Show your new tool arrivals

[four.cycle]

@NFT5 -
re: "Kincrome"

Any idea where the product is manufactured? From their website, it appears they are a distributor, not a manufacturer.

Kincrome / Kincrome Australia Pty. Ltd., 3 Lakeview Dr., Caribbean Business Park, Scoresby Victoria 3179, Australia / https://www.kincrome.com.au/ est. 1976 /

 

[Ohio Andy]

The 7 and 9mil ones are. The 5 mil blue have really went down in quality but the green 5 mil seem stronger I don’t know if it’s like a different formula or what. At work we have the MicroFlex Diamond Grip and sometimes the MicroFlex Safe Grip and both are pretty strong as long as you don’t have any latex allergies. I’d definitely recommend the MicroFlex over Hardy these days.

I do use the blue, but mostly the orange when using hardy.

https://www.harborfreight.com/7-mil-textured-grip-nitrile-powder-free-gloves-50-pack-orange-70712.html

 

[gatewaysysop]

Who’s using a case?

For the Venom gloves, I watchlisted the 500 pack to see when it goes on a sale. A couple times a year there tend to be very steep discounts and I stock up.

 

[16again]

Needed another miscellaneous small screw and bolt holder.
Went orange.
Have a Milwaukee since they were first released.
I think this for about 1/2 the price of an equivalent Milwaukee is a good fit.

 

[Squankum]

The 7 and 9mil ones are. The 5 mil blue have really went down in quality but the green 5 mil seem stronger I don’t know if it’s like a different formula or what. At work we have the MicroFlex Diamond Grip and sometimes the MicroFlex Safe Grip and both are pretty strong as long as you don’t have any latex allergies. I’d definitely recommend the MicroFlex over Hardy these days.

Dude at Advance Auto steered me towards MicroFlex Diamond Grip years ago and I've felt no reason to stray. They're thin and give good feedback but rarely break. All of the brands of black gloves, I ignore, because I want to know how dirty my glove is before I go touching something non-industrial! HF's black gloves, and teeny tiny price tags on the shelves that I couldn't read, deterred me several years back, and I keep using my MF Diamond Grips.

Tip for tightwads: you can wash your hands in the sink, regular bar soap, with your gloves on and clean the gloves up reasonably well, take them off, let them dry, use them again later.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I use my tomato trellises in back to dry them on. I re-use them if they're not all greasy or shredded. Most of the time they fail when I snag them on a pokey thing.

 

[Skyman]

Dude at Advance Auto steered me towards MicroFlex Diamond Grip years ago and I've felt no reason to stray. They're thin and give good feedback but rarely break. All of the brands of black gloves, I ignore, because I want to know how dirty my glove is before I go touching something non-industrial! HF's black gloves, and teeny tiny price tags on the shelves that I couldn't read, deterred me several years back, and I keep using my MF Diamond Grips.

Tip for tightwads: you can wash your hands in the sink, regular bar soap, with your gloves on and clean the gloves up reasonably well, take them off, let them dry, use them again later.

I've used SG or Spray Nine on a paper towel to reduce the nastiness of my orange diamond grips. Works pretty well. Then I peel 'em off inside-out, and hang 'em up to let the sweat dry off of them. Good to go for the next time.

 

[Squankum]

I've used SG or Spray Nine on a paper towel to reduce the nastiness of my orange diamond grips. Works pretty well. Then I peel 'em off inside-out, and hang 'em up to let the sweat dry off of them. Good to go for the next time.

SG = Simple Green?

(I call it Simple Goon.)

 

[Skyman]

SG = Simple Green?

(I call it Simple Goon.)

Yep. Simple Green (or Goon, as you prefer). Seems to be a little more effective than Spray Nine (None?).

After they're dry inside, I fold 'em back right side out, huff and puff to reinflate the fingers and thumbs, and back on they go for another round of grimy tasks.

