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Member's Forum What is the most useful tool you ever made?
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  • Replies 62 replies
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  • clever custom tools
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What is the most useful tool you ever made?

dougw
dougw over 2 years ago

There are many great topics that relate to tools, and there are endless numbers of tools to discuss, but inevitably we run into situations where we don't have a good tool for the job and have to cobble a tool together to complete the work.

I make some little tool to do a specific job all the time, but I never stop to think whether it is a remarkable tool. I don't even document that  I made a tool.

I don't think we ever asked the question - what is the best tool you ever made, so I'm asking now. If you are like me it is going to take some time to recall something significant. In fact I am posting this question before I even have my own answer, but give it some thought. I suspect the answers will be interesting.

My most recent tool was just a wooden needle to apply ink to a 3D print - much more precise than a paint brush. I'm sure when I scan through some of my projects, I will come up with something better....

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  • davebullockmbe
    davebullockmbe over 2 years ago

    In the days when I was building equipment with myriads of BNC connectors it was a 'pain' to get all the 'pins' perfectly lined up and looking professional.
    So I whipped up this tool from some scrap brass rod that secured the BNC from rotating whilst tightening the nut using a terminal screwdriver as a 'tommy bar'image.
    Simple but very effective.
    Dave

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  • kmikemoo
    kmikemoo over 2 years ago in reply to davebullockmbe

    davebullockmbe Laughing  I have something like that for turning the valves on my sump pump plumbing.  I will have to copy your tool. Thumbsup

    image

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  • beacon_dave
    beacon_dave over 2 years ago in reply to kmikemoo

    I've seen similar constructions for turning off mains water supplies at the kerbside. The water pipes over here tend to be buried at somewhere between 750mm to 1350mm to prevent freezing in winter.

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  • beacon_dave
    beacon_dave over 2 years ago in reply to kmikemoo

    I've seen similar constructions for turning off mains water supplies at the kerbside. The water pipes over here tend to be buried at somewhere between 750mm to 1350mm to prevent freezing in winter.

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