[dorkbotdc-blabber] Make: Online Toolbox

[Kohn, Philip (NIH/NIMH) [E]]

Great thread, but I can see it is going to cost me a few more tool purchases.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Wiha 75994 screwdriver set
http://tinyurl.com/anujes
Love this screwdriver set for a few reasons.  The case opens and folds back to make a nice stand.
It has a huge assortment of bits including the tiny jewelers sizes.  It is static safe.  It has an extension.
The best part is you can take all the bits and put them in a very small plastic container and then the whole thing is lighter and takes up less space than most multitools.

Swiss Army Explorer
http://tinyurl.com/d8mp8g
I have an embarrassingly large collection of multitools, and I still come back to the good old swiss army knife.
The explorer is the best because it has a surprisingly usable Phillips bit.  It comes out the side (unlike most that come out the middle - I still don't understand how you are supposed to use them!).  Also it comes to a good point at the tip so you can use it on a pretty wide range of screw sizes without stripping.  It really is the best Phillips of any multitool I've tried (although the Swisstool Spirit is similar).
The scissor is still the best among multitools this size.  The magnifier is also pretty decent, extremely useful and not found on most other tools.
In general it has the most important tools and not all the other fish scalers and stuff I don't need.
It is pocket size and lighter than many others (although still just a little heavy for everyday pocket carry, even for me).

Leatherman Squirt E4
http://tinyurl.com/afhs4z
For pocket carry, and if you do electronic work, this is the must have.
It is very small and has wire strippers, cutters and needle nose pliers (sort of).
It also has a few very small screwdrivers, and even a sort of half-ass Phillips.
The best part is the tools open from the outside like a swiss knife, you don't have to open the pliers to get at them.
To be honest, I've started carrying the scissor version because lately I use scissor much more often than I strip wires.

Fenix Digital Flashlights
http://tinyurl.com/c3nn2t
These are very expensive, but amazing flashlights.  They come in all sizes, some of which are very pocketable.
They have 5 or more modes that you can change by turning them on and off.
These give you a good range of trade offs between runtime (up to 13 days in "survival" mode) and brightness (up to 120 Lumens which is nearly blinding) in "turbo" mode.
The output is regulated so the brightness doesn't change as the battery drains (down side is you don't get much warning when it does die).
It is very well made, waterproof, lightweight, etc. etc.


A paper clip
Take one, unbend it and wrap one end around your keyring so you can hit that reset hole when you need it.
Very frustrating not to have this, and most multitools don't have anything that works for this purpose, and it is cheap!!

Finger nails
I hate having to get out a stylus, and worrying about losing it, etc.  I have learned how to make a blunted point on my index finger nail to use as a stylus for PDAs and phones. Don't make it too pointy or it will catch on something and break off.  Also it can be very subtle so no one knows how geeky you are. I have also started making a small point on left edge of my thumb nail for vertical scrolling, it works pretty well!
Best part: it's free!


Many more....


P.S.  Sounds like I missed a great meeting, somehow slipped my mind and more importantly PIM.

Gareth Branwyn wrote:
> Hello Gareth's Brain Trust
>
> For my next Make: Online Toolbox column, I want to do 5-10 tools that you didn't know you couldn't live without until you've lived with them -- or um, something like that. The basic idea is tools that become an indispensable part of your workflow once you discover them. They can be anything from a modest tool (solder tip cleaning genie) to something more substantial (a laser cutter).
>
> What are some of your candidates?
>
> So as not to unnecessarily burden your in-box, my next column after that will be on jigs, rigs, and clamps. What are some of your favorite third hands around the shop?
>
>
> Thanks so much for your input. Always appreciated. If I use your suggestions, I will provide links 'o love back to your websites.
>
>
> Gareth
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