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KYToolz

Active member
Joined
Jan 20, 2025
Messages
44
Location
Southeastern Kentucky
Due to a minor medical issue, I haven’t worked in a little over 2 weeks, but the doctor gave me the go-ahead this morning to return tomorrow. I was in in the process of building a 20’X18’ detached garage for a client when I got sick and will be starting back on it tomorrow. The siding is ready to be painted but, due to all the rain we’ve been getting, my paint guy is way behind and can‘t come for at least 2 weeks. He was actually scheduled to be there last week. To make a long story short, even though I don’t ordinarily paint unless it‘s to touch something up, I decided to paint the garage myself.

I went out to my tool shed to check out my paint sprayer and, since I hadn’t used it since 2008, the hoses were all dried out and cracked. Like I said, I usually sub out the painting. So, I went to my least favorite place in the world, Lowe’s, to get one and get a sanding block because I noticed that one of the flaps which cover the spikes on mine had broken off. Anyway, it turns out that Lowe’s doesn’t even carry old school sanding blocks! 😲 The only ones they carry use proprietary sandpaper that attaches with either velcro or adhesive, I didn’t really pay close enough attention to notice which one. What kind of home improvement/hardware store doesn’t carry basic sanding blocks? 🤬 Grrr!

I was so mad that I left and went over to Ace Hardware and got these.
A64F9EBC-EDF7-496F-AC63-0978E4EE4DE4.jpeg

13D097C2-EC88-4216-8837-B50FB449D0CA.jpeg

I haven’t liked Lowe’s for a long time but, until Ace recently drastically expanded their offerings, I didn’t have much of a choice for most things other than lumber, especially tools. I made a pledge to myself today, if I can get it at Ace, Lowe’s won‘t even know I exist! Okay, rant over.

By the way, I ran into a friend at Ace and he told me that there was a Menards in Richmond, a little over an hour from me! I didn’t even know that there were any Menards in Kentucky. I’m definitely going to drive up and check them out the first chance that I get.
 
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BlakeTheCarGuy

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Oct 10, 2018
Messages
9,366
Location
Roanoke Virginia
Got a few new things in. Mac S14 drum brake spring tool. I can use this for parking brake shoes and drum brakes on Tacoma’s thankfully I don’t work on drum or parking brakes much but when I do it’s handy. The guy on here who I bought it from threw in some freebies which are always appreciated.

Next picture is a few new Tekton tools. 1/14 and 7/8 chisels. I don’t have these two sizes but now I do completing my set of chisels except 1 inch. The chisels kinda feel meh to be honest. I’ll be keeping them because they will work fine but just feel a bit cheap maybe it’s because they are cold chisels and not heat treated. And then a 35mm socket for axle nuts on Tacomas and 4Runner too. I’ve worked on Toyota pretty much my whole automotive career and I had never knew the Tacoma or 4Runner used a 35mm axle nut but that’s because before the other day I never had to replace an axle in one until then. I hated having to borrow a socket so I got one. I have one at home but I need a full set of tools for home too so had to buy a new one for work.

IMG_1794.jpegIMG_1793.jpeg
 

Squankum

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 28, 2011
Messages
7,702
Location
Southeast
By the way, I ran into a friend at Ace and he told me that there was a Menards in Richmond, a little over an hour from me! I didn’t even know that there were any Menards in Kentucky. I’m definitely going to drive up and check them out the first chance that I get.

They're creeping eastward! Neat!

 

Squankum

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 28, 2011
Messages
7,702
Location
Southeast
Got a few new things in. Mac S14 drum brake spring tool. I can use this for parking brake shoes and drum brakes on Tacoma’s thankfully I don’t work on drum or parking brakes much but when I do it’s handy. The guy on here who I bought it from threw in some freebies which are always appreciated.

