What's in your toolbox?

Good thread!

Good assortment of screwdrivers including for small screws, multimeter, soldering iron.

A good set of JIS screw drivers...for imported phillips head screws...on modern imported trains and other equipment.They provide a proper fit and less prone to damage the screw head...

JIS=JAPANESE INDUSTRIAL STANDARD

I was a Jeweler, so mostly german and swiss hand tools as well as a fordome flex shaft

small 40 watt train transformer

Weller soldering gun, rosin core solder and paste

volt, ohm meter and leads some with alligator clips

clip on ac amp meter with 10 wire coil booster to allow reading 0-3 amps

screw drivers of all kinds

small nut drivers

1/4 inch socket set w/ standard and metric

pliers of all types and sizes - needle nose, standard, elec w/wire cuters

wire stripper

tweezers

Pocket knives

Xacto knives

Jumper wires with alligator clips on ends

files

Drill hand and 3/8 inch electrical and bits

small spirng and C clamps

Elmers wood, E6000, JB Weld, regular epoxy and Testors plastic glues

sandpapers

Crescent wrenches

24 inch parts grapper

magnetic parts grapper

clear finger nail polish

3M #33 electrical tape, scotch tape, masking tape, double sided tape

Aviator tin snipes, straight and curved

and a few more I have forgotten

Charlie

I don't have a tool box per se.  I have a four tool cabinets in the garage where I keep hand tools, fixtures,  solder tools,  wire, spare parts, sheet metal copper etc.  Over the years I have "collected" many odd tools and fixtures that often come in handy.

To Charlie's list I would add a couple of dremels, oil, graphite, sticky stuff, small anvil and a few things I'm sure I forgot.

My goodness, it would take me a long time to itemize all the tools I have for working on this stuff!  There are four toolboxes scattered around, a number of drawers, and scads of tools in cabinets and on several workbenches.

Tools

As my train collection has expanded, I've started to think about expanding the tool collection too - lots of great tools mentioned!

@PRRick posted:

Good thread!

Thank you!

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

My goodness, it would take me a long time to itemize all the tools I have for working on this stuff!  There are four toolboxes scattered around, a number of drawers, and scads of tools in cabinets and on several workbenches.

I am sure some hobbyists have a tool collection that is almost as expansive - if not more-so - than their train collection!

Every tool to make every job easier, including cordless drills and saws, glue guns, dremel stuff, tin plate pliers and clamps.  I'm always looking for an excuse to buy more tools -- so if there are unique ones out there for O Gaugue , let's see 'em!  I just bought a metal pick up tool from Home Depot to scan my work area or garage floor for screws, staples, nails, etc.  Have I used it?  No.  Will I?  I hope so.  If not, I'll still be the proud owner just like I am the proud owner of hundreds of little toy train cars that don't always see action.

@Dave Koehler posted:

I was a Jeweler, so mostly german and swiss hand tools as well as a fordome flex shaft

Like Dave, I was a watchmaker so I have lots of small tools.  As needed I have added specilized tools including JIS driver bits, miniature metric hex bits and a Hakko FX-888D (one of my best purchases).

Mini-nut drivers for those little bitty nuts.  Mainly for the stanchions held on by nuts. 

Press with the wheel cups and standard rivet tools.

My head strap with an LED Light so I can see in the dark corners.

But the one I use the most is the screw-holder for starting screws.  My XXXL hands and screws under size 8 don't mix well.

One of the best tools accessories I have found is a magnetic dish from harbor freight and also also magnetic flashlight uses 3 AA batteries really bright led light with 3 light settings also the bottom bottom of the flashlight has a strong magnet which helps magnetize screws from trains you're working on and magnetizes screws and also the tool bits  when you slide them across the magnet, so your Phillip's or flat screwdriver won't drop your screws while disassembly or reassembly of train work!

215 Lumen Magnetic Pocket Work Light (harborfreight.com)

Search Results For "Magnetic Dish" (harborfreight.com)

4 Inch or 6 inch is good size magnetic dish IMHO!

Alan

Streamlite headlamp really gets it lit up. Rechargeable. 10 inch steel pick, two lite cordless drills, right angle drill, drill press

I generally carry my Smith & Wesson Model 29, 44 Magnum in my "tool box" to the range for target practice. It is especially fun when loaded with 44 Magnum cartridges, i.e. she sure is loud!

@Danr posted:

Like Dave, I was a watchmaker so I have lots of small tools.  As needed I have added specilized tools including JIS driver bits, miniature metric hex bits and a Hakko FX-888D (one of my best purchases).

