Top Ten Must Have Machinist Tools? What's your list?

Ranchero50 · Jan 13, 2008

Hope this doesn't get locked like the hammer thread. I thought about what I need to get yet to do machine setups and QC work, then get the part deburred and prepped for mailing.

Some of my list so far:

1. Mitutoyo 6" digital vernier calipers.
2. Co-axial indicator
3. Edge finder
4. Debur tool

What's on your list of things you grab before starting a job other than the tooling to cut the part?

Jamie

hexbasher · Jan 13, 2008

in no order, the 10 things i always carry on me in my coveralls (besides the "popular" drill bit or tap of the day)

starrett 6inch/metric scale
starrett E center punch (the big one!)
starrett 3/8 pocket scribe
starrett pocket level
mitutoyo 6" carbide jaws vernier
starrett auto centerpunch (the pinch punch size one, forget the number)
channelllock 6inch needle nose pliers
pocket ref chart
T.I. 30-XA calculator
3/8 HSS broken endmill i ground into a 90 deg false center on a cylindrical grinder

Jon Bohlander · Jan 13, 2008

I'll play as if I could only have ten.

1. 6" scale
2. Lixie deadblow
3. Etalon dial calipers
4. Noga triangular scraper
5. Knipex pump pliers
6. test indicator
7. dial indicator
8. Noga mag base
9. 0-1 mic
10. calculator

Really you can do quite a bit with just those ten.

Dimitri · Jan 13, 2008

Well my list includes in no preticular order.

Tool box - Need a Place to store it all.
Dial Indicator w/ Magnetic Base.
Test Indicator w/ Indicol.
6" Electronic Calipers.
Edgefinder - A simple 3/8" shank single tipped one works.
Telescoping Gages.
Small 6" fixed "L" Square.
0-3" OD Micrometers. (Need to get up to 6" now )
0-6" Depth Micrometer.
2-12" Tubular Micrometers (still need to get these )

Files, Deburring Tools, Mill stop, Combination Wrenches, Allen Keys, Hammers, Rubber Dead Blow Mallet, 3/16" Parrellels, Carbide Scriber, 6" pocket scale, Inch-Metric & Fractional-Decimal/Drill pocket cards and the like are also handy items.

Ok so maybe there is more then 10 items. But then again thats why I got a roll-around tool cabinet.

Dimitri

J.R. Williams · Jan 13, 2008

Tools

You all failed to mention the common HAMMER. Try to work without one.

JRW

Dimitri · Jan 13, 2008

I mentioned a hammer in my handtools list. Still a piece of stock can work as a hammer if you didn't have a hammer around.

Dimitri

matt_isserstedt · Jan 13, 2008

1. 6" scale
2. 12" crescent wrench
3. warding file
4. Interapid indicator + base
5. 6" dial caliper
6. optima center punch
7. carbide scriber
8. 0-1 or 1-2 mic depending on job (cheating?

)
9. DRO
10. Hermann Schmidt edgefinder

Jon Bohlander · Jan 13, 2008

i mentioned my deadblow. it has interchanable faces so it can/does the work of a deadblow, a brass hammer, and a steel hammer.

spope14 · Jan 13, 2008

A tool box - 7 to 11 drawer Kennedy is a given.

Measuring Tools:
0-6 inch flexible steel scale - one side fractional, one side 1/100 inch divisions.
0-1 mic w/ .0001 readability- buy a good one to start, I still use my first one.
1-2 Mic., .0001 readability
0-6 inch dial caliper (or digital - I prefer dial)
.0001 indicator with magnetic base
Surface Gauge - 8 inch - you can hold the indicator with this on a surface plate.
Thread TPI Gauge
Edge finder .200 and .500 ends
Depth Mic. with 0-8 inch rods
TI-35 (I think that is right) Scientific Calculator

Reference Charts - a different category - you can get these off the internet or from tool distributors when you buy the tools

1. Decimal Fractional Chart with tap drill reference
2. Trig reference.
3. Speeds and feed chart for basic materials.
4. CNC Code reference (Tulip or MasterCam off the web)