Next picture is a few new Tekton tools. 1/14 and 7/8 chisels. I don’t have these two sizes but now I do completing my set of chisels except 1 inch. The chisels kinda feel meh to be honest. I’ll be keeping them because they will work fine but just feel a bit cheap maybe it’s because they are cold chisels and not heat treated. And then a 35mm socket for axle nuts on Tacomas and 4Runner too. I’ve worked on Toyota pretty much my whole automotive career and I had never knew the Tacoma or 4Runner used a 35mm axle nut but that’s because before the other day I never had to replace an axle in one until then. I hated having to borrow a socket so I got one. I have one at home but I need a full set of tools for home too so had to buy a new one for work.

IMG_1794.jpeg

Blake, that stamped metal 13mm is a bicycle cone wrench. Park Tool Co. makes bicycle tools, so if you're ever looking for more thin wrenches like that, they're a good and sensibly-priced place to start. I've used a 15mm for rear caliper guides on one of my cars.
 
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Steve_P

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 15, 2010
Messages
5,185
Next picture is a few new Tekton tools. 1/14 and 7/8 chisels. I don’t have these two sizes but now I do completing my set of chisels except 1 inch. The chisels kinda feel meh to be honest. I’ll be keeping them because they will work fine but just feel a bit cheap maybe it’s because they are cold chisels and not heat treated.

They're heat treated. They're called "cold" because they're meant to strike "cold" steel- meaning not glowing red.
 

Steve_P

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 15, 2010
Messages
5,185
Indeed, but my Tekton 1/2" Long Cold Chisel seems pretty soft. I don't expect miracle steel, but it dulled very quickly.

For things like punches and chisels, there is a HUGE difference in durability between high carbon, high carbon alloy steel, and tool steel- in that order of superiority. Tool steel was developed for things like stamping dies, which means it's the material of choice for punches and chisels. The rest of the alloys are ok for a punch or chisel, but nowhere as good. The difference between a Mayhew 150 line S2? chisel and the Mayhew "pro" chisel is night and day. Of course you pay for this superiority; nothing is free. Starrett doesn't advertise the alloy they use in their pin or center punches, but they have to be tool steel because they're just tough AF. From past discussions here it sounds like Snap On and Proto also use tool steel in punches and chisels based on how members praise their durability.
 

Squankum

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 28, 2011
Messages
7,702
Location
Southeast
For things like punches and chisels, there is a HUGE difference in durability between high carbon, high carbon alloy steel, and tool steel- in that order of superiority. Tool steel was developed for things like stamping dies, which means it's the material of choice for punches and chisels. The rest of the alloys are ok for a punch or chisel, but nowhere as good. The difference between a Mayhew 150 line S2? chisel and the Mayhew "pro" chisel is night and day. Of course you pay for this superiority; nothing is free. Starrett doesn't advertise the alloy they use in their pin or center punches, but they have to be tool steel because they're just tough AF. From past discussions here it sounds like Snap On and Proto also use tool steel in punches and chisels based on how members praise their durability.

Thanks! I never had much confidence in the chisels that came in my Sears Cman punch, chisel & line up tool set I bought in the late 80's. They seemed really... soft. Still don't regret that tool set, just because of the line up tools and pry bar. Those line-up tools were tools I never would have known I needed.
 

WWheeler

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 23, 2015
Messages
4,105
Location
Middleofnowhere USA
Got a few new things in. Mac S14 drum brake spring tool. I can use this for parking brake shoes and drum brakes on Tacoma’s thankfully I don’t work on drum or parking brakes much but when I do it’s handy. ...

When doing the e-brakes on Toyota 4Runners, Tundras, Lexus GX, etc there are two small holes in the rear hub that are there for you to line up with the retainers that sit behind it that are too small for a standard retainer clip type tool. They are there for a "Toyota Brake Spring Tool" to fit through. Several manufacturers make one. I've got a Mac PBT1 ($42), and there's a Snap-On BT20 ($45) or a 'Cal-Van Tools CV364' ($25 or so) and a couple other brands out now too. Or if you don't want to buy one you could probably just take a good look at a picture of one and modify a flathead screwdriver to look like one.

Tundra parking brake behind rotor hub.jpg MAC TOOLS PBT1 Toyota Brake Spring Tool.png

The tool allows you to reach through the hole and turn the keeper without any fuss. Without it it can quickly become a 4-letter-word-fest to get the retainers off trying to grab them from the side with pliers or vice grips. Been there. Done that. IMHO if you do buy one whatever you wind up paying for one of these tools it'll be worth every penny even if it's the only time you ever do Toyota rear e-brake drums.


