Which tools have been least helpful in your build

[nucjd19]

Well I am now in Gelcoat and getting paperwork together for VIN, title and tag and was sitting here thinking. Now that the build aspect is coming to a wrap what tool or tools did I purchase that I did not end up really using. For me it was a pneumatic rivet gun. I used a total of 2 or 3 rivets and put it aside. It was fiddly ( probably my fault ) and cumbersome. I had a hard time getting it into tight areas and I really enjoyed pulling rivets manually. Probably because it was a novel experience for me. What say you??? Which tools did you purchase and end up not using or using very little? Pictures for your time :)
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=152837&d=1630278906
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=152833&d=1630278384

[toadster]

wow that's funny!

1. my pneumatic gun (https://amzn.to/3zIxdWo) is my favorite tool!!!!
https://i.imgur.com/QGQ7hoy.png?1

2. my Dymo Rhino 5200 (https://amzn.to/2WMBF8j) shrink tube labeler is my 2nd favorite tool
https://i.imgur.com/cvPdQXH.jpg?1

update:
3rd favorite tool is my Eastwood brake line flare (https://amzn.to/3gXgwyZ) tool!
https://i.imgur.com/cX4qtSa.png?1



but my son said the other day that he never thought I'd have this many tools... EVER!
lucky for him - they'll be his someday :)


my most hated tool?

probably my WALLET!

[cnutting]

Best tool? Beer. Usually a nice double or triple IPA when things got tough.

I skipped the fancy power tools and still use most everything.

[AC Bill]

I probably save getting carpal tunnel from being able to use an air riveter..Yes, there were a few awkward spots where I had to use a hand puller, but for most spots it worked great.

Least used was the engine hoist. Once to lift the frame down off the sawhorses, once to install the engine/tranny. Rent or borrow one if you can.
Engine stand was really only used once too, but the engine was on it for a long time. Made it much easier then kneeling on the floor to work on the engine too..:)

[rich grsc]

Best tool? Beer. Usually a nice double or triple IPA when things got tough.

Worst tool? There are no bad tools....
The question was worst or least used.
Nibbler and pneumatic rivet gun

[Jeff Kleiner]

I’m with ya’ on the pneumatic riveter. I used it for maybe 50% of the rivets on the first car, only a handful on the second car just to verify that I didn’t like it and every one since has been done by hand. I wound up giving it to someone on the other forum years ago when he was planning to buy one.

Jeff

[cnutting]

Thanks Rich!

[alexmak]

In our case pneumatic riveter was also waste of money, ended up using hand riveter for 99%

[frankb]

Ditto! Pneumatic rivet tool... bought it unused from a forum member; sold it unused to another forum member!

[OSU Cowboy]

Pneumatic rivet tool here as well. Still in the box from Harbor Freight. Every rivet on the car was pulled by hand.

[JohnK]

How funny - I love my pneumatic rivet gun. I agree with the engine hoist as the least-used, but it's one of those single-task tools that you just have to have for that particular job. I was going to throw it in my basement to have "for the next build" but quite honestly if I factor in the hassle of disassembly/reassembly, moving it down and up from the basement and all the space it takes up, I will probably offload it for cheap and buy another cheap HF one if/when I ever need one again.

[Railroad]

I can see both opinions on the pneumatic riveter. Something that made mine much easier and quicker to use was a swivel connector at the gun and down sizing to 1/4" light weight air line. Big difference in being able to wield the tool.

[BradCraig]

Agree above re: engine hoist. Thankfully I ran into another FF owner at Home Depot one day and he ended up giving me his lift that had been gathering dust for years.

[narly1]

Just curious for those that had one what it was about the air riveter that made it a least favourite tool. Size/bulk, weight, air hose in the way?

The reason I ask is that there is also the Milwaukee cordless electric one that might be a better option then....

Earl

[Avalanche325]

Cheap $25 flaring kit that everyone sells under various brand names. As soon as you go above 5/16" they are useless for steel.

