Seans 5 most useful tools
Multi-Tool
Everyone on the planet should own some kind of multitool, it can solve most problems you run into in daily life and they are fairly inexpensive. Gerber, Victorinox, sog, leatherman, all have some great options. I always have a Leatherman Wave on my hip.
Flashlight
A flashlight is a must-have. Imagine you're in the workplace and the lights go out; if you don't have a light you are essentially trapped. Olight, Streamlight and Surefire are all good options. An Olight 13e EOS with a Keybar MagNut on a keyring is about as useful as a light can be while still being small enough that it could be kept in a pocket and completely forgotten about until needed. A Surefire Fury Intellibeam on the other hand is fairly large but extremely bright and has enough candela and lumens to punch through a light barrier. So if you need to look through a well-lit hallway into a dark room you're actually able to see. Every time I’m carrying a light on a worksite, it ensures David has one when he needs it because he’s too stubborn to carry his own. He says he doesn’t like things in his pockets. Even indoors and outdoors during daylight hours flashlights can be an essential tool to have on hand.
Accessory Cord
A little accessory cord is a useful thing to have around in a length of 50ft or more. My 3mm diameter is rated around 400lbs and if you learn some useful knots it can be used for everything from shoelaces, tying down a load, and keeping your tools from falling out of a scissor lift on a worksite and hurting somebody. We use 6mm and 8mm frequently for small to medium lifting and hauling operations. Accessory cord is substantially stronger than any typical rope you will find at a hardware store, most of which aren’t even rated. Having a rope that is rated is very important, we won’t lift anything with a rope we don’t have a rating for. Collect some pulleys, prusiks, rigging plates, and slings, and you’ll have a rope kit that is unbelievably versatile.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses aren't a tool, but your eyes are. If you can't see because the sun is shining right into your eyes at the worst possible moment the consequences might not be a big deal, but if you are standing on a beam connecting iron, falling isn't a good idea. Buy nice sunglasses, the optical clarity is better and they’re worth it. Don't buy polarized if you're riding a motorcycle because it makes it impossible to see oil and water on the road. I like Oakley and Gatorz. They say you should dress for the job you want. I’m dressing for a job in the Bahamas.
Your curiosity
Your brain is the last tool on this list and it's the most important. Read some books or watch some informational youtube videos. You can become infinitely more useful with more knowledge. Here are some of our favorite resources to learn from. These channels share information that is key to growing as a craftsman, businessman, handyman, and cool guy.
youtube
Our favorite channels to learn and grow from:
