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merkyworks

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 11, 2016
Messages
587
Location
Texas
Not necessarily a buy, but new tool sure. Decided to make my own handles for the new picks I picked up. Bought a nice $2 spring loaded bit holder. Wow I'm impressed by the quality at 2 bucks, it's has very satisfying spring action. It a pull down instead of up, those other ones I hate. This is version 1, will redesign the handle to have knurling on the neck, and hide/insert the bit holder deeper.

PXL_20250722_043926175~2.jpgPXL_20250722_044010048~2.jpg

Your 3D print color/filiment reminds me of the pearl blue snap on hard handles.
 
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Andres26tnt

Well-known member
Joined
May 11, 2018
Messages
994
Your 3D print color/filiment reminds me of the pearl blue snap on hard handles.

Yes it's a great color, I also have a PLA silk that mimics that pearl. The color I'm using is a dual color petg

So technically is a dual color filament lighter blue to a darker blue. The handle wasn't large enough to transition the colors. Need to print multiple handles to actually show the color change.
 

a57belair2

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 14, 2024
Messages
81
Not necessarily a buy, but new tool sure. Decided to make my own handles for the new picks I picked up. Bought a nice $2 spring loaded bit holder. Wow I'm impressed by the quality at 2 bucks, it's has very satisfying spring action. It a pull down instead of up, those other ones I hate. This is version 1, will redesign the handle to have knurling on the neck, and hide/insert the bit holder deeper.

PXL_20250722_043926175~2.jpgPXL_20250722_044010048~2.jpg
Do you have a link to the holder? I like this idea! Thank you.
 

mikeinri

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 29, 2019
Messages
8,232
Location
MA
Hazet Screwdriver bit set 2240N/36
Nice surprise to receive the older version with the more well proven grey bits rather than the shiny chrome ones with coloured size indicator collars. The selection of bits is good (e.g. common repeats, T27 present). Bits seem good, good fit in screw heads, but the case and bit holder (older 2239-6) are just satisfactory.

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What don't you like about the case? Looks like the holes are far enough apart to make it easy to grab each bit? (It's a big pet peeve of mine when that's not the case!)

Mike
 

mikeinri

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 29, 2019
Messages
8,232
Location
MA
Tool? Well, PPE for when I use tools. Also, radio.

3M Worktunes AM/FM/hearing loss preventer, too. Replacing one just like it because the previous one, which I loved, got caught up in the great Kroilsplosion*, and will stink forevermore, and all over my scalp and ears.

IMG_3646.jpg

I got the impression these have recently been phased out by 3M, so off to ebay I went for new old stock.

_______
* See my Underground Lair thread. Somehow, as of the weekend, the smell in the shop is gone. (I did employ some odor absorbers.)

I have those, but with the Bluetooth connection. I rarely use the Bluetooth feature, usually because my hands are too busy (or dirty) to want to keep playing with the phone, so I most often just listen to the radio.

I didn't know they were being phased out! Do you know if there's a replacement? I'd love these to be noise-canceling. They're OK while doing most things, but when I'm mowing with the tractor, and especially when blowing snow, I can't really hear the music, and feel like if I keep cranking it up, I'll just make the abuse on my hearing even worse.

Mike
 

YesIHaveAHammer

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 1, 2025
Messages
823
Bits seem good, good fit in screw heads, but the case and bit holder (older 2239-6) are just satisfactory.
What don't you like about the case? Looks like the holes are far enough apart to make it easy to grab each bit? (It's a big pet peeve of mine when that's not the case!)
It really is satisfactory and classic, does the job good enough and nothing more to impress, but also nothing especially to complain about. I expect the design is 10+ years old.

However since you ask, to be picky:
  • Bulky for the number of bits; >2x the volume of Wera Bit-Check 30 - which also gives good bit access however no size markings on the case itself.
  • Clip for the bit holder storage is very tight for removing and reclipping.
  • Inconsistent holding strength of the bit holes; some are tighter than others, and tightness varies depending on rotation of the bits likely due to bit manufacturing tolerances. But almost all will hold even when held open upside down.
 

dante2

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 27, 2011
Messages
491
Location
Central OK
Sold off my series 2 top and bottom 42". Couldn't get a decent price for just the top so they both went together. I think the different handles would have bugged me at some point so I'm glad I sold them both. I don't have enough auto power tools for the big drawer on the 56" bottom so I went a different direction. Still working on filling it up this week.
 

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YesIHaveAHammer

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 1, 2025
Messages
823
Fiskars Classic Universal Scissors 1005148 (right handed)
Good tools aren't just for the garage. 4.4mm thick at the pivot. I bet they'd sell more if they did a black handle.

