Tools you can't live without

[ghotiphry]

Recently I started a thread in electronics about soldering irons.  It turned out to be extremely informative for me as I followed Cagey's advice on a replacement iron for the junk I was using.  I'd like to open it up to be more general.  What's the one or two (or three?) guitar building tools in your tool bag you can't live without?

To start it off, I bought this guitar tech screwdriver set from StewMac that goes with me everywhere, from the bench where I build or work on my basses, and it's the first thing in my "gig bag."  It even has the right sized hex driver for adjusting bridge height.

 

[Cagey]

I don't know about "can't live without", but one I wouldn't want to be without is a good caliper. They've come down in price dramatically in recent years, as well as getting easier to use. One like this, for instance...

...is very handy for a LOT of things. Check string gauge, fret height/width, screw diameters/lengths, nut thickness, string spacing - the list is long. Plus, that particular model will not only display in SAE (imperial) and metric dimensions, it'll also display fractions down to 1/128. Inside, outside and depth measurements. And even when you're not measuring, you can use it as a quick converter. Open it to the size you want, and if it's in fractions, hit the button and it'll tell you inches. Hit it again, and it'll tell you mm. Go to/from any calibration you want. Accurate to +/-0.0005in. What's not to love? Oh, and it's only $15!, unlike the old mechanical Starretts that used to cost $100+

 

[rgand]

I will only use top-quality screwdrivers, mostly snap-on except for some gunsmithing ones. Bought my first one in 1968 and still have it. The tip has been replaced a couple times free of charge. Cheaper ones just goober screw heads. You get what you pay for. Here's one of my favorites for pickguard screws, switches and such.

 

[TBurst Std]

Throw a set of old school feeler gauges in your box and a flashlight.

 

[fdesalvo]

Hemostats. 

 

[BigSteve22]

A good pair of quality wire strippers, and a pair of good strong, wire cutters. Ball end Allen Wrenches in both Metric and Imperial sizes.

 

[ghotiphry]

Hemostats.

Agreed.  I've got a half dozen or more in different sizes, along with several gem stone tweezers for when the serrated grip of the hemostats cause me a problem.

 

[BigSteve22]

Hemostats.

Hemostats, most definitely. Although I must admit I had a much greater need for them in High School......
:icon_jokercolor:

 

[fdesalvo]

Hemostats.

Agreed.  I've got a half dozen or more in different sizes, along with several gem stone tweezers for when the serrated grip of the hemostats cause me a problem.

+100 on the gemstone tweezers!  They do it all - heat sinks, wire wrappers, loose-screw-getters, you name it.

Hemostats.

Hemostats, most definitely. Although I must admit I had a much greater need for them in High School......
:icon_jokercolor:

I know nahhhhtheeeng!

 

[ghotiphry]

Anyone chime in as to brand/style of drill bits?

 

[ghotiphry]

I've considered a set of these by StewMac, but they are a bit too pricey for me.

Does anyone use brad point bits?

 

[Cagey]

Anyone chime in as to brand/style of drill bits?

I can't name a set, but beware of low prices. Cheap drill bits are never worth the money, unless you happen to need a metal pin of a known diameter for something.

 

[Cagey]

A good pair of quality wire strippers, and a pair of good strong, wire cutters.

Speaking of wire strippers/cutters, StewMac has a nice pair of strippers that go all the way down to 30ga, which is a bit unusual. It's also necessary, as pickup hookup wires are often pretty fine. And for cutters, these are pretty good too, because they're not wire cutters, they're string cutters. The difference is the jaws are hardened, where on regular wire cutters they're not. Use regular wire cutters on strings and they'll be wrecked pretty quickly, but you can use string cutters on wire all day long.

 

[rgand]

Thanks for the link for the string cutters, Kevin. I can use another pair of cutters and those are perfect.

 

[stratamania]

Some good ones already listed.

The most important tool, in my opinion, is a sharp mind.

 

[ghotiphry]

Not to mention hemostats and gem stone tweezers for holding smaller parts when soldering.  I like to hold the part with the tweezers and snap a hemostat or 2 to the tweezers as a base.

 

[ghotiphry]

The most important tool, in my opinion, is a sharp mind.

That and patience.  Slow down.  Plan.  Think about the best way to do something, then think again, and then yet again.  If you don't have the right part or the right tool, don't force something, put it aside and get it.  It's not a sprint, it's a marathon.

 

[rgand]

If you don't have the right part or the right tool, don't force something, put it aside and get it.

This is so true.

 

[stratamania]

The most important tool, in my opinion, is a sharp mind.

That and patience.  Slow down.  Plan.  Think about the best way to do something, then think again, and then yet again.  If you don't have the right part or the right tool, don't force something, put it aside and get it.  It's not a sprint, it's a marathon.

Absolutely...