General Tool thread

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Never_Rolled

First 10,000
Dec 17, 2018
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Anyone have any new tools they like? I bought a bunch of Wera lately. I was looking forward to this driver. i also bought their ratcher driver with bit storage. The first time i went to use it i found a deep flaw. The bit holder is very wide so it can't get into recessed slots. The have a longer bit kit. I bought that and all is well. People like the Kline 11 in 1 or something like that. I bought one and find it a PITA. I also bought their ratchet. This tool is really good.

 

Rambo John J

Eats things that would make a Billy Goat Puke
First 100
Jan 17, 2015
71,541
71,465
Anyone have any new tools they like? I bought a bunch of Wera lately. I was looking forward to this driver. i also bought their ratcher driver with bit storage. The first time i went to use it i found a deep flaw. The bit holder is very wide so it can't get into recessed slots. The have a longer bit kit. I bought that and all is well. People like the Kline 11 in 1 or something like that. I bought one and find it a PITA. I also bought their ratchet. This tool is really good.

Is it strong?
All metal?

Looks interesting
 

sparkuri

Pulse On The Finger Of The Community
First 100
Jan 16, 2015
34,420
46,562
I provided some background music to look at awesome new tools, I hope you don't mind.
 

Never_Rolled

First 10,000
Dec 17, 2018
5,798
6,349
Is it strong?
All metal?

Looks interesting
Which tool? The screwdriver is mostly plastic. I like their ratchet screwdriver but it doesn't retract like the one I posted. I have 3 of their screwdrivers. The one in the video, the same bitholder with a ratchet mech and a third mini driver that came with the extended bit set.

I also bought the 3/8's ratchet in the second video. The videos posted out of order so the ratchet is in the first video that posted. That is all metal. I think there is metal under the handle but i can't say for sure as I am upstairs. I actually have to use it today. I have a car project. I need to take the back seat out to remove a rear cargo panel. Wire in a power socket then put it all back together. This is so dumb. SUV is great except the cargo light instead of being in the dome, they put it bottom left. It doesn't light the cargo area up. I went full tard. I bought a retractable cargo shade for it. I am attaching about 4' of LED tape inside an aluminum LED track to the bottom of the shade. I am tapping the socket off the existing cargo light. I am soldering wires to the LED and attaching a cig lighter plug. When the hatch is opened the LED bar will light up the entire cargo area and I can easily remove it if needed. The socket has a cover so it will look like a factory install. The plastic trim panels are a PITA to get out hence the removal of the backseats. I have a garage full of Snap-On boxes with MAC and Snap-ON tools. The occasional use Harbor Freight kaka too. I also have a Kennedy box filled with mostly Snap-On. For VD my GF bought me Knipex plier wrenches. Looking forward to playing with those. Bought a set of Felo ESD screwdrivers. Haven't actually used them yet. They were a bit cheaper then Wera and Wiha. You know the Germans make good stuff!
 

Filthy

Iowa Wrestling Champion
Jun 28, 2016
27,507
29,834
Which tool? The screwdriver is mostly plastic. I like their ratchet screwdriver but it doesn't retract like the one I posted. I have 3 of their screwdrivers. The one in the video, the same bitholder with a ratchet mech and a third mini driver that came with the extended bit set.

I also bought the 3/8's ratchet in the second video. The videos posted out of order so the ratchet is in the first video that posted. That is all metal. I think there is metal under the handle but i can't say for sure as I am upstairs. I actually have to use it today. I have a car project. I need to take the back seat out to remove a rear cargo panel. Wire in a power socket then put it all back together. This is so dumb. SUV is great except the cargo light instead of being in the dome, they put it bottom left. It doesn't light the cargo area up. I went full tard. I bought a retractable cargo shade for it. I am attaching about 4' of LED tape inside an aluminum LED track to the bottom of the shade. I am tapping the socket off the existing cargo light. I am soldering wires to the LED and attaching a cig lighter plug. When the hatch is opened the LED bar will light up the entire cargo area and I can easily remove it if needed. The socket has a cover so it will look like a factory install. The plastic trim panels are a PITA to get out hence the removal of the backseats. I have a garage full of Snap-On boxes with MAC and Snap-ON tools. The occasional use Harbor Freight kaka too. I also have a Kennedy box filled with mostly Snap-On. For VD my GF bought me Knipex plier wrenches. Looking forward to playing with those. Bought a set of Felo ESD screwdrivers. Haven't actually used them yet. They were a bit cheaper then Wera and Wiha. You know the Germans make good stuff!
I like the Knipex. I got some for my step-dad on the farm, he kept breaking/losing the cheap ones. He's had the Knipex set for >5 years now.
 

