Thank you for your questions and support, Cohort, maggs and Logan! Join this channel to support Tested and get access to perks like asking Adam questions: th-cam.com/channels/iDJtJKMICpb9B1qf7qjEOA.htmljoin Stanley Proto Industrial Tool Mini Pocket Screwdriver Flathead Key Chain no longer available, but substitutes available including: amzn.to/3ChhwcL LEATHERMAN, Sidekick Pocket Size Multitool: amzn.to/3m8G4LS Car Safety Hammer 2-Pack: amzn.to/3GJkXt8 WORKPRO W051002 10” Flat File: amzn.to/3arIW44 Disclaimer: Tested may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through the links here
Same. Just an itty-bitty (but high-power!) AAA keychain light has been infinitely useful to me over the years. The world is full of dark little holes and poorly-lit spaces that can be tamed with just a bit of light.
@@danriehl4244 My EDC is an Olight i3E EOS (tiny and simple to use since it's just on/off). I also have a ThruNite Ti3 V2 on a second keychain (a little larger but has multiple brightness which can be handy). Neither is noticeably brighter than my phone, but they are usually more convenient.
@@danriehl4244 Depends strongly on what you want, the ones mentioned by jigpu get the job done. There are plenty of options in the AAA powered twisty models, nice and compact. There are also little rechargeable keychain ones like the Nitecore tube as well that are even more compact while still pretty bright for its size. If you want something with a bit more brightness than your smartphone and good runtime though I'd suggest to consider looking into 18650 powered ones. A bit bulkier but nothing massive, personally I'm rather fond of Zebralight both because of their interface and very light minimal extra material. Empty the weight of an sc64c is just 38 grams and the extra space at the head is not much longer than the reflector which is needed up there beyond the battery tube. It's interface while it takes some getting used to is good at being able to turn it on in both low and high modes and get whatever output level you want. But there are certainly cheaper options out there with simpler interfaces, at that brightness level I would STRONGLY suggest to not get something that can only be turned on in its brightest and needs to cycle through modes until you get to that low light one after having ruined your adaptation to low light. Olight used to have a few compact models in production that'd certainly fit the bill (and probably still does), press and hold to turn on at minimum level, one click to turn on at last used one, double click from off to get max brightness.
@@danriehl4244 got one for my dad 3 years ago on amazon called sofirn sp31 v2, its small, removable and rechargeable 18650 battery, seperate button to change brightness/flashy modes so u dont have to cycle every time(it remembers the last used mode), and its tough. a review on youtube said he ran it over by accident and noting happened. for $35 you cant really go wrong
what i love about vintage tools is that you can get them for a crazy deal and theyre usually better or at least pride of ownership of having something made in usa/germany/italy/japan is great. seriously, with 40 bucks and a trip to a flea market weekly ive quadrupled my tools, just yesterday i found that sargent pliers for 5 bucks. ive found anything from craftsman usa, snap on, proto, kd, sk, etc...and all of them with a story to tell
I usually always have a single little pouch/holster about 2”x4”x1” that holds a few things quite tightly: Leatherman Wave, small AAA flashlight, o-ring type space pen, and a screwdriver bit pack for the Wave. Usually stays on the belt and is usually always with me. This kit has saved me more than once. I’ve carried some form of knife for decades, ever since maybe the second grade, when I receive my first Cub Scout knife, I believe as a Wolf, and I’ve had some type ever since. They’ve increased in price and functionality as I’ve increased in knowledge and wealth.
Something my brother and I always kept handy, is a 10 millimeter socket. 1/4 3/8 and 1/2 drive. It's always the one that's missing and always the one you need when its missing
I work for a General Contractor and we keep about 6 extra 10mm sockets of various drive sizes for this exact reason. It's literally always the one missing. That and the 3/4 deep socket always seem to grow legs and walk away when you need them most!
I've had a Leatherman Juice CS4 in my pocket for a long while. I've lost it and refound it multiple times. It is the single most handy tool I have carried with me. Also carry a small swiss army knife but if I had to choose between those two, it would be the leatherman. I have other leathermans but that form factor is great for carrying day to day in my pocket.
I've only ever needed an allen key and screw driver in my life. Just started cycling at an intemediate level. Could you recommend a portable tool combo i could buy? (I've never really used any tools, but watching this channel i want to be more capable)
@@wordsinahandle - Not a biker, but I've heard some say the Wera Tool Check Plus (either Metric or Imperial, depending on bike) is helpful for such situations. Or was it a different tool combo? Either that or a leatherman (capable of holding bits, like the Surge or Wave) + leatherman bit pack + small wrench (like the 711).
Adam mentioned having wanted to rig out a sprinter van as a mobile machine shop, during world war 2 there were mobile machine shops built into trailers that could be hauled behind Jeep’s. I’ve seen them pop up a few times on eBay. I’m not sure if they were in service before ww2, but I do know I’ve seen info on them from around then.
I work with the US Patent Office, cleaning up the drawings, so I see a fair number of electrical diagrams. A video about that would be interesting to me. At the very least some amount of understanding would make my job less boring lol
4:00: I work in civil engineering/construction materials testing and we've got a couple older compressive strength machines with force gauges like that. Generally they've been replaced by digital load cells, either on newer machines or retrofits. With both, the cost isn't so much just the price of the thing as it is getting it calibrated every year.
My house van is built somewhat around my work shop, heavy and finding places for every thing is tough, but totally worth having what you need close by rather then back at the shop.
Adam that force gage is immediately useful to you at the milling machine. Use it to calibrate the force applied by your mill vise by using it in conjunction with a torque wrench. If and when you are doing delicate or thin work in the vice it would be nice to know how much handle twist equals how much clamping force. Also great for calibrating toe clamp force.
