I need to buy another one. I've had one and used it all the time. And basically everything else Eric has except for the pocket screwdriver. I gotta get my hands on one of those
It is written in the Laws of the Universe that a dropped nut, bolt or screw MUST land where it is physically impossible to get your hand in to retrieve it!
As a pump technician, top 5ish: - Flat blade and phillips screwdriver, both insulated. - More bigger flat blade screwdriver for poking and prodding and levering. Works well to hold doors open. - Shifter or adjustable spanner. - Multimeter and insulation resistance tester. - Smartphone. This is probably number one. Call clients, the office. Do paperwork. Take photos. Look up manuals and RU-vid videos (no joke, this has saved my butt so many times). - I have to add a 6th. Milwaukee M18 torch. The thing is so bright. Most places are quite well lit EXCEPT for where you have to work.
1 Pallet Jack.. I have all my heavy floor machinery, cabinets and tool boxes on shortened plastic and hardwood pallets. Saved a bundle on casters. Easy to move the heavy items close to the area I'm working in, if needed, and makes cleaning the shop super easy. Makes moving from one shop to another with the addition of a rental 5 ton truck fitted with a power endgate paired with a rented forklift. 2 Diy gantry crane. 3 Parts washer... because of my disturbing OCD. 4 Coveralls with built-in knee and elbow pads. 5 PPE.. eye, ear, hand and foot.
Pocket LED flashlight. Absolutely the most used tool for me. Not just in the shop but everyday life. I've been wrenching for over 40 years and as my eyes get older, I need more light. Even for reading a menu in a dark restaurant. It runs on a single AAA battery so it's small but very useful. All you young kids in your 20s out there laughing just wait, if you're lucky enough to make it to 50+, you'll see.
Definitely my most used tools as a transmission tech is flash light, big pry bar, little pry bar, little little pry bar aka the pocket screwdriver a hammer and pole jack. But OSHA doesn’t need to know about that one
My constant carry is my folding utility knife, such as Gerber EAB Lite, or Milwaukee Fastback. Indispensable on a daily basis for cutting, slicing, scraping, fidget toying.
As an equipment technician I need: A pick to clean threads in pipe. Insulated screwdriver that can change from flat/phillips. 2-12” slip joint pliers for pipe Light Pipe thread tape
As much as I love my pocket screwdriver, I found a better option for most things and find myself reaching for it more than my trusty pocket screwdriver lately. And that is the pocket prybar. it looks just like the pocket screwdriver, even having a shirt clip, but but the end is bent into a pry bar. Very very handy.
@@ETCG1 matco makes a set of three. A straight, a 20, and a 45. I always have the 20 degree one for bigger prying jobs in small spaces where the pocket screwdriver is just to weak. The magnet on the pocket screwdriver helps grab fasteners where fingers are forbidden too.
I see one on your cart - the air nozzle. Being able to blow things clean or dry is huge. My vehicles share space with my wood shop, and this ‘tool’ is always in reach to blow dust and debris away from my work area, be it the truck or the wood project of the weekend.
Pry bars, penetrating oil, brake clean, light, small sledge hammer. I haven't used a pocket screw driver a lot yet, but I'm sure I will. I've mostly been working on suspension, thus the hammer. The 6th most important tool is a long, telescoping magnet for when I always drop stuff in weird places that are hard to get to. I know we didn't count these, but safety glasses and rags are essential, lots of rags!
