Ducky
Well-known member
I suspect that will become my fav as well. I tend to go to the smaller size of most types of pliers. I don't have small hands but that is what I have noticed over the years.
Show your new tool arrivals
- Thread starter sarel.wagner
- Start date
Snap-on master tap and die set. I’ve never seen die sockets before so that’s pretty cool. My bay neighbor has a similar set but his doesn’t have the die sockets or anything fancy lol. This was on sale but I can’t remember the price maybe $635ish. Still doesn’t have all the taps I need but bigger than the Matco set I had originally purchased which will now be my home set. I have on order a M14x1.5 and M16x1.5 taps as well as an M12x1.25 that I ordered before I got this set but that’s fine it doesn’t hurt to have extras. Those are coming from Matco though. Man I need a bigger toolbox. My work won’t let me expand anymore so I can’t get a locker lol. I have to keep this underneath my box because I’m out of space and the drawer it goes in is full lol.
I still need to buy a quality made tap and die set. But the price tag on that Snap On kit is crazy, and they have a yet even more expensive kit too.
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WWheeler
Well-known member
I don't know why I never got tap sockets before. They've been on my list of wants and had them in my cart many times for years now, but I never pulled the trigger. Then I watched one of my coworkers use one of them in a small drill with a can of spray lube to tap about 25 holes he'd just drilled out in the time I'd usually take to get one or two done with a tap handle. It was at least 10 times as fast, rocking back and forth with the drill. One of those jaw in my lap moments. I couldn't order the set fast enough.
I did see there are now a bunch of no-name brands selling the same set, many even using Lisle's '70500' number, for as low as half the price. Almost went that route, as I suspect they're probably of a similar enough quality especially for my uses, but I've been wrong too many times before when I cheaped out on a tool. I've had a many Lisle tool and while they are not usually anything special, they tend to get the job done and have yet to fail me before I know I got my money's worth.
I don't understand why this has to be debated here, and we've been thru this before. "Back in my day, we just used a c-clamp or Channellocks. We didn't need no fancy tools."
First: this is a tool forum.
Second: cars have been sold with four piston (two on each side) painted/powder coated Brembo, and other, calipers for decades now, including non-exotics like Subaru STi. Six piston calipers aren't uncommon on modern performance cars. Are you not aware that painted, or powder coated, 4-6 piston calipers exist?
And yes, I learned in the 1980s also with a c-clamp. But vehicles evolve and times change. I will spend the $20 for the correct tool to touch only the pistons, or pads, and not my $500+ painted Brembo caliper. I doubt anyone working at a dealership isn't using the correct caliper tools because they'd be fired after their first pad change if they F'd up someone's painted calipers.
Subaru OEM Right Front Brembo 6 Pot Caliper 2018-2021 STIDefault Title
Discover the OEM Subaru Brembo 6 pot caliper for 2018-2021 STI. Shop trusted performance upgrades to enhance your braking power and reliability today.
subimods.com
51dueller
Well-known member
Picked up the 17 piece Gearwrench XL gearbox wrenches in the prime day sale. The normal price difference between the 12 piece and 17 piece was pretty stupid but on sale brought it in line.
I've been wanting some stubby ratchet wrenches for a while but the bigger metric set just never goes on sale. The 7 piece is fine for sae but I've wanted the 10 piece for metric. Even the Mastercraft Maximum ones are still $50 cdn on sale for each 7 piece set. KMS tools had the Gearwrench 14 piece sae and metric 72 tooth set on sale for $50. Of course Gearwrench doesn't sell the 72 tooth ones individually, only the 90 tooth. I bought the Westward branded ones to fill in the gap and I got the 8mm and 9mm which Gearwrench doesn't offer themselves. Since Ernest only makes a 11 wrench stubby gripper, I forgo a 19mm as I could use the 3/4 wrench instead. The 9mm is currently on backorder.
Here's the 8mm Westward beside the 10mm Gearwrench. It has the Gearwrench telltale date letter stamped in it.
I've been wanting some stubby ratchet wrenches for a while but the bigger metric set just never goes on sale. The 7 piece is fine for sae but I've wanted the 10 piece for metric. Even the Mastercraft Maximum ones are still $50 cdn on sale for each 7 piece set. KMS tools had the Gearwrench 14 piece sae and metric 72 tooth set on sale for $50. Of course Gearwrench doesn't sell the 72 tooth ones individually, only the 90 tooth. I bought the Westward branded ones to fill in the gap and I got the 8mm and 9mm which Gearwrench doesn't offer themselves. Since Ernest only makes a 11 wrench stubby gripper, I forgo a 19mm as I could use the 3/4 wrench instead. The 9mm is currently on backorder.