"It could one day be useful" As a hoarder, this can be a dangerous thing. I have just gotten rid of several garbage bags full of stuff that I never used for this reason, and it is harder than some people might think. But it does feel good to free up space for future hoarding:)
You are so correct! My father in law was this way. Not only did he grow up during the depression but he was a maker as well so he saved everything. He lived in Los Altos CA. and bought from the same surplus places Adam and Jamie bought from. (He lived near Ames Research where many Mythbusters were filmed). My GOD the crap he collected under the guise of "It could one day be useful". Well when he passed away we went through hell getting rid of all that stuff! Massive burden. I will say it changed my tune. I am a fabricator with many different skill sets and when I came home after all that work I reprioritized what is truly important and what is a wish, dream, or not as important as I had hoped. I have so much more room and a cleaner mindset!
One of the most powerful tools for creativity/design/making is iteration. Drawing/sketching things before building is basically a way of getting a few loops of iteration for 'free' because you don't have to waste materials making some of the mistakes that you discover while transferring your ideas to paper and organizing them.
I seem to recall a video that Adam made, perhaps around a year ago, about wiring diagrams, and how he goes through two or three iterations with them. Really informative for me, being mostly a novice at that particular line of work. Additional videos would certainly be welcome!
I have a Leatherman Wave+ on my hip most times I go out!! This was at the recommendation of Adam in one of his videos! It may be a tiny bit expensive, but it was BY FAR the best purchase I have ever made in regards to EDC.
My favorite old tool I didn't even know I HAD until recently... A 60-tooth 1/4 S-K original ratchet. The knurling is still pristine on the handle. The clicks ALONE are heavenly. The tight articulation of 60 teeth give it a "heft of feel" you don't normally find in a small package. Most any standard 1/4" ratchets, even most "good" ones, disengage entirely (skip) and/or have too much travel for the tightness of space, etc. They're typically sloppy but not this little fella. Got included in a set of roller skates I grabbed a few years back. Never looked in the "extras" baggie. I was missing OUT, lemme tell ya. I'd pretty much written them off as useless but necessary. Hehe
In my case as a mechanic, I always have on my person, a keychain, a liner locker pocket knife, and my phone. Three very handy tools to have around. I however have considered starting to carry a screwdriver pen tool, like a small Philips head and a slightly wider flat blade on the other end with caps on both ends. Seeing as I already carry a pen most places
I enjoyed the mention of trusting your previous work/ efforts on the R2. I also do a bunch of work and figuring out for my future self in my free time, and when I do I almost never second guess my past self when I get back around to the project or whatever else it may have been.
Trust me Adam, as someone who's been in aviation the last 12 years with 8 of that being in production, a good wiring diagram can make or break your sanity. Being in production you haven't function checked (test department) anything yet, so if things are wired incorrectly you need good wiring diagrams.
I agree with the wood handle comfort completely! It allows a consistent mould and firmness around your hands so you can be extra sensitive without the rubber absorbing the force and overdoing a movement you wish to execute sensitively but confidently
If I want to carry a compact tool loadout, a Victorinox SwissTool is always part of it. The relatively smooth plier handles, the dead simple locking mechanism, the solid but not overly heavy construction, plus the general tool selection... I haven't seen a better multitool since I started carrying them in the late '90s or early '00s.
Gerber freehand or Leatherman oht plus a beater folding knife, and a Springfield hellcat. Really hard to beat those Leatherman type tools though. The Gerber isn't made anymore but both the oht and the freehand are almost completely one hand operation multi tools. The pliers blades and most of the screwdrivers are all openable with only one hand. Which can be a big deal and something you'll never want to go without ever again if you get the ability. It's just so much more convenient when holding something not having to set it down or find someone to hold it while you fiddle with a normal multi tool that you need to unfold. As a tinker and mechanic it's been a life saver many times.
I collect old tools because I build instruments in my studio apartment so old hand tools are my best option, but also they're super cool. I have an 1890's Stanley No. 45 that I love to show people since it looks so confusing, but it's also my go-to tool for cutting truss rod channels in guitar necks!
I always carry a little 4 way straight screwdriver that I got from a muffler shop back about 1974 or so. It was their promotional giveaway at the time, and it has always been in my pocket ever since. That said, I carry enough tools in my old car to rebuild it on the side of the road ;)
Can I ask Adam, have you tried your hand at the Lament Configuration box from Hellraiser, Etching the brass panels etc. I'm in the early stages. It's certainly a learning curve. Thank you for your incredible content.
I'm doing my 3. Gen Lament Config atm Doing the Etching is tricky V1 was spraypaint/laserengrave/iron(III)Ch V2 was CNC Milling V3 is 'oldschool' UV Resist Exposure, Iron(III)Ch
Yes, it's definitely a learning curve. Just sourcing the lament side designs, inverting them them sizing 3" squared. I'm next onto printing onto laminate. Then onto the next stage. I've no doubt the etching is going to be experimental at best.
When I am working I carry needle nose plies, knipex pliers wrench, cobra pliers, a bondhus allen wrench set, a box knife, and a #2 Philips screwdriver.
I went through the same process when I redesigned the wiring for an old Datsun pickup. When I built all the harnesses, all I did was refer to the diagrams without thinking about whether they were correct. And in the end there was only 1 minor mistake (the dome light would only come on with the high beam switch activated).
when you mentioned the window breaker , that girl that was recently found drowned in her car the divers found the car upside down. that confirms that many cars do go turtle when then go under.
