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Squankum

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Joined
Mar 28, 2011
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Location
Southeast
Searching for a good moving blanket. In days of yore, I bought one at Northern Tool, and it was pro grade, it was thick and cushy. Then HF climbed out of the primoridal ooze and started offering people something kind like that, but thin, and in my first encounter with them, chock full of tramp steamer mildew from Asia. I went to NT after that and it seemed HF had dragged NT down into the muck with them on this category. Harumph! (This was maybe 13 years ago.)

I googled and checked GJ, and somebody at GJ gave this one a glowing endorsement, so I tried it. Had to wait a week or two for the price to come down, and it did, it's currently at $30.98.

IMG_0770.jpeg

Uh oh. I fear the labeling has caused some confusion.

Made in China.

I don't like it! OK, it is impressive. They did their own thing: it's not the soft, thin cotton of traditional moving blankets, it's a tough, shiny nylon...cordura? Minor quibble. My beef is that it's about as padded as the cheap **** HF moving blanket!

(I confess I have not pawed the moving blankets at HF or Northern Tool lately to see if they have two different grades, ditto the big box hardware store.)

This is a sturdy thing and I'll probably grow to like it (horses for courses) but I might keep looking for ye old thick soft moving blanket of yore. Saw a professional mover's supply website that looked promising, but you know, once you live in the Space-Bezo playground of free shipping, other websites pain ye.

Having bought five more pliers while on the road last week, I concluded I need a third road bag just for the pliers. Picked up some scissors while I was there. One of the wee Doyles as a gift to a crafts-oriented woman friend, and the other two scissors for a shop in a remote location.

IMG_0776.jpeg

Bauer 16" bag, $12.99, Cambodia
Quinn scissors, $11.99, China
Doye scissors, 14.99, Taiwan
 
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lund

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Joined
Nov 2, 2019
Messages
871
Location
Michigan
Squankum said:
Searching for a good moving blanket. In days of yore, I bought one at Northern Tool, and it was pro grade, it was thick and cushy. Then HF climbed out of the primoridal ooze and started offering people something kind like that, but thin, and in my first encounter with them, chock full of tramp steamer mildew from Asia. I went to NT after that and it seemed HF had dragged NT down into the muck with them on this category. Harumph! (This was maybe 13 years ago.)

I googled and checked GJ, and somebody at GJ gave this one glowing endorsement, so I tried it. Had to wait a week or two for the price to come down, and it did, it's currently at $30.98.

IMG_0770.jpeg

Uh oh. I fear the labeling has caused some confusion.

Made in China.

I don't like it! OK, it is impressive. They did their own thing: it's not the soft, thin cotton of traditional moving blankets, it's a tough, shiny nylon...cordura? Minor quibble. My beef is that it's about as padded as the cheap **** HF moving blanket!

(I confess I have not pawed the moving blankets at HF or Northern Tool lately to see if they have two different grades, ditto the big box hardware store.)

This is a sturdy thing and I'll probably grow to like it (horses for courses) but I might keep looking for ye old thick soft moving blanket of yore. Saw a professional mover's supply website that looked promising, but you know, once you live in the Space-Bezo playground of free shipping, other websites pain ye.

IMG_0776.jpeg

Bauer 16" bag, $12.99, Cambodia
Quinn scissors, $11.99, China
Doye scissors, 14.99, Taiwan
Click to expand...

About 13 years ago I bought about a dozen heavy moving blankets from a last gasp USA-production moving blanket company that I think no longer exists. These were super and have served me well over a decade through 2 family moves in a staged relocation as well as closing up my parents home when they passed (sending super good furniture that my father made to my siblings in rental pods containers ... and I later picked up the blankets post sibling visit trips and used again through a few rounds). These were SUPER good. Much more padding than the Harbor Freight stuff that I mixed in. They are high density cotton with significant padding. Each one was equivalent to about 3-4 cheap Harbor Freight blankets and did not smell/outgas etc. They cost much more at the time, but considering their effectiveness, they were probably worth the higher individual cost.