I never had a pneumatic rivet gun.

narly1, Usually, electric tools are much larger than pneumatic. So would likely be even more cumbersome.

[JohnK]

Cheap $25 flaring kit that everyone sells under various brand names. As soon as you go above 5/16" they are useless for steel.

I agree with the "cheap tools" answer as a broad statement. There were a few cheap tools that I bought because I didn't want to spend the money for a quality tool if it was something I only planned to use a few times. Tubing benders that claim to bend multiple sizes of tubing were nearly useless for me in being able to do accurately placed bends. I ended up buying the proper tools after wasting the money on the cheap one. "Buy it nice, or buy it twice" is real.

[CaptB]

I bought a Milwaukee cordless riveter, hope it works, looks like a mixed bag of reactions!

[RBachman]

I bought a Milwaukee cordless riveter, hope it works, looks like a mixed bag of reactions!

You'll like it. One of my favorite build tools and it can get into places where most air-riveters can't.

[RBachman]

Least used was the engine lift. Most used was the Milwaukee cordless riveter and a mechanics cart/tray.

[egchewy79]

all my rivets were done by hand. the breeze 3/16" SS rivets would have been much easier if I had a pneumatic one however. I nearly gave myself an aneurysm trying to pop those off. My HF lift was a one time use, but I did let a buddy borrow it for his build, so it's been used a few times. I had to buy a 59/64" ball joint socket for a one time use, but that was cheap. Brake line bender from HF was a piece of garbage. I bent my lines by hand or around a larger radiused socket or can.

[edwardb]

Surprised at the lack of love for powered rivet tools. Guess I need to try to renew my man cards... :rolleyes: Maybe I can't. I used a pneumatic one for a couple builds and liked it fine. For the truck, I picked up one of the Milwaukee cordless ones and absolutely love it. All the advantages of the previous air powered one without dragging a hose around. Seems to run forever even on one of the smaller battery packs. Yeah, there are a couple spots it won't fit. But I'm always mindful of where I put rivets so I can access both with the drill and the riveter. Only a few end up requiring pull by hand. The other factor, for me anyway, is I used 3/16" SS rivets on my truck firewall. Plus I like to use more heavy duty 3/16" steel rivets occasionally. I can't pull them by hand. The power riveter pulls them effortlessly. Also has come in handy for some home projects. Like the suspended ceiling I put in our basement.

[Randy's]

Ditto on the battery powered Milwaukee rivet gun. It is much better than the pneumatic one I purchased. It can get in to most, but not all, tight spots. The battery life is great as well. The only other advice I can give, based on my build, is not to waste your money on brake bleeding "gadgets". After not getting good results using a buddy to help me with the "2 man" bleeding, and wasting time and money on two or three of these gadgets, I finally purchased a specialty reservoir cap that has a connection on top to attach my compressed air hose to push the fluid through. I could not get a firm brake pedal until I used this. Highly recommend it. I have the Wilwood brakes.

[cob427sc]

I love the pneumatic rivet gun! Can't tell you how many times I've used it and lent it to others. Did my first build by hand and would never do that again. I might try the Milwaukee electric on the next build. I also have the big long handled riveter for the 3/16" rivets and for setting rivnuts. My old hands couldn't force those in anyother way. Next best tool -- floor lift!

[nucjd19]

LOL! Looks like I should change this thread to do you hate or love your air powered rivets gun. My issue was it was just really bulky and hard to maneuver. If I were building a ton of these things then ok I can see it so I would not have tendonitis with a manual one.

A close second is the engine lift. Good point about lack of use but I have a horse farm and therefore have used it to lift farm equipment when I don't want to get my skidsteer and use the blade.

Thank you everyone for your responses.

[BrewCityCobra]

Why didn't this thread exist when I first started? I went out of my way to purchase a pneumatic rivet gun and....also.....prefer the hand held version. Would have been nice to know - could have saved myself a few bucks.

[toadster]

LOL! Looks like I should change this thread to do you hate or love your air powered rivets gun. My issue was it was just really bulky and hard to maneuver. If I were building a ton of these things then ok I can see it so I would not have tendonitis with a manual one.

