My goto stuff is 18v lith ion Ryobi One+ stuff, impact drivers, drills, flashlights converted to LED - multiples. I also have the impact wrench which is really decent and angle grinder, chain saw, power saws, saber saw jig saw, paint sprayer. I even have the Lith weed wacker & blower, also have the radio. Have built TON's of stuff with steel, wood & self tappers, really heavy use. I've been waiting for them to come out with a one like the small Milwaukee shown at the begginning of the thread.... Might have to get one. I've been working with the Harbor Freight 12v lith ion at work (just bought one for my self) which is decent enough for running screws all day without excerbating my tennis elbow. No tool truck stuff, but I will spend some decent $ protool type stuff in blow-mold cases. Grab n Go.

My favorite tool however is the PowerProbe electrical testing tool. Does 0 to 48volt dc. Bad. Ass. for diagnostics.

I'm in the beginning of my Mini project and my tool list is limited but sufficent thus far, I've picked up some things here and there as needed. I have your standard wrench sets (ratchet and non-, Metric and Standard), 3lb rubber mallet, some safety glasses, solid jack stands, a good Jack, and the advantage of small hands and only being 5'7" so I fit well under the car with room to move and get some leverage on the stuck bits.

Currently I'm working on the rear end and my most useful tool(s) is a can of PB Blaster, extra long breaker bar, my strong neighbor Rick and a bucket of Oxalic solution to soak my rusty parts in.

On my to purchase list is a decent size Air Compressor.

I must admit that I have WAY less tools than most of you. When I had my BMW and was on the forum often they spoke of the Harbor Freight ball joint splitter. Though I'm a fan of quality tools you buy once and they always work, the splitter is just two hunks of steel with a bolt. I recall fighting a ball joint on the mini for what seemed like days. Had I known of the splitter it would have been a cake walk.

I have a set of standard and metric wrenches that have seen many many cars. I'm sure there are dozens of tools that could make my life easier (including my compressor and air tools) but there is something about manually wrenching on my car. It's like chopping wood and building a fire or cooking a great meal. Satisfaction.

My floor jack was my most HATED tool. I put up with a $20 Sears jack with broken wheels and missing parts for YEARS. I finally got one of those high speed aluminum ones. Perfect for the mini. Not so good for the van.

Most stupid tool? My wire stripper. I got it at a barn sale and thought it was gimmicky. Yes, it is. Never works right. You can pop the wire in your teeth and strip it in seconds or you can use that ridiculous tool and get crappy results in minutes.

If we're including equipment as well as tools, my 415V 3-ph rotary compressor is quite nice - many horsiepowers and quiet to boot.

Zip - Right with ya!  - My dad has that for his acre plus of leaves-- now he wrangles them all easily.  THen he CHOPS THEM again for MULCH everywhere.

  My property is only large enough for a push mower - so my bundles then chopped are just fine-- My leaves are taken care of in a few days- but then my neighbors blow round and come back for more- but they ultimatly meet their chopped death.

 

 

my neighbor has one of those chippers, gawd! it too noisy! sounds like an airplane crashing!.. 3 other neighbors call the sheriff on them.. i like the electric chipper better.

Jedduh01,
If you have enough space to turn amoung the trees, look into one of these:

www.cyclonerake.com/

My neighbor has had one for about 12 years now. He's kind* enough to rid my lot of leaves.
Looks just like you vacuumed the yard when done.

 

*-He really just wants the leaves/clippings for his compost pile.

Love it all the items we aquire! and love.

--  Im kinda thinking i have most the same tools in some way shape or form.  Chainsaws - mounts etc. - I have an unwritten rule - If you have to borrow or think youll need a tool more than 3 times-- You need to own it...now this hasn't been quite true for 2-3 items i got. Port A Power Press - Used once--  And  a Delux Brake Piston Press tool.  Good for european cars but only have used Twice- But since i have it, they're ready to go!

Those like Coopertune do the tool thing daily each and every day-  Hearing how he has a Dirty Rooom + 2 Parts washers = exactly like my dads shop ! I think they;re almost twins.

Park Tool Cable Cutters ARE Great for a good home mechanic -Daily Bike- sure probably wear out.- I just re did my deck railings with 3/16 Cable strands and those cutters did the job wonderully. Didnt have the Crimper to put the ferrules on - so i brought the 6" Vice to the Deck to finish that job.

Like the other Tools mentioned ! i guess within time we all collect as needed - or find- or save or re create - I also have a chipper / shredder to live by 3 months of the year
 (fully wooded house - and the city requires leaves in bags - NOPE ! Make Mulch! )
 

I can't live without on an every day basis.

