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The popularity of the "Old School" thread got me thinking. Perhaps there's a place for new fangled ideas that could serve as solutions for old unit problems? Since I'm a older technician I'm not familiar with most of the new technology over the past decade. But I'm willing to learn, and hope...

Several members have shown interest in a Malco tool thread. I decided to post what I've got in the way of sheet metal fabrication and installation tools. Please feel free to post pics of Malco tools you have and ask questions. With one restriction: avoid any Malco Eagle grip tool stuff. There...

An old Walgreens drug store that closed got renovated into a HF fairly close to me. Swung by today. Prices were pretty darn good, lots of stuff, even had the Pittsburg composite ratchets that I like. Plus I got to see up close the super-long ratchets they have of the ICON brand. Don't know how...

I debated about posting this thread, and eventually decided the viewpoint has some validity. I hope at least to have people post their meager cache of Snappy tools so we can all enjoy them. There are alot of folks here who are Snap-On fans, there are others who discount them because of their...

I'd like to see the chalk lines you guys have. Preferably old or unique ones, but newer ones are fine as well. Found this Seymour line yesterday in a pile of old plumbing stuff at an estate sale. Never heard of them. Disassembled, cleaned as best as I could, and put back together with no chalk...

Two older (founded early 20th century) plumbing company's that made fittings and fixtures also made specialized tools. They've both disappeared but their tools still show up at estate sales and thrift stores. The tools are quite good, and - though you can still buy many of these styles of tools...

Being that I'm accumulating the old Makita 9.6 volt "stick" battery tools, I'm developing a need for more batteries. I've got a trio I paid $27 each for, but have 4 or 5 used batteries that don't seem to last. I found this guys rejuvenation procedure on Utube I decided to try and make a...

Went to the Fireman's thrift store sale today, grabbed a whole mess of sandpaper. Some loose, some full packages, scraps to full sheets, sizes from 36 to 2000, various brands and grit compositions. When I got it home I sorted it, combined it with my existing meager stash, and set it up in a...

My wife bought a used watch at an estate sale recently, and somehow on the journey home the back cover came off and was lost. Took it to our local watch repairman, and he said he'd dig thru boxes of old parts and see if he could find a back cover that would fit. After 3 weeks of no luck, I went...

Got the box in March. Real rusty and missing the tray. Restored it and put it to work. Kept an eye out for a tray, but figured the chances of getting one in decent shape were low. Then two weeks ago found one for sale in the classifieds. A deal was struck, and I got the tray yesterday. Light...

Epsteins got in a small supply of the new pear head ratchets made by S-K. (About 30% cheaper than they were listed elsewhere). So I sprung for a 3/8" and 1/4". Paid about $100 for the pair. The most expensive rats I ever bought! But I wanted to get them as they're probably the last American made...

BlueBomber was so kind to gift me an old Clayton & Lambert blowtorch. It was one of my "holy grail" tools that I'd been wanting for some time. I cleaned it up and polished it, made it a display for my front entryway. Here are some before and after pics. Thanks again BB!

I used to use these back in the early 90's with my 9.6v Makita drill. Most guys would carry spare bits in their pocket - too much of a hassle. And the choices of bit holders weren't like they are today - this adhesive foam holder worked great. They had been discontinued some years ago, but the...

I was strolling around the local electronics surplus store this week and came across a pile of thermostats on a shelf. Noticed this old thing right away. Pulled out a screwdriver, and popped the stat off the subbase. The contacts were clean and not bent, and all the mercury bulbs were intact...

Came across a small lot of tools today, including these pliers. Could barely make out the "Channellock" inscription, as they are chunky/rusty. Though I think an Evaporust soak and mild polishing should bring them back to glory. Though the handle grips have seen better days. Might have to heat...

Found a nice condition speed handle at Goodwill today. Is this a cadmium-plated tool? I want to clean it but don't want to wire it if it's cadmium plated.

Found the socket box about a year ago IIRC. Had about 6 pieces already, thought about maybe trying to complete the set with the correct era parts. Figured it couldn't hurt to have a back-up set for my 1980 set. Not having problems with that 41 year old bunch of tools but it pays to be prepared...

When did Crescent start making their adjustables in Spain? I snagged a decent condition 6"er marked Spain, and I'm wondering if it's worth cleaning up the nicks and burrs. The jaws faces need some filing as well.

12 pounds worth of steel, olive drab green, very nice with only a few rusty spots. Reinforced corners with inner tray. Says Waterloo Valve Spring Compressor Co on it. Cost me a Jackson and change. I can't imagine how heavy it'll be full of tools. May have to eat more Wheaties! lol

In my 30+ years of doing HVAC I ran into ALOT of thermostats. At the very beginning it was just the old Honeywell round T87F and White Rodgers 1F56. A small screwdriver and a pocket level and you were GTG. Then the first programmable stats came out and with them a host of new tiny tools to work...