More than twice I've needed a wire brush, and nothing else would do the job. From grilling to cleaning battery terminals (different brush of course) they're super handy.
I have a basic Skil circular saw I bought in college in 1990. My first power tool. I’ve used it on about a million DIY’s over the years and it still rips like brand new. Wouldn’t consider replacing it before it dies. I got a DeWalt circular saw at a yard sale last year and just resold it because I still went to the Skil every time.
@Wranglerstar I know you are a man who takes pride in his work. You brought up extension cords in this video. One not very well known bit of cord handling is proper coiling for storage to prevent damage by twisting. This is caused by improper coiling and is not just something that happens. Not only is it unsightly and makes the cord tangle and hard to handle, it actually destroys your cord from the inside out. That 12ga cord will begin to perform like a 14ga, and eventually fail altogether. These problems are all solved by "over-under" coiling. Look into it, you'll be glad you did.
Angle Grinder! 4.5" angle grinder! I use mine for literally everything in all trades of workmanship/craftsmanship, and hobbies! Plastic, metal, wood, concrete, stone, tile, paint, EVERYTHING! Sharpen, polish, hone, cut, notch, shape, clean, debur, etc etc. Just the other day I used one to help a friend cut the lug nuts off his car because the wheel studs were stripped on the backside, lug nut just spun the stud. Also used it to split the bearing races on the same vehicle. Use it every day. Also makes a great flush cut saw, yeah dangerous, but with great muscle memory it works.
For a workshop, A nice solid bench vice, for versatility a set of F Clamps. As a fitter I'd also say correct size spanners and sockets, nothing is worse then when people round the tops of bolts off accidentally.
As an Irish man who's worked in forestry, farming and small mechanical work, a good quality vise grip is a must have too, skimp on quality anywhere else but buy a good vise grip, you'd be amazed just how versatile a tool it it
My lovely wife bought me a black and decker super saw cat circular saw. It’s not a worm drive and is heavy at 8.25” but it is fantastic! The weight helps keep it from walking due to the power. I love it.
Ok,I've been straightened out by my wife.Some do have a rounded end.The only ones I've ever seen have a flat end.I think we may be wading through another instance of regional differences.
Im sure these will be part of the list but I will throw these out there just in case: Some type of square, multitool, set of chisels, file/stone, wire brush, flashlight, sawsall, wet/dry shop vac, maybe clamps of some kind? and maybe some PPE like dust mask, ear muffs, goggles? Great video series!
My dad has had a set of 2 Estwing hammers for well over that 14 years (they are older than me.) and they still work and feel like they are straight off the assembly line. They are THE BEST hammers you could ever buy.
Commenting as I'm watching. I was already thinking of the "falling off" story about extension cords when you said it. My brother told me that about welding leads. It also works for air hoses. Of course, it'll hang up whether you have a 3-plug end or not. I also have a bunch of really short extension cords (6 feet or less). I made them up either from a loose cord that came with some piece of electrical equipment, or from damaged cords that I turned into two cords. They are handy for "in-shop" work where you need a cord, but it's a hassle to mess with a long one. The "proper" term is "jillion", not "bazillion". ;o) I would suggest that a bit set that includes hex bits, Torx bits, square bits, etc. would be the thing to get. 30 years ago my grandmother-in-law gave me a tool kit from Costco for Christmas. It had a ratcheting screwdriver handle, SAE and metric 1/4" drive sockets (with a hex-to-1/4" drive adapter), and gobs of bits: phillips, straight, hex (SAE and metric), Torx, and square. It's still my go-to tool kit for lots of the stuff I have to do around the homestead.
There is almost nothing an angle grinder won't cut, plastic metal wood plexiglass some marble amd concrete type materials they are great, especially a cordless one
In my electrical bag I like to carry a simple AC power detector. You push a button, wave it over a wire, and it beeps if it's hot. Has saved me a few times on unfamiliar electrical systems.
Must haves for me in my belt are a square (speed or tri), a pencil, and a razor knife which you already covered. I do a lot of framing so the skill saw you mentioned with the hammers, tape and nail punches. I'm not sure if a sawzall was covered but a good one is an oscillating tool like the Bosch Starlock or something similar. It's great in tight places for removing grout, scraping, and a million other things since it has 100 different attachments for the blade.
Knipex are superior to Channel Locks...IMO. I use them daily at work and they do not pinch your hands like channel locks can and grip round objects better.
if you pinched your hand you were not using Channell Locks you were using foriegn made knock offs. I have never been pinched with real Channel Locks only with the junk made over seas mine are 30 years old
I am a General contractor and carpenter in Vancouver, BC, Canada. I Largely agree with the list, Cody. But its funny how we use different tools. For example, you will very very very rarely see a worm drive saw being used by anyone in Canada. The standard seems to be the Makita sidewinder, and the Olfa (yellow) 1 inch razor blade knives. I swear by Stabila levels as well. Sure they're insanely expensive, but at least you know you've got a level that will read true for life, no matter how much you abuse it. I love these videos Mr. Wranglerstar. Thanks for the time and effort. Thumbs up!
i think worm drive is a regional thing for him. i don't see many in east coast usa either. they sell them at home depot but i don't see people ever using them
Lighting is a must, flashlight, drop light or headlamp. Saw horses are extremely useful. And I don't remember if you included a speed square or t square yet. DIY mechanics and woodworkers will benefit with c clamps or any type of clamp. A torque wrench and breaker bar. A 1 inch chisel is handy a lot. Files? Maybe.You added a multi meter. So maybe electrical pliers can be added to that.