Well now i'm curious what tool, item, or whatever was the most underrated thing you had. Maybe it was something that you had to actively remind yourself to take with you or to even use. I have a buddy that needs a list around so he doesn't forget why he has some of his equipment, mostly because we have a tendency to use stuff outside their intended purpose.
Go buy a Spyderco Bug for the key chain! This is my EDC knife that I don't even need to think about carrying and since it's a proper sharp spyderco, you can even cut cardboard and other pretty significant stuff.
ADAM MY PROP HERO! I have a request… there are multiple scenes in countless movies and TV shows where the setting will be surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of candles. Could you please explain how this is done in regards to continuity? fake candles with gas flame? real candles with cgi flames? or just good old fashion crew work, lighting and replacing units for the sake of continuity. Thank you for potentially replying. also grateful for any input from the comment community.
A notebook, a pen(preferably multi tipped red-blue-graphite) and trusty 6in calipers. I can drop the calipers occasionally but the grimoire stays on all the time, I highly suggest carrying it around on a holster dedicated to it.
I was a collision repair tech for 25 years. I was asked by people from time to time what is my most important tool. I always said my pocket screwdriver that the Snap On, Mac, Cornhole, etc... dealers would give you. I would tell people that I swear I could tear down and put back together an entire vehicle with that tool. Obviously this is complete BS but my gosh, I would perform a tremendous amount of tasks with that free pocket screwdriver! To this day I can't be without it.
My connection with old tools is restoration. I love restoring hand tools. Not to the point of the lads like 'my mechanics' but restoring them to put them back into service and use them everyday. Yesterday I literally spent 2 hours cleaning every grove of a rust encrusted 40 year old bastard file haha. It was great! And it's now a damn good file. I like that it allows a connection to that tool, it builds a sort of bond to the object. I love that. Great video as always Adam!
I had the rare gift of studying music with the amazing Gene Nichols, and he would mark you absent if you arrived without a pencil. His point was that musicians should always be ready to take notes, learn from one another, compromise, and change arrangements at each rehearsal.
I found an old Snap On shop catalog as a young adult / independent contractor in the early 90s. Their tool aesthetic was perfection to me then. Luckily, their prices were so far out of reach it couldn’t even tempt. But always check at garage sales.
I've carried a P-38 can opener on my keychain for over 40 years. I can't count the number of times it has saved me. It's made of some kind of magical, indestructible steel.
All my keyrings have a Swiss Tech Utilikey on them - philips/flat blade screwdrivers, knife with flat and serated blade sections, bottle opener. Clips on and looks like a key.
Once upon a time my boss needed a force ring gauge and I wound up making it for him. Just to be on the safe side, because of the tightness of the tolerances, I made two. Both came out perfect so I kept one. Still have it, 40 yrs later. 🙂
My father carried a small Swiss army knife in the army from 1950-52. He had it in his pocket the day he died. Now it is always in mine. For actual use, I have a small multi- tool.
For mechanical curiosity also could be the calipers that display the golden ratio no matter how large or short you open them. the ones in the episode when you make a big wide flat drawer for drafting tools.
Over 50 years ago my grandfather gave me that very screwdriver that someone gave him as a promotion and yes it is fabulous hardened steel fabulous edge took care of it carried it daily and it served me well. Another tool I've carried for many many years is 3 in long vise grips. In my wallet I have a and a 4 inch ruler, a wallet pin with a space pen cartridge so it doesn't skip and a basic Victoria Nox.
I just picked up a floor standing gen 4 craftsman drill press for 100 on FB… people talk smack about craftsman but it was the last gen built completely in America, and the fact you can still find them in running and hood condition shows how well they are built… better than 100$ HF bench top or other bench top models currently. Nothing wrong with old tools lol
My sister gave me a Wallet Ninja for Christmas one year. Not the best too. But because I have it on me almost all the time it has helped me out in a lot of situations
As a young maker I seem to turn every project into a weeks long ordeal which could be done in 2 or 3 days what’s a tip for completing things in a timely manor?
Personally, as I get older, my criteria for buying tools... and almost everything else... is "will I still love this and be using it for the rest of my life?" Electronic obsolescence aside, everything from clothing to tools to machinery, furniture to decorations has to pass that test or it won't get my money unless there is no other way to meet some immediate need.
I’m 85% complete building a ‘operator on the inside, fully electro-mechnacal Dalek and am doing the same process with the wiring diagram since there are so many systems. I am using a commercial airplane flight control stick so that I can operate all the systems with one hand while driving around inside. The military style control stick has a 4 position cooly hat, 3 different PBIs and the trigger which I can connect to the various servos and mothers running the dome rotation, eye stalk movement, mechanical eye iris, gun, plunger, anti gravity LEDs and the all important voice modulator so I actually sound like a Dalek. Never could do all that without drawing up several wiring diagrams, its just too complex
@The Ultimate Steel Shooter Awesome! You should post a full video on TH-cam, would love to see how you build it. There's a video out there of a premade life size rc one in Britain, people over there were scared and running from it lol.
The thing I dislike about the newer, rubber-lined handles is that the rubber breaks down after a few years, and get tacky, expanded, or otherwise stop working well. It's not just on shop tools, either. I'm probably going to have to replace the rubber on my best BBQ/kitchen tongs over the winter, probably with some cherry I salvaged from tree trimmings at a family member's home.
You mentioned looking for a mini mill/lathe for the sprinter van build. I run a small shop making stage combat weapons and would love to get both a mill and a metal lathe, but likely do not have either the space or the budget to get both. I've looked at combo machines in the past but they always look gimmicky and underpowered compared to dedicated machines. When looking into the sprinter van build did you have a specific machine in mind? Or do you have any recommendations for a small machine that would be used mostly for turning pommels and cutting slots into guards made from soft metals like brass and aluminum?