A close second is the engine lift. Good point about lack of use but I have a horse farm and therefore have used it to lift farm equipment when I don't want to get my skidsteer and use the blade.

Thank you everyone for your responses.

I have a lightweight air hose, and a swivel on the gun - the only issue is maybe getting into a hard location, but I've only had 2 of those in over 800 rivets

[Otee453]

Milwaukee rivet gun is a great tool. Kinda spendy if it’s just for one car. Engine hoist is used a lot in my shop. For me the least useful tool was the Dura-block sanders set. All the blocks were too rigid for the roadster. I found the soft sanders and various acrylic blocking boards (Big Kid Blocks & Linear Blocking boards) much more usable for all the curves on the roadster.

But the most useful tool in my entire home & machine shop is still my John Deere front end loader with pallet forks.

[Blitzboy54]

I got lucky and was able to borrow a Pneumatic riveter. This worked out well because I hated it. I also borrowed a hoist. The least useful tool I purchased was my engine stand. It spent a grand total of 3 days on it and my builder offered to let me borrow one so the whole thing was unnecessary.

My advice to any new builders reading this is not to rush out and buy a bunch of stuff. Both tools and options for the car. I easily spent several thousand dollars on stuff I wont really use. You have time once you get into it to figure a lot of this stuff out.

[nucjd19]

Milwaukee rivet gun is a great tool. Kinda spendy if it’s just for one car. Engine hoist is used a lot in my shop. For me the least useful tool was the Dura-block sanders set. All the blocks were too rigid for the roadster. I found the soft sanders and various acrylic blocking boards (Big Kid Blocks & Linear Blocking boards) much more usable for all the curves on the roadster.

But the most useful tool in my entire home & machine shop is still my John Deere front end loader with pallet forks.

I hear ya about farm equipment......https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=152966&d=1630634975

[hineas]

After reading this I'm glad I didn't buy a pneumatic rivet gun!

Most used tool for us was my 16 year old nephew who loved using the manual riveter!!! I guess he was our automatic riveter!

My most useful tools were 20V Dewalt drill and impact driver. That impact driver was perfect for the self tapping screws! I also loved my Dewalt lights that used the same battery. Oh, my nice socket set and wrench set have been great as well.

I have some air tools (impact gun, ratchet, etc) but I didn't really use them. I found that unlike my old jeep, things went together really well and it wasn't an issue doing it by hand. I used my air tools ONE day and found I just didn't need them. I use them wiring on my other cars though. I will use my air sander on the body when I get to that.

[OSU Cowboy]

Earl - in my case, I tended to rivet just one or maybe two panels at a time, being as meticulous as possible. At the time, it seemed like a hassle to break out the air-riveter for the first time and start using it with the air hose, noise of the air compressor firing up, etc etc. The number a rivets for a given panel or two didn't seem like it justified all that, and, I had a decent hand rivet puller with a swivel head that I could position just where I wanted it. Had I used the air riveter even once, I might have liked it. Just never tried it.

[WIS89]

I hear ya about farm equipment......https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=152966&d=1630634975

OK, now you are just showing off!! HAHA

I like this thread, although I didn't realize that the pneumatic rivet tool was so divisive!

I am with the others on the engine hoist. Specifically, as it relates to the roadster. I have used it for other purposes, but as far as the roadster, it has been the least used, and I likely could have borrowed or rented one...

Keep those posts coming!!

Regards,

Steve

[Blitzboy54]

after reading this i'm glad i didn't buy a pneumatic rivet gun!

Most used tool for us was my 16 year old nephew who loved using the manual riveter!!! I guess he was our automatic riveter!

my most useful tools were 20v dewalt drill and impact driver. that impact driver was perfect for the self tapping screws! I also loved my dewalt lights that used the same battery. Oh, my nice socket set and wrench set have been great as well.

