Most underrated/undervalued tools

[EmileH]

Originally Posted by rtfgnow

Screensteps.

Seconded.

Also javadocs.

[C.Lesco]

Plasma cutter

wouldnt have our bot without it

[Munchskull]

Originally Posted by C.Lesco

Plasma cutter

wouldnt have our bot without it

I second the motion.

[EricH]

Brains.


And PPE of all types.



Brains allow you to use the tools (properly). PPE--properly used--helps if something goes wrong!

[Dan Petrovic]

Are you sick of crooked cuts in your pneumatic tubing leading to pesky leaks?

There are so many connections! It could take hours to find that last one!

<Gray video>
"There has to be a better way!"
</Gray video>

Well, look no further! Introducing the TC-12 pneumatic tubing cutter! It cuts all of your pneumatic tubing clean and square so you never have to worry about pneumatic leaks again!

[ASD20]

A good pair of diagonal cutters. I also agree with Knufire about the Dark Soul.

[Metalcrafters]

An especially strong magnet, for that screw that fell into the chassis rail...

[Gravity]

Originally Posted by Metalcrafters

An especially strong magnet, for that screw that fell into the chassis rail...

Take a look at the mechanical grabber tool.

[Chak]

flathead screwdriver

[asid61]

The humble black sharpie, everywhere, all the time.

[Gregor]

Spring loaded chuck key.

[NShep98]

Originally Posted by asid61

The humble black sharpie, everywhere, all the time.

I'm that guy that always has two or three sharpies in my pocket (in various colors) because everyone else misplaces them. You'd be surprised just how often they are needed in and out of FRC, and how surprised people are when I seem to produce an endless supply from my pockets.

[pianotech70]

Hemostats for retrieving small parts and holding while soldering, etc.

[cxcad]

CNC Mills are overrated. There are very few teams out there that can take advantage of the complex parts that they can make. Most of FRC can be done with manual tools or at most with some sort of CNC 2D machines.

[Spark]

Originally Posted by cxcad

CNC Mills are overrated. There are very few teams out there that can take advantage of the complex parts that they can make. Most of FRC can be done with manual tools or at most with some sort of CNC 2D machines.

I agree, but if you use them correctly they become highly valuable. I made a aluminum hub to fit onto a window motor's gear that would have taken 10X longer if I'd done it manually.