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LXCam

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Apr 23, 2013
Messages
19,106
Location
AZ
This is a stock photo, but I picked up one of these at Grainger's last week. Apex 1-inch bitset for $ cheap on closeout. (Via the **hot deals** thread).

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Damn, I’m in graingers a lot and missed this. I really like apex products. I might have call my inside guy tomorrow and see what’s up.

Well today I bought what I hope is a decent lid for my needs. Hope it doesn’t piss off all my blue hot glue guns.

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GeoBruin

Well-known member
Joined
May 5, 2018
Messages
3,735
Damn, I’m in graingers a lot and missed this. I really like apex products. I might have call my inside guy tomorrow and see what’s up.

Well today I bought what I hope is a decent lid for my needs. Hope it doesn’t piss off all my blue hot glue guns.

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If you cared about ******* off your blue machines, you would have got it in the plain black option. That red is just itching for a fight.
 

willf650

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 10, 2010
Messages
796
I saw this in a SEMA video I believe. Thought it was expensive but I finally picked it up for my Milwaukee topper light. It's a magnetic battery mount for M18 batteries.
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Last week I needed a twin for my 12" Knipex as I always use them in pairs. I tried some harbor freight Doyles but there is a noticeable difference in their function so I ponyed up and bought the real deal.
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Ohio Andy

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 31, 2024
Messages
2,263
Location
Columbus, Ohio
This is a stock photo, but I picked up one of these at Grainger's last week. Apex 1-inch bitset for $ cheap on closeout. (Via the **hot deals** thread).

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I have been tempted by that a few times, how do you like it? Especially when it went on clearance, I just kept reminding myself that I am waiting on a large shipment from Zephyr placed last year. They estimated a shipment date of 01/31/26, I need to ask for an updated ETA.
 

Model A Fan

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 1, 2011
Messages
1,218
Location
NW Washington
I saw this in a SEMA video I believe. Thought it was expensive but I finally picked it up for my Milwaukee topper light. It's a magnetic battery mount for M18 batteries.
IMG_2211.jpeg
IMG_2214.jpeg

Last week I needed a twin for my 12" Knipex as I always use them in pairs. I tried some harbor freight Doyles but there is a noticeable difference in their function so I ponyed up and bought the real deal.
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The battery holder looks like its 3D printed...? What did it cost?
 

cody1325

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 17, 2024
Messages
1,081
Location
Southwest Virginia
Montgomery Ward Powr-Kraft TPC-8941A 2-Speed Reciprocating Saw.

Cost me $10 at my local Goodwill.

The date code is 76U, which should put it somewhere in the middle of 1967.

Needs the cord replaced and a new strain relief (plus a good cleaning, maintenance, and restoration), but it still works! It's supposed to be able to hold the blade at six different positions. I couldn't get the blade to go in, but found it uses two, not one grub screws. Once I loosened that one, the blade slid in. It also takes two to hold down the Kobalt metal blade I tried.

While this tool is planned to just be a display item, I did use it on one part of an old, rusty shelf demo this afternoon--cut slow, but was surprisingly smooth.

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Just me, or were power tools painfully expensive compared to now? This saw cost the equivalent of a week's pay in 1967 at $44.99 (which is about $440 these days). Checking stores around me, the most expensive corded saw is Milwaukee's at $150--with Harbor Freight's offerings at $50 for the Bauer and $90 for the Hercules. And all of these are much more powerful saws--with the Milwaukee and Bauer at 10 amps, and the Hercules at 12. $440 gets me the top of the line Milwaukee and a battery. My Milwuakee is a secondhand 10A Super Sawzall from the mid '90s, and it cuts MUCH faster.
 
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YesIHaveAHammer

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 1, 2025
Messages
801
PB Swiss 1255.MR-80 Cross T handle – universal hex bit holder with ratchet
I had my eye on this for a while so finally got it purely because I liked it. It's very nice as expected, but I've not yet found much I prefer a ratcheting T handle for over other options.
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PB Swiss C6 971 BitBlock empty
Holds the bits well, easy to insert/remove, and no bulkier than it needs to be. This newer version can be clipped together, but only holds lightly. Old bits I had to hand just for show.
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PB Swiss 38678 Curved tip PickTool, SwissGrip Evo handle
This has a compound bend tip shape (up then right) that Stahlwille doesn't do (my set). It's much more dainty than those, as I expected from what I read on here.
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T45

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 20, 2014
Messages
3,250
I have been tempted by that a few times, how do you like it? Especially when it went on clearance, I just kept reminding myself that I am waiting on a large shipment from Zephyr placed last year. They estimated a shipment date of 01/31/26, I need to ask for an updated ETA.
This is a case where I had a specific job/use for it, and its perfect the application. The hollow ground flat-tips, torx, and SAE hex are all excellent. The handle and power adapter (being circlip) won't be to everyone's taste, and plastic box is probably 10 years old, tho...:lol:
 

Jeffrey D

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 9, 2016
Messages
90
Location
Christiana, TN
Snap-On 70-b pliers. From the date code, they seem to be from 1963. Sixty three years later, they will still be used as I picked them up on ebay to remove and install a retainer ring for the upper bearing on nose landing gear struts. I don't do gear repacks very often, but these should be a big help when I do it again in the future.

