Show your new tool arrivals

[Squankum]

A few months ago I was preaching the many uses of cotter pin pullers, how once you have one you find uses for it.

Well, the below is more of a pick, but if I had not bought this Mayhew set from HJE a year or so ago, I would have used my cotter pin pulller for this chore. (I'm picking/pulling at ivy that's growing up a tree trunk, one vine at a time.)




Orange clippers are Bahco, a discount item at HJE several years back. Love them.

 

[mikeinri]

Dang! Now I feel ripped off! I bought an 8 pc. Wiha set like this for $55 in the past year. Is Lowe's just doing "insane German screwdriver pricing" every summer now?

I don't think it's you...

Per the website, both sets appear to be full price.

The 8-piece is $42.78.

The 5-piece is $19.98.

Mike

 

[shibertus]

Mayhew punch set and KTC files

 

[lund]

"Ideal for Mother's Day Gifts"

I had a woman in my house long ago who told me "anything with a cord is not a gift."

I guess giving a sledgehammer would not have gone over well with her!

 

[mikeinri]

"Ideal for Mother's Day Gifts"

I had a woman in my house long ago who told me "anything with a cord is not a gift."

My initial thought when I read this: "But honey, I can't afford to keep up with replacing the batteries!!!"

Yeah, sometimes the adolescent in me refuses to quit...

Mike

 

[four.cycle]

I bought a NOS Crescent 15" adjustable wrench...."

New "Crescent" (even the made in U.S.A. stuff) ain't the old Crescent.
Both Don (@d42jeep) and I got suckered into buying these NOS 4-inchers a while back.
Below sub-par in all respects.

 

[DAVE94LIGHTNING]

I have a full set of the Craftsman professional screwdrivers that came as part of a "Craftsman Nascar Pit Crew" tool kit I've had since the 90s. They are great quality and have held up well this long. Didn't know they were worth that much nowadays.

Went to a local indoor flea market along with a neighbor's son, and I tried to teach him the ins and outs (OK, OK, my own pretty greenhorn view of it); and bought a few things for $5 total.



Craftsman PH2.

Tip is still great, and for less than a buck I can't say no to US-made tools in good shape. Besides, I'm starting to build a toolbox for my truck, and need a few extras that aren't worn out.






Craftsman Professional PH1.

I picked this one up, as I keep hearing people want stupid money for them. Why, I don't know. It feels weird, and despite little wear, does not engage the screw well. Yet, people pay the same prices as I do for Williams/Proto, and even Snap-On.

 

[MWEric]

Mirror/magnet set and a 36” bar for the 3/4” ratchet head

 

[AJHD]

Mirror/magnet set and a 36” bar for the 3/4” ratchet head

Got a part number for that mirror/magnet set? I haven't seen those.

 

[MWEric]

Got a part number for that mirror/magnet set? I haven't seen those.

 

[Squankum]

My initial thought when I read this: "But honey, I can't afford to keep up with replacing the batteries!!!"

Yeah, sometimes the adolescent in me refuses to quit...

Mike

Trigger warning: 80% of Mojo's career, 100% of this song, is ****.

 

[Squankum]

I have a full set of the Craftsman professional screwdrivers that came as part of a "Craftsman Nascar Pit Crew" tool kit I've had since the 90s. They are great quality and have held up well this long. Didn't know they were worth that much nowadays.

The big tip but short (but not stubbies) on the end, I like! I have a mundane Cman (clear handle, red stripes etc) of the slot-head screwdriver like that and consider it to be as much a Caveman Og tool for many other purposes than something for screws. But a few years ago I wanted something like that Phillips Ph#3 and got nowhere fast.* Always they assume that the bigger the screw head, the further away we are from it! It's weird.

_______
* Eventually got a German lil' stubby Ph. 3, I think Wera.

 

[lund]

I have a full set of the Craftsman professional screwdrivers that came as part of a "Craftsman Nascar Pit Crew" tool kit I've had since the 90s. They are great quality and have held up well this long. Didn't know they were worth that much nowadays.

I have a similar set of Craftsman Pro screwdrivers from the 90s. Generally speaking, the classic Craftsman screwdrivers are ****. BUT this particular line of Craftsman pro screwdrivers are a big exception. I think they might have been equivalent to a Matco tool truck line back when Craftsman pro lines were sourcing much from better domestic sources. They are ugly but super tough. Even the Phillips on mine (which are destined to cam out as designed and wear) remain good after many years and much hard use. They have excellent grip, are easy to clean, and have very hard steel without being brittle. The handles are tough and take abuse. So it was pro quality for low $.