Maintained Keychain flashlight. Small Keychain canister w/$100 in it. "True" key multi tool key that has many uses. Separate small flashlight. Always on me.
I draw for many reasons and think visually. You bring to Ming “Thinking With A Pencil” by Henning Helms which I read over 30 years ago. BTW it is back in print. Like you vids, they’re a learning experience.
Any suggestions for a good on/off only, AAA (or similar size) flashlight? I don't like a bunch of modes, keep it simple. I know Adam carries a light with a 90° head, that seems handy too. My family lost my Streamlight Microstream and looking to upgrade.
Use your seatbelt buckle as a window breaker. Jam it between the window and door panel where it rolls down into and pull towards you and it’ll shatter the glass very easily. Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world!
One day, I wish to collect a Weltrekord ratchet Screwdriver - Both because it's aesthetically cool, and because it's a mechanical curiosity. It's probably the most gorgeous tool I've ever seen, and I aint even that into tools.
There's a guy building a mobile machine shop in the town i live in. The owner turned a old school bus into a machine shop he has a added milling machine , a band saw , a lathe , a small forge , anvil post vice , a hydraulic press, belt sander , material storage. He beefed up the suspension , added a hydraulic leveling system and put electric phase shifters on all the machines turned it into a hybrid and put solar panels on the roof along with a tesla batterie pack he's ab,out 70% of the way done and has about 250,000 in it so far he has plans to add a collapsible car lift on the back of it along with a engine hoist
My super-duper LED torch, my Opinel N°08 lock-knife, my Stanley leatherman copy and a stubby ratchet screwdriver with 12 bits in the handle. It's the cheapest silly little $2 screwdriver made by Rolson Tools but it outperforms everything else in the market. If you want one, grab 3 before they are gone forever, you won't regret it. Search for, 'Rolson 28402 12-in-1 Stubby Screwdriver' They all live in the against-my-back pocket of my rucksack
I used to always carry a good pocketknife everywhere, but post-911 I ended up losing too many to security because I'd forgotten it was there and was no longer allowed... so now I'm sadly toolless most of the time.
When I was a small kid but big enough to handle having metal objects, I wanted keys like dad. He worked as a manager in an office building and so he had a lot of keys. Mom found keys to things that were no longer in use, and gave me one of those screwdriver "keys" like that one and I kept it for years even after I had real keys of my own. Sadly, I flew out of St. Louis airport to a small airport in Maryland for training for work carrying those keys just fine. When I flew back, though, the airport unsecurity guy (singular - this was post 9/11 but it was a small airport) took it off my keychain, told me screwdrivers weren't allowed on the flight, and that he would either throw it away or I would have to book another flight. And again, small airport and I was on a work trip over a thousand miles from home, so it went into the trash. I'd love to say he was just doing his job, but it could have gone into carry-on, it could have been mailed home, but no, he wanted to throw it away and gave me a shitty impossible choice that took away a keepsake of my childhood for security theater that didn't make anyone safer, enforcing a rule that he knew full well didn't apply to that size screwdriver. It wasn't a time issue either, I was warned to be 3 hours early but apparently nobody else took it seriously and I was the only one there yet with no one behind me in line. He just stayed there doing nothing for about half an hour before he had anything else to do.
Hey! It would be nice if you share more of what you paid for stuff like props, tools or machines. Like in this video you say that you paid a fraction of the price for a new one. How much is that? Thanks for making interesting videos, especially those about tools!
For last 19 years I've worn a Leatherman Wave on my belt... and not exaggerating here, I have used it basically EVERY day. Ehh except maybe while I was down for a week with the Rona'
I found a leatherman in a field while surveying a plot of land, still in its leather sheath. Took it home, cleaned it, and it’s been a perfect tool for 15 years.
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hey adam do you think you might pick up the new screwdriver from LTT
Blur those keys!! They can be recreated from images!
5:45 You pronounce the K in Knipex and you would in the name Kevin.
Bless this no intro, no b-roll, no filler corner of the youtube.
Adam definitely always has a tape measure/ruler with him!
Probably sleeps with it too ;)
He defintley doesn't care a comb. He gets closer and closer to Doc brown everyday
@@skezus as he should 💅
He has a ruler tattooed on him
@@skezus if there is anyone who will build a true to life functional flux capacitor...its gonna be adam...
The one tool I always carry is a flash light. I'm an Aviation mechanic and I always need a light for inspection in the "Hell Hole".
Same. Just an itty-bitty (but high-power!) AAA keychain light has been infinitely useful to me over the years. The world is full of dark little holes and poorly-lit spaces that can be tamed with just a bit of light.
@@jigpu2630 which flashlight do you use? Been looking for a good, small light that is brighter than the one on my phone lol
@@danriehl4244 My EDC is an Olight i3E EOS (tiny and simple to use since it's just on/off). I also have a ThruNite Ti3 V2 on a second keychain (a little larger but has multiple brightness which can be handy). Neither is noticeably brighter than my phone, but they are usually more convenient.
@@danriehl4244 Depends strongly on what you want, the ones mentioned by jigpu get the job done. There are plenty of options in the AAA powered twisty models, nice and compact. There are also little rechargeable keychain ones like the Nitecore tube as well that are even more compact while still pretty bright for its size.
If you want something with a bit more brightness than your smartphone and good runtime though I'd suggest to consider looking into 18650 powered ones. A bit bulkier but nothing massive, personally I'm rather fond of Zebralight both because of their interface and very light minimal extra material. Empty the weight of an sc64c is just 38 grams and the extra space at the head is not much longer than the reflector which is needed up there beyond the battery tube. It's interface while it takes some getting used to is good at being able to turn it on in both low and high modes and get whatever output level you want.
