Do not buy...

[motofool33]

Wall Lenk LSP-60-1 SOLDERPRO 60 3-in-1 Butane Powered Soldering Iron & Blow Torch

Utterly terrible never gets hot enough to work


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HE9T2E/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[oldtools]

But they're made in the USA! I thought USA Craftsman tools were designed by Jesus himself.

But Jesus is not a tool maker.

 

[Murphy4570]

I don't wanna say Snap On snap ring pliers are junk, but... I've been less than impressed more than once (especially when doing wheel bearings on Mazda's)

I've used a Mac/Matco one(s) that were much better

I haven't had any issues with mine. They work just dandy. Snap rings are a PITA sometimes regardless. They stick and rust in the bore and give you hell. They may or may not make those in house, I don't know. There was some scuttlebutt a couple years ago in that thread about who makes what for Snappy/Matco/Mac from what I recall.

I have the 13 piece set myself. Not cheap.

 

[GSMotorrad]

you know, i have a pair of them, 10 0r 12" l think, and I don't think I ever really used them.
I will have to try them.
I use about a 12" cresent wrench like on air line fittings from the head to the tank on an air compressor.
and for plumbing sometimes.

Those are pretty large, and unwieldy. I guess the 6" is not as common, but the 7" seem to be everywhere. I only use my larger one for the big stuff, every other time, up to an inch, I use the 6-incher. You can push the button and flick your wrist to open its jaws all fast. Then keep the button pressed and let it drop to the size of your fastener (works better when it's vertical, cause gravity), it's a one-handed tool (sort of). The "ratcheting action" of opening and closing its jaws as you go is amazing, compared to an adj. wrench. I just really recommend the smaller sizes, really great in the hand.

 

[MushCreek]

I bought some Husky (Home Depot) screwdrivers a while back, and I don't know if they were duds, but they are the worst screwdrivers I've ever used. Even some HF cheapo's I have perform better. Very, very soft.

I bought a set of Irwin Vise-Grips a while back, and they are absolute junk. My old USA Vise-Grips are in better shape, and I've been beating on them for years. Shame on you, Irwin.

 

[pepi]

Anything offering the second one free, just pay shipping...

 

[Jim Diesel]

Anyone selling BGS Technic tools on ebay. Some sellers listing them as German produced hand tools. I understand their manufactured in china and are not worth the blow mould case they come with.

 

[GTOExtreme]

Um no. That is the HF tool boxes that are made by the hand of God himself according to some here.

lol haha

 

[ATK305]

Chinese tools in general. I'd MUCH rather buy an older, corded Milwaukee tool than ANY new Chinee tool. Same with hand tools. I despise Chinese metallurgy. I once bought a pair of Chinese rear wheel cylinders for my Dodge/Cummins truck. I go to a great, old-line auto parts store, one that has an attached machine shop and the original owners sons still run the place. They had two types of wheel cylinders. (1)--U.S.A. made and $38 each. (2) Chinese and $9 each. I bought the Chinese, and when I was installing one of them the cast iron broke like a soda cracker. Lesson learned. I've also had Chinese bolts break waaaaay too easily. And Chinese nails where every 5th one either bends driving it, or the head pops off. We can only hope the same people who are building this **** are also building their aircraft carriers and warplanes.


I have see this with the junk 8.8 and grade-8 bolts our shop purchased from a major supplier to replace the buck bolts they cut off a frame. Cheap low grade Chinese steel that broke before the frame mods were finshished. It's a good thing they started breaking before they used this **** to install 5th wheels.

I'm convinced the Chinese manufactures bring in samples of a high quality metal bolt and nut. Sell on their quality and cheaper price then after a couple of production runs cut the quality of the alloys used in the production to increase their profit margin. Time and time again this happens in production and fortunately we stopped using that **** and the parts department started using a quality US sourced fasteners.

 

[WVBrady]

...I'm convinced the Chinese manufactures bring in samples of a high quality metal bolt and nut. Sell on their quality and cheaper price then after a couple of production runs cut the quality of the alloys used in the production to increase their profit margin. Time and time again this happens in production and fortunately we stopped using that **** and the parts department started using a quality US sourced fasteners.

There is a book named "Poorly Made in China" that says pretty much that.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1491552549/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[four.cycle]

^ you know... you can call me names or say I'm crazy, but I have to wonder why anybody would trust anything made in China.

okay, if you want a nice new down "puffy" from REI, it's going to be made in China - I get that. we don't make a lot of clothing here anymore.

there's a thread here citing a YouTube video wherein they tested some "ATC" (blade-type) 12-volt automotive fuses. the Chinese 10-amp fuse held until the guy hit it with 74 amps.

anybody remember the "power strips" we all were buying like crazy about 20 years ago that burned houses down?

the tools are JUNK (sorry, Harbor Freight lovers, but that's the God's truth.)

can't trust their nuts and bolts.

can't trust their government to not sponsor 24/7 internet hacking attempts on our Department of Defense internet systems.

can't trust them to not flood our market with counterfeit "designer" purses and shoes.

can't even trust their brassieres: http://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8018848&highlight=ladies

why is this even something that has to be debated?

the Chinese have clearly demonstrated they are not capable of producing products that are safe and reliable. why buy from them?

why?

 

[BikerDad]

the Chinese have clearly demonstrated they are not capable of producing products that are safe and reliable. why buy from them?

why?

No, they have clearly demonstrated that they are not interested in consistently producing products that are safe and reliable. Such an attitude is not terribly surprising when a culture steeped in fatalism meets capitalism.

As for "why?" Because hope that one is getting a good deal springs eternal.