As far as hex keys go (allen wrench) I use them everyday as a tool and die maker. Bought a set of Ecklind at the local farm store when I started and can't say anything bad about them. A few years later was looking through a friend's snap-on box when I came across his set of allen's. I popped one out of the holder and realized the snap-on brand had the exact same markings on the tool as my set of Ecklind wrenches I'd been using for years.
I've got an old multimeter (volt meter) from the 90's, RadioShack brand. Works great. Back then you could buy relatively inexpensive tools and still expect a minimum level of quality.
I would strongly recommend 1 tool to replace 2 that you have already mentioned and oddly enough they seem to work better than both of them. The Knipex adjustable wrench a little pricey but well worth it it can really replace the channel locks and the regular adjustable wrenches. I also prefer using the 8in. model but the 10in. model is better for versatility
You’ve got to get a set of Knipex plier wrenches and Cobra pliers. Five inch and 10 inch versions are a great set to have. Will replace all your channel locks and crescent wrenches. Expensive but well worth it!!
I am going to say this, as I would add the torx screwdrivers. Now the reason I say I would add those to the list, is a lot of manufacturers are going to Torx head screws, and I am even seeing them in general carpentry with dry wall and even wood screws. As for the volt meter, I would actually go with one that is a volt ohm meter, that also can read mil-amps. My dad had one of those, and he was the Number 1 Equipment installer in the state of Texas for what use to be GTE. I would also go with a volt/ohm meter because sometimes, you do need to know if the ohm's of things will allow it to conduct electricity as metal does break down over time. I would even add a telescoping magnet, just in case you drop something in a hard to reach place.
The Lutz 88 utility knife has got to be the best one I’ve ever used, durable, blade change is fast and simple, plenty of room for blades, no extra tools needed to change the blades, they’re just great! I️ highly recommend if you’re looking for a good knife to carry for working in the trades.
I have to disagree with the fire shovel vs. standard spade. For digging post holes of any depth that fire shovel’s angle will get you fighting the hole. In fact for almost any ditch digger that angle is going to be taking the force strength away from the handle. Might be nice for farmers till style dirt/ soil. The steep sweep of the sides might be nice in roots. Over all though for construction purposes, standard spade. Love this series Cody! I really look forward to them. Could we have another manly manners please? I really miss those, even some of the old ones rehashed would be fine.
I love my Makita cordless rip saw (Skilsaw) . It's one of my favourite tools , and I also love my Estwings . A 22oz framing model and a 20oz curve claw , for general and finish work . A 6 ft level is very handy also .
Cody's comment on the crowbar "this is not just for wood working, this is when things go bad" haha never a more true statement. I can't argue with any of the choices so far
Agree with this guy I keep a 30 inch crow bar,36 inch connecting bar,4ft level, torpedo level,8 pound ironworker beater,7 adjustable wrenches, a 16 inch Klein wrench and a couple of spud wrenches for bolting up.
For use around the yard, and for burning leaves and even regular fires outside, I have found a good steel heavy prong pitchfork to be invaluable. It's one of the the tools I use the most around my acre and a half wooded lot!
I like the channellock pliers that have a little button spring lock on them, easier to lock into the size you want and not rattle around, loose grip, have to re-adjust etc.
a cold chisel would be great. you never know when your going to be breaking and busting concrete or block. I use a cold chisel atleast once a week doing remodels. Also a grinder or some sort bench would be ok but all around an angle grinder, you can cut with it but also I have used them alot to do a fought shapening job on different tools in the field when you have to just get it done. plus you can put all different kinds of disk depending on what your doing.
I made my own extension cords. Two 50 foot cords. One cord is just a standard cord and the other has a 2 gang box at the end. All 4 outlets are GFCI protected. If I need some extra length, I just plug in my standard 50 footer as an extension. Works beautifully.
How about a set of wood working chisels, maybe a handplane or an electric one. perhaps an orbital sander or belt sander could be good too, so many sanding machines that are useful. love the videos keep it up.
Grandpa was from Mississippi. He called the wonder bar a reckon bar. Not sure why, but if a claw hammer won't pry it out, I reckon this will. Or, it's time for a materials reckoning. Thanks Cody
On channellocks, I got a set of Craftsman Robogrip pliers a couple decades ago and man, they are the most used pliers I own. I use them things every day. Like you say, it's the little things in life...
I'm enjoying these. In terms of crow bars/pry bars... In terms of "essentialness"... The full size one, because you could pound out a flat bar with a hammer (assuming you can find some steel and so forth), but not so easy to make the big one. And the big ones will rip more stuff open/apart, and are more durable....
I use my 12v test light ALL the time! I also use my "Widow Maker" on a nearly weekly basis (The one that beeps if the outlet has power). So much faster than setting up my multi-meter. Also, don't just get a "volt meter" get a Multi-Meter that includes a Continuity Tester setting. It has saved me countless hours of tracing electrical issues. Also you can use a T-set or Torx set in Allen screws. So I would have the SAE and Metric T bit set since I can use them in both Torx and Allen fasteners.
Good stuff Cody. While I disagree on a few of the tools, the idea of having just 50 tools is a stretch . You might want to take that list out to at least 100 tools and that might still make it a stretch. Keep it up and keep them coming!
There are several other manufacturers that make the ball ended allen (hex) wrenches. Grainger carries a bunch and they even have double ball ended. My choice would be to either use a T-handle version or a ratchet with the desired size if you know you're going to be putting a bunch of torque onto it though.
