What is Your Favorite Tool?

[DrivingMissLazy]

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

[FloridaCliff]

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

[Sojourner]

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

[tucsontattoo]

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.

[WEC4104]

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

[coachcrazy]

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

[mak]

The wallet... or the money inside. Not my favorite, but works the best

[Ross]

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.

[JackConrad]

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

[rayshound]

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

[Danny]

Cordless drill is top with two batteries!

Danny

[grantgoold]

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

[brojcol]

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

[Len Silva]

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

[rv_safetyman]

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.