I'd have to say my Cline nut drivers. Magnetic, long reach, very very handy. About the third item down on this page:

http://www.pinrestore.com/Tools.html

Second place would be these Husky ratcheting box wrenches. Large one for leg bolts, head bolts, small one for nuts on flipper mech crank arms. They're solid, chromed and built like a tank.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-SAE-Double-Box-Ratcheting-Wrench-Set-4-Piece-65497T/100007347#.UeQ3YI1wp8E

Gary wins. I was going to post that as well. I've got the Klein hex-head magnetic driver that is just VITAL working on the underside of any pin ever made.

I have both mentioned by Gary. The Kline drivers are very nice. The only issue I have with them, the hollow shaft on mine is relatively useless, as it's narrower than most any threads I need to sneak around.

Ratcheting box wrenches seem to have very limited uses for me. There's just too much material around the outer part of the ratchet, so it can't be used in places where thin walls (or open faces) are required. I find that there are a lot of tight spaces on my machines, so I don't use them often at all.

This is one of my favorites. Very, very handy.. and super cheap:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-T-Handle-Screwdriver-Bit-Set-22-Piece-DR71057/203410238#.UeQ4ItKcefU

T-handle ratcheting driver with bit set. That will cover 90% of the fasteners on any pinball machine. I keep a 1/4" traditional ratchet and an extension around for the places this can't get to. Also, a wobble extension or swivel are really nice for certain spots.

Deacon, with most ratcheting box wrenches you would be exactly right. Take a look at those Huskys though. They're closed, almost the same size as a fixed box wrench. They fit in some pretty tight areas and they only have to turn a very small arc to make the next cog on their gear.

Doh, here's the ratcheting version. Mine actually LOOKS closer to the one above, they've changed the handle a little:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-Ratcheting-T-Driver-Set-31-Piece-011090/203177670#.UeQ56NKcefU

How long is the shaft on that one? Just last night, working on a LOTR, putting the Shire VUK back in, I had to go find a 1/4" socket and a foot long extension just to reach the silly lock nuts under the PF on that. Would really love a nut driver set with a 10 to 12 inch shaft.

This one....

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ummmm this one

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Magnetic bowl, so damn handy and cheap.

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I have a Paladin Powerplay multitool that I absolutely refuse to leave the house without. It's helped me in so many situations. The nut driver and multimeter I was given in college are just as indispensable too.

Cool, Gary - I'll have to check those out. I have a set of Craftsman, right now.

It telescopes in and out, I'd guess fully extended it's probably about 8" to the base of the handle, but I'm not positive (not near it).

I'm always trying to find ways to save space, but still keep things organized. I bought a Husky electrician's bag (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-16-in-Red-Fabric-Pull-Up-Handle-Tool-Bag-DISCONTINUED-87366N11/202826657#.UeRB2dKcefU) a long time ago, and it's served me quite well. For extra portability, I've also purchased a butane soldering iron for under PF repairs (http://www.amazon.com/Portasol-011289250-Piezo-75-Watt-Heat/dp/B003HHK7KG/ref=sr_1_11)

Multi-flippy screwdriver thing. You can just about dismantle an entire playfield with this tool alone.

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2 size philips screwdrivers
2 size flat blade screwdrivers
1/4" Nut driver (pull the screwdriver blade and it's a nut driver)
5/8" Nut driver (same)

$4 - $7. You should have 8 of them. One in each car, toolbox, kitchen drawer, pinball shop...

Put these tools in a bag and you can deal with almost any pinball problem.
Flippy screwdriver thing
Adjustable crescent wrench
Needle Nose Pliers (with a wire cutting blade)
Digital Multi-meter
Soldering Iron
Solder sucker/wick/bulb and solder

I think you can build that whole bag for $40 with a trip to Harbor Freight and Radio Shack.