BGS 6896 | Brake Spring Installer | for Toyota Parking Brake : Amazon
 
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Buckgnarly

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 8, 2010
Messages
7,651
Location
VT
When doing the e-brakes on Toyota 4Runners, Tundras, Lexus GX, etc there are two small holes in the rear hub that are there for you to line up with the retainers that sit behind it that are too small for a standard retainer clip type tool. They are there for a "Toyota Brake Spring Tool" to fit through. Several manufacturers make one. I've got a Mac PBT1 ($42), and there's a Snap-On BT20 ($45) or a 'Cal-Van Tools CV364' ($25 or so) and a couple other brands out now too. Or if you don't want to buy one you could probably just take a good look at a picture of one and modify a flathead screwdriver to look like one.

Tundra parking brake behind rotor hub.jpg MAC TOOLS PBT1 Toyota Brake Spring Tool.png

The tool allows you to reach through the hole and turn the keeper without any fuss. Without it it can quickly become a 4-letter-word-fest to get the retainers off trying to grab them from the side with pliers or vice grips. Been there. Done that. IMHO if you do buy one whatever you wind up paying for one of these tools it'll be worth every penny even if it's the only time you ever do Toyota rear e-brake drums.


BGS 6896 | Brake Spring Installer | for Toyota Parking Brake : Amazon

Before I had those tools I hated, Hated, HATED those brakes!!!......now I just HATE them! I think I actually learned of them on here also. Did I mention how much I hated them?
 

BlakeTheCarGuy

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Oct 10, 2018
Messages
9,366
Location
Roanoke Virginia
Got some goodies off the Snap-on truck today. 36mm axle nut socket. I have a 36mm at home but not work. And since the used cars are hot and heavy right now that our used car department can’t keep up we are doing them so I figure I’m going to need this one day probably as a few have had bad axles.

Then next an air hammer bit. That bit is handy for hitting out axles because it fits in the little grove at the start of the threads.

And then a magnetic 10mm socket because you never realize how handy they are until you wish you had one.
IMG_1798.jpegIMG_1796.jpegIMG_1797.jpeg
 
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WWheeler

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 23, 2015
Messages
4,105
Location
Middleofnowhere USA
Before I had those tools I hated, Hated, HATED those brakes!!!......now I just HATE them! I think I actually learned of them on here also. Did I mention how much I hated them?

First time I tackled them in my driveway I was like no problem. I grabbed a hold of the keepers with some needle nose vise grips but couldn't push down and turn them for ****. After about 20 minutes I got the first one. The rest of that weekend and Monday the truck sat just like that until I could borrow that Mac tool I pictured above from a coworker. Life saver tool. Easily finished them that evening after work, and when I went to give the tool back the next day he told me to keep it. He said just to buy him a beer sometime.
And I did. :beer:
 

MongoTA

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 10, 2018
Messages
1,003
Location
CT
Well, my "new tool" hasn't arrived yet, but I do own it.

I buy from online auctions, I'll sometime monitor the action to follow hammer prices as they don't publish the hammer price after the auction is over. To keep tabs on going prices sometimes I'll place a low entry bid, fully expecting to lose. But by placing a bid it allows me to see the hammer price well after the auction is over.

I was going to be offline for most of wednesday, so I put in entry level bids on a couple of items. Shockingly, I won both, apparently the auction was not well attended. On the plus side, I won a stacked Kennedy roller set. I can use those two boxes. But probably not the tools that come with it!

What I was not ready for was winning an 11" metal lathe on a base cabinet. Totally out of my skill and knowledge set here. The auction has a single rigger they allow you to use, and this rigger is not an option, I was quoted an absurd price to just have them load it on my trailer. So I'll likely break this down into manageable pieces to get it out of there, onto my trailer, and into my <gasp> basement shop.

