welder and grinder with various blade types was a necessity. However, the one tool that I was like "holy crap, I'm glad I bought this" is the air rivet gun. I have two actually, 1/4 and 3/16, they make easy work of stainless rivets!

[Rivetboy]

I forgot one probably because of its total obviousness , at least to myself,The humble Multimeter. This simple tool and the skillsets to use it efficiently and safely would probably cut 90% of the threads that begin with " I cut some wires and now my bus wont start" or "HELP bus won't start".. IMHO YMMV

[Diryco]

Definitely portaband I dont use mine often but when I do it it cuts like butter nice and quiet no sparks. I looks forward to using it

Originally Posted by Rivetboy

Self control Yup Thats not cutting your fingers off just like gun control is hitting the target.
Have a Milwaukee deep throat and a regular throat bandsaw been using for decades. Am so looking forward to this building things with this saw WOO

[HamSkoolie]

Cordless impact driver...... our AmTran interior was all screws



Multi-meter and jumper wires...... I have devastated the excess wiring and "safety" systems that were in our bus and still have some more to go.


Hand held band saw.....awesome cutting with no sparks, no worn out arms


Compressor with at least a 20 gallon tank


Air hammer.....for taking out dents, pop rivets, and stubborn screws


Wire feed welder (even a cheap one)...... mine is 115 volts so it's staying in the bus



Cheap plasma torch (you can get one for $200 now)...... mine is 115 or 220 and is staying in the bus

[Oldyeller]

Originally Posted by HamSkoolie

Cordless impact driver...... our AmTran interior was all screws



Multi-meter and jumper wires...... I have devastated the excess wiring and "safety" systems that were in our bus and still have some more to go.


Hand held band saw.....awesome cutting with no sparks, no worn out arms


Compressor with at least a 20 gallon tank


Air hammer.....for taking out dents, pop rivets, and stubborn screws


Wire feed welder (even a cheap one)...... mine is 115 volts so it's staying in the bus



Cheap plasma torch (you can get one for $200 now)...... mine is 115 or 220 and is staying in the bus

I'd agree with those but add one, a manual impact driver which can work on screws that you just can't get with an electric/battery powered one even on its lowest setting.

[HamSkoolie]

Originally Posted by Oldyeller

I'd agree with those but add one, a manual impact driver which can work on screws that you just can't get with an electric/battery powered one even on its lowest setting.

Ahhh yes, I used that on a number of screws. Most came out, a few didn't and got the grinder.

[Tejon7]

This isn't a very sexy answer - heck, they're not even tools! But these are what I use more than anything else:



Gloves: the cheaper the better. I'm especially fond of pigskin like these Harbor Freight ones because no matter how drenched in sweat they get, they don't stiffen up when they dry out. The cheapo knit gloves dipped in rubbery stuff are a close second place.

Ear plugs: my brother in law got me hooked on this style a couple years ago. They're cheap, comfortable, and never fall off. I wear them around my neck 100% of the time I'm working so that I don't have to go searching when I need 'em.

Glasses: anything will do, but this dorky style with foam around the rims are the bees knees. Nothing gets past that foam, even when I'm under the bus with 30 years of dirt and road crud raining down on my face.

[musigenesis]

If gloves are tools, then these guys have been life-savers for me: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BHMLJ2S/. If I use any vibrating power tools (drill, angle grinder, orbital sander etc.) without them my hands start to hurt terribly almost instantly, but with them on I can go all day. I really wish I had used them from Day 1 on my bus.