Most used hand tool in life time?

[Nicholas Scheuer]

I'm thinking it's my ratchet screwdrivers, yep, I've got several, all the same, the multiple bit type, with an old-style in-line selector just above the shank. I noticed a couple of days ago that I've lost too many bits, and have borrowed one from another of the drivers too many times. I need to find some refills. The Robertson bits actualy have been handy lately. Wordls' best screwdriver if you ask me.

[Paul Girouard]

Dzuz fasteners have mainly been superseded by cam-lock fasteners. But I still have my snoopy tool for the first Huey I was assigned as a crew chief at Ft Campbell, back in 1984. The Huey was a 1966 model. I'm a 1965 model.

I'm sort of old school , Prowler's are on there way out, I'm sure the Growler's got the latest and greatest fasteners.


ETA:
You're just a kid Brian.

[B_B]

If you're a bilge rat this is damned high on the list:

Great answer! The daily posters here have no doubt used that tool ten thousand times more on this forum alone than they have ever used any tool to work on a wooden boat.

Seeing as we're not getting a lot of traction with this I think I'll nominate:

[Art Reinhert]

Seeing as we're not getting a lot of traction with this I think I'll nominate:

There are at least a couple prolific posters who come to mind who used that tool here while posting. One is still banned and another is back after many banishments but seems to mostly be foregoing the forum and perhaps is finally attending to fixing some important matters in his life.

Alcohol fueled posters on internet forums, some professor somewhere must have done that study.

[Plumbtex]

As a plumber, handsdown: douglas yellow handled pliers

[Captain Intrepid]

Actually I'll renege. Most used and most important tool in my trade is a well tended set of Mark I Eyeballs.

[Cedric Rhyn]

Belt sanders are actually pretty good things for sharpening pencils.

Cedric

True Donn. Whether I'm painting or hammering I've got a knife hung on me. The most common use this weekend was sharpening the pencil. Each clapboard got a line @ 3.5" run down it using a combo square.

[stevebaby]

Belt sanders are actually pretty good things for sharpening pencils.

Cedric

...and other things too!

[Curtism]

Judging from all the jeans I've had with the pocket shredded on one side, I'd have to say tape measures saw the most use.

In my trade hammers were mostly for placing brads and pick-up nails on the loft or dismantling stuff, so they rank right up there.

For most used though, add me to those who said pencils. My favorites were 2 HB Mirado black warriors and Eberhard Faber col-erase. I also used to go through boxes of colored ball points like they were cigarettes. Plain old Bic mediums worked best on wood and dusty loft floors.

Of course, in terms of most used, electric pencil shapeners come in a close third. When I was lofting full time, I used to mulch my planter beds at the house with graphite dust and cedar shavings.

[John Smith]

I had some left over wood. I made a garbage bag dispenser and a paper towel/napkin holder. Only need for a screwdriver was to open the can of stain, which was applied with a rag. Glue, clamps, and a saw were the tools needed, and some sanding.

This all seems depened on the type of things one does. If one does a lot of finishing work, I expect the sander moves up on the list. If one does some of that sanding with the old disc, it brings us back to the drill.

I'm guessing that most here, when they work with screws, use a cordless drill. May use it for some sanding, and, of course, drilling holes. It could hold a wire brush. I'm again guessing this gets more use than most other tools. Although it may not qualify as a hand tool.

[BrianW]

What sort of modern oil container do you use that requires a screwdriver to open?

Here's our oil cans. I screwed up the picture, but both say "turbine engine oil", but only one goes in the engine, the other in the gearboxes...

[BrianW]

Dzuz fasteners have mainly been superseded by cam-lock fasteners. But I still have my snoopy tool for the first Huey I was assigned as a crew chief at Ft Campbell, back in 1984. The Huey was a 1966 model. I'm a 1965 model.

The classic Dzuz fastener "snoopy" tool...

[ishmael]

I don't know about most used, probably a paintbrush. Summers from college I painted houses and worked for the schoolboard painting schools.

My favorite edged tool is a spokeshave.

[fishrswim]

I'd like to say pocket knife, but then I think about all the time I'm on line, so I have to say the computer.

[Bill R]

3 way tie. Pencil, pocket knife and leatherman

[switters]

not a single vote for gronicle yet, the ol' bilge aint what it used to be.

I'll throw in another that hasn't been mentioned yet, disposable lighter.

[Paul Pless]

the ol' bilge aint what it used to be.

And you've only been here five years!!!

[Flying Orca]

Mouse or cup/mug, depending on whether mouse is allowable.

[John Meachen]

Does sandpaper count?

[seanz]

Does sandpaper count?

Probably, it has numbers printed on it.

[bobbys]

.

Long handle 20oz Rocket hammer.

[the_gr8t_waldo]

sharpie and tape measure