The ‘Specialized Tools’ subreddit is a great example of a successful online group. Created all the way back in late February of 2015, over the past 8+ years it has grown into a real powerhouse.

The subreddit has grown so big and popular that it ranks among the top 1% of all Reddit communities. But the real victory is that the sub’s members shed light on the strangest tools that only people working in very specific fields might otherwise ever see.

So long as you’re going to be a member of the r/specializedtools online community, you’ve got to follow the rules, as set out by the hard-working moderator team.

For instance, the most fundamental rule is that you stay on-topic. ‘Specialized Tools’ is a group that’s dedicated to [drum roll] specialized tools! The community is exactly what it says on the tin.

That means that everything you post on the group, from images to video content, has to contain tools. Not only that, they have to be specialized. So r/specializedtools may not be the best place for content about more commonly found tools with multiple purposes. They have to be intriguing and exotic.

Not only does the content have to be related to specialized and niche tools, but the titles need to be on-point as well. You should aim to write titles that clearly explain what the tool or device does and is all about. If you don’t, someone from the mod team may end up removing your post. And that’s not much fun for anyone.

In the meantime, the moderators ask the large member community to refrain from reposting commonly shared content. Not only that, but everyone has to stay away from offensive content and do their best to behave in a civilized manner. After all, no community can stay healthy and whole if everyone’s fighting and calling each other names all the time.

No matter what tool machine you use, whether it’s a simple hammer or a nuclear power plant demolisher, you’ve got to take care of your gear. If you don’t treat your devices with the respect they deserve, sooner or later they’ll break and you’ll be left footing the bill for a replacement. It’s a far better deal to spend a bit of time on regular maintenance. So it’s worth turning this into a habit.

Some basics to keep in mind include cleaning your tools after each use and lubricating them regularly. That means removing any dirt or materials that could end up damaging your inventory, and ensuring that nothing rusts and all the parts move as smoothly as possible. Yes, it may be hard to do after a long day’s work, but we’re nothing at our profession without our tools. 

It also helps if you regularly inspect all of your inventory for any possible damage. There might be something that you could’ve overlooked when you were exhausted after a long day. Spotting wear and tear means that you can prevent the tools from breaking and yourself (and others!) from getting hurt. Having a keen eye and some patience here are invaluable.

Besides that, you should store your tools properly when you’re not using them. So you shouldn’t be leaving them out in the elements or throwing them into a heap in the mud. Nor should you be playing around with your tools for fun, or using them for anything else other than their purpose. That goes double for specialized tools! They have very niche uses, so you shouldn’t be hammering in nails with a cyanometer or a steno machine.