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LXCam

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Apr 23, 2013
Messages
19,106
Location
AZ
A freebi with a uline order.

Glad I didn’t buy one, it’s most unimpressive. The ratchet aspect seems ok but the bits **** a big one. The apex of the Phillips is fn awful.

It gets 👎👎👎 from me. In to the misc drawer it goes for a rainy day

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LXCam

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Apr 23, 2013
Messages
19,106
Location
AZ
They changed a fastener where a long driver is advantageous, a T27, $16 it's a light duty application so some Chena junk.

Time will tell.
I'm now thinking about maybe trying out my Wera long bits and see how they fit. I've never liked the handle of my Wera set, its too damn small for my hands. I really only need to carry a # 1 & 2, a small slotted and larger one plus a T10, 15, 20 & 27 security for a multitude on the little **** I look into. It would be really handy to have just one thing to deal with.
 

LXCam

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Apr 23, 2013
Messages
19,106
Location
AZ
I'm now thinking about maybe trying out my Wera long bits and see how they fit. I've never liked the handle of my Wera set, its too damn small for my hands. I really only need to carry a # 1 & 2, a small slotted and larger one plus a T10, 15, 20 & 27 security for a multitude on the little **** I look into. It would be really handy to have just one thing to deal with.
Well I’ll be damned, that’s a winner right there. The bits are the perfect size/fit plus I not only have a handle that’s a better fit, it’s now got some mass to it so I can spin machine screws in like nothing. I just bolted back together a small ups I was testing / troubleshooting in nothing flat.

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LXCam

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Apr 23, 2013
Messages
19,106
Location
AZ
Vessel makes bit sets that look to be about that long. Might make that a bit more usable for short $.
So you’re saying vessel makes a similar length bit? Thanks professor, I’ll have to see if I can hunt down the individual bits I’d want.

It really goes against my grain to break up sets and I’ve never seen individual replacements for this style wera bit.
 

LXCam

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Apr 23, 2013
Messages
19,106
Location
AZ
Just checked, and they're 90mm.
ON THE MONEY!


EDIT, Vessel doesn't make security bits :) But still I'm not detoured, I'll buy another wera set if I need too.

I did find that KC Tools sells what I want and is in stock. But by the time I picked out what I wanted, it exceeded what I paid for that entire kit. I'll wait until there's another Wera deal someplace and go from there.

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Thank you kind sir 🍻
 
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neharr41

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 25, 2025
Messages
79
Location
Southern Nevada
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Snap-on 13 pc 1/2 metric impact swivel set from a pawn shop. These will replace my full Icon set and my smaller Snap-on set.

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Blue Point safety wire kit from eBay. Including a pair of reversible Blue Point-branded Milbar pliers with the hard-to-find Tigerwave non/marring jaws.

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Pretty sad that Milbar discontinued their safety wire pliers as the 9-inch reversible is the most comfortable and easy-to-use pair of safety wire pliers I’ve ever used.
 

LXCam

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Apr 23, 2013
Messages
19,106
Location
AZ
@Nobody-named-Olli

Olli my friend or anyone else with an extensive Wera collection, I got a question.

Last night while messing with those bits I noticed some wear. This kit never gets abused so I was a bit surprised.

I was wondering if anyone had noticed the difference in wear between the standard bit and the power bit. Yes I understand the power bit has a ridge to help increase bit engagement but I’d like to know if anyone noticed a difference in wear.

Thanks, Cam
 

Nobody-named-Olli

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 9, 2025
Messages
1,577
Location
North Rhine-Westphalia; Germany
@LXCam

Cam, for me all the tough-hard bits Wera offers wear out in a pretty much identical fashion whether it’s the C or E 6.3 type. Phillips and Pozi drive are obviously the worst offenders among them. And it depends a lot on the fit inside the head of the screw. I’ve had bits look battered after only a couple of screws without any of the obvious reasons like cam out. Wera really doesn’t have any magic sauce here with their tough-hard type bits. I rarely use them these days to be honest, for the most part exactly because of experience like this.

Also it’s really hard to tell, with all the changes Wera made over the years, what type exactly was/is in each set.

My stuff, except for one Advent-Calendar set and a couple of singles (especially stainless), is so old it’s even hard to find a more recent successor. I don’t even know if they still make the distinction between “tough-hard” and “hard”.

And then there were the gold colored ones with “diamonds” sprinkled over them and the black “Impaktor” ones also with “diamonds” sprinkled on. At some point they made changes to both of these types as well. But those were ultimately the ones that offered the most wear resistance/ lasted longest for me. And I still have & use some of these with different kits.