If they get too filthy, I'll sometimes pause in the middle of a job, clean 'em up a bit with SG, and get back to work.

 

[Squankum]

Yep. Simple Green (or Goon, as you prefer). Seems to be a little more effective than Spray Nine (None?).

After they're dry inside, I fold 'em back right side out, huff and puff to reinflate the fingers and thumbs, and back on they go for another round of grimy tasks.

If they get too filthy, I'll sometimes pause in the middle of a job, clean 'em up a bit with SG, and get back to work.

Ditto with the finger reinflation.

 

[NFT5]

@NFT5 -
re: "Kincrome"

Any idea where the product is manufactured? From their website, it appears they are a distributor, not a manufacturer.

Kincrome / Kincrome Australia Pty. Ltd., 3 Lakeview Dr., Caribbean Business Park, Scoresby Victoria 3179, Australia / https://www.kincrome.com.au/ est. 1976 /

As far as tool boxes go, made in China, according to the packaging. I've had the matching base and top box for some years and never had the slightest problem with them. Stronger than most.

As for other products, most of the core tools are specifically made for them. A lot of their products, like their spanners, are a somewhat unique design and I've never seen that from any other brand. Same with screwdrivers, hammers, sockets and ratchets. There are some ancillary tools that they obviously just buy and distribute. Where? Various places I'd guess, depending on what quality/price they can get. Kincrome are positioned here as a tradesman's quality tool and I'd agree with that. Never heard of nor had any issues with quality.

 

[FigN⋅m]

Kincrome Build Wars is also a very fun series to watch

https://www.youtube.com/@kincrome/videos

 

[Beerhippie]

Ditto with the finger reinflation.

I'm lazy-use the blowgun.

 

[Skyman]

I'm lazy-use the blowgun.

I'm far too lazy (and impatient) to walk across the garage to the compressor, fire it up, attach the blow gun, wait for pressure to build, insert gun into glove, inflate...

 

[SC Fly Guy]

Not tools per se, but some PPE in preparation for heavy yard work. The protective sleeves were on clearance for $4.50 at H-D, so I stocked up. For you young guys, one of the many downsides to aging is that your skin turns to paper … any time I trim the hedges, I look like I got into a tussle with an angry cat!! These should protect my fragile skin!

 

[Kurt4440]

I've used SG or Spray Nine on a paper towel to reduce the nastiness of my orange diamond grips. Works pretty well. Then I peel 'em off inside-out, and hang 'em up to let the sweat dry off of them. Good to go for the next time.

I thought that I was the only frugal person who hung my gloves inside out to dry. I use 3 free Harbor Freight magnetic rails above my workbench with binder clips to dry out or store gloves.

 

[Twisted Sid]

Do you guys also clean and reuse ziploc bags? Paper towels? Bandaids? Chewing gum?

 

[sk farmer]

Do you guys also clean and reuse ziploc bags? Paper towels? Bandaids? Chewing gum?

toilet paper and condoms?

 

[ChefRex]

Do you guys also clean and reuse ziploc bags? Paper towels? Bandaids? Chewing gum?

Ziplocs, all the time.
Gloves, yes, I I don't even pay for them at work, ziptyes too.

 

[Prospecter]

Do you guys also clean and reuse ziploc bags? Paper towels? Bandaids? Chewing gum?

Why not! Good to keep stuff out of the landfill. Shop towels often make excellent fire starters for the wood stove.

 

[neophyte]

Do you guys also clean and reuse ziploc bags? Paper towels? Bandaids? Chewing gum?

Reusable ziplock bags are a thing.
Some are silicone rubber, with others being stiffer harder plastic.
I actually sort of like the reusable bags for certain tool and part storage.
I rarely reuse basic ziplock bags, unless it’s just for basic clean storage.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

I don’t re-use anything that is contaminated - or would cross-contaminate stuff if re-used.