Pocket Torch - it's a full-size normal hand-torch. Pocket Screwdriver - The smallest size in the Snap-On Instinct set. Snap-on High-Leverage Pliers - These will grip, crush and cut basically anything. Saved me when vice grips couldn't. Old Extendable 1/2 ratchett - Hitting a hammer against the head of it whilst pushing cracks most wheel nuts loose. Locking wheel nut removal kit - "Awhhhh, no, I can't remember where I put my locker key..." Pocket torch lasts me about 3-ish days with my use case, and I never use any other light sources except on big boi jobs like clutches, timing belts, serious suspension overhauls, etc. This thing also doubles as a power-bank as well, so I can use it at work, at home and out-n-about. Pocket Screwie will never be left out of my sight for more than 30 seconds. I will never be seen out of the house without my pocket torch, pocket pen and pocket screwdriver. Going to work? It's there. Going shopping? You betcha. Going to a funeral? Naturally. Going swimming? Okay, maybe I won't be carrying the torch with me there... This screwie has been used as a prybar, screwdriver, o-ring puller, scraper, a unit of measure and more excitingly, as a make-shift test-light in conjunction with some crocodile clips, an old 239 bulb and some hopes and dreams. The high leverage pliers are the best thing since sliced bread. They will literally cut through any thin metal as quick as tin snips, chop through handbrake cables and gear cables like they weren't there, will crush and crimp any brake pipes with ease and provide enough force to even break tight bolts loose. I commonly use these when doing wheel alignments as they grip onto track rods almost as well as vice grips, but without the added adjusting and locking and unlocking hassle. For those unsure what I mean, it's HL138ACP as it's part number. Extendable ratchet in 1/2 that I give no fucks about means I can push down h a r d and smash away right next to the head to both apply torque and impact forces at the same time. It's like using an impact wrench but the hits are slower, more powerful and the rotational force is much greater. This bastard thing will outdo any 1/2 impact without fail, no questions asked, when used on wheel nuts, axle nuts, basically anything where you don't need to hold it onto the fastener and you can just focus on pushing 'down' and hitting 'hard'. Locking wheel nut removal kit basically just tells the story. Whether the customer has just bought the car and doesn't know where the locker is, they've just had a house move or if they have simply no clue where they put it, this thing will delete the absolute suffering of no locker and turn it into mere minor suffering. No, it's not as quick as using the locker key itself, but it beats smashing a perfectly-good socket onto the locker, only to find it has a rotating collar so your efforts were all in vain. Plus, you'll never damage an alloy using this properly. Honourable Mentions: Torque Wrench - used on every job. Tyre Inflator - Again, used on basically every job. Plus a little Vehicle Health Check kit consisting of tread depth gauge, pad measuring tool, disc thickness measuring tool, an inspection mirror, coolant tester, brake fluid tester and a battery tester. If you don't do a basic health check on every job no matter how big or small, you're seriously missing out on both money to be made, but also missing on seeing potentially dangerous shit, or stuff that'd inconvenience a customer (Service light comes on 2 months after the car comes in. Battery goes dead a handful of weeks after you've serviced their car. Get pulled by a copper and told their rear tyres are bald after you've fit wiper blades and a blower motor.) Oh, and don't forget those pesky BMW systems that can tell you when brake fluid is due and when vehicle inspection is due - if you've done a service but there's only 800 miles to brake fluid service, you could have told them about the brake fluid service due and got them to potentially have that done in order to prevent the light coming on in 800 miles again. They'd probably go for it, and you've made a cool £20 out of something that would have needed the wheels off anyway.
I have 3 harbor freight aluminum lites that tilt. Very affordable.. wd40 penetrant. Just bought a can for seized lock cylinder tumblers. Just pulled it out . Now to take it all apart
1) Light(s). I'm not that bright, so I need something that is. 2) Whatever penetrating oil happens to be around. I personally favor Deep Creep. 3) A plastic mirror, about 3"x5" with magnets glued to the back. You can't imagine how handy this can be. 4) Reading glasses - is that a bleeder screw or a smudge on the caliper? And 5) A small sketchbook. I draw the orientation of parts, wiring diagrams, make notes to myself "Not this way, stupid...", etc.
Rechargeable LED headlamp, pneumatic cooling system vacuum refiller, pneumatic cooling system pressure tester, cordless ratchet, and a bent, flat blade, long reach screw driver. That screw driver is the best tool I've "made".
1. FireArms 2. Battery powered Impact or Ratchet 3. Welder 4. Breaker Bar 5. Torch DREAM TOOLS 1. Lift, LOL. 2. Bigger Air Compressor 3. Diag. Scanner like one that does darn near anything, VERY EXPENSIVE 4. Snap On Torque Wrench 5. Fluke Multimeter
Notebook - (notes from a RU-vid video, if I’m doing something for the first couple of times. Notes on connections to reverse assembly. Cell phone photos at times if I don’t have my Motor-manual.) I’m a DYI, so those are a few of my helpers.
im 44 years old. Ive worked on so many cars, motorcycles, atvs... since I was a kid. I can likely count with one hand when Ive had to use a pry bar! I own several. But cant recall why. Ive pulled motors, installed alternators, waterpumps, heads, intakes, oil pans, axels...
5 Favorite Tools - 1 Hammer 2 Chisel 3 Big Hammer 4 Big Chisel 5 Bandages, assorted sizes Also, not a tool but very handy, cell phone with 9 1 1 on speed dial.
The ever-present LED flashlight A can of suitable brake cleaner/contact cleaner Penetrating oil of choice "toothpick" prybar of choice My favorite tool-a 5 lb sledgehammer with a short handle AKA "Hammer of Thor" Works for me! Thanks for the cool video content!
Leatherman (which pretty well gets you to 5 -- plyers, knife, slot screw driver, Philips screen driver, file, church key). Phone - has a light, and RU-vid (which gets me to ECTG when I work on Hondas...) 😉
Pretty standard list. The pocket screw driver is a biggy, though. I've considered making my own with steel rod stock heated cherry red and quenching in oil to crank up the hardness factor. The commercial ones are just too soft. A Dremel... Stunning the number of times I have to go to this tool for small and delicate grinding/cutting operations. The tool is so valuable, I have two or three Craigslist-obtained versions sitting on the shelf in case the current go-to example gets go-to'd too much and loses all its smoke. Not in most shops but I have no idea how I lived without it... A floor standing drill press converted over to a three-phase motor run off a VFD drive. The infinitely adjustable speed makes it a Swiss Army knife of drilling -- glass, plastic, wood, metal, *huge* hole saws, annular cutters, etc. Once again, the number of times I find myself over at the drill press surprises me. Similar to the VFD drill is the 20-ton hydraulic press. I modified the unit with ram gibs which makes the thing a precision pressing implement. I have arbor plates, bending brake, oil filter crusher, etc., accessories. Again, I'm always going to the press... Just a couple of days ago I completely straightened a bent fork tube for a 1970's Schwinn Continental bicycle I'm rebuilding. With the press, I would be searching eBay and such for a another fork. Welders... How the hell did I get anything fixed or built prior to owning welders? I have a half dozen welders I've picked up over the years -- stick, MIG, and spot... TIG will enter the shop at some day. All of the above was purchased second-hand and fixed and/or built at a fraction of the cost of new.
My five would be: 1) Floor Jack (wish I had that nice two-post lift!), 2) Breaker bar (the penetrating oil of the south, perhaps?), 3) my magnetic LED shop light (like Eric’s), 4) my battery-powered impact driver (saves me from pulling out the air compressor except for the big jobs), 5) telescoping magnet to retrieve the constantly dropped bits.
Eric, I envy you. You have a great speaking voice, which makes you a perfect fit for broadcasting. As for my favorite tools, I always have a small utility knife in the pocket of every jacket that I have. Comes in handy at times.:)
As a shadetree mechanic: Light, brake clean, penetration oil, old busted ratchet I use for leverage and a pocket screw driver for those pesky connectors.
I used to have a piece of plywood with two squared off pieces of wood attached. I made it for one project. Ended up being a goto item to do alot of things. Other than that odd thing, I have a pair of panel clip pliers that have taken so much more of the fuss out of repair projects than the single handle pry pullers. Then there is my small impact driver. It's starting to look like it was washed up on a beach. but it's still a goto item.
@@corolla3947 Back in the day, Training in the USAF was described in "Levels". A 3 Level is someone coming out of a Basic Training School. Once on the job and they became proficient and passed exam, then they became a 5 Level. Finally after advancement in rank and additional Training, you reached your 7 Level. A 7 Level normally was highest level of proficiency. In his pocket was a Tweeker or 7 Level Screwdriver.(small flat blade screwdriver).
propane torch... for extra rusted bolt, the best is penetrating oil for like 5mins then torch. My PO doesnt catch fire air hammer that goes the trch too... pulley puller for rotors Antiseize copper/aluminium depend on the application homemade sandblaster again for the red cancer... Can't wait for you comparaison about brake cleaner! I use isopropyl alcohol to remove fluid film like undercoating and degreasing part. It,s strong but doesnt damage paint or rubber in most case and it evaporate without residue. Also I always wear a VOC mask with N95 prefilter for the chemical and for the rust dust that fly everywhere
My long reach and short Snap On 3/8 14.4 cordless ratchets,Milwaukee M18 mid torque 3/8 impact,Grey Pnuematic duo socket set and a pro grade 32 Oz hammer I have had for a long time
#1 my Benchmade Lock blade. Finally retired 1 after 20+ years bought a new one #2 Flashlight’s 2 stingers 1 Stylus in my pocket #3 my laptop & info service. Hell you have to look up where the battery is stashed in modern cars. Don’t pop off with a price to change a light bulb either # 4 a Quality Scan tool. You need to scan for Everything these days #5 Cell phone. I can email & Text for Parts. I’ve been a professional for over 30 years. Last 20 in my own shop. I got A lot of cool tools. I’m like “Damn” sometimes. & my Box is from the 90’s but Eric asked for my Essentials. All them things make it almost impossible for me to work or at least make it a bad day
Eric! This is your (yearly?) reminder to arrange for some etcg branded pocket screwdrivers so we can buy them, and you can get rich off of them. I'll keep saying it until we finally get them :D
My essentials for my 26 year old pickup? Duct tape, bailing wire, E600 glue, scrap sheet metal and self tapping screws. About 30% of the truck consists of glue.
