This isn't a poll. I was just wondering what different people consider their favorite tools in the bus conversion process.
To start this out, I'd like to list some of my favorite and most useful tools. I've used a smiley instead of a star for a scale of 1 -10.
#5. Air operated Angle Grinder.. great for geting in those tight spots to clean up welds and make small changes in pieces of metal. I can also use it with 3M pads of different coarseness to clean gaskets and metal. :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
#4. 2HP portable air compressor. I use it's 4 gallon tank in conjunction with an auxiliary 5 gallon tank. It has an oil filled crank case and will keep up with my 1/2" drive impact wrench. :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
#3. Ingersol-Rand 1/2" drive impact wrench #2135PTI. Light (2.95 lbs.) powerfull (up to 700Ft. Lbs. of torque), it had no problems taking off the lug nuts on my bus that had been on there for years. I had even used a breaker bar and cheater pipe and couldn't budge them. Took 10 nuts off in 2 cycles of the compressor. It is also selectable for power and does light work well. :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
#2. Kregs Pocket hole Jig. Great for building cabinet face frames, makes a perfect pocket screw hole everytime. :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
#1. Drill Doctor Model XPK. This thing has saved me a ton of money in drill bits. Sharpens most types of bits, including masonary bits, allows changing the ange of the bit face to make a more or less agressive cut, and makes it possible to make split point bits out of standard bits. one chuck sharpens 3/32" to 1/2" bits and the larger chuck sharpens 1/2" up to 3/4" bits. :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
OK, now I've listed some of mine, let's hear about some of yours!
Dallas
Hi Dallas I had thought something like this would be good to let someone know the tools needed to do a conversion 1.sawsall 2.mig welder 3.BUD LIGHT 4.14'' cot off saw 5.drill doctor(saves lots of money)more bud light 6.air riveter(must have when doing 3,000+ rivets 7.information from Mak and bno boards 8.A better half when she is as much into it as you are 9.jim beam(good at the end of the work day to relax) 10.41/2 " elect grinder with lots of discs 11.to own stock in home depot or lowes would be nice,to name everything would be a long list but my best by far is # 8 Kathy Mike
Mine is a Multi meter with a clamp on AC and DC amp meter.
It's just great.
My vote would be for the cordless drill for #1, the other #1 would be the Drill Doctor, one of the better investments I've made!!
There are so many....For chassis work, the torch is priceless. For the rest of the conversion, I'd say that a good quality cordless drill is pretty much a neccessity.
My favorite tool so far has been my Makita 18 volt cordless impact driver for 1/4" hex bits. Much lighter than a cordless drill for removing hundreds of screws to strip my interior. I have a 5 gallon bucket with two to three inches of screws in the bottom!
My second favorite tool has been my sawzall. This has been invaluable for sawing up the all fiberglass bathroom and luggage racks in my Diina bus.
Brian Elfert
Interior work like my Dewalt 12v (cheap) cordless drill found at a pawn shop 6 years ago for 20 bucks that has survived 3 busses and still going with only ONE battery. I also like the good ole' caulking gun and my trusty carpet knife! I like my T sqaure too but if you look closely you might find some areas where it wasn't used so take that one off! My sears craftsman table saw was a god send and my jig saw that was handed down from who knows where. There just too many tools that I tried in the interior. The exterior I like my miller maxstar welder and a friends plasma cutter. Don't forget the local food store for the stocking of Corona's! :):):):):):):):):):):)
Ace
I did the whole conversion with corded elec hand tools only that included-Makita 3/8" double reduction 300rpm hand drill (size of regular hand drill)that was a beast-broke many a drill bit, but was needed to drill into the metal of many hundreds of holes for anchoring; 2-regular speed drill; Makita electronic speed control hand jig saw-would keep exact rpm no matter how much pressure-very slow for metal cutting to very fast. Hardest part was finding good saw blades-which I found Bosch to be the best; Electronic variable speed grinder/sander/wire brush; two 7 1/4" elec hand saws-one with combo blade with tungsten tips and other with very fine finish blade; router; hand elec end planer; elec miter box; riveter; and various jigs and clamps.
Also have a 2hp portable compressor that mostly used a 3/8" air ratchet; also 1/2" impact; and the best-air powered grease gun with 18" hose-makes greasing so much easier than a hand gun.
