I have been doing field service off and on for twenty years, more or less.

I began working on woodworking machines- CNC routers and point-to-point machines. I moved on to machine tools and eventually robotics. I do pre and post sale engineering for robotics these days, mostly, but I still get into the field for installations and often for service work where some project has gone to the dogs- it’s as my friend Jenny says, when we have a “stand back and let the expert in” moment.

Because of this, I always keep my kit in the truck. it contans some specialty tools specific to the work i do, but it also has acted as emergency kit in many circumstances, often saving me the trouble of having to hitchhike home.

The kit is in an old Halliburton Zero case that I’ve had ever since it was new, and it has seen lots of wear. I have replaced the tool pallets inside a few times, but it has mostly stayed rhe same. Contents?

metric combination wrenches, 6mm to 19mm
inch and metric Bondhus balldrivers.
12′ crescent wrench
precision level
laser level with 200′ beam
hook spanner
hook pin spanner
face pin spanner
#0,#1, and #2 phillips screwdriver
1/8″, 3/16″, 1/4″ cabinet tip screwdriver
A Wadsworth Mini Ratchet set (this is the finest tool of it’s kind in the business, bar none, and a perfect illustration of you get what you pay for))
Small and medium vice grips
6″ and 10″ channelocks
needlenose pliers
diagonal cuters
ball pien hammer (small)
soldering iron
Solder
Stakon assortment
stakon pliers
snap ring pliers
Fluke 83

There are also some jewelers screwdrivers,a set of special wrenches that are only used on high speed router spindles, and spare batteries for the level and the meters.

it also contains a 20 year collection of sawdust and grime, otherwise I’d take pics. This kit has saved my bacon, and the bacon of many a stranded friend, on many occasions.