Much from the Craftsman pro mechanic hand tools in the 90s were a super value for the $. Too bad stuff like that has disappeared as the bean counters want ever more profit. I did not realize that these sources would die out so quickly, but it seems like all the cheaper high quality US production was rapidly displaced by crappy but cheaper Asian productions. Taiwanese tools have come a long way in terms of quality, but I still think they have not reached the value that USA productions in the Craftsman pro line had. If one considers (adjusted for inflation) price relative to the quality they were fantastic.

 

[AJHD]

Ouch. Dealer says they are $129. Magnets and mirrors are always useful, but that's just stupid.

 

[Madjik Man]

Was skiing with a buddy last month. Happened to be wearing my Dewalt hat.

"Nice hat," my buddy said.

"Yeah I know....'fanboy'."

"I used to work for Dewalt for 22 years." He replied.

"Oh yeah, I forgot (lol)."

"Well if you ever need any Dewalt tools I still get the employee discount...."

Flash forward to today. I was only in the market for a DCF923 3/8" compact impact. But with his pricing I picked up the DCF921 1/2" as well. Interestingly enough they have the same exact torque specs.

I'm still in shock how friggen cheap these are through his employee discount.

"This relationship could end up disastrous for my wallet." I concluded.



Also picked up this Titan micro offset 1/4" ratchet on Amazon for $10. Emphasis on "micro."

 

[Qualitytools]

I have a full set of the Craftsman professional screwdrivers that came as part of a "Craftsman Nascar Pit Crew" tool kit I've had since the 90s. They are great quality and have held up well this long. Didn't know they were worth that much nowadays.

I purchased a set a while back from Sears and still have it. I have had not problems with them and of course if one breaks I can't get a matching one to replace it. So much for lifetime warranty on Craftsman, but I digress. I didn't know that they have appreciated in value either. Good to know that I have something valuable LOL.

 

[WWheeler]

Some more examples of this thread costing me coin.

darkzero posted this set a few days back and I was heading by Lowes that day anyway, so ...



And while I was there I saw the same KOBALT 1/2"dr impact bit set I bought late last year on sale again for $30 on Memorial Day so it jumped in my cart too. I sure didn't need it but they've been a really good set so far and I especially tend to really abuse that 10mm bit a LOT so at that price it seemed foolish to pass it up...



And then there was this NEIKO set of brushes posted by RMERR. I'd actually had this set in my cart 'saved for later' on Amazon for quite a while now, and his post convinced me to get it out of there and in my garage.

 

[Etchase]

I didn’t need to use that Dewalt right angle adapter today, but I tried it out on some deck screws. Felt solid, as did the bits. $25 was a good deal.

 

[Blue Chips]

I'll be working on the wiring for my 1954 Dodge M37 project, and I want to do a proper job crimping the connector terminals (aka, contacts). I wasn't happy with my existing assortment of crimp tools, so I shopped around a bit and got a good deal on a very nice vintage (ca. 1960s?) Buchanan 10692, mil spec MS3191-1 crimp tool kit, which (from what I've read) should work with these terminals. It's in nearly-new condition (just a bit of patina and NO rust) and still in its original wooden case, complete with three go/no-go gauges, instructions, and even the original warranty registration card! I also have all three 'positioners' (aka, locators) for the three wire size ranges that the tool was designed for. The positioners control characteristics such as crimp depth and ratchet release point. This is a four-way crimp tool that indents the terminal at the 12-, 3-, 6, and 9-o'clock positions.

A crimped terminal would look like this:


Here's the nice wooden case the kit came in:


Here are the contents of the kit, which (from reading the instructions) I believe is a complete kit.
I think the extra holes are just for future expansion/options, or perhaps for different kits.


These are the three go/no-go gauges that are used with the three positioners:


This is the crimp tool with all three color-coded positioners (the yellow one is installed):


I did a few test crimps, and so far, they look good, but I haven't yet performed a strength test on them.

 

[Fedwrench]

DRPD Memorial Day sale Goodness (in record time too) arrived today. A KTC center cap pry bar or a flat bladed hose pick, or whatever comes to mind tool and a set of PB Swiss picks.

 

[legenddc]

"Well if you ever need any Dewalt tools I still get the employee discount...."

Flash forward to today. I was only in the market for a DCF923 3/8" compact impact. But with his pricing I picked up the DCF921 1/2" as well. Interestingly enough they have the same exact torque specs.