1- Light 2- Brake cleaner 3- Penetrating fluid 4- Cleaning rags. That's just for confience 5- Electric impact wrench...cuz I'm too lazy to unscrew things by hand (and 6- 10mm socket screwdriver) But lets be honest, a lot of things come back to the tool cart very often....like spanners, ratchets and sockets. And the most common precision tool: Le hammer
The internet in general, RU-vid in particular. I spent 45 minutes trying to get brakes on a Kia Soul. I was going from the inside out, nope, you go from the outside in. It's best to know how to repair something, or at least get an idea, before jumping in.
My top essentials are a pocket Multi tool. and a bright led pen light and a shop rag in my back pocket and also use my laptop so i can look up information when needed. I also keep a 12 ft tape measure near by.
As a generator tech I’d say the top tools are as follows. 1. Keys, if you can’t get into the unit you can’t service it. 2. Pocket items, streamlight stylist pro. Maxcraft pocket screw driver? White out pen and sharpie, pen. 3. Fluke 117 multi meter. 4. Tablet/cellphone as a resource center, pictures, and controller software. 5. Service vehicle: should pry be #1 but I’m too lazy to swap it around. If your can’t reliably get to job site you can’t work. If you can’t store the necessary parts and supplies… you can’t work… Honorable mentions are intuition/experience.
My favorite tool is a my 14mm/17mm box wrench. It’s great for loosening and tightening oil pan drain plugs on our Toyotas and Hondas. And, it keeps me from stripping the hex head of the screw and it also keeps me from over tightening them and stripping the threads.
For penetrating oil, there's this stuff called Mouse Milk that works exceptionally well. It's been around for eons, but not well known outside aerospace. It can be had from the little 'Bezos' outfit.
I got that sure shot sprayer for free from a job site, but I find bulk brake cleaner is more expensive per once than ones in aerosol cans. Especially when they are on sale. So, I just fill it with acetone and it seems to the job just fine. Non-chlorinated brake cleaner is mostly acetone anyway.
Hi Eric, I thought about building/welding two short 6 point impact sockets to a flat bar, as a double ring end wrench/double box end wrench, for the two most common oil pan bolts sizes, 14mm, 17mm, so when oil change, then this is the wrench, maybe two wrenches if there are more than two oil pan bolt sizes, well built my grandsons will inherit them after I'm gone from life years off.
I really can’t limit it to five but I ll try just for fun. A light of course especially since I’ve gotten older, 1/2 “ gun for removing wheels when doing whatever and well you know. Sockets of all kinds. I have 1/2” drive simi deep swivel impact sockets that I have had for about 20 years now and I still love them. Ratchets of all types . 1/4 “ 1/2” 3/8” regular, long handle . Ratchets and sockets. Some type of pry tool like a oh I don’t know maybe a screwdriver or an actual pry bar . A hammer yep . Wrenches of course and rages because I am always wiping my hands or cleaning something. I have leaned the hard way over time about making messes and how shit is just shit. I really try to work as clean and professional as possible so I always have a rag in my hand or pocket. These days a scan tool sure helps out a lot also. Kinda of funny because about four months ago I landed a job that actually supplies all of my tools. It one of the few things that I am not crazy about but the money is good so I can deal with it lol. I miss my tools sometimes though
I'm glad I'm not the only one that has an unusual love for their pocket screw driver. Mine also shares a pocket with a pen light and an ink stick haha. Such a useful trio.
I would change the brake clean with a socket wrench (with a 10mm socket!). I use a socket wrench 99% of the time. I also use a HEAD light, which I cannot understand why anyone would use anything else. BUT, I am not a pro, just a rideshare driver that has to do maintenance on my old Honda's frequently.
for the spray canasters you put break clean in, i got a 2 pack and put iso-alcohol in one (good cleaner that is safe on most things) and then breakclean in the other, which i usually take my dead or half empty cans and empty them into it so i dont have 10 cans of brake clean that i dont know which one works or not (couldnt find a cheap source of bulk brake clean at the time so filling with random spray cans works for me at the time)
My five essentials are number one, 1/4" drive 10mm socket, number two, 3/8" drive 10mm socket, number three, 1/2" drive 10mm socket, number four 10mm combination wrench, number four, 10mm 3/8" drive swivel impact socket, number five, A Computer so I can watch Eric the Car Videos! 😁😂🤣
