Show your new tool arrivals

[four.cycle]

The list price for Petersen Vise Grips in 1975 was $4.65 - $4.85 for the variations of the 10” size.
Federal Minimum wage was $2.00 in 1974, going up yo $2.10 in 1975, and then $2.30 in 1976, so a 10” pair of Vise-Grips cost about 2.3X +/- an hours work for a low wage employee.
Minimum wage hasn’t been raised in years do using that as a benchmark is problematic, but the average fast good employee, or trash collector in Philly, probably earns somewhere around $15 - $20 an hour, which might put the equivalent price for a pair of Vise-Grips at $35.00 -$45.00 , which is less than the Malco Eagle Grips were selling for new, but a bit more than the Eagle Grips were selling for on clearance.
Given the fit and finish differences between the Original Petersen Vise-Grips, and the Eagle Grips, the higher price might have been somewhat reasonable, although too high for the general public.

^ I was selling "Vise Grip" brand pliers in 1975. (Actually we started selling them much earlier, but that's your benchmark, so I'll run with it.)
There was always push-back from the retail customers on the Vise-Grip price point. Always.
That was the reason we also stocked "locking pliers" made by:
Indestro (they didn't sell worth a damn)
Hollywood Accessories (El Segundo, California) - retail was about $4 bucks
Medallion (California) - same as Hollywood
Wilmar - Taiwan/Hong Kong at first, later mainland China - retail about $4 or $5 bucks
Zomax - COO was always a mystery - cheaper and junkier than Wilmar
And we were always out of stock on at least one of those last four brands - that's how fast the cheapies sold.

The biggest issue with the needle-nose models I've used is that they "twist" under a high load. I believe all the imported ones I had here went out in "Secret Santa" packages.

 

[Squankum]

It’s not complete yet, but I wanted to get it posted while we’re still on page 1995 of this thread….I started building a 90s themed travel tool kit for my 90s VWs here are some recent hauls from Snap-on, Icon, Ernst, eBay, and Marketplace.

OK, but what's wrong with your tire?

 

[Beerhippie]

OK, but what's wrong with your tire?

What tire? I see a rim wrapped in electrician's tape.

 

[Squankum]

^ I was selling "Vise Grip" brand pliers in 1975. (Actually we started selling them much earlier, but that's your benchmark, so I'll run with it.)
There was always push-back from the retail customers on the Vise-Grip price point. Always.
That was the reason we also stocked "locking pliers" made by:
Indestro (they didn't sell worth a damn)
Hollywood Accessories (El Segundo, California) - retail was about $4 bucks
Medallion (California) - same as Hollywood
Wilmar - Taiwan/Hong Kong at first, later mainland China - retail about $4 or $5 bucks
Zomax - COO was always a mystery - cheaper and junkier than Wilmar

I think it's pretty clear that a name like Zomax, with no COO, came from outer space to test our patience. Probably delivered by Zactu and Mondo.

As I'm sure I've said before around here, one reason we here hunt for quality tools is because we were traumatized but cheap **** as children! My dad bought a real Petersen Vise Grip, 10", when I was little, maybe before I was born, don't know, but that's what I grew up using in the early 70's. Then one day he bought a knock off. Two things were immediately obvious:

a) this thing looked and felt like stamped sheet metal
2) the release lever is the opposite of Petersen and I don't like it! Flibbity floo!

Then, in use, it turned out to be just as awful as it looked.

I'm now a little more open-minded on release levers. But I like the Petersen/Malco universe a lot.

 

[Squankum]

Maybe I'm just misremembering. I know they had the LP5LN 6 1/2" long nose that are also available through Snap On.

Ooh, that does look like a Malco-type. And the price is right! I'd buy a dozen at that price!


($0.00)

I checked ebay and there are zero listed.

I checked a popular internet form for all of the subjects in the world and they do exist out there! One person, when asked if he wanted to sell his, says:

"Unfortunately no it’s the only pliers I found that make drum brakes/parking brake jobs super easy "

 

[Etchase]

I think Epstein’s sold every needle nose Malco ever made, right here on Epstein’s day 2024. I might try bending my pair straight, but they are only a mm out. Doesn’t really bother me because I don’t use them. Too pretty.

 

[lund]

Found the video:

Thanks!

