I inherited a wrench like the one on the right from my grandfather when he died. I like that the jaws open very wide relative to the size of the wrench.In a throwback to your parent's Clue game, or perhaps your grandparent's I picked up this pair of 12" monkey wrenches. Both are very vintage, especially the Pexto which is an antique. The nickel one is a Diamond Horseshoe, from the company in Minnesota, and as best I can determine is from some time in the 1950's. The Pexto is an antique, and at over 3-1/2 pounds with jaws an inch wide, it's also a very lethal weapon. It was made circa WWI, with my best guess at circa 1914 or so. Unlike many Pexto, it has a steel handle that's pegged to the rectangular shaft with a large steel pin. Jaws on the Diamond are also wide at 3/4" compared to most car/truck/Ford monkey wrenches and its I-beam handle forging makes it strong while reducing weight (and material used). Both have built-in thumb detectors, also unlike most monkey wrenches, another reason for the wider jaws. Both work extremely will with the rack and worm gearing in excellent condition and the jaws meet up flush with no appreciable gap. They're in excellent condition compared to most which have been misused and abused, with mangled jaws and bent handles from being over-torqued using cheater pipes (or standing on the handle), as if they were millwright wrenches, and the ones without hammer heads having been bashed up being used as hammers.
While the Pexto is mostly conversation piece, the Diamond isn't and wanted a 12". I use monkey wrenches for plumbing work (have two more of the Ford style a bit smaller) as their jaws open enough to deal with the hex nuts on residential and light industrial drain pipe fittings, metal and PVC. It's not that high a torque application exceeding what they were designed for.
John
Show your new tool arrivals
- Thread starter sarel.wagner
- Start date
Picked up this cabinet, should be useful for those blow molded cases
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superautobacs
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That slide-out shelf is pretty cool! I don't think I seen that feature before...or probably never realized it. Kijiji score?
dodge610
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NinnyCTSV
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jalind
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Excellent score. Many times these don't need rebuild kits but disassembly and cleaning out the Crudmium that found its way into the mechanism.
John
chrisnazzy
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Picked up a Safety Seal tire repair kit off Letgo a could days ago for $20. Basically brand new and I've been wanting one for trail or emergency repairs for a long time and never pull the trigger.
Also picked up a 15pk of Milwaukee sawzall blades today at the HD for $20. Biggest selling feature for me was that they finally designed a case that didn't have that funky extendable feature. Got it home and was very pleased it fit several more blades that were still good plus my jigsaw blades.
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Also picked up a 15pk of Milwaukee sawzall blades today at the HD for $20. Biggest selling feature for me was that they finally designed a case that didn't have that funky extendable feature. Got it home and was very pleased it fit several more blades that were still good plus my jigsaw blades.
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You got a great deal. YOU **** level even as they're ~$800 - 1400 new for a 5 drawer unit.
And it'll be perfect for storing blow molded cases.
Sam'sAutoParts
Well-known member
Great find! I have one I found on the curb and love it. Really need to get a few more, I have cased tools in the lower drawers and parts and supplies in the top two.
If you've a use for it (and the room), I'd recommend getting it.
mrjaw14
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Project_shadow
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Unsure, but I do have a metric hammer if needed lol
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jalind
Well-known member
Finally unboxed a recent ePrey arrival and celebrated. It's not the wrench, it's the blow molded box for the wrench. Fortunately the seller had a tape measure in the photos and gave dimensions. You would think it had been made for this old USA Craftsman 3/8" drive torque wrench. No brand label on it. Probably were made for some wrench maker or importer and these were left over from the production run. There's a slot that runs under the head and down the shaft a few inches in which I've put a 3/8" drive to 1/2" socket adapter.
I put emphasis on old Craftsman as the new ones will not fit. Their current electronic one has an weird conical handle that's much too big and the non-electronic similar to this one is too long by about a half-inch or so. Sears is still selling them in the clear vacuum molded pegboard hook packaging for store display, without a proper storage case included, the same kind of packaging mine came in over 25 years ago. I had kept mine stored in that, but it was finally very yellowed and embrittled from age, falling apart with pieces breaking off. The lack of a proper case has irritated me since the day I bought it. Only torque wrench out of six that didn't have a proper storage case. Common hand wrenches often get tossed into a drawer of tool box tray. Measuring instruments I'm a bit **** about protecting, and torque wrenches are measuring instruments. This wrench is still going strong. Over the years you get a feel for whether you're in the ballpark on torque. It continues give me confidence that whatever accuracy error it has is inconsequential for my usage.