Torx / Allens(AKA hex keys) Cool trick if ever encountering a stripped or rounded socket cap on an Allen head... Try using a Torx that fits snug in the corners...most will extract without resorting to Visegrips,etc.(allot are recessed & cant get on them with a Visegrip)...Torx vs Allen wrench set? ..IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE....Torx will fit most Allen sizes but Allens won't fit Torx.......IMHO Add the Torx to the Allen sets & call it one pick ...Budget Allens/Torx sets are better than none....Maybe Torx & Allen bit driver kit to fit the 4 in one screwdriver for a budget option...??? Need more leverage or reach in a tight spot? ...Magnetize the bit & use 1/4 inch drive ratchet w/ extension & socket to hold bit...> Great channel BTW ...been a long time viewer/follower
A GFCI Outlet tester to check outlets (it simulates using a table lamp). Add a Circuit Breaker Finder, it will generate a signal on the circuit which the tester will trace. Label outlet covers with a circuit breaker number to reduce troubleshooting time.
Brother Cody, that is a common digging shovel. The best ones have the number 2 stamped on them. In industry, the nickname for that shovel is, the Number 2 Dragline. It's a good thing you like English stuff. The word you kept using was a spade. A spade will likely have a short, D handle; the steel part will be a longish rectangle. Most often used by women and Englishmen.
I can understand why you chose the hammer you chose, but coming from a professional framer/builder, that's not the one I would choose. I would rather have to put a new handle on a wooden hammer. My go to is the Vaughan 23oz, straight wood handle. It doesn't kill my joints from the vibrations that you get with the steel handles, plus I can drive a nail easier than most can even with a heavier hammer. But I think hammers are kind of subjective. I think it matters more that you find the one you are comfortable with, and learn to use it right. I had a new guy once say something along the lines of "yea, I could drive a nail in one hit if I had a hammer like that!" ( he had a 19 oz steel hammer), I said "well, the hammer doesn't matter so much, it's the experience, you have to learn how to swing it and how to hit the nail just right", he said that was ridiculous, so I grabbed a 14oz claw hammer, and drove a nail in 2 hits to prove my point( granted it was only an 8D sinker )....kids these days, lol
The shovel you are promoting is, as you said, for forest work. What you didn't mention is that the "spade" shape is superior to the round shovel in forest work because that point will force the shovel to either side of a root it meets up with. A round or flat shovel will always get hung up on roots.
I would suggest a wheelbarrow and a 5 gallon bucket. Also a garden rake or something that helps with planting grass seed/cleaning up. Also a good light.
I don't know if anyone has mentioned it but a good tool belt. I would say a decent tool box too. No sense in owning tools if you can't store them properly or carry them with you while working. You could get away without the tool belt but the convenience is something I couldn't live without.
I know it is counterintuitive but a 'spade' has the flat head. You can look it up if you don't believe me. What you are advocating for is, in fact, a "shovel." Thanks for your great channel!
Aye, I'm all for people exceeding in life. But, this comment is as useful as me saying, "I'm currently taking a dump." Literally no context, or representation to this comment. Try harder next time tro............just kidding. God speed to you my friend!
thinredline 437: Did you see what I wrote for you several days ago? It had a LOT of information in it for you. Some people thought it was too much. But there is much to know. We are rooting for you. BUT you need to pay attention and not go in there sounding like a city boy. So here's one thing I will repeat. Learn the deiierences between the words forest, and forestry. Look at their emblems and signs. Do they say forestry service? Or forest service. Your first step is to get that straight. Now go with God's blessing. Many of us hope this is the beginning of something special for you.
You have to change the shovel to a razor back shovel. Made in the USA and is only sold at Home Depot. These are the best shovels that I have used and a lifetime warranty!
Great series! Other suggestions would be a compressor and / or generator, a square, survival knife (no doubt you'll have decided on one anyway), chisel, trowel and a vice.
I used a Big crow bar to move 200+pound rocks to clear an opening through the rock wall I'm my woods to extend my atv trail. Then used my little Suzuki King Quad 300 to drag them to a desirable location lol
A good VISE is a tool that you have to have, is just the most useful and indispensable tool to have in the shop, makes the life a lot easier clamping stuff
Hi Cody, I have to disagree with your 4-foot level, I bought a cheap Laser level and I never expected for it to last, but I have used it, I have lent it out, and I have even left it out in the snow once and it still works grate. It is so easy to use and it can work 50 feet away and still give you plumb and level readings. The only time I was wrong using this tool was when I forgot to undo the traveling screw but that was user error and not the fault of the laser. I would say get the green one as they are easier to see for long distances then the red one.
Combination square & carpenter's square. Irwin quick grip clamps. A good socket wrench set is also a no-brainer. By the way, the old Ames Featherweight forged shovels are some of the best standard shovels you can find.
Love the estwing hammer use the big blue every day. Good for concrete work. But I have broken one. Had it in my pant loop, I tripped over a foundation wall, and it snapped in half. I thought I broke my dang leg. But took it back to the store and they warranted it, no question asked.
Tools not mentioned in your series {yet} that I would consider making the list.1. Hose, for water and air: water being the more important if an air compressor does not make the list. 2, Rim set tool, sometimes it is the only thing to connect ot cement or stone. 3-16 Angle grinder/ sander / come-along / stud finder/ farm jack / T-square, framing square / Mud hawk / trowel or tape knife / panel lift / Table saw / Chain saw / axe. 17. I would add the big brother to the crow bar and pry bar list and that would be the chisle and point hex bar: this tool IMO is better for busting rock, create, at depth than a matix and has the heft to pry out tree stumps and other heave objects as a lever. Rember with a big enough lever you can move the world. 18, steel cutting shears or cissors. 19, Ditch the pliers for the chanel locks on your list, and ditch the dikes (aka diagnal cuters) keep the needle nose with cutters and add a heaver cutter for locks/ fence instead. I would also ditch the screwdriver since you have a complete cordless drill tool set that you can use manually, I would also ditch the allen wrench set, since I would be adding a cordless impact driver and Impact driver set that would have the most common hex sizes, along with some of the odd ball stuff and adapts well with a socket set. 20. socket set, metric and standard, I like the pass thru kind but these don't work so well with the before mentioned impact driver. Please consider these and thanks for your series and vids keep up the great work. Love the bread knife; board vid can we get one on making the knife it looks so awesome. Thanks.
