small general purpose toolkit

[Da_Stier]

Hi all,

so I have a problem, that some of you might have as well.
I go to the scrapyard (by bike most of the time) and want to have some tools with me.
I go to a friend to help with whatever and want to bring some basic tools.
I travel and want to take some basic tools with me.
I like the idea of a multi tool, however the limitation of only being able to use one tool is often a problem.

Since I go by bike I don't want to carry around a backpack full of tools or a heavy suitcase, so it needs to be small.

I tried to find which tools I use the most and came up with the following lineup:



The pliers are good for cutting, bending and holding spinning nuts.
The screwdriver is big enough to be able to get a lot of force onto something but also very handy since it already stores some drivers.
It can also be shortened for tight spaces.

The steel ruler is small and light and enables me to get a basic understanding of dimension.
Especially for stuff like metal stock at the scrapyard.
Since it has .5mm increments, measruements up to .25mm are possible without to much trouble.

To carry it, I made a small fake leather pouch with 3D printed corner protectors.
I can clip it to my belt and my leg and carry it very easily.





I like this little toolkit and I find it enough for most situations.
However I sitll wonder how you guys solve this issue.
Especally since this pack is not the most space efficient with the 3D printed insert.
It does however mean that I can grab everything very easily.
I guess I'm not the only one who wants a small toolkit to take with me.


Greetings,
Michael

[Mads Barnkob]

My scrapping "kit" goes in a backpack. It is not really small, but from experience, it is all I need to take anything apart as fast as possible.

Especially battery powered drill with a modified hexnut head holder is valuable at the scrap yard. Gets those bolts, screws and nuts flying off in no time

The amount of screw drivers, wrenches and pliers are just for those things where you can not get a insert bit into. Happens more often than you would think.



The smaller go anywhere kit is a all-round small Bacho set, a wire cutter and a few select smaller screwdrivers.

[Da_Stier]

Hi Mads,

I'm totally on your side.
Being quick is actually pretty important on the scrapyard.
I think about adding one of these adjustable spanner wrench things (no idea what they are called in english), since they are good for stubborn nuts, as a bending tool and even as a hammer. 

That is actually a plus point of having less tools with you than you might need, you need to get creative, how you can use what you have.

I like your mini kit, looks very handy, I guess you can get quite a good idea, which bit is actually useful from experience.

[alan sailer]

Looks like a good basic kit.

It doesn't look like you are planning to take apart things destructively, but if so, a large set of ViceGrip
style pliers are excellent for removing frozen bolts, tearing apart sheet metal and otherwise
gripping and moving things that don't want to move.

 I had a gear head  friend in college who claimed he could dismantle a car with this one tool and I think he was
close to right.

Cheers.