Once in a while tools

[Bill Houghton]

Or "better to have them and not need them until you do" tools.

Even though I have scant shop space, I've managed, over the years, to accumulate some tools, mainly hand tools, that justify a home in the shop by being really, really useful every year or so.

Today, I was doing an R&R on the window air conditioner to replace the side wing that I managed to break when putting it in a month ago (never set a heavy, bulky object on a cardboard box that's sitting on a mattress; the box was fine, just a bit tippy; now I've added "repair gouged drywall in guest cottage" to my list). The screws in the little clips that retain the AC unit on the windowsill, and the screws that fasten the side wings to the windowsill, are tight up against the AC unit and the wings, respectively, and it's very hard to get a good grip with a regular Phillips screwdriver, and to turn the driver, because they're so close. In the past, I've just cussed, but today, I remembered this:



Long enough to clear the air conditioner, so I could apply it straight on to the screw head, and turn the handle freely. I can't remember what I paid for it at some yard sale - $1? $2? Regardless, it's well worth it, even if I only ever use it twice a year (AC in for summer/out for winter).

I'm sure y'all have got similar tools: exactly the right tool to do something efficiently that you hardly ever do.

Marie Kondor, or whatever her name is, is not welcome in my shop, thank you.

[lptools]

Hello, Bill. I hope that all is well!! Surely, we all have at least 1 of those "special" tools. When I first looked, I only saw the ruler, and I thought "This guy is really good, he got the job done with a ruler", Regards, Lou

[d42jeep]

I found this slotted screwdriver at an estate sale in February. It is so long that it had to go in the screwdriver drawer at an angle. I'm not sure that I will use it often but I had to have it when I saw it.
-Don

[bonneyman]

I love extra-long phillips drivers. 

Picked up a Pratt-Read 24"er form Epsteins some years ago. It's great!

[papadan]

I've got a pair of 24" straight and phillips with wood handles. Picked them up at Harbor freight about 25 years ago. Drilled the handles and put twine in them, hand on a nail in the garage just fine.

[Northwoods]

Dang.  Thought maybe I could top you guys.  Mine is only 23 1/2" and 9" of that is wood handle.
It is a beauty, though.  Square shank.  flat blade.  Barrel-shaped hex handle with three grooves. Steel cap.
Looks much like the old wood Plomb handles--in fact, I assumed that was what it was until I looked close.
It's a MASTER-GRIP      WILDE    KC. MO.
I live near Topeka, and so Wilde items are fairly common, but I've never seen another of their screwdrivers of that type.
Traded it to an old gent for an aging--but not Los Angeles--Proto 3/8" ratchet.  It was a little noisy, so I pulled the dipstick out of his tractor and oiled it.  He was happy, and so was I.

[d42jeep]

Looks like the Bay Area branch of the clan has the same Snap-on #2 Phillips. My #1 Xcelite driver is only around 14" long. Here are all of the long ones.
-Don Houghton

[Bill Houghton]

That's very strange, Don.  I have what looks to be the identical honkin' big flat bladed Snap On driver.  Don't have the third, shorter one, though.

[Dubdoc]

I picked up a bunch of forceps and a set of titanium medics scissors a while ago. They are great !

[Yadda]

 This is is my set of wood handle screwdrivers. Cobra brand, 24 inches.

[papadan]

Yadda, those are the same as the ones I got from HF a long time ago, just didn't get a case with them.

[cody6268]

I picked up a bunch of forceps and a set of titanium medics scissors a while ago. They are great !

While surgical, they'll save your rear end for a lot of stuff. The forceps/hemostats fit into really tight spaces, and serve as light-duty clamps.   

Trauma shears, or medic shears as you call them, for heavy materials, are the best danged scissors one can buy.  Paracord (and pretty much any smaller cordage) and zip ties are no match, as well as that dreaded clam packaging. Most are self-sharpening as well.