just for fun... favorite hand tool

telectrix · Jun 5, 2018

as title. what is your favorite hand tool that you've had for donkeys. i'll start with my trusted weller soldering iron, bought in 1974 and still going strong. it's on about it's 12th tip, but can out perform any of these modern wimpy irons. same as this one, but 240V.
Weller 8200 k 120-Volt 90/125 Watts Soldering Iron Gun Dual Heat Expert | eBay - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Weller-8200-k-120-Volt-90-125-Watts-Soldering-Iron-Gun-Dual-Heat-Expert-/113033135543

Dave OCD · Jun 5, 2018

[ElectriciansForums.net] just for fun... favorite hand tool

Had this over 20 years and used every day, only for fixings usually.

telectrix · Jun 5, 2018

had same. 25 years old.gave it to my lad a coup[le of years ago, just after getting the snap-on man to replace the ratchet mechanism for free under the lifetime warranty

Dave OCD · Jun 5, 2018

Yep they're a lovely bit of kit Tel, my ratchet is still holding on even though it's had a heck of a lot of use. I've probably gone through about 150PZ 2 bits over the years.

Leesparkykent · Jun 5, 2018

Dave OCD said:
Yep they're a lovely bit of kit Tel, my ratchet is still holding on even though it's had a heck of a lot of use. I've probably gone through about 150PZ 2 bits over the years.

I probably loose that many bits a year lol

Dave OCD · Jun 5, 2018

Harder to lose in my good old Snap On Lee, it's magnetic which is a great advantage.

Andy78 · Jun 5, 2018

I've got plenty of favourite tools, but none I've had Donkeys years. Partly because I had all my tools nicked a decade ago, and partly because I'm younger than Tel's soldering iron.

happysteve · Jun 5, 2018

From my dad, retired joiner. Vintage unknown, probably '60s or '70s.

LankyWill · Jun 5, 2018

Just one is hard for a tool tart Tel, had these 200mm pliers for two years now and their my favourite. They feel like an extra limb and are surprisingly comfortable, had the snips but they’re crap compared to my trusty 180mm knipex clutters.

I bet Pete is in bits trying to choose one, probably in cold sweats in the garage loosing his mind.

Squid · Jun 5, 2018

Used to be my Elliot Lucas pliers or CK side cutters from the 80's but they have worn badly so are secondary tools, my favourite or precious tools are my Stahlwille pipe/five hole wrench which I thought I lost recently and was shocked to find that a replacement was about £100 owned it since 1983 also my hammer fibreglass shaft fantastic to use and owned since about 1982. If I lost either of them two I would cry.

telectrix · Jun 5, 2018

happysteve said:
From my dad, retired joiner. Vintage unknown, probably '60s or '70s.

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i'd say that was 30's or40's.i remember from childhood my dad had a couple just like that, and they were fairly old then. he was building furniture in the 30's before he buggered off to Egypt and Libya, something to do with the Afrika Korps being naughty boys.

Squid · Jun 5, 2018

@telectrix as a data cabler I used a 240V soldering iron but for temp or repair work I also had a Portasol with a fine tip, still have it after 30 years, it leaks and doesn't hold the gas but its a nice tool to use, I have a newer version quick start but old skool is kool,