Its gotta be Novus 2 for me.

These are my 2 favorite and essential items when working on a flipper game.

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I'm always dropping crap, so I guess my favorite tool would be my Ullman telescoping lighted magnetic pickup tool ...

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I don't know about my favorite but this has made it very simple & quick to adjust the leaf switches. I'm glad I have it. Well guess I will have to add yet another thread to the favorites. Good idea for a useful topic dvandentop!

http://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=1518&parent=0

+1 on that TDA!!!
Ever since I got LOTR my Balrog switch always gave me grief. It was either too sensitive or not sensitive enough! As soon as PBL brought out that sweet tool, ulat.jpg

my Balrog- and everything since then have been "coming up Milhouse!!!"
Thanks Terry!

Really though,I like my trusty little pocket screwdriver with a magnet on the other end,I usually have brews when playing and not so much when I am working on the machine.

My tumbler. It works while I sleep.

The number 1 tool that trumps all the others......

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I will 3rd of fourth the pinball life leaf adjustment tool!

Some other odd items that come in handy:

- Thick screw extractor for removing stubborn coils sleeves
- Plunger rubber tip for removing light bulb that your fingers can't
- Freeze Spray for removing Mylar
- Goo Gone and old Credit Card for removing glue residue
- Telescoping Magnet tools for the many screws you will drop and for removing parts from the tumbler
- Q-Tips!!

If I may post something a little more obvious, these will save you tons of time:

A good quality Soldring Iron - Throw away the Rat Shack one and buy a Weller as soon as you can
Cordless screw drivers, drill
Tumbler
Rotisserie
Ratcheting Wire Stripper

That's a good one, jrrdw, but they are not going anywhere without the Brain!

+1 on the switch adjuster. Such a simple tool and it saves so many headaches.

Since I have a severe tool hording problem I cant really place a tool at the top of my list, so Ill go with what I reach for most.

1. Klein Magnetic tip, hollow (long) shaft nut drivers.

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2. DeWALT 12V MAX Cordless screwdriver. I use the locking magnetic nut driver kit from Milwaukee with this. It's light and it has a light, helps with the carpal tunnel and tired eyes.

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3. Ravco Rubber Grommet insertion tool. (ya I know, insert joke here) I don't get to use this tool that often, but I'm always happy I spent the money on it when it comes time to use it.

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So true!

Besides my Dewalt and other tools - buying a rolling cart has saved me tons of time walking around back and forth to where I keep my other tools - although this isnt exactly what I have its similar. I keep all the basics on there, including bulbs rubbers etc. Its like going into surgery when I roll this thing out.

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My only problem with these is sometimes long thread screws won't fit in the throat making them useless. I'm thinking of drilling them out to correct this problem.

This is true, but for working under the playfield you cant beat them. I have another set of the regular non magnetic klein's for that.

Superclean nothing else I have found comes close for cleaning everything but painted surfaces. Boards, wiring harness, plastics, ramps...its the bomb!

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Oh yeah, $8/gallon from Walmart and don't forget to wear gloves if you try it.

Superclean nothing else I have found comes close for cleaning everything but painted surfaces. Boards, wiring harness, plastics, ramps...its the bomb!

How does it compare to bleche white? I like that its in a pour-able container.

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I use it as spray and soak/pour. I have not tried bleche-white

If someone does let me know but this one came reccomended by a local High-End restorer.

bleche-white is at walmart in the automotive section. Its pretty widely used by pinheads.

I would say a set of midget wrenches from craftsman. They run 20 bucks and are my go to tool.

I'll second the Klein nut drivers. Very nice! Other than that, my telescoping magnet.

Something I think is very useful:

P/N: 9-44778 Craftsman Ignition Wrench Set.

