Recent content by bwringer

Yup, I've been handed some thief's used busted garbage many times at every auto parts store chain. I always, ALWAYS open each box and look. I've even caught used oil at Walmart; someone took the return without bothering to look at the bottle seal, and someone else put it back on the shelf...

Yup, an M10 AKA "Riv-Nut" or "Rivet Nut" oughta do ya. That looks like a decently clean hole, so a rivet nut should work fine. You can find inexpensive kits with manual mandrels on the Brazilian River that should work fine, or pay a little more for a squeeze tool. From what I can tell, the M10...

I swear upon all that is holy that I oriented all the screws vertically about six years ago when I replaced every last outlet and switch in my house. (They were all backstabbed by the lazy a-holes who wired this place, and several were arcing, overheating and generally trying to kill us in our...

Just noticed today's deal at Northern Tool is this Class IV Ultra Tow unit for $25 off, $195. https://www.northerntool.com/products/ultra-tow-8in-adjustable-ball-mount-aluminum-class-iv-12-000-lb-gtw-8in-drop-8-3-4in-rise-fits-2in-receivers-5714694

What on EARTH inspires ANYONE to make ANY device with an ABCDE keyboard? That would drive me bonkers in ten seconds. In a world where absolutely everyone texts on a regular basis using on-screen QWERTY keyboards, this seems particularly clueless. Maybe it's because many of these devices are very...

Ain't no such thing; they're consumables, especially #2 Phillips. They go directly into the trash the second they displease me. Sad, but that's the way it has to be, unless you like mangling screws and punching holes in your hands. Handle style is entirely personal preference, and there are...

There's a lot of personal preference, so you just sort of have to try things until you're happy. I despise, detest, loathe and can't stand soft bags and backpacks. Mainly it's just really hard to find stuff down in the darksome bowels at the bottom of any soft bag. When heavily loaded, it's...

Here ya go: https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/motion-pro-master-cylinder-snap-ring-pliers?sku_id=173957

Huh, TIL what a "Backyard Buddy" is.

I have something like 25 Ryobi tools (platform chosen specifically for the immense range of tools) and get brushless whenever possible. especially for "primary" or most-used tools where it matters. The compact brushless drill and driver set, for example, is phenomenal, and the tiny form factor...

Same. I have several of the older version with red accents; two in my main box that get daily use, and a couple in vehicle toolboxes. The chunkier ones are serviceable, but too bulky. I like the fact that it's non-conductive. And if you want the lightest, most compact possible ratchet for a...

Each chain goes into its own container. I've seen everything from ice cream buckets to old Tupperware to coffee cans used for this. If they're exposed, punch some holes in the bottom so water can drain. Everything will still become a rusty mess, but at least each chain will only be tangled with...

Looks like you got it! I also despise those stupid delicately balanced Rube Goldberg spring contrivances. Anyhoo, my contribution to the discourse was going to be the tale of a curbside find mower with a mouse nest under the cowling. After (carefully, with mask and gloves) evicting Mickey's...

Weird. I've had the kids at the Menard's paint counter match all kinds of random objects, materials, and scraps. They put it in the matchy machine, the machine goes "boop", they mix the paint according to what the machine says, and it's been pretty much perfect every time, at least within the...

@four.cycle , I'm greatly enjoying the tales of the old days behind the scenes of the parts biz!