Currently I use this ratcheting screwdriver with these changable magnetic bits.
If I need a hollow shaft I just go grab one when needed.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Stanley-3-in-Multi-Bit-Ratcheting-Screwdriver-68-010/100139004#.UeRDsdIqaOM
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-4-Piece-1-7-8-in-Magnetic-Nut-Driver-Set-49-66-4562/203014108#.UeRE19IqaOM

This-

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This

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1. Fluke meter
2. Metcal solder / desolder station
3. switch adjuster tool from pinballife
4. Millwax bulb tool
5. Dewalt cordless screw gun
6. Ipod
7. Radioshack IR detector card

and I'm ready.

I rarely hear this tool mentioned by anyone but I don't think I could get by without a hemostat. Great to use as a 3rd hand while soldering, reaching for dropped screw under a plastic or holding just about anything in place.

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A tool of many uses.

1. Escalara
2. Hakko 808
3. Tablet with "the guides" loaded on it

I also love this stuff.
Great for getting solder out of holes in board work and clearing out the lugs on coils.
Just touch the solder iron to the tape and the solder magically wicks into the tape.
No mess, no fuss.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062744

Small flat nose Klein in use over 40 years. New Klein wire stripper a recent acquisition.

LTG : )

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This is my favorite tool.

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Hakko 808. Just went through a dead Tempest and it makes the job so much easier. Tempest is alive and well now.

Magnetic pickup tool.
I drop everything.

My two are Tony and Parnell

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Here are some of the tools i found usefull, awfull or cool during my years in coinop.
I love tools, i can't pick just one.

This one comes in handy whith stripped thread in brackets.Mostly used on location to save a bracket or make a repair that otherwise needed an expensive part you didn't bring to begin with.
Put the tool in the stripped threadhole and use the first gauge that will start.

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Next is very handy to clean threads from legbolts, levelers en mountingplates.
Almost every pinball has damaged threads here in Europe and it's easy money made by rethreading them vs new.After you're done you can turn the bolts and levelers with your hand again.

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Telescoping magnet i use in pinball repairs on a daily basis.

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These little gems are very handy when you have stubborn postnut.
Slide under the plastic and secure the metal post while you unbolt the postnut.
Works most of the time except WPC games.

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This tool could be high on my list of favorites.
So cool with the swivel head and torque adjustment and very long lasting battery.
Has unbolted and reassembled a lot of playfields with me.

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Ok one more then, i could make this a very long thread i'm afraid.
This one i made myself some time ago and it's perfect for removing SS Bally style metal bumperposts.
I always struggled to get them out of the playfield.
This is an swivel wrench with a 1/4 inch deep socket wich i drilled on the inside just wide enough to accept the complete post.
Fits everywhere and no more sconing the playfield.

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What do you think Drac's favourite tool is?

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Nobody has mentioned Bryan Kelly yet

My Hakko FX888 Soldering Station. Worth every cent I paid.

http://www.amazon.com/Hakko-FX888-FX-888-Soldering-Station/dp/B004M3U0VU/ref=sr_1_3

One of these, you can power up anything on a pin for testing purposes. http://www.powerprobe.com/hook.php

Mine is a plain, paper business card.

Another favorite Tool .

A giant jug o' MeanGreen. Step one on any new(to me) machine. Not necessarily a tool, but definitely a necessity.

ugh.... i needed these when i did my last LED changeout....

for some reasons my fingers are very important tool especially when change lights

hehe Lloyd,
I just ordered that exact wire stripper by klein about 2 weeks ago on amazon and received it last night

Those wire strippers are fantastic!

Chris

Adam from Mythbusters was talking about those strippers. He said that if someone does a lot of wire stripping and you introduce that tool to them, it changes their life.

I showed Joe from Laseriffic those strippers and he just about cried. They are one of the first tool upgrades I recommend. Stop using your teeth or worse yet, wire cutters!

I heard that, asshole.

I have a guy I've done a couple restorations for and have a couple more to do for him. Great guy but has no skills when it comes to working on games.

He told me his favorite tool is his phone so he can call someone who knows what they're doing.

That is better than getting in there and doing more damage than good.

LTG : )