I will include the top twelve very basic hand tools seperately

Basic File - 8 to 10 inch fine (deburring)
Combination wrench set 3/8 to 1 1/4 set
Metric Wrench set 5 mm to 17 mm
8 piece screwdriver set- 3 phillips (1 to 3 size) 4 flatheads, two "shorties"
Adjustable wrench - 12 inch
Ball peen hammer - 10 ounce
Brass rod 3/8 inch x 8 inch long (for loosening things with the hammer)
small set of allen wrenches .050 to 3/16 - preferrably in a folding handle for firat sets.
small set of metric hex wrenches
Large set of allen wrenches - folding handle 3/16 to 3/8 inch.
folding handle Torx wrench set.
India stone - 4 inch x 1"

WILLEO6709 · Jan 13, 2008

the top 10 IMHO:
1. 25' tape measure - try to cut long stock without it
2. 6" dial calipers - digitals just don't have longevity of a good dial set
3. 0-1 micrometer - for most things its all I need
4. 12" crescent wrench
5. a box of parrallels
6. a red india oilstone
7. a 10-12" mill bastard file
8. a 5 lb. LSP soft alloy babbitt hammer
9. Interapid 0.0005 on a mag base
10. decent edge finder

with those tools you can be somewhat productive in almost any shop, the rest needs tailored to the shop you are in. Exapnd it to 12 and the next on the list are telescope gauges and a deburring set.

hexbasher · Jan 13, 2008

J.R. Williams said:
You all failed to mention the common HAMMER. Try to work without one.

JRW

a fist works well

RickWG · Jan 13, 2008

Everyone missed this essential:
Coffee machine & a large can of Kona

stuball48 · Jan 13, 2008

A 1" and 2" china bristle brush for removing chips

SwissPro · Jan 13, 2008

I need them all and then some but if I had to make a list...

1) 0-1" micrometer. I like my trusty old Starrett, but my newish Mitutoyo Speed-Mike ain't too shabby.

2) 50 millionths B&S Bestest DTI.

3) Set of Wiha long arm metric hex ball drivers

4) 0-6" Caliper. Another case where I really like my old B&S Swiss Made dial caliper, but the newer digital Mahr is kind of growing on me.

5) Mitutoyo 0-1" carbide blade micrometer

6) B&S 0-1" pitch micrometer.

7) Set of vee blocks

8) Mag base

9) Set of Torx drivers

10) Set of inch hex keys for changing inserts

Hmmm. No room left for a cheater bar for the Allen wrenches.

Ranchero50 · Jan 13, 2008

Wow, thanks for the replies so quickly. I feel like a doofus asking such a simple question, but the replies are really informative and from the replies it seems like a fun question to answer.

Jamie

jim rozen · Jan 13, 2008

Well because *somebody* didn't like the hammer thread I'll
show what has become a very handy item that I made recenty:

The handle's made from a 1/4 inch diameter starrett pin
punch, and the heads are brass and delrin. Perfect for
tweaking items into alignment.

Other than this the first thing to come out of the toolbox
in any job is typcally a mesuring tool, either a starrett
or mitutoyo dial caliper.

Jim

Dave Johnson · Jan 14, 2008

1. Allen Wrenches
2. Edge finder
3. DTI
4. INSIDE micrometer (.2-1.2 or as appropriate)
5. Outside micrometer
6. Single cut file
7. 6" caliper
8. Height gage w/layout blue
9. Rags/towels
10. Machine lube

jef5150 · Jan 14, 2008

you guys must have excellent memories,
cause none of you seem to use a "pencil".

MarcS · Jan 14, 2008

I can't believe nobody has mentioned a combination square yet!

Can't say what the top ten tools would be in my book. Too painful to think about having only ten. Combination square would certainly be on my list though. As well as a file card...it's ok if you think I'm nuts. I've always thought a machinist without a file card is a poor excuse for a machinist though.

carla · Jan 14, 2008

I really don't think you can make up any short list of commonly used tools without first noting the class of machine work you are, or plan to be, doing.

The machinist who is doing CNC production work will have a different tool list from the one who is doing heavy one-off machining, whose tool collection will be different from the machinist who does the generality of 'millwright' class repair/maintenence work.

The machinist who is doing ultra-close tolerance, high finish small parts work, or precise tooling work will necessarily have a different common tool list, as well. Specialties within the machine field, such as machine refitting/rebuilding, will require yet a different grouping of most commonly used tools.

So.....to have a meaningful 'most commonly needed' list, you first need to specify the class of machine work for which you are selecting the tools.

cheers

Carla

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