What tool do you find most useful on the farm for general use (besides tractor)?

[Yamaha2112]

My vote is this:

Cotter pin puller.


I've used it on more stuff than I can count.
Always end up grabbing it when I need to get creative.

 

[4570Man]

My vote would be welder and cutting torch.

 

[Fawken]

Craftsman 230A stick welder & Esab 625i plasma cutter.

 

[/pine]

For me the "most useful" would hands down be a flat (nail/pry) bar...other than having the ability of gripping something like pliers or an adjustable wrench...a good quality "flat bar" will improvise for an array of common hand tools that are not always handy...i.e., hammer, screwdriver, nail,staple puller, scraper, roofing tool, putty knife, chisel, lever, wedge, etc...etc...they also make great digging/gardening tools...!

 

[motownbrowne]

Good thread, I'm looking forward to the responses. We grow vegetables and use lots of equipment in our production. Having the right tool close at hand is crucial to getting things done on time for us.

Welders are handy, of course, and i sure like my air impact gun, but they aren't easily brought into the field. I'm always trying to find the balance of carrying the right tools and not being weighed down. Right now I'm carrying a pair of slip-joint pliers and a putty knife. The putty knife is kinda hard to describe, though. I found it in my grandfather's toolbox and it's worn in just right. The corners are rounded and the edges are pretty sharp. It's great for scraping the crud off what I'm trying to work on and for cutting/clearing grass that's wrapped around tillers or mowers. Handier than I would have guessed and real light in my pocket. Also, I try to keep my dewalt impact driver close at hand. I'm on the lookout for a set of 3/8 impact sockets to keep right with it so I'm not running to the shop as often, but boy that's a handy tool also.

 

[Mace Canute]

A Crescent wrench. Works quite well for a number of things and fair to middling for a few other things. Hammer, measurement tool for small things, sheet metal bender, prybar, wire cutter if you have a sharp edge to use as an anvil. Attach a line to it and it becomes a Plumb bob, a weight for throwing a line up over a high branch when pulling on a tree, and for measuring depths of bodies of water and wells. It can be used as either an offensive or defensive weapon. It can be used as an impromptu volt meter to see if your battery still has a charge and if it does it can also be used as an 12V resistance type hand warmer. Drive it into the ground and you can use it to see if the hired man is actually moving. Of course when you run out of practical applications for it, it can also be used as an adjustable wrench for both right and left hand SAE and metric threads.

 

[Fawken]

A Crescent wrench. Works quite well for a number of things and fair to middling for a few other things. Hammer, measurement tool for small things, sheet metal bender, prybar, wire cutter if you have a sharp edge to use as an anvil. Attach a line to it and it becomes a Plumb bob, a weight for throwing a line up over a high branch when pulling on a tree, and for measuring depths of bodies of water and wells. It can be used as either an offensive or defensive weapon. It can be used as an impromptu volt meter to see if your battery still has a charge and if it does it can also be used as an 12V resistance type hand warmer. Drive it into the ground and you can use it to see if the hired man is actually moving. Of course when you run out of practical applications for it, it can also be used as an adjustable wrench for both right and left hand SAE and metric threads.

LOL! Change my vote to crescent wrench!

 

[Tractorman46]

My constant companion is a Leatherman Wave in a handy pouch, with velcro flap, on my belt. Pliers, knife, serrated blade knife, screwdrivers, saw, file, scissors, bottle and can opener. Usually saves having to go and get a tool.

 

[Garandman]

10 or 12" water pump pliers.

 

[fishheadbob]

My ATV with a small dump box on it. Takes me anywhere on the farm quickly, carries tools, saws, shovels, sprayers, and on and on.