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rharman

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 22, 2012
Messages
8,818
Location
SoCal
A coworker is cleaning out a shed at their home and said it’s full of tools they want to throw away. They are sending me pictures of tools and asking me if I want them. This is the first haul. Free
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Wow! Since they wanted to throw them away, I assume they told you "Hey, I have a bunch of c-clamps - do you want them?" :cool:
 
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dscheidt

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 26, 2017
Messages
2,893
IMG_5116.jpeg

A set of cheap diamond tipped hole saws. I need to drill three holes in some tile, all different sizes. I figure they can drill one hole each, at least. They look better than I expected.

The other thing that always surprises me about cheap Chinese stuff is how nice the packaging is. Hard sided zippered bag with labeled foam insert.
 

Beerhippie

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 13, 2023
Messages
9,801
Location
Far NE Oregon
IMG_5116.jpeg

A set of cheap diamond tipped hole saws. I need to drill three holes in some tile, all different sizes. I figure they can drill one hole each, at least. They look better than I expected.

The other thing that always surprises me about cheap Chinese stuff is how nice the packaging is. Hard sided zippered bag with labeled foam insert.
You might be surprised. I bought a bunch of smaller diamond hole saws--or core bits--a while back when the pub wanted menu holders made from local, river-polished stones. I was blown away by how long they lasted boring 1" deep holes in various rocks, including basalt (hard), greenstone (harder) and quartzite (harder yet). I've used the same bits to drill through glass and tile, too. Compared to the rocks, those area breeze.

I set up a water drip when using them. It not only keeps 'em cool, but rinses away the dust that would otherwise clog them.
 

Pinne

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 8, 2024
Messages
337
Some nice tools from Japan that I've had on my list for a while.

  • Koken Nut Grip partial sets in 1/4" and 3/8" - I'll put these on nicer rails, and I may supplement the 9mm and 11mm to fill the sets in a bit more as I do use those sizes.
  • Nepros quick spinners - 3/8" compact and a 1/4" to 3/8" adapter version. Have a few of these already in other sizes and they're great.
  • KTC 3/8 stubby rotohead ratchet - I have the long handle already and it's one of my favorites.
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Steel_Rain

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 23, 2024
Messages
1,365
  • Koken Nut Grip partial sets in 1/4" and 3/8" - I'll put these on nicer rails, and I may supplement the 9mm and 11mm to fill the sets in a bit more as I do use those sizes.
  • Nepros quick spinners - 3/8" compact and a 1/4" to 3/8" adapter version. Have a few of these already in other sizes and they're great.
  • KTC 3/8 stubby rotohead ratchet - I have the long handle already and it's one of my favorites.
Absolutely beautiful, top quality tools there.

You have good taste.
 

Camathan

New member
Joined
Oct 23, 2016
Messages
1
IMG_0096.jpg

It fit just fine, the lug is maybe 1 mm thinner but both heads have the same spring that applies tension and it's not a noticeable difference. The included bolt with the matco head is torx instead of astro's hex, otherwise same same.

This was a great find since I had already bought astro's version before I knew about matco's with the switch.
 

ChefRex

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 1, 2020
Messages
3,721
Location
NJ
You might be surprised. I bought a bunch of smaller diamond hole saws--or core bits--a while back when the pub wanted menu holders made from local, river-polished stones. I was blown away by how long they lasted boring 1" deep holes in various rocks, including basalt (hard), greenstone (harder) and quartzite (harder yet). I've used the same bits to drill through glass and tile, too. Compared to the rocks, those area breeze.

I set up a water drip when using them. It not only keeps 'em cool, but rinses away the dust that would otherwise clog them.
Did you drip system involve a keg?
 

pfbz

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 17, 2008
Messages
957
Koken Nut Grip partial sets in 1/4" and 3/8" - I'll put these on nicer rails, and I may supplement the 9mm and 11mm to fill the sets in a bit more as I do use those sizes.
IMG_3032 Large.jpegIMG_3033 Large.jpeg
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Tell me more about those RS3450MH sockets... Never seen those in the Ko-ken lineup before. Looks lie they have a 17mm outer hex, sort of like Astro 3/8" dual drive. I don't see any retention groove, is there any other sort of retention device?

Also, it looks like those exact sizes in the set are all the sizes Ko-ken offers in that particular style, so I don't think you can fill in the missing sockets, not without going to regular Ko-ken nut grips anyway.
 

