To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Show your new tool arrivals

To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Steve_P

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 15, 2010
Messages
5,182
It is probably because more people are starting to see the value of a healthy work life balance and are tired of having to work overtime or second and third jobs to make ends meet. If a shop it allowing OT without restrictions it sounds like they are understaffed and I would look at why they are understaffed. If less employees are willing to work OT then it forces the managers/owners to raise the headcount and address what ever reason(s) lead to the understaffing. Whether its low base pay, working conditions, culture in the shop or some combination of those.

For reference, when I worked in the oil field it was nothing to put in 60hrs in the span of 3 days. I went 72hrs straight one time and that **** was stupid. You do not want someone that has been up that long handling explosives yet there I was because we were short staffed. I made some good money but it just wasn't worth it.

Agree about not working crazy hours. But it is cheaper for a business that offers paid benefits like health care, holidays, and vacation, to work 6-8 guys each 5-6 hours of OT a week than it is to hire another person- because of the cost of the benefits for an additional person.

I worked for a company that would typically work mechanical designers 5-7 hours OT a week. The designers always complained about the OT. When business slowed and the OT went away, then they also complained about the lack of OT $- because even 5 hours at 1.5X your wage is a significant amount of additional $.
 

Callelle

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 3, 2022
Messages
638
Location
Depew NY
Got a bunch of broken older craftsman ratchets in a tool haul I scored so I figured I'd see about warrantying them. Lowe's basically told me to piss off so I emailed Craftsman, waited about a month, and these showed up today. I was expecting some basic ratchets, not the new V-Series ones.
 

Attachments

  • 297613294_443922027635795_4498603209180706730_n.jpg
    297613294_443922027635795_4498603209180706730_n.jpg
    196.8 KB · Views: 233

darkzero

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 20, 2011
Messages
3,322
Location
SoCal
I haven't been buying much lately, trying not to spend money. Staying away from this thread helps a lot! But sometimes it's to hard not to look! :ROFLMAO:

Engineer PZ-57 for smaller screws & another pair of the 5" Tsunoda zip tie cutters. Got 3 of the Tsunodas now, they really come in handy for me.
20220805_175924.jpg

The new ToughBuilt Reload. Thought it would be gimmicky & too fat but I finally opened it & used it today. Didn't need it but I'm actually pretty happy with it & no longer have buyers remorse.
20220805_180020.jpg
 

bubinga

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 26, 2014
Messages
12,744
Location
Bridgeport Ohio. (Across River From Wheeling WV)

Attachments

  • 00W0W_k91guiN5wpCz_0CI0t2_1200x900.jpg
    00W0W_k91guiN5wpCz_0CI0t2_1200x900.jpg
    115.7 KB · Views: 51
  • 00B0B_aWhqOTZ4iDjz_0CI0t2_1200x900.jpg
    00B0B_aWhqOTZ4iDjz_0CI0t2_1200x900.jpg
    80.3 KB · Views: 67

ecotec

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 5, 2010
Messages
5,440
Bubinga, everyone, that I know, who has one of those “Chinese wonder vises” absolutely loves theirs.
 

Deadsquiggles

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 3, 2014
Messages
769
Location
Chesapeake, VA
Agree about not working crazy hours. But it is cheaper for a business that offers paid benefits like health care, holidays, and vacation, to work 6-8 guys each 5-6 hours of OT a week than it is to hire another person- because of the cost of the benefits for an additional person.

I worked for a company that would typically work mechanical designers 5-7 hours OT a week. The designers always complained about the OT. When business slowed and the OT went away, then they also complained about the lack of OT $- because even 5 hours at 1.5X your wage is a significant amount of additional $.
It’s always funny to see the guys that are never happy no matter what. They (usually engineers and managers) complain about working overtime, even just a few hours (while us production guys are regularly working 60+ a week) and the complain more when the overtime goes away cause they’re short on cash.

We’re on mandatory 7-12s right now. Me and other Backshift supervisor have been splitting between ourselves so we don’t get burned out, our mechanics are doing the same thing. Those same mechanics are currently complaining about hours and when the hours go back to normal in a week or two, they’ll start complaining about money. I figure work the overtime while it’s there and use the money towards things that makes my life easier in the long run like tools and stuff that I can use to make money.

M12 Stubby 3/8 impact showed up today (courtesy of OT lol)
 

Attachments

  • 6D8181AF-9AFB-44D1-B755-37671E83D030.jpeg
    6D8181AF-9AFB-44D1-B755-37671E83D030.jpeg
    271.3 KB · Views: 78
Last edited:

ecotec

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 5, 2010
Messages
5,440
Good31Qb+J-twxL._SS135_.jpg to know! Didn't seem to get a lot of love from the group.
Just used it to press in the round dog bone bushings for my car.
You have to let that go. These guys are more the “I got a $1000 Wilton bullet vise for $50” crowd… you are not going to get these guys too excited about any Chinese vise. To get these guys excited about a vise, they want to see high dollar USA/England/Germany… for less than Harbor Freight…

I admit… I have 2 Wilton bullet vises… but before that, I had a cheap Columbian. Your Chinese wonder vise is a more useful vise. I have known a few people that had iterations of that vise. They all loved them.
 
Last edited:

bubinga

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 26, 2014
Messages
12,744
Location
Bridgeport Ohio. (Across River From Wheeling WV)
You have to let that go. These guys are more the “I got a $1000 Wilton bullet vise for $50” crowd… you are not going to get these guys too excited about any Chinese vise. To get these guys excited about a vise, they want to see high dollar USA/England/Germany… for less than Harbor Freight…

I admit… I have 2 Wilton bullet vises… but before that, I had a cheap Columbian. Your Chinese wonder vise is a more useful vise. I have known a few people that had iterations of that vise. They all loved them.
Thanks, I think it will serve me well.

