Shoreline_
Well-known member
So what was your best tool purchase 2022?
Gonna sound cliche but definitely the LN47ACF Snap-On pliers.
Gonna sound cliche but definitely the LN47ACF Snap-On pliers.
Best tool purchase from 2022?
- Thread starter Shoreline_
- Start date
Best purchase has to be one of those garage sale deals. There’s a guy who bought a full tool cart of snap on tools for $2k. Another one bought a whole bunch of nos craftsman for $200. I did okay myself. Look at here
www.garagejournal.com
Among all the pieces I got, I like the 4 piece vise grip the most.
Hit a jackpot today :) Let's see the comments!
I was smiling ear to ear on the way back. I did not even stop at the local Harbor Freight with a 25% off coupon in the phone :) (Still wondering how that could happen though :unsure:) Anyway, the total amount I spent, with gas money, is $175. Keeping that in mind, let's see the goodies like a 5...
www.garagejournal.com
Among all the pieces I got, I like the 4 piece vise grip the most.
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purplezr2
Well-known member
Seal driver for rear axle seal, I'm usually a right tool for the job type of guy, but don't have much in the way of seal installers other then generic kits. Purchased this for the 11.5 AAM axle in my 2016 Ram 2500. Side note it will also do a 10.5AAM axle seal. Part ships from Snap on. Appears Mopar Essential Tools is a related to Snap on some how?
8963A Installer Hub Seal
8963A Installer Hub Seal
wandrur
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I'm very excited to use my 2022 birthday present to myself a lot in the coming years: DeWalt double bevel miter saw.
gahrajmahal
Well-known member
It would have to be my Metabo HPT 36v 7-1/4” cordless circular saw. I love the soft start feature. The battery stays charged for months allowing a cut or two. With a full charge it will cut all day. It is lightweight, accurate and has great adjusters, and the price was good too!
Shop-hound
Well-known member
Small but mighty! Wobble bits got me out of a few jams already. And of course extremely expensive 
(Canadian dollar)
(Canadian dollar)engineer2
Well-known member
I bought an inexpensive corded Worx leaf blower/vacuum. I only use it as a leaf vac and have used it a lot more than I thought I would. Works nice for getting leaves out of gravelled areas, flower beds, and in corners.
logical
Well-known member
I have a gas power washer for big jobs but this Westinghouse electric power washer is just powerful enough without being dangerous for car washing, rinsing off a mower or ATV, cleaning door mats, etc. I just leave it attached to a hose in my garage (softened hot/cold) year round and it can be out in the driveway working in a quick minute. 
Scipio Kid
New member
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2023
- Messages
- 2
I like buying second hand tools and getting great deals. I needed another pair of dikes (because every now and then I cut into live wires and even the best dikes can't seem to handle that) and found a gal with a tote full for 30 bucks. She posted 5 pics that showed she had several blue handled pairs of Channelock pliers and possibly a matching set of dikes but it was impossible to see everything clearly. I called for details but she didn't know a screwdriver from a pipe wrench and she was 30 miles away so I was going to forget it but then realized she wasn't far from my son's place. I googled her address and she was literally 2 blocks from him, so I called and he ran over and picked the whole thing up. He asked what I was after and I told him basically the dikes and he said "you should have told me, I have a brand new pair I'll never use, still in the packaging. Well, I picked up the tote a few days later, and it had a lot of good tools in there but no dikes. My son, however, threw the extra set he had in so I got the dikes I needed and a whole lot of very good tools from Craftsman to Snap On, even some Blue Point wrenches. I priced the whole thing out and found I'd gotten 380 - 500 bucks worth of hand tools for 30 bucks (not counting the free 20-dollar dikes I got from my son). Turned out to be a great deal!
Civivi button-lock Elementum
I tried several pocket knives this year, but this one stuck around as my favorite. It's light and easy to carry (major factor for me), yet larger than the knives I usually pick (roughly a 3.5" blade). I favor knives with drop point blades and neutral handle shapes - those are very versatile attributes in my opinion.
The handle checks all the boxes for me. I'd prefer a thicker, contoured handle for comfort on really tough cutting tasks - but I'm willing to forgo it for a slim pocket carry. The button-lock Elementum's handle has plenty of real estate and enough height to make me comfortable. There's enough of a finger choil to choke up on for precision work too.
It's Sandvik 14C28n blade steel isn't the most exotic, but it is probably my favorite "budget" steel. Tough, stainless, easy to sharpen, fine grain structure takes a wicked edge and pretty good edge-retention too. The blade has a high hollow grind that's a wicked slicer.
