Tools you wish you'd bought sooner...

[Zoobeef]

First thing I did was see how far down my throat I could get it.

[anonymous-user]

tim0409 said:

I bought this endoscope from amazon during last year's prime day (I think it was only around £15-20) and I find it extremely useful. A few weeks ago I needed to locate an external fan that had been plasterboarded over during a refurb; instead of cutting away a finished wall I was able to drill a 10mm hole in roughly the correct place and have a good look around. I've lost count of the times I've used it for similar stuff.

Does this work with all mobiles/laptops/tablets ? Cheers

[guindilias]

The one I have (Aliexpress!) works by a micro-USB which plugs into your phone or tablet, and I presume computer if you get an adaptor for micro-USB to normal USB.

[WyrleyD]

I've just bought a Potensic Endoscope to inspect a jammed lake sluice gate, it was either that or get hold of some scuba gear!

[jimPH]

guindilias said:

Also brilliant for putting down the spark plug holes in your car engine to see if it's coked up, or it's blown a hole in a piston, or if the bore walls need honed and the pistons sorted with new rings.

I tried doing this and couldn't make anything out. I'll have to have another go.

[guindilias]

Make sure you get one with LED lighting, obviously - I can't find my one so can't give you a link, but it has a smaller head than the one in the pic, and a light as well. Worked very well just with my phone.

[gothatway]

guindilias said:

Make sure you get one with LED lighting, obviously - I can't find my one so can't give you a link, but it has a smaller head than the one in the pic, and a light as well. Worked very well just with my phone.

Better to get one with not only a light but also detachable hook and magnet attachments (mine's a separate device, not for plugging into a phone)

[Teddy Lop]

tim0409 said:

I bought this endoscope from amazon during last year's prime day (I think it was only around £15-20) and I find it extremely useful. A few weeks ago I needed to locate an external fan that had been plasterboarded over during a refurb; instead of cutting away a finished wall I was able to drill a 10mm hole in roughly the correct place and have a good look around. I've lost count of the times I've used it for similar stuff.

What's the depth of field of vision like? I've tried a couple, including a Stanley all in one that cost about £100, and find the big failing is you can't see more than a couple of inches from the camera. I wonder if a more powerful light is needed or if it's more of a lens thing.

[rambo19]

Step drill bits.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Apz9L_R76oc

[tim0409]

mgsontour said:

Does this work with all mobiles/laptops/tablets ? Cheers

There is an iPhone and iPad app for it, I'm not sure about laptops though.

[tim0409]

Teddy Lop said:

What's the depth of field of vision like?

It's not great, you really need to get it fairly close; there is a dial to turn up the lighting which helps.

[Bodo]

CAPP0 said:

Sheepshanks said:

Bodo said:

frisbee said:

sparkythecat said:

CAPP0 said:

Lots of things but a recent one was an adjustable spanner with a mole-grip clamp on it - it's excellent, no more slipping off the nut or bolt head..

I'm struggling to picture this.
Got a link?

Imagine a really bad photoshop of mole-grips with an adjustable spanner. But they actually exist!

This, I think:

Yes, the bottom one.

I’m very much in the camp of “buy the right tool for the job”, having learnt that lesson many times over the years, but as a direct contradiction of that statement I’ve found this really useful.

Well, I got one from Amazon.com for $11.88.
The force is indeed going through the adjustor wheel, however this is not frightening, as the force is limited to just closing the air gap. Unlike grip pliers, where you can set a higher force.



I like it, especially as it has smooth chops, you can grip sensitive surfaces.

At the same time, I nominate Knipex pliers wrenches für the tool, I wish I'd bought sooner. Also with smooth chops, you can apply force to chromed nuts without damaging them. I have one for every of my tool boxes now.

[Bodo]

And another tool, I wish I'd bought sooner:



A simple infrared thermometer from China. I have it in the kitchen, but I use it all of the time elsewhere...

[Doofus]

Mr Dendrite said:

A grubbing mattock, bought one last year on recommendation, to dig out a few bushes/small tree roots. The hours I could have saved in years gone by! A wonderfullly basic brutal tool that does exactly what it should!

We had some recalcitrant ivy roots, and the garden fork was getting nowhere against them. So based upon this post, I bought a mattock.

Used it for the first time today, and it's a revelation! All the roots have gone, and so has my back.

I am absolutely knackered...

[Gompo]

agent006 said:

On the other hand, my indispensable tool is a Stanley "titan" knife. Way better than a standard Stanley.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/stanley-titan-heavy-dut...

Why do you find it so much better than a regular Stanley knife? I assume you've tried various iterations too.

Just curious, I use a knife most days at work but not usually for anything precise. I think my current one is anot Irwin one of similar shape to the one you linked.. but I just got it as it was different to everyone else's!

[agent006]

Gompo said:

Why do you find it so much better than a regular Stanley knife? I assume you've tried various iterations too.

Just curious, I use a knife most days at work but not usually for anything precise. I think my current one is anot Irwin one of similar shape to the one you linked.. but I just got it as it was different to everyone else's!

The main plus for me is the grip. The curve and the larger end makes it much easier to hold and you can get a better grip on it with the palm of your hand rather than holding the smaller type knife more in your fingers.

[Lord Pikey]

Lord said:

I saw a tool on a PH thread somewhere, but now i cannot find it. Id like to hint it to the wench for xmas.

It was a conical shaped tool that fits in a drill hex chuck that deburrs a slightly damaged threa to make starting off easier.

Does anyone know what i am talking about.


EDIT - Ignore me. i found it

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chadvonlind/u...

For those of you who don't mind your tools taking a month to arrive and being a ripoff, I found it cheaper in a flash sale


https://m.gearbest.com/other-tools/pp_009275117722...

[Benni]

If you work on japanese cars/bikes, these might save time, skin and swearing :

https://www.ebay.com/p/Vessel-Megadora-900-P1x75-P...

If your crosshead screw has a small dot beside the cross, it is a JIS head screw

where "Philips" type drivers do not enter properly and cam out.

[Outbound]

AvE said:

If you work on japanese cars/bikes, these might save time, skin and swearing :

https://www.ebay.com/p/Vessel-Megadora-900-P1x75-P...

If your crosshead screw has a small dot beside the cross, it is a JIS head screw

where "Philips" type drivers do not enter properly and cam out.

Skookum as frig!

[Simpo Two]

Benni said:

If your crosshead screw has a small dot beside the cross, it is a JIS head screw

where "Philips" type drivers do not enter properly and cam out.

Somebody saw the James May programme didn't they!