But especially the diamond grip gloves when used for painting, oiling, cleaning, (…) will easily last through more than just single use. I make that decision at will, by case. I do not generally ”clean” them, but I will hang ‘em to dry and re-use.

“Clean” ziplock bags get re-used all the time. I receive a lot of them with my purchases from suppliers and it seems a waste to recycle them because they held some tooling, bits, or the like. I do not “clean” dirty ziplock bags, those get recycled. But the majority of the ziplock bags I receive were used solely because the supplier/ picker needed a spot to put the “outgoing”-label identifying part#, order# and customer# on.

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[Skyman]

I thought that I was the only frugal person who hung my gloves inside out to dry. I use 3 free Harbor Freight magnetic rails above my workbench with binder clips to dry out or store gloves.

That works. I use wooden spring-type clothespins.

 

[Skyman]

I don’t re-use anything that is contaminated - or would cross-contaminate stuff if re-used.

But especially the diamond grip gloves when used for painting, oiling, cleaning, (…) will easily last through more than just single use. I make that decision at will, by case. I do not generally ”clean” them, but I will hang ‘em to dry and re-use.

“Clean” ziplock bags get re-used all the time. I receive a lot of them with my purchases from suppliers and it seems a waste to recycle them because they held some tooling, bits, or the like. I do not “clean” dirty ziplock bags, those get recycled. But the majority of the ziplock bags I receive were used solely because the supplier/ picker needed a spot to put the “outgoing”-label identifying part#, order# and customer# on.

Kind regards,
Olli

This, exactly. ^^^

 

[four.cycle]

Do you guys also clean and reuse ziploc bags? Paper towels? Bandaids? Chewing gum?

ziplocks - all the time, if they're not slimed or greasy. I use them for tools, not stuff I'm going to eat.
paper towels and bandaids - no, of course not.
I haven't chewed gum since about 6th grade.

toilet paper and condoms?

no on the toilet paper.
condoms... err..... see HERE

 

[Kurt4440]

I received 2 boxes of brand new, but, out of date evidence zip lock bags that were destined for a dumpster. If I am frugal enough, I may still have a few left when the next batch expires.

 

[Kurt4440]

Why not! Good to keep stuff out of the landfill. Shop towels often make excellent fire starters for the wood stove.

I was just thinking about this last night. I cleaned out my oil drain pan with some nasty shop rags and thought that I should save them for tonight's fist bonfire of the year.

 

[Kasal]

Tool of the day, Stihl 82 R hedge trimmer with 60cm (24") blade

 

[jives]

Stopped on the way home from work at Tractor Supply to get some eye bolts for a project. A new display had out a bunch of Makita and DeWalt corded and battery tools that had been display units. Corded tools all had the cords cut -- all about $20 -- and a nice Makita cordless XAG 04 angle grinder. $30. Retail is $179. Fits my batt platform, works great. And it just so happens that I had a right size spanner for the lock down nut.

 

[SteadyC]

Thought it was a good idea to replace my older 18650's and 21700 batteries. Picked up a newer charger as well.

 

[Lasu]

Some 27 and larger "low priced" wrenches, 36 was 9€. Works well.

 

[ETJ]

Few items from Jdirect auctions japan and mercari.
A non-working PT850 for 25 euros.
(My second) BF-633 body hammer for 85 euros. Expensive as a body hammer, but relatively cheap for a BF-633.
Double wall plastic cup for 14 euros. (I was hoping it to be real thermal cup with a lid... My search for a coffee cup will continue.)
and a long flat blade bit socket for 6 euros.
+ shipping +tax



I just opened the PT850 and everything looks brand new internally. FWD/REV valve was stiff. I need to test it if cleaning and oiling did the trick.

I have not yet decided whether I keep or sell the hammer. They seem to go for crazy money.

 

[lund]

I appreciate your perspective, thank you for the insight.

