Show your new tool arrivals

[Semi-hole mechanic]

I swear that duct tape and electrician's tape adhesives work as antiseptics, and have healing powers.

--An old boomer.

As a GenXer who grew up with a Silent Generation farmer for a dad, I can attest to this. Dad always had a roll of electrical tape in every tractor toolbox and on a peg hook above the workbench in the shop. Most of it was used as a band-aid, or to hold a paper towel over a cut that was more of a bleeder. My ex-wife, who did not grow up around tools (her dad didn’t know how to check his oil), would freak out when I’d wrap a paper towel around a cut finger, tape it up, and keep working. She also would not let me drill a hole in a smashed finger or toe nail.

 

[pfbz]

i needed a couple of additional floor jacks...

I typically use Quickjacks when lifting cars I'm working on, but the 930 is kind of a PITA to lift without a two-post. It doesn't really have specific jack points, but rather needs to be lifted at body seams, and with oil lines running *right* next to the seams on one side and AC lines on the other, it's kind of tricky and the quckjacks just aren't flexible enough to lift from the right spots. And since i'm not using quickjacks, I need to lift it high enough to get some Esco flat-top jack stands under the suspension hard points once lifted...

I really wanted two more jacks that had: 1) fairly low clearance when down, 2) high lift height (24"), and 3) good reach. I already have a few Daytona jacks, and considered getting two of the Daytona "Long Reach Low Profile" jacks, but HF's new pricing model kind of pisses me off, pricing their products fairly high but then having frequent 20%, 25%, or even 40% off sales on their stuff. But I didn't want to wait, and the list price of the jacks are $270 each, plus another $70 if you want to extend the warranty from 90 days to two years...

I looked at the K Tool International XD63105 (which includes a two year warranty), but most places wanted $300-$400 each for those as well. (sorry, realize this is getting a bit wordy...)

I ended up finding the K Tool jack from Mobile Distributor Supply for $203 each shipped, including tax. It was such a good price I suspected it was a scam site, or one of those sellers that offers cheap prices but never has inventory or ships their stuff. Well, 3 workdays later, they were on my doorstep, drop shipped Fed-Ex right from the manufacturer!

Very nice jacks, just gave them a quick test, but I think I'll be very happy with. them! Sub 3" when lowered, 24" raised, and a super long reach. They are 2-ton instead of the 3-ton rating of the Daytona, but for my purposes, that is still plenty...

 

[pfbz]

^^^ and they match my service cart! ;-)

 

[Squankum]

As a GenXer who grew up with a Silent Generation farmer for a dad, I can attest to this. Dad always had a roll of electrical tape in every tractor toolbox and on a peg hook above the workbench in the shop. Most of it was used as a band-aid, or to hold a paper towel over a cut that was more of a bleeder. My ex-wife, who did not grow up around tools (her dad didn’t know how to check his oil), would freak out when I’d wrap a paper towel around a cut finger, tape it up, and keep working. She also would not let me drill a hole in a smashed finger or toe nail.

She must have had flashbacks to Body Double.

 

[Squankum]

I typically use Quickjacks when lifting cars I'm working on, but the 930 is kind of a PITA to lift without a two-post. It doesn't really have specific jack points, but rather needs to be lifted at body seams, and with oil lines running *right* next to the seams on one side and AC lines on the other, it's kind of tricky and the quckjacks just aren't flexible enough to lift from the right spots. And since i'm not using quickjacks, I need to lift it high enough to get some Esco flat-top jack stands under the suspension hard points once lifted...

I assume you're aware of this kind of jacking point extension and that the 930's rocker boxes cause problems?

https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/RENT01.htm

 

[ETJ]

Picard High crown hammer (251-4) and a door knob/hour glass dolly (252-35)

 

[Prospecter]

HF's new pricing model kind of pisses me off, pricing their products fairly high but then having frequent 20%, 25%, or even 40% off sales on their stuff. But I didn't want to wait, and the list price of the jacks are $270 each, plus another $70 if you want to extend the warranty from 90 days to two years...

I've never bought an extended warranty. Figure if I can't break something in 90 days, I probably won't break it after 90 days.
I am grateful for HF's pricing / coupons. They keep their margins up with other people's money, and I am rewarded for my patience.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

New diagonal cutters today, and my first mini bolt cutter from last week.

Knipex CoBolt S 71 31 160
Went for this smaller size given it's for occasional needs and has relatively low versatility. No regrets on the size or choosing the recessed version - it's capable and comfortable enough for a few cuts on material that's 75% of its specified capacity, and I'd rather have this with me than an ideal bigger one back at the garage. Still, I'd probably have chosen multi-component grips if they were available in this size, but plastic coated does make for a compact tool.