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Bosch Professional Sawing handle for reciprocating saw blades 2608000495
I wanted to have a sawing capability always to hand in the toolbox. The blades clamp in and there's storage for two inside. Surprised that blades can be economically made in Switzerland (handle is China), given they're a simple consumable item.
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Jarhead0408

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 1, 2012
Messages
5,734
Location
Who knows?
In reality, right up through college, the only motor vehicles I had with disk brakes were bikes. Drum brakes require few specialized tools (they exist and do make the job easier)--but a highly specialized vocabulary. The second time in an hour that the needle-nose Vise Grips slip off the damned spring sending your knuckles into the edge of the brake back plate with full-force....

Electronic calculators were banned up through high school.
You know what'll blow your mind...they make tools that replace the needle nose pliers and they work a LOT better... just tighten the handle and you're good to go.1000009055.jpg
 

Squankum

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 28, 2011
Messages
7,702
Location
Southeast
I have those, but with the Bluetooth connection. I rarely use the Bluetooth feature, usually because my hands are too busy (or dirty) to want to keep playing with the phone, so I most often just listen to the radio.

I didn't know they were being phased out! Do you know if there's a replacement? I'd love these to be noise-canceling. They're OK while doing most things, but when I'm mowing with the tractor, and especially when blowing snow, I can't really hear the music, and feel like if I keep cranking it up, I'll just make the abuse on my hearing even worse.

Mike

I fell behind the consumer electronics curve long ago and never got into iTunes or streaming or anything like that. I'm content with radio, for my headphones. Anything more, I fear, would be more fiddling, and keeping phone with me in sweaty/dirty/busy/productive moments.

Northern Tool shows a listing but it's NLA. Again, mine was AM/FM/you-can-plug-an-audio-cable-into-it-for-MP3-or-radi-jack, not Bluetooth, so $50-$60 zone.


That's where I bought my first pair. There are much more expensive 3M Worktunes listed now. However, there is also a fairly similar looking DeWalt one for $50ish. (Then again, the controls on the DeWalt remind me of the very first AM/FM/ear muffs I bought, which were an off-brand purchase to save money, and they were meant for Asian-sized ear and skull sizes and literally hurt to wear! So no money saved at all. Hence the 3M purchase, and happiness after that.)

My noise problems in the past were mostly in an office environment with loud, jabbering coworkers. (Loud, stupid, constant, those three combined are the worst and found together so often.) I used to wear over-the-ear headphones and put in foam earplugs, too, then crank the rockin' tunes on CD, and then I wouldn't hear them. I later would move up to 3M Peltor of the highest dB cancelling capabilty, and ear plugs, too, on the worst days, but that was tuneless.

I also got some Bose noise-cancelling headphones (not cheap!) and I found they don't cancel loud person 35 feet away but they sure do a great job on HVAC background white noise you didn't realize was there -- and where they really impressed was just the high fidelity sound!

For a mower, I might try 3M Worktunes (which don't have an impressive dB reduction, really) but with earplugs. I don't know anything about active noise cancellation for industrial noise like mowers.

These are the best muffs I've found, for just plain blocking out noise. 31 dB reduction, the 21 in the product headline is a typo:


All this because I couldn't smack a coworker and yell at them to shut up. :rolleyes:
OK, I also use the mighty Peltors in the shop when things are getting serious.
 
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neophyte

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 23, 2012
Messages
9,628
Location
Pennsylvannia
Fiskars Classic Universal Scissors 1005148 (right handed)
Good tools aren't just for the garage. 4.4mm thick at the pivot. I bet they'd sell more if they did a black handle.

1 - Copy.jpg

Bosch Professional Sawing handle for reciprocating saw blades 2608000495
I wanted to have a sawing capability always to hand in the toolbox. The blades clamp in and there's storage for two inside. Surprised that blades can be economically made in Switzerland (handle is China), given they're a simple consumable item.
2 - Copy.jpg
I once looked up the manufacturing plant used by “Ultra” a manufacturer of Bandsaw, Hacksaw, and jigsaw blades in France.
The plant was not small.
It looked like rolls of steel were likely fed thru automated equipment that automatically cut steel strips to size, punched the main teeth, welded or brazed teeth on the punched steel strips, put the steel strips thru a hardening and tensioning process, etc., all or almost all on a automated line.
The major cost was likely the cost to set up the production line, and a major cost benefit was likely having access to reliable rail transport for materials, and reliable electricity to run the production line.
Access to high quality materials that can be shipped in on those rail lines was likely the third major benefit.
I think I read something about Eclipse, the UK blade manufacturer making small batches of specialty steel for their own use for blades decades ago, but nowadays, most manufacturers are likely just shipping Specialty alloys in from an outside manufacturer.
 

Professor Gascan

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 26, 2024
Messages
178
I have those, but with the Bluetooth connection. I rarely use the Bluetooth feature, usually because my hands are too busy (or dirty) to want to keep playing with the phone, so I most often just listen to the radio.

