Tool Group List

reply to post by Northern Raider


Hi-lift or as some call it a handy man Jack. A good flat file for when you mess the edge up on your ax. A tubing cutter for making arrows. Fencing pliers, no truck should be sold with out a set in the glove box.

I did some work on a pistol today and realized that I was certainly lacking in the proper tools.

I bought today:

Set of Drill bits with taps and dies
Handle for the taps and dies
Set of brass punches and brass hammer
Couple of metal working files
Assorted set of gun quality screws
Handheld torque wrench


I won't be left out in the cold if I need to create a threaded screw hole or to make some threads. This isn't a complete machine shop set by any stretch of the imagination, just a decent assortment that will allow me to maintain or modify as needed.

Waterdoc, you got a star. And now for my list:

Files--wood/metal combo and a small triangular or round file--best for arrow nocking or fine detail.
Hand Drill--as mentioned before, very handy tool. Expect to pay $20-$30.
Claw hammer--I recommend an Eastwing, last thing you want to do is replace the wooden handle.
Fence Pliers--The original multi-tool, enough said.
Tin snips--You want heavy duty. A car fender can make excellent cut nails or a variety of things if you have the patience and time.
Pry Bar--Leverage is power. As well as a quick means of punching a good hole in sheet metal.
Saw--A bow saw is great. A nice folder will serve you well. The pocket chain saw is a good option if space is a premium.
Hand Axe--Again Eastwing makes a good one and so does KA-BAR
A good bag to contain them. I suggest a zippered "doctor's bag".

Proper tools are great to have and make life wonderful compared to improvised tools or a pocket multi-tool. I love my Craftsman (like a Gerber or Leatherman) but nothing beats the actual tool in hand for getting the job done efficiently. Of this list, the Fence Pliers, hatchet and the files are the priority in my opinion.

Someone mentioned 'rope pulleys', how about a multi-use workaround using a set of rock-climbing carabiners and rope as a lightweight block and tackle for hoisting large game to prepare for dressing, setting deadfall traps, or other similar uses?

More carabiners can be added to upper and lower 'blocks' to further reduce the load required to lift heavier items within the breaking strain of the rope

I notice you listed Diesel genny, if going this route, consider getting a combination Welder/Generator.

The price is not that different, but the capability to weld anywhere that you can pull it is awesome.

We have several of these at work, some with thousands of hours on them that are going strong. They are made to be used continuously, not a couple times a year when the power blinks for a couple hours.

also check out this nearly free welder, could be used to charge deep cycle batteries if you added a cheap voltage regulator(it has been removed to up voltage for welding).

homebuilt welder

This setup can also be mounted in you BOV on an auxillary bracket.

onboard welder

If you have deep cycle batteries and need to weld in a pinch, 2-3 batteries can be series connected with jumper cables and used to weld steel quite easily.

Sorry for the topical drift.

reply to post by citizen smith


I dont see a reason why you couldn't..Depends on the circumstance I guess..

reply to post by Redpillblues



Cheers. I bought a 16 piece one a while ago when I bought an extension block with those annoying screws in.

Another one I'm looking for are bolt croppers. Looking for small ones though, so they're not too bulky and can double up as fence cutters.

reply to post by DrumsRfun


would you need soldering equipment . lamp/gas/flux/solder.steelwool etc . use plastic pipe with push fit fittings . much quicker to work with and easy to dissasemble and much more portable . try running round the woods with 3m of copper pipe

A griphoist winch.
Also known as a Tirfors in europe.

www.versales.com...
tractel.thomasnet.com...|1015|1016|10 17|3001017&forward=1

I have some i got military surplus for over 10 years ago and there is nothing like it for getting trucks unstuck, loading equipment onto trailers, moving equipment in tight places.

Mine has 110 foot of cable and I have lifted loads over 16000 lb up mine shafts by doubling the cable over a pulley and hook.
There is no limit to the length of cable you could put on one.
www.realtruck.com...

This is what the military uses to tie down C-130S at airfields during bad weather.

I found my grip-hoists at a military surplus store that did not know what they were and sold them for $30 each.

Once you have used one come alongs are a joke.

Tirfors are what I use offshore. A good bit of kit. They are bulky and cumbersome though.

A lever hoist aka a pull-lift also are nice to have. But these are more specialised for manouvering very heavy loads around delicate objects and obstacles.

A really decent aid which I can't believe no-ones mentioned yet is the chain-block.
Different from a pulley as it has an internal break-activated gearing system.
A boon to any mechanic who needs an engine / machinery lifting out.
It can also lift heavy objects. Ideally you'll have lifting slings (wire or soft webbing/weaved fabric). But in a pinch you can 'back-hook' the chain itself around the load and back onto the upper bit.

www.machinemart.co.uk...

img.en.china.cn...

reply to post by WatchRider


we use a chain block for draining our boat via a beam overhead. even with3/4 of a ton of water ballast in the bow it lifts no problem. theres a lot of talk about the amount of kit to take not including food/ clothing/first aid/water etc but no mention of how your going to lug it all about . give me a S3 long wheelbase landrover anyday. infinatley adaptable , easy to work on, spares readily available and if you get an ex millitary model it will normally have uprated shocks and axles. they are available in a huge number of guises . short wheel base 66in ,long wheel base 109in, extra long 127 in, air portable/lightweight,ambulance, ffr fitted for radio [24v] and many more add a sankey trailer and your looking at an unstoppable package

Fantastic thread so far

I think they were mentined but manual come alongs would be indespensable for clearing derbits etc.

I am toying with portable solar panels to see if they can run basic powertools.

I have a complete set of Craftsman C3 19.2 volt powertools which will charge no problem off the cells (Sold at Costco) but I want to see if I can get a bigger set that would run say a table saw etc.

The one now would be fantastic for low load items

www.costco.com...

[edit on 3/28/09 by FredT]

reply to post by da pickles


If Landrover included an option to fit an additional electric motor drive so the vehicle wasn't totally dependant on petrrol/diesel to run it would be a true apocolypse-mobile.

reply to post by FredT


Are you planning to run your workshop directly from the solar panels? It may end up being prohibitively expensive that way. Maybe invest in a set of high-performance deep-cycle batteries as a buffer for fewer panels

Someone needs to do an updated edition of "The Last Whole Earth Catalogue". It was a must have in the early 70s for the back to earth crowd and survivalist. It listed the best of every kind of hand tool, kitchen and canning supplies, vehicles and so forth. Also price and address of supplier or manufacturer.... You guys are doing a fine job and we do have the internet but it was a cool book......Some of the younger people may not remember that there was a lot folks heading to the hills when TSHTF in the late 60s, the 70s and early 80s.

reply to post by citizen smith


unless im mistaken the british goverment has been asked for a large amount of cash by land rover so they can finish developing a hybrid drive vehicle. ps dont touch a freelander they break down cos of silly little things.
i was once told that the millitary spec motors would run on just about anything

reply to post by citizen smith


No, just in a survival situation the ability to power a table saw, reciprocating saw, winch etc. is appealing to me. I agree the cost of adding 3 more cells to the system at Costco would put it near the 6K range and be quite prohibative.

I was more curious to see if it could power such a high draw system.