Knipex X-Cut Compact Diagonal Cutter 73 02 160
The box joint gives relatively high leverage for its size, without compromising on jaw capacity or requiring excessive handle movement. The specified cutting (not jaw opening) capacities are the same as the 180mm High Leverage (not TwinForce).



Jaw opening and handle span comparison


Handle type bulkiness comparison:

 

[Andres26tnt]

Not necessarily a new arrivals, been in my possession for 2 months. Signet is a great budget brand in Asia/Japanese market. It's basically gearwrench, they offer the same tools. Picked up their version of the meme tool. The quality is good, comes with everyone's favorite bit ratchet, the price was also very attractive at 23$. It's a huge bargain for the quality offered. Available in Amazon JP. Another vendor offers it in the USA with a different ratchet otoku tools.

Tho the drawbacks are the design of the case, it's expose on the sides. So if you put any bit loose on there it's flying off. Also I haven't tested it fall performance. The way it locks is via friction.

 

[Jtels85]

If your Uncle is a retired electrician who spent 40 years using Kleins, this pair may well appear in the "Tools You Have Found in the Road" thread.
Old habits die hard .

For as long as I can remember, he's had a tool box full of channellock's and a hodge podge of other odd's & ends. He's 81 now, but still gets around better than most people half his age. He's humble, not a snob. He will very much appreciate the gift.

 

[Jtels85]

Who needs built-in cable rippers when you have a knife? Who needs Band-aids or stitches when you have electrician's tape?

I thought the built-in cable ripper was innovative, which is a word Klein and Channellock haven't been able to apply to their product line for several decades.

 

[Beerhippie]

As a GenXer who grew up with a Silent Generation farmer for a dad, I can attest to this. Dad always had a roll of electrical tape in every tractor toolbox and on a peg hook above the workbench in the shop. Most of it was used as a band-aid, or to hold a paper towel over a cut that was more of a bleeder. My ex-wife, who did not grow up around tools (her dad didn’t know how to check his oil), would freak out when I’d wrap a paper towel around a cut finger, tape it up, and keep working. She also would not let me drill a hole in a smashed finger or toe nail.

Let's not forget the mystical antibacterial qualities of old engine grease!

 

[Semi-hole mechanic]

She must have had flashbacks to Body Double.

She couldn’t stand the sight of blood or needles. I hit a piece of baling wire with the push mower and impaled my ankle with it. She came home from work to take me to the ER and looked at it and almost passed out on the patio. I told her not to look at it or I would have to leave her there and drive myself to the hospital. She almost passed out again when the nurse handed her my shoes that were filled with blood.

Funny thing is Dad was almost as bad, he would just tape them up and keep going without really looking at them, unless he knew it was bad and then he wrapped it and went to the hospital. He said it was only his own blood but I proved that false when I mashed the end of my finger when I was 15. Dad lost all of his color when he looked at it.

 

[pfbz]

I assume you're aware of this kind of jacking point extension and that the 930's rocker boxes cause problems?

Yup... Aware of those.

But as you speculated those jack pads won't work with the boxed rockers, plus even when you can use those, they are useful for lifting a single side of the car, but not so much if you want to get all four off the ground and up on jackstands....

 

[Madjik Man]

God, I love tools.

 

[pfbz]

I've never bought an extended warranty. Figure if I can't break something in 90 days, I probably won't break it after 90 days.

Agree for most tools, but jacks are one of those things that do tend to fail over time, and very few of them are repairable/rebuildable these days...

I am grateful for HF's pricing / coupons. They keep their margins up with other people's money, and I am rewarded for my patience.

lol...

 

[Squankum]

I thought the built-in cable ripper was innovative, which is a word Klein and Channellock haven't been able to apply to their product line for several decades.

 

[Squankum]

Let's not forget the mystical antibacterial qualities of old engine grease!

Well, sure, if the Bag Balm has run out.

 

[cody1325]

Not to mention the ever-handy dissection kit! Need a really sharp scalpel for anything?

Estes rockets for long-range delivery of your chemistry experiments?

Toys were so much more fun in the sixties....

Do they even sell model rocketry stuff in the stores anymore? I had an Estes set in my early teens, and Walmart, Kmart, and the small regional chain Magic Mart all sold a wide selection of rockets and engines. Yet, I haven't seen them in quite some time.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Let's not forget the mystical antibacterial qualities of old engine grease!

Brakleen.

 

[mikeinri]

Do they even sell model rocketry stuff in the stores anymore? I had an Estes set in my early teens, and Walmart, Kmart, and the small regional chain Magic Mart all sold a wide selection of rockets and engines. Yet, I haven't seen them in quite some time.

