ssdave
Banned
I'm glad to be able to own and use better quality tools. After a lifetime of upgrading I'm finally at a point where I like, and can rely on, the tools I own/use.
This weekend I was backfilling the road mix in my garage to prep for the floor. I rented a skid steer loader, when I picked it up it had 2 brand new tires on it. After about an hour, I hear a hiss, and one new tire goes flat. It's 15 minutes to closing time at the rental center. I call them, they don't answer. About an hour to closing time at the tire store. I decide to change out the flat so I can finish working the weekend.
I bought a rollaway top and bottom of tools Saturday morning. Went through and high graded out the Proto and Snap-on and set them aside, had the boxes and the remaining cheap tools in the back of my truck for disposal. No other tools on hand, and no time to go get some. Dug in the box, found a CM -V- socket the right size, I think 1 1/16", and a 12" extension, and an ancient Thorsen breaker bar. It was short, had some odd rubber handle that was loose, and the pivot was a machine screw. I had my doubts, but time wasn't on my side.
The breaker bar felt like it was going to give out on every lug nut, particularly one that was especially tight, where someone must have really hit it with the air gun. I was careful to hold it where it wouldn't hurt me when it gave. It bent/flexed a bunch, but didn't fail. At the end of the 8 bolts, the pivot screw was sticking out a bit and bent, but still intact. On every nut, the CM socket and extension were twisting/giving a bit, but they made it through without fail. Makes me really appreciate the Proto that I usually use, in comparison.
Took the tire to the shop, had it patched, and used the same tools to put it back together. It held up through the whole process. I don't think the breaker bar would last many more iterations, but it saved the day when I was too short on time to run and get good tools. The socket and extension can probably be used sparingly for another 40 years by someone less picky than me.
Also used a $5 yard sale "performance something" brand cheap Taiwan two ton floor jack to lift it up, it was all I had on hand that would go under the low clearance flat tire loader.
So, cheap tools saved the day when I was pinched for time. But, I was reminded by their marginal performance why I don't rely on them usually.
Oh, the socket was a 12 point, not a 6. But it worked! From what I read here, that's not to be expected. It didn't even round off a nut, and I probably was putting 150 foot pounds to it.
This weekend I was backfilling the road mix in my garage to prep for the floor. I rented a skid steer loader, when I picked it up it had 2 brand new tires on it. After about an hour, I hear a hiss, and one new tire goes flat. It's 15 minutes to closing time at the rental center. I call them, they don't answer. About an hour to closing time at the tire store. I decide to change out the flat so I can finish working the weekend.
I bought a rollaway top and bottom of tools Saturday morning. Went through and high graded out the Proto and Snap-on and set them aside, had the boxes and the remaining cheap tools in the back of my truck for disposal. No other tools on hand, and no time to go get some. Dug in the box, found a CM -V- socket the right size, I think 1 1/16", and a 12" extension, and an ancient Thorsen breaker bar. It was short, had some odd rubber handle that was loose, and the pivot was a machine screw. I had my doubts, but time wasn't on my side.
The breaker bar felt like it was going to give out on every lug nut, particularly one that was especially tight, where someone must have really hit it with the air gun. I was careful to hold it where it wouldn't hurt me when it gave. It bent/flexed a bunch, but didn't fail. At the end of the 8 bolts, the pivot screw was sticking out a bit and bent, but still intact. On every nut, the CM socket and extension were twisting/giving a bit, but they made it through without fail. Makes me really appreciate the Proto that I usually use, in comparison.
Took the tire to the shop, had it patched, and used the same tools to put it back together. It held up through the whole process. I don't think the breaker bar would last many more iterations, but it saved the day when I was too short on time to run and get good tools. The socket and extension can probably be used sparingly for another 40 years by someone less picky than me.
Also used a $5 yard sale "performance something" brand cheap Taiwan two ton floor jack to lift it up, it was all I had on hand that would go under the low clearance flat tire loader.
So, cheap tools saved the day when I was pinched for time. But, I was reminded by their marginal performance why I don't rely on them usually.
Oh, the socket was a 12 point, not a 6. But it worked! From what I read here, that's not to be expected. It didn't even round off a nut, and I probably was putting 150 foot pounds to it.
One small tip I can add: Add a set of cheapo metric deep well impact sockets, a four ton bottle jack, a few foot long pieces of 2 X 6, and a set of wheel chocks, and a can of penetrating oil. Don't forget the sledge hammer for the wheels that refuse to release their rusty grip on the hub. It sounds like allot of stuff, but really it isn't. Someone's Mother in Law wouldn't be able to put them in the dumb *** class for not being able to get the wheel off of Her Buick. 