Pinne

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 8, 2024
Messages
337
Tell me more about those RS3450MH sockets... Never seen those in the Ko-ken lineup before. Looks lie they have a 17mm outer hex, sort of like Astro 3/8" dual drive. I don't see any retention groove, is there any other sort of retention device?

Also, it looks like those exact sizes in the set are all the sizes Ko-ken offers in that particular style, so I don't think you can fill in the missing sockets, not without going to regular Ko-ken nut grips anyway.
No retention groove on them - they are 17mm hex on the outside. The 6 sizes in that set are the only ones available.

I'm more likely to fill in those sizes on the 1/4" set, which is really more in line with the hardware sizes I think will be valuable for these sockets (not dropping stuff into an engine bay or dash).

Koken has really detailed catalogs for their full lineup and individual tools. Full catalog near the bottom of this page: https://www.koken-tool.co.jp/en/catalog.html
 
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YesIHaveAHammer

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 1, 2025
Messages
833
Bosch Professional Inspection Camera / Borescope GIC 12V-5-27 C
Directly from Germany, so I got the full kit for less than the bare unit costs here. The included camera is 1.5m single lens, I also bought the 3.5m for an upcoming task. Both should fit in the case. They also do small diameter and dual lens ones in 1.5m. The quality and thought that's gone into this is clear to see, as it should be for the price. I listed in another thread here recently the factors I considered when choosing.

1 - Copy.jpg

2 - Copy.jpg
 

Squankum

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 28, 2011
Messages
7,712
Location
Southeast
Had a job recently where I could have used 9" Vise Grip long-noses. Shopped around, and if forced to, I was going to buy Taiwanese. But not Chinese. And I'm irked at Irwin making them in China. Knipex can't help me, they sell rebranded Bollman for locking pliers and they are not impressive, and they don't even make this format. Malco didn't make them.

Found these on ebay for $19.80, shipped.
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Hey, the 9LN "nine inch" Vise Grips were 8.5"!

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An hour in the ultrasonic cleaner and Evaporust.
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rword

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 27, 2025
Messages
426
Had a job recently where I could have used 9" Vise Grip long-noses. Shopped around, and if forced to, I was going to buy Taiwanese. But not Chinese. And I'm irked at Irwin making them in China. Knipex can't help me, they sell rebranded Bollman for locking pliers and they are not impressive, and they don't even make this format. Malco didn't make them.

Found these on ebay for $19.80, shipped.
IMG_7524.jpeg

Hey, the 9LN "nine inch" Vise Grips were 8.5"!

IMG_7526.jpeg

An hour in the ultrasonic cleaner and Evaporust.
IMG_7565.jpeg


IMG_7568.jpeg


IMG_7569.jpeg
I’ve got 2 Irwin pliers recently and both were Taiwan.
 

decableguy2000

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 4, 2012
Messages
652
IMG_0096.jpg

It fit just fine, the lug is maybe 1 mm thinner but both heads have the same spring that applies tension and it's not a noticeable difference. The included bolt with the matco head is torx instead of astro's hex, otherwise same same.

This was a great find since I had already bought astro's version before I knew about matco's with the switch.

Did mine today, shorter Astro had a torx and long had a hex head.
 

Steve_P

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 15, 2010
Messages
5,185
I also jumped on the Matco to Astro swap- that guy on Ebay probably sold every one he had to GJ members :ROFLMAO:

As said, the Matco is 1mm/.040 narrower where it engages in the handle. I was able to jam two .010" thick shoulder screw shims on each side of it, for a total of .040", to fill the gap. It was a bit of a PITA to get the holes all lined up, but not too bad.

IIRC the screw on the Matco is also a countersunk head and the Astro isn't. Either way, I just reused the screw from the Astro.

Edit- you can barely see the shims on the near side. I get them from McMaster and have a full assortment.

Matco-Astro_hybrid.jpg
 
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Squankum

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 28, 2011
Messages
7,712
Location
Southeast
Back out the adjusting screw 1/2". Fixed.

I've never seen the long-nose from Petersen. I thought it was an Irwin thing.

When it comes to long-nosed Vise Grips, I now have:
4LN (Irwin)
6LN (Petersen)
9LN (Petersen)

I do have some Irwin Vise Grips in my past, I've recently noticed. I guess I just shrugged and accepted it with a few purchases maybe 10-15 years ago. Why am I a grump about it now? I don't know! Maybe the Malco period revived my feelings about it. :unsure:
 
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