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KYToolz

Active member
Joined
Jan 20, 2025
Messages
44
Location
Southeastern Kentucky
I went to Ace Hardware this morning to pick up some things I’ve been meaning to get. I bought this Packout to hold wire nuts, staples and other small electrical items.


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I’ve been wanting a cordless screwdriver for awhile now and, after some research, I decided on the Craftsman. I know there are higher quality, more powerful options out there (ie. DeWalt, Milwaukee), but this one suited my needs better. I’m primarily going to use it for switch plate covers and securing outlets and switches to boxes, so its low torque is ideal. If I need to drive a screw into hardwood, I’ll use my drill or impact driver. Another factor that I liked about it is that it has the form-factor of an ordinary screwdriver and can fit into my belt pouch much more easily than other options. The only real downside that I can see is that it uses micro USB rather than USB-C to charge. I can live with that though.

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I stopped at a yard sale on the way home and, although not a tool, bought something I’ve been needing for awhile now…..a new work hat. She wanted $2 for it, but I ended up getting it for $1.

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Finally, when I got home, I found a package on my porch swing that the mailman had left for me. I ordered these for an upcoming job where communication over a distance is vital and cell phone reception at the job site is spotty or non-existent.

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Jarhead0408

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Apr 1, 2012
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5,737
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Who knows?
I wound up needing a 33mm for the nut on a power steering box only to find I didn't have one. I decided to overkill and ordered Tekton 1/2" 33mms' in both shallow and deep, in both chrome and impact. Threw in a couple of adjustable wrenches with square drives in the handle in case I need to use them while torquing said nut.

And rather than pay $30-$40 for a 1/2" drive 33mm crowsfoot, I opted to buy a full set of jumbo crowsfeet from Northern tool for around $100. Since I didn't want the metrics to be lonely, why not order the matching SAE set too? The more the merrier!

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lund

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 2, 2019
Messages
771
Location
Michigan
Lisle 35470 trim remover

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I have one of these and it is among my most grabbed tools: nice rounded edges to not scar things up and stout enough to have little to no flex. It is great for giving things a nudge into place too, seals of various sorts, tabs on electrical clips, giving baked on hoses some persuasion, etc etc. It is way better than cheapo plastic trim tools that easily deform.

I suspect you will find it handy.
 

Jarhead0408

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Apr 1, 2012
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Who knows?
Fwiw, we have four of the 2 watt versions for family use. We get about 3-1/2 miles of range in any direction with trees, hills, and valleys in between. I would expect more on flat land with nothing in the way. Your 1 watt versions may not be as powerful, but they will definitely get the job done. The audio is clear and loud. We're happy with them.
 

WWheeler

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Joined
Jun 23, 2015
Messages
4,105
Location
Middleofnowhere USA
[...] And rather than pay $30-$40 for a 1/2" drive 33mm crowsfoot, I opted to buy a full set of jumbo crowsfeet from Northern tool for around $100. Since I didn't want the metrics to be lonely, why not order the matching SAE set too? The more the merrier! [...]

That's right up there with the most GJ inspired line of tool purchase reasoning I've seen in a post in a while. Well done!
 

Jarhead0408

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Apr 1, 2012
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Who knows?
That's right up there with the most GJ inspired line of tool purchase reasoning I've seen in a post in a while. Well done!
Thanks! Definitely GJ inspired.

I told my son that if we just needed a certaim set in metric for working on small cars and trucks we wouldn't buy the SAE equivalent, but larger equipment regularly uses SAE so why not?
 

TheRealZeus

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Joined
Oct 4, 2021
Messages
5,012
Location
CONTINENTAL USA
Cheap made-in-China plastic scrapers.
$16.49 including tax and shipping from ebay
They're red. They're plastic.
Haven't used 'em yet.
I'll probably give half of 'em to my buddy.
👋 ah… yeppers.
Saw pfbz’s post, and decided I wanted a set. I thought they would work mighty fine along with some citrus paint stripper. 👌
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mikeinri

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 29, 2019
Messages
8,234
Location
MA
I wound up needing a 33mm for the nut on a power steering box only to find I didn't have one. I decided to overkill and ordered Tekton 1/2" 33mms' in both shallow and deep, in both chrome and impact. Threw in a couple of adjustable wrenches with square drives in the handle in case I need to use them while torquing said nut.