Here's the 8mm Westward beside the 10mm Gearwrench. It has the Gearwrench telltale date letter stamped in it.
Honestly, keep an eye on market place. I got my Snap On SAE set with only 1 tap showing evidence of being used for $120.
Kasal
Well-known member
Today I had to cut the grass in the garden. After running the string trimmer through the corners where the lawnmower couldn't reach, the sidewalks were covered in grass, dirt, and dust. I was about to sweep a broom I bought a few days ago.
Then I remembered I'm a GJ member, and I went to get a tool suitable for the job. I was thinking of a Hecho 2520, but the Sthill dealership was just a few yards away. I stopped to ask, and walked out the door with this. Sthil BG86:
Then I remembered I'm a GJ member, and I went to get a tool suitable for the job. I was thinking of a Hecho 2520, but the Sthill dealership was just a few yards away. I stopped to ask, and walked out the door with this. Sthil BG86:
Beerhippie
Well-known member
I can't find my old Olfa circle cutter that I use to make medium-size gaskets--I know I put it away when I was going through the shop organization frenzy. Just no idea where that "proper place" might have been.
So:
Now I'll find the old one.
The roller on my chisel/plane iron sharpening jig no longer appears to be perpendicular to the clamp:
Maybe using it on a 3" belt sander to rough-square badly skewed plane irons wasn't the best of ideas.
So I bought a new one:
The gauge for setting the blade angle is a little more refined than my shop-built one. No idea what some of the angles would be used for. I use 25 and 30 degrees and those seem to cover my needs.
So:
Now I'll find the old one.
The roller on my chisel/plane iron sharpening jig no longer appears to be perpendicular to the clamp:
Maybe using it on a 3" belt sander to rough-square badly skewed plane irons wasn't the best of ideas.
So I bought a new one:
The gauge for setting the blade angle is a little more refined than my shop-built one. No idea what some of the angles would be used for. I use 25 and 30 degrees and those seem to cover my needs.
Everything I work on uses 4+ piston calipers with pads that slide out of the top. With out-the-top calipers, I haven’t used any tool except the brake pad itself. I slide it about 1/2 to 2/3 out and then leverage it against the rotor edge to push the pistons back in. If I have a stubborn one, I will turn the pad 90 degrees for extra leverage. The pad friction material doesnt harm the edge of the rotor. This is the only way I have done it for 20 years. Like I am sure a lot of people here are; I am looking for any excuse to buy a new tool. But the only caliper piston pusher I have is the one I got in auto shop class when I was 16 years old, for use with the rare single piston sliding calipers. Although now I’m realizing I have a car with carbon ceramic brakes I haven’t changed the pads on before, and for that I may choose not to leverage anything against the rotor since they are known to be brittle to localized pressure.
eBay is a great place to source high end taps. Job shops will purchase a surplus for a contract they are running, and when the contract ends they will offload the leftovers on eBay. The real good stuff is a lot more expensive then what you get in the comprehensive kits, but if you focus on just the threads that are relevant to you, you could build a kit with superior thread cutting tools for the same or less money.
tyyost
Well-known member
I‘m glad you chimed in, I bought the Lang tool a few years ago after doing things the shade tree way for a long time. Heck, I even have a nice c-clamp I keep lubed and ready with my brake gear. The tool is fast, works easy and makes it a snap to bleed back the caliper. When I debated buying the lang tool there was a thread and someone suggested the vise grip clamps as well, and while it worked, it was like using big channel locks…
I live in the rust belt and maintain several cars 10+ years old with over 150k miles. Anything I can do to make the job easier I’m game for. I’m curious if the caulking gun style may be the ticket on my single piston rear calipers since my lang tool is the larger model.
Putting together a small pouch tool kit.
Wiha Utility Organizer Zipper Tool Pouch 91472
That Wiha pouch is nice!
rshadd
Well-known member
Decided I needed better tools for cleaning my windows... So I threw away my junk gas station squeegee/scrubber combo and got some pro tools. Not sure if I'm gonna like the F*LIQ scrubbers but figured I'd give it and try.
