lbgradwell
Well-known member
Will, you're in Northern California. What do you know about "freezing winds"?
http://www.kingdicktools.co.uk/ the name of the company was named after the owners bulldog!
Sure it was...
Whats the tool situation in the UK?
- Thread starter billymade
- Start date
Will, you're in Northern California. What do you know about "freezing winds"?
Sure it was...
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
The shop is under an apartment block. we're at the end of a hill, so our enterance is at ground level, but we're behind a parade of store on one side, and the slope of the hill on the other. no windows, no draught. the two shutters are opposite, but there's only one 4-post ramp near them, and when it's cold only one shutter is open.
we have 2 4-post ramps. (one for a Hunter wheel alignment machine) 3 2-post lift, 2 steel pits and 9 bays.
I have worked in (and out of) some pretty small ti
My old tyre shop was probably 15'x45' or something. we stacked them high. maybe 500 tyres in there. that shop had a 4-post flat ramp and a 2-post lift. if we got busy, we worked at the kerb when we ran out of space.
and as for the freezing winds, when i was there i worked in the very open when it was in the low 30s, and in the freezing rain. i worked in work pants and usually just a t-shirt, sometimes a hoodie. the UK gets you ready for cold!
yes, but only the police have them.
Will, you're in Northern California. What do you know about "freezing winds"?
We get the north winds that blow down from Alaska. Plenty cold enough for me.
eschoendorff
Well-known member
I think that people forget that CA has quite a bit of longitude....
39.3 degrees north latitude here.
lbgradwell
Well-known member
No me; I was born in San Fran!
And trust me, Alaska or not, those are not freezing winds!
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
Try the top of a swiss glacier! that's freezing. (it was -22 when i went up the Klein Matterhorn)
I haven't got that much to add to what Moose had to say, but I would add that the biggest source of tools for non-professionals is Machine Mart. The quality is not great, but it's not awful either, lots of Clarke stuff - largely Chinese, of course.
I'm not sure I agree that home mechanics are much less prevalent here. There's a huge kit car market, and no shortage of modified cars from ricer monstrosities through to trad. hot rods.
There's been a huge contraction in tool manufacture in the past decade. Stanley Works' policies of the 90s were a disaster for the Sheffield tool industry, and for the quality of tools available Britool has gone entirely, it's now a 12 person office selling a name stamped on Chinese tools, and, although there is still a factory, Stanley branded tools very rarely have 'Made in England' on them Curiously, though, Stanley FatMax screwdrivers, at least as sold in the biggest DIY chain, B&Q, are made [by Facom] by Stanley MABO in France.
It's not all doom and gloom, though. Snap-On's most modern factory is near Rotherham, making saw blades under the Bahco name, and, although there are Chinese 'Bahco' blades for the Asian market, it's not going anywhere for now, Sykes Pickavant still manufacture here, and there are numerous smaller manufacturers such as Footprint and Thor.
Most of my tools are from Prime Tools.
It's all good, but I have a new business, so spare time is at a premium
Less so if you think about my 2 year old cousin trying to say 'Jonathan'
I'm not sure I agree that home mechanics are much less prevalent here. There's a huge kit car market, and no shortage of modified cars from ricer monstrosities through to trad. hot rods.
There's been a huge contraction in tool manufacture in the past decade. Stanley Works' policies of the 90s were a disaster for the Sheffield tool industry, and for the quality of tools available
Britool has gone entirely, it's now a 12 person office selling a name stamped on Chinese tools, and, although there is still a factory, Stanley branded tools very rarely have 'Made in England' on them Curiously, though, Stanley FatMax screwdrivers, at least as sold in the biggest DIY chain, B&Q, are made [by Facom] by Stanley MABO in France.It's not all doom and gloom, though. Snap-On's most modern factory is near Rotherham, making saw blades under the Bahco name, and, although there are Chinese 'Bahco' blades for the Asian market, it's not going anywhere for now, Sykes Pickavant still manufacture here, and there are numerous smaller manufacturers such as Footprint and Thor.
Most of my tools are from Prime Tools.
It's all good, but I have a new business, so spare time is at a premium
Less so if you think about my 2 year old cousin trying to say 'Jonathan'
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Canadian Charlie
Banned
Yes Machine Mart, I've seen thier products for sale in the ads of older Street Machine and Custom Car magazines, never bought anything from them.
If it helps, I saw some Stanley "Made in England" screwdrivers at the local Home Depot yesterday.
Right here in balmy Northern California.
eschoendorff
Well-known member
If it helps, I saw some Stanley "Made in England" screwdrivers at the local Home Depot yesterday.
Right here in balmy Northern California.
Those were the demolition screwdrivers, yes?
lbgradwell
Well-known member
ZRX61
Well-known member
There were a slew of them 20 years ago, not sure now tho, There was a tool store on East Rd in Cambridge for decades that sold everything & then some.