Spent a bit of time on Vintage Machinery today, downloaded a couple manuals. It has variable speed, so I'll need to take a few parts off in the cabinet underneath to get the drive belts off the spindle assembly. It's not the lathe I would have chosen, but in my preliminary research the lathe itself is well regarded, though parts can be hard to come by. Hopefully I won't need any.

Delta Rockwell 25-100. At 11" it's big enough, but not too big. I'm a hobbyist. Seems to be a good lathe if it's in good shape. If not I'll figure something out.

I'm sort of excited. And also a bit scared! This is NOT in my wheelhouse. Hopefully I'll have a good story to tell and a few photos to post Monday.
 

CHI_Tool&Die

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 20, 2021
Messages
1,386
Location
Chicago, IL
Some oddball stuff from Snappy. So far, I’m not a huge fan of the cutters. They seem rather dull but maybe I’m just using them on the wrong things?

Haven’t seen the MAC guy for awhile so I missed out on some of the deals in the last flyer. Still waiting on Matco to show up with stuff I ordered but knowing my luck and the driver it’s going to be weeks if not months.
 

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Nobody-named-Olli

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 9, 2025
Messages
1,597
Location
North Rhine-Westphalia; Germany
Some oddball stuff from Snappy. So far, I’m not a huge fan of the cutters. They seem rather dull but maybe I’m just using them on the wrong things? (…)

What are you using them on?

I use my Knipex CoBolt on bolts, chain links, bus bars, (…) Everything that requires more leverage and would be quite ‘hard’ on the edge of typical side cutters. So I generally appreciate the stronger, one might say ‘duller’, edge on these.

I don’t have the Snappys, so I can‘t compare the cutting capability.

Kind regards,
Olli
 

CHI_Tool&Die

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 20, 2021
Messages
1,386
Location
Chicago, IL
What are you using them on?

I use my Knipex CoBolt on bolts, chain links, bus bars, (…) Everything that requires more leverage and would be quite ‘hard’ on the edge of typical side cutters. So I generally appreciate the stronger, one might say ‘duller’, edge on these.

I don’t have the Snappys, so I can‘t compare the cutting capability.

Kind regards,
Olli
I have been using them on bike cables and smaller pins. They cut but on the cables they kinda pinch them and leave them smooshed together in a fine crimp unless I really push the handles together and pull away. My driver gave me a discount because they’ve been on the truck forever. I haven’t tried them on threaded rod yet, so I’m hoping that it handles that stuff better.
 

Nobody-named-Olli

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 9, 2025
Messages
1,597
Location
North Rhine-Westphalia; Germany
I have been using them on bike cables and smaller pins. They cut but on the cables they kinda pinch them and leave them smooshed together in a fine crimp unless I really push the handles together and pull away. My driver gave me a discount because they’ve been on the truck forever. I haven’t tried them on threaded rod yet, so I’m hoping that it handles that stuff better.

No surprise on the wire/ cable. Definitely get designated wire/ cable cutters for that - otherwise you will almost always end up with a cut that is not clean.

Depending on the size of your wire/ cable I’d recommend looking at something like the Felco C7 or with smaller diameters the C3.

C7 https://america.felco.com/products/felco-c7

C3 https://america.felco.com/products/felco-c3

Those really are the ‘benchmark’. Knipex makes good ones as well.

Kind regards,
Olli
 

Motorman55

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 10, 2016
Messages
2,625
Location
South Jersey
Trip to HF today to bag one of these large wagons on sale at $ 139. Now to put it together. Meanwhle, I also want one of those 2-wheel, wheel barrels for a reasonable price. Probably with a steel pan, but not opposed to an aluminum one. Likely have to order it on-line as I didn't see any at Lowes or Home Depot. Looking something under $ 200.

Oh yeah, I also picked up the Bauer 20v hedge trimmer last week to add to my Bauer 20v line. Tired of dragging around cords. Lots of outdoor gardening/projects to do this year too. 1744249510997.png1744249184001.png
UPDATE: Large HF wagon. The wagon was well packed with all the parts present in the box. Nice and clear instructions made for a straight forward, easy and quick assembly. Its a bit heavy and bulky when lifting so if you have a bad back, might want some one to help carry it or use a hand truck.

