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Motorman55

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 10, 2016
Messages
2,631
Location
South Jersey
While at HD picking up some lumber for the shed shelving project, I swung by the tool section to pick up a new level. After looking over the selection I decided on the Milwaukee 24" 'RED Stick'. I really like the big center bubble gauge. It's not magnetic but that's ok. Mostly need it for general use, wood projects, fixtures etc.

Also picked up the Milwaukee 3 pc, 1000volt Insulated Screwdriver set. Do I really need it? Probably not, being retired I could get by with my old insulated screwdriver with changable tips. Then again, it does match my new Milwaukee screw drive set so there's that.

Plus I did save money on the pencils which helped offset the cost of the screwdrivers......when you average it out. 1756948227442.jpeg
 
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YesIHaveAHammer

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 1, 2025
Messages
842
Grip-on 131-07 Omnium Grip (200mm / 8")
I've had the 10" for many years, but really with this jaw shape I don't need it to be so big and heavy. This variant has 80% of the capacity by spec, and is just over half the weight.
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Knipex 83 61 015 Swedish Pipe Wrench S-Type 420mm (17"), with fast adjustment
Made by Rennsteig, but less available and more expensive under their own brand (green). I wanted some type of big wrench with bite and leverage, and figured a plier type would be more versatile than a Stillson/HD type, and the trade-offs suited me. Still not totally sure if I should have got the Cobra XL 400mm.
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L

lund

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 2, 2019
Messages
788
Location
Michigan
Squankum said:
I bought some tools!

Prelude, earlier this summer:

The TSA took my Knipex away
They took it away
Away from me-ee

I had 10" and 7" Cobras in my carry-on bag. (I told you I feel knaked without my Knipex!)

Not being a criminal or insane hijacker, I never thought of using my 10" Cobras to beat people up with. It was the usual Sophie's choice (uh, so to speak) of a TSA confiscation. Suuure you can go back out find the place to mail it to yourself and go through the line all over again, suure. My traveling companion is too anxious about travel deadlines for me to consider even trying that. Let's see, price of pliers, price of postage, that delta compared to risk of missing flight, yep, and the cost of having to hear it even if I don't miss the flight.

....
Click to expand...

I sometimes travel to do work at a house I have 2k miles away and/or at friends/relatives. Sometimes when packing I forget to remove all tools that migrated to carry on pockets when camped out etc and working round the clock under time duress. I have left things like cutters or leatherman type multitools that will get found by the new AI assisted scanners almost for sure. I found an easy solution alternative to donating to TSA (especially if found before line or a modest line): Go back out of the TSA line in the airport lobby and find a good place to hide it. Ceiling panels are great. Retrieve on a future trip with more time to deal with it (pack mailer, or just pick up on next trip). I have done this 2x and nobody found the knives.

It really pisses me off TSA will not sell you fixed rate mailers you can self address etc. What pissed me off even more is I noticed after my confiscation when rebuying a Leatherman tool that they nabbed once before I got more creative, it appeared they were selling stuff on ebay (or sold lots to someone who did so) for not insignificant $. Seems morally wrong when they give no options to address mistakes and then profit off the mistakes. Our gov at work keeping us safe from forgetful citizens ...

By far my best airport knife snafu is I was traveling in Russia in the wild 90s. I was exhausted on a return trip and mad dash getting into the airport in Russia. While in Russia was using a large lock-blade hunting knife to cut open cans, keep from being liberated of belongings in a pinch, etc that came into Russia in my checked in bag and then stayed in my coat (wintertime) while in Russia. On return, after barely making it to the airport in time, I boarded the plane back to the states with a sigh of relief. I patted my winter coat and ... omg ... I think I must have gawked in a near heart-attack state ... I went through security in Russia with a 5" lock-blade hunting knife. THAT was going to be hard to explain in poor Russian. I literally walked through their defective metal detector with it without triggering. Thank goodness for Russian 90s disorder, or I might have had an extended stay there even before the recent messes with Ukraine. After nearly having a heart attack, I calmed down and started to think. I realized that nobody KNEW that I had the knife in my coat and there would not be more security checks, so I continued through the flight, the airport, and usa customs with a big lock-blade. Fun fun. Anything to declare sir? Umm ... nah.

