They did back in the day. They targeted the industrial sector.
Seem to be world leaders in measuring tools ... expensive (very). Buy once, cry once!
Knipex cutters are great. I have a battered pair of 160's that still work well ...My newest hand tool upgrade arrived. I was doing an electrical project recently and was pissed about how my wire cutters appeared to be blunt instruments. I think I got them out of the bargain bin at Ace six years ago. So I treated myself to something nice. Something red. Something German.
Excellent quality right out of the box. They all operate smooth and the handles are wider and flatter near the tail end, giving you better purchase and more comfort. Overall, extremely pleased.
They would not stay closed for very long I think they were just plain worn out. Probably a little older too cause of the color difference. But the cashier and manager gave me no hassle at all and were very friendly.
The pliers are Snap-on so is the rusty wrench. You can barely see it but it is. I’m going to see if my dealer can help me out on warranty with the pliers the tip of them is messed up. No problem if he can’t but I think he will especially after I was honest with him on that ratchet. $8 for all of that.
All the sockets except the big one are AutoCraft. I don’t know why but I love auto parts store tools I just think they are cool lol. The extension is a TEQ also from Advance Auto. The big 15/16 socket is a Craftsman USA. When I got to the register the guy counted them looked at them and said $32 for everything I looked at him and said pass. The lady working there chased us out the door begging to make a deal so I finally got them down to $10 probably too much but oh well I like tools and heck she wanted to make a sale she seen my Snap-on shirt and hat and was chatting about that too so I just gave the $10 and out the door I went.The plastic disc might be a new cost savings measure possibly.
Proto J5457F
I bit on this because a youtuber I watch vouched for them. Backdrag is really bad when new, maybe it will break in. The chrome cover on the reversing mechanism is electroplated plastic. Knurling on the handle is good but they left the points pretty sharp, I can easily see it tearing a latex glove.
Made in Italy, I think it's a USAG product. I doubt it's 'the same as a Mac round head' as everyone says, but I've never touched a Mac round head. To be fair to the youtuber his are at least older than 2017 and well worn.
Mine are metal. It is the same ratchet as sold by MAC aside from the handle. MAC's version has a bimaterial comfort grip handle. great ratchets across all three drive sizes if access isn't an issue because, they're a bit thick headed. New from the factory, those round head palm control ratchets come greased. The grease often hardens and dries out with storage age. You may want to disassemble, inspect, and lube with a thin oil if needed. During reassembly, there is a sweet spot when tightening the head screw. some people snug it tight, then back it off two turns. You'll have to experiment to see what works best for you. Don't forget to align the pin on the underside of the reversing switch with the v in the heart shaped spring during reassembly too. with use and age both the handle knurling and ratcheting action will smooth out. 
I like the look of those roto ratchets are they any good?This weeks stuff.
No lemons yet!
I haven't been in opplemans in YEARS they went from a small shop downtown to that building about 15 years ago and when they moved they got to where they wanted outrageous prices eventually I quit going in and looking, maybe I'll have to stop in one day did it seem they had a decent amount of worthwhile inventory? Btw my shops about 5 mins from there
Warranty replacement vise grips from Harbor Freight. Well the middle set is. I found a set under the hood of a car this week so took them to Harbor Freight then the manager said well I will give you the middle ones and if you are interested I’ll give you the other two for $5 out the door tax included I said ok deal I probably don’t need them but hey they are good to have. Here is the set that I replaced:
Next up pawn shop hauls: first is the oldest pawn shop in the United States located in Lynchburg Virginia called L. Oppleman pawn shop.
Ok next: a small little pawn shop.
They had decent amount of inventory. More than the other Lynchburg pawn shop did. They asked 25 cents for any sockets made in China or Taiwan or places like that and any made in Germany, Japan or USA were $1.00 each not bad but not the best either. I figured since I got the Snap-on wrench and pliers it was ok for the $8. It was the only two Snap-on things I seen. Tons of Craftsman USA but I was being rushed by the family didn’t get to look at all I wanted too but oh well. Lots of tools they had a lot of tool inventory but not as many tools as say guitars or gold or anything like that.
