As a restorer, what's your favorite/go to tool??

[Cobia]

Time and again I find myself turning to my trusty wire wheels for quick stripping of corrosion and preping metals for paint. I use either a steel one mounter on one side of my grinder, or a softer bronze type one mounted on my drill. Wire wheels go a long way in expediting this tedious work, and if you don't get too aggressive you can go right to polishing if that's your bag. At this stage of the game I'm staying away from shiny surfaces that need constant attention to keep them looking good, satin finish works for me.

SO folks, what's your go to tool for your restoration projects ???

[b.walker5]

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SO folks, what's your go to tool for your restoration projects ???

Hammer. Big One.

[crazy steve]

In terms of metal prepping, I use my sandblast cabinet a lot. I'm not a fan of wire wheels (although I will use one on occasion for heavy rust removal) because I don't like the way they throw wires off them, as well as the heat/distortion you can sometimes get. Plus it's hard to get into nooks/crannies with a wheel. If I don't use the cabinet, my second choice is scotchbrite-type 'metal conditioning' roloc discs. These will be my first choice if I'm re-doing polished aluminum, as you can control removal/finish with the 'grit' you use.

[bikerphil]

Mothers chrome polish with tin foil for the cases. Compressor and spray gun for paint/clearcoat. Mothers polish again to shine the clearcoat, works great! Cobia, you know, your'e not supposed to use the wire wheel on the cases.

[Wildkat]

Gord's Aluminum Polish, LOTS of elbow grease... and time (the one restore item I seem to run out of most quickly)

But the hammer has often come to mind as a most needed tool at times... luckily, it has not been necessary (usually)

[DGXSER]

My biggest go to tool is my trusted "torque extender" for the rotchets and such. More commonly known as a 12" piece of 1-1/2" Stanless steel pipe. It serves as a hammer, pry bar, all kinds of tools, and lets me trun that those rusted in place fasteners with alot less effort.

[DAVINCI]

My favorite restoration tool?

My wallet.

If I can find the part NOS, I find a way to get it. I may have to sell a radio, a firearm, or some other hobby thingamagig, but so be it. I've learned that if i must spend either time or money, I'd rather spend the money 'cause i can't replace the time. Many of the parts i pulled off of Swamp Thing, I flipped to others who needed and wanted them. I estimate that I made back 20-25% of the value of my NOS parts by re-selling the old stuff.

[TADracer]

Mine is my digital camera. Ever wonder how that went back together???

Plus, it gives instant gratification each time a potion of the project is completed.

[Sparkett]

hammer

Hammer. Big One.

Bike police on mega phone " put down the Hammer and step away from the motorcycle!!"

[GLoweVA]

For me, it my Dremel tool. That thing does just about anything that I cant get one of my other tools to do. (Cuts, Grinds, Polishes, Drills, etc...)
Other than that, it's got to be my crescent wrench. I always have a hard time digging thru my tool box trying to find that right size metric, when the crecent is right there saying "hey use me, I'll work"

[jetmechmarty]

Air compressor! Air tools (for the hobbiest) are cheap, as compared to electric ones.

[old_skool]

Actually....probably my digital camera as well

[Cobia]

Steve and Marty,
I wish I had a cabinet, as far as that goes... I wish I had a compressor and pneumatic tools !! True about them throwing off wires, you have to be very careful and always wear eye protection.
GLoweVA,
Yes, I forgot to add the dremel to my list, those little wire wheels get expensive though.

Thanks.

[crazy steve]

...True about them throwing off wires, you have to be very careful and always wear eye protection...

I need knee protection.... I had surgery on both my knees when I was kid, and have 'dead' spots with no feeling on them. I always have to manually check for wires stuck in them after using a wire wheel.... had one in for week one time...

[Cobia]

Holy Shiite, Steve !!
Nasty infection waiting to happen.