John
I put emphasis on old Craftsman as the new ones will not fit. Their current electronic one has an weird conical handle that's much too big and the non-electronic similar to this one is too long by about a half-inch or so. Sears is still selling them in the clear vacuum molded pegboard hook packaging for store display, without a proper storage case included, the same kind of packaging mine came in over 25 years ago. I had kept mine stored in that, but it was finally very yellowed and embrittled from age, falling apart with pieces breaking off. The lack of a proper case has irritated me since the day I bought it. Only torque wrench out of six that didn't have a proper storage case. Common hand wrenches often get tossed into a drawer of tool box tray. Measuring instruments I'm a bit **** about protecting, and torque wrenches are measuring instruments. This wrench is still going strong. Over the years you get a feel for whether you're in the ballpark on torque. It continues give me confidence that whatever accuracy error it has is inconsequential for my usage.
John
jalind
Well-known member
But does it come in metric?
Alas, I flipped it over and it's only marked with 24" on the one side, so it's SAE only. If it had been marked with 610mm on the other side, you'd simply turn it over and it's magically metric. I've got a couple like that. One is a (USA) Craftsman 200mm metric if you have the proper side facing you. Need the SAE version? Flip it over and it's magically an 8".
John
d.mcfarland
Well-known member
Picked up a Safety Seal tire repair kit off Letgo a could days ago for $20. Basically brand new and I've been wanting one for trail or emergency repairs for a long time and never pull the trigger.
Also picked up a 15pk of Milwaukee sawzall blades today at the HD for $20. Biggest selling feature for me was that they finally designed a case that didn't have that funky extendable feature. Got it home and was very pleased it fit several more blades that were still good plus my jigsaw blades.
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That tire plug kit is hands down the best there is. I would make sure the plugs are fresh though. I think you can buy replacements really inexpensively.
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Snakebyt
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Real_PhillBert
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A new Diablo 100T blade showed up on Saturday:
For this baby:
For this baby:
NinnyCTSV
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I was at HD picking up a can of stain and walked around while it was being mixed. I stumbled across these and thought for $6.33 they were worth picking up.
jalind
Well-known member
Almost bought the Capri wrenches from Amazon. What's your impression of them? Most of the thin wrenches I've seen are die cut stamped Chinesium junk. The Capri appear to be substantially better in not only the photos but the reviews on them, by entire orders of magnitude. Don't have a pressing need for the thinness, it was the attractive price for a set of open end without size skips.
Edit:
Those ultra-thin look like they'd be ideal as cone wrenches for use on bicycles. Might also work well as a pedal wrench. Both require thinner than normal wrenches, especially the hub cones.
John
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You wouldn't want to use a set of thin wrenches for normal open end use, they are designed for low torque applications only. I've laid into mine before but only because no normal wrench would fit.
jalind
Well-known member
These Tekton flare nut wrenches arrived late yesterday along with two short Capri 1/2" socket strips. These are the common flare nut sizes. I've never dealt with flare nuts beyond car and light truck brake lines. The cost of the six wrench sets didn't make sense. These were inexpensive and I believe discontinued. Cannot find them on Tekton's web site and year on back of packaging is 2009. In addition, unlike every other hand tool I have from Tekton the COO on these is China. All the others are Taiwan. Attempted to flex them along the flat part between the ends and they're thin enough they could be bent, but not without considerable effort. The 6-point ends are rather thick. Should be plenty strong, much more than enough by at least an order of magnitude, for working with vehicle brake fittings. Always managed before without them. These are for convenience versus necessity.
I've got 1/2" drive odds and ends that were piled up in an old large margarine tub (e.g. a couple very large hex, some spark plug sockets, etc.). The Capri socket strips will clean that up. Some similar 3/8" drive strips are in transit to do the same with the same kinds of odds and ends in that drive size that were also in the margarine tub. After they arrive, the plastic margarine tub gets pitched out into the recycle bin.
John
I've got 1/2" drive odds and ends that were piled up in an old large margarine tub (e.g. a couple very large hex, some spark plug sockets, etc.). The Capri socket strips will clean that up. Some similar 3/8" drive strips are in transit to do the same with the same kinds of odds and ends in that drive size that were also in the margarine tub. After they arrive, the plastic margarine tub gets pitched out into the recycle bin.
John
Just received and promptly put to work my power probe butane soldering iron. Extremely happy with the performance. Definitely exceeded my expectations for a butane soldering iron. I'll never use my electric irons again. 
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GearWrench flex head ratcheting wrenches.
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My most used wrenches.
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Just received and promptly put to work my power probe butane soldering iron. Extremely happy with the performance. Definitely exceeded my expectations for a butane soldering iron. I'll never use my electric irons again.
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I also have one of these. They work great for smaller jobs ! Good price too.
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Mohawk Dave
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Take a look at the Facom 31. I just bought them and they are beautiful. I bought used in great condition on eBay for 65 dollars. I think I saw the set on Zoro eBay for $80. Maybe you can use a Zoro coupon. I know they cost a little bit more but they are definitely gorgeous.
