What are the 3 most useful handtools?

[grrl]

Thinking about the jobs you do most often, which three handtools (or types of tools) would you say are the most indispensible?

A poll was too much hassle to set up, so here is a possible list.

I'd say socket wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers.

pliers/wire cutters

socket wrenches
nut drivers
box wrenches
adjustable wrenches - channel locks, pipe, crescent, etc.
vice grips

full size screwdrivers
jeweler's screwdrivers

hammers
utility knives
saws
levels
drills
rulers/measurers
multimeter


EDIT - added vice grips

 

[mooglemania85]

No pole? Boooo! Xstatic1 puts you to shame.

Looking over that list, I know a lot of ATOTers will be upset that you did not include the fleshlight.

 

[grrl]

Originally posted by: mooglemania85
No pole? Boooo! Xstatic1 puts you to shame.

Looking over that list, I know a lot of ATOTers will be upset that you did not include the fleshlight.

Yeah, but I was hoping to keep it clean.

As for the poll, I wasn't able to cut and past the choices so gave up.

 

[LordMorpheus]

vice grips.
vice grips.
and vice grips.

You can use them as a wrench, hammer, crusher thing ... I love my vice grips.

 

[OrganizedChaos]

hammer, ratchet, vice grips

 

[jagec]

A socket set, channel locks, combination wrench. I have learned to hate both phillips and flathead screws, and remain convinced that Allen and Torx heads are the only things worth of being used as fasteners. Sadly, industry does not agree.

 

[grrl]

Originally posted by: jagec
A socket set, channel locks, combination wrench. I have learned to hate both phillips and flathead screws, and remain convinced that Allen and Torx heads are the only things worth of being used as fasteners. Sadly, industry does not agree.

I agree on the fasteners. I changed many of on my motorcycle to Allens.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: grrl

Originally posted by: jagec
A socket set, channel locks, combination wrench. I have learned to hate both phillips and flathead screws, and remain convinced that Allen and Torx heads are the only things worth of being used as fasteners. Sadly, industry does not agree.

I agree on the fasteners. I changed many of on my motorcycle to Allens.

Yeah, Allen gets a bad rap sometimes because everyone uses the L-drivers. Those aren't bad for torque, but they suck for general use. A proper ball-end driver on Allen bolts makes them even more easy and convenient than regular hex-head bolts. And they don't strip out if you look at them funny like flathead and phillips.

 

[mobobuff]

A multi-headed screwdriver.
A vice-grip.
A knife.

You can get most jobs done with those three tools.

 

[Journer]

vice grips:
can hammer, sort of screw in and unscrew anything, and if you have enough time they could chomp through a piece of wood or two

 

[Midnight Rambler]

Back in the day it was ...

LFH
MFH
BFH


P.S. - Nice tip on the ball-nosed allen wrenches. But you forgot the accompanying piece of pipe.

 

[EarthwormJim]

Leatherman multi tool
Leatherman multi tool
Leatherman multi tool

 

[Analog]

Chuck Norris.

 

[Mucho]

Hammer
Saw
Screwdriver

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

diagonal cutters
Dremel
multi-tip screwdriver

 

[jjones]

gun
tactical nuke
hammer