Re: Most underrated/undervalued tools
 

This thread has very quickly gone from underrated tool to favorite tool (I'd even call a lot of these tools overrated). The best answer I've seen is the vacuum cleaner. (basically) Every team needs one and no team ever realizes just how much value they add.

Re: Most underrated/undervalued tools
 

Freshman with a broom.

Re: Most underrated/undervalued tools
 

Little nail clippers work wonders here.

Re: Most underrated/undervalued tools
 

Vise.

Re: Most underrated/undervalued tools
 

We have a Team 1676 mini screwdriver set that was a giveaway at a competition that we use almost daily.

Re: Most underrated/undervalued tools
 

For out team the most underrated tool was BY FAR a printer. I know it sounds crazy but without out a printer we probably wouldn't have been able to finish our robot. For the first 4 weeks of build season, we would have to ask the CAD team the dimensions of stuff we had to fabricate. That was obviously a terrible and inefficient system. Once we got a printer, the CAD team could print out drawings and we could be much faster and more accurate.

Other than that, probably a ratchet alan set.

Re: Most underrated/undervalued tools
 

Seconded. I've used this so much in FTC as well as FRC. Being able to break it anywhere is awesome, and you don't have to worry about losing bits of master link! The only down side is that it's harder to get into the chain when the chain is in place.

I work for a fluid power distributor as a FIRST alum. There are about four of these guys in every work space, and they are a miracle. Teams need to remember that square cut tubes are the solution to most leaks. If there's a local distributor, reach out. They're less than $.60 cost, they'd probably be willing to give you a dozen.

To go along with pneumatics, an adjustable wrench. Never use this for the actual fitting, but if you can't get a tube to come loose from the quick-connect, snug the wrench on the tube, and press it against the collet, and the tube will pop free.

PS-Forgot T handle hex wrenches for pneumatic work. Many hydraulic fittings have internal hexes(For example, the SMC cylinders on the vex shifters), and they let you take fittings out when you have no room for a wrench.

Re: Most underrated/undervalued tools
 

or a file

Re: Most underrated/undervalued tools
 

A Leatherman or other multi-tool. Especially if you are willing to abuse it a bit, it can always be used as a hammer, many flat-head screwdrivers on them are pretty sharp and can be used for scraping at things, and as much as the folks at Leatherman don't want to hear it, the knife works well for prying in tight spaces.

Gotta love a no questions asked warranty.

~DK

Re: Most underrated/undervalued tools
 

A whiteboard and dry erase markers.

Any team can be made better by buying a few more whiteboards.

Re: Most underrated/undervalued tools
 

Left Handed metric *nut rounder*

Re: Most underrated/undervalued tools
 

It's got to be a good pair of wirecutters. When it's crunch time and you have 30 zip-ties to fix, it's the only way to go...

Re: Most underrated/undervalued tools
 

I think Wil Payne is very underrated and undervalued....

Re: Most underrated/undervalued tools
 

+1


On a serious note, I found a GOOD set of COLORED T-Handle Allen Wrenches to be great in those quick fix binds. Colors are easier to find than fractions in small fonts, and a quick yell for a color makes it easy for ANYONE to be able to find.

Re: Most underrated/undervalued tools
 

I can't go to a competition without Matt or Nate personally. Far more indispensable than Wil. ;)