HaHa! That extinction cord story brought back memories. I was a teenager back in the late 70s or early 80s. We were taking a CB antenna off the roof of an old 3 story farmhouse, metal roof, with a lot of pitch. We didn't have any rope so the guy threw an extension cord over the roof for us to hang onto. My feet slipped out from under me and I grabbed for the cord and missed it. I was sliding down, almost to the drop off when my pants pocket caught a nail. That stopped me long enough to reach the cord. That nail saved me from a lot of pain.
You're wrong about the test light not being useful anymore--it's actually still extremely useful and relevant in modern automotive diagnostics and many technicians use the scope on a rope every day over the multimeter. Simply because it will tell you if a circuit is capable of carrying a load. Let's say a ground wire is partly frayed and is hanging on by a couple strands, you use a multimeter and check for continuity and it shows a path to ground yet that circuit will never work because it can't carry enough current, but you hook a test light to battery positive and probe that wire and the light don't light: there's yer problem.
That may still be a little bit of a specialty case, as I don't really see the "common man" (since that's what the video is about) diving that deep into diagnosing their own automobile. I fix production copy equipment for a living, so I could go on and on about how I use a multimeter, but ultimately it would not be that useful or interesting to an average person.
zsmorr92 this is true and for the every day homeowner (that’s how I interpret “the common man”), a multimeter is the better choice because you can see when a circuit is powered down for sure. I just wanted to point out that a test light shouldn’t be ignored in this day and age.
Love having the light, sure did all those Summers cutting weeds with three hundred feet of electrical cord. As for bars, count also in the set a little one for fine work, about four inches long. Once you have it, wonder how lived without. Agree, multimeter the best, as can do so much. Worse case, use to set timing on a points vehical instead of a light (instead of looking at the brightest, looking at highest).
Dividers (uses would be an entire video ) Paraffin Basic sharpening/ honing stone and steel Someone else mentioned a combination square Dead blow hammer ( I've found a dozen uses since I've had one ... easing nuts loose, gently moving appliances into place, tapping woodworking joints home ... everything a hammer is too rough and your palm is too gentle )
Back in the day a lot of people did build entire houses with a Skilsaw. That’s why nothing was ever square.
My dad can cut it square, blind, with 9 fingers 😂
More than twice I've needed a wire brush, and nothing else would do the job. From grilling to cleaning battery terminals (different brush of course) they're super handy.
Its like a forgotten love. I use them for so many things and so often that I forget about them. Especially if you live in the rust belt.
"grab a couple 50's and a 3-way" sounds like my kind of evening.
I have a basic Skil circular saw I bought in college in 1990. My first power tool. I’ve used it on about a million DIY’s over the years and it still rips like brand new. Wouldn’t consider replacing it before it dies. I got a DeWalt circular saw at a yard sale last year and just resold it because I still went to the Skil every time.
@Wranglerstar I know you are a man who takes pride in his work. You brought up extension cords in this video. One not very well known bit of cord handling is proper coiling for storage to prevent damage by twisting. This is caused by improper coiling and is not just something that happens. Not only is it unsightly and makes the cord tangle and hard to handle, it actually destroys your cord from the inside out. That 12ga cord will begin to perform like a 14ga, and eventually fail altogether. These problems are all solved by "over-under" coiling. Look into it, you'll be glad you did.
Angle Grinder! 4.5" angle grinder! I use mine for literally everything in all trades of workmanship/craftsmanship, and hobbies! Plastic, metal, wood, concrete, stone, tile, paint, EVERYTHING! Sharpen, polish, hone, cut, notch, shape, clean, debur, etc etc. Just the other day I used one to help a friend cut the lug nuts off his car because the wheel studs were stripped on the backside, lug nut just spun the stud. Also used it to split the bearing races on the same vehicle. Use it every day. Also makes a great flush cut saw, yeah dangerous, but with great muscle memory it works.
For a workshop, A nice solid bench vice, for versatility a set of F Clamps. As a fitter I'd also say correct size spanners and sockets, nothing is worse then when people round the tops of bolts off accidentally.
As an Irish man who's worked in forestry, farming and small mechanical work, a good quality vise grip is a must have too, skimp on quality anywhere else but buy a good vise grip, you'd be amazed just how versatile a tool it it
My lovely wife bought me a black and decker super saw cat circular saw. It’s not a worm drive and is heavy at 8.25” but it is fantastic! The weight helps keep it from walking due to the power. I love it.
I gotta say, I've never seen a man look so close at shovel before with so much romance.
This is nit-picking I know,but that shovel you're waving around is not a spade.A spade has a long narrow blade,with a squared off end.
I don't think so. A spade has a pointed end, like the card suit.
Ok,I've been straightened out by my wife.Some do have a rounded end.The only ones I've ever seen have a flat end.I think we may be wading through another instance of regional differences.
I'm not your wife.
A man and his shovel. It's a beautiful thing.