Robert

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Hey,

I don't know if this is a shop-out tool, but I bought one of these beasts a month or two ago:

http://www.homedepot.ca/product/husky-18-inch-large-mouth-bag/958848

Basically, a big ol' tool bag with a ton of pockets. I shoved almost EVERYTHING in there (I guess I'll have to do some shuffling to fit my multimeter in there, but it could probably be done). Tools, fuses, rubber rings, switches; I think I have 27 balls in there. There is something to be said for having all the tools and gadgets you need in one place when you need them, whether that's for shopping a machine or going to look at a machine that's for sale.

Luke

This is a very helpful thread - maybe moderator could make it a sticky? To go along with the Pinball Parts Supplier thread?

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A couple of other useful tools...magnetic stick and mirror-on-a-stick:

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my snap on screw driver.

Some of these,,,can't shop any pin without em!

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A 1/4 drive socket set, with both normal and deep sockets and a screw driver handle. I have set 9-34900, which is discontinued.

This one is somilar, except I got a plastic case with mine. I suggest that any 1/4 drive set you get, get one with a case.

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I'll triple this one. Best investment I ever made. Long enough to reach anywhere, magnetic, large hollow shaft. They've saved me days worth of work, not hours.

Not so much a shopping out tool but one for routine maintenance.
The wife had 12 of these skewers, now she has 6, every pinhead that sees it wants it.
You pull the tubing back and put a small rag on the hook and pull it back over the hook.
It bends to go around corners and the wire is stiff enough to apply some pressure.

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+1. Count me in!

That tool is on my top ten most used tool list, gotta keep that magic dust picked up.
The skewer is 18" long and the tubing is for a medical suction pump.
I played with different tubing but this stuff compresses and has a surgical rubber molded hood.
You can make two out of each piece of hose.

Glad to hear this, as I just ordered one of these yesterday

True

Without these you cannot use any others.

For dragging a cloth around to clean, I use somthihing like this.

Robert

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The nut drivers aare one of the two things I have in my hand. The microfiber towels run right with them though. Just bought a new pack of 24 at OReilys auto parts for less than $20 with a bottle of bleach white. They are both just a shade cheaper at Walmart but Walmart onlt as the towels in two colors, White and blue. I got the brite ones that are three colors that I can find easier.

I have one of these also but it isn't shielded and I don't want to take the chance of scratching the PF or plastics.
Also, it isn't stiff enough to apply any pressure to the ball tracks.

http://www.amazon.com/3M-Scotch-Brite-9416NA-Finishing-Sander/dp/B00004Z4DK/ref=sr_1_1

These are a must have for quick regraining metal items

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Yes, it doesn't apply much force, but a rag wrapped around it get's into very tight places that a hand can't and works well for me. I do make sure that the metal end part that can gouge is covered.

I don't have the stiffer unit, but can see how that would be useful too; depending on the application.

Robert

Can you provide some more information on this? What is the exact product that was used to make this and where can it be bought?

tracelifter said:Not so much a shopping out tool but one for routine maintenance.
The wife had 12 of these skewers, now she has 6, every pinhead that sees it wants it.
You pull the tubing back and put a small rag on the hook and pull it back over the hook.
It bends to go around corners and the wire is stiff enough to apply some pressure.
Attachments gritgitter_003.jpg (76.7 KB, 1 downloads) 22 hours old
Can you provide some more information on this? What is the exact product that was used to make this and where can it be bought?

The rod is a 18" skewer for making shish ka bobs and the hose can be bought from med supply.
It is a vacuum hose for a suction machine.
It has the female rubber molded on each end so you can make two out of each hose.
Slide the hose over the skewer and bend a hook in it.
Here is another pic.

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Thanks Trace!

Eric sent me one of these to try, and I can't believe how well this works! He wasn't kidding when he said every pinhead who sees it wants one. These things would sell like hot cakes!

I've found these "Foster Grant Light Specs" mangifying glasses with built in LED lights to be indispensable. As a plus, you could also use them to DJ at a rave.

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Excellent! The above are a must!

Two of my most-used tools:

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Always handy

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