I didn't know they were being phased out! Do you know if there's a replacement? I'd love these to be noise-canceling. They're OK while doing most things, but when I'm mowing with the tractor, and especially when blowing snow, I can't really hear the music, and feel like if I keep cranking it up, I'll just make the abuse on my hearing even worse.

Mike

I have the older BT only version of these and don't use them much anymore for the reason you mentioned. I tried doubling up by putting some foam plugs first then the earmuffs but it mostly killed the point of having music at all.

Now I use a set of BT earbuds with Peltor X5(highest NRR I could find) plain earmuffs over the top. It works really well, have the earbuds at a pretty low volume and crystal clear while the muffs kill the majority of the noise.
 

Squankum

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 28, 2011
Messages
7,702
Location
Southeast
Good tools aren't just for the garage. 4.4mm thick at the pivot. I bet they'd sell more if they did a black handle.

I bet you could find them even faster if the orange was brighter!

Years back, at my desk job, I got tired of hunting for my black-handled scissors on my desk, so I took them home and spray-painted them hi-viz lime green. After a while my eyes/brain got used to them and sometimes I couldn't "see" them, either!
 

Squankum

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 28, 2011
Messages
7,702
Location
Southeast
I once looked up the manufacturing plant used by “Ultra” a manufacturer of Bandsaw, Hacksaw, and jigsaw blades in France.
The plant was not small.
It looked like rolls of steel were likely fed thru automated equipment that automatically cut steel strips to size, punched the main teeth, welded or brazed teeth on the punched steel strips, put the steel strips thru a hardening and tensioning process, etc., all or almost all on a automated line.
The major cost was likely the cost to set up the production line, and a major cost benefit was likely having access to reliable rail transport for materials, and reliable electricity to run the production line.
Access to high quality materials that can be shipped in on those rail lines was likely the third major benefit.
I think I read something about Eclipse, the UK blade manufacturer making small batches of specialty steel for their own use for blades decades ago, but nowadays, most manufacturers are likely just shipping Specialty alloys in from an outside manufacturer.

 

2001ZR2

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 4, 2018
Messages
404
Location
Kansas City
St20250722_183641.jpg
Bit of a story with these. Northern Tool is closing their two locations in the KC metro. So I stopped in and power tools are 30 percent off...not the best deal until you realize normally these kits come with one battery but these have 2. While not the best ever it's good enough for an apprentice mechanic just starting out. These will go to my son who is working at GM dealership. So these tools will be earning money shortly after mid August. I hope this will help him avoid the Snap On dealer for his tools and he is already in the Milwaukee M12 system.20250722_183712.jpg
 

dwasifar

Well-known member
Joined
May 28, 2017
Messages
2,091
1000000089.jpg

Wanted a budget flex head 1/2" ratchet. Ordered a Crescent, found the direction switch kind of stiff and gravelly, so I ordered a Workpro for comparison. The Workpro is generally a bit rougher, but the switch works better. Still deciding which I will keep.

Found these at Lowe's:

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These appear to be an improvement on the Komelon self locking design. With those, you would pull the blade out and it would stay where you put it until you pressed the button. These do that, but they also have a locking lever that secures the blade firmly at that position:

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Pressing the black button releases the lock and retracts the blade. It's a nice update to the design. The underside of the blade is marked too. These are pretty inexpensive at two for $16. I already have too many tape measures but I couldn't resist.
 
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Squankum

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 28, 2011
Messages
7,702
Location
Southeast
Got my big box from Harry J. Epstein's today. Details over at the HJE Day thread.

IMG_3666.jpg
 

BlakeTheCarGuy

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Oct 10, 2018
Messages
9,363
Location
Roanoke Virginia
BlakeTheCarGuy heard about the Lowe’s 99 cent chrome socket sale so BlakeTheCarGuy dropped everything and went to Lowe’s and since he is on vacation this week going to two more Lowe’s stores tomorrow as well. Got there 10 minutes before they closed and grabbed what I could every metric chrome socket they had is in my possession now lol. Some standard too. I didn’t hear about the sale till around 8:30 when I got a text from my friend so I went to the Lowe’s in the hood and got there 10 minutes before closing and just loaded up. I counted 31 sockets one of which is an impact socket, 1 hex bit socket and one wrench. I might go back tomorrow and get what’s left. I’m a sucker for chrome sockets lol. I walked out of there carrying my 5 gallon bucket happy as heck and got home walked in the house mom just shook her head and is like wtf did you buy this time 😆. Said I saved like $193 lol. I’m like yeah I bet lol. My cost was like $46 something with the bucket included.
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Smokeshow69

