You’re on a mission to Mars. Mission Control has put together all of the tool kits, but you have a say in the matter and can make the decision about four of the tools. That is, you use what you’re given, except for 4 tools (or kit-like groupings) that you can pick. What do you choose?
Here are the tools I would want to add to my kit:
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1) PB Swiss Hex Keys
These are the best of the best, and I very much enjoy using them. I am “take it or leave it” about some PB Swiss tools, but not their hex keys. They’re simply a pleasure to use, and I would absolutely bring a set with me, even if I had to tape them to my leg inside of the space suit.
2) NWS “Fantastico” Wire Cutters
NWS, or NWS-made Irwin high-leverage cutters, are excellent for cutting all sorts of wires and wire-shaped stuff (such as small nails). They don’t fit as well in small spaces, due to the spread of the handles, but they cut better than any other wire cutters I’ve used before.
I’d try to add other NWS pliers to the mix too, but these Fantastico or Power Slot cutters would be the only must-have.
3) Hitachi 18V Cordless Power Tools
I’d want to bring my Hitachi 18V brushless impact driver (reviewed by Ben here). I was yo-yoing about whether this would be a must-have, or a Milwaukee M12 cordless power tool kit, but I feel that I could very well just use what I’m given for most tools and tasks. For fastening tasks, I have really grown to like Hitachi’s Triple Hammer impact. I think the Milwaukee M18 Surge impulse driver would be my backup choice.
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I’d make sure to bring some Bosch impact-rated screwdriver bits, and maybe Milwaukee Shockwave drill bits.
4) Spyderco Para3 Folding Knife
As mentioned in my pseudo-review, the Spyderco Para 3 folding EDC knife is compact, utilitarian, comfortable, and just about perfect. It’d be my everyday knife for small tasks around the space station or colony base.
I would probably choose something a little different for field use, maybe something a little larger than the Bradford Guardian 3 that I reviewed. It seems like it’d be easier to have some kind of magnetic holster for a fixed blade knife, than to fiddle with a folder while wearing space gloves.
Your Picks?
Keep in mind that you’ll have pre-determined tool kits at the ready for your use. You can override four of those tools with your own “picks.” Off the top of your head, what do you add to the kit?
dust
10″ Knipex bolt cutters. More power than NWS.
M18 surge /6.0 battery. Quiet is nice. Makita gold bits.
Proto/Blackhawk full socket set.
Streanlight Strion flashlight, I love the charging cradle, and i’m tired of seeing dim flashlights in sci-fi movies.
Tim E.
M12 fuel ratchet. It would sure beat manual ratchets for fixing the rovers and whatnot.
Wera chiseldrivers for screwdrivers. Great fit for screws, and I’ve pounded on them all day and you can’t even tell they were abused.
M18 toolbox or backpack vacuum, with reusable filters. Mars is dusty and dirty, and I bet they won’t include a vacuum with the tool loadout, maybe a broom if you’re lucky. I’d want a way to get dirt out of the Hab, but it would also be useful for while digging holes for like greenhouse stuff (try digging a hole in loose pebbles here, so much easier using a shop vac to just suck out a hole, or keep a deep hole clean while you dig).
Bosch SDS-max cordless hammer with drill bits, chisels, spade, etc. Eventually you’re going to need to lay new anchors for your hab when a storm comes around. But also for breaking up rocks and digging out the surface. It’s rocky so you might be digging through compacted and fairly solid stuff, maybe not hard like asphalt necessarily, but I can see it being more than you can get through with a shovel. I love making holes in the tough soils here with an SDS and spade bit, it’s overkill for sure sometimes, but easier sometimes in certain soils or hole shapes/sizes than using a shovel. But I would guess with mars soil some sort of powered digging tool becomes almost a necessity. Or it could be completely opposite, no water or compacting so everything is so loose it’s all scoopable down pretty far.
Tim E.
Actually for the vacuum I’d take the ryobi cordless shop vac, not quite as convenient, but a bigger hose and capacity. That assumes you’ll have enough batteries, or maybe by then they’ll have a hybrid version, or you can have NASA or whoever engineer one for you to plug into mars power. Same for all the other cordless tools, give them all hybrid power options for if you’re near the hab (vs out building and planting a new hab site), or a very generous supply of batteries that magically last forever once they’re on mars.
