imaginative
keep your eye on the ball
and a prybar
FARM Basic tools that everybody should have.
- Thread starter Millwright
- Start date
I picked up that Starret mic set new for $350 many years ago (1980) and today they want like $1,300.+ for closest set they now offer.
Hognutz
Has No Life - Lives on TB
I am a machinist by trade. We have about ten different sets of Mics here and would hate to have to buy them myself.
Anyway that was a good deal, hang on to them.
The next step in the process is knowing how to make the tools you need.
Not to be confused with modifying existing tools.
I would like to find references on old school metallurgy, making springs, hardening steel for cutting tools etc.
Do you know how to build a hand rifling jig?
I can see modifying a lathe & mill to other than electric power.
My dad was on property owned by a family that was old oil money in Lake Charles, they had an old machine shop that was all run by a donkey engine that drove a common shaft along the ceiling and the machines were driven by leather belts off of it.
A lot of these skill are almost gone.
Not to be confused with modifying existing tools.
I would like to find references on old school metallurgy, making springs, hardening steel for cutting tools etc.
Do you know how to build a hand rifling jig?
I can see modifying a lathe & mill to other than electric power.
My dad was on property owned by a family that was old oil money in Lake Charles, they had an old machine shop that was all run by a donkey engine that drove a common shaft along the ceiling and the machines were driven by leather belts off of it.
A lot of these skill are almost gone.
Klein makes an 11 in 1 screwdriver that I REALLY like for under $14
8 screwdriver tips and 3 nut driver.
Klein Electricians screwdriver
#1 & #2 philips
3/16 & 1/4 flat
#10 & #15 torx bits
#1 & #2 square bits
1/4, 5/16 & 3/8 hex nut driver
Get Klein stuff at Home Depot, they have a large selection of their tools for electrical use.
8 screwdriver tips and 3 nut driver.
Klein Electricians screwdriver
#1 & #2 philips
3/16 & 1/4 flat
#10 & #15 torx bits
#1 & #2 square bits
1/4, 5/16 & 3/8 hex nut driver
Get Klein stuff at Home Depot, they have a large selection of their tools for electrical use.
Attachments
You're missing the MOST ESSENTIAL TWO which make up the entire redneck tool-kit... but will be in any serious mans arsenal as well. Duct-tape & WD40... If it moves and isn't supposed to, duct tape. If it doesn't move and should, WD40 (or hammer..)
aren't you forgetting bailing wire?
Actually I've picked up a small coil of plastic coated steel wire and a small coil of brass wire for my repair jobs.
You're missing the MOST ESSENTIAL TWO which make up the entire redneck tool-kit... but will be in any serious mans arsenal as well. Duct-tape & WD40... If it moves and isn't supposed to, duct tape. If it doesn't move and should, WD40 (or hammer..)
The last part! Yeah a large ball-peen hammer and beat briskly and bake for one hour with blow torch garnish lightly with oil.
meandk0610
Veteran Member
Great thread! I've wondered about holes in which tools would be best to have.
packyderms_wife
Neither here nor there.
You're missing the MOST ESSENTIAL TWO which make up the entire redneck tool-kit... but will be in any serious mans arsenal as well. Duct-tape & WD40... If it moves and isn't supposed to, duct tape. If it doesn't move and should, WD40 (or hammer..)
And bailing wire! You have to have some bailing wire to go with the duct tape and WD40!!!
packyderms_wife
Neither here nor there.
I have a couple of these and they DO come in handy from time to time. What your really missing is the sewing tools that can double as surgery tools!
K-
packyderms_wife
Neither here nor there.
Floorboard of the truck? Heck I keep that many tools, plus a cordless drill in my handbag! Oh and not only do I have a sewing kit in my handbag but I also have a first aid kit in there...
have you seen that episode of Dr. Oz yet where he inspects and weighs the handbags of his female audience members??? And many of the women are not only carrying tools in their bags BUT are also carrying cordless tools in there! I think he about sh*t a brick with the one audience member whose bag not only contained make up, change of clothes, and lots of tools, BUT it also contained several defense items... ahemmmm... and she managed to keep her bag and contents under 10 pounds.