You can see what i mean with vintage Peterson's dominating the tests. It may be even more extreme than alluded to in the video. If you notice, the Project Farm guy clamped towards the pivot points of the jaws. In use, you typically go close to the tips (else no need for a needle nose). In my experience, the Peterson's are even more dramatically better with tip performance and durability. Especially when twisting the pliers by the handles with the jaws clamping on the work piece near the tips -- as you do in many uses (else why use needle noses?) such as obstructed broken bolt extractions. Smaller size Peterson's (6" ish size) are the *only ones* that i have seen that work well in the smaller size. Most brands probably never even made smaller sizes since they knew they would not work and get damaged.

The Project Farm guy needs to make measurement sets for each type of pliers that he tests. Closely spaced data does not have much meaning without statistics. It is entertaining but not proper testing. No reasonably competent engineer would try to draw conclusions from grouped test cases of one try each. Also his torque to break tests that he likes so much are just tool misuse for entertainment. Anyone doing the equivalent of that has no business using quality equipment.

Too bad he did not include some higher end euro brands like Knipex. But i suspect from my own limited use that such euro brands also would have performed way below the vintage Peterson.

We are all better off from outsourcing, right? ....


Too bad made in USA is dead and Malco failed. The Malco's were worth the higher $. I think some Snap On models are now essentially Malco. The Snap Ons used in this video are their European production before they bought Malco tooling and started to make their own. The newer Snap On ones are likely as good (or maybe even a little better?) than vintage Petersons IF you are willing to pay the very high Snap On premium prices. I am just a heavy use DIY guy who is not visited by a tool truck so their warranty and model does not make sense for me. But this could be the way to go for a auto mechanic pro wanting performance.

I guess the bottom line is it may depend on what you are doing. For me, in light use the Harbor Frieght Bremen Needle Nose style vice grips are good for the money. Bremen's were not in the project farm test group. Looking in yard sales or flea markets for old Peterson's may make sense too since they were all over. But, unfortunately, most are likely going to find in such sources will be regular styles of standard sizes and not needle nose ... particaurly the most needed smaller/mini ones.

We are all better off from outsourcing vintage usa production .... right? Vices are another classic example. Things are cheap and shiny today but are often not well made or use sub optimal materials.

 

[dscheidt]

t

Both sizes Matco sells, plus a Vessel wobble/L drive

what do you use the l-key for?

 

[Squankum]

Just found this at amazon.sg (that's... Singapore!) Proof that Malco made the long-noses. Boy did I miss out on this one. I wasn't spending much time at GJ in those years.

 

[Squankum]

Also the torque to break tests that he likes so much are just tool misuse for entertainment

Amen! Sometimes he proves that cheap **** is actually bad. (Nowadays, lower cost stuff is pretty good a lot of the time.) But at the other end, all he does is prove that you'll never break this tool with your bare hands.

Those new snap on ones are likely as good as vintage peterson if you are willing to pay snap on prices.

And that's why I bought a rusty Petersen for $20 a few weeks ago! I didn't see any clean or new-in-box ones, and shuddered to think what NOS/NIB/found-this-in-pappy's-safety-deposit-box prices would be.

 

[Squankum]

. Doesn’t really bother me because I don’t use them. Too pretty.

Heh heh. Guilty as charged with my Malcos, too. I hardly ever use Vise Grips anyway! My go-to is a 10" Knipex Cobra. Or other Knipeces.

I did the same with a Buck 110 knife. Saw one as a kid, fell in love, later in life, saw it at Wal-Mart, was buying a lot of camping gear that year, bought it, loved it, took it on a trip or two and concluded it was too pretty to take out into the dust and dirt. After 15 years or so not getting used I concluded that was silly, too, so now I use it.

 

[natas2000]

Just got this beauty I didnt know I needed. You can curl the 8x150 and get your workout in.

 

[rword]

Got these things called “gear ties” to keep my spring loaded pliers closed while storing. Cheap and does the job.

 

[pfbz]

I've been wanting to check out the Vessel "Wood Compo" drivers, so I ordered a set. Actually ordered the nut driver set because I already have a million screwdriver sets (and only half a million nut driver sets).

Hmmm.... First impressions are "I'm not sure about these things..." I absolutely love my Vessel Megadora and some of their ball drivers. These are supposed to have great grip with oily hands, but the dry grip isn't really all that phenomenal. I'll see how they do in real-world use.

 

[ecotec]

Amen! Sometimes he proves that cheap **** is actually bad. (Nowadays, lower cost stuff is pretty good a lot of the time.) But at the other end, all he does is prove that you'll never break this tool with your bare hands.