Davida1
I don’t think vacuums would work on Mars, because there’s very little atmospheric pressure.
Tim E.
And by similar causes, all your powered tools will overheat if used outdoors because no atmosphere to cool it. So I suppose we could limit the lists to either indoors-only power tools or hand tools…
Mine would then be M4 powered screwdriver, still the chiseldrivers, a Knipex pliers wrench, and probably a prusa i3 mk3 3D printer.
Corey
I don’t think atmospheric pressure is the issue, but general ambient temperature aiding or impeding convection. I’d imagine in a vacuum or night time they’d run damn near perfectly per design and calculation.
garrick
Wind speed would help for cooling the batteries and motors, but would be irrelevant in a vacuum. Fortunately , Mars does have some atmosphere, not the kind we earthlings have evolved to breath, but maybe enough to cool motorized tools.
Davida1
I can’t think of four, but I’d take my Leatherman Wave, and Milwaukee Fastback razor, to carry on my person.
Anthony
I would choose the four things I currently keep on my person everyday: leatherman surge, olight s30r, seber autoloading utility knife, and a milwaukee 6ft tape measure modified to clip to my belt. I can’t function on earth without these things, I can’t imagine I would be different on mars.
Tom Woolley
My Zippo 6 foot metal tape measure!
John S
Hitachi triple hammer impact could be one of the most under-appreciated tools currently. Just a superb impact!
Jared
I understand the parameters of your question to be: NASA is supplying all the tools I NEED, but what four tools would I bring for the joy of having them along. In that case:
1. A Knipex Pliers-Wrench
I use this more than anything else in my toolbox. Super handy when I’ve got some bolt-turning task away from my toolbox and I’m not sure what size I’ll need – or for a myriad of other tasks. E.g. holding small metal pieces while I use my grinder, twisting some tie wire, snugging down a cable tie, pulling a float-bowl pin from a carburetor without scratching it, squeezing that same pin back into place…. An infinitely useful tool for holding, bending, squishing, compressing, etc… and if I left earth without it I’m sure I’d miss it everyday.
2. SOG Powerlock Multi-Tool
I could be talked into a different multi-tool, but I like this one. Pliers are really well made (all the teeth mesh together, which is really nice and it comes to small point) and with the compound leverage setup, they grip well. Because SOG lets you swap tools too, I would probably change the mediocre scissors for the wire stripper tool, maybe the can opener/small flat-blade for something else too – I assume no canned food in space right?
3. A Roto-Ratchet
I’m having trouble deciding which one though. I REALLY like the look of the Vim tools 3/8″ RLR6 with it’s 144 teeth, locking head and ability to pivot the handle into a T-handle configuration. However, I don’t own this one and I’m not sure how robust it is. Wouldn’t want to be stuck in space with a lousy ratchet, so I’d probably bring the Wurth Tools 1/4″ version instead (very similar in design (is there a chance Vim makes it for Wurth?), but 72 teeth).
4. Wera Kompakt 20 Multi-bit Screwdriver
I’d want a nice screwdriver. I kind of like my Felo screwdrivers more, but if I couldn’t pack a whole set, this is the next best thing.
Honorable mention:
#4.b. (I almost picked this instead of the screwdriver) Wurth tools mini 23 piece 1/4 inch multi-socket wrench set “965.1123” (I have four ratcheting 1/4 hex-bit wrenches, this is most recent purchase and current favorite).
Mahalo
Totally agree on the Knipex. I actually won a pair in a ToolGuyd giveaway years ago and I use them ALL the time. Thanks. Stuart!
Redcastle
Fein Multimaster with accessories and batteries, Evolution mitre saw (not the finest cut but with all the blade options cuts a wide variety of materials), Wera hex keys (despite the name PB Swiss tools are very rare in the Uk) an Olfa knife and blades.
Lance
1. A 3D printer that printed metal parts (and tools).
2. 7” Knipex Pliers Wrench.