I have some air tools (impact gun, ratchet, etc) but i didn't really use them. I found that unlike my old jeep, things went together really well and it wasn't an issue doing it by hand. I used my air tools one day and found i just didn't need them. I use them wiring on my other cars though. I will use my air sander on the body when i get to that.


yesssss!!!!!!

[GTBradley]

- The HF engine hoist is little used once the engine is in, but I used it to move the engine around the garage for months before install. I bought it on sale and sold it for $40 less than I paid, so it was a lot cheaper to buy rather than rent.
- Battery cable crimper tool used once, but was very cheap on Amazon.
- Glad I didn't buy the expensive brake line flaring tool. The hand tool is hard to use on the hard metal fuel lines supplied from FFR, but you can make it work with practice.
- For what it's worth, I never pulled a rivet with anything other than my HF pneumatic rivet tool. A swivel connector on the air hose is very helpful.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Chiming in on the engine hoist...mine has sort of become community property among myself and 3 other local guys. At least one of us seems to almost have something going on that requires it. The only condition is that whoever uses it last has to store the darn thing until someone else needs it! Same deal with the two engine stands that I have.

Jeff

[Hacksaw84]

Cheap $25 flaring kit that everyone sells under various brand names.
I agree with this, did not have good luck with the cheap tool. Ended up buying the off brand of the eastwood one that Toadster posted above.


The only other advice I can give, based on my build, is not to waste your money on brake bleeding "gadgets".
I also didn't have great results with the bleeder kits. The pressurized power bleeder that pushes from the reservoir worked ok and allowed do some of it solo but the simple pedal method really does work well.


I will add a cheap soldering iron to the list. At some point I upgraded to one with heat control and more of a workstation and added some quality tips. WAYY BETTER.
I bought a hydraulic crimper to make a few of the large electrical connections. It worked well but would be a nice one to borrow.
I really liked the pneumatic riveter. It cant do everything and I still did a lot by hand but when you are putting a bunch of panels on it was worth it to me. Also if you are installing painted panels it was way less likely to slip (when the rivet sheered) and scratch the panel when using the Pneumatic one.
The engine lift is one of those things you kind of have to use but would be good to borrow if you could. Especially bc it just takes up extra space. In addition to the engine install, I did use mine to help with the IRS pumpkin and then a couple times to pull the roll bars off.

[nucjd19]

Chiming in on the engine hoist...mine has sort of become community property among myself and 3 other local guys. At least one of us seems to almost have something going on that requires it. The only condition is that whoever uses it last has to store the darn thing until someone else needs it! Same deal with the two engine stands that I have.

Jeff

I love it!!!!! The communal engine lift but who has it last is stuck with the hot potato LOL!

[nucjd19]

- The HF engine hoist is little used once the engine is in, but I used it to move the engine around the garage for months before install. I bought it on sale and sold it for $40 less than I paid, so it was a lot cheaper to buy rather than rent.
- Battery cable crimper tool used once, but was very cheap on Amazon.
- Glad I didn't buy the expensive brake line flaring tool. The hand tool is hard to use on the hard metal fuel lines supplied from FFR, but you can make it work with practice.
- For what it's worth, I never pulled a rivet with anything other than my HF pneumatic rivet tool. A swivel connector on the air hose is very helpful.

I am with you on the brake line. I had decided I was going to bend my brake and gas lines that came with my kit that was already flared and if I screwed it up I would go down the Nicopp brake line and flaring hole. luckily everything measured and bent how I wanted it.

[Hoooper]

The tool I bought for rivnuts. Not because the rivnuts are not useful, but rather just because the tool itself was garbage. I started finding other ways of securing things and riveting panels I probably would have used rivnuts on because I knew the tool wouldnt be up for pulling the rivnuts in.

[Jones375]

The tool I bought for rivnuts. Not because the rivnuts are not useful, but rather just because the tool itself was garbage. I started finding other ways of securing things and riveting panels I probably would have used rivnuts on because I knew the tool wouldnt be up for pulling the rivnuts in.

Have to agree with this. I had grand plans of using rivnuts all over the place and I only used them in one area.

