Favorite Tools
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Discription: General Mobile Electronics Questions and Answers
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=74361
Printed Date: April 20, 2024 at 11:31 AM
Topic: Favorite Tools
Posted By: Vyse
Subject: Favorite Tools
Date Posted: March 12, 2006 at 6:36 PM
What do you guys keep in your tool box? Any favorite or recommended brands for everyday or specialty tools? I have a small collection of sockets and drivers comprised of Stanley and Craftsman, mostly my dads old tools and Black And Decker reciprocating and jigsaws and 18 Volt cordless drill. Want to buy a brand new set of sockets and drivers, just can't make up my mind on what to get.
Replies:
Posted By: menace2sobriety
Date Posted: March 12, 2006 at 8:36 PM
craftsman for hand tools can't beat liftime warranty, snap-on,proto,blackhawk, are more expensive liftime tools. i go to pawn shops and buy evercraft which is a napa tool and has a life time warranty. you can usally get them for 50 cents a piece. power tools craftsman is okay they are made by black&decker/dewalt. but i perfer hitachi or porter cable.
-------------
Posted By: jayx27
Date Posted: March 13, 2006 at 4:00 AM
Snap on, Matco, and Craftsman dominate my box. Throw in some Companion Kobalt and Husky stuff here and there.
Posted By: speedwayaudio1
Date Posted: March 13, 2006 at 4:12 AM
I have alot of snap on tools, but really not worth the high cost. Craftsman are good, and not bad on price. I also have some Leisle tools I might be spelling it wrong. They are not to bad. I get them at discount auto parts when I need something in a hurry and can't get to Sears. In Florida there is a DAP about every 3 blocks. Well there not DAP anymore there Advance Discount Auto Parts. Advance Auto parts merged with DAP a few years back now they suck.
-------------
Big Dave
Posted By: dwarren
Date Posted: March 13, 2006 at 1:12 PM
I absolutely use at least two of these (particularly the one on the far right) Matco plastic tools every day. The newer dashes found on cars are incredibly soft and these plastic tools do not mar like the metal ones do. Matco. 
Also, my Snap On pick tool is a favorite of mine. Pick tool -------------
Posted By: kreativesailor
Date Posted: March 15, 2006 at 6:58 PM
Besides the typical tools I use long Zip Ties. Believe it or not they are good for running wires in places where the mechanical arm can't. The Zip Ties are thin and very flexible. Just perfect for those very tight places. ------------- You can try and fail but dont fail to try...
Posted By: KPierson
Date Posted: March 15, 2006 at 10:04 PM
I agree with the long zip tie. I keep a couple 36" ones in my box. I cut the locking end off and then drill a few holes at one end of the zip tie so you can weave wire in and then tape it. Once my modifications are done I then refer to it as a 'wire insertion tool.' Best thing ever. Also, of course I love my Mikita right angle drill and my skewdriver, a deadlly combination for tight spots. And I seem to use my signal generator a lot for finding speakers/testing amps. As far as hand tools go I have almost exclusively Craftsman. When I was installing at Circuit City there was always a Sears within 2 minutes (I worked at several stores in Ohio). I did once buy a grommet poker from the Snap On man! Thats a great tool, too. ------------- Kevin Pierson
Posted By: menace2sobriety
Date Posted: March 17, 2006 at 12:37 AM
oh yeah another favorite tool of mine, the metal blade edge out of a wiper blade, great for snaking wires in to tight spots!!!! and my fordom it,s like a dremel but 4 times stronger and cost arond $250 new. it can do anything a dremel can do and much more!!!!!!!!!! and like jayx27 said kobolt & husky but go husky b4 kobolt only kobolt in a pinch. and be prepared to be disappointed. -------------
Posted By: bhurlebaus
Date Posted: March 20, 2006 at 10:36 PM
I must say my fovorite tool is my Mac em710 multimeter. Other wise it would be my skill 3.6 volt cordless screwdriver. It works great for dash boards. The rest of my tools are are Mac and Matco with a little bit of Snap-on and Craftsman. I think you can never have to many tools. The more tools you have the easier it makes your life and the more things you can do.