And rather than pay $30-$40 for a 1/2" drive 33mm crowsfoot, I opted to buy a full set of jumbo crowsfeet from Northern tool for around $100. Since I didn't want the metrics to be lonely, why not order the matching SAE set too? The more the merrier!

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THAT'S the way to do it!!!

Mike
 

GeoBruin

Well-known member
Joined
May 5, 2018
Messages
3,738
I have somehow accumulated 3 projects that will require me to bore horizontally under concrete for varying distances. I wasn't willing to try this for msrp but I found a good deal on Facebook Marketplace for a new in box setup so I had to pounce. The kit didn't include the larger 3" boring head, so I had to fab that one, but it fits perfectly in the foam cutout in the box!
 

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lund

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 2, 2019
Messages
771
Location
Michigan
Fwiw, we have four of the 2 watt versions for family use. We get about 3-1/2 miles of range in any direction with trees, hills, and valleys in between. I would expect more on flat land with nothing in the way. Your 1 watt versions may not be as powerful, but they will definitely get the job done. The audio is clear and loud. We're happy with them.
I just came back from a work trip to the San Fran bay area in the Oakland Hills. It is surreal how bad cell phone coverage can be there in a major metropolitan area. I suspect it is part due to the local population protesting and trying to halt any cell phone towers even if camouflaged. By no coverage, I am not talking short range 5G networks, but 4G and even 3G networks. Additionally, there is little or no high-speed fibers going into houses in spite of IT workers being all over. So the best you can do is DSL or Cable Modems in proximity to "Silicon Valley."

I tried using similar Walkie-Talkie type devices with my kids skiing etc. It did not work very well. Strange as this sounds for something simple, it seems like everyone struggled with the press to speak and then *release* to listen. Lack of timely releases caused messages to become frustratingly garbled. Not having text messages or mailbox too caused trouble since you had to get the person in active contact. So it did not perform very well and became an afterthought when the kids got older and got other networked devices like a smartphone (which opens other problems as anyone with kids today knows well) which worked well for texting, had a camera, capability to look up online info, etc.

I suspect these type of devices will work fine across a construction site to keep active communication open while doing something. But my limited experience with them as a phone substitute for young kids skiing etc did not pan out well !!
 
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YesIHaveAHammer

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 1, 2025
Messages
831
Cheap made-in-China plastic scrapers.
Hope they work out for you.

Saw pfbz’s post, and decided I wanted a set.
You wanted a set of the ones he warned everyone not to buy?! :)

The handle shape distinguishes what seems to be the two OEM manufacturers.

Beware... before I bought the single Lisle, I bought a super cheap set. It was, as you suspect, pure garbage. Too soft to do anything useful with. These were the useless ones...
 

four.cycle

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Joined
Oct 19, 2015
Messages
28,926
Location
Tacoma, Washington
^ Not really too concerned, as the toughest thing I'll probably deal with will be a sticker.
So since you asked, I just walked out into the kitchen to try one out. Seems to perform the task with flying colors:
cheapo Chinese scraper for the win! 082425.jpg
Cheap-*** Chinese scraper for the win! 08/24/25

There ARE times when the job simply doesn't call for the high-priced spread. :cool:
 
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Fedwrench

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Dec 9, 2007
Messages
14,955
Location
Valley of the sun
Icon semi deeps from the 40% off sale. Compared to my Tekton shallow and deep (10mm for reference)

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Did you know that Tekton offers a super small extension to use with their shallow sockets to make them semi deep or an in between length?
 

pfbz

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 17, 2008
Messages
957
Did you know that Tekton offers a super small extension to use with their shallow sockets to make them semi deep or an in between length?

Deeps and semi-deeps aren't typically about just having a bit more reach... Often it's to fit over a bolt protruding through a nut (stick out) beyond what a shallow socket can deal with. An extension isn't going to help in those situations.
 
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Madjik Man

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2015
Messages
1,523
Did you know that Tekton offers a super small extension to use with their shallow sockets to make them semi deep or an in between length?

Did you know I’m addicted to tools? 🤣

I have that mini extension but the anvil on it prevents the shallow socket from reaching a nut on a longer stud/threads, no?
 

