Your handiest tools

[brianao34]

best tool i have bought in years has been a head lamp. makes working in the deep dark corners of the car, or in fading light SO much better. it's always where you want it and you don't have to give up a hand to hold onto a light.

http://www.rei.com/product/829550/pe...lus-2-headlamp

Definitely worth looking like an idiot.

Also, I forgot one of my new favorites:

Never fubar up a balljoint again.

[dnguyen1963]

A torque wrench is an absolute must.

[rightcoastbias]

My hands.

Yes. After getting 12 stitches across my thumb, I realized taking care of my hands is my number one priority.

[kts]

best tool i have bought in years has been a head lamp. makes working in the deep dark corners of the car, or in fading light SO much better. it's always where you want it and you don't have to give up a hand to hold onto a light.

http://www.rei.com/product/829550/petzl-tikka-plus-2-headlamp

[Mr. Tasty]

opposable thumbs

[alexth1]

Hydrolic lift, If you have enough $ and space. Crawling under a car is half the work.

[Farbin Kaiber]

[jeffw]

zip ties and butt connectors and crimpers lol

[brianao34]

I always have an abundance of extensions for my 3/8" ratchet.

[1fastm50]

Sawzall! Or a hammer with a chisel! Especially when at the junkyard.

[frankenbeemer]

Animal Kotulak multi tool

I bet that spoke wrench is tits. Will the chainbreaker work on m42 engines?

[B-well]

I take this Kobalt set with me any time i go parts hunting, takes up very minimal space and it goes on sale regularly for $20 (regularly $40)

http://www.lowes.com/pd_338525-25428...roduct_price|0

also they have a wrench set with matching sizes for $20.

there are so many tools i use/love/need, i buy tools just about every week when i make my trip to lowes/depot/sears/HF

[Mossman]

only handy if you work on bmws. But if you do work on bmw's it's quite handy!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Flexible-6mm...#ht_949wt_922v

[kumulonimbus]

3. Wire crimper/striper - any specific brands or specs?
4. Multimeter - I hear Flukes are the best, but Extech, RSR, Equus, and Mastech are also good.
5. Heat gun & shrink wrap - No idea what to look for

Automatic strippers cost a bit more but make stripping wires SO much simpler. Radio Shack has a good one for the cheapest I've found - $18 (also has a crimper built in).

For shrink wrap, I've found heat shrink butt connectors to be amazing. No soldering needed.

Anybody have suggestions on multimeters? I'm a total noob at this.

[AsharC]

My hands.