Posted By: speedwayaudio1
Date Posted: March 21, 2006 at 11:50 AM
bhurlebaus wrote:
I must say my fovorite tool is my Mac em710 multimeter. Other wise it would be my skill 3.6 volt cordless screwdriver. It works great for dash boards. The rest of my tools are are Mac and Matco with a little bit of Snap-on and Craftsman. I think you can never have to many tools. The more tools you have the easier it makes your life and the more things you can do.
tools are a wonderful thing  ------------- Big Dave
Posted By: godd dan it
Date Posted: March 21, 2006 at 3:33 PM
Brand wise? Id say Snap-On and Craftsman.
Posted By: the12volt
Date Posted: March 21, 2006 at 3:39 PM
Vyse]W wrote:
at do you guys keep in your tool box? Any favorite or recommended brands for everyday or specialty tools? I have a small collection of sockets and drivers comprised of Stanley and Craftsman, mostly my dads old tools and Black And Decker reciprocating and jigsaws and 18 Volt cordless drill. Want to buy a brand new set of sockets and drivers, just can't make up my mind on what to get.
Here's my list of tools. -------------  the12volt • Support the12volt.com
Posted By: firstrax
Date Posted: March 21, 2006 at 10:41 PM
Screwdrivers and ratchets I use Snap-On. Sockets and wrenches I use Craftsman. But my favorite tool is the Tektronix 7603 digitizer. This is the Alpine 7909 of scopes. Old skool but a classic. 
Posted By: another-kelly
Date Posted: March 22, 2006 at 10:19 PM
got an old car antenna sharpened to a point used to poke rubber grommets. use it all the time. pretty much do matco and craftsman. got a few off brands i've picked up just for the sake to have.
Posted By: avxtech
Date Posted: March 25, 2006 at 12:54 PM
I use mainly crafstman. I also use the Mista Meter its ausome, cant function without it ,like having a logic probe,multimeter, and test light in one! Here a pic from the website: 
Posted By: electrostatic
Date Posted: March 25, 2006 at 6:05 PM
fluke multimeter, pen knife for cutting insulation, milwaukee heat gun for heat shrink, cable tie gun, small diag pliers
Posted By: Vyse
Date Posted: March 27, 2006 at 2:42 PM
The old antenna is a great tool, agreed.
Posted By: bigfoot286
Date Posted: May 29, 2006 at 9:45 PM
my two favorit tools are my trama aheers(im a emt and its what we use to cut clothes off) i use it ALL the time, cutting wires velcro and in some cars the cloth they have around the ign harnes. and my hevy gaguge wire cutters love thoes damn things manly for cutting raido harness like the sony ones that are all different lengths cut them all down to one size with one stroke. brands i like crafstman and a few snapone things, they have weird cool tools.
Posted By: yourm0m1
Date Posted: May 29, 2006 at 11:45 PM
my dremel's have got to be my fav. wired and cordless, i tend to cut alot of things up b4 i create something custom so it my best tool. also something better then a great set of tools is a great tool box to store them all in, i plan on making a custom box in the back of my explorer 
Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: May 30, 2006 at 12:44 AM
The best tool that I have (aside from this site) is....... employees to clean the bay after I lay waste to it.  After that, my butane torch. ------------- Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.
Posted By: a568272
Date Posted: June 09, 2006 at 12:08 PM
I use pretty much all Craftsman tools. My favorite tool (the one that if it was lost would reduce me to tears) is my ratcheting multi-bit screwdriver (with knurled grip! lol). Metric nut drivers are wonderful, too.
Posted By: church_of_bass
Date Posted: June 09, 2006 at 12:27 PM
large guage crimps...no more pliers, hammer and chisel, or other ghetto macguyver style connections...large guage crimps are the bomb. oh, and my dmm ------------- "alcohol and night swimming - It's a winning combination!" - Lenny
Posted By: autofan01
Date Posted: June 10, 2006 at 4:48 AM
In my humble opinion, the most useful hand tool anybody can have, is a small flat screwdriver. I really don't know of any other tool that has so many uses. It can substitute many other tools. Correct me if I'm wrong.
-------------
All your BASS are belong to us!
Posted By: pss5075104
Date Posted: June 10, 2006 at 9:36 AM
my fav would either be my 0ga - 4ga crimpers i made from bold cutters, or my plastic non maring panel tools.
-------------
D
MECP First Class Certified Installer.
Nothing is impossable, it's just more expensive.
Posted By: jquest03
Date Posted: June 14, 2006 at 8:23 PM
where can u purchase large guage cuttters?
|