Second tool that was a waste of money was a hand sheet metal bender. Tried using it and found it was too hard to use. Clamping metal to a bench and bending was easier.

I used the heck out of my pneumatic air riveter, and also got a lot of use out of my HF engine hoist. I didn’t have a lot of help with the build, so the hoist was great to lift and position the axle, lift the frame when needed, hood stuff up, etc.

[johnpinetree]

Least favorite... hard question... I returned my first HF rivet gun because it was a piece. I got the one at the next price point and early returns are good. Been able to borrow some of the more 'one time use' items... Oh! I had to buy a second flat dolly to move the kit around before I got it happily on the lift. I'll go with that.

Favorite tools so far have been my BFH and ratchet straps a close second.

Hey nucjd19, what are you doing for headlights there? Looked around a bit, but didn't see them mentioned in your stuff?

[nucjd19]

Least favorite... hard question... I returned my first HF rivet gun because it was a piece. I got the one at the next price point and early returns are good. Been able to borrow some of the more 'one time use' items... Oh! I had to buy a second flat dolly to move the kit around before I got it happily on the lift. I'll go with that.

Favorite tools so far have been my BFH and ratchet straps a close second.


Hey nucjd19, what are you doing for headlights there? Looked around a bit, but didn't see them mentioned in your stuff?

Hey Juan. I sent you a PM

[Vspeeds]

I built a chassis dolly with nice big locking caster wheels. That was great when the kit arrived and to move the chassis around the garage. But when I started actually building the car, I dedicated a spot in the garage and put the frame on jack stands. I really didn't need the dolly.

[rthomas98]

My most used was my quick jack for all the ups and downs the car does. Was nice not having to walk around the car with jacks and jack stands every time I wanted to set it on the ground or move the level of it. and the laptop I put in the garage for Forum searches when I am stumped.

My least used is also my engine hoist. Used it twice once when I put the axle in and second time for the engine. Luckily the hoist was free.

[ggunter]

I drove almost every rivet in the car with a pneumatic riveter, my old *** arthritic hands wont pull that hand rivet gun unless they are the 1/8" rivets. A lot of my rivets were 3/16 and they are hard to drive by hand. My Snap on Double flaring tool worked really well. Tubing bender was a waste of time.

[ggunter]

My most used tool was my lift. I absolutely could not have built this car without my lift.

[CaptB]

153180

Only way to go!

[Mark Eaton]

I think I have a tool addiction. I love all my tools and don't regret any of them. I rarely pass up a chance to purchase a new tool and figure out something to use it on. The pneumatic rivet drivers are great. Started out with the HF tool but that fell apart in no time so I upgraded to a Campbell Hausfeld with a swivel attatchment which I wouldn't build without. For tight spots I use a Dewalt hand riveter.

What I really need is a reason to buy a front end loader with pallet forks...

[Otee453]

What I really need is a reason to buy a front end loader with pallet forks...

It’s an amazingly helpful tool.

[JohnK]

Since we're talking tools... anyone have a recommendation for a good hydraulic crimper? I have one from Amazon that looks like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Hydraulic-Battery-Terminal-Crimper-Crimping/dp/B07ZRB19X5/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=hydraulic+crimper&qid=1631245631&sr=8-3-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzNURZWklRSFBVUkVCJ mVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNjY4NDQyM0hZVE5FNzkxUEpaTSZlbmN yeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNTkzNzYxNzhEU1BSVDJTSjlCJndpZGdld E5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm9 0TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

It works (sort of) but every single time I use it I'm certain that this will be the time that it explodes in my hands.

[ggunter]

Has that crimper worked well so far? It sure is cheap enough. If you are able to crimp six hoses its a win in my book for the price.

