Adam Savage's Favorite Things of 2024!

It's that time of year again! Adam shares his favorite TOOLS he started using this past year! Stay tuned for more favorite things videos!

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Shot and edited by Josh Self
Music by Jinglepunks

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Intro bumper by Abe Dieckman

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#adamsavage #favoritethings

[tested]

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[glennac]

I love how Adam’s shop looks like an old neighborhood hardware store that you rarely see anymore in the era of Big Box home centers.

[Jimijaz]

A long time ago in a wood shop far away, I was on the editorial staff of a nationally published woodworking magazine. Roundabout 1998, we would always come up with an ‘interesting’ article for the issue coming out at the end of March. Keep in mind, dead tree media was about the only news most people got so we were actually very careful about any fake news but we weren’t above having a little ‘nudge and a wink’ fun. One of the editors came up with the idea to slap a screw gun battery on top of an old trim router. He painted it up to match no brand in particular and heralded the dawn of a new routing age. Little did we know the utter crap storm we’d stirred up when after the issue hit the stands, we got calls from EVERY power tool maker wanting to know about this tech. To see Adam actually hoist one of these things up and run it on camera is my personal Star Trek moment.

[ArfurFaulkesHake]

German mechatronics technician here.
There are two tools that i've come to love.
1) the Jokari wire stripper (Pro 4)because it has less tendency to bite the copper than Weidmüller or Knipex strippers. It is also a LOT cheaper than the other two. On the downside it doesnt deal as well with large gauge wires, or ribbon cables.
2) Knippex Pliers Wrench: if a monkey wrench and a pipe wrench had a baby you'd get this thing. Can be used as adjustable spanner, a pipe wrench that doesn't leave marks. Thanks to the reduction lever it multplies your grip strength and can be used to flaten or straighten out stuff.

Also a pair off Engelbert Strauss work trousers.

[darkindy]

My favorite tool has been an ultrasonic cleaner and jars. The jars is the crucial bit. Put the solvent in a jar with a lid, put the jar in the ultrasonic cleaner, and fill the cleaner with a water bath. Now I can switch between solvents without worrying about mixing issues. I found that NASA had also had the same problem I had, and this was something they studied. Yes, you have to be careful of flammable solvents, but you have to debe careful regardless of how you use them. Game changer for me

[jamesgwoodwork]

As a hand tool focused woodworker with a small shop, agree that cordless versions of basic tools (router, orbital sander, jigsaw) get way more use because of the convenience.

[TimKettering]

Wago connectors are great. One thing I never see mentioned about wago connectors is that the smaller gauge ferrules fit perfectly inside and that has become my go-to for working with stranded wiring smaller than 16 gauge. I'll strip the wiring, crimp a ferrule on and it fits perfectly in the wago. Easy to remove and reuse as well without mangling the stranded wire.

[nickademuss]

Pro tip for brass lined grippers, you can solder copper or brass fittings to them to make a custom gripper for one part that you need to make several of. When your done you heat them up and take off the fitting. I use silver bearing solder. Works on brass vice jawes as well.

[FScott-mn]

The framing hammer has so many uses it's almost mythic. Lumber hook, beam nudger, chisel driver, nail puller, rough hatchet (really rough), wedge, shim, lever, fulcrum, board separator, pick/shovel, strap breaker, concrete form vibrator, arm extension, depth guage, pry bar, demo tool, paint can opener, hole punch ....
Heck, in a pinch you can even use it to drive nails.

[Psycoticlese]

Something I'd like them to do (that might get harder to do over time) is a very small recap of previous years tools, how they've held up and upgrades that have been made since they were exhibited in the favourite things videos.

[joshwarrell]

Adam, try printing with 99 walls as opposed to 100% infill, you will get better strength as an output.

[HipsterianArchive]

The Hakko desoldering tool is a big investment but has been worth its weight in gold for me. No more frustrating desoldering with suckers or wicks. Makes desoldering fun and has saved me countless hours. Hakko is also the only soldering tool brand I would stand behind, their products are top shelf.

[dmacnulty]

Thank you Adam (and Tested Team) for all that you do to share, educate and help people create what inspires them. I will forever be grateful to you and the MB crew for what you did, do and continue to do for the creative, DIY and Hobbyists community. I will one day have a west coast trip where I have the time to swing by and ring the infamous shop door, to thank you in person (….provided I can find the shop the third time around)

[JaysusV]

This year I got my first 3d Printer (Resin, for printing higher detail models and minis), my first soldering iron (Pinecil64) and a (marketplace special) Airbrush. The Tested videos have brought me so much joy, and being able to finally start making things on my own has been amazing. I have a Filament 3D printer on my list next, so I can print larger things like helmets and weapons from Star Wars and Blade Runner to scale. Adam's shop is a dream space for me.

[nasuku]

14:32 Adam I would HIGHLY suggest instead of doing 100 percent infill on parts to make it feel solid, you either combine it with or replace that with doing multiple walls. You will simultaneously save filament while getting more structure out of your prints. Most print profiles do 2 walls as a standard, and I was always told anything that will be housing stress or being drilled into to have at least 4 walls, MINIMUM. I have some 3d printed shelves that hold some spare tools that have 6 walls, and they are sturdy.

[Bernzomatic]

You're our favorite too, Adam! We're excited to see that you love fire as much as we do. Thanks for bringing the heat.🔥

[peterzerfass]

Can confirm on the Knipex. A good quality wire stripper vs. a cheap knockoff is not to be underestimated.

[fmatt]

I love the addition of magnets to my scale modeling work desk. I've added strips of magnets along the edge of my desk and a second magnetic strip along my primary work light. Having tools I use daily like my assortment of go to files always within easy reach, always easy to see and sort. It's awesome! And they never clutter my work area as as soon as I'm done with them, I put em back on the magnet. Really happy with how magnetic storage is making my work more efficient and more enjoyable.

[DenysSene]

I love the 2 wire linear wagos for things that require regular maintenance, like changing the ceiling fan capacitors

[Vidar]

It sincerely makes me happy seeing how much joy you get out of new tools, toys and consumables. As someone who does home renovations as my primary source of income and loves making things in all manners from woodworking to 3d printing and all sorts of stuff in between I deeply understand that joy of finding something. My family and friends don't get how much excitement I get from getting new little things like wagos or yesterday my favorite brand of clamps that were already on sale for the holidays had a super sale on a few sizes of parallel clamps and they were down to 15$ ea for 30" guys when they are regularly like 50$ ea and it just doesn't compute to them how someone can get so excited about something like clamps lol. My only regret was I noticed the sale right at midnight and got a couple but was probably going to get 2-3 more in the morning but by 7am they had sold out. But I hope I never lose that feeling because I know so many guys who are stuck in their ways and hate any sort of change or innovation. Before I had my own company I did a bunch of union work and also worked with an older guy who was a great dude but it literally took me almost a year to prove to him that cordless tools work as well or better than corded in most applications. He seriously didn't think that my cordless jigsaw was as good as his 20 year old corded one that was on its last legs lol. But I have met all sorts of people who absolutely hate things like wire nuts or shark bite fittings or even hard wax wood finishes. I am not saying any of those absolutely replaces any need for the tried and true methods but so many just hate the idea of something new.