No problem. Japan is a very interesting place with a fascinating culture. They do some things *really* well working together efficiently. On the minus side, a bad boss in Japan is awful since Japanese workers cannot say "no" and correct in their society as easily as we can here in the USA. But when they are all aligned on a good path in things like industrial production, results in Japan can be super impressive. To most Japanese, putting out a bad product while still making money would not be regarded as a success. With us here in the USA, I am not so sure that such a comment is broadly true.

As I got older and traveled more, it became more clear to me that our long term success in America also was greatly boosted by collecting so many motivated people coming in with different ways and outlooks from all over the world while having a relatively fair environment for personal advance. We collected so much talent over the years by having well functioning universities drawing in students who wanted to say here after exposure to the USA. The USA has also generally been very welcoming from politics and process (lot of paperwork but doable for smart people) to friendliness of our citizens to make this work even better. This recruitment coupled with not being destroyed in WW2 has been a strong economic drive and helps us compensate and rapidly recover when paths prove non-optimal for a while for whatever reason (trends, politics, etc). I do not mean to get political here since I think it is verboten, but I fear recent trends attacking higher skill immigrants and out higher education systems may have longer term negative repercussions. As a USA tech worker/professor with two high school ages sons, this causes me a lot of concern on where we are going in the USA. We have been great at fixing mistakes in the USA. In the early 80s as a young kid, I thought we were doomed to be taken over by Japan with them looking like an invincible army of dedicated workers. That did not seem unreasonable at the time with kid logic, but the prediction certainly did not age well. Time will tell now, but I fear that we are recently digging a deep hole that may take some time to climb out of. Working in universities it is very clear that the USA is recently being seen much less as a destination of choice relative to the previous decades post World War 2. This mistake is in dire need of fixing or it will likely bode bad for our economy.

 

[Beerhippie]

Thought it was a good idea to replace my older 18650's and 21700 batteries.

No belt pouch? How will you EDC your spare batteries?

 

[ChefRex]

Warrantied a battery today due to the retaining clips breaking

 

[Stridercondor]

I somewhat impulse bought this vice grip since I missed the boat on Malco pliers on Amazon. I'm assuming these are/were made by malco. I also picked up this brake line flaring tool and it's pretty amazing, at least on nickel copper line. You could do and emergency roadside brake repair with how fast it is.

 

[SMOKEYBEAR]

Some items from Astro - 78218, 783105, 78318, 78314, 78211 and I'm waiting on 78310. I'm still deciding on which 1/2" metric set I'm going to snag. I've been eyeing these for quite some time.

 

[Ohio Andy]

I somewhat impulse bought this vice grip since I missed the boat on Malco pliers on Amazon. I'm assuming these are/were made by malco. I also picked up this brake line flaring tool and it's pretty amazing, at least on nickel copper line. You could do and emergency roadside brake repair with how fast it is.

I thought about buying a few to try them out...

The only reason I have not tried them is because I have so many good ones already. At this point it is mostly curiosity.

 

[SteadyC]

No belt pouch? How will you EDC your spare batteries?

Lights and batteries will be kept in my work bag (Veto LC).

 

[david3921]

All my Lowe’s has the 90 tooth versions out. I went to one of the Ace Hardware and they had the 72 out but I’d say tools don’t sell as much at Ace so most likely older stock. The Craftsman representative told me the 90 tooth was the newest version when I requested warranty.

Well, I went and checked out the Craftsman ratchets as my nearest Lowes on Monday and it was slim pickens (not the actor). I wish I would have gotten a picture but had three grandkids with me...and the four year old has to touch everything. It was pretty bare with a couple of the Overdrive 180T ratchets but not much else. The regular ones they did have (1/4") were 72T. I checked out another Lowes after dropping my mom off for her cancer infusion (doing well going on three years since the diagnosis) and while they had more of them, they were all 72T. I'm thinking (hoping) the first store will replenish their stock with newer 90T ratchets. I was thinking about getting 180T ones but don't really like the smoke chrome finish.