@Danr,, it gets expensive doesn't it

@Dave Koehler posted:

@Danr,, it gets expensive doesn't it

It sure does.  Fortunately, Dad was a watchmaker so I have lots of tools.

Happy New Year.

I try to consolidate everything I need for immediate work into a Flambeau tackle box so it is easy to vacate when I get kicked out of the dining room. 

John

I have 2 train tool boxes. One on my workbench that has your normal stuff but also a variety of small tools including different metal files that come in handy for models.

Then I keep a second under the table which basically mimics the desk version but I can move it around. This also includes various hand held lights, wire, eye-hooks etc.

Most of the above, though I do need to get a screw holder... 

https://ogrforum.com/...4#158251951907105474

Mitch

Replaced most of my power tools drill press and band saw with a 3D Printer and laser cutter

Related question: How many workbenches do you have? I keep 2 for structure building, 1 with test track for simple loco stuff (which is all I can do), 1 for general electronics and 1 on wheels next to the layout for wrestling with the alligators!

Don

I have acquired many tools in the last couple of years while building my LCCA FasTrack modules with Mianne legs & cross beams.

I carry my Victorinox Swiss Champ knife in a holster on my belt.  It is my go-to tool for just about everything, including benchwork.  Magnifying glass, ruler, 4 screwdrivers, wood saw, hack saw, scissors, pliers, 2 knife blades, tweezers, toothpick, ink pen, carry hook, chisel, awl, cork screw to name several.

Two DeWalt cordless drills with drill & driver bits.

DeWalt cordless planer.

DeWalt cordless jig saw with various Bosch blades.

DeWalt cordless orbital sander with several Craftsman sanding pads.

DeWalt cordless vacuum cleaner with several Craftsman add on tools.

4 DeWalt cordless LED hand-held lights.

10 Stanley plastic saw horses.

4 Black & Decker Workmate 220 folding work stations.

Home made 4’x4’ work bench surface constructed from 3/4” plywood & reinforced with 1/2” plywood under-frame.  Two of the B&D Workmates serve as legs for the workbench surface.  Portable & very solid.

Bora Aluminum saw guide fence with Bora Plastic jigsaw guide sled.

Bora Centipede folding rack to store plywood & wood off of the garage floor.

12+ Irwin Quick Release wood clamps in various sizes.  

Craftsman 180 piece socket & wrench set.

Craftsman 30 piece screwdriver set , both Philips & slotted plus a few Torx.

Dremel tool with several cutting tools.

2 claw hammers & a few rubber mallets.

Yardstick & tape measures.

Large & small Carpenter squares.

Several anti-fatigue mats on floor around work bench.

Several DeWalt & Craftsman tool bags for storage of the above various tools.  

Two foam locomotive cradles.

3 Hobby cutting matts of various sizes.

DeWalt utility knife.

Hand files.

Titebond III wood glue.  

The above are the tools that I have been using while constructing my benchwork.  

After my basement is ready for the benchwork, then I will move on to more tools for electrical & scenery work.

Great thread !!!  Thanks to all posters !!!

@CBQ_Bill posted:

I have acquired many tools in the last couple of years while building my LCCA FasTrack modules with Mianne legs & cross beams.

I carry my Victorinox Swiss Champ knife in a holster on my belt.  It is my go-to tool for just about everything, including benchwork.  Magnifying glass, ruler, 4 screwdrivers, wood saw, hack saw, scissors, pliers, 2 knife blades, tweezers, toothpick, ink pen, carry hook, chisel, awl, cork screw to name several.

Great list!  Thanks for taking the time to share!

Mike

@AlanRail posted:

Replaced most of my power tools drill press and band saw with a 3D Printer and laser cutter

I'm a little intimidated by this because I'm clueless about 3D printing.  When will it be economical for average joes to buy and engage?  The upside potential is awesome.

My tool collection dwarfs my very substantial collection of trains and accessory’s

This is a very interesting thread. Like trains I don’t think I have met a tool I did not like. That being side like GRJ I would not know where to start.  The Husky lower roller cabinet, the two roll around cabinets one with drawers or my big tools box in the garage. If I hurry it takes about 8 to 10 minutes to go out into my garage to get a tool so I have gotten to the point ii have one of everything in the garage and the train shop/basement. Living in North Central PA it is some tins to cold rainy or snowy to hike out to the garage to get tools or take them back where they belong so I duplicate tools TO DARN MUCH.