I believe Toptul has a kick *** set as well.
I've been on a Facom satin kick lately, so I'm very bias.
ihateminimumwage
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I think I'll give one of those a go after my Portasol dies (again).Just received and promptly put to work my power probe butane soldering iron. Extremely happy with the performance. Definitely exceeded my expectations for a butane soldering iron. I'll never use my electric irons again.
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ihateminimumwage
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I need more ratchets like a hole in the head, but decided to give a 3/8" 30 tooth Cornwell another try and a 1/4" RHFT QR Craftsman a shot after all I've read on here. (thanks Rickster!)
Also swapped to a QR head onto my 3/8" short flex Snappy, which is now my absolute favorite ratchet. Picked up my first Carlyle today to do the spark plugs on the wife's Tacoma, and finally found a used 5/8" line socket for diesel injector lines (was not going to pay the $55 Snap-on wants).
Also swapped to a QR head onto my 3/8" short flex Snappy, which is now my absolute favorite ratchet. Picked up my first Carlyle today to do the spark plugs on the wife's Tacoma, and finally found a used 5/8" line socket for diesel injector lines (was not going to pay the $55 Snap-on wants).
ihateminimumwage
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And love that I don't need the 9/16" Spark Plug socket, thanks internet for the bad info. That will be going back to NAPA, so still no Carlyle for me!
jalind
Well-known member
I'll check those out and make a note of them. The need for ultra-thin is well down the list at this point but eventually want a more compact set when they're stacked in the tool box. Not currently doing bicycle cone adjustments on hub bearings as mine have cartridge hubs. Made a pedal wrench out of a 15mm Craftsman Pro long combination wrench using a grinder to make the open end head thinner. The standard method used unless you want to pay the high cost for the Park Tools pedal wrench. Park Tools is the Snap-On of bicycle tools without the truck dude business model. You will most definitely pay a premium for the privilege of having their trademark affixed to them.
Trivia:
Bicycle pedals are LH thread on one side and RH thread on the other, and pedals are marked for the left and right side, usually stamped on the crank end of the spindle (the bolt). Easy to remember as the LH side has LH threads and the RH side has RH threads. Might seem counterintuitive but they'd back out from an effect called precession if it were reversed. I guarantee from very personal experience that the pedals tighten in the cranks over time. Can be a bear to get them off if they've not been removed for a while, and it's not from corrosion or Crudmium. If there aren't a pair of flats on the spindle next to the crank you should find a hexagonal hole in the end of the spindle on the inside of the crank. I have a set of pedals that require using a 8mm metric Allen to remove and install (5/16" is about 7.94mm and can work with due care).
Thanks for the info.
John
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jalind
Well-known member
Received a pair of replacement VersaPak NiCads for the old Black & Decker PivotDriver the ex left behind when she left, thinking the driver (or charger) was busticated. Long suspected it was the original NiCad it came with having slipped its mortal coil to join the Battery Choir Invisible. Has some decent torque for its size. Rather than buy a new driver that wouldn't be used much, I disassembled the charger and verified it was working with a proper charging voltage. $15 later including shipping a pair of NiCads landed on my doorstep and Bob's your uncle, it's working perfectly again. Had thought about converting it to NiMH, but would have to buy a NiMH charger to go with the NiMH batteries. Not worth the cost. For $15 I have a modest motorized 1/4" hex driver. Already had numerous bits for the hand driver.
Black & Decker isn't my first choice in electric tool brands and hasn't been for a very long time. This isn't the type or style of electric driver I'd ever have gone out an bought myself either. Showed up one day on the laundry room tool pegboard eons ago when all the tools there belonged to the ex. The NiCad wall charger is a funky design but it works. For $15, it was worthy of resurrection. I still prefer driving small fasteners by hand but it will come in handy for removing household appliance fasteners in particular, among the others attaching shelving to walls, etc. Has a nice home on the laundry room tool pegboard again. Handle has two positions. The hinge and its lock are quite sturdy; chooches right along without any weeble-wobbles.
John
Black & Decker isn't my first choice in electric tool brands and hasn't been for a very long time. This isn't the type or style of electric driver I'd ever have gone out an bought myself either. Showed up one day on the laundry room tool pegboard eons ago when all the tools there belonged to the ex. The NiCad wall charger is a funky design but it works. For $15, it was worthy of resurrection. I still prefer driving small fasteners by hand but it will come in handy for removing household appliance fasteners in particular, among the others attaching shelving to walls, etc. Has a nice home on the laundry room tool pegboard again. Handle has two positions. The hinge and its lock are quite sturdy; chooches right along without any weeble-wobbles.
John
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