What I didn't have because my room was limited but would have next time is a table saw for sure; drill press; 12" wide surface planer; end table planer; mortiser; grinder with belt sander; shaper (table router). Maybe a lathe to make your own wood turnings and to machine parts. If I really had the room, a metal vertical combo mill. Good Luck, TomC
Question- When I did my conversion in the mid 90's they did have cordless, but now the selection is unbelieveable. What voltage would you use? My instinct says 12v to be able to charge in the bus-but not real important. Good Luck, TomC
Plasma Cutter. MY current conversion is taking probably a month less due to it, than my last one without it.
1) computer, desktop, internet access
2) imapct gun, 12v, Makita, hex
3) multitool, Victornox, Swiss army leatherman type
4) vaccum, shop, Fien
5) hook tool, cotter key remover,Wilde
6) camera, digital
7) caulking gun, Lindsey
8) work lights, various brands and types
9) compressor
10) chip brush
Tom,
My two favorite are the 14.4V Milwaukee, I've gone through 3 batteries on it in 5 years. I think it's variable from 600 to 3500RPM, 1/2" drive and lasts for a long time.
I also have a 18V Dewalt 1/2" drive that has more torque, but is slower and eats batteries at an excessive rate. A little more than one battery (XR2) every 9 months.
I follow the Mfg's directions, and never leave the batteries in the charger past the charge time. Except for the Dewalt that says it has a 'tuneup' feature that doesn't seem to really do anything. I always know when the Dewalt batteries are dieing because the charge time will drop drastically.
I also have a 15 year old 12V Dewalt with the old style battery and it will outlast the Milwaukee and the 18V Dewalt. It's just not as strong or as variable. Oh, and I'm still working on only the second battery it ever had. The charger for it died years ago so I use the new one I got with the 18V and a set of jumpers. It still takes one hour to charge and still works well.
By the way, B&D Firestorm batteries will work in the Dewalt drills, but not vice-versa for FireStorm without grinding edges. Firestorm isn't as strong, but is a lot cheaper for a replacement battery.
Gotta Stop now, I have a HUGE 6 Week old girl Kitten that just challenging the mouse for dominion of the mouse pad.
she' just came into my life 13 minutes ago and has made herself at home.
Good thing Our 15Lb Kitty boy hasn't seen her yet. I hope he doesn't eat her.
Dallas
Seems the cordless drill (variable speed) is top dog. Gets my vote too. However, I'm perplexed that nobody has mentioned the old aviators favorite ... DUCT TAPE. Come on guys, fess up ... I know you use it.
;D 8) ::) I love all my tools, but I guess since you wanna know which one we love the most I'll have to say my SHOP KEY! It lets us get inside to use all the other tools and the second favoite which is the PIT !!! Gotta love that PIT!!! Oh how much easier life has been since getting it! 8) :o ;D BK
Ahhhh! So many tools, so little time!
I think my absolute favorite would be the pouch on my belt.
It has gotten me out of so many jams!
Kinda like [Mcgiver]
It has a Buck knife,Brinkman flash lite, Two way screwdriver, and a Snap on mini Pliers with a side cutter!
I can almost do anything with theese Tools........
Nick-
BOTTLE OPENER !!!!
Razor Knife. I have carried one in my shirt pocket long before 9/11. Never have to sharpen it like I did the pocket knife I carried all my life previously. I doubt if there is a day goes by that I do not use it for something, if only as a toothpick.
Richard
Hands down the Cordless Drill.
Mig Welder(why I used a stick for so many years I will never know)
Pnuematic Right Angle Drill.(seldom used, but when you need it)
Rivet Shaver.(at 180.00 I thought I was being robbed, worth every penny)
Air Rivet Gun.(3000 rivets, no comment needed)
Unibit(once you have one you will never go back)
Metal Chop Saw(getting dusty now, but early on it was my best friend)
Honorable Mention-, table saw, radial saw, sawzal, jig saw, 4" clamps, air chisel, plumb bob, staight edge, 4' tee
square, drill press, and the usual gang of hand tools.
Cliff
All of FloridaCracker's list but one....rivet shaver...not needed yet.