I lucked out this summer at a local flea market. One vendor had FSS shovels made in Ireland for sale two for $15, I bought all of the ones he had.
Im sure these will be part of the list but I will throw these out there just in case: Some type of square, multitool, set of chisels, file/stone, wire brush, flashlight, sawsall, wet/dry shop vac, maybe clamps of some kind? and maybe some PPE like dust mask, ear muffs, goggles? Great video series!
I like the Allen wrenches all in a one that flip out personally because all the other sets I have are missing the one I need.
husky
second that. i always need the small ones that get lost quick in the free sets.
Torx can fit into metric Allen heads
My dad has had a set of 2 Estwing hammers for well over that 14 years (they are older than me.) and they still work and feel like they are straight off the assembly line. They are THE BEST hammers you could ever buy.
My oldest one is 50+ years old . It used to belong to my dad , who like me was a carpenter .
Socket sets!!! Extremely useful in every day life, keeping vehicles running putting together various things I use mine every time I work on something
Commenting as I'm watching.
I was already thinking of the "falling off" story about extension cords when you said it. My brother told me that about welding leads. It also works for air hoses. Of course, it'll hang up whether you have a 3-plug end or not.
I also have a bunch of really short extension cords (6 feet or less). I made them up either from a loose cord that came with some piece of electrical equipment, or from damaged cords that I turned into two cords. They are handy for "in-shop" work where you need a cord, but it's a hassle to mess with a long one.
The "proper" term is "jillion", not "bazillion". ;o)
I would suggest that a bit set that includes hex bits, Torx bits, square bits, etc. would be the thing to get. 30 years ago my grandmother-in-law gave me a tool kit from Costco for Christmas. It had a ratcheting screwdriver handle, SAE and metric 1/4" drive sockets (with a hex-to-1/4" drive adapter), and gobs of bits: phillips, straight, hex (SAE and metric), Torx, and square. It's still my go-to tool kit for lots of the stuff I have to do around the homestead.
Torpedo level with a magnetic base is great for doing drawer slides in a kitchen! Carpenter here
An angle grinder is an amazing tool. Any sort of metal work will benefit from it.
Absolutely!
There is almost nothing an angle grinder won't cut, plastic metal wood plexiglass some marble amd concrete type materials they are great, especially a cordless one
In my electrical bag I like to carry a simple AC power detector. You push a button, wave it over a wire, and it beeps if it's hot. Has saved me a few times on unfamiliar electrical systems.
Must haves for me in my belt are a square (speed or tri), a pencil, and a razor knife which you already covered. I do a lot of framing so the skill saw you mentioned with the hammers, tape and nail punches. I'm not sure if a sawzall was covered but a good one is an oscillating tool like the Bosch Starlock or something similar. It's great in tight places for removing grout, scraping, and a million other things since it has 100 different attachments for the blade.
Wire strippers with the built in cripms? Maybe a pair of lineman pliers.- im an electrician, and those two tools can make or break my day.
XGC Scrappy ill take a look. Thanks🙃
Knipex are superior to Channel Locks...IMO. I use them daily at work and they do not pinch your hands like channel locks can and grip round objects better.
Andrew Branham they are and I have a pair of knopex alligators and they are great.
Andrew Branham you are a smart man
They are mlre expensive but I agree and have them as well.
Absolutely!!! The very best
if you pinched your hand you were not using Channell Locks you were using foriegn made knock offs. I have never been pinched with real Channel Locks only with the junk made over seas mine are 30 years old
I am a General contractor and carpenter in Vancouver, BC, Canada. I Largely agree with the list, Cody. But its funny how we use different tools. For example, you will very very very rarely see a worm drive saw being used by anyone in Canada. The standard seems to be the Makita sidewinder, and the Olfa (yellow) 1 inch razor blade knives. I swear by Stabila levels as well. Sure they're insanely expensive, but at least you know you've got a level that will read true for life, no matter how much you abuse it.
I love these videos Mr. Wranglerstar. Thanks for the time and effort. Thumbs up!
i think worm drive is a regional thing for him. i don't see many in east coast usa either. they sell them at home depot but i don't see people ever using them
Lighting is a must, flashlight, drop light or headlamp. Saw horses are extremely useful. And I don't remember if you included a speed square or t square yet. DIY mechanics and woodworkers will benefit with c clamps or any type of clamp. A torque wrench and breaker bar. A 1 inch chisel is handy a lot. Files? Maybe.You added a multi meter. So maybe electrical pliers can be added to that.
As far as hex keys go (allen wrench) I use them everyday as a tool and die maker. Bought a set of Ecklind at the local farm store when I started and can't say anything bad about them. A few years later was looking through a friend's snap-on box when I came across his set of allen's. I popped one out of the holder and realized the snap-on brand had the exact same markings on the tool as my set of Ecklind wrenches I'd been using for years.
Just used the big crow bar to help dig out the roots from a small volunteer tree. Thankful I had it!
I've got an old multimeter (volt meter) from the 90's, RadioShack brand. Works great. Back then you could buy relatively inexpensive tools and still expect a minimum level of quality.
I would strongly recommend 1 tool to replace 2 that you have already mentioned and oddly enough they seem to work better than both of them. The Knipex adjustable wrench a little pricey but well worth it it can really replace the channel locks and the regular adjustable wrenches. I also prefer using the 8in. model but the 10in. model is better for versatility
I'm liking the 50 plus tool selection. Suggestion for bonus video, all 50 tools organized in tool box, tool belt, and work bench set up.
lol, my dad would always say, "If I were falling off a cliff it would be the one time that SOB wouldn't snag on something..."