Wheels are held on with one flat washer and cotter pins (would be better if they were E-Clips) Axles are a slight bit longer then necessary so I'll probably add another one or two washers to each end of the wheels to take up the slack. Comes with a thin, near perfect fit rubber mat for the bed.

The sides fit pretty good all round. The lower sections and clips line up nicely and all four of the side's when raised are held together with quick release latches allowing the sides to drop down or come off quickly as needed. NOTE: the front side has a 'v' cut out to allow for handle clearance, however, if you drop the sides down while leaving them on, the turning radius is limited some, even more if you drop the front side down as the handle hits the side of the 'V'. Tires have a max 30lbs air pressure and that's what I filled them to.

The handle is of a two piece type. A pin allows for quick removal of the hand hold revealing a 'U' forked end for attaching to a lawn tractor for trailoring. Overall it's pretty solid with decent welds and a nice powder coat paint finish, although I wish they would have painted the wheels orange too....maybe I'll do that down the road. Is it HEAVY DUTY?, well lets just say for $136.00 bucks (Members Sale Price) it'll do just fine for your average home DIY gardening tasks.1745024751539.jpeg1745024709993.jpeg1745024680077.jpeg1745024642247.jpeg
 
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Beerhippie

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 13, 2023
Messages
9,783
Location
Far NE Oregon
UPDATE: Large HF wagon. The wagon was well packed with all the parts present in the box. Nice and clear instructions made for a straight forward, easy and quick assembly. Its a bit heavy and bulky when lifting so if you have a bad back, might want some one to help carry it or use a hand truck.

Wheels are held on with one flat washer and cotter pins (would be better if they were E-Clips) Axles are a slight bit longer then necessary so I'll probably another one or two washers to each end of the wheels to take up the slack. Comes with a thin, near perfect fit rubber mat for the bed.

The sides fit pretty good all round. All four of sides tops are connected together on with quick realease latches and can drop down or come off quickly as needed. NOTE: the front side has a 'v' cut out to allow for handle clearance, however, if you drop the sides down while leaving them on, the turning radius is limited some, even more if you drop the front side down as the handle hits the side of the 'V'. Tires have a max 30lbs air pressure and that's what I filled them to.

Handle is of two piece type. A pin allows for quick removal of the hand hold revealing a 'U' forked end for attaching to a mower for trailoring. Overall it's pretty solid with decent welds with nice a powder coat paint finish, although i wished they would have painted the weels orange too....maybe i'
ll do that down the road. Is it HEAVY DUTY?, well lets just say for $136.00 bucks (Members Sale Price) it'll do just fine foryour avaerage gardening tasks.1745024751539.jpeg1745024709993.jpeg1745024680077.jpeg1745024642247.jpeg
We've used ours to handle a couple of hundred pounds of various brewery things over the years. They aren't the HF brand--got 'em at ACE--but sure look identical other than color.

The tires they come with are "run flat" tires--meaning if you want them to run, they're flat. I replaced ours with foam-filled tires and never looked back.

I know I've had to do some welding on the various parts over the years, but don't recall just what--and we did used to haul loads of grain and hops of 200+ pounds.
 

cody1325

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 17, 2024
Messages
1,091
Location
Southwest Virginia
UPDATE: Large HF wagon. The wagon was well packed with all the parts present in the box. Nice and clear instructions made for a straight forward, easy and quick assembly. Its a bit heavy and bulky when lifting so if you have a bad back, might want some one to help carry it or use a hand truck.

Wheels are held on with one flat washer and cotter pins (would be better if they were E-Clips) Axles are a slight bit longer then necessary so I'll probably add another one or two washers to each end of the wheels to take up the slack. Comes with a thin, near perfect fit rubber mat for the bed.

The sides fit pretty good all round. The lower sections and clips line up nicely and all four of the side's when raised are held together with quick release latches allowing the sides to drop down or come off quickly as needed. NOTE: the front side has a 'v' cut out to allow for handle clearance, however, if you drop the sides down while leaving them on, the turning radius is limited some, even more if you drop the front side down as the handle hits the side of the 'V'. Tires have a max 30lbs air pressure and that's what I filled them to.