Add more of my favorite "Temperature Gun" with laser to pin point and rotating laser leveler make my job easier & faster. Plus 600amp Fluke A/C & D/C clamp-on meter...love it.
FWIW
Sojourn for Christ, Jerry
Now granted I haven't had my bus very long,and have probably driven Dallas nuts with questions,and can really claim any rights to the art of conversion.That in mind the best tool I've added since I bought "the bus" was a refrigerator in the garage! yep, the fridge gets my vote. ;D
Lots of my favorites have already been named (Cordless drill, Fluke multimeter, and especially the refridgerator/ bottle opener). Trying to expand the list a little, I'll include:
1) A high quality wire stripping and crimping tool
2) Workmate portable worktable
3) "Off" button on my cellphone
4) Maglite flashlights - Full size and mini Mag AA
5) AM radio, tuned to local Major League Baseball game
6) Vicegrips
7) Goop Hand cleaner
8 ) Something soft to kneel on
9) Shop Vac
10) First Aid Kit ;)
my favorite tool would have to be the plasma cutter at work, man is that thing neat. 2nd fav would have to be my mig welder
The wallet... or the money inside. Not my favorite, but works the best
How about the internet....Could you imaging converting your bus without internet access? I think that has to the single most valuable tool in the box.
I have to agree with Ross,
I tell people the difference between converting this bus and the 4106 we converted in the mid 80's in one word INTERNET. When we did the 4106 without the internet or Bus Conversions magazine, information and sources of supplies was very limited. Course these tools like cordless screwdrivers, mig welders, plasma cutters, biscuit joiners, etc certainly help. Jack
plasma cutter for sure.
wire feed welder.
dewalt 18v sawsall, drill.
7" med duty 8000 rpm grinder, it eats up the welds.
engine hoist.
Rayshound
Cordless drill is top with two batteries!
Danny
My vote is for my best friend. He is a real "tool" and has come in handy to hold something, cut, weld, beat, pull, push, ignite, extinguish, pry, fabricate, site clear, encourage, discourage, bend, break and several other action verbs yet to come.
All the others listed I can simply purchase, abuse and throw away.
FWIW,
Grant
I have to say my favorite tool was a 12 dollar jig saw I bought at one of those little roadside stands (you know, the ones that sell "tools"). Anyway, I just bought it thinking it might just last for a day or two. Lo and behold, that thing worked like a charm. I still have it and have put many manhours of use on it. I had planned on buying a better one, but this little thing was awesome. It's nice to get surprised by something working like it should.
Jimmy :)
Quote from: brojcol on June 26, 2006, 05:36:31 AM
I have to say my favorite tool was a 12 dollar jig saw I bought at one of those little roadside stands (you know, the ones that sell "tools"). Anyway, I just bought it thinking it might just last for a day or two. Lo and behold, that thing worked like a charm. I still have it and have put many manhours of use on it. I had planned on buying a better one, but this little thing was awesome. It's nice to get surprised by something working like it should.
Jimmy :)
I've had the same experience with 4" grinders. The $29.00 ones seem to outlast the $100.00 ones.
Len
I just have to comment about the Internet tool and MAK. When I subscribed to Bus Conversion many years ago, there was not much Internet action.
By going to all but one of MAK's events and attending his bus conversion school (1999), I learned a ton. Obviously, I continue to learn with the boards, but in the early years, it was mostly MAK and the great books (and seminars) by Galey and Meyers
I am sorry that there is not a rally this year. Hopefully MAK will rest up and hold one next year.
My favorite tool after only 2.75 weeks of owning this monster has been my debit card so I can get all these tools that have had to be bought LOL ::) :P ;D
Larry
A great big Caterpillar front-end loader.