I think there are online companies that sell offshore production moving blankets by weight that are both heavier and better quality for the professional market. These might be better to have or to mix in with Harbor Freight type low quality blankets. In my case, having a decent count of better moving blankets paid off over a few non-professional moves and uses. I am pretty sure it helped prevent furniture damages on high quality stuff which would have been very hard to repair. Even after my flurry of moves and shipments, I find uses for them in home projects, car camping, etc. I sold most of the cheap Harbor Freight blankets that I mixed in along with a good fraction of a stack of boxes left over. They both sold easy. I do not miss the harbor freight blankets at all and I saved two to use in contexts where I would not want to destroy one of my better ones. I kept the stack of a dozen better quality blankets.
 
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S

Squankum

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 28, 2011
Messages
8,028
Location
Southeast
At the advice of somebody around here, the Lisle cooling hose spoon set, qty. (2). I paid $20.87 at Amazon, then a 42 cent Amazon day discount, but now Amazon is showing it at 90-day-low-price of $18.99. I like the length, it's a nice option to have long for reach when you need it. Handles are (shrug) handles, I guess.

IMG_0786.jpeg

Next to it is my only other cooling hose yanker, which I got from HF maybe ten years ago. (I survived the 90's and 00's without buying anything with flames on it. This is the only thing.) Theirs appears to be just a cotter pin puller with different bends. Handle's got a pretty good shape and non-slip texture to it, on the black stuff.
 
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J

Jarhead0408

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 1, 2012
Messages
5,797
Location
Who knows?
Squankum said:
Searching for a good moving blanket. In days of yore, I bought one at Northern Tool, and it was pro grade, it was thick and cushy. Then HF climbed out of the primoridal ooze and started offering people something kind like that, but thin, and in my first encounter with them, chock full of tramp steamer mildew from Asia. I went to NT after that and it seemed HF had dragged NT down into the muck with them on this category. Harumph! (This was maybe 13 years ago.)

I googled and checked GJ, and somebody at GJ gave this one a glowing endorsement, so I tried it. Had to wait a week or two for the price to come down, and it did, it's currently at $30.98.

IMG_0770.jpeg

Uh oh. I fear the labeling has caused some confusion.

Made in China.

I don't like it! OK, it is impressive. They did their own thing: it's not the soft, thin cotton of traditional moving blankets, it's a tough, shiny nylon...cordura? Minor quibble. My beef is that it's about as padded as the cheap **** HF moving blanket!

(I confess I have not pawed the moving blankets at HF or Northern Tool lately to see if they have two different grades, ditto the big box hardware store.)

This is a sturdy thing and I'll probably grow to like it (horses for courses) but I might keep looking for ye old thick soft moving blanket of yore. Saw a professional mover's supply website that looked promising, but you know, once you live in the Space-Bezo playground of free shipping, other websites pain ye.

Having bought five more pliers while on the road last week, I concluded I need a third road bag just for the pliers. Picked up some scissors while I was there. One of the wee Doyles as a gift to a crafts-oriented woman friend, and the other two scissors for a shop in a remote location.

IMG_0776.jpeg

Bauer 16" bag, $12.99, Cambodia
Quinn scissors, $11.99, China
Doye scissors, 14.99, Taiwan
Click to expand...
I've got a buddy who was a Bedbugger in the HHG (HouseHold Goods) facet of trucking. I'll ask him for you.
 
N

NightSky

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 29, 2024
Messages
652
Location
Southwest OH
Squankum said:
At the advice of somebody around here, the Lisle cooling hose spoon set, qty. (2). I paid $20.87 at Amazon, then a 42 cent Amazon day discount, but now Amazon is showing it at 90-day-low-price of $18.99. I like the length, it's a nice option to have long for reach when you need it. Handles are (shrug) handles, I guess.

