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Cool Tools Kit Awards 2020

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Hello Community, and happy March to all of you!

 

Some of you might be thinking to yourselves - what is Cool Tools? Isn't that a bit familiar? And indeed it is. We ran a fun campaign nearly two years ago to talk about awesome tools as a sneaky way to get you all to show us your work benches (check out the original post here: Cool Tools Bench Awards 2018.) We originally thought about doing this annually, but last year we got caught up in an endless winter here in the Chicago offices that left us wanting anything but to think about the cold. However, now that we have experienced our first actual spring day, we have de-thawed, and we're excited to bring you the Cool Tools Kit Awards 2020!

 

What is the Kit Awards?

 

Previously, we asked the Community to share their work benches but now we're curious - if you could only have one kit for the rest of your life - let's call it your desert island kit - what would be in it? Is there a particular tool that has outlasted all others? Is there some indispensable piece of equipment that, if you were to lose it, would be cause for tearing out your hair (as if sorrow would be made less by baldness?)

 

In the comments below, we want you to tell us about your desert island kit - show us in pictures or video, go into as much detail as you want to tell us what would be in it and why. If you don't want to talk about an entire kit, pick out one of your Cool Tools and describe it under categories such as:

 

  • Oldest Friend (tool that you've had the longest)
  • The Most Reliable (the tool you use most often)
  • Weapons Rack (the tool that you'd proudly put on display if you had to)
  • Dream Tool (a tool that either you don't believe exists, or for whatever reason you've never purchased)
  • Or, make up your own category to talk about a tool that you think everyone should have in their kit!

 

What's in it for me?

 

We're giving everyone on the Community through the end of March to leave comments on this post for a chance to win some great tools from our revamped Multicomp Pro line (like the ones below) as well as from others by some of our great partners like Flir, Fluke, Knipex, Klein and others.

 

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Buy Now

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Buy Now

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Buy Now

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Buy Now

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Buy Now

 

 

Then, every Friday in April we'll be picking some winners from the comments below to win prizes. All you need to do is tell us about your desert island kit or one of your favorite tools. To make it even more fun, our Multicomp Pro team has agreed to put together a great prize pack to whoever comes up with what they think is the coolest of the Cool Tools Desert Island Kits! So have some fun with this and leave your comments below. You have all of March to get in your comments, so no need to beware the Ides.

 

We're so excited to see what you all come up with!

 

Want another way to get your hands on some of these Cool Tools? Check out out the RoadTests & Reviews space where will be launching RoadTests for some of these items. Apply for the first one here: Cool Tools 2020: USB Soldering Iron

Attachments:
imageCool Tools Kit Awards 2020.pdf
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  • The Unsung Hero Category

    There are a few tools I use all the time, like my DVM, my soldering iron, my tweezers, my stereo microscope, my vise, my drill press, and my xacto knife; and then there are tools I use for long periods of time, like my 3D printer, my camera and my computer. But there is one cool tool I use more often than any of these indispensable tools. I wouldn't say it is my favorite tool, but I do like it a lot and I use it for a wide variety of electrical and mechanical tasks - every day, often many times per day. I heartily recommend everyone invest in a good one, you will never regret it. You might argue that a DVM or a soldering iron is more important, but this tool is right up there in importance as well as frequency of use and it will improve your performance in many situations. It prevents costly mistakes, saves time and may even make your work products look better. It truly is an unsung hero.

    Well, what is it?

    You can probably guess, but if not, I am going to wait 24 hours before adding a picture to this comment....

    In the mean time, feel free to guess in the comments below.....image

    Congratulations your second guess was correct. My Mitutoyo calipers are butter smooth and incredibly handy. The exact model I have seems to be old and rare although it looks very similar to models with the same model number. I couldn't get half of my PCBs and 3D prints to work without this tool. It makes a huge difference in the fit and finish of everything I make.

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    Before you buy a caliper try it out and see how long it takes to adjust it to a precise number and how many times you have to wiggle it around to get the number. Many calipers have variable friction, too much friction, not enough friction (too sloppy) or sticky places. This one has remained perfectly smooth throughout its full travel for decades. I have lots of cheap tools that I am perfectly happy with, but for calipers I would really want something like this quality.

    Once you try one of this quality, you will want one. Treat yourself - you deserve it. It will save decades of frustration.

     

    (and no - I don't gain anything by plugging this tool image)

  • in reply to dougw

    My calipers were inexpensive.  I was just looking at the Mitutoyo models this past week and considering a purchase.

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