Just found it online:
http://www.mackay.co.uk/webstore/acatalog/shop.html
Some times I'd drop an entire weeks wages in that place
If it helps, I saw some Stanley "Made in England" screwdrivers at the local Home Depot yesterday.
Right here in balmy Northern California.
That's good to hear
There's a big factory (building with all the roof vents, iirc), it must be making something , but they don't seem to make it into the DIY barns here
Stahlwille tools are pretty widely available from trade suppliers, not to mention Selfridges (slightly weird) tool boutique.
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
Couple of pics:
My office, last wednesday. no ramps free so i worked on the floor. i like working on the floor a lot of the time. maybe it has something to do with sitting down..
My tool cart. it's a cheap HF-type thing, got it free and it works pretty well. need to move the castors further towards the corners, add some tray and stuff to the sides. i just put my two 22" cantilever boxes on there, put the other tools around the sides of them. works for me, it's just about all my tools in one place which is good as we don't have dedicated ramps for each tech. (I'm one of three "proper" techs)
Not a very clear picture (mobile phone camera) but it shows the overall idea. wrenches, ratchets & chrome sockets (1/4" 3/8" and 1/2") live in there. some spcialist tools too. screwdrivers, hooks & picks, some pliers all mannor of other stuff too. On the left you can see my incredibly manly tissues too.
Impact sockets, big wrenches and stuff that doesn't get used much lives in the bottom box.
On the right, i store all the shop supplies i use. WD-40 in every size can (small ones for tight spots, big ones for longevity, hand spray to quantity) copper and multipurpose lithium grease, threadlock, engine assembly lube, brake cleaner, VW silicone sealant, barrier cream and the other essentials like bandaids, pain killers, ProPlus and disinfectant.
(the ProPlus & Painkillers are because i have bad insomnia)
If you're wondering what Moose looks like, i've found the best picutre of me:
Yes, those are bricks under the tyres, yes it is supported by a jack. sometimes you have to make do with what's around.
And the best for last, the back of our shop a few weeks back. we do fleet work for a Mopar dealership that sells untold amounts of Chryslers and Jeeps. that's if you can even see them in the pic!
I will get proper pics whem i'm back at work.
My office, last wednesday. no ramps free so i worked on the floor. i like working on the floor a lot of the time. maybe it has something to do with sitting down..
My tool cart. it's a cheap HF-type thing, got it free and it works pretty well. need to move the castors further towards the corners, add some tray and stuff to the sides. i just put my two 22" cantilever boxes on there, put the other tools around the sides of them. works for me, it's just about all my tools in one place which is good as we don't have dedicated ramps for each tech. (I'm one of three "proper" techs)
Not a very clear picture (mobile phone camera) but it shows the overall idea. wrenches, ratchets & chrome sockets (1/4" 3/8" and 1/2") live in there. some spcialist tools too. screwdrivers, hooks & picks, some pliers all mannor of other stuff too. On the left you can see my incredibly manly tissues too.
Impact sockets, big wrenches and stuff that doesn't get used much lives in the bottom box.
On the right, i store all the shop supplies i use. WD-40 in every size can (small ones for tight spots, big ones for longevity, hand spray to quantity) copper and multipurpose lithium grease, threadlock, engine assembly lube, brake cleaner, VW silicone sealant, barrier cream and the other essentials like bandaids, pain killers, ProPlus and disinfectant.
(the ProPlus & Painkillers are because i have bad insomnia)
If you're wondering what Moose looks like, i've found the best picutre of me:
Yes, those are bricks under the tyres, yes it is supported by a jack. sometimes you have to make do with what's around.
And the best for last, the back of our shop a few weeks back. we do fleet work for a Mopar dealership that sells untold amounts of Chryslers and Jeeps. that's if you can even see them in the pic!
I will get proper pics whem i'm back at work.
ZRX61
Well-known member
Are my eyes bad, or are there no jackstands under that Bug?
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
There are no jack stands.
One jack either side holding the front up, and one jack holding the engine and gearbox up.
One jack either side holding the front up, and one jack holding the engine and gearbox up.
Uncle Buck
Banned
I am a big fan of using jack stands too, but I do not see 3 floor jacks failing at the same time, like as not you would get out just fine, but yea stands are always best. BTW I love that cart setup!
Canadian Charlie
Banned
Nice pics Moose. Love them brick jackstands that you had laying around. Awesome Mustang
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
Me too, i use jackstands when i can. unfortunately, despite the money our shop turns over it's not so well equipped. we have 4 stands, and when a car comes in for wheel refurbishment it gets the stands until the wheels come back from our bodyshop.
I do have my own stands, but it's not my responsibility to equip the shop. i understand you need your own tools, but the workshop essentials should be provided. (at least i believe so) i have my own stands, but they're buried in the garage.
if i'm actually getting under the car, or am working on it for an extended amount of time, i use stands.