And that's why I bought a rusty Petersen for $20 a few weeks ago! I didn't see any clean or new-in-box ones, and shuddered to think what NOS/NIB/found-this-in-pappy's-safety-deposit-box prices would be.

So… I would argue that the prices vary by region. When I found boxes of Petersen’s, I paid well under $20. Three of the boxes came with 2 pairs of pliers. I was an idiot to take them out of the boxes. I was not as if I needed to use them.

I would also argue that the estate sale prices are often much higher than they were 10-15 years ago. The deals are still out there (as can be seen in the estate sale thread),

I am often seeing Petersen’s priced in the $5-$10 range.

I will buy any mint or near mint pair in the $1-$3 range. I will pay more for a style that I don’t have many of or for pairs in better condition than I have.

 

[SC Fly Guy]

So… I would argue that the prices vary by region. When I found boxes of Petersen’s, I paid well under $20. Three of the boxes came with 2 pairs of pliers. I was an idiot to take them out of the boxes. I was not as if I needed to use them.

I would also argue that the estate sale prices are often much higher than they were 10-15 years ago. The deals are still out there (as can be seen in the estate sale thread),

I am often seeing Petersen’s priced in the $5-$10 range.

I will buy any mint or near mint pair in the $1-$3 range. I will pay more for a style that I don’t have many of or for pairs in better condition than I have.

^^^
This. I still find a lot of them in decent condition at Estate/Garage Sales. I always pick up the needle nose and other non-typical versions even if their condition is iffy.

 

[Steel_Rain]

The Malco Eagle Grips were the "update" to the Petersen Vise Grips. Snap On did buy all of their tooling. I have a couple pairs of the Eagle Grips and wish I'd bought more when they were available, I never bought any of the long nose / needle nose ones.

That said, I did buy a few pairs of locking pliers under the Harbor Freight Bremen brand. The 9 inch long nose have been great - the jaws seem to be holding up, they're well aligned, and they have a 1/4" square drive on the thumb screw for tightening. I'd buy a few more pairs if I needed them for sure.

I agree that the Harbor Freight Bremen brand seem about as good as you get these days for a cheapie vise-grip style pliers.

*****Caution***** Mixing of Malco and Bremen vice pliers pictured below.

Shield your eyes if you cannot stand to see them in this close proximity:

 

[zimman]

Zim, I take it you haven’t used them under the hood yet? I don’t own any but all my guys do and they don’t stay attached worth a damn. I hope your experience is better then what I’ve seen.

Don’t get me too wrong, they have there place but I wouldn’t trust them when the chances are pretty good they’ll fall off into narnia

I do batteries. Lots of them. These have magnets and seems sturdy. Recommended by a guy on tool box tour.
Zim

 

[LeeG]

what do you use the l-key for?

So far, nothing. I just got it and have been recovering from surgery. It is a standard 1/4" socket wobble connector on the long end and a 1/4" socket drive on the short side, so it will work as both a T handle and a breaker bar as well as a bit holder. I'm thinking useful in under dash work - the main place I use 1/4" drive sockets these days.
Here's a video I found showing it in action:

 

[Pinne]

Thanks to the Home Depot thread in the Hot Deals section I managed to turn a simple trip to Home Depot to exchange a propane tank into a $120 visit to buy a variety of clearance items.

Never been a fancy flashlight person, so these Coast lights are far and away the nicest that I've owned. The headlamp is a big upgrade from the "O Light" I had. The inspection light and flashlight are also both very nice.

Also bought this 2 pack of Gearwrench wireless OBD2 scanners - gifts for a couple of friends with older cars.

Pictured top left, but not from HD, is a little electronic air duster. It's surprisingly powerful and certainly more economical than aerosol dusters.

The Diablo sanding discs were marked down to $5/pack so I picked up 3 of those.

 

[mikeinri]

Found the video:

That's pretty cool. I have a small (4-inch) pair of Milwaukee needle nose vise grips. I only bought them because I'd lost a cheaper pair from Autozone (I don't recall the brand, probably Duralast).

The cheap ones were OK, but the Milwaukees are great.

I haven't tried a larger size of Milwaukee, and that video makes me think I shouldn't expect to be as impressed as the smaller size?

I should buy another pair or two (4-inch), they are one of my most-used tools working on vehicles and small OPE.

Mike

 

[mikeinri]

Got these things called “gear ties” to keep my spring loaded pliers closed while storing. Cheap and does the job.