That way, when somebody pulls my bus into a part of my yard where they filled a hole with pea gravel and the bus sinks down into it over a period of time, I can hook onto it with a cable and drag the blasted thing back up onto solid terra firma. :-)
My good friend who owns a large excavating/paving company is doing dirt work for a ridiculously amost obscene Walgreens store across the street, so he's going to send one of his guys over with the loader one of these days and drag it out. It's the one I've been building that got pushed aside due to other demands on my time and resources. :-(
Rant mode ON:
OT: (Walgreens bought the corner lot across the street. They are putting the parking lot 12 feet in the air above the street and the main floor level is up 13 feet above street level. The bean brains, bean counters, or whatever else they're called at Walgreens corporate headquarters in Deerfield, IL told me they like the high profile for distant visibility. Then they turn around and say they want to be good "coporate citizens" in the local community. Nobody, including the contractors building it, like it. It's taking on the appearance of an gaudy edifice honoring the Great God of Capitalist Corporate Greed -- or maybe it's just an idol to that same god. Anyhow, they seem to be expecting us to come and worship at their throne.) It would qualify as the "Most Ridiculous Item of the Day" on O'Reilly's show on Fox News!
But the developer tops 'em all! He told me, "God made that hill and we don't have the right to cut it down." Unbelievable! (this was in a 3-way phone conference between me and the Walgreens real estate manager in Illinois and the developer in Denver. What a bunch of clowns...
All I want is to lower it about 8 feet so it fits the neighborhood. The city council agrees with me. The city planners, city manager, and neighbors also. So I guess I'll shop 1/3 mile away across the intersection, where the shopping area looks nicer and prices are cheaper. They're no the only game in town.
Rant mode OFF.
My bride and I are coming up on our 40th wedding anniversary in two weeks! That's been a real experience -- for her. :-)
CE
See! I told you guys the other day that if Clarke really had something to talk about he would post here.
Richard
Quote from: Clarke Echols on June 29, 2006, 10:37:17 PM
... All I want is to lower it about 8 feet so it fits the neighborhood. The city council agrees with me. The city planners, city manager, and neighbors also.
CE
What dork in the city planning and zoning approved this "temple" in the first place? Same crap goes on in my hometown, but we know where the city planners park their cars and they had better not try to approve something before it is well studied and approved by the neighbors. Believe me, big developers don't give a whit about being good neighbors. A bank put in a branch office beside my property and I had to watch 'em like a hawk when the parking lot was being put in. They quietly moved the edge of the lot over on my property some four feet. When I stopped the operation, they merely advised me to contact the bank's corporate office. I didn't ... just stormed out to city hall and waltzed into the city engineers office ... told them what was happening. The guy pulled out his copy of the plans and ... whoa ... the drawings were not the same as the set that I saw in the hands of the parking lot contractor. It is sad that "us little people" have to constantly wage an uphill battle with big corporations.
Merlin
It does not appear that I have any new tools to add, however I will respond with what has been useful to me - I am about 3/4 done with the conversion, its usable and has working toilet , 16 cu ft refrig, shower - although its still visqueen lined, bath sink, bed, couch, dinette, generator, inverter, air conditioners, hardwood floors, stereo / home theater, TV, commercial carpet, blinds, all plumbing lines, pumps and tanks are in etc.
By far and away the tool I have used the most is the cordless 14 volt Makita. Probably every project i take on, I use it for something. I have 3 other Milwaukee corded drills too - a high torque, low speed for drilling those big holes, an angle for getting into tight places, and a high speed for drilling pocket holes and other small holes into the steel frame.
Next would be my skill saw, I have used that for almost every wood part I have made. 10" table saw too
Jig saw - Bosch - by far and away the best jig saw I have ever used.
Pocket hole jig - you just never know when / where you might use it, indispensable.
Mak board and BNO - could not have done it without the sage advice ( and the flames too)
Internet for shopping parts - spend more hours on the Internet than physically working on it.
my pockets that so far have been deep enough - just keep throwing $ at it, and it will get fixed sooner or later
My good friend Paul "Gabby" Gaboury - All the wonderful cabinet work would still not be done if not for him
Pat Patterson, Bob Manemann, Jim "Chip" Maxwell, Dee Dillon, Matt Tonner, Virgil Hogue, Jim "RV Safetyman" Sheppard, Gary "Boogie the Cat" Stadler and Dennis Canfeild - all friends that lent a hand when it was needed!
UPS for bringing all those parts to my door, and leaving them with no signature required, even when I was not home!!!
Prevost the dealer / shop folks / parts department for all their help in shell maintenance and improvement.
Peninsula Windows for a great installation.
Dick Wright at Wrico - for getting me my start on some of the hard stuff.