I’ve honestly lost oversight on their current offerings. It‘s been ages since they shipped me a paper catalog which was like the “Bible of available bits” at a time. Explanations of the different types/series included.

All I can really suggest is, if you feel like they are not holding up to your expectations, get in contact with Wera and tell them just that and hopefully they ship you some replacements and advise on what to buy from their line-up with future purchases.

Last but not least, consider if you might get more out of/ better results with another brand’s bits.

My personal experience is that Wera’s quality has not really improved over the years, it’s hovering around mediocre/acceptable for most stuff and they are putting their efforts more behind the “tool rebel” branding/ marketing instead of the quality of the products they offer.

In a line, excessive wear on “tough-hard” bits from Wera is not unknown to me.

Here’s a prime example from a set that I keep around solely for the purpose of “dirty demolition”.

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Kind regards,
Olli
 
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ETJ

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 23, 2023
Messages
126
First 2nd hand tools tool haul of the year:

Mac tools master axle puller set (OTC?)
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Mac tools inner tie rod tool (Lisle?)
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Mac tie rod end socket
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Mac tools windshield weather strip tool (Lisle?)
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Mac tools compression tester deep well connector (OTC?)
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Mac tools Cylinder leakage tester
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Lisle steering wheel puller
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Some Snap-on sockets: long philips #2 and #3, long T45 (I was missing from set), 10mm double hex male, 10mm double hex female, 14mm subaru head bolt socket, 17mm o2 sensor socket, universal spark plug socket 14mm (I already had one), new 22mm deep 1/2" impact socket.
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Orange foam holder which I got for free, but then I had to get couple of unused ratchets to go with it: thll72 and thl72. Used SL80A, Unused FHOF80A and unused FH80MP. All five for 315 euros including shipping and VAT.
And a XDHF2226 wrench.
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not part of the 2nd hand tools... some more clecos

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willf650

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 10, 2010
Messages
796
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You know how much an electrician really has a thing for zipper pouches and Knipex pliers so I combined those passions and got a Knipex zipper pouch. Actually I needed something to bump a Zoro order to $50 for free shipping and this pouch was on the home page when I logged in.

It's almost like they are tracking me.


The other thing is these NWS grab anything needle nose I saw posted here. They look promising.
 

Shadowdog500

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 7, 2009
Messages
9,843
Location
Down the shore
I’ve been buying 3/8 drive impact stuff lately.

Today the 3/8” drive NANO swivel sockets arrived from Amazon.
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I went to HF to get 3/8 impact extensions and bought these two sets.
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I also saw this open box 3/8 drive ICON Metric impact socket set on 35% markdown. The end of the box was ripped but the set looked complete. They let me examine the set and the sockets were brand new and still covered in shipping (anti corrosion) oil. The set appeared to be complete so I pulled the trigger.
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When I wiped the oil off at home I realized the set had two 9mm sockets and no 8mm socket. I thought about returning the set within the 5 day return window, but decided to order a replacement 8mm ICON socket for $4.99 plus tax. With free shipping. After ordering the socket I still saved over 22% and have an extra 9mm socket.
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Pexto

Well-known member
Joined
May 5, 2018
Messages
638
Picked up a few goodies from KC this week. The Stahlwille pliers were on clearance for way cheap; I couldn't resist. These are really nice - the tips kiss gently just as the cutting edges meet. So they're capable of more precise work than a lot of linesman's pliers where the tips have a lot of clearance.

I had a project recently where a flexible shaft bit driver would've been real handy. I figured that if you're reaching around corners, solid bit retention is more important than the lower profile of a magnetic holder, so I looked for one with a mechanical chuck. This Felo chuck holds well with little play. Next time I need to sneak around an obstacle I'll be prepared.

And I succumbed to the GJ enablers, just like @willf650, so the NWS "Secure Gripping Pliers" made it into the order. These are pretty delicate but I think they'll be pretty handy. I'll note that the hole behind the curved jaws is off-center a bit, just like Will's. There's also a bit of flash next to the cutting edges. Both these issues are really just cosmetic; otherwise the level of finish is quite nice. I took a picture next to the Proto needlenose I got earlier this week to show how delicate these really are.

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Squankum

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 28, 2011
Messages
7,671
Location
Southeast
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You know how much an electrician really has a thing for zipper pouches and Knipex pliers so I combined those passions and got a Knipex zipper pouch. Actually I needed something to bump a Zoro order to $50 for free shipping and this pouch was on the home page when I logged in.

It's almost like they are tracking me.


The other thing is these NWS grab anything needle nose I saw posted here. They look promising.

I was tempted by the same NWS pliers last week, too! I'm afraid to try NWS, as people say they're better than Knipex, and I love Knipex.

I did not know that pouch was sold separately! It's the Knipex of pouches. Really nice. I got mine when I bought two long-nose Knipex needle noses a few years ago. I redirected the pouch to the Lady Squankum and her business for use as a cash pouch.

Zoro listing for pouch:
 
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