But there are certainly cheaper options out there with simpler interfaces, at that brightness level I would STRONGLY suggest to not get something that can only be turned on in its brightest and needs to cycle through modes until you get to that low light one after having ruined your adaptation to low light. Olight used to have a few compact models in production that'd certainly fit the bill (and probably still does), press and hold to turn on at minimum level, one click to turn on at last used one, double click from off to get max brightness.
@@danriehl4244 got one for my dad 3 years ago on amazon called sofirn sp31 v2, its small, removable and rechargeable 18650 battery, seperate button to change brightness/flashy modes so u dont have to cycle every time(it remembers the last used mode), and its tough. a review on youtube said he ran it over by accident and noting happened. for $35 you cant really go wrong
what i love about vintage tools is that you can get them for a crazy deal and theyre usually better or at least pride of ownership of having something made in usa/germany/italy/japan is great. seriously, with 40 bucks and a trip to a flea market weekly ive quadrupled my tools, just yesterday i found that sargent pliers for 5 bucks. ive found anything from craftsman usa, snap on, proto, kd, sk, etc...and all of them with a story to tell
I usually always have a single little pouch/holster about 2”x4”x1” that holds a few things quite tightly: Leatherman Wave, small AAA flashlight, o-ring type space pen, and a screwdriver bit pack for the Wave. Usually stays on the belt and is usually always with me. This kit has saved me more than once. I’ve carried some form of knife for decades, ever since maybe the second grade, when I receive my first Cub Scout knife, I believe as a Wolf, and I’ve had some type ever since. They’ve increased in price and functionality as I’ve increased in knowledge and wealth.
Something my brother and I always kept handy, is a 10 millimeter socket. 1/4 3/8 and 1/2 drive. It's always the one that's missing and always the one you need when its missing
I work for a General Contractor and we keep about 6 extra 10mm sockets of various drive sizes for this exact reason. It's literally always the one missing.
That and the 3/4 deep socket always seem to grow legs and walk away when you need them most!
"It could one day be useful" sums up a lot of stuff in my collection, not sure how i feel about that though
As long as you don't have to make paths and can actually locate everything you have it's ok you're not a hoarder lol
I've had a Leatherman Juice CS4 in my pocket for a long while. I've lost it and refound it multiple times. It is the single most handy tool I have carried with me. Also carry a small swiss army knife but if I had to choose between those two, it would be the leatherman. I have other leathermans but that form factor is great for carrying day to day in my pocket.
I've only ever needed an allen key and screw driver in my life. Just started cycling at an intemediate level. Could you recommend a portable tool combo i could buy? (I've never really used any tools, but watching this channel i want to be more capable)
@@wordsinahandle - Not a biker, but I've heard some say the Wera Tool Check Plus (either Metric or Imperial, depending on bike) is helpful for such situations.
Or was it a different tool combo? Either that or a leatherman (capable of holding bits, like the Surge or Wave) + leatherman bit pack + small wrench (like the 711).
@@wordsinahandle check out fix it sticks
It is a pleasure to watch your presentations. You are a true Renaissance Man.
Adam mentioned having wanted to rig out a sprinter van as a mobile machine shop, during world war 2 there were mobile machine shops built into trailers that could be hauled behind Jeep’s. I’ve seen them pop up a few times on eBay. I’m not sure if they were in service before ww2, but I do know I’ve seen info on them from around then.
I work with the US Patent Office, cleaning up the drawings, so I see a fair number of electrical diagrams. A video about that would be interesting to me. At the very least some amount of understanding would make my job less boring lol
4:00: I work in civil engineering/construction materials testing and we've got a couple older compressive strength machines with force gauges like that. Generally they've been replaced by digital load cells, either on newer machines or retrofits. With both, the cost isn't so much just the price of the thing as it is getting it calibrated every year.
My house van is built somewhat around my work shop, heavy and finding places for every thing is tough, but totally worth having what you need close by rather then back at the shop.
Adam that force gage is immediately useful to you at the milling machine. Use it to calibrate the force applied by your mill vise by using it in conjunction with a torque wrench. If and when you are doing delicate or thin work in the vice it would be nice to know how much handle twist equals how much clamping force. Also great for calibrating toe clamp force.
"It could one day be useful"
As a hoarder, this can be a dangerous thing. I have just gotten rid of several garbage bags full of stuff that I never used for this reason, and it is harder than some people might think.
But it does feel good to free up space for future hoarding:)
You are so correct! My father in law was this way. Not only did he grow up during the depression but he was a maker as well so he saved everything. He lived in Los Altos CA. and bought from the same surplus places Adam and Jamie bought from. (He lived near Ames Research where many Mythbusters were filmed). My GOD the crap he collected under the guise of "It could one day be useful". Well when he passed away we went through hell getting rid of all that stuff! Massive burden. I will say it changed my tune. I am a fabricator with many different skill sets and when I came home after all that work I reprioritized what is truly important and what is a wish, dream, or not as important as I had hoped. I have so much more room and a cleaner mindset!
Lol, I bet the very next week after you got rid of the stuff, you needed one of those items. I know it’s happened to me anyway
One of the most powerful tools for creativity/design/making is iteration. Drawing/sketching things before building is basically a way of getting a few loops of iteration for 'free' because you don't have to waste materials making some of the mistakes that you discover while transferring your ideas to paper and organizing them.
I seem to recall a video that Adam made, perhaps around a year ago, about wiring diagrams, and how he goes through two or three iterations with them. Really informative for me, being mostly a novice at that particular line of work. Additional videos would certainly be welcome!