IMG_0786.jpeg

Next to it is my only other cooling hose yanker, which I got from HF maybe ten years ago. (I survived the 90's and 00's without buying anything with flames on it. This is the only thing.) Theirs appears to be just a cotter pin puller with different bends. Handle's got a pretty good shape and non-slip texture to it, on the black stuff.
Click to expand...
Currently $13.96 at JB Tools, but shipping would add $10 unless you get to $99 where free shipping kicks in.
www.jbtools.com

Lisle 2pc Radiator Hose Spoon Set (82130)

Easily remove radiator hoses with the Lisle 2pc Radiator Hose Spoon Set. Its wider blades prevent damage, while the long and short blades allow for efficient pulling and pushing. Buy now!
www.jbtools.com www.jbtools.com

Lisle also makes two long reach hose hooks (80220 & offset 80240). $9.70 & $14.25 at JB and $15 & $16.65 at Amazon. I can't find details on the length. They look to be about 2x the others shown in Squankum's post above. Both are pointed instead of flat at the working end.

1787078357349.png

1787078731266.png
 
J

Jarhead0408

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Joined
Apr 1, 2012
Messages
5,797
Location
Who knows?
@Squankum

My buddy said to CALL New Haven Moving Equipment and ask for their price on the Model 99 moving blanket. He said not to pay the internet prices. They will give you a better price over the phone.

He's been a Bedbugger for 40 years now.

newhaven-usa.com

Carrier Movers Select 72

Discover the durability and convenience of Carrier Movers Select 72" x 80" at New Haven Moving Equipment. Perfect for safe and easy moving. Order now!
newhaven-usa.com newhaven-usa.com

$99 for a 4 pack, but again, they'll cut a better deal over the phone.

newhaven-usa.com

Carrier Movers Select 72

Discover the durability and convenience of Carrier Movers Select 72" x 80" at New Haven Moving Equipment. Perfect for safe and easy moving. Order now!
newhaven-usa.com newhaven-usa.com

$256 for a 12 pack.
 
S

Squankum

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 28, 2011
Messages
8,028
Location
Southeast
Jarhead0408 said:
@Squankum

My buddy said to CALL New Haven Moving Equipment and ask for their price on the Model 99 moving blanket. He said not to pay the internet prices. They will give you a better price over the phone.

He's been a Bedbugger for 40 years now.

newhaven-usa.com

Carrier Movers Select 72

Discover the durability and convenience of Carrier Movers Select 72" x 80" at New Haven Moving Equipment. Perfect for safe and easy moving. Order now!
newhaven-usa.com newhaven-usa.com

$99 for a 4 pack, but again, they'll cut a better deal over the phone.

newhaven-usa.com

Carrier Movers Select 72

Discover the durability and convenience of Carrier Movers Select 72" x 80" at New Haven Moving Equipment. Perfect for safe and easy moving. Order now!
newhaven-usa.com newhaven-usa.com

$256 for a 12 pack.
Click to expand...

Thank you, sir!
 
M

mikeinri

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 29, 2019
Messages
8,372
Location
MA
Creepers...

I have a Craftsman that's OK-comfortable. The casters aren't great (but are WAY better than a VERY cheap no-name one I'd bought my Dad as a teen in the 80s). Except on asphalt, they hate to move / turn on that.

Since my driveway is asphalt, and has a slope (down to the street), I've been avoiding the creeper. The casters are good enough that when I'm not on it, the creeper will start rolling, and build momentum to roll all the way down the hill...

Cardboard has been very good to me. Large, thick boxes (think appliances or tool chests) are best.

Dad used to use a scrap of carpet. That always disgusted me, especially since I'm extremely messy working under a dirty, rusty, oily, greasy vehicle.

As for tool creepers... I tend to use shallow trays (usually plastic, sometimes foil ones we've cooked in). I've also used beer can cardboard boxes (24-pack "cases"). But, I rarely drink beer at home, and extremely rarely buy it in cans.

Mike
 
M

mikeinri

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 29, 2019
Messages
8,372
Location
MA
Squankum said:
Are there metric size markings on the other side? Asking for somebody around here who has that as his white whale.
Click to expand...

Squankum said:
At the advice of somebody around here, the Lisle cooling hose spoon set, qty. (2). I paid $20.87 at Amazon, then a 42 cent Amazon day discount, but now Amazon is showing it at 90-day-low-price of $18.99. I like the length, it's a nice option to have long for reach when you need it. Handles are (shrug) handles, I guess.
IMG_0786.jpeg
Click to expand...

Hey, I know that guy (for both references), LOL...


