Best Investment?

Just a discussion starter, what's the best tool you've invested in? I know at least one person has a wire stripper. What about the rest of you?

Mine is a work area. Getting out of the garage, and getting a 10x20 gave me space to work at my own pace. Especially since this isn't my full time gig for now. I'm hoping once we sell the condo and find a house, I'll be able to put up a decent 40x40 shed.

A winch for the trailer.

Property & buildings aside, probably a toss up between the wreckers and the loader.

Originally Posted by Kris Kringle

Yeah a Winch is Definately a Plus.

The winch is good. I do not have to make my wench work so hard when loading scrap.

She is happy, so I am happy. That is why it is the best investment.

Originally Posted by c4f5

loader.

I am talking to a gentleman about purchasing his. He just does not want to let it go, and I totally understand why.

Patton, you should be on stage. I'm not sure which stage.....Miss Kitty would say the next stagecoach !!!

The next stage outta town,,, OH NO!

Patton, now that I have one, I'm not sure how I got by without it. $7,500 for an old beater. It was money well spent. I wish it were bigger, but it will put 5000 pounds in the air, so it will do for now. In the 3 years I've had it, it has easily paid for itself.

i dont think i have a "best investment" i use a lot of things a lot of times lol. 15 ft 2 axle trailer, sawzall, hand tools, big hammers, vise and i use my fourwheeler a lot too, to look for metal and pick it up and tow it around. I wouldnt say my wire stripper is my best investment yet but its friggen handy to have!

So far, in my limited experience, the 12v cordless driver that I bought two of. $50 from Northern Tool, and it has tripled my productivity, at least. I just ordered a wire stripper today too!

If anyone is interested. It's a Chinese white label that they have branded for them. It's been like a hot knife through butter when it comes to computers and copiers.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...2132_200442132

They are on sale right now, I'm ordering another one.

I would say my hatchet! That baby stays sharp and can cut a 4" copper main house drain in 2 swings!

a hatchet ??? Who would have ever thought that militiaMetal's favorite tool would be a hatchet !! Just teasing MM....I would have never thought of it for metal, but I bet it would save a lot of tome. I might try it.

Oh it is awesome! My other favorite tool is a pair of pruning shears, you know the ones with the curved blades about 3 inches long then they have 18 inch long handles, I have gutted plumbing from houses with nothing but those two items and can usually gut the house and haved my truck loaded in half a hour and we are talking normal size houses 2 with 2 bathrooms.

P.s it works wonders for cleaning copper/brass rads, just put it up to the metal tabs and hit it with a hammer, pops em off nice!

Air tools. I have to say that was huge. It let me change tires on the fly....air grinders (they are not as heavy as the power ones.) (need to get a better truck amounted unit...great for taking something apart ON SITE if needed.)

My kids got me a drill for Mothers day. Wow what a difference! Lol, all I had were screwdrivers and other hand tools but that drill makes faster work breaking down, I love it! Also, torx drivers, a lot of things seem to have the torx heads and these are the best 10 bucks i spent on new hand tools.

MM, I use pruning shears to cut copper too. One day i was sitting at my workbench wondering how I was gonna cut off the ends of those copper pipe/aluminum fin thingies from an air conditioner and happened to glance at my wall and saw the shears. looked at my brother, looked back at the shears, he said ''Nuh uh'', I said ''wanna bet?'' and they worked!! This was before I actually knew how to take those apart cleanly!! Gotta do what you gotta do!

way to go newattitude !!

NA I use a sawzall on condensers to remove the tin flashing, cut on the inside if the metal. Then the strip of tin falls off the side and usually half of the loops of copper fall out too, if not, they come out easy with a pair of pliers!

Nice truck there, kinda high bed, tractor comes in handy. Need some removeable sides too.