Recent content by work tools

I've been using one daily for three months in a production shop with no problems. There might be 15 more of them, years old, where I work. My design would replace the three half width drawers with 2 full width shallow drawers but then it might cost a bit more money. I think it's a good roll...

For war time scenarios the government maintains strategic reserves of raw materials. One of the reasons we keep a powerful navy is to keep the seas open to trade. Humans had no significant degree of civilization until we were trading with each other. We've always been interdependent. It's...

I got a patent back in the day. I manufactured the product the patent protected, made it in my own boutique manufacturing facility and made some money from that product but most of the money I made was on related products that were not patented but were successful because I was first to market...

Here is a video showing some of the steps used in making sockets in a factory that makes Snap on. According to the video the system of ratchet wrenchs and sockets was invented in the 1860's. In the video we see machines and techniques that were obviously perfected decades ago. Probably...

As mentioned in another thread, I just started a new job as an apprentice helping to build automated production machines. Everybody on the production floor has their own hand tools. I can spend a couple hundred dollars a week to catch up. May be someday I'll own a big box full of heir loom...

Two months ago I started working in a custom build shop, on an apprentice level, with few tools. The shop makes automated production machines for assembly lines, mostly one-of-kind projects. A significant percentage of the machines are exported, including to Asia. I'm spending as much of my...

One more question someone might be able to answer. Virtually all hand held electric drills have reverse. There are dozens of models of air drills and most of them do not have reverse. Does anyone know why.

I have no experience with air tools but require an air drill for a new job where it will get daily use, occaisionally for hours at a time. Today I picked up a 20 year old new-in-the-box Master Power 1446, 3/8" chuck, 2600 rpm. Price $100. In a quick test it sounds great and is blessedly...