 

[MushCreek]

I worked for a plastics molder, and we had some very expensive, critical medical parts molded in China due to a time crunch. One of the requirements is that the plastic be flame retardant, as the part was a housing used around oxygen. Not only were the parts really crappy looking, but just playing around, one of the guys held a lighter up to the part, and it burned like crazy! Imagine if those had gotten out into hospital?

 

[Shredwagon]

Now I have three adj. wrenches that have been weighing me down, collecting dust since I (finally) got knipex pliers wrenches. It's just so hard for me to get rid of tools, so I've been holding on to these useless old tech "tools" that I wouldn't wish on anybody.

I like a tight fit, so I'd retighten the jaws on an adj. wrench each and every time I mounted a fastener, with my thumb on that knurled wheel. Those days are gone forever.

Not so fast! Guess you haven't used your 12" Pliers Wrench in any higher torque applications (i.e. TRE's). They ****.... big time. The handles spread as you apply more torque - no matter what tool orientation. Useless. Got rid of ALL my pliers wrenches, except for the 6" which is handy as hell. But that's for low torque.

Also, the 60 deg orientation is nowhere near as handy as an adjustables 15 deg. Handles get in the way in confined spaces - at least for automotive.

If someone designed a LOCKING pliers wrench with the jaws parallel to the handle.... with flank drive teeth.... then I might get rid of my adjustables?

 

[hautpot]

Yeah the thing with pliers wrench are that you need to squeeze with your fingers and push with your palm. For a regular wormscrew adjustable spanner, you only need to push.

 

[FlyingLancastrian]

Anyone selling BGS Technic tools on ebay. Some sellers listing them as German produced hand tools. I understand their manufactured in china and are not worth the blow mould case they come with.

I wholeheartedly agree with you on this. You'll find stamped on the tool BGS Technik Germany. Whilst this does not explicitly say "made in Germany" it does imply the fact to the less well informed.

I bought a pair of brake (flare nut) spanners. Even after applying some heat to the troublesome looking nut I could see the jaws moving as I applied pressure.

I also got a pair of ratchets (1/4" and 3/8") and as soon as I discovered my error I replaced them with a vintage Par-X UR-7 and a Snap On GF720B.

Also whilst we're on the subject of eBay. Anything branded as BlueSpot with "lifetime guarantee" avoid like the plague. I had the misfortune to purchase a set of long reach ball end hex key sockets. Snapped the ball off the 6mm whilst counter holding a (brand new) shock absorber and tightening the top nut.

Gets better as I filed a warranty claim, before Christmas, and I'm still waiting a reply...

Safe to say they got binned pretty sharpish.

You live and learn.

 

[jhnlngn]

I worked for a plastics molder, and we had some very expensive, critical medical parts molded in China due to a time crunch. One of the requirements is that the plastic be flame retardant, as the part was a housing used around oxygen. Not only were the parts really crappy looking, but just playing around, one of the guys held a lighter up to the part, and it burned like crazy! Imagine if those had gotten out into hospital?

That's really scary! I'm a quadriplegic and have had many problems with medical equipment that was good until production was moved to China. I have enough problems every day in life. I don't need more because some corporation only cared about making an extra buck or two. Beyond just the frustration, it can literally be deadly.

 

[MilwaukeeFish]

Anything offering the second one free, just pay shipping...

Yah... you pretty much wanna run from those 'deals'.

I usually do the math in my head during the commercial. It usually goes like this:

Commercial: This incredible item retails for $59.99.

Me: They would want at least 100% markup so wholesale cost could be as high as thirty bucks.

Commercial: But wait, because of this limited TV offer we are able to offer it to you for a limited time for the low low price of not $19.99 or even $15.99 but the insanely low price of $9.99.

Me: Well the wholesale cost just dropped to around 5 bucks, max.

Commercial: But if you call now we'll double your order, just pay extra shipping for the second item.

Me: Now the wholesale cost just dropped to around $2.50 per item for something that was $60 retail just a few minutes ago. Plus you're getting chumped on shipping, because it doesn't cost twice the amount to ship twice the product. Even the weasels on Ebay have a hard time pulling that one off. The extra shipping charge just goes straight to the bottom line.

Needless to say by the time you apply the math, even the coolest looking gadget devalues to a cheap piece of **** by the end of the commercial/infomercial.

--

 

[bubinga]

Yah... you pretty much wanna run from those 'deals'.

I usually do the math in my head during the commercial. It usually goes like this:

Commercial: This incredible item retails for $59.99.

Me: They would want at least 100% markup so wholesale cost could be as high as thirty bucks.

Commercial: But wait, because of this limited TV offer we are able to offer it to you for a limited time for the low low price of not $19.99 or even $15.99 but the insanely low price of $9.99.

Me: Well the wholesale cost just dropped to around 5 bucks, max.

Commercial: But if you call now we'll double your order, just pay extra shipping for the second item.

Me: Now the wholesale cost just dropped to around $2.50 per item for something that was $60 retail just a few minutes ago. Plus you're getting chumped on shipping, because it doesn't cost twice the amount to ship twice the product. Even the weasels on Ebay have a hard time pulling that one off. The extra shipping charge just goes straight to the bottom line.

Needless to say by the time you apply the math, even the coolest looking gadget devalues to a cheap piece of **** by the end of the commercial/infomercial.

--

 

[DemoFly]

+1

No more Rigid for me.
The warranty is nothing more than smoke and mirrors and the tool/battery quality isn't any better than Ryobi, IMO.

Very interesting.

At work our shop drill and drivers were Rigid X4 and we worked those things day in and day out for the 3 years I worked there. It was 8 men using 2 drills and 2 drivers doing commercial building maintenance.

 

[ddawg16]

Don't buy the **** they are dishing to you on TV. Turn off your TV and go veg in your garage.

BTW....OJ did it....