Anymore pictures of them Wright sockets?
The plastic disc might be a new cost savings measure possibly.
... NOS Gedore slip joints 165mm. You can still get these new but since pandemic seem to be hard to find. Forging is typically German, rough around the edges but really good quality with very slight side-to-side play. What I like most is offset head, anti-pinch feature and compact head. Decorative grip is a nice touch too.
I forgot to update that my 3/8ths and 1/4 came in and they are metal. The backdrag was a tolerance issue, I loosened the torx screw about 1/30th a turn and it's fine. I'll probably get around to calling Proto and seeing what's up with the plastic. It looks like I'm the only person with a plastic one.
I really need these and just haven’t bit the bullet yet. Let me know how they work please.I just got these Gearwrench Extraction Sockets. I went through a pretty difficult job, rebuilding the motor on a pickup and many bolts, I had stripped heads. I borrowed some turbo sockets which got me through the job, but decided up my extraction game. The Gearwrench style promises the ability to re-use stripped bolts should you need to.
Found a home for them in my "oh ****" drawer.
in handyWhere's the hammer store?I needed a couple 48" bar clamps.
Hit Blowes, nothing over 24".
Hit the hammer store, theirs went from 36" to 60".
So, a pair of hammer store 60" bar clamps.
Very light, I'm sure they would self-destruck under heavy use.
For my needs, So far, so good!
Especially at ~$17 apiece!
Nice pickups! Those 97ACFs are my favorite pliers. Very smooth action, great grip, and I love the padded/surfaced handles on the Snap-on pliers. I hope you enjoy using your pair as much as I do mine.
Snap-on Monday today. Ordered the power blue screwdriver set and got some fill in and warrantied tools. The pliers are warranty for ones I got at the pawn shop. Picked up an extra 10mm cause you know you gotta have an extra of those. Then the impact sockets is a 3/8 20mm deep to fill in my set. The other two are a 15/16 and 1 inch to fill in my set as well. All 3/8 drive 6 points. I’m excited for the screwdriver set as I love blue. It’s not in stock but it allowed him to order it so hopefully it will be in soon. It’s a want and not a need but I’ve only got a few actual good screwdrivers so I’ll be excited to get them. I don’t care for the instinct handles otherwise I would of picked up a set of them.
I love the handles as well. Pliers are the thing from Snap-on that I have the most of all great pliers. If I would of bought them it would of been $55 so I’m glad I could get them for $8 because that’s how much I paid for that old pair at the pawn shop lol. My dealer was happy to replace them for me too. I needed a good set of needle nose anyway so I’m glad to here yours have given you good luck and good use. Hope those blue screwdrivers are giving you good use as well. Looks like we will have some of the same tools
.
. I picked this up this weekend. Has a 6' bucket and also came with a set of forks and will accept all skid steer attachments. On the back it's a extend-a-hoe with a 9" and 24" bucket that'll dig down 10'1". Best part for trenching is the back-hoe moves from side to side so you don't have to over excavate as much as a standard mini-ex. All of this on a platform the size of a skidsteer. All I can say is this retirement gig is getting better by the day! 
Wait - what are these screwdrivers? I think that says "Garant" on the handles - is that related to the Canadian Garant tool company that makes shovels and sledge hammers, etc? They look like PB Swiss screwdrivers though.
Jealous, soooo jealous... Congrats!!Well I figured this qualified as a tool......it's a tool I'm using to add on another 1200' to my existing 1200' shop
I assume there is no association with the Canada Garant.
Interesting! Well they look really nice. Where can I check them out?
What year Q7? We just got a 2012 (not exactly newer) and I'm slowly finding out what specialty sockets I need to work on the thing. Also planning on picking up a B8.5 S4 relatively soon so want to be prepared!Found that a newer Audi Q7 I was working on required a specialty socket to remove the front 6 piston caliper from the bracket. Thought I had every inverted socket set known to man but leave it up to VAG to invent some new ish. Also underneath is a form a funnel with I prolly should bought yrs ago, that'll come in handy