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 7, 2012
Messages
8,369
Location
Pacific Northwest
BlakeTheCarGuy heard about the Lowe’s 99 cent chrome socket sale so BlakeTheCarGuy dropped everything and went to Lowe’s and since he is on vacation this week going to two more Lowe’s stores tomorrow as well. Got there 10 minutes before they closed and grabbed what I could every metric chrome socket they had is in my possession now lol. Some standard too. I didn’t hear about the sale till around 8:30 when I got a text from my friend so I went to the Lowe’s in the hood and got there 10 minutes before closing and just loaded up. I counted 31 sockets one of which is an impact socket, 1 hex bit socket and one wrench. I might go back tomorrow and get what’s left. I’m a sucker for chrome sockets lol. I walked out of there carrying my 5 gallon bucket happy as heck and got home walked in the house mom just shook her head and is like wtf did you buy this time 😆. Said I saved like $193 lol. I’m like yeah I bet lol. My cost was like $46 something with the bucket included.
IMG_2461.jpegIMG_2460.jpeg

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Blake, what's the matter ??? Did you run out of lap room for all those sockets when taking a picture?
 

pfbz

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 17, 2008
Messages
956
The $16 Astro 10.5” nano socket wrench showed up.
Much better size for me than the XL version.
Astro Pneumatic Nano Wrench Ratchet 783105.jpg

Completely agree! The 18" Nano wrench is to big for most use cases.

I picked up the HF Quinn version of the Astro Nano's yesterday to check it out, it is a miss... Did a quick video on the Nano sockets, Mountain wrenches, and the Quinn version of the Nano's...

 
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mikeinri

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 29, 2019
Messages
8,232
Location
MA
Got my big box from Harry J. Epstein's today. Details over at the HJE Day thread.

IMG_3666.jpg

THANKS! I finally figured out that I should should search for a thread... Up until now, I'd thought HJE Day was a local thing. My fault, not anyone here at GJ.

Like GJSS, I'll try to make a more conscious effort to get onboard early next year!

Mike
 

TheRealZeus

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 4, 2021
Messages
5,012
Location
CONTINENTAL USA
New Fluke 17B
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🤗Seller sent calibration proofs, and I asked him to throw in the 725!
🤣He laughed… then said; 😐”Naw.”
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(Pictured)IMG_4875.jpeg🧐Just one of those; “I don’t need one… just want one” things.
⚡
If I manage to remember, I’ll let ya’all know when I’ve lost my ~19th set of probe tip caps. 🤪👍
 

RMERR

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 22, 2017
Messages
429
Location
Northern CA
Almost bought a coin drive screwdriver when they were "hip" a while back on this thread. Passed, then needed one last week for an audio component fuse. Got by with a regular stubby, but decided I needed to buy one. Bought a stubby PB Swiss and a hex bit version in case I needed more length or torque. 'Course now that I've got them, will probably be a year before I need it again. But, when I do...I'm ready, ooohh man I'm ready.

Also got some Wera ACR phillips #2 bits 1" & 2".

On the used side, I bought a box of 75 3" X 3" X 6" Lista drawer organizing bins for $25 bucks off CL. At 33 cents each, couldn't resist. Got paper labels which I'm removing in a "production line" of overnight Dawn soap soak, goo gone, fingernails and scraper. Shortened a bunch to 1" and 2" heights on the tablesaw for shorter drawers and smaller items. If you're in or near Sacramento CA he's got 4-5 boxes left.
 

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dwasifar

Well-known member
Joined
May 28, 2017
Messages
2,091
1000000089.jpg

Wanted a budget flex head 1/2" ratchet. Ordered a Crescent, found the direction switch kind of stiff and gravelly, so I ordered a Workpro for comparison. The Workpro is generally a bit rougher, but the switch works better. Still deciding which I will keep.
I decided to keep the Crescent. It seems like it has less back drag, which is more important than a smoother switch. Its fit and finish are better than the Workpro; Taiwan vs. China.
 

pfbz

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 17, 2008
Messages
956

moemc

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 12, 2025
Messages
356
This arrived today.... Didn't know Wiha sold any tools that were made in the USA! I'm assuming someone is making it for them? Anyone know who?
Aroplax Corporation

 

Meursault74

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 1, 2019
Messages
21,957
Location
Southern California
St20250722_183641.jpg
Bit of a story with these. Northern Tool is closing their two locations in the KC metro. So I stopped in and power tools are 30 percent off...not the best deal until you realize normally these kits come with one battery but these have 2. While not the best ever it's good enough for an apprentice mechanic just starting out. These will go to my son who is working at GM dealership. So these tools will be earning money shortly after mid August. I hope this will help him avoid the Snap On dealer for his tools and he is already in the Milwaukee M12 system.20250722_183712.jpg
I have to ask @PelicanPines if a box of one of his toys had this same description :ROFLMAO:

1753339625654.png
 
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