Don't worry on your personal safety on any overlapping flights though. I have been getting better on double checking myself for contraband in recent years BEFORE checking getting in the security lines.
 
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S

SouthernIllinois

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 14, 2024
Messages
1,678
lund said:
I sometimes travel to do work at a house I have 2k miles away and/or at friends/relatives. Sometimes when packing I forget to remove all tools that migrated to carry on pockets when camped out etc and working round the clock under time duress. I have left things like cutters or leatherman type multitools that will get found by the new AI assisted scanners almost for sure. I found an easy solution alternative to donating to TSA (especially if found before line or a modest line): Go back out of the TSA line in the airport lobby and find a good place to hide it. Ceiling panels are great. Retrieve on a future trip with more time to deal with it (pack mailer, or just pick up on next trip). I have done this 2x and nobody found the knives.

It really pisses me off TSA will not sell you fixed rate mailers you can self address etc. What pissed me off even more is I noticed after my confiscation when rebuying a Leatherman tool that they nabbed once before I got more creative, it appeared they were selling stuff on ebay (or sold lots to someone who did so) for not insignificant $. Seems morally wrong when they give no options. Our gov at work keeping us safe from forgetful citizens ...

By far my best airport knife snafu is I was traveling in Russia in the wild 90s. I was exhausted on a return trip and mad dash getting into the airport in Russia. While in Russia was using a big lockblade knife to cut open cans, keep from being liberated of belongings in a pinch, etc that cam in my check in bag and then stayed in my coat (wintertime). On return, after barely making it in time, I boarded the plane back to the states with a sigh of relief. I patted my winter coat and ... omg ... I think I must have gawked ... I went through security in Russia with a 5" hunting lockblade knife. THAT was going to be hard to explain in poor Russian. I literally walked through their metal detector with it. Thank goodness for Russian 90s disorder, or I might have had an extended stay there even before the recent messes with Ukraine. After nearly having a heart attack, I calmed down and started to think. I realized that nobody KNEW I had the knife and there would not be more security checks, so I continued through the flight and usa customs with a big lockblade in my coat. Fun fun.

Don't worry though. I have been getting better on double checking myself for contraband in recent years.
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In my former life I went to a meeting at the Pentagon with a coworker.

At security they refused to let him bring in his tiny Boys Scout pocket knife and we didn’t have enough time to hike the 300 miles back to where we had to park to take the knife back to the car so he dropped it in the “surrender” bin.

The knife was small enough it didn’t meet the legal description of a weapon and was allowed in the three letter agency building we worked in but I guess the Pentagon makes up their own rules.

Anyhow, after the meeting was over he wanted to stop at the Pentagon Gift Shop to get something for his kid.

Low and behold, they sold pocket knives with the Pentagon Crest on them that were considerably bigger than the one he had to throwaway.

Only the US Government…… SMH
 
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P

pfbz

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 17, 2008
Messages
957
Icon's new magnetic mats dropped at stores, $15 on sale, pretty impressive actually!
Yes, that's a 20 pound rotor stuck on one of them.

And not barely either, ***** right on and would probably hold a much heavier one.

Tools of course no problem. I think these are going to be a big hit!

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Y

YesIHaveAHammer

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 1, 2025
Messages
842
Recent troubles needed solutions for next time.

Facom 441 XL OGV Grip wrenches
These have a special design on both ends to better grip damaged fasteners, and are also fine for normal use although they are 6 point. Comparison of the 17mm on such a fastener shows the ring end has about half the rotational play of the standard 440, but the open end actually has half more. Also known as I believe Mac RBRT, USAG X-Grip, and Craftsman Overdrive. More here in the Facom thread.
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Sievert 2282 Handyjet Powergas Kit
Feels pretty solid, and I like the size and form factor. Swedish company, made in Estonia.
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S

SouthernIllinois

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 14, 2024
Messages
1,678
Facebook Marketplace score!