I have a Leatherman Wave+ on my hip most times I go out!! This was at the recommendation of Adam in one of his videos! It may be a tiny bit expensive, but it was BY FAR the best purchase I have ever made in regards to EDC.
I have had that same keychain slotted screwdriver on my keychain since 1975. I use it for something every week.
Yup, I have one too. The only time I didn't have it on me was when I lost my keys at an airport, but they caught up with me a week later.
My favorite old tool I didn't even know I HAD until recently... A 60-tooth 1/4 S-K original ratchet. The knurling is still pristine on the handle. The clicks ALONE are heavenly. The tight articulation of 60 teeth give it a "heft of feel" you don't normally find in a small package. Most any standard 1/4" ratchets, even most "good" ones, disengage entirely (skip) and/or have too much travel for the tightness of space, etc. They're typically sloppy but not this little fella. Got included in a set of roller skates I grabbed a few years back. Never looked in the "extras" baggie. I was missing OUT, lemme tell ya. I'd pretty much written them off as useless but necessary. Hehe
In my case as a mechanic, I always have on my person, a keychain, a liner locker pocket knife, and my phone. Three very handy tools to have around.
I however have considered starting to carry a screwdriver pen tool, like a small Philips head and a slightly wider flat blade on the other end with caps on both ends. Seeing as I already carry a pen most places
I enjoyed the mention of trusting your previous work/ efforts on the R2. I also do a bunch of work and figuring out for my future self in my free time, and when I do I almost never second guess my past self when I get back around to the project or whatever else it may have been.
Have you ever done a show and tell on your portable tool kit you used on savage builds?
Trust me Adam, as someone who's been in aviation the last 12 years with 8 of that being in production, a good wiring diagram can make or break your sanity. Being in production you haven't function checked (test department) anything yet, so if things are wired incorrectly you need good wiring diagrams.
I agree with the wood handle comfort completely! It allows a consistent mould and firmness around your hands so you can be extra sensitive without the rubber absorbing the force and overdoing a movement you wish to execute sensitively but confidently
I am actually an aspiring engineer because of you and mythbusters and I just wanna say thank you
On wiring:
Einstein said, "my pencil and I are smarter than I am."
If I want to carry a compact tool loadout, a Victorinox SwissTool is always part of it. The relatively smooth plier handles, the dead simple locking mechanism, the solid but not overly heavy construction, plus the general tool selection... I haven't seen a better multitool since I started carrying them in the late '90s or early '00s.
I always have a swiss multitool and a cobra mini multitool on my keychain, use it on the daily and has been keeping me handy for years.
Gerber freehand or Leatherman oht plus a beater folding knife, and a Springfield hellcat.
Really hard to beat those Leatherman type tools though. The Gerber isn't made anymore but both the oht and the freehand are almost completely one hand operation multi tools. The pliers blades and most of the screwdrivers are all openable with only one hand. Which can be a big deal and something you'll never want to go without ever again if you get the ability. It's just so much more convenient when holding something not having to set it down or find someone to hold it while you fiddle with a normal multi tool that you need to unfold. As a tinker and mechanic it's been a life saver many times.
I collect old tools because I build instruments in my studio apartment so old hand tools are my best option, but also they're super cool. I have an 1890's Stanley No. 45 that I love to show people since it looks so confusing, but it's also my go-to tool for cutting truss rod channels in guitar necks!
I always carry a little 4 way straight screwdriver that I got from a muffler shop back about 1974 or so. It was their promotional giveaway at the time, and it has always been in my pocket ever since. That said, I carry enough tools in my old car to rebuild it on the side of the road ;)
Can I ask Adam, have you tried your hand at the Lament Configuration box from Hellraiser, Etching the brass panels etc. I'm in the early stages. It's certainly a learning curve. Thank you for your incredible content.
I'm doing my 3. Gen Lament Config atm
Doing the Etching is tricky
V1 was spraypaint/laserengrave/iron(III)Ch
V2 was CNC Milling
V3 is 'oldschool' UV Resist Exposure, Iron(III)Ch
Yes, it's definitely a learning curve. Just sourcing the lament side designs, inverting them them sizing 3" squared. I'm next onto printing onto laminate. Then onto the next stage. I've no doubt the etching is going to be experimental at best.
When I am working I carry needle nose plies, knipex pliers wrench, cobra pliers, a bondhus allen wrench set, a box knife, and a #2 Philips screwdriver.
I went through the same process when I redesigned the wiring for an old Datsun pickup. When I built all the harnesses, all I did was refer to the diagrams without thinking about whether they were correct. And in the end there was only 1 minor mistake (the dome light would only come on with the high beam switch activated).
Thank you for talking about the value of sketching - I will be sharing this with my Robotics club and Engineering Design class this Fall!
Love that r2 dome sitting on the work bench in the background 👍
when you mentioned the window breaker , that girl that was recently found drowned in her car the divers found the car upside down. that confirms that many cars do go turtle when then go under.
I'm not one of those "everything old is great" people, but I definitely prefer the old wood handles. They just feel so good in the hand.
Well now i'm curious what tool, item, or whatever was the most underrated thing you had. Maybe it was something that you had to actively remind yourself to take with you or to even use.
I have a buddy that needs a list around so he doesn't forget why he has some of his equipment, mostly because we have a tendency to use stuff outside their intended purpose.
Go buy a Spyderco Bug for the key chain! This is my EDC knife that I don't even need to think about carrying and since it's a proper sharp spyderco, you can even cut cardboard and other pretty significant stuff.
