What's your favorite tool?

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FlyingMonkey
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What's your favorite tool?

Post by FlyingMonkey » Thu Jul 24, 2025 9:46 pm

It seems like every year I use Burning Man projects as an excuse to buy new tools. For years I'd have to say my 4" grinder was my favorite. But this year I bought a rivnut tool for attacking my solar panels to a steel frame. I think the grinder has been dethroned. Rivnuts rule.
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some seeing eye
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Re: What's your favorite tool?

Post by some seeing eye » Fri Jul 25, 2025 7:57 am

I remember in the early 00s tool belts with actual hand tools were a big thing in my crowd. Of course all the stylish festival belts and shoulder holster pouches in the fashion crowd.

The things I've invested in/wasted money on for BRC are solar panels and power packs. Then pure tools - battery-powered impact driver, DC clamp meter/multimeter, solar connector crimpers/wrenches.

In addition to screwdrivers, you basic adjustable wrench, channel locks, and vice grips, a 3# sledge, pry bar, needle nose pliers sizes, lineman pliers, stainless surgical clamps, splinter tweezer, earplugs and eye protection are always useful.
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BBadger
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Re: What's your favorite tool?

Post by BBadger » Sat Jul 26, 2025 9:49 pm

I really like my Knipex plier-wrench. Sure beats having to use other normal wrenches, or adjustable wrenches, especially for fixing bikes or other stuff. I liked it so much, I got a second!
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Patsh
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Re: What's your favorite tool?

Post by Patsh » Mon Jul 28, 2025 6:54 am

Fence pliers have been so perfect for pounding rebar or heavy tent stakes, and removing them. Another useful "tool" I won't camp without is a mister bottle. You can do so much more with so much less water. (Dish rinsing, teeth brushing, cooling off , and much more.) Then there's the small hand brush or whisk broom and dust pan...
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trilobyte
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Re: What's your favorite tool?

Post by trilobyte » Mon Jul 28, 2025 8:37 am

I'm not a huge Tool fan, but I really really like the song Vicarious off the album 10,000 Days.... :lol:

For a lot of years, the 4 inch angle grinder has been my tool of choice. Whether I'm prepping steel for welding or cutting EMT, bam it gets the job done in no time.

These days, though, I don't need to cut that much EMT, and I do more work with wood these days instead of steel. The router has been my go to. Whether it's a big CNC router, or handheld/table mounted it lets me round off those parts in no time. Love it.

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Savannah
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Re: What's your favorite tool?

Post by Savannah » Sat Aug 02, 2025 3:37 pm

My 36" Stanley wrecking bar for removing 10" Coleman stakes. One must be careful, it's sharp.

Like Patsch, I'm big into whisk broom and dustpan & spray misting bottles. I always have one for water, and one for vinegar or lemon, and maybe a small one for carrying. They are great for sitting in front of a 12" (or so) D-battery powered fan or other variety.

And a couple of cheap "peri" bottles. You can put a teaspoon of body wash in it and fill the rest with water. It's a bidet in a bottle.
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Popeye
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Re: What's your favorite tool?

Post by Popeye » Mon Aug 04, 2025 1:30 pm

Good idea for a peri bottle. Thanks.
My most often used tool is a pocket knife. I just changed to a small Buck, 2" blade and no one is threatened by it except TSA.
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Jackass
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Re: What's your favorite tool?

Post by Jackass » Mon Aug 04, 2025 2:17 pm

Savannah wrote:
Sat Aug 02, 2025 3:37 pm

And a couple of cheap "peri" bottles. You can put a teaspoon of body wash in it and fill the rest with water. It's a bidet in a bottle.
That sounds awfully refreshing, I might have to try that this year. Come out of the blue room feeling light on your toes and like a million bucks! Could even keep the portable bidet on ice until needed.

As far as favorite tools for the burn go, besides my brain and hands it would probably be a tie between my vice grip pliers, 5 lb. drilling hammer, and the ever-trusty 4 ft. ladder.

The drilling hammer has a short handle which offers more force and control, used to use a longer handled mini sledge but once you got a little fatigued the hammering could get really sloppy, had to then use two hands on it and that can get ugly too.
Sooner or later, it will get real strange...

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