Button locks are all the rage this year, due to their quick and easy deployment, and finger-safe nature (your finger doesn't have to cross the blade path to close the blade). This one is a bit funky - but in a way I've come to like.
The Elementum is peculiar because it doesn't really have a deployment method - there's no thumb studs, cutouts, grooves, flipper tabs, etc. The knife opens when you push the button and give it a gentle wrist flick (or a reverse-flick works too). It took a little getting used to, but the only trick is to release the button after you push it - otherwise the blade just bounces back. After a little practice, I now find it reliable and fast to deploy and close. One advantage to this unusual button-lock design is that it also locks closed.
Micarta scales, hidden lanyard hole, deep carry pocket clip... I really like it!
I tried several pocket knives this year, but this one stuck around as my favorite. It's light and easy to carry (major factor for me), yet larger than the knives I usually pick (roughly a 3.5" blade). I favor knives with drop point blades and neutral handle shapes - those are very versatile attributes in my opinion.
The handle checks all the boxes for me. I'd prefer a thicker, contoured handle for comfort on really tough cutting tasks - but I'm willing to forgo it for a slim pocket carry. The button-lock Elementum's handle has plenty of real estate and enough height to make me comfortable. There's enough of a finger choil to choke up on for precision work too.
It's Sandvik 14C28n blade steel isn't the most exotic, but it is probably my favorite "budget" steel. Tough, stainless, easy to sharpen, fine grain structure takes a wicked edge and pretty good edge-retention too. The blade has a high hollow grind that's a wicked slicer.
Button locks are all the rage this year, due to their quick and easy deployment, and finger-safe nature (your finger doesn't have to cross the blade path to close the blade). This one is a bit funky - but in a way I've come to like.
The Elementum is peculiar because it doesn't really have a deployment method - there's no thumb studs, cutouts, grooves, flipper tabs, etc. The knife opens when you push the button and give it a gentle wrist flick (or a reverse-flick works too). It took a little getting used to, but the only trick is to release the button after you push it - otherwise the blade just bounces back. After a little practice, I now find it reliable and fast to deploy and close. One advantage to this unusual button-lock design is that it also locks closed.
Micarta scales, hidden lanyard hole, deep carry pocket clip... I really like it!
richfinn
Well-known member
Snagged a BNIB Pico Automotive 4223 for £350 with some accessories, from ebay UK (seller is a Snap-On dealer and he had a few for sale)
demarpaint
Well-known member
That might be #1 on my list too.So what was your best tool purchase 2022?
Gonna sound cliche but definitely the LN47ACF Snap-On pliers.
FSUwelder1212
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2013
- Messages
- 149
In spite of the ridiculous amount of money I spend on tools, I think one of the best purchases I made last year was also one of my cheapest. It is a 5/8" carbide scraper, that thing is game changing. I bought it (Titan brand) at oreillys for, I think, $12 on a whim when I went to pick up some permatex for a valve cover replacement I was doing. I don't know how I lived without one.
If the snappy price was £350 what's the regular price? This is 2 channel, yes?Snagged a BNIB Pico Automotive 4223 for £350 with some accessories, from ebay UK (seller is a Snap-On dealer and he had a few for sale)
This. An excellent tool and for you US boys and girls, IREGA of Spain makes this exact same tool for Channelock.
www.garagejournal.com
Since I consider the adjustable wrench one of the most hated tools, here's my only one. Only bought it because of the slim jaws, 10" Irega, Made in Spain.
Show your adjustable wrenches!
Still in use today, from the 30s (the model is from Bahco)
www.garagejournal.com
richfinn
Well-known member
Yep it's a 2 channel, I think the regular Pico price for this kit was around £625 a few years ago (it's discontinued)
The newer 4225 BNC+ version is around £800 in the UK
I have all the older regular BNC accessories for it anyway so it was what I was searching for.
I've tested it with the latest software (Pico 7) and it works great
RTM
Well-known member
I bought the Makita 2x18v blower, quite pleased with it. Much less hassle than starting the gas blower for small jobs. Blower, dual charger, and 2x 5AH batteries.
Batteries also spares for the impact driver and the flashlight for our frequent power outages lately
www.acmetools.com
Batteries also spares for the impact driver and the flashlight for our frequent power outages lately
Makita 18V X2 (36V) LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Blower Kit (5.0Ah)
Makita 18V X2 (36V) LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Blower Kit (5.0Ah) - XBU02PT
www.acmetools.com
Number one for me was a used Hobart Econo Tig. Came with a cart and full bottle, as well as a electrode holder. Just just used it as a stick welder.