* Compressor

* Hobart 220 V mig welder

* 3 angle grinder each with different discs for different jobs.

* Air powered cut off disc tool

* 80,000 BTU heater in garage

* TV with satellite

* 48" Box and Pan metal brake

Multitude of other tools

 

But this is the one I can not at this time live without. Restoring a 1956 Austin Healey 100-4

//www.bestbuyautoequipment.com/Auto-Lift-CR-3000-Car-Rotisserie-p/al-cr-3000.htm

 

 

 

John, that is cool and wild looking.

Probably only available to the Europen market, who is the maker ?

(I like to see specs if they have a website)

One thing I liked about that chipper I repaired/modded was the large chute that could be lowered flat to rake in brush rather than bending and lifting, could be used either way though.

Not a bad chipper!  More power is a good thing; this is mine:

On the topic of tools, anybody like saving tools from certain death ?

Neighbor was tossing this in the middle of winter, gas tank filled with water,(so was the block) block cracked.

Thru in the truck. Found and electric start Honda engine (ebay),went from 5 to 7hp, (Tim Allen "More Power !")

Used some rubber mounts from an Austin-Healey to mount the battery.

Had to run at about half throttle, ok, it was a bit too much.

Should have used this one when filming "Fargo".

 

Where do you start with tools? Guess I can start in my dirty room 20 X 50 with overhead door. Work bench with small vise, Pexto table, bench grinder, wire wheel and buffer. Moving down wall glass bead cabinet, small soda blast cabinet, small corn cob blast cabinet. Around corner big door then compressor, shear, brake, two parts cleaners dirty and less dirty. Next 6 X 48 belt sander, drill press, band saw, milling machine, press, 110 Miller mig, 220 Miller mig, 220 Miller tig and plasma cutter. My 400 lb. welding table with big vise. One small 5 drawer tool box with special tools bits cutters reamers and general craftman hand tools. Also a spit for shells and a frame machine for sub frame assembly and alignment. I also built a two level loft for sheet metal lower and fiberglass body bits on top level. Almost forgot about the two 14 inch chop saws. Big Snap On box is in big part of shop. Steve (CTR)

my sandblasting cabinet,

If you're looking for cable cutters for the throttle and choke these are the ones you want.

//www.felcousa.com/felco/pages/product.page?name=FELCO%20C7

Not many self respecting bike mechanics use the Park cutter, they're designed to cut both the casing and the inner wire which they don't do either very well.

omg, stay away from craftsman, porter cable, briggs and stratton and skill they're disposable.... stick with dewalt , makita and milwaukee all the way.

i can't believe you have craftsmann in your list.....aaanyway , i guess to each his own. 

Where to start on such a delightful thread !

Tools are Craftsman, Sykes Pickavant, Draper or V.L. Churchill. 
Zippy, amongst others, can attest to the size of my collection - a collection large enough that even KC ducked out ouf of a Churchill competition...

Possibly my favourites are the Sykes primary gear oil seal removal tool and the Churchill radius arm bearing & bush removers. 

Those are nice. I found a better deal from Lorena Bobbit's website.

I keep one set in my tool box, another in my hunting bag. 

Most of my tools are Snap-On. Not really brand loyal, just been more conveniant over the years.

Big welder in S-O, made by Miller. Compressor is S-O. Large tool box S-O. Wrenches, sockets, air tools are S-O.

Couple of Mac tools (like my dwell meter), some eastwood (body tools), Sharpe and Sata spray guns. Now I do have a HF detail gun that I like for door jams, detail work. Hard to beat for the price. A few Woodward Fab tools (Heck Ind)

Sold off the last of my chainsaws. Husqvarna, but not just any Husky. Modified saws from Don & John Walkers saw shop in Nanaimo, BC on Vancouver Island. I like performance, work or play. 

Yeah, I'm a tool snob. Like things to work. Like things to last. Willing to pay more up front, get more on the back side/long term.

Just glad the wife has never asked how much money I've spent on tools over the years.

Not sure I want to know either. 

I've used these tools when working on wiring projects.
Bullet closing tool
Bullet Crimping tool
Spade connector crimping tool

This was really handy for yanking the needle bearings out of the front arms. No hacksaw/pry the remains out with a screwdriver with this. Just expand the collet behind the bearing, give it a whack from the other end and bearing is out. No muss, no fuss. 

Although I do like to purchase Murican tools, the only blind bearing pullers I could find at the time were:
Snap-On at $400+
Harbor Fright at $36*

*Damn, the price has really gone up over the past 7 years....
www.harborfreight.com/blind-hole-bearing-puller-95987.html