Recent content by englishsam

In the UK it's not uncommon for mechanics to only have 1/2 impact guns. 3/8 is more common now but 1/2 is pretty much the standard. I have a full set of 3/8 impact sockets but that is not usual. Different places do different things in different ways. If I were to use a 17mm socket on 3/8...

Why do you need a wobble? Would a wobble bar give you the clearence? Contrary to the internet hype a crome will do the job and not kill you. It might kill the socket at some point - in the form of a split but not an explosion. If you need a wobble impact then just use it. I'd be willing to...

Short story. I was a British Soldier who was blown up in Afghanistan. I had my ribs broken, all the skin burnt off my left arm up to the point of my body armor. My jaw broken. The skin from my face burns off on the left side and half my hair burnt off. I also lost a singular testicle meaning I...

Why would he want wobble impacts on lug nuts? If he needs wobble it's probably for a reason. If it's for something as easy as a lug nut I'm sure he'd use a breaker bar or simply a chrome socket.

You are more likely to shear off the head off the bolt than damage the socket. I find generally that the 1/2 to 3/8 step down will break before the socket. It's not ideal but it will probably be fine. If you are using it day in day out as a mechanic then it's a silly idea. For a one-off or for...

Easy... I use 9mm more than you'd think. Brake calliper bleeders are common. I use it for other stuff as well.

Forget the m12. I have more tools than any man could need. But I enjoy them and they bring me happiness so I keep buying them. Bigger isn't always better. In fact, I use the smallest tool to do a given job. That being said if I were to have one impact it would be the biggest I could afford...

An oscillating multi tool is what you want. Or just take the end off with an angle grinder.

Makita 18V jobby is what you want. It's not overly fast but not overly slow. Will hold up to some abuse and if it conks then use the warranty to have a new one. Wouldn't bother with mickey mouse 12V stuff.

I have the Makita. I love the small form factor of the 3/8 impact. And use it a lot. It's my go to impact gun for none 'heavy work'. I also have two 1/2 inch impacts from Makita. Which come out if you have something a bit more intimidating to tackle. I've not used adaptors on them. And have...

I have a fluke 325 as a stand alone unit. And it does a nice job generally and is all the DMM that most home mechanics could ever need. I wouldn't trust it for the very low current readings or to be horrifically accurate. But if you are not paying thousands I wouldn't put a lot of faith in any...

My problem with the buy once try once thing is... That a single multimeter isn't actually that useful. I know this is automotive related. And I did RF electronics when I worked in the field. But you wouldn't just assume any meter or scope was showing you the right information. You'd use a...

When I said either I was referring to the two meters being asked about. However, I don't think the average home mechanic would benefit from an oscilloscope. Not least because I doubt they'd have any idea how to use it. Someone using it for work and who knows what they are doing is likely to...

I'll often buy singles if it's a weird size. Especially something very large. Brought a single 36mm recently as I lost the other and there is no need for a set with 35mm and other never used sockets.

As the owner of LOADS of Fluke Meters and a fair few oscilloscopes (for a while I worked in an electrical field)... I don't think you need either on a car. If you want to spend the money then crack on. I have the 87V and it's okay. But a fluke 115/6/7 will do all the work that the more...