3. Wiha HD Screwdriver Set.
4. Wera Speed Ratchet Set, likely metric.
satch
Wow. A tough list to decide upon. Since we are being outfitted by NASA I will assume the proper mechanical tools are being provided to install and maintain habitatiins and vehicles. So when it comes to extra tools, I am unsure conventional ideas matter. This would be personal convenience.
1; The impact driver. We will assume NASA is providing a cordless drill/driving platform. Maybe to include impact drivers and wrenches. If only the former, then I would try to get an impact driver that used the same battery ecosystem. If not then your favourite. And while we are on the subject, should it be an impact driver or a wrench with 1/4 inch bit adapter? Just make sure it is power adjustable to keep from shearing off the bits.
2; Definitely a multibit hand driver of hour choice. And beforehand make sure you are only carrying bits that are needed for the dasteners in use. You did check with NASA before liftoff whether you needed hex, torx or philips, right? Multiples of each bit in casemof breakave or loss. I would lean to the Wera Kompacts or newer Wiha insulated pop-up models with bits in handle. Probably the latter brand. I like both but Wiha has never let me down.
3; Definitely the Knipex pliers wrench. First instinct was to say 250mm Cobra but in real world maintenance on critical systems, chewing up fasteners with pump pliers is verboten. Maybe even adjustable wrenches like the Knipex for same reasons. But if ever there was one allowed, it would be there’s.
4; If allowed, say in completely climate controlled areas with little danger of atmospheric issues or contamination, the most rugged and comfortable footwear I could afford. You are going to be there awhile.
Corey
My bluepoint flex head passthrough set, dch273 +bits/chisels(with vac attachment if Mars is table 1 compliant lol), my DeWalt 20v deep cut portaband, and fv worm style saw. Should be set for basic structure work and equipment.
King Aaronbz
1.) desktop cnc
2.) 3d printer that prints metal
3.) bullets for the gun that i print
4.) crown that i wear to show im king of mars now cause ive got the guns and have taken over
MichaelHammer
Well played
William Adams
You know, Heinlein wrote some books about gun control on Mars…
Stacey
? Yes!
The Ami
The comments are a great addition to daily reading. Most using logic in which tools to choose.
Obviously a great question.
Framer joe
Assuming there’s no assuming anything else..and tools you own..
1) Milwaukee 2853-20 impact driver (2000 in lbs , 3600 rpm nothing better.
2) Wiha 38050 insulated pop up, always on me
3) Knipex 8603250 10″ plier wrench
4) Pinnacle 1 diamond blade hunting knife…( Just in case)
.. interesting comments ?
Jim
Too bad you chose the Milwaukee 2852-(20). That does not come with batteries. Might be problematic on Mars. Lol
salmon
1. FLIR DM285 Thermal-Imaging Multimeter. Basically the modern-day tri-corder. Should be able to diagnose that pesky breathing air leak quick with a FLIR camera.
2. M18 Fuel High-Torque Impact. Why carry a dinky impact gun? Things only weigh a third what they do on Earth. There’s plenty of rock anchors that will need to be drilled after all.
3. OSCA 1kg Machinist’s Hammer. No need for any carpentry tools and nail pullers on a planet with no trees! This is the hammer I would most want to carry everywhere.
4. Klarus RS-80 searchlight. A little outdated in 2018, but it sure looks the part for a Mars mission. Style points count after all, especially in month-long dust storms.
Jared
I need a machinist hammer. Can you tell me what you like about the OSCA? Don’t seem terribly expensive. What’s the handle material on yours?
salmon
I’ve had mine for years. It has an ash handle and a thick rubber protector. It’s simple but I don’t think you could improve on it much.
Jared
Thanks! I looked them up on Amazon.ca. Nice looking hammers. I’m willing to give them a shot and was just debating whether to get the wood-handled or the “3-component handle with aluminum core”. I’m looking at the 12.6″ version and it’s twice the price with the fancy handle – don’t think I’ll bother.
Tony
(1) Gorilla Duct Tape
(2) Stiletto Titanium Hammer
(3) Spyderco serrated rescue knife
(4) Southern Comfort 100 Proof — for sterilizing of course. 🙂
mattd
I will say that the nice thing about a “mission” is that the logistics people will have thought about things like fasteners, so you will only have a few sizes and they will probably all have the same type of head. so then it comes down to what would I use regularly. I would start with a prying tool of some sort. no matter where you are and what you are doing at some point you will need to pry on something and along those lines eventually you will need to wail on something as well. second you will need to grip things at some point, and third you will probably need to cut something. so for me it would be:
—estwing 22 oz straight claw steel handle hammer for prying and beating
—knipex pliers wrench or cobra pliers depending on if there are many odd shaped vs flat shaped items I will be around.
—leatherman wave, because I have never had a dedicated knife that seemed much better/more useful than just having a multi plier instead
—rolgear multi bit driver because I feel that longer shank bits are generally more useful than short ones.
Jim Peterson
Vice Grip’s replace the wire cutters and do 100 more things.
18-20V flash light.
Impact drill with every screw/socket head you can think of.
3D printer since you need more than 4 things!
William Adams
Interesting lists.
1 – agree on the Knipex pliers wrench — I’ve been thrilled w/ mine and since I bought mine in a pouch which holds it and a smaller Cobra, I’m including them both as one tool
2 – Elemen’tary No. 1 screwdriver — a bit of a homey touch w/ the wooden handle. I’d want a full assortment of bits to go w/ it . Currently using a mix of Bondhus, Felo, PB Swiss and various other bits — need to get a Grace gunsmithing screwdriver bit set to round things out for slotted bits.
3 – Silca T-Ratchet + Ti-Torque Kit — this is one of my favourite tools — bought into the original Kickstarter, and regret not buying the updated Torque tool — it would share bits w/ the screwdriver above and I’ve a small set of sockets in an Altoids tin which extends its usefulness quite a bit. Before I got this I was jonesing for a small Snap-on 1/4″ drive ratchet to match the 3/8″ drive my Father had.
4 – Rangerwood 55 Swiss Army Knife w/ a fast opening thumb stud — really wish they’d make a knife which: had a locking blade w/ one-hand open feature, had a corkscrew and was a bit thinner (I don’t use the saw) and had a nice handle material (I don’t like the two-tone ones)
If I could add a 5th tool, it’d be my FourSevens Mini M2A flashlight.
fred
This is an interesting post – a bit like one of those questions about what you would want with you if you were stranded on a desert island. I guess you need to go along with the flawed premise – that “mission control” would let you bring anything with you that had not been carefully vetted and might somehow jeopardize the mission.
Some have posted a batch of interesting items – most seem to consider weight (carting excess weight to Mars would likely be an issue) and utility. I’d assume that anything you would need to use when suited up out on the planet surface – would need to be specially made to work with and not compromise the integrity of your very specialized PPE (aka space suit). I’m guessing that knives might be a no-no.
For use inside your shelter, tools like tweezers, hemostats, magnifiers and small files – all might come in handy for personal use.
JoeM
Uh… Whatever 4 tools that would get me disqualified for the mission would be MY choices… The idea of trying to be that far away from known supplies, and in an environment notoriously deadly to power tools… with the Mars Regolith being about 5 times sharper than sand from a sand blaster, and the winds and sand storms being planet-wide in size, able to last for months, and capable of degrading all forms of plastic at a rate of 12:1 Earth Standard due to the thinned CO2 based Atmosphere… Well…
…I don’t want to use my tools on Mars… I want NASA designed tools on Mars… Via Telepresence Robot… And I’m here on Earth… I have a fear of flying, and can probably swear in 80+ languages… I don’t imagine I would make it to Mars in the first place…
ktash
I’m assuming they are setting up a human habitat there with soil, water, etc. for growing. So I’d bring the following:
1. Large quantity of mixed tree seeds of hardwood/softwood to grow a good size forest. 2. Best quality tracksaw (mafell or better). 3. Best quality large size router with many attachments. 3. Wood chisels. 4. Still thinking about this one: Woodpecker’s large t-square, tablesaw, bandsaw, japanese pull saw set, more stuff too numerous to mention.
Also assuming that they’d provide machinery to harvest trees, wax, fasteners, consumables, etc. No trees possible on Mars? I wouldn’t go. Who can live without wooden furniture, housing, firewood etc? Not me. Total plastic/metal living spaces, yuk!
Yeh, I know, plenty of holes in my scientific reasoning 😀
Kurt
When the batteries die on those cordless tools, Home Depot is a long drive away. I would stick with heavy duty hand tools.
junyo
Going the direction of assuming the nerds have given me the CORRECT tool to do the job, and that they’re not going to let you bring completely new systems (power tools + batteries + chargers). So my selections fall into the ‘the S has hit the F, what tools would be field expedient to do things INCORRECTLY, but quickly’ category:
1. Leatherman Wave – A bunch of passable backup tools in a convenient package.
2. A Hi-Lift Jack and accessories – For all your manual lifting, winching, getting things opened wider – without power – needs.
3. Stanley FatMax FuBar III – There’s nothing in this universe that needs opening, prying, bending or smashing that this monster can’t, with the correct amount of rage behind it. If you told me I was going to fight Thor, this is also what I would take.
4. T-REX Ferociously Strong Duct Tape – Duct tape apparently works in space (https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/duct-tape-saves-the-day) You might as well have the greatest duct tape known to man rattling around in the back of your Rover pickup. Being able to quickly tack/seal/make airtight seems like it would come in handy.
Evadman
‘tool’s and not specifically ‘hand tools’? I would bring my Miller plasma cutter, Lincoln mig gasless welder, dewalt 60v grinder and welding helmet.
Weight limits? What are those.
D
Dewalt 20V Oscillating Multitool would be one
Rick
a lot of damn duct tape.
Other than that, not much else, the mission will probably provide everything else.
If you think about what the earliest pioneers and Mormons carried, it wasnt a whole heck of a lot- their dutch oven being one of their largest and most useful items. Problem with mars is that there isn’t much in terms of building materials on its own.
Lack of oxygen makes a whole lotta things that work here not work there. Same thing with anything that is moisture cured.
David Payne
The 4 that are in my messenger bag everyday:
Leatherman Charge Titanium
Knipex 1″ pliers wrench
Knipex Cobra (the smallest version ~6″ long)
Wera Kraftform Kompakt driver set
None need power and all are robust and reliable.
Doresoom
I suppose Mars would be a little different than the ISS since it won’t be a microgravity environment, but en-route NASA would be very hesitant to allow use of anything that will create FOD like a grinder or welder. Drilling or filing anything requires applying shaving cream on the surface to capture any metal chips. And good luck getting high capacity lithium ion battery packs flight certified – they’re still using NiCad power tools onboard the ISS! Also duct tape (official OpNom is “gray tape”) is a standard consumable item. If the NASA supplied tool loadout for Mars looks anything like the ISS toolbox, I’d plan on including mostly power tools that would make my job easier. I’d also try to keep my items limited to one battery platform as much as possible for redundancy.
That being said, I’d probably bring the following:
– M12 FUEL 3/8″ ratchet – soooo much NASA hardware uses a 3/8″ drive ratchet.
– M12 FUEL 3/8″ stubby impact – not much hardware onboard requires this much torque, but I could see it coming in handy for heavier equipment on the Martian surface.
– M12 BDDX 4-in-1 for fastening/drilling in tight locations, just to minimize battery platforms (or my Bosch Flexiclick if I can’t get my hands on the European version, curse you Milwaukee for not bringing it to NA).
– Milwaukee USB Rover Floodlight (the new one with the swivel) – I always see the ISS crew wearing headlamps due to insufficient lighting back in dark recesses (although there are lots of operational constraints for strong magnets and their associated EMI during spaceflight).
Stuart
When is “bring an internet friend to work” day?!!
Steve
1) Busse SFNO
2) Martinez hammer
3) Hilti combo pack.
4) knipex pliers
Stacey
1) Knipex 7″ Pliers Wrench w. Comfort grips
2) Hammerhead 4V Screwdriver
3) VIM Tools HBR5 Ratchet
4) Blackhawk Universal Ratchet 1324CS
and of course I would be taking my Ontario RAT knife to combat aliens along with my screwpop keychain knife whether NASA liked it or not 🙂
Matt
1. Craftsman 2 1/2 lb blacksmith hammer
2. Big set of Wera chisel drivers
3. Dewalt 12v impact (Dewalt Maxfit bits)
4. Knipex extra long needle nose pliers