I've seen them in hobby shops (good luck finding those anymore) and craft stores (Michael's, Hobby Lobby, etc.).

Mike

 

[Beerhippie]

Do they even sell model rocketry stuff in the stores anymore? I had an Estes set in my early teens, and Walmart, Kmart, and the small regional chain Magic Mart all sold a wide selection of rockets and engines. Yet, I haven't seen them in quite some time.

It's actually easier to get model rocket engines than when I was a kid!

Back then, we had to have a permit to buy them (in theory). The permit had to be approved and signed-off by the County Sheriff. I didn't always have best of relations with the Sheriff.

Any of the larger hobby stores had them last I looked.

 

[mikeinri]

I have a long, funny story about model rockets and permits. Only time I've been in the back seat of a police car...

Mike

 

[will335i]

Do they even sell model rocketry stuff in the stores anymore? I had an Estes set in my early teens, and Walmart, Kmart, and the small regional chain Magic Mart all sold a wide selection of rockets and engines. Yet, I haven't seen them in quite some time.

Looks like Hobby Lobby still sells them.

 

[Beerhippie]

I have a long, funny story about model rockets and permits. Only time I've been in the back seat of a police car...

Mike

We'd make really Q&D rockets from paper towel cores and aluminum foil and use them with D engines to launch our surf-fishing gear out beyond the surf line. Who'd'a thunk that would be illegal?

 

[cody1325]

It's actually easier to get model rocket engines than when I was a kid!

Back then, we had to have a permit to buy them (in theory). The permit had to be approved and signed-off by the County Sheriff. I didn't always have best of relations with the Sheriff.

Any of the larger hobby stores had them last I looked.

Now that I remember correctly, Hobby Lobby did have them last time I was there (last year) as others have stated. I used to have one, but never used it all that often.

Also, an independent hobby shop that carries just about anything you want in terms of trains, RC, and slot cars (plus diecast) moved to the same mall instead of the place a couple towns over they used to have.

Looks like next month, when I finally head up to Rural King (which replaced Sears in my mall) to get a real Hi-Lift after binning my dangerous poor-quality knockoff, it's gonna be expensive.... Been looking at getting into N-scale train stuff, as well as doing a rebuild on the old Marklin HO and Lionel O24 (S, but running on O gauge track) locomotives I have.

 

[SweGripp]

Has had a steady stream of new tools coming in the last weeks, but have forgot to take pictures.
A couple of days ago I wen't to a store that hade a big sale on Teng Tools so I had to pick up a few things, and as usual a few more bits snuck in the cart, don't know how that happens all the time....

 

[pfbz]

Do they even sell model rocketry stuff in the stores anymore? I had an Estes set in my early teens, and Walmart, Kmart, and the small regional chain Magic Mart all sold a wide selection of rockets and engines. Yet, I haven't seen them in quite some time.

Type "Estes Rockets" into an amazon search and you'll find pretty much every rocket you ever built as a kid and dozens (hundreds?) more. Brick and mortar stores? I'm sure somewhere...

 

[shoggoth80]

Snap on Wednesday at work. Snagged some good crimpers/strippers. My old Globemasters can take a break Been thinking about getting a better set for a bit, so finally jumped.

 

[LXCam]

Snap on Wednesday at work. Snagged some good crimpers/strippers. My old Globemasters can take a break Been thinking about getting a better set for a bit, so finally jumped.

Other than the handle color those sure look identical to some Carlyle ones several of us got a couple months back.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Big old Snap On 56oz deadblow. 16oz shown for comparison.

 

[SC Fly Guy]

We'd make really Q&D rockets from paper towel cores and aluminum foil and use them with D engines to launch our surf-fishing gear out beyond the surf line. Who'd'a thunk that would be illegal?

Reminds me of my high school buddy that created a UFO scare by making some homemade hot air balloons … coat hangers, tissue paper, and a tuna fish can full of alcohol soaked cotton balls. Man, that sheriff had no sense of humor!

 

[shoggoth80]

Other than the handle color those sure look identical to some Carlyle ones several of us got a couple months back.

That doesn't surprise me. I'm not sure if SO was first to market on this design, but I know they've been around a while. Icon's piece is pretty much a clone from what I've seen of it. While I wouldn't say I'm a sucker for hi viz, I do like how it stands out from my drawer liners. Got some pliers and a screwdriver in the same. Easy to spot if I drop Trust me, I will eventually drop them. Lol.

 

[Beerhippie]

Reminds me of my high school buddy that created a UFO scare by making some homemade hot air balloons … coat hangers, tissue paper, and a tuna fish can full of alcohol soaked cotton balls. Man, that sheriff had no sense of humor!