I love Gear Ties. I don't think I'd store springs that way: generally, they last longer (hold their "springy-ness" better) if stored in their "relaxed" position.

Mike

 

[Skyman]

*****Caution***** Mixing of Malco and Bremen vice pliers pictured below.

Shield your eyes if you cannot stand to see them in this close proximity:

Very nice. Did you fabricate the storage rack for them, or is that a COTS item that I could buy somewhere?

 

[rword]

I love Gear Ties. I don't think I'd store springs that way: generally, they last longer (hold their "springy-ness" better) if stored in their "relaxed" position.

Mike

Interesting. Thanks for your insight.

 

[lund]

The list price for Petersen Vise Grips in 1975 was $4.65 - $4.85 for the variations of the 10” size.
Federal Minimum wage was $2.00 in 1974, going up yo $2.10 in 1975, and then $2.30 in 1976, so a 10” pair of Vise-Grips cost about 2.3X +/- an hours work for a low wage employee.
Minimum wage hasn’t been raised in years do using that as a benchmark is problematic, but the average fast good employee, or trash collector in Philly, probably earns somewhere around $15 - $20 an hour, which might put the equivalent price for a pair of Vise-Grips at $35.00 -$45.00 , which is less than the Malco Eagle Grips were selling for new, but a bit more than the Eagle Grips were selling for on clearance.
Given the fit and finish differences between the Original Petersen Vise-Grips, and the Eagle Grips, the higher price might have been somewhat reasonable, although too high for the general public.

Probably the simplest way to adjust prices is via gov Consumer Price Index calculator:

Inflation Calculator | Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

What’s a dollar worth? How far does a past dollar stretch to equal the modern dollar? What would past prices be today?

www.minneapolisfed.org

From the cpi calculator, $1 in 1975 is $5.98 today (surprised this much but some high inflation years in early 80s plus post covid). So a $4.75 Peterson Vice Grip would be expected to b e around $28.40. This sounds not so crazy to me and a pretty good deal for what you were getting.

Unfortunately, Americans in the mass market tend to buy the lowest cost and modern Chinese and similar outsourced versions sell for $15-$20 -- and probably make more profit for the corporate bean counters. From my own use and non-throwaway habits, that extra $8 - $12 saved for relatively poorer performance is absolutely not worth saving and needing to buy again (maybe a few times). But I guess for casual, light-use applications most of our citizens go for the cheapest and then complain about uncle Harry losing his factory job and the quality of things if they ever use them any significant amount. Meanwhile the landfills fill up. I am pretty sure my Peterson's have easily outlived 3-5 cheapie vice-grip style pliers. But I am an unusually heavy use DIY guy. By that measure the 1.5-2x higher cost but much better Peterson's were far better values.

In any event, we all live better in the USA with production outsourced .... err, right? Maybe so for a while till we come to equilibrium with the rest of the world. You can see our kid's future in the averaged global living condition. As a scientist, I can tell you we are not producing enough R&D talent to drive advances without importing talent already. Import business is not that hard and once the skills leave I am not sure we will be that much better off.

 

[Buckgnarly]

FINALLY scored some eye guards for my Baldor......

 

[Jtels85]

UPS dropped off some Olsa Tools goodies I ordered from their website!

I’ve been wanting a pair of electrical disconnect pliers for a while now, and these have great reviews. The textured grip handles are a nice feature, and they’re high quality. I also got their 24” breaker bar for my road box.

I’ve been thoroughly impressed with the Olsa tools I’ve purchased from their website and Amazon. I like this company a lot.

 

[Steve_P]

I think Epstein’s sold every needle nose Malco ever made, right here on Epstein’s day 2024. I might try bending my pair straight, but they are only a mm out. Doesn’t really bother me because I don’t use them. Too pretty.

Wow, I didn't think they made any. I guess they all went straight to HJE and I missed those- but I did buy some of the other styles from them, but they didn't have those at the time. I think I have the "other" six styles that they made, not counting the welding clamp style. If someone had the full Eagle Grip lineup it would be neat to see all of those in a separate thread. Hint, hint...

 

[neophyte]

Probably the simplest way to adjust prices is via gov Consumer Price Index calculator:

Inflation Calculator | Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

What’s a dollar worth? How far does a past dollar stretch to equal the modern dollar? What would past prices be today?

www.minneapolisfed.org

From the cpi calculator, $1 in 1975 is $5.98 today (surprised this much but some high inflation years in early 80s plus post covid). So a $4.75 Peterson Vice Grip would be expected to b e around $28.40. This sounds not so crazy to me and a pretty good deal for what you were getting.