I do this too! One keychain in my left pocket has a AAA flashlight, tiny combination wrenches, and a tiny multi tool. Several knives. Be prepared! 🤣
ADAM MY PROP HERO! I have a request… there are multiple scenes in countless movies and TV shows where the setting will be surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of candles. Could you please explain how this is done in regards to continuity? fake candles with gas flame? real candles with cgi flames? or just good old fashion crew work, lighting and replacing units for the sake of continuity. Thank you for potentially replying. also grateful for any input from the comment community.
How long have you had your “remove before flight keychain? I’ve had mine for about 10 years.
A notebook, a pen(preferably multi tipped red-blue-graphite) and trusty 6in calipers.
I can drop the calipers occasionally but the grimoire stays on all the time, I highly suggest carrying it around on a holster dedicated to it.
I was a collision repair tech for 25 years. I was asked by people from time to time what is my most important tool. I always said my pocket screwdriver that the Snap On, Mac, Cornhole, etc... dealers would give you. I would tell people that I swear I could tear down and put back together an entire vehicle with that tool. Obviously this is complete BS but my gosh, I would perform a tremendous amount of tasks with that free pocket screwdriver! To this day I can't be without it.
My connection with old tools is restoration. I love restoring hand tools. Not to the point of the lads like 'my mechanics' but restoring them to put them back into service and use them everyday. Yesterday I literally spent 2 hours cleaning every grove of a rust encrusted 40 year old bastard file haha. It was great! And it's now a damn good file.
I like that it allows a connection to that tool, it builds a sort of bond to the object. I love that.
Great video as always Adam!
I had the rare gift of studying music with the amazing Gene Nichols, and he would mark you absent if you arrived without a pencil. His point was that musicians should always be ready to take notes, learn from one another, compromise, and change arrangements at each rehearsal.
I found an old Snap On shop catalog as a young adult / independent contractor in the early 90s. Their tool aesthetic was perfection to me then. Luckily, their prices were so far out of reach it couldn’t even tempt. But always check at garage sales.
I've carried a P-38 can opener on my keychain for over 40 years. I can't count the number of times it has saved me. It's made of some kind of magical, indestructible steel.
your tattoo is always with you a real EDC
All my keyrings have a Swiss Tech Utilikey on them - philips/flat blade screwdrivers, knife with flat and serated blade sections, bottle opener. Clips on and looks like a key.
Once upon a time my boss needed a force ring gauge and I wound up making it for him. Just to be on the safe side, because of the tightness of the tolerances, I made two. Both came out perfect so I kept one. Still have it, 40 yrs later. 🙂
My father carried a small Swiss army knife in the army from 1950-52. He had it in his pocket the day he died. Now it is always in mine. For actual use, I have a small multi- tool.
For mechanical curiosity also could be the calipers that display the golden ratio no matter how large or short you open them. the ones in the episode when you make a big wide flat drawer for drafting tools.
You should work a T.A.R.D.I.S. Sprinter van into a short film sometime... I did a favor for a Doctor one time and he gave me this van.
Ever since High School Theatre, I always carry a Gerber (pliers/multitool), and a MiniMag flashlight. Along with a Pen, Mechanical pencil and sharpie.
The tool I always carry with me is a tiny Knipex Cobra. I like to think of it as the mother of all tweezers 😂
Over 50 years ago my grandfather gave me that very screwdriver that someone gave him as a promotion and yes it is fabulous hardened steel fabulous edge took care of it carried it daily and it served me well. Another tool I've carried for many many years is 3 in long vise grips. In my wallet I have a and a 4 inch ruler, a wallet pin with a space pen cartridge so it doesn't skip and a basic Victoria Nox.
I always have at least one leatherman usually two on my belt. Never leave home without it?
I just picked up a floor standing gen 4 craftsman drill press for 100 on FB… people talk smack about craftsman but it was the last gen built completely in America, and the fact you can still find them in running and hood condition shows how well they are built… better than 100$ HF bench top or other bench top models currently. Nothing wrong with old tools lol
It feels good in the hand! (Large file wooden handle)
just loving that you're drinking ginger beer from my home state in Australia!
I always have an opinel #6 and I also have a proto screwdriver on my keychain from probably the late 60's to today
My sister gave me a Wallet Ninja for Christmas one year. Not the best too. But because I have it on me almost all the time it has helped me out in a lot of situations
As a young maker I seem to turn every project into a weeks long ordeal which could be done in 2 or 3 days what’s a tip for completing things in a timely manor?
I always carry a Klein tools folding knife, it's got wire strippers built in and it's easy to open one handed.
Personally, as I get older, my criteria for buying tools... and almost everything else... is "will I still love this and be using it for the rest of my life?" Electronic obsolescence aside, everything from clothing to tools to machinery, furniture to decorations has to pass that test or it won't get my money unless there is no other way to meet some immediate need.
I’m 85% complete building a ‘operator on the inside, fully electro-mechnacal Dalek and am doing the same process with the wiring diagram since there are so many systems. I am using a commercial airplane flight control stick so that I can operate all the systems with one hand while driving around inside. The military style control stick has a 4 position cooly hat, 3 different PBIs and the trigger which I can connect to the various servos and mothers running the dome rotation, eye stalk movement, mechanical eye iris, gun, plunger, anti gravity LEDs and the all important voice modulator so I actually sound like a Dalek. Never could do all that without drawing up several wiring diagrams, its just too complex
@The Ultimate Steel Shooter Awesome! You should post a full video on TH-cam, would love to see how you build it. There's a video out there of a premade life size rc one in Britain, people over there were scared and running from it lol.
Swiss Army knife - Tinker: every day for the past 2 decades.
The thing I dislike about the newer, rubber-lined handles is that the rubber breaks down after a few years, and get tacky, expanded, or otherwise stop working well. It's not just on shop tools, either. I'm probably going to have to replace the rubber on my best BBQ/kitchen tongs over the winter, probably with some cherry I salvaged from tree trimmings at a family member's home.
