Tools Explained

[Stephen.Yanczura]

DRILL PRESS :
A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat metal bar stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the chest and flings the part across the room, denting the freshly-painted project which you had carefully set in the corner where nothing could get to it.

WIRE WHEEL :
Cleans paint off bolts and then throws them somewhere under the workbench with the speed of light. Also removes fingerprints and hard-earned calluses from fingers in about the time it takes you to say, "Oh, crap!"

SKILL SAW :
A portable cutting tool used to make studs too short.

PLIERS :
Used to round off bolt heads. Sometimes used in the creation of blood-blisters.

BELT SANDER :
An electric sanding tool commonly used to convert minor touch-up jobs into major refinishing jobs.

HACKSAW :
One of a family of cutting tools built on the Ouija board principle... It transforms human energy into a crooked, unpredictable motion, and the more you attempt to influence its course, the more dismal your future becomes.

VISE-GRIPS :
Generally used after pliers to completely round off bolt heads. If nothing else is available, they can also be used to transfer intense welding heat to the palm of your hand.

OXYACETYLENE TORCH :
Used almost entirely for lighting various flammable objects in your shop on fire. Also handy for igniting the grease inside the wheel hub out of which you want to remove a bearing race..

TABLE SAW :
A large stationary power tool commonly used to launch wood projectiles for testing wall integrity.

HYDRAULIC FLOOR JACK :
Used for lowering an automobile to the ground after you have installed your new brake shoes, trapping the jack handle firmly under the bumper.

BAND SAW :
A large stationary power saw primarily used by most shops to cut good aluminum sheet into smaller pieces that more easily fit into the trash can after you cut on the inside of the line instead of the outside edge.

TWO-TON ENGINE HOIST :
A tool for testing the maximum tensile strength of everything you forgot to disconnect.

PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER :
Normally used to stab the vacuum seals under lids or for opening old-style paper-and-tin oil cans and splashing oil on your shirt; but can also be used, as the name
implies, to strip out Phillips screw heads.

STRAIGHT SCREWDRIVER :
A tool for opening paint cans. Sometimes used to convert common slotted screws into non-removable screws and butchering your palms.

PRY BAR :
A tool used to crumple the metal surrounding that clip or bracket you needed to remove in order to replace a 50 cent part.

HOSE CUTTER :
A tool used to make hoses too short.

HAMMER :
Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

UTILITY KNIFE :
Used to open and slice through the contents of cardboard cartons delivered to your front door; works particularly well on contents such as seats, vinyl records, liquids in plastic bottles, collector magazines, refund checks, and rubber or plastic parts. Especially useful for slicing work clothes, but only while in use.

[themccannman]

This a very useful list, I hope many rookie teams refer to this in the future

I'd like to add a couple other tools to the list too:

Bench vise: Great for squishing fingers and breaking flat stock you were trying to bend.

Arbor press: Ideal tool for testing compressive strength of parts that you forgot to move out of the way beforehand. Also useful for shooting holes in the floor.

Lathe:
Used for throwing chuck keys thought drywall.

Wire strippers:
Very handy for making that perfect length of wire just too short to reach your motors.

Metal file:
Used for testing the effectiveness of ear-muffs.

CNC mill: Best used for entertainment purposes e.g. watching a computer destroy your last piece of aluminum plate with the utmost precision. Alternatively, you can also use a manual table mill for facing parts 1/1000th of an inch shorter than you wanted.

Tap and die set:
Multiple use tools performing functions that include but are not limited too: cross-threading bolts and bolt holes, and filing holes with non-removable steel rod.

Calipers:
Used for causing heated debates about what size certain parts actually are.

Crescent wrench:
The optimal tool for rounding off bolt heads.

Ratcheting wrench:
Best used for keeping rookie members preoccupied with turning bolts the wrong direction.

Bench grinder:
Great tool for making beautiful light shows with steel sparks before closing up shop each night.

Hope this helped.

[Woolly]

ELECTRICAL TAPE:
Used as a substitute for heat shrink tubing applied post solder.
Also useful as an adhesive for all things non-electrical.

HEAT GUN:
Cheese melting device. Great for nachos. Not a hair dryer.

[Jaxom]

I can't believe no one's added

SOLDERING IRON: a small device used to create burn marks in workbenches. Can be used to create non-magic smoke, but when used in conjunction with previously-installed components can also be used as a magic smoke release tool.

[themccannman]

Bolt cutters:
Used for cutting everything, except bolts.

[Garrett.d.w]

PENCIL: The thing you loose (along with your sanity).

[inkspell4]

Safety Glasses:

What you always forget to take with you to the hotel at night

[JesseK]

WIN PUMP: A tool as mysterious as a UNICORN, yet has attributed to the amazing innovations of two FRC teams in particular.

(We may try to steal one this year just to figure out how well it works...)

[Wayne Doenges]

Crescent Wrench = Hammer
Ratchet Handle = Hammer
Channel Lock Pliers = Hammer

Hammer = pry bar

[dictionaria13]

Crimpers =/= Pliers! Ever!! This misuse results in an angry electrical subteam and bad crimps, so don't do it!!!

In other news, zip ties are the new duct tape, because unlike duct tape, zip ties do not usually remove hair when they are used as emergency hair ties.

[moogboy]

Originally Posted by dictionaria13

In other news, zip ties are the new duct tape, because unlike duct tape, zip ties do not usually remove hair when they are used as emergency hair ties.

First girl I see do this wins forever.

[dictionaria13]

Originally Posted by moogboy

First girl I see do this wins forever.

Which one? The zip ties or the duct tape?

[moogboy]

Originally Posted by dictionaria13

Which one? The zip ties or the duct tape?

Zip Ties as a hair tie. Quite possibly the cutest hair accessory ever. All she would need then are 1714's FIRST Earrings and 3D printed clothes.

[Walter Deitzler]

Originally Posted by moogboy

Zip Ties as a hair tie. Quite possibly the cutest hair accessory ever. All she would need then are 1714's FIRST Earrings and 3D printed clothes.

You have not seen this before? Almost every girl on our team (and sometimes dudes with long hair) does it at regionals.

[themccannman]

The girls on 840 braid their hair and make ziptie mohawks, pretty cool idea.