Moerman Takumi Pole - 8 Foot
Moerman Complete Baobab Stripwasher
Moerman Complete Microfiber Stripwasher
Moerman Excelerator 2.0 Handle (tilts and swivels)
10" / With F*LIQ Washer Strip
14" / With F*LIQ Washer Strip
Ettore Master Squeegee Rubber
Ettore Master Brass Squeegee Channel
Right right tools always makes the difference.
Moerman Takumi Pole - 8 Foot
Moerman Complete Baobab Stripwasher
Moerman Complete Microfiber Stripwasher
Moerman Excelerator 2.0 Handle (tilts and swivels)
10" / With F*LIQ Washer Strip
14" / With F*LIQ Washer Strip
Ettore Master Squeegee Rubber
Ettore Master Brass Squeegee Channel
Right right tools always makes the difference.
I don't understand why this has to be debated here, and we've been thru this before. "Back in my day, we just used a c-clamp or Channellocks. We didn't need no fancy tools."
First: this is a tool forum.
Second: cars have been sold with four piston (two on each side) painted/powder coated Brembo, and other, calipers for decades now, including non-exotics like Subaru STi. Six piston calipers aren't uncommon on modern performance cars. Are you not aware that painted, or powder coated, 4-6 piston calipers exist?
And yes, I learned in the 1980s also with a c-clamp. But vehicles evolve and times change. I will spend the $20 for the correct tool to touch only the pistons, or pads, and not my $500+ painted Brembo caliper. I doubt anyone working at a dealership isn't using the correct caliper tools because they'd be fired after their first pad change if they F'd up someone's painted calipers.
Subaru OEM Right Front Brembo 6 Pot Caliper 2018-2021 STIDefault Title
Discover the OEM Subaru Brembo 6 pot caliper for 2018-2021 STI. Shop trusted performance upgrades to enhance your braking power and reliability today.
Debated? Well, I'm looking to be convinced. I was really just asking someone to SHOW me why it would be an improvement on a simple, basic caliper. You just gave (another) example of a more exotic one. I'm not saying NO ONE needs these, I'm asking to see how it would help me.
And while I'm not sure what this has to do with it (but others have mentioned it): I drive 20+ year old American vehicles (parts from elsewhere, of course), to 300k miles, in a very rust-prone environment.
More often than not lately, I'm replacing calipers when I do brake jobs because the exposed pistons get pitted from rust and don't function properly after compressing them.
But again, $20 is cheap money for something that'll improve the job, I'd just like to be shown how.
[EDIT: BTW, after decades of fighting to adjust drum brakes with screwdrivers, I finally bought the proper tools, and that was a huge improvement, so I'm not against this.]
Mike
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olsenmotorsports
Well-known member
Yes it has retention rings in that hold the dies. Game changer!
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I am going to have to buy those…
Kind of where I am on this. I cannot really justify them.
Dave455
Well-known member
The Draper “Expert” is the odd one out there.
Draper have imported tools into the U.K. for many decades, and even 40+ years ago were bringing in reasonably priced tools from the far east. Many of these were from Japan, which were already a notch above the competition. Draper saved money by specifying a cheaper finish - a matte chrome.
The “ Expert” range were finished in a polished chrome, and were surprisingly decent. For the price, exceptional. I think it’s all made in Taiwan now, but my local motor factor keeps it, and it’s not bad.
The Britool / Facom / Mac Expert are different. I think it’s all from China, all equally poor, and peddled under whichever name SBD thinks has the most cachet.
olsenmotorsports
Well-known member
Facom doesn't do any China that I know, but a decent amount of Taiwan, and it is good. .
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I've seen your toolbox. You're the ringmaster of this circus!Yeah because of all you clowns I tell myself that at least once a day
Picked up the 17 piece Gearwrench XL gearbox wrenches in the prime day sale. The normal price difference between the 12 piece and 17 piece was pretty stupid but on sale brought it in line.
What was the prime day pricing on the 17 piece set? I recently picked up the 12 piece set through Woot, $116. Ii think it's still available through them.
LWB
Well-known member
I've had them for a bit BUT just opened them!
LeeG
Well-known member
I have one of those in every vehicle, and a few more in strategic locations around the shop. They are a great non-nailing hammer.
Lee
BobsYourUncle69
Well-known member
pcrov
Well-known member
Dave455
Well-known member
Facom proper comes from a variety of countries. France, Italy, and predominantly Taiwan now. Yes, decent tools for the most part. See the Facom tools thread for details.
Britool Expert / Expert by Facom. / Mac Expert (all essentially similar) are different. Lower quality tools at lower prices. Probably not that low if you buy from the Mac truck.
