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Due to the popularity of my tool shopping in Europe posts, I thought I’d do a post showing some recent finds over a few weeks going to a weekend flea market in Genevé. Genevé is considered the most expensive city in the world in which to live. That said, the Swiss mindset is twofold: First...

Because of my detour out of Switzerland, I received an (un)expected phone-call from the women that since I was in France, I had best return with cases of a particular wine from the South of France, and if I didn’t, I could expect my cars to be torched, tools and garage contents as well, garden...

I’ve been in the French Alps for the past week and began in Chamonix. Took the ride up to Mont Blanc, the highest summit in Western Europe (15,766 feet above sea level circa 2023), and discovered Beta Italy tools are in use in this extreme environment! It was minus 14 C when I arrived, with high...

One plane is French made with Metric fasteners, the other plane is American engineered (and could be Swiss made at one point due to partnership with U.S.), but has Imperial / Standard fasteners. How do we solve this? Removable tool inserts that can be swapped depending on the aircraft platform...

There is an ongoing thread here about the various manners in which members have lost tools. We should have a thread about best practices to prevent tool loss. There are many members here who work in aviation, and they are fastidious in this area of preventing tool loss because their aviation...

How many portable (able to be moved with one hand / transported and mobile) tool boxes do you have and what are the applications for each? Discuss uses: Automotive / Home / Industrial / Work / Other So far I have: 1) General home repair 2) Electrical repair, soldering, etc 3) Automotive...

My gardeners came by over the weekend and as they were packing up their trailer, one of the workers hopped into the cab of the Chevy four door work truck and went to start it up. Just as he keyed the ignition, I heard a very loud POP! The boss came over and popped the hood open. Intrigued, I...

This compact floor jack / scissor jack looks pretty nifty. Does anyone here own one? I believe popular with the Hot Rod crowd? Is there another low profile, portable Jack that is better or more elegant than this? California Car Cover “low profile billet aluminum jack” product video:

G’day Chaps: I really want to buy one of these. No longer available on Amazon. Out of stock on Manufacturer’s website. ETA: It seems now the manufacturer released an introductory, “trial batch” to market, and that was that, until next year...

Is Hyde still the industry reference for Putty Knives and Non-Marring Scrapers made from composite materials? I think there is some company making these in Canada as well that is highly regarded. Thanks very much for ideas on this subject.

A friend of mine has about a 4,500 Sq Ft home that has a poor quality interior door going from the 3 car garage to the kitchen. It is relatively easy to open a garage door these days. Are there better quality ‘off the shelf’ security doors available or is custom the only solution? The...

I had never ordered anything from TEMU but I wanted to see what all of the fuss was about. I ordered three of these LED headlamps. I own other headlamps, but more often than not I find myself holding a flashlight between my teeth while using both hands to work. This is mostly because I...

As a follow-on to the 1/4” sockets thread, I wanted to open a thread specifically regarding 1/4 drive accessories. There seems to be new innovation in this area coming out of Taiwan, in particular. So, what are you using for: • Extensions • Adapters • Holders • Other Accessories If it is...

Who makes your favorite 1/4” drive size sockets and why are they your favorite? For small form factor, I am partial to my vintage Facom France 1/4 drive sockets. They are not very long and they fit like a treat. I also fancy my older Snap-On 1/4” sockets due to the external knurling, which...

At the beginning of the COVID pandemic, circa 2020, I had placed an order with Snap-On for their much anticipated Mini Pry Bars- one straight, and one angled / curved. The COVID pandemic impacted global supply chains around the world. While being touted as a “once in a generation opportunity...

Discuss your socket drawer / top chest socket organization. For me, it feels more natural having the SAE sockets on the left and Metric on the right. I still own 90s vehicles that use both SAE and Metric, and I’m always taking stuff apart in the US that uses SAE fasteners in my home.

Who makes the nicest butane torch for shop use? I have a Japanese Iwatani that is used for culinary applications, but there has to be something more appropriate for the shop. Who is the master of the flame? Thanks in advance.

Some food for thought today…… Both the tools and the mindset are needed for excellence in pursuit of perfection.

On a wheeled tool cart, would you want: 1) an open, lower storage space at the base of the tool cart, below the upper tool drawers for storage Or 2) 2-3 extra tool drawers instead of an open air storage space? Please discuss reason for choice... Note: The drawers would be below waist...

After using multiple different brands of tool box drawer liners, I thought it important to share my thoughts and opinions about my experiences with various manufacturers and brands: 1) Harbor Freight / US General Tool Box Drawer Liner: It is paper thin and not very effective as an anti-skid...