Favorite (non-electronic) tools

[gwiz42]

Adding to the now closed thread731-128581, what are some of your most used, non-electronic, tools and for what purpose? Some of the tools that are almost always in my pocket or close-by:

Finger nail/mechanical pencil - Surface roughness
SDS-0200 Carbide Probe (dia. 0.02") - Surface Defect evaluation
Fowler 20X Pocket Scope - Surface Evaluation
360° Sight-Pipe (2X Mag) - Bore Inspection
Czeck Edge Ruler Stop - Straight edge, clamp, depth gauge
Hegman Grind Gauge - look for oil contaminants
Empire 6" English/Metric Scale - Basic measurements
Pilot FriXion Red erasable pen - Drawing Mark-ups

 

[MikeHalloran]

Pocket protector containing two Sharpies, two black gel-pens, a 2xAAA Maglite, and a comb.
A belt holster containing a 2xAA Maglite.
A Winchester lockback folder (Chinese, Walmart, less than $9), scarred and abused.
A Gerber Clutch multi tool.
A Stanley PowerLock 10' x 1/4" tape (with a PI scale on the back).
A Bic lighter.
A Samsung Note (1) smartphone.
A Kodak 12Mp digital camera.
A 16Gb thumbdrive with all sorts of reference material and my resume.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[pennpiper]

Mike,
I don't think you should suggest taking a Bic Lighter into a plant. Yes, not all plants have flammable vapors but the "kids" won't know any better.

prognosis: Lead or Lag

 

[drawoh]

gwiz42,

I have a spring scale graduated in Newtons and grams. I bought it at a science store. It looks just like a fish scale. 5kg max. This is useful for weighing small objects, and for working out desired spring forces in fixtures.

I second MikeHalloran on the digital camera. How did we ever manage without them?

I still use my old drafting leadholder with the very sharp 5H[ ]lead in it. I even pull out my old drafting squares on occasion.

--
JHG

 

[MikeHalloran]

It's been a couple of decades since I worked in a plant at risk for explosion. In that one, of course the lighter would be left well outside, as well as any flashlights that were not approved for hazardous environs.

I forgot to list my SAK, a Wenger lockback sold by L.L.Bean.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[racookpe1978]

23 Feb 14 13:34
Pocket protector containing two Sharpies, two black gel-pens, a 2xAAA Maglite, and a comb.
A belt holster containing a 2xAA Maglite.
A Winchester lockback folder (Chinese, Walmart, less than $9), scarred and abused.
A Gerber Clutch multi tool.
A Stanley PowerLock 10' x 1/4" tape (with a PI scale on the back).
A Bic lighter.
A Samsung Note (1) smartphone.
A Kodak 12Mp digital camera.

Well, I am a little more spread out than you, but you do have the right idea. 8<)

No pocket protecter (because I'm upside down around piping or climbing scaffolding regularly), so all of my shirts have 2x pockets with button-down covers! The left hand pocket has hotel key, company_id/computer scan-card/id_card, couple of pens and a 0.5 mm Pental (one side) and the magic markers, paint pens, or Sharpies in the other.
13 foot metric/ansi tape measure on the belt,
cell phone with cover clipped on belt,
30 foot metric/ansi tape measure on back belt (if needed for piping),
fall protection wrapping (if on unfinished scaffolding or outside bars)
hard hat with ear muffs and LED head light (sometimes with air sniffer at refineries),
belt holster/clip with
2x AA LED flashlight
outdoor laser pointer
6 inch metric/ansi steel ruler
scribe (carbide point)

business cards
boss' business cards
4 inch metric/ansi brass caliper (back marked for pipe OD's (1/8" to 3 inch)
half-size multi-tool
On key chain, fold-out 1-1/2 inch sharp-edged-paper-cutter (we can't carry pocket knives on-site)

In PC case (back in the trailer or PM's office)
precision screwdriver set
full-sized maulti-tool,
0-4 inch (metric/ansi) digital caliper
center finder, adjustable square, protractor with 18 inch steel ruler
6 inch digital protractor
square digital angle finder (level)
6 inch and 12 inch metal rules (fractions, metric and decimal inches)
4 ft extension cords
calculator,
PC flashdrives/memory chips,
drafting tools (rulers, triangles, dividers, compass, circular templates, etc.)
log book, square ruled paper
personal stuff (aspirin, nose/allergy/sinus stuff, can of soup, etc.)

I figure the PM's trailer always has extra AA or AAA batteries, so I don't carry those.

The "Measuring tool box" has the more complex stuff (laser levels, range finders, 5-way lasers, camera/laser stands, mounts, 24 and 30 inch longer rulers, etching tools, etc) but those are not carried on my belt all the time.

 

[moon161]

Strong Coffee
Engineer's hammer from harbor freight.
.5MM Alvin draftmatic.
Graph paper pad.
straight edge
Carmine red marking pencil.
Various sketches & pics- self made & otherwise for creative departure
-air cooled VW cutaway

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/01/26/article-1128584-03316634000005DC-708_468x286.jpg

http://www.bullfrogspas.com/hot-tub-blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/just-awesome-hot-tub-300x214.jpg

Scamper sheet:

http://creatingminds.org/tools/scamper.htm

 

[fegenbush]

Case bound notebooks
The calculator between my ears
Soapstone

 

[moltenmetal]

I have two 9/16" Snap On combination wrenches. One I got for $2 at a garage sale. The other was my father's, and after most of a lifetime of use and abuse it is still perfect. He was an auto mechanic, machine builder/installer and industrial maintenance mechanic, and not gentle with his tools by any stretch. The dimensions are perfect, and though you can get tools with similar dimensions, you'd be hard pressed to trust putting as much force on them as you can put on these with confidence.

A Japanese nail set - an ugly and indelicate tool, but amazingly useful.

A Japanese fleam-toothed saw which cuts on the pull stroke. It might as well not have the rip cut teeth on the other side, as I never use them.

I'm also really attached to my Makita 18V LXT impact driver, but I guess that counts as a power tool. The battery is so reliable and long lasting, it might as well be plugged in to a wall socket.

These are tools which are a joy to use.

I also have a 5 lb deadblow mallet, which is one of my most effective tools for project management.

 

[TheTick]

Ratcheting screwdriver with interchangeable bits. Always within arm's reach for most home projects.

I keep a jeweler's loup both at home and in my office. More valuable with each passing year for my aging eyes.

 

[moltenmetal]

Oh damn, I forgot- the interchangeable bit screwdriver that actually works: the Picquick:

http://www.picquic.com/

Have one of these in my electrical tool pouch, and don't have any other screwdrivers in there because this makes them unnecessary. Always HATED those stupid ratcheting screwdrivers with the bits in the handle- too fat to be useful in tight quarters. And these bits of course fit the impact driver too, so the screwdriver becomes a bit selection for the impact driver as well...

 

[Hoxton]

Neon Screwdriver