Posts by: Lorenzo Serna
Most folks hate going to the dentist. We, on the other hand, rather enjoy it. Why, you ask? It’s his tools. In this case, a hook and pick set.
Those little hand tools that the DDS is using to scrape your pearly whites — ok, not the exact same ones, but similar — are also life savers in the shop. For example: use the angled pick to fish out an o-ring, or use the hook tool to pull a wire through a dash. (We’ve done this many a time.) We’ve even used these tools to help fix watches and cell phones.
$14.99 buys you a nice SK set via Sears.com. They’ve also got a Craftsman set that goes for a bit less, and, of course, you can find them even cheaper elsewhere.
Be warned, though; you’ll be looking for jobs around the shop just as an excuse to use these little wonder tools. Oh, and be sure to thank your dentist for us.
SK 4 Pc Hook and Pick Set [Sears]
Sometimes we get so involved in telling you about exciting high-tech tools that we forget to mention the simple tools that form the core of our shop. A good shop towel is often the first tool we reach for when starting a job and the last tool we clean up with when done.
They’re good for wiping down tools, wiping the sweat off the ol’ brow, cleaning the shop counters, dusting off tool cabinets, and even using as a mat for organizing small parts when dis/assembling a small- to medium-sized project. In terms of usefulness, shop towels rank right up there with our favorite set of metric wrenches.
If you spend any kind of time in a shop (mechanical, metal, wood, whatever), do yourself a favor and keep a supply of shop towels. The best part: for less than $2 you can score a roll of 55 sheets that should last quite some time. And if it matters to you, they’re made in the USA.
Scott Shop Towels [Kimberly-Clark]
When we saw this, we couldn’t help but think… Why didn’t we think of this? From the “Tool Wizard BBQ Tools” website:
This design will lift heavy loads with minimal effort. Light weight aluminum. Coated handles for maximum comfort. High Quality, heavy duty, construction to last a lifetime!
Pricing starts at $8.22 for the 12″ and goes up to $9.98 for the 25″. The longer ones look like they’d be great for that big BBQ pit. No more burned arms or dropped ribs!
Super Scissor Tongs [The Tool Wizard – BBQ Tools]
Toolmonger on Flickr
