What is the most valuable tool you own?

Sure, all the tools in our workspaces are valuable in their own special way, but which one is the most valuable?

Is it based solely on monetary value? Sentimental value? The value of how useful the tool is? Or, perhaps, is it something else entirely?

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My brain.

Grew up with a mechanic father, mechanical engineering tech degree, and lots of knuckles busted have me thinking about the repair before even lifting a tool.

Monetarily, a really nice finger brake.

Spiritually - I bought a $15 Wel-Bilt angle grinder in 2014, in college, when I bought my first welder (with partial loan from a friend lol). It is still running perfectly, extremely smooth, and is likely my single most used tool ever.

Google and my 3lb shorty hammer.

Valuable to me? My 1947 South Bend Lathe. 

Valuable in monetary terms? Probably still the lathe. 

Past berkeleyups and failures.

Sentimental? My grandfather's masonry tools.
Money? The 4Runner. It tows, carries things, gets parts, goes anywhere!
Use? My micro tooth 1/2 ratchet. 

Almost always the factory service manual for what I'm working on, with various forums coming in close second. 

After that, the window AC if it's summer here in FL...

I still have a 1st edition of this in the garage and I still use it. I have had it for almost 27 years and it is the single most important book that I have ever read for how it effected my life. I remember my Dad and I buying it used at a swap meet. 

Got me though keeping my first car running. 

Got me going when I started buying VWs and fixing them. 

Is the reason I am so good with my hands. 

My snap-on ratchet. Sometimes I'll go out to the garage and rotate it to hear the teeth engage

My DVOM. 15 years ago I decided to specialize in electrical diagnosis for the thrill of the hunt. Now I'm really good at finding the problems other people don't even understand in miles of wiring. Power Probe 3 is a close second.

One of my scissor lifts.  Having a lift really made working on my cars so much more enjoyable. 

$ wise my lift. Life changing wise my lift. Everyday use my dewalt 20v impact

Ranger50 said:

My brain.

plus

Sentimentally - My deceased lady (Cathie) had a knack for finding tools I didn’t know I needed. ALL of those and I use them  lot.

Two post, asymmetrical floor lift and it isn;t even close :-)

I'd have to say my Hobart welder.  It allows me to do things that were once impossible. 

My dad gave me this crescent wrench when I was 6 years old.  About 60 years ago.

I proceeded to take my bicycle apart.  

One of my finger ratchets.Great for tight spaces.

my laptop

Without question, my quick jack.

My garage is your typical barely-two car garage. Slab too thin & ceiling too low for a 2 post lift, I finally sunk some car funds into a quick jack. Especially since I'm still recovering from knee surgery, this thing is a dream for my circumstances.

Pictured here is my 5000TL.

wearymicrobe said:

I still have a 1st edition of this in the garage and I still use it. I have had it for almost 27 years and it is the single most important book that I have ever read for how it effected my life. I remember my Dad and I buying it used at a swap meet. 

Got me though keeping my first car running. 

Got me going when I started buying VWs and fixing them. 

Is the reason I am so good with my hands. 

 

I learned so much from that book.

I told the wife about it and she ordered one and now wants to rebuild a VW motor to put on a stand until we find here a Karmann Ghia.

My credit card. When I run out of talent or tools its always right there ready to step up.

I finally gave up and listed it on eBay a few hours ago. I'm never going back to private practice again. I love it, but I have to let it go.

It's a hospital grade scope like a pathology lab would use. 

Sentimental: my swiss army knife. Got it from my great uncle when I was maybe 6.  Sliced my thumb open shortly thereafter and learned a valuable lesson.

Monetarily: either my TIG or Bridgeport. I love both and am not particularly good at either... which is part of why I love 'em. So much to learn.

Most valuable?

-looks down-

Hey little buddy...

Most useful is a tie between my brain and my smartphone. My brain figures out how to fix things but my phone is a magic wand that I can use to make things happen.