The 10 Best RC Tools You Need in Your Life

Greetings, RC fans! We know your passion for RC cars and RC trucks is more than a hobby: it’s a way of life. Whether you have a kit or a Ready-To-Run (RTR) model, your RC vehicle probably came with a few basic tools for essential maintenance jobs.

They’re handy, but sometimes you need something more to really enjoy your time at the workbench. A dedicated set of RC tools can turn wrenching time into a real pleasure.

Here are the essentials. Pick them up as you need them and discover how much easier it is to keep your machine in top shape with the right tools.

1. Hex driver sets

Unless your RC car doesn’t use hex hardware (in which case, skip to number 2), a good set of hex drivers should be the first thing you buy for your RC workbench. Fixing and maintaining your car with hex drivers is at least 1000% easier than using the L-shaped wrenches that came with it. The go-to brand for hex drivers is MIP, but there are plenty of other good options too, such as sets from Dynamite or Duratrax.

The Traxxas tool kit (and similar sets from other brands) with a ratcheting handle and double-ended bits, including nut drivers, is also great.

2. No. 1 and No. 2 Phillips screwdrivers

Even if your car or truck uses hex hardware, you’re likely to come across parts with Phillips screws in RC, and high-quality tools make a difference. Don’t confuse high quality with a high price: a pair of genuine Tamiya screwdrivers in #1 and #2 sizes with coated tips will only cost you around $12 to $15.

3. Needle-nose pliers

Most hobbyists have 6 in (15 cm) needle-nose pliers, but the standard 5 in (13 cm) size, like the ones from Excel, tends to be the one that gets used most. You’ll use them to fit parts into tight spaces, hold wires for soldering, squeeze E-clips into place and plenty of other jobs.

4. Sprue cutters

When you need to remove plastic parts from their trees (sprues), sprue cutters are the right tool. As the name suggests, the jaws cut flush with the surface of the part, so there’s no nub left where the sprue was and no need to trim it off with a hobby knife.

Tamiya makes the best sprue cutters, but inexpensive Xuron cutters do a good job too.

5. Hobby knife

Whatever brand you choose (Excel knives are popular at hobby shops), you’ll use your hobby knife all the time for trimming decals, cutting out bodies and lots of other cutting jobs.

Don’t skimp on blades; replace them as needed.

6. Shock pliers

When you’re building shocks, it’s essential not to scratch the shock shaft, and holding the shaft still while you install the rod ends is tricky. Dedicated shock pliers are the answer, like the ones from ProTek RC. The smooth aluminum jaws are softer than the steel shafts, so you can squeeze hard without damaging the shaft’s chrome finish.

They also have openings for holding shock bodies and caps, plus a pin that pulls out and goes back in for popping pivot balls into rod ends. A great tool.

7. Body scissors

Don’t try to trim a Lexan body without a pair of these specialized scissors. The curved blades are essential for cutting rounded corners and wheel openings, and the short blades won’t damage the body while you follow the trim lines.

Lots of brands make body scissors, and they’re all good.

8. Body reamer

After trimming your body with the right tool (body scissors), keep going with the right tool for making the body post holes: a body reamer. Unlike a drill bit (which will probably wander and ruin your body) or poking holes with your hobby knife (which will ruin the blade and leave a jagged hole), a reamer cuts a perfectly round, smooth-edged hole in just a few turns, exactly where you start it.

Some, like the one from ProTek RC, are marked with hole diameters, which is very handy.

9. Turnbuckle wrench

If your car or truck has turnbuckles for adjusting camber and toe, it probably came with a “good enough” wrench for turning them (usually a thin piece of stamped steel). It works, but if you adjust turnbuckles regularly, you really should upgrade to a quality tool like the one from Team Losi Racing. It fits better, doesn’t slip and feels nicer in your hand. It’s really worth it.

10. Camber gauge

This one is a classic. Lots of brands sell camber gauges, but RPM’s is the original and the best. This handy device tells you how far your wheels lean in toward or out away from the chassis (their camber setting), so you can dial in the amount you need and match it precisely on every wheel. Besides the standard-size camber gauge, RPM also offers a taller version for bigger monster truck wheels.

What about a power driver?

Many serious wrenchers save their wrists by using a power driver. If you want to add one to your kit, make sure you get one with a clutch you can set to slip before it strips a screw. Or just stop the power driver before the screw bottoms out and use your hand driver for the last couple of turns and the final tightening; you’ll still save a lot of time.

Premium units from brands like Milwaukee, Makita, DeWalt and so on can be expensive (around $60 and up), but 4-volt models are easy to find at low prices, like the budget Hyper Tough.

So there you have it: these are the essential tools you need to keep your RC in excellent shape. Get to work on those projects and enjoy your time at the RC workbench!