50 tools everyone should own

[HeyBub]

By the editors of Popular Mechanics

I'd add:

• Fein Multimaster or its clone

• Pencil

• ????

Your suggestions?

[Limp Arbor]

I would put an electric hammer as number 1 on the list.

Most people refer to them as Sawzalls or recriprocating saws.

[Oren]

• plumb-bob and string

[gfretwell]

Side grinder

[mike]

I suggest they take the non-tool items off the list: Goggles? Dust Mask? Oh brother. Why not underwear?

I'd replace the nearly useless coping saw with a powered miter saw anyday.

[DerbyDad03]

re: I'd replace the nearly useless coping saw with a powered miter saw anyday.

Coping saws are far from useless. It all depends on the types of projects your work on. I use one quite often for making fine cuts in fiberglass and other materials.

[mike]

The damned things have a mind of their own sometimes. I get more precise results nibbling away at materials with any number of other power tools. And it's a lot faster with power tools.

That reminds me, they should also take the crosscut saw off the list. I'd rather have a pneumatic brad nailer. They already have a circular saw on their list.

[sligoNoSPAMjoe]

I also use both. They don't really compete any more than a screwdriver competes with a utility knife.

[mike]

I'm not saying anything about direct competition or substitution. I'm just saying they should make room on the list for other tools that better qualify for the top 50.

[mike]

A *quality* studfinder also better belongs on the top 50 than a combo wrench (aready have socket set and adjustable wrench on the list).

Oh, and earmuffs are not tools. That makes room for a digging bar on the top 50.

[DerbyDad03]

Again, it all depends on the projects you work on the most. In my top

50, a coping saw - or better yet, a jewlers saw - would be on the list but the pick ax wouldn't. Sure, I think the power miter should be on the list also and would certainly be in my top 50.

Ask 50 people to name their top 50 tools and you'll get 50 different lists. There will be a lot of commonality, but I doubt any list will match another exactly.

For any given tool to "better qualify" as a top 50 is highly dependant on who you ask and what types of projects they work on. No list would be better than any other when taken in context of whose list it is.

[gpsman]

Take out the pick.

When a pick or post hole digger ("real work") is needed, quick as a flash, out comes my checkbook. -----

- gpsman

[Malcolm Hoar]

Strap wrench. This should make the top 10.

[WW]

Flare nut wrenches, Tork drive set, Bristol wrenches, Corner clamps. Bar clamps, Under sink faucet nut wrench, Soldering iron. I could go on and on. WW

[Van Chocstraw]

I can't function without a scribe, a leatherman, and a caliper. Not to mention socket drives, 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 inch for the drill and square, torx and clutch head bits. I could go on and on. How about a gas soldering pencil, propane torch, Solder, flux, pipe cutter, CPVC cleaner and glue. I could go on and on.

[Dymphna]

than a combo

list).

Well the stud finder help me find a man too?

[The Ranger]

Bowsaw?! Who uses a bowsaw still? Talk about a USELESS tool.

The Ranger

[The Ranger]

While I feel your pain (in a later post you mention "the damned things often have a mind of their own") regarding the aforementioned coping saw, I often find myself forced to use it for finer work (or cutting something that it tucked away and doesn't allow for me to use any other tool easily.

A power mitre saw should definitely be on the list, though.

The Ranger

[The Ranger]

Really? I have two sizes (one for the light pipes and the full-sized monster) and dread using them when there are no other options available. I'd rather pay a plumber at that point than break those puppies out...

The Ranger

[The Ranger]

A Torx set, a tap-and-drill set, and a Millwaukee sawsall.

The Ranger