A junk man nearby had this RR Track “anvil”.

Made a low offer and he took it.

Before the Railroad Police comments start, it’s about 70-75 years old, I don’t care where or how it was originally acquired and I seriously doubt the railway police are gonna come break down my door over “their” piece of 75+ year old track…lol

Still debating on how I’m gonna mount it or on what.

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S

SouthernIllinois

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 14, 2024
Messages
1,678
mikeinri said:
@SouthernIllinois: Two things...

1. You ****

2. We have "Railroad Police" now??? I thought GJ was a designated Karen-Free Zone???

Mike
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Not long ago some poor SOB posted a picture of an anvil he made out of a piece of RR track on a tool Facebook page.

Based on the comments you would have thought every law enforcement agency out there was coming for him since "any piece of track is stolen property", possession is a felony, and he would probably be arrested soon after posting the picture...lol
 
B

Beerhippie

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 13, 2023
Messages
9,811
Location
Far NE Oregon
SouthernIllinois said:
Not long ago some poor SOB posted a picture of an anvil he made out of a piece of RR track on a tool Facebook page.

Based on the comments you would have thought every law enforcement agency out there was coming for him since "any piece of track is stolen property", possession is a felony, and he would probably be arrested soon after posting the picture...lol
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FFS!

I looked both ways and there was no train on the track. Besides, I didn't really steal it; just borrowed it for a while.
 
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LXCam

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Apr 23, 2013
Messages
19,140
Location
AZ
Some cheap snags from JB Tool

Gotta luv a $12 made in Vietnam socket set. Good thing I only bought it for the case.
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My first Astro sockets. I must say the finish is damn nice. And some OEM gripper sockets to throw in my truck box.
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And these bit driver rails. I’ve fn had it with the Milwaukee boxes and thought I’d try these out. At $1.99, I didn’t figure i wouldn’t lose much if they were **** so I bought 10 of them.

Turns out, they’re pretty decent. The magnets **** a set but I didn’t buy them for that reason. I do like that they grip decently but don’t put up a fight removing them just short of needing a 48” prybar 🤨
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M

mikeinri

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 29, 2019
Messages
8,240
Location
MA
LXCam said:
I’ve fn had it with the Milwaukee boxes

I do like that they grip decently but don’t put up a fight removing them just short of needing a 48” prybar 🤨
Click to expand...

Is the "fight" comment what you don't like about the Milwaukee boxes?

If so, that's my complaint too. Didn't think about it before, but I wonder if there's a mod to make them easier to use?

Mike
 
L

LXCam

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Apr 23, 2013
Messages
19,140
Location
AZ
mikeinri said:
Is the "fight" comment what you don't like about the Milwaukee boxes?

If so, that's my complaint too. Didn't think about it before, but I wonder if there's a mod to make them easier to use?

Mike
Click to expand...
Absolutely it is. I'm feed up with needing a set of needle nose plyers to remove or reinsert a bit. So when I'm slamming thru something (emergency call normally) I end up just tossing the bit into the box and pretty soon all I've got is a box of rocks.

They might be a simpler solution with those boxes but we'll see if this works out better for my lazy azz.
 
M

moemc

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 12, 2025
Messages
356
Lowlevel2021 said:
Not a really a tool, but to me it will be as it will help with washing cars. Tired of having to go back and dry under mirrors and trunk area continuously as water trickles. IMG_5150.jpeg
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I don’t get it. You stuff these into crevices and just leave them there? Or you put them on just for the first 5-10 min of driving then remove and wash them with the laundry?

My solution to the problem was a secondary benefit of switching to blow drying with the leaf blower. But blow drying with a leaf blower is somewhat dependent on the car being ceramic coated, otherwise you’re going to need a blower way more powerful than I have. Because my truck isn’t ceramic coated and blow drying this way would take forever the way the water sticks to it.
 
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