NightSky said:
Currently $13.96 at JB Tools, but shipping would add $10 unless you get to $99 where free shipping kicks in.
www.jbtools.com

Lisle 2pc Radiator Hose Spoon Set (82130)

Easily remove radiator hoses with the Lisle 2pc Radiator Hose Spoon Set. Its wider blades prevent damage, while the long and short blades allow for efficient pulling and pushing. Buy now!
www.jbtools.com www.jbtools.com
Click to expand...

I was just poking around at the JB Tools site today, AND came across that deal! I didn't check out, so I didn't get far enough to get to the shipping charges detail, but that definitely would negate the savings.


Mike
 
M

mikeinri

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 29, 2019
Messages
8,372
Location
MA
Cleaning out the garage earlier this evening, I came across an (almost) embarrassing number of tools I've been inspired to buy here, some still in their shipping envelopes / boxes, and some have been sitting out there for months (if not longer). I'll try to get them together for some pics over the next few days.

More embarrassing is the fact that I've somehow lost my practice of always cleaning and putting tools away after using them. Instead, I have small bins of tools, used for individual projects, in various places. And of course, I can never find them when needed...

...And, I have a huge Kobalt roller that is, you guessed it, mostly empty...

I'm going to try to rectify that slowly over the next month or so.

Mike
 
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Beerhippie

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Joined
Oct 13, 2023
Messages
10,341
Location
Far NE Oregon
I had to buy a new fan four our CO2 vaporizer today. The old one up an' died.

I noticed a very unusual feature on the fan:

55473932300_e0967d9473_b.jpg

See if you can spot it!

Yeah, I use a cheap-*** ($9.99) hardware store fan for this. Why? One, we rarely need it. B) It does the job. We only need to move extra air over that vaporizer when we're drawing a ****-ton (an actual measure) of CO2, like today when the brewers were flushing four tanks at once. Seeing the vaporizer and twenty feet of copper line ice up on a 95 degree F day was surprising, but it happens.

See it yet?
 
M

mikeinri

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 29, 2019
Messages
8,372
Location
MA
mikeinri said:
Cleaning out the garage earlier this evening, I came across an (almost) embarrassing number of tools I've been inspired to buy here, some still in their shipping envelopes / boxes, and some have been sitting out there for months (if not longer). I'll try to get them together for some pics over the next few days.
Click to expand...

OK, here's the first wave...

20260818_214953.jpg

Not all of these were GJ-inspired...

These definitely were:
* Thread size checkers (2 types)
* Lighted small parts grapple grabber
* Lisle mini pry bar with strike cap
* Klein test leads

The tube brushes and siphon pump are basically consumable items I've bought many times.

The Craftsman Retrieval Kit (mirror, grapple, magnet) was bought at Lowe's. I don't recall if I got it on sale, but it was WAY cheaper than buying the individual tools, IIRC.

The Autel code reader is a nice-to-have, so I don't have to go to AutoZone, etc. to get codes read. I have a 2005 Ford Explorer that's recently shown a CEL light, and a 2005 Buick Lesabre with both CEL and ABS lights showing. I'm figuring bad sensors in all cases, but not bad enough to be causing noticeable performance issues (other than no stability control on the Buick until I fix that, of course.)

I actually bought the Husky socket adapters today, to help with some upcoming repairs on my garden tractor. Lifetime warranty, and better reviews than the similar Milwaukee set.

Mike
 
S

Squankum

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 28, 2011
Messages
8,028
Location
Southeast
Meursault74 said:
Use one of those HF dollies and some pegbaord and pegboard accessories. Less than $50 in parts I'd guess.
Or wait 'till it's knocked off for even less than you could make yourself. :ROFLMAO:

Nice Idea, I give them that though.
Click to expand...

My opinion is if you're so handy you're a pro buying Snap On, boy, you could build this!
 
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B

Beerhippie

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Joined
Oct 13, 2023
Messages
10,341
Location
Far NE Oregon
Squankum said:
$549? And it's not a droid that follows you around?!
Click to expand...
I'm sure an Arduino board, WIFI board, some stepper motors and some programming could build one that follows your phone, at least. Quadcopters can do it.

Of course, randomly bouncing off the nice finish of the car you just crawled under might be a drawback.
 
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