I'm still in shock how friggen cheap these are through his employee discount.

"This relationship could end up disastrous for my wallet." I concluded.

I'm sometimes able to get the Dewalt friends and family discount. Whatever is on sale is usually a fantastic deal. I imagine the employee discount would be even better! He can probably get you discounts on Mac Tools as well.

 

[Madjik Man]

I'm sometimes able to get the Dewalt friends and family discount. Whatever is on sale is usually a fantastic deal. I imagine the employee discount would be even better! He can probably get you discounts on Mac Tools as well.

Things I didn’t need to know, lol

 

[NUTTSGT]

Walked in Lowe's this morning and saw these in stock. I grabbed one this time.



Cut some drawer liners and put it to use as a "pencil box "

 

[mikeinri]

Walked in Lowe's this morning and saw these in stock. I grabbed one this time.



Cut some drawer liners and put it to use as a "pencil box "

Those aren't rare around here. I'm waiting for them to go one sale for $10. Of course, when that happens, they'll be gone before I can grab any...

Mike

 

[CoogarXR]

Picked up a new RJ45/RJ11 crimper. I already have a half-dozen similar crimpers... But this one is NOS and Xcelite, so yeah, I bought it, lol.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Those aren't rare around here. I'm waiting for them to go one sale for $10. Of course, when that happens, they'll be gone before I can grab any...

Mike

I usually wait.....til they go out of stock myself....then call myself a cheap ******* for waiting too long.

 

[noid]

 

[mikeinri]

I usually wait.....til they go out of stock myself....then call myself a cheap ******* for waiting too long.

Story of my life... Or, I get impatient, buy full price and regret it forever.

Mike

 

[Madjik Man]

My Lowe’s never has those mini tool boxes in stock.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I have two of them still sealed in a box on my living room floor. Blue. Bought all they had at Lowes on a Christmas blow-out.

 

[Madjik Man]

^ I have two of them still sealed in a box on my living room floor. Blue. Bought all they had at Lowes on a Christmas blow-out.

Ah, so you’re the reason why

 

[Gator13mx]

This week, got Snap ons 100 tooth ratchet, pink screwdrivers (#3 Phillips is at work), and finally replaced my DeWalt grease gun with Milwaukee since I have more batteries and most of my tools are on the same platform. More inherited Craftsman goodies from my father in law.

 

[four.cycle]

^ there were only about half a dozen or so left. I grabbed them all. sent most out as Christmas presents. never opened the last box.

 

[mikeinri]

^ I have two of them still sealed in a box on my living room floor. Blue. Bought all they had at Lowes on a Christmas blow-out.

What was the blow-out price? Just so I don't feel like I'm getting robbed when I finally pull the trigger...

Mike

 

[four.cycle]

^ I think they were about $14 each ???

 

[wandrur]

My Lowe’s never has those mini tool boxes in stock.

My local store had stacks of them in clear view. Will be interested to see if they disappear like mentioned here.

 

[mikeinri]

This week, got Snap ons 100 tooth ratchet, pink screwdrivers (#3 Phillips is at work), and finally replaced my DeWalt grease gun with Milwaukee since I have more batteries and most of my tools are on the same platform. More inherited Craftsman goodies from my father in law.

Awesome! I have one of those M18 grease guns, still NIB. I bought it primarily to use on a Terramite backhoe that's waiting for my time to free up for some repairs before I can start using it.

And, nothing better than inherited tools, especially Craftsman!

Mike

 

[mikeinri]

^ I think they were about $14 each ???

Thanks. I guess I shouldn't hold out for $10, LOL...

 

[carmantl]

Kobalt mini boxes are $20 in Knoxville, TN.

 

[darkzero]

Picked up one of the "mini" Kobalt tool boxes this morning. My closest Lowes listed none in stock online for any of the colors. So I went to another one further away that listed 3 of the black in stock. Well that store had a bunch of them in black as well as all the other colors.

I ended up passing by my closest Lowes later today anyway, the one that showed none in stock at all for any color. Turns out they did have some, only in a few colors, they were sitting on the floor in the middle of a random aisle. Another can't rely on online inventory status.



They're not as "mini" as I expected, compared to my Snap-on but that's ok, I'll keep it. Quality control on them aren't that great though, I seen various defects on them but whatever, I was able to cherry pick a decent one.

This reminded me to finally order one of the 5 drawer P.I.T. boxes to go with my mini Snap-on. Hopefully I can find a mini emblem for it, if not I'll just remove the P.I.T. emblem anyway.