One tool every gearhead should have and why

bench vice. A nice heirloom quality one.
two of my earliest childhood memories involve the old Wilton Vice that I have inherited from my Pops.
First one was crunching a can of hazard yellow spray paint until it popped and sprayed everywhere.
Second was crunching a chunk of 2x4, then drilling into it with a craftsmen drill with a paddle bit. Paddle bit snagged my tshirt and the drill tried to strangle me.

Great memories.