I always use my leatherman surge... Talking about versatility! Great tool!
Same here but I have a Leatherman Wave
@@Doobie603 basicly the same but smaller. I just love em.
You’ve got to get a set of Knipex plier wrenches and Cobra pliers. Five inch and 10 inch versions are a great set to have. Will replace all your channel locks and crescent wrenches. Expensive but well worth it!!
I am going to say this, as I would add the torx screwdrivers. Now the reason I say I would add those to the list, is a lot of manufacturers are going to Torx head screws, and I am even seeing them in general carpentry with dry wall and even wood screws. As for the volt meter, I would actually go with one that is a volt ohm meter, that also can read mil-amps. My dad had one of those, and he was the Number 1 Equipment installer in the state of Texas for what use to be GTE. I would also go with a volt/ohm meter because sometimes, you do need to know if the ohm's of things will allow it to conduct electricity as metal does break down over time. I would even add a telescoping magnet, just in case you drop something in a hard to reach place.
The Lutz 88 utility knife has got to be the best one I’ve ever used, durable, blade change is fast and simple, plenty of room for blades, no extra tools needed to change the blades, they’re just great! I️ highly recommend if you’re looking for a good knife to carry for working in the trades.
Was gonna say the razor knife was one of my most used tools.
I have to disagree with the fire shovel vs. standard spade. For digging post holes of any depth that fire shovel’s angle will get you fighting the hole. In fact for almost any ditch digger that angle is going to be taking the force strength away from the handle. Might be nice for farmers till style dirt/ soil. The steep sweep of the sides might be nice in roots. Over all though for construction purposes, standard spade. Love this series Cody! I really look forward to them. Could we have another manly manners please? I really miss those, even some of the old ones rehashed would be fine.
I love my Makita cordless rip saw (Skilsaw) . It's one of my favourite tools , and I also love my Estwings . A 22oz framing model and a 20oz curve claw , for general and finish work . A 6 ft level is very handy also .
Cody's comment on the crowbar "this is not just for wood working, this is when things go bad" haha never a more true statement. I can't argue with any of the choices so far
Agree with this guy I keep a 30 inch crow bar,36 inch connecting bar,4ft level, torpedo level,8 pound ironworker beater,7 adjustable wrenches, a 16 inch Klein wrench and a couple of spud wrenches for bolting up.
For use around the yard, and for burning leaves and even regular fires outside, I have found a good steel heavy prong pitchfork to be invaluable. It's one of the the tools I use the most around my acre and a half wooded lot!
I like the channellock pliers that have a little button spring lock on them, easier to lock into the size you want and not rattle around, loose grip, have to re-adjust etc.
a cold chisel would be great. you never know when your going to be breaking and busting concrete or block. I use a cold chisel atleast once a week doing remodels. Also a grinder or some sort bench would be ok but all around an angle grinder, you can cut with it but also I have used them alot to do a fought shapening job on different tools in the field when you have to just get it done. plus you can put all different kinds of disk depending on what your doing.
I made my own extension cords. Two 50 foot cords. One cord is just a standard cord and the other has a 2 gang box at the end. All 4 outlets are GFCI protected. If I need some extra length, I just plug in my standard 50 footer as an extension. Works beautifully.
How about a set of wood working chisels, maybe a handplane or an electric one. perhaps an orbital sander or belt sander could be good too, so many sanding machines that are useful. love the videos keep it up.
Watching a man tear his mind apart over what he needs in his tool belt, the opinions that can't settle
Grandpa was from Mississippi. He called the wonder bar a reckon bar. Not sure why, but if a claw hammer won't pry it out, I reckon this will. Or, it's time for a materials reckoning.
Thanks Cody
That flat bar is a god send when doing interior remodeling or flooring
On channellocks, I got a set of Craftsman Robogrip pliers a couple decades ago and man, they are the most used pliers I own. I use them things every day. Like you say, it's the little things in life...
I picked up an extra long version of that flat bar. It mostly fills both crow-bar niches.
I'm enjoying these. In terms of crow bars/pry bars... In terms of "essentialness"... The full size one, because you could pound out a flat bar with a hammer (assuming you can find some steel and so forth), but not so easy to make the big one. And the big ones will rip more stuff open/apart, and are more durable....
I use my 12v test light ALL the time! I also use my "Widow Maker" on a nearly weekly basis (The one that beeps if the outlet has power). So much faster than setting up my multi-meter.
Also, don't just get a "volt meter" get a Multi-Meter that includes a Continuity Tester setting. It has saved me countless hours of tracing electrical issues.
Also you can use a T-set or Torx set in Allen screws. So I would have the SAE and Metric T bit set since I can use them in both Torx and Allen fasteners.
Good stuff Cody. While I disagree on a few of the tools, the idea of having just 50 tools is a stretch . You might want to take that list out to at least 100 tools and that might still make it a stretch. Keep it up and keep them coming!
I think he's trying to get the new guys or young guys started out for their first shopa. 50 for now. The real number is probably 464 lol.
There are several other manufacturers that make the ball ended allen (hex) wrenches. Grainger carries a bunch and they even have double ball ended. My choice would be to either use a T-handle version or a ratchet with the desired size if you know you're going to be putting a bunch of torque onto it though.
