Tools that do lots of jobs

[Zak33]

Lo DIY'ers and tool freaks

On account of PeterB, my esteemed colleague and all round top bloke.. disagreeing on a log splitting maul being a perfectly good sledge hammer when used with the flat side.. something which he and I will possibly now argue about until the world don't turn no more ......

What other tools do you lot have that, frankly, are so a bloody good job for other stuff?


My example (apart from a log splitting maul being used PERFECTLY well for a sledge hammer)

is this




Yes I own one.. I use it a LOT

What do I use it for mostly?

Well.. as a hammer actually. Having split plenty of kindling with it once (box loads) .. it gets used as a hammer WEEKLY.. I simply use the back of it.

AND.. I use it for pulling nails out.

Did it this weekend.. wanted to move some 6 inch nails in the garage from one place to another so the tools that hang from them are in as different place...I used my hatchet

I didn't for ONE moment consider opening the tool box to get the hamer out.. the hatchet was the FIRST thing I thought of......

what tool do YOU have, of any sort or size.. that you use for a secondary or even... third use?

[peterb]

I use a bit of old telescopic aerial to extract the pins from molex sockets (Its just the right size!)

But I do like that hatchet - with the designed notch for nail pulling

[virtuo]

I have an electric heat gun that is used mainly for lighting coal fires.

And I've unfortnately found a damp finger to be a convenient tool to check for live cables.

Other than that, tools are generally used for what they were designed for.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

A knife.

[g8ina]

Brummie Screwdriver

[BradIey]

Second after a hammer witch you already kinda said with that hatchet monstrosity I'd go with a pair of pliers or my multitool witch is a cheat and a half lol.

[scott1541]

Sidecutters, they're ideal for loads of things where cutting or stripping is involved. I have a pair sitting on my desk right now.

I use a bit of old telescope aerial to extract the pins from molex sockets (Its just the right size!)

Now that's a good idea. I'll remember that next time I need to extract molex pins, I usually just use a knife.

[Zak33]

I have an electric heat gun that is used mainly for lighting coal fires.

that is genius

Next time my neighbour is totally failing to light his BBQ .. I might lend him my heat gun!

[Zak33]

I have a leaf blower.... it's also a garden vacuum

most people think they're crap but I like mine,... it seems to be doing little and then it's FULL of leaves...

but... I have another use for it.....


I use it on BLOW .. to blast the water off my car after I washed it before polishing.

Yes.. it's like a DIY wond tunnel and YES.. I have used it to test lift on a model aeroplane

and NO.. there is no film (anymore) of me doing so.

[kalniel]

The humble rubber mallet



Useful for hitting anything that you don't want to scar the surface of. Including users.

[Zak33]

The humble rubber mallet



Useful for hitting anything that you don't want to scar the surface of. Including users.

but that's what it's for...

now if you'd said you use it for making soup..I'd have been impressed!

[Butcher]

I have used an ice axe to open coconuts before...

One of these in fact:


The hammer bit on the back combined with the long handle gives it a really good swing.

[Funkstar]

A Brick Hammer.

I've never split a brick, but mine has split several pallets, helped take down a wall, removed tiles from another wall, and helped to destruct a fife stone fireplace.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Chinese Military Shovel WJQ-308.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b60OZhrTB6o

[stevie lee]

apart from side cutters as nail scissors, and a 12" mitre saw to cut apart a pack of frozen chicken (long pack with 12 breasts in it, only wanted 2) I generally just use the tools the way they were intended.


I have used 'modified tools' that make the original tool pale in comparison.
semi portable 12v drill* with 70A battery was good. they usually have up to 4A batteries, but when you work in a workshop and don't tend to need tools that are that portable, remove the normal tiny battery, solder on some long ish wires with crocodile clips on the end. use the ample supply of scrap/spare 12v batteries you have laying around in a mobility scooter workshop. even a knackered battery can last a few weeks of continuous use.

why not just use a normal drill I hear you ask ?? well if you are out in the middle of a field at a flowershow and need to drill some stuff, the scooters have 2 x 12v batteries on them


*also works with those battery powered air pumps.

[wasabi]

Reciprocating saw is my best multitool. Acts as stand-in chainsaw and fencepost nail cutter plus part-time jigsaw. Brilliant bit of kit - fave thing after SDS+ drill.