Tool Descriptions

SKILLSAW - A portable cutting tool used to make boards too short.

BELT SANDER - An electric sanding tool commonly used to convert minor touch-up jobs into major refinishing jobs.

WIRE WHEEL - Cleans paint off bolts and then throws them somewhere under the workbench with the speed of light. Also removes fingerprints and hard-earned calluses from fingers in about the time it takes you to say, 'Oh shit'. Will easily wind a tee shirt off your back.

DRILL PRESS - A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat metal bar stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the chest and flings your beer across the room, denting the freshly-painted project which you had carefully set in the corner where nothing could get to it.

CHANNEL LOCKS - Used to round off bolt heads. Sometimes used in the creation of blood-blisters.

HACK SAW - One of a family of cutting tools built on the Ouija board principle. It transforms human energy into a crooked, unpredictable motion, and the more you attempt to influence its course, the more dismal your future becomes.

VISE GRIPS - Generally used after pliers to completely round off bolt heads. If nothing else is available, they can also be used to transfer intense welding heat to the palm of your hand.

OXYACETYLENE TORCH - Used almost entirely for igniting various flammable objects in your shop and creating a fire. Also handy for igniting the grease inside the wheel hub out of which you want to remove a bearing race.

TABLE SAW - A large stationary power tool commonly used to launch wood projectiles for testing wall integrity. Very effective for digit removal!!

HYDRAULIC FLOOR JACK - Used for lowering an automobile to the ground after you have installed your new brake shoes, trapping the jack handle firmly under the bumper.

BAND SAW - A large stationary power saw primarily used by most shops to cut large pieces into smaller pieces that more easily fit into the trash after you cut on the inside of the line instead of the outside edge. Also excels at amputations.

TWO-TON ENGINE HOIST - A tool for testing the maximum tensile strength of all the crap you forgot to disconnect.

PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER - Normally used to stab the vacuum seals under lids or for opening old-style paper-and-tin oil cans and splashing oil on your shirt; but can also be used, as the name implies, to strip out Phillips screw heads.

STRAIGHT SCREWDRIVER - A tool for opening paint cans. Sometimes used to convert common slotted screws into non-removable screws and butchering your palms.

PRY BAR - A tool used to crumple the metal surrounding that clip or bracket you needed to remove, in order to replace a 50 cent part.

PVC PIPE CUTTER - A tool used to make plastic pipe too short.

HAMMER - Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit. Also very effective at fingernail removal.

UTILITY KNIFE - Used to open and slice through the contents of cardboard cartons delivered to your front door. Works particularly well on contents such as seats, vinyl records, liquids in plastic bottles, collector magazines, refund checks, and rubber or plastic parts. Especially useful for slicing work clothes, but only while in use. These can also be used to initiate a trip to the emergency room so a doctor can sew up the damage.

SON OF A BITCH TOOL - Any handy tool that you grab and throw across the garage while yelling 'Son of a bitch' at the top of your lungs. It is also, most often, the next tool that you will need.

THE TELEPHONE - TO CALL SOMEONE TO DO THE WORK.

Reply to
Spalted Walt
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This raises the question (to me), do they make a tool especially FOR opening paint cans? As a youngster, my dad taught me to use the screwdriver with golden handle that already had paint all over it (maybe after my indiscriminate use of other ones..). At least he let me have free rein--my primary guidance was not to flip the switch on the table saw.

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Reply to
Bill

Seriously, YES. Paint stores have them and typically give them away with a paint purchase. The better ones have a bottle opener on one end. ;~)

Straight blade screw drivers are good for stirring gel stains and varnishes. :~)

Reply to
Leon

For cans:

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For 5 gal buckets

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Reply to
Spalted Walt

Thank you, I have run across a few of those in the past. I don't remember ever using one. Maybe there is a YouTube video... ; )

Bill

Reply to
Bill

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Reply to
Spalted Walt

Leon wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@giganews.com:

They work better than a straight screwdriver, too. That's why I keep track of mine. :-)

Puckdropper

Reply to
Puckdropper

I always seem to see a lot of these, and amazingly, they all seem to be a l ittle different. And as someone that uses tools for a living, I laugh out loud at how true these things can be.

A couple of months ago I chucked up a stiff wire wheel to clean heavy rust of a couple of tools that were out in the rain, then spent a month in the r ain. Leaning over to really mash hard on teh drill, my shirt drooped over the drill/wheel, and it almost pulled my shirt off! As it was, it took a w ad of shirt that was about 10" across completely off the shirt.

Had to listen to it all day long. "Hey Robert. you want me to do that? Ne xt time you might not get out of the way" and "Robert, if you need me to he lp you figure out how that operation works, let me know... I am available f or drill lessons" etc. For me, I was a little stunned, a little surprised, and a lot embarrassed! (Did I mention I had to hear about the hole in my shirt and re-tell the tale all day long?)

I have several clients that have come to that realization. God bless 'em!

Robert

Reply to
nailshooter41

So are you adding an extra shirt to the things you now carry to the job? You know just in case it rains.

Reply to
Markem

Can openers, often part of a bottle opener - sometimes referred to as a "church key"

Reply to
clare

A 16d nail works at least as well -- stick the edge of the head under the lip of the lid, and pull back on the point.

Reply to
Radey Shouman

Sure. Paint stores used to give them away. They look like a metal bottle opener with a curved straight blade.

That's usually what I use. I can never find the openers. ;-)

Reply to
krw

the important question..... does the hole in your shirt make your butt loo too big? :~)

Reply to
Leon

If I'm painting (or doing most anything else around the house) I have a

5-in-1 tool handy. The handle provides plenty of leverage, the square corner fits easily under a can lid to pop it without chewing it up.

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I like to keep the two beveled edges and the point quite sharp.

Reply to
Larry Kraus

Did you mean my ? Too late on that one.

Got a good chuckle out of that.

Robert

Reply to
nailshooter41

e drill/wheel, and it almost pulled my shirt off! As it was, it took a wad of shirt that was about 10" across completely off the shirt.

Similarly, doing a few chores at Mom's, the disc sander ripped a hole in th e belly of my T-shirt. Later, my brother came over and reminded me that Wa lmart sells T-shirts, as if I only had torn shirts to wear. I told him th at some of us, in this red neck of the woods, distinguish between our work T-shirts and our dress T-shirts.

Sonny

Reply to
Sonny

Ha! : )

Reply to
Bill

+1 for the Five in One. Can't live without it when painting/prepping-- I also keep one in my 'general' tool box and it tends to be in my pocket on most jobs, regardless of whether I'm finishing or tinkering.

On the other hand, the alleged "paint can opener" is only good for the church key!

Slainte.

Reply to
Steve

No way! ;-)

Reply to
krw

Nice. $4 at Amazon, 48 cents at Home Depot... Seems most things I look up at Amazon is overpriced these days, much of it WAY overpriced. I warned my family and friends about this, and might as well warn yins all as well. Caveat emptor!

Reply to
Jack

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