Unfortunately, Americans in the mass market tend to buy the lowest cost and modern Chinese and similar outsourced versions sell for $15-$20 -- and probably make more profit for the corporate bean counters. From my own use and non-throwaway habits, that extra $8 - $12 saved for relatively poorer performance is absolutely not worth saving and needing to buy again (maybe a few times). But I guess for casual, light-use applications most of our citizens go for the cheapest and then complain about uncle Harry losing his factory job and the quality of things if they ever use them any significant amount. Meanwhile the landfills fill up. I am pretty sure my Peterson's have easily outlived 3-5 cheapie vice-grip style pliers. But I am an unusually heavy use DIY guy. By that measure the 1.5-2x higher cost but much better Peterson's were far better values.

In any event, we all live better in the USA with production outsourced .... err, right? Maybe so for a while till we come to equilibrium with the rest of the world. You can see our kid's future in the averaged global living condition. As a scientist, I can tell you we are not producing enough R&D talent to drive advances without importing talent already. Import business is not that hard and once the skills leave I am not sure we will be that much better off.

The US consumer price index used to calculate inflation is notorious for being bullsh!t.
I also did look up the estimates, which were somewhere between $25 - $200 depending on whether one uses the official government inflation numbers, or the formula Shadowstats uses, which is supposedly based on the older method of calculating inflation.
The $15 -$20 wage basic workers are paid for **** jobs, is supposedly not a “living wage” according to MIT, at least in a major city like Philadelphia, whereas back in the 1970s, minimum wage would have been, though maybe not great, but $15 -$20 is about what **** jobs routinely start people at to get the workers yo show up, and you can likely manage yo survive in a **** area with housing on that $15 -$20 an hour, if working full time.
A better estimate of current price might be the $40 -$60 a pair of 10” Knipex pliers costs, such as the plier wrench, or Cobra pliers, which is around the same price Klein charges for their reversible USA made Plier Wrench, since the Plier wrenches, and Vise grips have a similar number of individual parts that need to be made and assembled, to a similar durability and quality level.
This is also similar to what the French made 500 series locking pliers cost in France.
The Eagle Grip pliers cost more than $50 when first released, but also had a higher polish, and thicker chrome, which is what might be expected from a “premium” and “premium cost” brand like Snap-On, and Malco was making the Eagle Grips rebranded Snap-On.

 

[Steel_Rain]

Very nice. Did you fabricate the storage rack for them, or is that a COTS item that I could buy somewhere?

My metal fab is ok, but not THAT good, here ya go:

18" Vise Grip Tool Holder Rack Aluminum Wall Mount Organizer with 20 Slots for Multiple Sizes Locking Pliers, Garage Workshop Storage - Amazon.com

18" Vise Grip Tool Holder Rack Aluminum Wall Mount Organizer with 20 Slots for Multiple Sizes Locking Pliers, Garage Workshop Storage - Amazon.com

a.co

If someone had the full Eagle Grip lineup it would be neat to see all of those in a separate thread. Hint, hint...

Eh. I have a bunch, but not all of them. I think there is another thread already…

 

[rword]

Handy tool to have!

 

[lund]

The US consumer price index used to calculate inflation is notorious for being bullsh!t.
I also did look up the estimates, which were somewhere between $25 - $200 depending on whether one uses the official government inflation numbers, or the formula Shadowstats uses, which is supposedly based on the older method of calculating inflation.
The $15 -$20 wage basic workers are paid for **** jobs, is supposedly not a “living wage” according to MIT, at least in a major city like Philadelphia, whereas back in the 1970s, minimum wage would have been, though maybe not great, but $15 -$20 is about what **** jobs routinely start people at to get the workers yo show up, and you can likely manage yo survive in a **** area with housing on that $15 -$20 an hour, if working full time.
A better estimate of current price might be the $40 -$60 a pair of 10” Knipex pliers costs, such as the plier wrench, or Cobra pliers, which is around the same price Klein charges for their reversible USA made Plier Wrench, since the Plier wrenches, and Vise grips have a similar number of individual parts that need to be made and assembled, to a similar durability and quality level.
This is also similar to what the French made 500 series locking pliers cost in France.
The Eagle Grip pliers cost more than $50 when first released, but also had a higher polish, and thicker chrome, which is what might be expected from a “premium” and “premium cost” brand like Snap-On, and Malco was making the Eagle Grips rebranded Snap-On.