You sure you didn't go to Clackamas High?

We made HA balloons from dry cleaner bags, coat hanger wires and tuna cans stuffed with cut-off fuzees--giant glowing red jellyfish in the skies. We'd send 'em up when the breeze was blowing towards town, wait an hour or so and call the police to report a UFO. The dispatcher would always respond with "Honey, you're the hundred and forty-sixth caller to report that!". That's how we kept score. Never did get caught for that one....

 

[lund]

Agree for most tools, but jacks are one of those things that do tend to fail over time, and very few of them are repairable/rebuildable these days...



lol...

I am not sure this is true. It seems places sell a broad variety of jack seal and rebuild kits. But it can be hard to figure out which one works for you since there are so many models. Some larger cylinders can be difficult to open too (large diameter threads when stuck need big wrenches and a lot of torque).

 

[lund]

I have a long, funny story about model rockets and permits. Only time I've been in the back seat of a police car...

Mike

Huh? I am in Michigan and bought some just a few weeks ago for my younger son (12). They were sold in the local hobby store (Hobby Lobby) so I was assuming nothing is needed to responsibly use.

I don't want to get a permit for it. How careful should I be about being seen?

 

[mikeinri]

Huh? I am in Michigan and bought some just a few weeks ago for my younger son (12). They were sold in the local hobby store (Hobby Lobby) so I was assuming nothing is needed to responsibly use.

I don't want to get a permit for it. How careful should I be about being seen?

I can't answer that, I'm not from Michigan and haven't flown a rocket since the 80s.

Mike

 

[Beerhippie]

Huh? I am in Michigan and bought some just a few weeks ago for my younger son (12). They were sold in the local hobby store (Hobby Lobby) so I was assuming nothing is needed to responsibly use.

I don't want to get a permit for it. How careful should I be about being seen?

I don't know about state and local restrictions, but the federal permit mandate went away years ago--maybe in the eighties?

Probably not a bad thing, as many of us got around the permit by making our own engines--which entails a little more risk than buying the factory-made ones.

 

[mikeinri]

I have a long, funny story about model rockets and permits. Only time I've been in the back seat of a police car...

Mike

OK, so here's the story...

I got into the rocket hobby in the early 80s, through a friend from Boy Scouts, whose dad (also our Scoutmaster) got him going. Back before the internet (and before I had a driver's license), our access to rockets was primarily through mail-order catalogs, at least for the model kits. I could buy engines at a mall toy store (K-B Toys, IIRC), but they had an extremely limited assortment of rocket models.

Anyway, I was always a rule-follower (my friend and I both became Eagle Scouts at the same time, within a year or two after this episode), and somewhere along the line, I learned that I needed a permit (maybe just to buy engines without an adult?) in RI.

The permit process went through my town's Fire Department. On the application, I had to list specifically where I planned to fly the rockets. Pretty much any park in town was OK, plus the fields at local schools. In reality, only a handful were big enough, without being surrounded by forests, to be able to fly and actually RECOVER a rocket.

So, with permit in my wallet, and maybe a year's worth of buying, building and flying without issues or complaints, I decided that my next science project would involve model rockets. Created a few different fin designs, used the same body, nose cones, engines, etc. and tried to differentiate which was the better fin design...

Got all of the rockets built, and carried all of the stuff to the local high school on our bikes. Not OUR high school, mind you, as we went to a private high school further away, in the next city over (beyond reasonable biking distance, especially given the hill involved, while carrying a ton of rocket-launching gear).

Wearing our "visitor" school jackets, we stuck out like two sore thumbs, running up and down the athletic fields, launching and chasing my rockets.

After around 45 minutes of this, we hear someone yelling at us from the other side of the chain link fence near the street. Turned out to be a police officer.

Assuming he was questioning our rocket-launching-approval status, I pulled the permit out of my wallet and gave it to him. He stared at it, but couldn't make any sense of it.

He had us climb over the fence, get into the back of the squad car, and started asking us all sorts of ID questions. We were probably around 14-15 at the time, so we didn't have any IDs, other than school IDs (maybe).

After sitting there for 20-30 minutes, he let us go.

Apparently, someone had broken into the computer lab at the high school we were visiting, setting off an alarm that called the police; and when he pulled up, he saw two yahoos running away from the building (us idiots, blissfully unaware of what was happening, just chasing a rocket)...

To this day, I don't think that permit was worth the paper it was written on.

Mike

 

[Squankum]

Big old Snap On 56oz deadblow. 16oz shown for comparison.

I have a 40 oz. version of that hammer. I hit things with it. It is good.