Ronco Plastics for a great deal and good information on tanks
Assorted other power tools - biscuit joiner, sawzall, grinder, table sander, bosch 6" sander, Makita 4" sander, craftsman drill press, Grizzly band saw, Drill doctor, Dovetail jig, Delta router, sears router
Pickup truck for all those trips to the lumber yard, steel yard, Home Depot and Lowes.
Quote from: Merlin on June 30, 2006, 06:59:06 AM
Quote from: Clarke Echols on June 29, 2006, 10:37:17 PM
... All I want is to lower it about 8 feet so it fits the neighborhood. The city council agrees with me. The city planners, city manager, and neighbors also.
CE
What dork in the city planning and zoning approved this "temple" in the first place? Same crap goes on in my hometown, but we know where the city planners park their cars and they had better not try to approve something before it is well studied and approved by the neighbors. Believe me, big developers don't give a whit about being good neighbors. A bank put in a branch office beside my property and I had to watch 'em like a hawk when the parking lot was being put in. They quietly moved the edge of the lot over on my property some four feet. When I stopped the operation, they merely advised me to contact the bank's corporate office. I didn't ... just stormed out to city hall and waltzed into the city engineers office ... told them what was happening. The guy pulled out his copy of the plans and ... whoa ... the drawings were not the same as the set that I saw in the hands of the parking lot contractor. It is sad that "us little people" have to constantly wage an uphill battle with big corporations.
Merlin
The problem with Walgreens isn't at city hall. The city planners don't like it. The city manager doesn't like it. The city council doesn't like it. The neighbors don't like it. But the LAW states that there are certain "uses by right" that come with "business" zoning. And the city has codes and guidelines that must be followed. But if Walgreens stays (barely) inside the codes and guidelines, the city cannot stop them from doing what they want within those limits.
Walgreens (like most corporations who have PR departments that generate barnyard solid waste (that's why it's called "BS") of the male bovine variety, and theirs keeps saying (like their real-estate guy was telling me) "We want to be good corporate citizens in the local community". Translation: "Come and worship at the throne of our Temple to the God Of Corporate Capitalist Greed, and be sure to drop your dollars in the till on your way out to show your proper respect for our having blessing you with Our Wondrous Corporate Presence."
There is a big difference between doing what is *legal*, and doing what is *right*. And you're right. The developers are as bad or worse than the Big Corporations.
Don't misunderstand, though. I am a vocal supporter of private property rights and free enterprise. But when Big Corporations come to town and push their weight around, that is not free enterprise, and it is abuse of private property rights as well.
So a bunch of us will simply collectively spit in their corporate eye and shop across the street and a block down the road...
Clarke
Would you rather have a big Buddhist temple? LOL
Richard
Quote from: Clarke Echols on June 30, 2006, 11:05:27 AM
Quote from: Merlin on June 30, 2006, 06:59:06 AM
Quote from: Clarke Echols on June 29, 2006, 10:37:17 PM
... All I want is to lower it about 8 feet so it fits the neighborhood. The city council agrees with me. The city planners, city manager, and neighbors also.
CE
What dork in the city planning and zoning approved this "temple" in the first place? Same crap goes on in my hometown, but we know where the city planners park their cars and they had better not try to approve something before it is well studied and approved by the neighbors. Believe me, big developers don't give a whit about being good neighbors. A bank put in a branch office beside my property and I had to watch 'em like a hawk when the parking lot was being put in. They quietly moved the edge of the lot over on my property some four feet. When I stopped the operation, they merely advised me to contact the bank's corporate office. I didn't ... just stormed out to city hall and waltzed into the city engineers office ... told them what was happening. The guy pulled out his copy of the plans and ... whoa ... the drawings were not the same as the set that I saw in the hands of the parking lot contractor. It is sad that "us little people" have to constantly wage an uphill battle with big corporations.
Merlin
The problem with Walgreens isn't at city hall. The city planners don't like it. The city manager doesn't like it. The city council doesn't like it. The neighbors don't like it. But the LAW states that there are certain "uses by right" that come with "business" zoning. And the city has codes and guidelines that must be followed. But if Walgreens stays (barely) inside the codes and guidelines, the city cannot stop them from doing what they want within those limits.