Yes, the CPI is not great and likely underestimates inflation. But $4.75 in 1975 is NOT $200 today. Your range is huge. The CPI may be some % off but it is systematic at least.

I do not think you can estimate cost based on some other manufacturer in contemporary times for something similar like that is a constant of the motion in the business world. Different companies have different expectations and positioning for profit. What they make can vary and imports have different cost structures associated with the product flows and currencies. Businesses, particularly manufacturing, want more profit today relative to 1975 (50 years ago). The attitude today is if you are not making banker paper profit numbers (say 10% per year or more), then why are we making anything and we should be a less risk financial company with our assets ... which is somewhat akin to outsourced manufacturing slapping your brand on things you no longer make and likely do not fully understand how they are made (designed in usa ... sure thing, tell that to the engineers and production line guys).

You can look at products that are really the same (quality etc) in terms of time needed for an average worker to buy it. But that may be similarly fickle to using min wage. By such a measure, when you equate junk to better quality old stuff (example: a modern low end Harbor Freight vise to old 1920s USA brand) you get very distorted results that do not carry much meaning. Clothing today is can be super cheap, but people own ridiculous amounts, do not wear what they have much, and throw it away frequently. If you compare shirts today to pre-WW2 clothing, it is shocking how less robust they are. But they are also shockingly cheap in adjusted dollars. Incomes also changed.

My personal opinion is the world would be better off long-term if productions were better and we were less of a throwaway society. But that seems pretty much a lost battle with some small exceptions around the fringes.

 

[d.mcfarland]

For what it's worth, the finish on the Malco / Snap - On versions was/is miles ahead of the old Peterson USA vise grips.

 

[Jeffrey D]

So far, nothing. I just got it and have been recovering from surgery. It is a standard 1/4" socket wobble connector on the long end and a 1/4" socket drive on the short side, so it will work as both a T handle and a breaker bar as well as a bit holder. I'm thinking useful in under dash work - the main place I use 1/4" drive sockets these days.
Here's a video I found showing it in action:

After watching that video, I can see myself using that a lot. I'm going to get one.

 

[lund]

With all the discussion on vice grips ..
Here is a pic of my small Peterson Vise Grips. Unfortunately all the needle noses are a little degraded now but are still better than offshore asian and euros i have tried. Again the small ones are more useful for extractions but are also more fragile than larger ones (stress higher in small).


Here is a comp: small Peterson and Stahlville. Peterson wins hands down in use even in smaller size it is stronger and clamps much better. Stahlville is chromed better and is superficially more pretty at least.

 

[L.Cheapo]

Wow, I didn't think they made any. I guess they all went straight to HJE and I missed those- but I did buy some of the other styles from them, but they didn't have those at the time. I think I have the "other" six styles that they made, not counting the welding clamp style. If someone had the full Eagle Grip lineup it would be neat to see all of those in a separate thread. Hint, hint...

I think I have all, or at least, most of them:




Two of each, aside from the needle nose on the far left, only have one of those. They're incredibly nice. I can get you a better pic when I'm at my workshop this weekend if you'd like.

 

[swsman]

I've been wanting to check out the Vessel "Wood Compo" drivers, so I ordered a set. Actually ordered the nut driver set because I already have a million screwdriver sets (and only half a million nut driver sets).

Hmmm.... First impressions are "I'm not sure about these things..." I absolutely love my Vessel Megadora and some of their ball drivers. These are supposed to have great grip with oily hands, but the dry grip isn't really all that phenomenal. I'll see how they do in real-world use.

I was looking at those last week, as well as wood compo set of slotted/phillips.
In the end I decided I am ok with my PB Swiss, and import Tough Armor Vessel for JIS.

With 1/4 and 3/8 spinner handles I can do sockets 5mm through 19mm. That basically takes care of driver needs.

 

[swsman]

Handy tool to have!

Have one and it gets used often. Solid unit.

 

[rword]

Have one and it gets used often. Solid unit.

Sweet ! Was able to snag for $29. Won’t use often but nice to have.

 

[Squankum]

Got these things called “gear ties” to keep my spring loaded pliers closed while storing. Cheap and does the job.

I learned this trick from Bob Heine: li'l zip tie.



If those springs ever give up, I'll be very old by that point, and these will still be pliers.