- Joined
- Dec 20, 2001
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- 1,217
I know this is a little late, but maybe someone will remember this for next year. This post revolves around kid's toys, those Dad's out there, feel free to add to the list.
1) First and foremost, you need a pair of small to medium wire cutters. These are an ABSOLUTE MUST!
Why? Because every blasted toy that Santa brings is encircled with enough cable ties and coated aluminum wire to re-create Camp X-Ray!
Wire cutters make short work of this task, without screwing up the toy, and is a whole lot faster than untwisting the damn thing. Unfortunately, a good multi-tool is usually too bulky for this, but is better than nothing. My advice, buy the multi-tool first, under the auspices of using it on X-mas day, that way when the missus sees you struggling, you can justify the cable cutters!
2) Small, magnetized Phillips screwdriver. The ones on the small vic knives, (like the mini-champ, or midnite manager is PERFECT
) This is essential for opening and closing the boatload of battery cases you will encounter, as well as for small electronic devices.
3) Medium flathead and Phillips screwdrivers, primarily for toy assembly. The Vic Explorer or Yeoman (if you can find one) works REALLY well here....
4) BOATLOADS of batteries, AA and C cells are most popular. I used a few AAAs and 9Vs as well. Ds seem to have fallen out of favor. Costco or Sam's for these items
5) Big, green trash bags.
1) First and foremost, you need a pair of small to medium wire cutters. These are an ABSOLUTE MUST!
Why? Because every blasted toy that Santa brings is encircled with enough cable ties and coated aluminum wire to re-create Camp X-Ray!
Wire cutters make short work of this task, without screwing up the toy, and is a whole lot faster than untwisting the damn thing. Unfortunately, a good multi-tool is usually too bulky for this, but is better than nothing. My advice, buy the multi-tool first, under the auspices of using it on X-mas day, that way when the missus sees you struggling, you can justify the cable cutters!
2) Small, magnetized Phillips screwdriver. The ones on the small vic knives, (like the mini-champ, or midnite manager is PERFECT
) This is essential for opening and closing the boatload of battery cases you will encounter, as well as for small electronic devices.3) Medium flathead and Phillips screwdrivers, primarily for toy assembly. The Vic Explorer or Yeoman (if you can find one) works REALLY well here....
4) BOATLOADS of batteries, AA and C cells are most popular. I used a few AAAs and 9Vs as well. Ds seem to have fallen out of favor. Costco or Sam's for these items
5) Big, green trash bags.
On Christmas night we where invited over to so friends house for dinner. And they warned us to be sure to drive the SUV cause they had got our kids a lot of toys. On the way out the door I grabed the small wire cutter again. The wife ask "What's that for?" to which I replied "Ask no questions". Of course she rolled her eyes
Once we got there and started opening the gifts, all that you could hear was " your daddy is going to have to open that one" With a HUGE smile on my face, I unzipped the cargo pocket of my jeans, pulled out the wire cutters and snip,snip,snip,snip,snip,snip,snip, and I had happy twins again!!!! And the wife said " I knew you where up to something!!!" And I also had my Leatherman with me to open battery compartments.