The time spent working on your RC cars is a big part of this hobby. Along with performing general maintenance and repairs, there are also those times when you are tuning the chassis to get more out of your ride or you are trying some modifications to suit your favorite race track and bash location and/or driving style. Following are the six key Tamiya tools that we can’t do without here at RC Driver when performing the aforementioned RC tasks.
Tamiya 5mm Adjuster Wrench—#53858
Looks can be deceiving and this tiny Tamiya 5mm Adjuster Wrench is easy to overlook. We selected this as one of the Tamiya tools that we can’t do without because it works so well. Although it is designed to perform only one task, that one task can be a pain to complete if you don’t have one of these Adjuster Wrenches. That task is assembling camber and toe links that have a plastic adjuster that screws onto a threaded rod or turnbuckle.
Yes you can use pliers to build camber and toe links, however they will definitely mar the adjuster and are a bit cumbersome for this job. The Tamiya Adjuster Wrench is designed to fit perfectly over the adjuster without damaging it and allows you to easily screw it onto the turnbuckle. Tamiya constructed the wrench out of aluminum and anodized it a bright blue like the majority of its high-quality tools. The outside of the tool is knurled to provide plenty of grip and the Tamiya logo is etched onto its side. The keyed opening on the small end allows 5mm Adjuster, 5mm Adjuster 2 and 5mm Adjuster S to slide inside and are held securely. Once you use one, you will find this step much easier to accomplish.
Tamiya Non-Scratch Pliers—#74061
One of the great uses for the Tamiya Non-Scratch Pliers is to securely hold an engine’s flywheel when working on the clutch. Its design is ideal for the task as well as many other RC jobs. These pliers have an 8-step adjustment that can open to a maximum width of 46mm and are internally sprung to make them easier to use. A special non-slip coating is added to the long handles and one is labeled with the Tamiya twin star logo.
The special resin installed in the jaws is used to minimize the chance of damage on the part being held. You are also able to easily remove the resin grips from the jaws if you want to use the Non-Scratch Pliers without out or if they need to be replaced. A key benefit to these pliers is how the jaws close onto each other in a near parallel manner. This makes them a great tool for snapping on the plastic link ends onto ball studs without pinching one side of the ends and they apply equal pressure.
Tamiya Ratcheting Screwdriver Pro—#74152
It can be argued that picking up the Tamiya Ratcheting Screwdriver Pro is not a necessity since it is essentially a screwdriver. We thought that at first too until we started using it during wrenching sessions and now we absolutely love using it. It increases speed when inserting or removing hardware while also offering precision. Included with the Ratcheting Screwdriver Pro is a four inch long PH2x100mm bit for use with Phillips screws and works perfectly for JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) 3-5mm screws. In case you did not know, the JIS hardware is what is found in Tamiya kits. It is machined from chromium-vanadium steel for extended durability and is magnetic. The hex shank end will work in a1/4-inch drive so it can also be used in an electric screwdriver. Tamiya offers other bits for the Ratcheting Screwdriver Pro including a short Phillips style bit, a 7mm box wrench bit as well as a 2mm hex bit and a 2.5mm ball end hex driver.
The premier feature on the Tamiya Ratcheting Screwdriver Pro is the exceptional handle itself. Found inside the handle is a ratcheting 72-tooth gear which gives this driver its silky smooth movement. The main advantage to this tool is the ratcheting mechanism that eliminates the need for you to re-grip the tool as you tighten or loosen a screw. Mid-handle, is a red selecting tab that allows you to quickly switch between the tightening, loosening and the lock modes. Beneath the tab is a Quick Rotation grip that is molded in a grippy blue rubber material. It allows your fingers to spin the grip while the rounded end of this tool rests in the palm of your hand. It is a speedy way to adjust looser screws.
Tamiya Sharp Pointed Side Cutter—#74123
When building a RC kit, and this is true for pretty much any kit, you will have to remove plastic parts off of a sprue. A hobby knife will do the trick in most cases, nevertheless it does not do it nearly as well as a pair of flush cutters like the Tamiya Sharp Pointed Side Cutter. Tamiya utilized high-grade metal to produce this tool and gave it comfortable PVC non-slip grips and a convenient return spring.
Flush cutters separate plastic parts from parts trees and will leave a clean edge. What elevates the Tamiya Sharp Pointed Side Cutter from others is the very slim, sharp pointed jaw which offers an excellent balance of durability and cutting edge. Thanks to the small size, you can achieve surgical precision and eliminate the need to go back and trim flash after you cut the part. These are well-worth every penny they cost.
Tamiya TRF Damper Pliers—#42276
Out of all the Tamiya tools that we can’t do without, these Tamiya TRF Damper Pliers are the ones that can perform many tasks and do them well. Each of the RC jobs are focused on shocks and suspension. The tool is machined out of aluminum, then anodized bright blue and outfitted with the TRF logo. Tamiya created the tool to be quite compact and cleverly equipped it with many specialized shapes and openings for specific jobs.
The TRF Damper Pliers can be used to hold 3- and 4-mm piston rods, the plastic adjusters/shock end, securely holding the shock body for when screwing on the shock cap and to check the straightness of shock shafts. The final task that makes these Damper Pliers so useful is for inserting or removing the balls into and out of the shock ends. The chrome post holds the ball while the other side of the pliers pushes the shock end onto the ball.
Tamiya TRF RC Car Body Reamer—#42260
All it takes is using the Tamiya TRF RC Car Body Reamer once and you will never use anything else to open a hole in a polycarbonate body. Using a hobby knife makes a mess out of the hole and you risk causing a tear in the polycarbonate. Instead the tapered design of the Body Reamer allows it to create absolutely perfect holes in bodies. They key with using this tool is not to go too quickly when making the hole. It is incredibly sharp and will open a hole very fast. Take your time and measure so that you end up with the exact size to pass a body post through it.
The blue anodized aluminum handle of the reamer is textured to give it a non-slip grip and it is decked out with the TRF logo etched along one of its sides. Protecting the cutting part of the reamer is an aluminum cap that is held in place thanks to a black rubber O-ring. The blade itself is made with an unbelievably sharp point that ‘grabs’ the polycarbonate so the body hole ends up exactly where you need it. Then to help you with achieving the right size hole, Tamiya added numbered hash marks in millimeters printed on the part of the reamer that does not come in contact with the polycarbonate.
CARRY YOUR RC TOOLS IN STYLE
Tamiya TRF RC Tool Bag—#42339
The last item we are going to share is not actually a tool, but rather a very helpful accessory. The Tamiya TRF RC Tool Bag is a great little bag to store all of these great Tamiya tools and makes it convenient when transporting them back and forth to where you run your RC cars and trucks. It is made of tough polyester that will also cushion the tools inside. You will find that it is just the right size to easily hold all the tools highlighted in this article plus many more.
Tamiya adorned the outside of the bag with printed Tamiya and TRF logos which also lets you know that is the top of the bag. Stitched onto the side is a padded handle to carry the RC Tool Bag. Located inside is a divider with a strap to secure tools and attached to the inside lid is a mesh bag and elastic loops for additional tool storage.
Dimensions (LxWxH) 12.20×7.87×2.36 in. (310x200x60mm)
For more information about Tamiya products, visit: TAMIYA