Torx / Allens(AKA hex keys) Cool trick if ever encountering a stripped or rounded socket cap on an Allen head... Try using a Torx that fits snug in the corners...most will extract without resorting to Visegrips,etc.(allot are recessed & cant get on them with a Visegrip)...Torx vs Allen wrench set? ..IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE....Torx will fit most Allen sizes but Allens won't fit Torx.......IMHO Add the Torx to the Allen sets & call it one pick ...Budget Allens/Torx sets are better than none....Maybe Torx & Allen bit driver kit to fit the 4 in one screwdriver for a budget option...??? Need more leverage or reach in a tight spot? ...Magnetize the bit & use 1/4 inch drive ratchet w/ extension & socket to hold bit...> Great channel BTW ...been a long time viewer/follower
A GFCI Outlet tester to check outlets (it simulates using a table lamp). Add a Circuit Breaker Finder, it will generate a signal on the circuit which the tester will trace. Label outlet covers with a circuit breaker number to reduce troubleshooting time.
I keep a 12 inch channel locks in the kitchen as a convenient in-house tool. It's good for loosening the cap on glue, nail polish, ...
I sat for 20 minutes listening to the man talk about his pant...better believe I'm watching 29 minutes of awesome!!!
in a pinch, a lot of torx can be worked with the allen sets
Alasdair Magic that's why I always come across stripped out torx' s cause of people like you 😂
and torx can work on allen bolts
Cool add for this video, it was not selling or purswading , it was simply about how to care for and dispose of your lithium ion batteries.
Flashlight or head lamp. Stick magnet for retrieving nuts, screws etc. Narrow file set. Soft and stiff wire brushes.
Allen sets in the Swiss Army knife format are at the dollar store. Bought Allen and Torx set for the kitchen junk drawer
AWG- AMERICAN WIRE GAUGE
12 AWG for power tools is usually good for 20 amp and some codes 25 amp
Brother Cody, that is a common digging shovel. The best ones have the number 2 stamped on them. In industry, the nickname for that shovel is, the Number 2 Dragline.
It's a good thing you like English stuff. The word you kept using was a spade. A spade will likely have a short, D handle; the steel part will be a longish rectangle. Most often used by women and Englishmen.
Chainsaw is #1 for me. The amount of work it saves is immense on our homestead!
Loosing sleep Cody? Well one of the tools to survive should be a white noise machine :) :) :)
charles jenkins underrated comment
He does he leaves a ms461 idling in the corner
I can understand why you chose the hammer you chose, but coming from a professional framer/builder, that's not the one I would choose. I would rather have to put a new handle on a wooden hammer. My go to is the Vaughan 23oz, straight wood handle. It doesn't kill my joints from the vibrations that you get with the steel handles, plus I can drive a nail easier than most can even with a heavier hammer. But I think hammers are kind of subjective. I think it matters more that you find the one you are comfortable with, and learn to use it right. I had a new guy once say something along the lines of "yea, I could drive a nail in one hit if I had a hammer like that!" ( he had a 19 oz steel hammer), I said "well, the hammer doesn't matter so much, it's the experience, you have to learn how to swing it and how to hit the nail just right", he said that was ridiculous, so I grabbed a 14oz claw hammer, and drove a nail in 2 hits to prove my point( granted it was only an 8D sinker )....kids these days, lol
I have used a flat bar to remove automotive door panels. Works great.
The shovel you are promoting is, as you said, for forest work. What you didn't mention is that the "spade" shape is superior to the round shovel in forest work because that point will force the shovel to either side of a root it meets up with. A round or flat shovel will always get hung up on roots.
Don't forget a nice Flashlight! Cant live without one anymore. I'm expecting to get a shoutout on next video now haha!
This is the third time I’ve watched this series I love it
I would suggest a wheelbarrow and a 5 gallon bucket. Also a garden rake or something that helps with planting grass seed/cleaning up. Also a good light.
My most used tools: 3ft pry bar, 3lb brass mini sledge and vise grips I would also say a good set of wrenches or a good fit all
The angle on that shovel is awesome! You don't find those very often anymore.
Make a top 10 or so honorable mentions, the tools that didn't make it but you debated over.
I don't know if anyone has mentioned it but a good tool belt. I would say a decent tool box too. No sense in owning tools if you can't store them properly or carry them with you while working. You could get away without the tool belt but the convenience is something I couldn't live without.
I know it is counterintuitive but a 'spade' has the flat head. You can look it up if you don't believe me. What you are advocating for is, in fact, a "shovel." Thanks for your great channel!
I have a job interview with the forestry service in Texas tomorrow morning.
thinredline 437 cool hope you get it
Aye, I'm all for people exceeding in life.
But, this comment is as useful as me saying, "I'm currently taking a dump."
Literally no context, or representation to this comment.
Try harder next time tro............just kidding.
God speed to you my friend!
Sherman Brown im currently replyinf to your reply
Good luck hope you get it
thinredline 437: Did you see what I wrote for you several days ago? It had a LOT of information in it for you. Some people thought it was too much. But there is much to know.
We are rooting for you. BUT you need to pay attention and not go in there sounding like a city boy. So here's one thing I will repeat.
Learn the deiierences between the words forest, and forestry. Look at their emblems and signs. Do they say forestry service? Or forest service. Your first step is to get that straight.
Now go with God's blessing. Many of us hope this is the beginning of something special for you.
You have to change the shovel to a razor back shovel. Made in the USA and is only sold at Home Depot. These are the best shovels that I have used and a lifetime warranty!
12:12 No. For a multimeter get a Fieldpiece SC260. Fairly cheap, and it has an amp-clamp.
If you must buy Fluke, get the 323.
You can't forget a good pair of channel locks!!
Great series!
Other suggestions would be a compressor and / or generator, a square, survival knife (no doubt you'll have decided on one anyway), chisel, trowel and a vice.