In fairness, some Taiwan tools, even some European, but a lot of Chinese, and they‘re not great. You have to pick and choose.
The Britool “Expert“ (only sold under that name in the U.K.) was the crudest attempt ever to ring the absolute last out of a once great name.
Draper ”Expert“ are totally unrelated, and different tools, which was really my point.
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Beerhippie
Well-known member
Another pair of these cheap, $7.50 Chicom flush-cutters for the zip-tie bucket:
A coworker used my first pair the other day. Within five minutes, he'd lost them. I ordered this pair and found the originals about ten minutes later--but now I have one pair for the electronics tool box and one for the zip-ties.
They work well and leave a perfectly flush cut. They come with a spring, which I tossed. If you can't operate a pair of pliers without a spring in the handle, you don't deserve to use pliers.
A coworker used my first pair the other day. Within five minutes, he'd lost them. I ordered this pair and found the originals about ten minutes later--but now I have one pair for the electronics tool box and one for the zip-ties.
They work well and leave a perfectly flush cut. They come with a spring, which I tossed. If you can't operate a pair of pliers without a spring in the handle, you don't deserve to use pliers.
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
You just need bigger nails.
51dueller
Well-known member
Prime day sale pricing was $299 cdn for the 17 piece which is $20 cdn over regular price of the 12 piece set. Regular price for the 17 piece set is currently $495 cdn. The 5 piece expansion set for the 12 set is $245 cdn.
Finally, able to get some tools at an estate sale for OK prices.
Proto 1 1/16" Wrench $5
Snap On Combo Wrench $5
Snap On 3 Piece Mini Wrenches $7.50
Western Auto USA 24" Pipe Wrench $15
Snap On 3 Piece Punch Set $7.50
Cornwell USA 1/2" Swivel Socket $1.50
Snap On 26" Flathead Screwdriver $5
Proto 1 1/16" Wrench $5
Snap On Combo Wrench $5
Snap On 3 Piece Mini Wrenches $7.50
Western Auto USA 24" Pipe Wrench $15
Snap On 3 Piece Punch Set $7.50
Cornwell USA 1/2" Swivel Socket $1.50
Snap On 26" Flathead Screwdriver $5
Beautiful embossing on this specimen. Never seen a wrench like that from Snapon.
I was in need of a large adjustable wrench and wanted to buy American but there wasn’t a whole lot available, let alone at a reasonable price. Even Proto makes theirs in Taiwan, alas. Fortunately I stumbled upon this 16” spud wrench from Klein, on sale for $60:
It’s rated at 1-5/8” capacity but the jaws open to a c-hair short of 1-3/4”
Performed very well in the strength tests I saw, likely owing to the beefy jaws. Good news, because that tapered handle is just asking for a cheater pipe. I’m very stoked with my US made wrench and I look forward to putting it to use on some big hydraulic fittings
Facom proper comes from a variety of countries. France, Italy, and predominantly Taiwan now. Yes, decent tools for the most part. See the Facom tools thread for details.
Britool Expert / Expert by Facom. / Mac Expert (all essentially similar) are different. Lower quality tools at lower prices. Probably not that low if you buy from the Mac truck.
In fairness, some Taiwan tools, even some European, but a lot of Chinese, and they‘re not great. You have to pick and choose.
The Britool “Expert“ (only sold under that name in the U.K.) was the crudest attempt ever to ring the absolute last out of a once great name.
Draper ”Expert“ are totally unrelated, and different tools, which was really my point.
Ah, I forgot about FACOM Expert -- don't see much of that in the states, if at all.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
They help when your wrists ache after doing 8 axles worth of brakes in a day with some ****** 2" handle on a c-clamp or manual twist tool. If you like manual tools, visegrip 11R gives you good feeling as to how the piston moves while compressing while giving you good mechanical advantage. Lang 279 gives more advantage, with less feel. Is probably slower in a race as well, but generally easier to use. I keep those two, a lisle "pistol grip" style compressor, and a pneumatic wind back tool from mastercool in the cart.
It's just a function of how often you use them, and how hard you want to work. Sometimes I'm torquing enough things it's worth walking 40ft to my box, and 40ft back, just to save time manually turning a clicker torque wrench.
It was branded Blackhawk here. Now everything is branded just Expert. Good stuff, just like blue point without the snap on baggage.
LeeG
Well-known member
View media item 115109Maybe I can find one more suited to nails.Huh??
Having that many strategically placed as you do….
Everything’s a nail