K-
And then there's the ultra-specialized toolbox that Steve Martin brought along to open Daryl Hannah's locked door in the movie "Roxanne" ...
leading up to that particular scene (but you don't see it until 2:20 in)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQVyyfrBbSY
leading up to that particular scene (but you don't see it until 2:20 in)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQVyyfrBbSY
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packyderms_wife
Neither here nor there.
I have a couple of those AND the kind you strap to your forehead! Yes these are indispinsable when changing tire in the dead of the night!
K-
To that minimalist toolset I would add needlenose pliers. And, the first upgrade would be the addition of 1/4" sockets. That array looks aimed at basic mechanical repair, and you'll never manage small bolts with that 3/8" set. I've got what's left of 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2"-drive socket sets, and while I used the heck out of the 3/8", I also grabbed the 1/4" stuff WAY more than I ever needed the big 1/2". I'd also recommend getting yourself a "persuader" i.e. a big-ass flatblade screwdriver, that's at least a foot long with a 1/2" shaft. Craftsman makes a good one. It's not *quite* a prybar, but close enough and a lot more comfortable.
Old Gray Mare
TB Fanatic
How about a manual chain saw sharpener, sharpening stones and a grinding wheel to help keep sharp things sharp? Also lubricants and oil to help inhibit ware and rust?
Note to self: do not use bacon grease. The salt can tarnish metal. BTDT
Note to self: do not use bacon grease. The salt can tarnish metal. BTDT
Christian for Israel
Knight of Jerusalem
Anybody got non sparking, non magnetic hammers, screwdrivers and crescent wrenches?
How about hand planes
I also have a brace and bit set and a draw knife passed down from my father. They were already very old when I played with them as a boy over 50 years ago.
How many kids learn about tools now days?
Hell, it used to be a time honored tradition for boys to tear their bikes down to parade rest and rebuild them. I remember going to the Western Auto store and buying crank, steering posst and wheel bearings, new chains or just master links, chrome fenders and all kinds of accessories. Then we'd sand the frame down, prime and paint, and we didn't need no stieenking ID to buy primer and paint.
What ever happened to Western Auto stores?
Cutting the grass was always the boys job, and most of us could and did tear them apart and rebuild or fix them. Using our own mowers to cut other folks lawns was how we got our money to fix our bikes.
Also, anybody remember the name of that old tv show NOT the new yankee workshop with the guy from This Old House, but the one where the guy used only hand tools to build some really nice projects?
How about hand planes
I also have a brace and bit set and a draw knife passed down from my father. They were already very old when I played with them as a boy over 50 years ago.
How many kids learn about tools now days?
Hell, it used to be a time honored tradition for boys to tear their bikes down to parade rest and rebuild them. I remember going to the Western Auto store and buying crank, steering posst and wheel bearings, new chains or just master links, chrome fenders and all kinds of accessories. Then we'd sand the frame down, prime and paint, and we didn't need no stieenking ID to buy primer and paint.
What ever happened to Western Auto stores?
Cutting the grass was always the boys job, and most of us could and did tear them apart and rebuild or fix them. Using our own mowers to cut other folks lawns was how we got our money to fix our bikes.
Also, anybody remember the name of that old tv show NOT the new yankee workshop with the guy from This Old House, but the one where the guy used only hand tools to build some really nice projects?
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Ahh, drywall. I can do the tapered edge joints with no problems but I still haven't mastered being able to feather out a butt joint, but that's why God made knockdown texturing, right?
I'm not a tool snob.
I have a 10 buck digital micrometer from Harbor Freight right next to an old 50 year old mechanical one.
Bar clamps and spreaders from harbor freight work just as good as the ones from the box stores.
I don't usually buy power tools from Harbor Freight unless it's for a job where they are probably going to get ruined.