I missed a 5"bullet vise, nice shape too. She was asking $40.00!
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

kudakev615

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 10, 2017
Messages
174
PXL_20220807_220052301.jpg

20 yrs professionally as an auto tech and just getting around to buying left handed drill bits. I snapped a caliper slide pin bolt with my m18 mid torque last week😬 Picked up a set for drill hog US made set off of amazon to try out. Needing to replace my SO neck/head lamps and my dealer said they're back ordered. My research shows ez red is the OE supplier with a slightly different design; I battery packs on each side instead of on the back which requires the supplied micro USB Y spiller cable. Bought one from Amazon, tried it out on Fri and loved it so I bought a second one that evening. With not having the battery pack on the rear of the head band it doesn't cause it slip off my head when looking up and the band has more tension making it fit better. Plus it's half the price of the SO ones making it a BOGO deal🤣
 

kudakev615

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 10, 2017
Messages
174
^maybe youre right:eek: the box is stamped made in usa but the bits are probably china, ohh well
 

66HertzClone

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Dec 6, 2006
Messages
4,037
Location
Long Valley, NJ
PXL_20220807_220052301.jpg

20 yrs professionally as an auto tech and just getting around to buying left handed drill bits. I snapped a caliper slide pin bolt with my m18 mid torque last week😬 Picked up a set for drill hog US made set off of amazon to try out. Needing to replace my SO neck/head lamps and my dealer said they're back ordered. My research shows ez red is the OE supplier with a slightly different design; I battery packs on each side instead of on the back which requires the supplied micro USB Y spiller cable. Bought one from Amazon, tried it out on Fri and loved it so I bought a second one that evening. With not having the battery pack on the rear of the head band it doesn't cause it slip off my head when looking up and the band has more tension making it fit better. Plus it's half the price of the SO ones making it a BOGO deal🤣
Which Ez Red version are those? A link maybe?
 

LeeG

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 29, 2012
Messages
1,525
Location
Phoenix, AZ
On my way through KC last week, I stopped by Harry Epstein’s. Two hours and more than a few dollars later, I left with a small stack.



Proto flat blade screwdriver set
2 12” Palmgren C-clamps with 10” throat
Shinwa taper gauge
Garland 2” rawhide deadblow hammer
Set of 3 Gray Tools pin spanners
Set of 2 Wright face spanners
Mayhew brass punch set
Set of Moody micro-wrenches - something I didn’t know existed became something I had to have over the course of 10 seconds.

I had a nice time in the store. It isn’t often that I see tools that I have no idea what they are, but it happened several times when I was in there.




Lee
 

darkzero

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 20, 2011
Messages
3,322
Location
SoCal
Picked up a couple of creepers, tool creepers that is. I don't even own a creeper for myself to lay on, I just use cardboard. :)

First one is HF. Had my eye on the PT one but the HF is only $15 so that's well worth it. I was planning to wait for Labor Day sale but I have some work to do this week. So plan was to just buy it today. When I woke up this morning, I had a 30% off under $20 coupon in my email. Perfect timing, got it for $10.50. Can't beat that, thank you HF!
20220808_094950.jpg

Second one I picked up from California Car Cover. Wanted it cause it's smaller, all metal, & was only $23. Handles flip up to carry it. Luckily I got it cause the guy said it was discontinued & this was the last one they had. Made by Whiteside p/n TC-101 (they make mechanic's creeper & seats).
20220802_141613.jpg
20220802_141643.jpg

I didn't like the acorn nuts sticking up on the tray surface. So I installed button head screws instead. Not a big deal but I like it much better this way.
20220803_140120.jpg
20220805_180201.jpg

Both for size comparison.
20220808_095108.jpg

While I was at Cal Car Cover I picked up another polyurethane jack pad for my alumn jack. I rarely use that jack but why not. Made by Protech that I didn't know is also local to me.
20220802_141347.jpg

The square one is also made by Protech & also got it from Cal Car Cover years ago.
20220808_152418.jpg

Magnetic spray can holder from Amazon. I've been using the HF ones but this one holds 3 cans & fits perfect in between the recess on my Craftsman/Waterloo box. The HF ones are much better quality though. I had to reglue all the magnets on this one. Won't be buying anymore of these.
20220808_131013.jpg

HF
20220808_130839.jpg
 
Last edited:

Mr. Roboto

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 11, 2012
Messages
2,160
Location
New Hampshire
I finally purchased 2 things that I’ve been meaning to build myself for years, but have never got around to it.

The first is a wall mounted grease gun holder. Holds the gun and collects the drips from both the hose end and the bottom of the gun itself.

FA56D1A8-8F9F-4421-83DF-1E6EF3679F48.jpeg


The second is a zip tie organizer.

18B04A28-9189-4C63-8151-B38565180F77.jpeg

Has magnets on the side and the bottom for east mounting.

5ECC5D9B-7498-4472-A7C9-EA64ECEFDD6F.jpeg
 

darkzero

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 20, 2011
Messages
3,322
Location
SoCal
Good job on replacing the acorn nuts. I have the plastic one, and cut some scrap leather to line the bigger trays, which have worked out pretty well.
Thanks. Nice, that's a good idea. I have a bunch of ribbed rubber matting, maybe I'll try using some of that some day.
 

M635_Guy

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 5, 2019
Messages
4,334
Location
NC
Thanks. Nice, that's a good idea. I have a bunch of ribbed rubber matting, maybe I'll try using some of that some day.
It was a bit of a PITA. My method was to cut paper to the shape, transfer that to cardboard and then use the cardboard as a cutting template. It wasn't a perfect process (mainly lack of skill on my part), but it didn't need to be.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom