Tools that change your mind.

themoose · Feb 28, 2011

I had to make some changes to the bracket that holds the tach in the dash on my Chevy. I got out the Dremel and the job was done in a matter of minutes. The Dremel bailed me out again. I can remember when I first got the tool. It was given to me as a Christmas present and to be honest I wasnt at all impressed. I had always thought of a Dremel as something you used when you built a model airplane. I soon found that it was a very handy tool and now I dont know what I would do without it. Has anyone else ever had any tools that went form why do I need this to a must have?

pitman · Feb 28, 2011

Heh, now I know why dentists smile when they plunge in. Those tools are like having your own little mini-mauler. Custom fit? No problem sir!

LowKat · Feb 28, 2011

Dremels rock. Once you have one, you're spoiled.

5 years ago I started out with a little plain tool and a few burr bits that I used for Tiki carving. Now I have a dedicated Dremel tool box and 2 deluxe motors.

Johnny Gee · Feb 28, 2011

Dremel, love @ first use. Just came in from garage, using it to clean up reverse on cluster for 4 speed. Now to your ?, got this hand held cutter for christmas. Craftmans something something I don't remember it's exact name (has about a 2" long razor look'n blade that makes contact with hard rubber pad). Thought what ?, cut roses with this thing!!!. Well I use the crap out of this thing.

Greezeball · Feb 28, 2011

My wife bought me a multiple bit screw driver that is one handed operation kinda like a switch blade. Now I'm an electrician and usually view tools like this as weekend warior garbage but this actually works and it's sturdy too and real handy because of the one handed opperation.

curbspeed · Feb 28, 2011

Ever get hit in the head with a hammer? That'll change your mind.

patman · Feb 28, 2011

Heh...I used a Dremel to grind clearance into the block when I built my 406. Nobody believed I could do it with just a Dremel, but...I think it worked out great!

daddy_o's_diner · Feb 28, 2011

I went years before I ever bought a 90 degree die grinder. How in the hell did I ever live without one?!?!

I use the thing constantly for a wide variety of things - LOVE IT!!!!!

RoadFarmer · Feb 28, 2011

LOVE my dremel. I don't know what I'd do without it.

Automotive Stud · Feb 28, 2011

For me it was my 220 mig. I don't know how I lived without it, I use it for small projects, big projects, but so many I would have been up the creek without it. Close second is the glass bead cabinet. I save a lot of money on wire brushes with better results.

1950ChevySuburban · Feb 28, 2011

Gearwrenches, and those stepped drill bits.
Thought they were gimmicky crap, but they really work excellent!

Fenders · Feb 28, 2011

daddy_o's_diner said: ↑

I went years before I ever bought a 90 degree die grinder. How in the hell did I ever live without one?!?!

I use the thing constantly for a wide variety of things - LOVE IT!!!!!
Click to expand...

X2... I bought mine a few years ago, now couldn't live without it.
(Only thing better might be a plasma cutter, but that's a little more money !!)

'51 Norm · Feb 28, 2011

I got my die grinder for a specific project. Now I have several mostly because I am too lazy to change tools, its easier to just pick up the other grinder.

saints · Feb 28, 2011

mine was the impact wrench, used to use my feet, a cheater bar,blow a disk in my back to get that really stuck bolt off......on my 18th birthday almost like a right of passage I was given a sears 30 gallon compresser and a impact wrench and my life was changed for ever....never would I kill my knuckles and back oe elbow

Wildfire · Feb 28, 2011

Sawzall - thought I'd use it once... I now consider myself to be a Michelangelo of the Sawzall!

Dremel's pretty damn handy too.

large-stache · Feb 28, 2011

4.5" electric grinder, with grinding wheels or a cut-off disc. I don't own a metal cutting bandsaw, so the cut-off disc makes do in that area, and the grinding wheel makes rounding off sharp corners on brackets and such so easy.

mixedupamx · Feb 28, 2011

1950ChevySuburban said: ↑

Gearwrenches, and those stepped drill bits.
Thought they were gimmicky crap, but they really work excellent!
Click to expand...

step bits x2!!!

indyjps · Feb 28, 2011

Got a dremel, honestly dont use it that much, take it with when there no compressor handy.
BUT Ive got 2 pencil grinders, couple of 90 degree, and a few die grinders so Im kinda spoiled with those. Guess its just perks from working with Die Makers for so long.
2 4.5" grinders so I can keep different stones/ grits loaded.
Got my eye on a plasma cutter or TIG, I think those will be my mind changer tools.

I do have to say my 4.5" grinder was my favorite for a long time.

felix37 · Feb 28, 2011

How about the cordless drill and car dollies!

1927Tudor · Feb 28, 2011

great list, all good choices... I'd add that after 25 plus years, a four post hoist was the best add to my shop... no more rollin' around on the concrete...

DanBabb · Feb 28, 2011

Stepped drill bits. When I first bought one, it was around $19 for the 1/8 - 1/2 bit. At first, it killed me to spend it...but it's one of those must have tools if you're drilling holes in sheet metal or tubes.

Dremel tools rock too. They have these new cut-off wheels for metal that last like 4x longer than the older fiberglass reinforced ones.

Bench vise...sounds stupid, but I bought my first one in 2010...7 years after I started messing with cars. How'd I ever go that long without one?

MENACE · Feb 28, 2011

My old craftsman drill press from the early seventys , how i ever lived without one ill never know, and those gear wrenches are pretty awsome

Saxman · Feb 28, 2011

Yep, stepped drill bits. I bought my first set about 4 months ago. Never knew they were so darned handy to have.

I didn't know a sawzall could be so useful either, until I used my brother-in-law's a couple of weeks ago. Beats the hell out of a cut-off wheel in certain situations.

1950coronet600hp · Feb 28, 2011

hmm... tools that changed my mind... Concrete mixer... no more wiggling around on dirt...

392_hemi · Feb 28, 2011

Milwaukee makes a chop saw with a carbide tipped saw blade that cuts through heavy steel tubing like butter. Best tool I've bought in a very long time. Saves a huge amount of time over standard chop saw, plus less noise and no sparks. And there's no sign of wear on the blade even after about a year's worth of use. I give it an A+ rating.

32ratsass · Feb 28, 2011

392_hemi said: ↑

Milwaukee makes a chop saw with a carbide tipped saw blade that cuts through heavy steel tubing like butter. Best tool I've bought in a very long time. Saves a huge amount of time over standard chop saw, plus less noise and no sparks. And there's no sign of wear on the blade even after about a year's worth of use. I give it an A+ rating.
Click to expand...

X2 on the Milwaukee saw. One of my best purchases! OK, I really like my Dremel Too!

toolman1967 · Feb 28, 2011

4 1/2 inch grinder, I have 3, one with regular wheel, one with a zip cut wheel, one with a wire cup wheel. Always in my hand when I'm in the shop.

T Hudson · Feb 28, 2011

cobalt drill bits

Salty · Feb 28, 2011

toolman1967 said: ↑

4 1/2 inch grinder, I have 3, one with regular wheel, one with a zip cut wheel, one with a wire cup wheel. Always in my hand when I'm in the shop.
Click to expand...

Wish I hadda pic to back it up (later I'll snap one when I work on the truck in a day or so...)

I have a 4.5" grinder for all occasions....one with a cutting wheel, wire cup, wire wheel, grinding wheel and two with different grit flap disks....

Yup, I hate changing wheels.........

That and my "Ace Grip-tite" sockets and wrenches.....kinda thought they were gimmicky at first till I used em and they actually worked as advertised (you know the ones that claim to get rounded bolts and nuts off that grip the fastener on the flat spots as opposed to the corners?)

Thay actually do work great and use the hell outta em!

themoose · Mar 1, 2011

Saxman said: ↑

Yep, stepped drill bits. I bought my first set about 4 months ago. Never knew they were so darned handy to have.

I didn't know a sawzall could be so useful either, until I used my brother-in-law's a couple of weeks ago. Beats the hell out of a cut-off wheel in certain situations.
Click to expand...

I always wondered how good those step drills worked..........Looks like that's gonna be my next tool purchase.

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