Cheap saw and a good breathing mask for cutting concrete or cinder block is an example
I did buy a small tile saw there and expected it to only last for one remodeling job. Its worked like a champ for many jobs and several years. Same with a trim router.
I have found that many low and medium end power tools come with cheap ass blades. If you invest in a good blade, it makes all the difference.
I have a 10 buck digital micrometer from Harbor Freight right next to an old 50 year old mechanical one.
Bar clamps and spreaders from harbor freight work just as good as the ones from the box stores.
I don't usually buy power tools from Harbor Freight unless it's for a job where they are probably going to get ruined.
Cheap saw and a good breathing mask for cutting concrete or cinder block is an example
I did buy a small tile saw there and expected it to only last for one remodeling job. Its worked like a champ for many jobs and several years. Same with a trim router.
I have found that many low and medium end power tools come with cheap ass blades. If you invest in a good blade, it makes all the difference.
straightstreet
Life is better in flip flops
I think its a good idea to have a collection of saws (of all kinds and sizes) and axes/axe heads too for when/if TPTB cut the power off. I love to look at antique tools or old tools. The quality is better (after all, they're still here and usable YEARS later showing their age but also showing they're not junk!)
Let's try to remember that this thread is about *basic* hand tools one should have available. Hand planes and non-spark hammers are probably outside that limit.
Peregrinus
Inactive
When it comes to simple fabricating straight jawed tin snips are really handy. With a little imagination and some elbow grease they turn sheet metal into hinge parts, cheep throw away knifes, washers without holes and more brackets then you can shake a stick at. One pair of tin snips can make a pile of used metal banding a valuable resource.
My uncle's old hand plane came in handy on a couple of doors when I had no electricity in my rehabbed house. The important thing is knowing how to use it "well", which I didn't.
I'm surprised at the number of people who cannot read a tape measure and are totally clueless about even minor household repairs. I had one tenant who did not know how to put a storm window down and he was the one who paid the heat bill.
Russell Crowley
Contributing Member
Mountain
I would disagree about hand planes and non-sparking tools.
My Dad was married in the mid-thirties and one of the vary few tools he had was a hand plane which was used to turn boards in kitchen cup-boards, etc.
Brass hammers are great for using with small punches that you can use for roll pins.
Russell
I would disagree about hand planes and non-sparking tools.
My Dad was married in the mid-thirties and one of the vary few tools he had was a hand plane which was used to turn boards in kitchen cup-boards, etc.
Brass hammers are great for using with small punches that you can use for roll pins.
Russell
BertaBurtonLake
Inactive
A slim, telescoping rod with a powerful magnet on the tip is always good to have, for those times you drop a screw in a tight place and need to retrieve it.
Part of why we are here at TB is to share knowledge and most members have strong areas and weak areas. I have gained huge amounts of information about herbal/alternative medicine and many other things that are lacking in my skillset and wanted to reciprocate.
The premise of my OP was to give a little direction to those here that have little or no mechanical knowledge and might not even have a starting point for learning. To learn these things you have to do these things, to do these things you need tools. Quality tools make it easier to complete projects successfully, failure or unsatisfactory results make many people avoid more involved jobs.
The tools I laid out will allow someone to change a showerhead, battery in their car, change a light fixture or a myriad of basic things.
I specified these particular tools because their quality makes it a little less likely to round out screw heads or bolts/nuts, pinch the hell out of your fingers while stripping wires, make good crimps that won't pull apart......all the little details that us tool-sluts take for granted.
ETA: The thread drift was not unexpected or unwelcome, I think there is room for another thread on advanced tool and material preps.
The premise of my OP was to give a little direction to those here that have little or no mechanical knowledge and might not even have a starting point for learning. To learn these things you have to do these things, to do these things you need tools. Quality tools make it easier to complete projects successfully, failure or unsatisfactory results make many people avoid more involved jobs.
The tools I laid out will allow someone to change a showerhead, battery in their car, change a light fixture or a myriad of basic things.