I used a Big crow bar to move 200+pound rocks to clear an opening through the rock wall I'm my woods to extend my atv trail. Then used my little Suzuki King Quad 300 to drag them to a desirable location lol
A good VISE is a tool that you have to have, is just the most useful and indispensable tool to have in the shop, makes the life a lot easier clamping stuff
Hi Cody, I have to disagree with your 4-foot level, I bought a cheap Laser level and I never expected for it to last, but I have used it, I have lent it out, and I have even left it out in the snow once and it still works grate. It is so easy to use and it can work 50 feet away and still give you plumb and level readings. The only time I was wrong using this tool was when I forgot to undo the traveling screw but that was user error and not the fault of the laser. I would say get the green one as they are easier to see for long distances then the red one.
Only thing I would change is to make the hammer a 20 oz. Stanley makes a nice all steel 20oz as well. Mines been through the ringer, still use it.
Along with your multi-meter you need a plug tester it is so easy to use to check your wiring i'm a MN master and i carried one for 20 years
Combination square & carpenter's square. Irwin quick grip clamps. A good socket wrench set is also a no-brainer.
By the way, the old Ames Featherweight forged shovels are some of the best standard shovels you can find.
Love the estwing hammer use the big blue every day. Good for concrete work. But I have broken one. Had it in my pant loop, I tripped over a foundation wall, and it snapped in half. I thought I broke my dang leg. But took it back to the store and they warranted it, no question asked.
I live in an apartment but did have my own home, but keep all my tools you mentioned in this video. 😎🤩
flat bar is great for digging up sprinkler heads in sprinkler systems!
FYI, Snap-On Hex Key wrenches are made by Bondhus! Bondhus makes the BEST ball type because they have a "squashed" profile which gives more "bite".
Tools not mentioned in your series {yet} that I would consider making the list.1. Hose, for water and air: water being the more important if an air compressor does not make the list. 2, Rim set tool, sometimes it is the only thing to connect ot cement or stone. 3-16 Angle grinder/ sander / come-along / stud finder/ farm jack / T-square, framing square / Mud hawk / trowel or tape knife / panel lift / Table saw / Chain saw / axe. 17. I would add the big brother to the crow bar and pry bar list and that would be the chisle and point hex bar: this tool IMO is better for busting rock, create, at depth than a matix and has the heft to pry out tree stumps and other heave objects as a lever. Rember with a big enough lever you can move the world. 18, steel cutting shears or cissors. 19, Ditch the pliers for the chanel locks on your list, and ditch the dikes (aka diagnal cuters) keep the needle nose with cutters and add a heaver cutter for locks/ fence instead. I would also ditch the screwdriver since you have a complete cordless drill tool set that you can use manually, I would also ditch the allen wrench set, since I would be adding a cordless impact driver and Impact driver set that would have the most common hex sizes, along with some of the odd ball stuff and adapts well with a socket set. 20. socket set, metric and standard, I like the pass thru kind but these don't work so well with the before mentioned impact driver. Please consider these and thanks for your series and vids keep up the great work. Love the bread knife; board vid can we get one on making the knife it looks so awesome. Thanks.
HaHa! That extinction cord story brought back memories. I was a teenager back in the late 70s or early 80s. We were taking a CB antenna off the roof of an old 3 story farmhouse, metal roof, with a lot of pitch. We didn't have any rope so the guy threw an extension cord over the roof for us to hang onto. My feet slipped out from under me and I grabbed for the cord and missed it. I was sliding down, almost to the drop off when my pants pocket caught a nail. That stopped me long enough to reach the cord. That nail saved me from a lot of pain.
I've had really good luck with the razorback spade shovel. I know this is an older video but Im rewatching the series.
Bondhus FTW. I love my sets
You're wrong about the test light not being useful anymore--it's actually still extremely useful and relevant in modern automotive diagnostics and many technicians use the scope on a rope every day over the multimeter. Simply because it will tell you if a circuit is capable of carrying a load. Let's say a ground wire is partly frayed and is hanging on by a couple strands, you use a multimeter and check for continuity and it shows a path to ground yet that circuit will never work because it can't carry enough current, but you hook a test light to battery positive and probe that wire and the light don't light: there's yer problem.
50sKid Eric O. would approve this message.
Good point
That may still be a little bit of a specialty case, as I don't really see the "common man" (since that's what the video is about) diving that deep into diagnosing their own automobile.
I fix production copy equipment for a living, so I could go on and on about how I use a multimeter, but ultimately it would not be that useful or interesting to an average person.
zsmorr92 this is true and for the every day homeowner (that’s how I interpret “the common man”), a multimeter is the better choice because you can see when a circuit is powered down for sure. I just wanted to point out that a test light shouldn’t be ignored in this day and age.
The fluke will diagnose that problem as well, connect it in series with your circuit and it'll give you a current rating.
With your volt meter (multimeter) always get one with a continuity tester if you can if only for verifying earth connects and seeking short circuits..
Don't forget the bottle opener. A must have to open a bottled brew at the end of the work day!
I like that candle holder and horse in the background.
Love having the light, sure did all those Summers cutting weeds with three hundred feet of electrical cord.
As for bars, count also in the set a little one for fine work, about four inches long. Once you have it, wonder how lived without.
Agree, multimeter the best, as can do so much. Worse case, use to set timing on a points vehical instead of a light (instead of looking at the brightest, looking at highest).
Dividers (uses would be an entire video ) Paraffin Basic sharpening/ honing stone and steel Someone else mentioned a combination square Dead blow hammer ( I've found a dozen uses since I've had one ... easing nuts loose, gently moving appliances into place, tapping woodworking joints home ... everything a hammer is too rough and your palm is too gentle )