I carry a Benchmade griptillion pocket knife, and a surefire executive elite mini light.
The Sprinter shop would be sooo cool to see and use. Also half the price of a house where I live (or more). Dang.
You mentioned looking for a mini mill/lathe for the sprinter van build. I run a small shop making stage combat weapons and would love to get both a mill and a metal lathe, but likely do not have either the space or the budget to get both. I've looked at combo machines in the past but they always look gimmicky and underpowered compared to dedicated machines. When looking into the sprinter van build did you have a specific machine in mind? Or do you have any recommendations for a small machine that would be used mostly for turning pommels and cutting slots into guards made from soft metals like brass and aluminum?
Re: drawing: it's also helpful for machining complex parts to verify the sequence of operations.
Are there old tools you have (or would like to have) that have a functionality that you no longer see in modern tools (for whatever reason)?
Maintained Keychain flashlight. Small Keychain canister w/$100 in it. "True" key multi tool key that has many uses. Separate small flashlight. Always on me.
Thanks.
I draw for many reasons and think visually. You bring to Ming “Thinking With A Pencil” by Henning Helms which I read over 30 years ago. BTW it is back in print. Like you vids, they’re a learning experience.
Lol, I would love to see you (or anyone else) put a full size lathe or mill in a sprinter van. That would be epic!
Adam you are an old school tool. Beautiful
Any suggestions for a good on/off only, AAA (or similar size) flashlight? I don't like a bunch of modes, keep it simple. I know Adam carries a light with a 90° head, that seems handy too. My family lost my Streamlight Microstream and looking to upgrade.
I always carry a Swiss army knife and another knife with a beefier blade. Usually a ZT or a CRKT.
Use your seatbelt buckle as a window breaker. Jam it between the window and door panel where it rolls down into and pull towards you and it’ll shatter the glass very easily.
Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world!
Bundaberg Ginger Beer - Aussie, Aussie - Oi Oi Oi. Good choice, mate!
Never knew it could be bought in the states ! I would love to let Adam loose on a bottle of bundy rum 🤣
Them knipex side cutters are the best. Only thing they argue with is tool steel. Yes I tried and destroyed my old pair
One day, I wish to collect a Weltrekord ratchet Screwdriver - Both because it's aesthetically cool, and because it's a mechanical curiosity. It's probably the most gorgeous tool I've ever seen, and I aint even that into tools.
What was it about the Chicken Canon, that gave you guys such a hard time?
I am never without my p38 can opener to open boxes, it's a flathead, and it opens cans quite well,
Get yourself a label printer that takes shrink tubing for wiring, will make life much easier for wiring
Bundaberg brewing FTW!!! Noice choice Adam!! ;-)
There's a guy building a mobile machine shop in the town i live in. The owner turned a old school bus into a machine shop he has a added milling machine , a band saw , a lathe , a small forge , anvil post vice , a hydraulic press, belt sander , material storage. He beefed up the suspension , added a hydraulic leveling system and put electric phase shifters on all the machines turned it into a hybrid and put solar panels on the roof along with a tesla batterie pack he's ab,out 70% of the way done and has about 250,000 in it so far he has plans to add a collapsible car lift on the back of it along with a engine hoist
My super-duper LED torch, my Opinel N°08 lock-knife, my Stanley leatherman copy and a stubby ratchet screwdriver with 12 bits in the handle.
It's the cheapest silly little $2 screwdriver made by Rolson Tools but it outperforms everything else in the market.
If you want one, grab 3 before they are gone forever, you won't regret it.
Search for, 'Rolson 28402 12-in-1 Stubby Screwdriver'
They all live in the against-my-back pocket of my rucksack
I used to always carry a good pocketknife everywhere, but post-911 I ended up losing too many to security because I'd forgotten it was there and was no longer allowed... so now I'm sadly toolless most of the time.
When I was a small kid but big enough to handle having metal objects, I wanted keys like dad. He worked as a manager in an office building and so he had a lot of keys. Mom found keys to things that were no longer in use, and gave me one of those screwdriver "keys" like that one and I kept it for years even after I had real keys of my own.
Sadly, I flew out of St. Louis airport to a small airport in Maryland for training for work carrying those keys just fine. When I flew back, though, the airport unsecurity guy (singular - this was post 9/11 but it was a small airport) took it off my keychain, told me screwdrivers weren't allowed on the flight, and that he would either throw it away or I would have to book another flight. And again, small airport and I was on a work trip over a thousand miles from home, so it went into the trash.
I'd love to say he was just doing his job, but it could have gone into carry-on, it could have been mailed home, but no, he wanted to throw it away and gave me a shitty impossible choice that took away a keepsake of my childhood for security theater that didn't make anyone safer, enforcing a rule that he knew full well didn't apply to that size screwdriver. It wasn't a time issue either, I was warned to be 3 hours early but apparently nobody else took it seriously and I was the only one there yet with no one behind me in line. He just stayed there doing nothing for about half an hour before he had anything else to do.
How unfortunate. But it seems that is life.
Hey! It would be nice if you share more of what you paid for stuff like props, tools or machines. Like in this video you say that you paid a fraction of the price for a new one. How much is that?
Thanks for making interesting videos, especially those about tools!
You should make a folding knife with a lock. Would definitely need to sketch for that!
For last 19 years I've worn a Leatherman Wave on my belt... and not exaggerating here, I have used it basically EVERY day. Ehh except maybe while I was down for a week with the Rona'
I found a leatherman in a field while surveying a plot of land, still in its leather sheath. Took it home, cleaned it, and it’s been a perfect tool for 15 years.