Walgreens (like most corporations who have PR departments that generate barnyard solid waste (that's why it's called "BS") of the male bovine variety, and theirs keeps saying (like their real-estate guy was telling me) "We want to be good corporate citizens in the local community". Translation: "Come and worship at the throne of our Temple to the God Of Corporate Capitalist Greed, and be sure to drop your dollars in the till on your way out to show your proper respect for our having blessing you with Our Wondrous Corporate Presence."
There is a big difference between doing what is *legal*, and doing what is *right*. And you're right. The developers are as bad or worse than the Big Corporations.
Don't misunderstand, though. I am a vocal supporter of private property rights and free enterprise. But when Big Corporations come to town and push their weight around, that is not free enterprise, and it is abuse of private property rights as well.
So a bunch of us will simply collectively spit in their corporate eye and shop across the street and a block down the road...
Clarke
Ok, this ain't really a bus thing so much. I bought my bus already converted and haven't had to do much (yet).
My favorite tool is my 1964 9" South Bend model "C" metal lathe. Flat leather belt, manually engaged back gears, 3 jaw chuck, 4 jaw chuck (my favorite), Faceplate, Driverplate, couple of centers, several dogs, nice selection of toolholders, drill checuk for the tailstock. All bought at auction for $280 when the high school decided the kids didn't need to learn the craft anymore.
I'm now looking for a steal on a Bridgeport univeral milling machine - anybody got one?
Drill Doctor - none for me thanks, I have a good bench grinder. It's easy once you learn how :-)
Guess what I did for a living before I went back to school?
Tools tools, all god's chillun's loves tools.
Casper
Quote from: Nick Badame Refrig. Co. on June 24, 2006, 09:43:10 AM
Ahhhh! So many tools, so little time!
I think my absolute favorite would be the pouch on my belt.
It has gotten me out of so many jams!
Kinda like [Mcgiver]
It has a Buck knife,Brinkman flash lite, Two way screwdriver, and a Snap on mini Pliers with a side cutter!
I can almost do anything with theese Tools........
Nick-
Is that the one hanging over you belt buckle??? :o :o ::) ::) :P :P :-\ :-\ :-* :-*
Dave,
If I could carry all that stuff in that pouch, I wouldn't need a Belt.... ;D ;D ;D
Nick-
I just had to add a new tool to my favorite tool list:
A Clarke 130EN gas/gasless 120V MIG welder.
My cheap piece of junk Campbell-Hausfeild Burnt it's gun and I couldn't find another that would work on it. Actually I did find one gun and hose, but it was $190 and I couldn't see putting that much money into the piece of junk.
I looked at a lot of different welders, including Millermatic 135, but I really couldn't afford that. I also looked at the Lincoln 140 but didn't like the gun it had with it. It didn't seem too much different than My C-H.
I went to our local farm store and they had some Lincolns and some cheap ones and then a whole stack of these Clarke machines.
It states that it does up to 1/4" mild steel and has a Tweco style gun. This unit was $350 and seemed a lot better built and heavier than the Lincoln I looked at.
Well, I took a chance and bought it and have been very well pleased. It actually does have good penetration, in fact penetrated to 3/16" in 1/4" mild steel. The duty cycle is only 20%, but, hey, I ain't that good a welder anyway to be able to run a bead that long. There's always something else I need to do.
Tomorrow, I may take the regulator I got with the C-H and hook it up to the new welder and see how it does on aluminum, although I doubt that it will do a very good job.
This machine seems to make a very smooth bead and has no problem with .035 flux core wire.
I just thought I'd pass this good news along!
Dallas
I like my MIG welder. I was at a metal fab shop a few years back, and asked the owner if he knew where I could pick up a used MIG machine without paying an arm and a leg. He sold me their Millermatic 185 (185-amp, 240 volt) machine for $200. I remembered a 225-cubic-foot oxygen tank at a used tools shop in Denver so I called them. They still had it for $100. I bought it for $90. I then traded it for a CO2-Argon blend bottle (full of gas) for another $70, and for under $400 I had a really nice, hardly used MIG machine,
including the new wire liner it needed.
It's a NICE machine!
Now if I could just find me a decent plasma cutter...
Clarke