Our thinner picker-upper, but with a powerful 5-lb-pull, 9/16" dia magnet on the business end (for spilled nails, the screw that rolled under the stove, or the heavy wrench you dropped into the sump). The 5/16" dia x 5-1/4" long 4-draw barrel extends to a full two feet. Has a convenient pocket clip.

This 16-piece set of watchmaker's tools are just as handy for jewelry-makers, crafters, or anyone else working with small parts. The professional watch-repair kit Includes (2) tiny Phillips-head screwdrivers, (3) diminutive flat-heads, a case knife, non-magnetic tweezers, case wrench, metal/plastic watch hammer, link-pin remover, double-head pin pusher, (3) pin-punches, small needle-nose pliers, and a watchband holding block. Just changing bands and batteries? Get these tools to make it a lot easier, and order a brand-new pack of 30 popular-size button batteries-(6) AG1, (6) AG3, (6) AG4, (3) AG5, (3) AG12, and (6) AG13.

Look, Ma, one hand! These 10" Powerbuilt® wrenches have spring-loaded, self-adjusting jaws made to bite, hold and turn virtually anything--round, flat, hex or oddly shaped--that will fit. The jaws open to 2-3/8" apart and remain parallel. Designed so the jaws will generate 4X the clamping power of the ANSI pliers standard. Unlike you, its jaws have hardened steel teeth. Good to have a few in the garage, workshop and camper.

You say your ex locked your bike to a fence just to be cruel? We’ve been there. Worry no more. From Tolsen Tools, this 8" long mini bolt cutter is compact and ready to slice through steel. Has a CRV steel blade which opens to 1/4" max., a steel-plated handle with a soft grip and a wire lock to keep them closed. Tolsen makes good stuff. After you free your bike, go find something else to cut.

This Stansport product is called the Finger-Tip Saw (although all you really need to cut off fingertips is a good garden pruner). This is actually a survival/hunter's wire saw, a 20" long, thin and sharp serrated wire with a 1-1/8" slip-ring at each end (for your fingertips). Coil it up and you can store it in a shirt pocket. Cuts "wood, plastic, bone, etc." and includes instructions for making a one-handed saw with a short tree branch.

Everything from Tolsen Tools is solid, and that includes this 8" long end cutting pincer tool with 1-3/16" jaws. It’s made of chrome vanadium steel, and you should get one for that reason alone. Not to mention the soft and grippy rubber-coated handles. Damn, we love quality tools.

There are plain ol’ planes and there’s the 42000 Plane from Tolsen Tools. This hand-held, steel-bodied wood plane has a carefully sharpened, adjustable blade that can be used for smoothing and removing soft or hard wood. Also has an anti-slip comfort PVC grip and knob. Blade is 1-3/4” wide x 3-1/8" long, and the whole shebang measures a compact 9-1/4” long. Though not numbered, we believe this is a No. 3 bench plane despite being a smidge longer than normal. Tolsen means quality, which sounds like an ad slogan, but it’s true. 

Silent movie star—came to a bad end. Also this 38-piece stubby handled driver and bit set in an easy-to-tote case. Forward, reverse and lock settings. Includes 3mm, 4mm, 4.5mm, 5mm, 6mm, 7mm slotted; #0, #1(2), #2(2), #3(2) Phillips; #0, #1(2), #2(2), #3(2) Pozi; T8, T10, T15, T20, T25, T30, T35, T40 torx; 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm hex; and #0, #1, #2, #3 square. Whole shebang in a 3.5" x 6.5"x 1.25" case. Get ratcheting.

See saw, buy saw. Then go on a camping trip and saw some firewood so you don’t freeze your tuchas off in the woods. This folding steel crosscut saw opens to 10-1/2" long with a 5” blade, but folds to a tote-able 6-1/4” long. Has an easy-grip contoured handle and a locking blade with teeth designed to cut through tree bark.

You might know these as “diagonal cutters,” which is what electricians sometimes call them because “wire cutters” is too easy. These are 6" long, nickel-plated high-carbon steel with dipped handles so you don’t electrocutionate yourself.