[JohnK]

It's a cable crimper, not a hose crimper. Yes, I was able to do all my power wiring (2 ga. and 4 ga.power wiring in engine bay) along with some other assorted 8 ga. wiring throughout. It works well enough on the larger stuff. It struggles on the 8 ga. terminals as they're in between die sizes so I get these wonky pinched crimps. The dies seem to go out of alignment as I'm crimping so the end result is often not symmetrical and just looks messy. Not a huge deal since it's covered up by heat shrink but it bothers me nonetheless. The main concern is the movable handle is so sloppy and cheap it always feels like it's about to break off each time I use it.

[JPI]

Brake line flare kit,
Never used it. Was able to bend lines sent from FF. Worked out well.
Pneumatic Rivet gun was awesome. Too many rivets for the manual one. (I did not have a helper)
Engine leveler was useful four times, (should have only needed it once but had to keep pulling engine out to grind block so mounts would fit.)
I love tools, so don't regret purchasing any of them.

[PNWTim]

I have what is probably the exact same crimper and I used it extensively in my build. I love it and for the money and convenience wouldn't go without. I crimped my main battery cables, starter cables, anything up to 8 gauge and made all my ground straps as well.

[Jhinkemeyer]

I hear ya about farm equipment......https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=152966&d=1630634975

Just to keep the farm equipment theme alive!

153377

Least favorite tool?

Probably the cheap flaring tool I "rented" from Autozone because I didn't want to buy a good flaring tool to make one or two flares. I set something on top of it for a few months, lost track of it and now I own the stupid thing! Oh well...

[nucjd19]

Just to keep the farm equipment theme alive!

153377

Least favorite tool?



Probably the cheap flaring tool I "rented" from Autozone because I didn't want to buy a good flaring tool to make one or two flares. I set something on top of it for a few months, lost track of it and now I own the stupid thing! Oh well...

Tractors are the best!!!!! I decided I would use the pre-flared lines from the kit and figured I would cross that bridge if I messed up the line ( which luckily I did not thanks to this forum).

[Scneal]

I have to say the air rivet gun was one of my favs. I also liked the Dewalt 20v drill and 3/8" impact. I borrowed an engine hoist.

[NiceGuyEddie]

Well this is interesting - I thought this was about your LEAST favorite tool. My least favorite tool is my breaker bar. Every time I needed it, it wasn't good enough so I wound up using a 1/2" ratchet and a long pipe.

The breaker bar has longer than the ratchet, but the ratchet has a much thicker handle and fit inside the pipe with much less play.

My breaker bar has been hanging on my wall for 20 years and I've never used it for anything.

My second least favorite tool is my reverse brake bleeder. I've never had any luck with them. The fittings never fit on tight enough and I got brake fluid everywhere. I always resorted to the foot method with a friend.

[rich grsc]

Total lack of reading comprehension

[nucjd19]

Well this is interesting - I thought this was about your LEAST favorite tool. My least favorite tool is my breaker bar. Every time I needed it, it wasn't good enough so I wound up using a 1/2" ratchet and a long pipe.

The breaker bar has longer than the ratchet, but the ratchet has a much thicker handle and fit inside the pipe with much less play.

My breaker bar has been hanging on my wall for 20 years and I've never used it for anything.



My second least favorite tool is my reverse brake bleeder. I've never had any luck with them. The fittings never fit on tight enough and I got brake fluid everywhere. I always resorted to the foot method with a friend.

Forgot about the reverse brake bleeder. That was a bust for me too....

[frankb]

I've had my reverse brake bleeder for 30 yrs! I agree that it is worthless as a brake bleeder, but very useful when a vacuum is necessary, such as an overfilled brake reservoir!

[Mike Garrett]

Kind of late getting in on this but I must say- my roll around cart/work bench was my favorite item/tool that I used. I bought it just for the build but now I use it all the time. From Harbor Freight.

[rich grsc]

LEAST favorite tool

[GoDadGo]

Least Useful / Mini Belt Sander:
https://www.harborfreight.com/38-in-belt-air-sander-60627.html

Most Useful / Mini Orbital Sander:
https://www.harborfreight.com/air-angle-sander-93629.html

Surprisingly Great Parting Line Results:
https://youtu.be/_3sLamdkIFg