I picked up some tungsten and full rod then a pedal and been tigging with it alot. Making stuff to sell and small weld repairs that I would have not been able to do before.
Number Two
I picked up a used 3rd gen M18 3/8 impact. It's been a game changer. Sped up so many jobs for me.
I picked up some tungsten and full rod then a pedal and been tigging with it alot. Making stuff to sell and small weld repairs that I would have not been able to do before.
Number Two
I picked up a used 3rd gen M18 3/8 impact. It's been a game changer. Sped up so many jobs for me.
livinloud11
Well-known member
My girlfriend bought me one for christmas and I love itStanley Adventure Big Grip Beer Stein - 24 OZ
What is really nice is no more condensation running down the side of a glass mug onto the table.
engineer2
Well-known member
I got one a couple of Christmases ago and I love it! Keeps beer nice and cold for an hour. I'm so old it takes me almost an hour to finish one.
Small but mighty! Wobble bits got me out of a few jams already. And of course extremely expensive
OK, I'll bite. What's a wobble bit? Looks sort of like an Allen wrench with a ball end.
Shop-hound
Well-known member
It’s like a normal 1/4 hex driven bit but machined on the drive end similar to a wobble extension to allow for off axis driving to clear obstructions. Doc at last best tool has a video on them:
Mr. Wonderful
Well-known member
I'm really enjoying the Knipex pliers wrenches I got because of GJ.
engineer2
Well-known member
I agree. Have had one for a few years and it is a wonderful tool. Around here, other than normal uses, it is great for snow blowing car windows.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Didn't buy a lot of tools in 2022, so that's a little tough. Probably would have to say a set of Klein flush cutters. Wish I got them years ago as they are the perfect tool for cutting zip ties.
Yep, those are awesome. I, too, wish I had bought them many years ago.Didn't buy a lot of tools in 2022, so that's a little tough. Probably would have to say a set of Klein flush cutters. Wish I got them years ago as they are the perfect tool for cutting zip ties.
oilslick
Well-known member
Knipex pliers wrench, unbelievable grip, have yet to slip. I use them daily as ag/diesel mechanic. I am switching to Dewalt from red and so far so it’s been an upgrade on power to weight noticed daily.
pcmeiners
Well-known member
Since I just went through a possible snap ring hell lately, coming out OK, having a fairly well stocked Knipex snap ring set is my vote for the best tool (s) of 2022
Agreed.
I've been using a Lang "universal" type for over a decade and finally stumbled across a full set of Mac snap ring pliers at a swap meet... why did I wait so long!?!
pcmeiners
Well-known member
"... why did I wait so long!?!"
For years I struggled with snap rings, with cheap snap ring removal toys. Still can not figure why I did not get real removal tools. Must have been delusional.
For years I struggled with snap rings, with cheap snap ring removal toys. Still can not figure why I did not get real removal tools. Must have been delusional.
Woody1320
Well-known member
Probably this Ridgid set (with accessories). The power tools and spade drill bits were bought from Home Depot. The multitool blades and Dewalt bits were from Amazon. Every power tool but the mini cut off saw were used for replacing my deck stairs last summer. The first pic was a full kit with the circular saw and the two additional 4ah batteries as freebies...all brushless. Couldn't pass it up. I added the Ridgid mid torque impact around Black Friday.
Attachments
rancherbill
Well-known member
Spider Tool Holster. It WORKS. I have tried others and they were junk. It is quick, easy and faster that any holster type device I have ever tried. I have actually bought more pieces to use on more tools.
https://spidertoolholster.com/
![61D4x4kcHyL._AC_SX679_[1].jpg](https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/data/attachments/1654/1654277-e6e54c008c8e214b141d0aa2612a3730.jpg "61D4x4kcHyL._AC_SX679_[1].jpg")
https://spidertoolholster.com/
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Festool TS-55 track saw. Makes great cuts on plywood - clean and accurate. Dust collection is good, but not as great as some would have you believe.
www.festoolusa.com
Plunge Cut Track Saw TS 55 FEQ-F-Plus
Jakemedic
Well-known member
My Sienci 30x30 CNC machine. It works very well carving wood for badges as I wanted it to. expensive? Not overly compared to other hobby grade machines. I wanted to get learning it and once I make enough money to cover the initial cost, get a more professional grade machine. Rather large learning curve, but continue to work through it.
LWB
Well-known member
I bought my son a contractor type table saw. By far, my best tool purchase last year.