Simpleman

First 100
First 100
Jan 15, 2015
1,157
1,662
Ive always been curious: is snap on really any better than craftsman for hand tools? Im not brand loyal and will not buy a label just to say that I own it. Some of my stuff even comes from harbor freight (if Im only going to use it once or twice a year). Hell I own an aircompressor that is 15+ years old that I picked up from pep boys. Its a shit brand but still works.
 

Never_Rolled

First 10,000
Dec 17, 2018
5,798
6,349
Ive always been curious: is snap on really any better than craftsman for hand tools? Im not brand loyal and will not buy a label just to say that I own it. Some of my stuff even comes from harbor freight (if Im only going to use it once or twice a year). Hell I own an aircompressor that is 15+ years old that I picked up from pep boys. Its a shit brand but still works.
Hard to say what’s better. Craftsman wrenches never felt good in my hands. I don’t like the feel of their ratchets either. For the home gamer they are fine though. I have recently bought Gearwrench ratchet wrenches and a mini ratchet screwdriver set. Good stuff. I bought a Harbor Freight hinge centering drill bit set. One broke on it’s first use. I have HF freight laser levels that broke too. Some of their stuff is OK but lots of crap too.
 

B.D.

Well-Known Member
Nov 8, 2018
242
477
Hard to say what’s better. Craftsman wrenches never felt good in my hands. I don’t like the feel of their ratchets either. For the home gamer they are fine though. I have recently bought Gearwrench ratchet wrenches and a mini ratchet screwdriver set. Good stuff. I bought a Harbor Freight hinge centering drill bit set. One broke on it’s first use. I have HF freight laser levels that broke too. Some of their stuff is OK but lots of crap too.
I have some craftsman hand tools from the late 90's, at the tail end of when their stuff was still considered some of best pro-sumer level tools you could buy. I rarely use them but they are well built but lacking the fancy ergonomics and bells and whistles of today's offerings. Get the job done when doing automotive work, though.
All that said, I mostly use beaters in my routine outdoor maintenance and quick fixes and I've never had an outright failure (yet). Two pieces in particular have been life-savers and neither cast a lot or came from one of the "big" names. One is a ratcheting screwdriver, the other is a thumbwheel ratchet set from Husky. Combined cost of maybe $18. Game changers for me, both.

Cost doesn't always equal quality, and the best tool for the job is sometimes the one you have right in front of you.

Still, shiny new toys are always nice.... =)
 

SongExotic2

ATM 3 CHAMPION OF THE WORLD. #FREECAIN
First 100
Jan 16, 2015
39,772
53,672
Ive always been curious: is snap on really any better than craftsman for hand tools? Im not brand loyal and will not buy a label just to say that I own it. Some of my stuff even comes from harbor freight (if Im only going to use it once or twice a year). Hell I own an aircompressor that is 15+ years old that I picked up from pep boys. Its a shit brand but still works.
Snap on and blue point are okay. It's too expensive for me tho, fuck that, it doesn't justify the cost. And there are a couple of times we had to order a cheaper tool because the one they gave us sucked. I know people will say about the warranty but most places do that now.

If I was full of bitcoins like Splinty and I had to outfit a workshop I wouldn't be looking at snap on. But I'm thinking with my own money
 

Never_Rolled

First 10,000
Dec 17, 2018
5,798
6,349
HF also have crappy pliers. On many models the jaws don’t line up. On side cutters and needlenose it’s critical the jaws line up for them to be effective. Snap On are great tools but overpriced. I just had to rebuild two ratchets. One was a 1/4 drive Mac from an expensive set. Mac asked for my address and sent it no charge. Snap On 1/2 drive I had to pay for the kit. A dealer probably would have fixed it but I don’t have a dealer.
 

Filthy

Iowa Wrestling Champion
Jun 28, 2016
27,507
29,834
Snap on and blue point are okay. It's too expensive for me tho, fuck that, it doesn't justify the cost. And there are a couple of times we had to order a cheaper tool because the one they gave us sucked. I know people will say about the warranty but most places do that now.

If I was full of bitcoins like Splinty and I had to outfit a workshop I wouldn't be looking at snap on. But I'm thinking with my own money

my dad's golf buddy was used to own most of the PHX region, they victimize trade-school grads worse than trade schools.
 

Grateful Dude

TMMAC Addict
May 30, 2016
8,925
14,261
I want to add a bench grinder to my garage/work bench. Anyone have a recommendation?

Just a general purpose tool for me, not planning anything too heavy duty. I want something that I’ll use all 3 wheels: grinding, wire brush, and polishing.

I have a built-in work bench that can handle a grinder, but as far as throwing sparks it isn’t a good spot. I was thinking about having the grinder on a stand for convenience, but worry that it won’t be stable enough to lean into a little bit.

I also saw one (Ryobi i think) that had a grinding wheel in one side, and a belt sander on the other. I kind of like that idea, but I dunno. The belt sander would be useful sometimes, but it definitely won’t replace a full size (which I also do not have).

Thoughts men?