I'm sure everyone here has a "beater", or other simulary named pointed object that resembels a flat head screwdriver to install lock-nuts... And not the Witte drivers either.
Speedypete beat me to it, that thier is a tool specifically designed for installing lock-nuts. Ironically this tool appeared when the word "Wrenchtight" showed up in the '99 Code. ( I think...) The year the 99 was adopted here, one savy Inspector asked if I had the "wrench" for the lock-nuts. I showed him a small pair of channel locks, he wasn't impressed, he wanted to see the Klien one for lock-nuts. I then told him what I had in my hand was a wrench, and my lock-nuts were "wrench-tight".
And not wanting this to sound like an eastern european joke, but holding the lock-nut and turning the connector instead with pliers until tight, works better IMO.
Then there are these things, which remind me of can openers...
http://premiertool.com/id77.htm For larger ones, someone here uses a hammer-drill, in hammer only mode. I died laughing when I heard it, but have tried it, and it does the trick!
Outside of locknuts, I too use a little creativity for some things, but would not show those under me those tricks.
I also still have a label I made for my DeWalt drill that says, "Not a @#$%^&* hammer you dumb *&^!" After I caught someone using it as one when he
borrowed it. That labels been there for about 5 years now, and makes it real easy to spot and identify that drill.
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Edit to add that the "wrench-tight" conversation answer to the inspector was at the suggestion of one of the members of ECN on the second time I was asked that same qusetion...
[This message has been edited by e57 (edited 01-04-2006).]