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Instrument / precision screwdrivers - the smaller it is, the more quality matters. Nothing more frustrating than twisting the head of a small screwdriver removing an "electrician tight" screw from a panel. Haven't found anything better than Wiha yet. Pliers and pipe wrenches - all are not...

Big fan of the ratcheting stubbies. Provide more access than a standard ratcheting wrench without handle getting in the way and for speeding something off, they are the right length where you get tons of motion with little action in the hands - similar to choking up on a standard ratcheting...

Pliers wrench from knipex, cobra by knipex, reversible pipe wrench adjustable combo by bahco and wera zyklops 1/4 ratchet. Lots of smaller pipefitting here and those have been priceless.

Japan makes some decent stuff as well. It is entirely company to company based. Made in usa doesnt always mean made well in the usa. We got half *** cut rate manufacturing here as well. My personal favorites are german, japanese, usa, swiss and spanish. Taiwan is not bad at all either. All...

General service in a plant setting. Overall swagelok has been great, its just a price issue. Was wondering of the competitors one stood out as damn near swagelok but a slight price break. Have used a few parkers, let lock and others, just not consistently enough to have a real opinion. Service...

Use compression fittings a ton. Swagelok is across the street and top of the line so they get my primary business, but cost can be astronomical. Does anyone have recommendations of an alternative brand that would save a few bucks. Home depot no name brands are not an option. Just looking for...

Knipex by a mile. Second in my mind would be NWS for cobra / quattrogrip styles. Knipex is sold on my Snap On truck and for good reason. They couldn't touch the quality with an in brand offering. The only reason I will pick up Channellock is to grip things that are still glowing white hot as I...

I wouldnt touch it. Apartments tend to have policy against such things and drilling holes in walls will likely put u at the top of the **** list.

Spend a little time thinking about what can be bought cheap before you go onto the truck. Starting out I wouldn't go all out on things like 2 lb. sledges. Every hammer I've hand worked. Didn't need a logo to do its job. On small stuff, nice stuff is not as bad. I would never purchase name brand...

I'm looking for the longest and flattest pitched knurl on an adjustable - the antithesis of the Husky 2x rapid adjustable wrench. Seems like the longest flattest ramp on a knurl would be best. Any input on who makes em flattest? I don't care how long it takes to adjust. When I'm using this style...

Torque = Force X Lever Arm Length Pilot hole will have smaller torque requirements due to lower lever arm. Enlarging a hole can be tricky business. With a pilot hole drilled, the torque will be exerted on a longer lever arm. I don't normally take a pilot hole approach in drilling cement. I've...

The last weeks haul... 13 piece thin profile ES Tools USA made open end wrench set - $5 at an antique store. Hopefully I'll find somewhere to use them. Never heard of the brand but look like they'd be great low torque options where thickness of standard wrench is an issue. Stabila pocket pro...

Might be an overly cautious approach for cement. You're probably right on that one. Doing foundation work in construction I never used that approach. I suppose the situations that I use core drills and the SDS max style rotohammers in are more than the norm. I'm generally not drilling through...

Id dead center it on a brick. Less chance of failure and breaking the brick off. Better chance of smooth hole in the finished product as the material youre drilling is consistent. As far from all edges as possible will help prevent an edge of brick from breaking off. Structurally it wont matter...

Another quick tip...whatever you do, keep the tips cold. Heating hardened steel tempers it (softens as it approaches its equilibrium phase). Easily done by dipping in water at frequent intervals and drilling in small spurts.

One hole.....rent. Buying a tool that may or may not work for more than the price of rental isnt a good idea. Ive drilled tons of holes that size in materials harder than cement and rotohammer is the way to go. Id use it as an opportunity to use a big bad tool for the day. If youre drilling...

Anyone have any experience with wilde pipe wrench pliers? Seems like something id like to give a go. Daily use will always be the cobras for me (9 differnt versions and counting there) but id like to mix in a little variety and was hoping to find some usa made equivalents.

Was wondering what places you have been able to find premium tools that might not have crossed my radar. I live in a mid sized town with a few hundred thousand people. Home depot lowes sears and ace are here as well as the tool trucks. Just looking to go out and find something in a place i wasnt...

Fine tooth all the way. If torque is too high for a fine tooth, you shouldn't be using a ratchet in the first place. Only reason I use low tooth count on high torque is that I don't like those ratchets as much and if I broke something...I just broke something cheap. Fine tooth just feels better...

Rarely use the box end. Only on high torque. For me though its a lot of flanges, pipe fittings and tubing runs. Box end mostly is used to hang the wrench when I'm done. That said, barely use combo wrenches anymore. Generally its the pliers wrench or adjustable as I'm always on the go.