Excellent special tools thread

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

No idea if this has been done/started before but.......

 

 

Tools that are just bloody excellent that ever shiter should own.

 

Here's my nomination to get stuff started; a Draper hand held brake pipe flaring tool. I had to replace a front pip;e on an E36 recently. It starts at the flexy hose under the front arch, behind the arch liner, through the inner wing and across the bulkhead behind the engine to the ABS block on the other side. Trouble is, it's hidden behind the engine - so you have no idea which pipe on the other side of the engine it is. 

 

So I bought one of these from Amazon (because no local shops like Machine Fart stock them, just some hopeless looking Laser crap) and by fuck it's good. So I went back to unrusty pipe, cut it with the pipe cutter, slid a new union on, bolted the flaring tool on (two 10mm), wound the flaring bolt in to the stop - job done. A bit of copper pipe, ends flared again with this tool and the whole thing was done in half an hour. This thing weighs next to nothing and it got into a very inaccessible place.

 

Just a great bit of kit. Recommended.

 

 

[Kiltox]

Sticking with the brake theme, this tool for shoe retaining springs

 

 

Not the weird pliers (never worked out what to use them for or how) but the other thing. Sorts out those awkward spring washers for brake shoes in seconds rather than fucking about with pliers / mole grips

[Kiltox]

Also, the tools you get for setting bearings into drums - a series of drifts and handle. Excellent things.

[madrat]

No idea if this has been done/started before but.......

 

 

Tools that are just bloody excellent that ever shiter should own.

 

Here's my nomination to get stuff started; a Draper hand held brake pipe flaring tool. I had to replace a front pip;e on an E36 recently. It starts at the flexy hose under the front arch, behind the arch liner, through the inner wing and across the bulkhead behind the engine to the ABS block on the other side. Trouble is, it's hidden behind the engine - so you have no idea which pipe on the other side of the engine it is. 

 

So I bought one of these from Amazon (because no local shops like Machine Fart stock them, just some hopeless looking Laser crap) and by fuck it's good. So I went back to unrusty pipe, cut it with the pipe cutter, slid a new union on, bolted the flaring tool on (two 10mm), wound the flaring bolt in to the stop - job done. A bit of copper pipe, ends flared again with this tool and the whole thing was done in half an hour. This thing weighs next to nothing and it got into a very inaccessible place.

 

Just a great bit of kit. Recommended.

I have one just like that but badged as Quinton Hazel

[sierraman]

Those pliers for undoing those vile clic r clips.

 

Eezibleed is quite handy as well. Saves a lot of hassle and on some stuff its the only way to get a satisfactory pedal.

 

Long nose locking pliers. I think at the moment I could replace my hand with these.

[John F]

Has anyone tried these SDS drill descaler adaptors?

 

 

They look like a great idea if you've not got access to compressed air, but they're currently very expensive (£150-ish).

[chodweaver]

No surprises here, except that it's been so very many years before I got one - a corded rattle gun. I got given an air powered one some years ago and it was so tired it couldn't shift a thing, so I went back to scaffolding poles and the fear I would bash my own teeth out with them one day when something slipped. But Dave_numbers' review of serious cordless ones got me looking at them again and blimey, even this cheapy corded one from MachineMart for ~70 quid is a revelation. The camper's wheel nuts are by far the toughest things I've ever had to deal with: 27mm, not been shifted for years and required me bouncing up and down on 5' of scaffold pole before they'd crack off.

This thing whizzed the first one off with such ease, I thought it must have only been on finger tight through a lack of thoroughness on my part. I had to check the others with my breaker bar before taking the driver to them. No, my regular breaker bar wouldn't touch them.

The impact driver laughed at every one. Brilliant.

 

Sent from my BV6000 using Tapatalk

[Tickman]

Has anyone tried these SDS drill descaler adaptors?

 

 

They look like a great idea if you've not got access to compressed air, but they're currently very expensive (£150-ish).

I have the Hilti TE104 and needle scaler, I've never tried it on metal but have done the back of a stone house with it. Excellent piece of kit.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

No surprises here, except that it's been so very many years before I got one - a corded rattle gun. I got given an air powered one some years ago and it was so tired it couldn't shift a thing, so I went back to scaffolding poles and the fear I would bash my own teeth out with them one day when something slipped. But Dave_numbers' review of serious cordless ones got me looking at them again and blimey, even this cheapy corded one from MachineMart for ~70 quid is a revelation. The camper's wheel nuts are by far the toughest things I've ever had to deal with: 27mm, not been shifted for years and required me bouncing up and down on 5' of scaffold pole before they'd crack off.

This thing whizzed the first one off with such ease, I thought it must have only been on finger tight through a lack of thoroughness on my part. I had to check the others with my breaker bar before taking the driver to them. No, my regular breaker bar wouldn't touch them.

The impact driver laughed at every one. Brilliant.

 

Sent from my BV6000 using Tapatalk

 

 

 

I hope it's better than the battery powered Clarke one from Machine Mart. That's utter shit and a complete waste of time.I've used it maybe 10 times and don't even bother getting it out of the box now.

[Kiltox]

That big bastard Clarke mains gun would turn the earth the other way given half a chance

[chodweaver]

I've got to give this thing a mention, too. I don't have to struggle with footpumps and moving cars around to get batteries close for a jump start - just make sure to keep the thing on charge most of the time, or it runs out of steam on bigger engines. Another 80quid odd well spent. I did fry the switch for the compressor blowing up a big tyre from flat, but the late Maplin (RIP) provided a replacement of superior* quality and it's not failed me since.

 

Downside? Too heavy to take on the train for the collekshun of something that's stood a while. But we have LiIon packs for that now...

 

Sent from my BV6000 using Tapatalk

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

That big bastard Clarke mains gun would turn the earth the other way given half a chance

 

 

Hmmm.......

 

Might buy one and stick the battery powered shite on The Bay.

[Anthony]

I hope it's better than the battery powered Clarke one from Machine Mart. That's utter shit and a complete waste of time.I've used it maybe 10 times and don't even bother getting it out of the box now.

 

It is - I've had both, and like you found the battery one pretty poor.  The mains powered one is a beast and compares favourably to the expensive (but good) Snap On battery ones I've used in the past, the only downside is that it's quite bulky.

[sierraman]

Hmmm.......

 

Might buy one and stick the battery powered shite on The Bay.

I've one, it is fucking powerful. Pisses hubnuts off, quite bulky though.

[Kiltox]

Hmmm.......

 

Might buy one and stick the battery powered shite on The Bay.

 

Lidl had something very similar with the benefit of looking smaller (the Clarke is a beast) for about 30 quid the other week, might be worth a look

[sierraman]

Not as powerful though

[Kiltox]

Not as powerful though

Have you used one of them? It had a pretty impressive spec on the box but it did look a bit smaller so had me wondering. I don’t really spanner any more else I would’ve bought one to give it a go side by sid e

[dave21478]

A massive pair of waterpump/plumbers pliers....

 

 

One of those things you dont often need, but are awesome when you do need them. There isnt a sticky oil filter in the world that has resisted them so far. Also handy for surprisingly many things ie a few days ago I used them to re-crimp the hundreds of wee metal tabs holding the end tanks on a radiator. Normal sized ones worked but it was a knuckle-busting struggle but these breezed it.

 

 

Second in the rarely used but fucking usefull stakes is a helicoil kit....

On ebay for under twenty quid.

Would you use a cheap Chinese helicoil to hold the wings on a Dreamliner? no. Would you use them to repair stripped holes for cylinder head bolts, turbo downpipes, suspension mounts and other stuff? Yes, I do regularly.

No need to fear stripped thread holes and snapped bolts any more.

[sierraman]

No but its limit is something like 250nm iirc whereas the clarke is 400nm.

 

I'll have you a torque off if you get the Lidl.

[Eddie Honda]

Lidl/Parkside 450W / 320Nm

Clarke 1000W / 450Nm

[sierraman]

Its not the answer to everything though, it will shear small bolts as quick as you press trigger.

 

Good on suspension jobs though.

[Stanky]

I also have one of those main powered Clarke impact guns and its very good. As other have said its heavy and quite bulky but it makes short work of every task I've applied it to. Most notably for me, very rusty nuts and bolts on lawnmowers which are a bastard to deal with - this just buzzes them off and on again. Well worth being given it for christmas a couple of years ago.

 

Does anyone else with one find the plastic collar keeps coming off? Does it perform an actual function?

[sierraman]

Chucked the collar.

[lisbon_road]

I bought a special tool to allow changing valve stem seals on an overhead cam car.  Made by laser, not the cheapest but a really good tool.  Intended for when the head is still on but can also be used when the head is off.  Works a treat, very impressed.

[clayts450]

Adds no-brand version of CEW1000 to wishlist - £48 on ebay - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-Impact-Wrench-1-2-Drive-and-4-Sockets-450NM-TORQUE-1010W-Heavy-Duty/322037456704?epid=8004286405&hash=item4afaed9f40:g:HCEAAOSw2rFZbr~S

[Kiltox]

Lidl/Parkside 450W / 320Nm

Clarke 1000W / 450Nm

Sounds like it could be handy for places the Clarke can’t reach

[Jazoli]

I also have one of those main powered Clarke impact guns and its very good. As other have said its heavy and quite bulky but it makes short work of every task I've applied it to. Most notably for me, very rusty nuts and bolts on lawnmowers which are a bastard to deal with - this just buzzes them off and on again. Well worth being given it for christmas a couple of years ago.

 

Does anyone else with one find the plastic collar keeps coming off? Does it perform an actual function?

 

Me too and its very good.

[chodweaver]

 

 

A massive pair of waterpump/plumbers pliers....

 

 

Aaand, keeps your nails and bracelets nicely out of harm's way.

 

Sent from my BV6000 using Tapatalk

[Dead_E23]

I get a lot of use out of my Bosch Ixo cordless screwdriver.  It is surprisingly powerful and the battery lasts ages on a charge.

 

Also, in the 'seldom comes out but jolly useful when you need it' category is my Clarke slide hammer.  It's such a satisfying tool to use, but I'm sure I didn't pay as much for it as they're asking now.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Stillsons. Nothing but nothing gets a rusty shock absorber* retaining collar off as well.

 

I'm putting together a list for Machine Mart right now. The stuff I need - might as well buy it now before the tax year is up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Damper, Yes I know.