BTW I love that cart setup!
Thank you. it does the job and it's good having everything right there for whatever job i'm doing. it's soon going to get side trays to store more stuff, screwdriver holders will be added to house the latest eBay purchases, as well as prybar racks and a holder for sockets i use a lot for wheel nuts/bolts. may have to give in and buy a bigger cart.
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
According to the chassis plates, it's a real '67 Shelby GT500. obviously modified, but that's a real one. with a 428 i believe. it's had a lot of work done. has independant rear suspension and everything. everything that can be polished is. the front subframe, strut braces, suspension links, read diff etc..
If i recall correctly, it's up for sale for something like $250,000.
Canadian Charlie
Banned
I tell tell you one thing, the USA made some great muscle cars in its time but if you want to find some of the rarest, coolest and nastiest US built cars then Europe is the only place to find them
The owner must find it a real pain driving this Mustang on the "wrong" side of the road (Left).
Uncle Buck
Banned
Chicken feed for the independently wealthy like myself! I buy stuff like that with my pocket change!
Canadian Charlie
Banned
I'm sure the owner finds it a real pain to try and fill it up as gas prices in Europe are double as what our Canadian and American friends pay
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
Chicken feed for the independently wealthy like myself! I buy stuff like that with my pocket change!
Spare some change for the poor? please?
As for driving a left-****** on the left, you get used to it after a while. some people get so used to they can't drive a right-****** over here.
i've driven many left-hookers over here, most were big pickups like Rams and F-250s. it's not that bad, just feels a little odd at first.
Uncle Buck
Banned
Most of our hookers go either way
For the right amount of coin they will go anyway.
Canadian Charlie
Banned
Driving on the other side of the road ain't that bad unless you're stuck behind a bus or a truck and can't see to pass them
Chicken feed for the independently wealthy like myself! I buy stuff like that with my pocket change!
Don't let the cat out of the bag, UB...I have been quite comfortable being incognito.
One of these days, I'm going to buy a new car....
Tell me about it.
When you can't sleep because you are thinking about work...well, that is the definition of "stress".
I'm there.
Somehow, I think if you can afford to buy a classic Shelby Mustang; you can probably afford to put gas in it!
So, Moose the GTI you are working on; is that yours (do you own a VW)? Looks sweet!
About your service cart; are you concerned about keeping your tools secure (against theft?) or do you have a tool crib to keep it locked up at night? Are you going to get a rollaway eventually?
So, Moose the GTI you are working on; is that yours (do you own a VW)? Looks sweet!
About your service cart; are you concerned about keeping your tools secure (against theft?) or do you have a tool crib to keep it locked up at night? Are you going to get a rollaway eventually?
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I went back today and bought them. I left the Huskys hanging there.
As much as I don't like smacking a screwdriver with a hammer, it happens. The English Stanleys look like they are up for the task.
Uncle Buck
Banned
I know the old yellow and black fluted handle Stanleys with the wrench bolster just under the handle were heck for stout! I have at least one big one in my box thatI have had for years and I have pried with and beat the **** out of and you cannot tell one bit!
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
The GTI is actually an R32 with the OEM Monza wheels, it was my neighbour's. he's since replaced it with an Audi RS4.
i have no other way of securing my tools. all i have i the exact knowledge of what's in the box and where it goes. the workshop has a lot of cameras and i have a method of preventing theft. i let it be known to other that if they steal my tools, i will make it very hard for them to steal again.
I am going to get a Rollcab, a Snap-on 56" KRA box. but i will probably do that when i move. i need to save some money until then. once the Snap-on account and credit card bill's paid off. if i come across a good one on eBay, i'll take it.
eschoendorff
Well-known member
Tell me about it.
When you can't sleep because you are thinking about work...well, that is the definition of "stress".
I'm there.
And I'm right there with you... I though that with the end of the school year i'd get a little break... nope. People are already freaking about about next year... the **** storm never ends...
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
Well, no pictures of the workshop unfortunately. i just got laid off.
i was told that it's come to the end of my first 3 months of employment, and that they didn't have a space for me in the workshop, or the office. (which is bullsh*t because i'm one of three compretent techs, and they're employing 3 useless monkeys.) so i was told that at the end of the week, i'd be given my week's notice. i left about half an hour later.
So that's me out of a job. Spoken to a friend who works down the road, may have a job again by the end of the week.
-Moose.
i was told that it's come to the end of my first 3 months of employment, and that they didn't have a space for me in the workshop, or the office. (which is bullsh*t because i'm one of three compretent techs, and they're employing 3 useless monkeys.) so i was told that at the end of the week, i'd be given my week's notice. i left about half an hour later.
So that's me out of a job. Spoken to a friend who works down the road, may have a job again by the end of the week.
-Moose.