Shinwa 101A 150mm/15cm ruler.
More and more as I do my own work, I keep going more and more metric. Needed a dedicated metric ruler similar to my SAE PECs--which are seconds that cost me near-nothing from Taylor Toolworks. PEC was a tiny bit much for my budget right now .
These came from them as well, but by way of Amazon. Photo showed "CHINA" on the sleeve and nothing on the ruler. $5 doesn't even buy a Westcott at Walmart anymore.
I presume this one is old-stock, as it says "MADE IN JAPAN"--as it should be!
Plenty of reference material on the back as well.
Got it out of the mailbox, and used it right away at Lowe's as I needed a nut and bolt (or screw--whatever worked) that fit an 8mm hex hole in a set of racing pedals in order to mount it to my stand.
Someone here recommended Hakko/C.H.P flush cutters as they're fairly cheap, but Italian made.
Amazon had a sale for $5. I'll tell you this--I'm NEVER buying another pair of Doyle, Hyper Tough, or even Klein flush cuts. These and only these.
They are inexpensive, cut extremely well, and leave smooth edges. Also, extremely nice handles. The HT and Doyle ones feel cheap, the Kleins are too hard. Some of the flush cutters sold in the bead tools section have bigger handles, but don't cut well.
Craftsman (Waterloo--well, Stanley now) 27" bottom box. The cheap $160 one from Lowe's. Did the math, and realized the top of my box in a stack with the US General 27" would be above my head.
Years ago, my Dad did restorations on old tractors in the farm shop. He ended up in a mess due to a poorly thought-out marriage; and left the shop in one heck of a mess. He wrecked my Granddad's 27" Craftsman (Waterloo) bottom box.
No US General, but decent quality and American-made. Also deeper than my older bottom box. Top and bottom now lock, important to me. Surprisingly, I found the missing keys to the old stack under the cloth used to protect the bottom (which I reused here). Lost both the old and new sets of keys organizing, though. D'OH!!!
Looks like I've got a week of organization to go, and at least one trip to Harbor Freight for organization stuff. Definitely I'll 3D print some stuff for the task once I get mine back together after clearing a jam in the bed worm gear.