Fedwrench

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Dec 9, 2007
Messages
14,955
Location
Valley of the sun
Did you know I’m addicted to tools? 🤣

I have that mini extension but the anvil on it prevents the shallow socket from reaching a nut on a longer stud/threads, no?
Possibly but, Tekton shallow sockets aren't as shallow as other brands. It's not a solution for all situations but, they're handy to have on hand. :beer:
 

moemc

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 12, 2025
Messages
356
my thoughts on a better alternative to a 1" 3/8 extension:


These get used often even when an extension wasn't necessary
 

Fedwrench

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Joined
Dec 9, 2007
Messages
14,955
Location
Valley of the sun
my thoughts on a better alternative to a 1" 3/8 extension:


These get used often even when an extension wasn't necessary
You left out my favorite one, 1/4 female X 1/2 male. In case you want to use a small ratchet with a large socket. :beer:
 

moemc

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Joined
Mar 12, 2025
Messages
356

Squankum

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Mar 28, 2011
Messages
7,709
Location
Southeast

Jarhead0408

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 1, 2012
Messages
5,737
Location
Who knows?
I just came back from a work trip to the San Fran bay area in the Oakland Hills. It is surreal how bad cell phone coverage can be there in a major metropolitan area. I suspect it is part due to the local population protesting and trying to halt any cell phone towers even if camouflaged. By no coverage, I am not talking short range 5G networks, but 4G and even 3G networks. Additionally, there is little or no high-speed fibers going into houses in spite of IT workers being all over. So the best you can do is DSL or Cable Modems in proximity to "Silicon Valley."

I tried using similar Walkie-Talkie type devices with my kids skiing etc. It did not work very well. Strange as this sounds for something simple, it seems like everyone struggled with the press to speak and then *release* to listen where convos became garbled. Then no text messages or mailbox so you had to get the person in active contact or be unsure. So it did not perform very well and became an afterthought when the kids got older and got other networked devices like a smartphone (which opens other problems as anyone with kids today knows well).

I suspect these type of devices will work fine across a construction site to keep active communication open while doing something. But my experience with them more broadly did not pan out well!!
Funny enough, it took my kids awhile to get used to it as well.

I'm into C.B.'s a fair bit, and we have a few roadtrips coming up, so we'll add a C.B. now to each rig, and a GMRS unit to each later.

But yeah, hilly country can cause problems for sure.
 

dwasifar

Well-known member
Joined
May 28, 2017
Messages
2,093
I discovered something cool about these.

When I was looking at them in the store, the one I picked up had black scale on yellow on the top side of the tape, and black scale on white on the underside. That one was a combination inch/metric though, and when I looked at the underside of the tapes I actually came home with, I discovered they're uniquely different. Please enjoy this composite photo of the first six feet or so of the underside:

kobalt_tape.jpg

This is great. I've seen tools with "cheat sheets" on them, but never a tape measure.

A postscript: I bought the 16ft version ($8.48) and it does not have the cheat sheet markings. Instead it's ruled on the underside:

IMG_20250825_104133896_HDR.jpg
 

Etchase

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 10, 2017
Messages
2,001
Location
Hawaii
Finally got around to using a surface conditioning tool for the first time. Very satisfying tool to use. Have no idea how this one compares to others, since I haven’t tried them. Hercules version was $100 when I bought it with one drum. The Bauer was much less when they closed it out.

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lu787a

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 26, 2025
Messages
87
Some recent items:
  • The Wera 8784 B1 is a 1/4" hex bit holder adapter for 3/8" square drive. Although it looks like their normal Rapidaptor format, it is not. It's lift, and hold the sleeve up to both insert and remove bits. It locks onto both C6 and E6 bits.
  • I also picked up the 3/8 folding ratchet from Tekton, it is a nice size, has a good weight and the handle folds all the way up. When folded it's surprisingly comfortable in the hands to use. I should have got the non-quick release however. When folded the quick release button is covered up so you will have to unfold slightly to press and release the socket. They should make a 1/4" version of this, I would buy it.
  • And then lastly, also from Tekton, their 3/8" Long Torx Bit Socket set. It goes from T10 - T60 and includes a T27 and T47. These are each ~6" long including the socket.
 

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