The handle is of a two piece type. A pin allows for quick removal of the hand hold revealing a 'U' forked end for attaching to a lawn tractor for trailoring. Overall it's pretty solid with decent welds and a nice powder coat paint finish, although I wish they would have painted the wheels orange too....maybe I'll do that down the road. Is it HEAVY DUTY?, well lets just say for $136.00 bucks (Members Sale Price) it'll do just fine for your average home DIY gardening tasks.1745024751539.jpeg1745024709993.jpeg1745024680077.jpeg1745024642247.jpeg


Nice! I've got an old wooden body one that's probably 25 years old now (been mine since I was a toddler), and I still use it as the load height is low. I'll definitely copy how they put the wheels on, as I upgraded to some larger turf tires today, but the pressed steel axle nuts are impossible to find. My rule is: if I buy tires again, I want to be able to quickly swap them out.

I'm not. Buddy of mine said he made some flat free tires by filling them with Great Stuff. Gonna try the same.
 

cody1325

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 17, 2024
Messages
1,091
Location
Southwest Virginia
Central Forge 3-inch Bench Vise. Was on sale for $17 today at Harbor Freight.


KIMG1935.JPG


Back in the '70s, my Granddad bought one of those infamously terrible and cheap 4-inch Buffalo brand vises to put on an old "Tanker" style desk he got from work. Apparently not long after he bought it, a huge chunk got knocked out of the anvil portion. Also, over the years, the nuts for adjusting the swivel went missing.

When I inherited his tools after his passing, I planned on getting a vintage American-made vise to replace it. What I found locally tended to be imported (and more in rough shape than a new Harbor Freight vise), and larger American-made vises are virtually impossible to find.

Today, I finally decided the 3-inch Central Forge would be adequate for hobby use, and was among the cheapest options I had. Seems pretty decent, though it's obviously cheap. While it's in rough shape, great-Grandpa's old Columbian still has better tolerances. Gonna have a machinist friend of mine redo the ruined jaws, and I think the bolt pattern should be nearly the same as the HFT vise.

Oh, and the Ace stubby reversible screwdriver is new too. I'm on a stubby kick as of late. Had to go to Ace in an attempt to find axle nuts for an old wagon, and I got the hardware for a different method, as well as to mount the vise. Bought 7/16 bolts as that's what the directions called for. Unfortunately, those are correct--for a large vise (in fact, it was the EXACT size Granddad drilled the mounting holes for the old Buffalo). Ended up using some stove bolt screws out of a Dorman assortment. Thus, one of my new long-term goals is to keep a decent selection of these hardware assortments stacked up--and throw out all those rusty, stripped bolts I can never match with a nut.
 
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Beerhippie

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 13, 2023
Messages
9,783
Location
Far NE Oregon
Nice! I've got an old wooden body one that's probably 25 years old now (been mine since I was a toddler), and I still use it as the load height is low. I'll definitely copy how they put the wheels on, as I upgraded to some larger turf tires today, but the pressed steel axle nuts are impossible to find. My rule is: if I buy tires again, I want to be able to quickly swap them out.

I'm not. Buddy of mine said he made some flat free tires by filling them with Great Stuff. Gonna try the same.
The filling of flat-free foam tires is like the closed-cell foam used in wetsuits--flexible and squishy. Great Stuff is rigid and fragile. Not the same thing at all.
 

mikeinri

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 29, 2019
Messages
8,232
Location
MA
No surprise on the wire/ cable. Definitely get designated wire/ cable cutters for that - otherwise you will almost always end up with a cut that is not clean.

Ditto. I have no experience with the Felcos, but if you're using straight blades to cut a cable, you can only expect it to squash the ends, as the wires get pushed outwards while you're squeezing to make the cut.

Mike
 

Jaywalk3r

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 9, 2025
Messages
50
Location
PNW, USA
IMG_2463.jpg

I've been upgrading my pliers over the last couple of weeks. I needed some cable cutters and picked up an adjustable wrench. The flush cutters are also handy. I was surprised at how good the fit and finish on the Tsunoda pieces is, especially considering their low price.
 
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