Favorite cheap tools

[TechNova]

Plastic Fastener Remover: Makes quick work for removing all those plastic fasteners from trim panels, radiator shrouds, etc. Bonus, you'll be breaking far fewer than if you were using pliers or screwdrivers.

I have a whole drawer full of clip tools, I probably can't call them cheap tools anymore.

 

[Eveready]

Can’t forget the HF magnetic trays, pick set, and trim panel tools! Use them every day!

I have magnetic tray near the lathe for the chuck wrench and same on top of the drill press. Best way I have found yet to keep up with them.

 

[F4U-1A]

My wife. (going to take heat for this one), and that is GOOD, I am tired of winter and I am cold.

 

[HotWheelsBurban]

I have magnetic tray near the lathe for the chuck wrench and same on top of the drill press. Best way I have found yet to keep up with them.

I have several of those little magnetic parts trays. Couple are in the ammo box toolbox, in the back of the Burb, to keep the tiny sockets and drill driver tools handy. I used one, and the plastic trim tools, when changing the inside door handle assemblies. Keeps the little parts and fasteners from landing in the driveway and turning into gravel! Also great to have on a water pump change, to keep the fan shroud bolts in.

 

[Dariusz Salomon]

Scalpel blades-on a handle.

 

[Macs Garage]

I used to buy die grinder cut of wheels from Harbor Fright because they were cheap like me. Ran out and bought one at Napa. After the initial stickler shock I realized that the Napa outlasted several cheap ones and cost less on the long run. That is until you drop the die grinder and break the cut off wheel.
Best expensive cheap tool was a 20 ton press off a tool sale from traveling vender. Harbor Freight type stuff.
Sold my Harbor Freight tire changer at my auction when I down sized at moved to town. Missed it so much I bought another!

 

[Eveready]

I guess "cheap" is a relative thing . I have a HF 24 gallon air compressor that I have had for 20 years. I celebrated its 16th with an oil change and that is it I moved it here from another state 15 years ago and it never missed a beat. Its noisy but 100 pounds of compressed air is a remarkable persuader in many situations. It wore out a hose recently and I just gave it a new one.

 

[termite]

One of my favorite "cheap" tools is the die grinder from an Advanced air tool set i was given in high school around 2005-2006 by my brother. Think the set was maybe $100 and had air hammer, 1/2 impact, die grinder, and assorted sockets, air gun, etc to go with it all. Die grinder works better than an IR i bought when I worked in the tooling maintenance shop for a plastic injection molding plant.

Otherwise, I'll vote for ziplock bags and sharpies for small parts.

 

[MILLCMACK]

ratcheting cresent wrenches from HF. short handle one was perfect for the distributor hold down bolt.

 

[thinger2]

The why are expensive hand tools better than cheap tools thread got me thinking about my favorite cheap (under $20) tools.

1. Paper clips. I use them to back probe wires. I touch them to the grinder and heat the tip when I want to pierce wires. I use them as short jumper wires. I slide them over wires and put tape on them to label wires. Occasionally I even use them to hold papers.

2. Ratchet straps. I'd be dead without these. These are my strong, 3rd 4th and 5th hands and they never have to stop and rest unlike me. I use them for temporary crossmembers, leveling engines on the cherry picker, holding up driveshafts and any place where I need help.

3. Magnetic spark plug socket. I kind of thought that this was a gimmick. I only bought it because I was a few dollars short of free shipping from Summit and I found this for under $10. I love, love, love it! No more screwing around with those stupid rubber inserts that are too darn tight so I rip them out and throw the rubber away. This uses a magnet right above the hex of the spark plug and it just freaking works.

4. Zip lock bags and a sharpie. I have too many things going on at the same time and sometimes it is months before I can get back to a project. I label the bags with what the bolts go to and toss them in the vehicle.

5. Harbor Freight hammers. I suck with a hammer so I just use big ones most of the time. I have a 4lb short handle sledge and a 3ish lb dead blow. I have others but I rarely use them.

6. Harbor Freight hose pliers. I can't believe how good these really are. The intent is to use the curved jaws to wrap around a hose, squeeze and twist the hose off. I bet that they would do a good job of that but I've never used them that way. I do use the for 99% of the time that I would normally use needle nose pliers. I used them for all kinds of pinching clips (fuel lines, heater quick connections, oil coolers), picking up non-magnetic items, pulling on tubes/fuel lines/wire harnesses, hose clamps and so much more.

7. Pencil and paper. This is pretty obvious but taking notes, making plans and drawing schematics are the easy ones. How about making patterns for welding, shimming something up, stopping rattles or taking a piece of paper over a socket or wrench and then shoving the fastener into the paper to keep the fastener in place?

Electrical tape and peel and stick aluminum tape.
Whenever you have a situation where your socket pops off or gets stuck?
Wrap it tight too the extension with electrical tape.
Reaching into a spot in the frame and the socket drops off and rolls down?
Tape the whole thing top to bottom.
Loose fit on a bolt or too sloppy or you need to hang a socket or wrench in place
Peel and stick aluminum tape.
Takes up the slack.
Using an 12 mm 6 point wrench stuffed upside down into a 21 mm impact socket while trying to pull the knock sensor out of a 2003 nissan sentra?
Put the wrench in the impact socket and pack the voids with tin foil.
Smash the tin foil in with a punch untill it holds the wrench in place.
Turns a ten hour job into a ten minute job
Some times ya just gotta make it up as you go.
Expensive tools are great to have.
They can make life easier.
But making something from the junk you have laying around and cobbling it together and having it work is very satisfying.
It may be wrong, it may be half assed, The experts may pee themselves,
But it works.