I specified these particular tools because their quality makes it a little less likely to round out screw heads or bolts/nuts, pinch the hell out of your fingers while stripping wires, make good crimps that won't pull apart......all the little details that us tool-sluts take for granted.
ETA: The thread drift was not unexpected or unwelcome, I think there is room for another thread on advanced tool and material preps.
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I agree with you on the non sparking tools, but a good hand plane is invaluable for trimming up doors to fit in out of kilter frames and many other uses. I've used mine dozens of time to take just a little off a piece of wood to make something fit. Most carpenters have an assortment.
tool-slut????
Now that we know what we are, all that's left is arguing about the price
Millwright, you are right of course and the time for people to learn how to do these things is now, before they desperately need something.
Basic skills like you mentioned will also greatly increase someone's independence and save them money in the here and now too.
I think good basic tools are nice, but there is no need to buy top of the line for most casual homeowners. A set of tools from the box store should do. What's even more important is the knowledge and confidence in using those tools properly and understanding what you are working on.
As people become more competent they learn for themselves what situations and jobs demand high end tools and where the home depot special will work just fine.
For the basic hand tools I disagree, the difference in price is well worth the job quality and ease of completion. These tools will last a lifetime if not badly abused.
Cheap channelock clones, the jaws are soft and don't bite well and the pivot bolt gets sloppy quick.
Cheap screwdrivers round out screws and create more problems.
Crappy sockets & ratchets slip and round off bolts giving bloody knuckles in the process.
Cheap crescent wrenches round off bolts & fittings.
I posted this to save people these hard lessons and give them a better chance at success with projects.
The Woodwright's Shop with Roy Underhill?
He does everything by hand. I have watched many of his episodes. His show is a great way to learn basic skills using only hand tools the way it was done many years ago. Some of his projects are very basic while others are very informative.
This is a link to his episodes from PBS. They are online and free for the watching. I recommend everyone watch these. You will be more able to do for yourself if you do. This thread started out talking about the basics and trust me he does it with the basic tools. Well worth the watch!!
Go here for the episodes.
http://www.pbs.org/woodwrightsshop/watch-on-line/2006-2007-episodes/
He tried to get them to make this show and know one was interested. They did not think it would last. Finally he convinced them to make it and it has been a huge success.
Here is an interesting episode of him telling what he plans to cover in this series of shows.
You are exactly right. Don't waist money on cheap tools. I bought the craftsman version of channellock's.I have a strong grip from years of abuse, ahh I mean work, and when using them the jaws will slip open and loose their grip, not to mention you risk slamming your knuckles into some thing which is never good.
Definitely Needle Nose Pliers, I use them more than any other tool.
Needlenose are pretty useful addition to the original list.
I have a drawer full in 1 toolbox.
Many are heated and bent, ground down to do a particular function and a couple have welded extensions for some obscure task that I have long forgotten.
I have a drawer full in 1 toolbox.
Many are heated and bent, ground down to do a particular function and a couple have welded extensions for some obscure task that I have long forgotten.
A few more that I consider somewhat basic: safety goggles, heavy duty stapler with rounded staples (VERY handy for hanging string and wire, among other things), tape measure (indirectly mentioned above), pencil, and a few loose bandaids.
Edited to add: I also didn't see anyone mention a rubber or wooden mallet (I opened my "basic" toolbox to see what else was in it). That's somewhere just outside the basic tools category but not yet into the specialized tools category. There are a lot of things you don't want to whack with a hammer or any other steel tools. Plus a roll of electrical tape (which you can also use to insulate standard steel tools for working around electrical stuff).
Edited to add: I also didn't see anyone mention a rubber or wooden mallet (I opened my "basic" toolbox to see what else was in it). That's somewhere just outside the basic tools category but not yet into the specialized tools category. There are a lot of things you don't want to whack with a hammer or any other steel tools. Plus a roll of electrical tape (which you can also use to insulate standard steel tools for working around electrical stuff).
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