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Tool you were impressed with

tsonka

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2013
Messages
48
What tool were you super impressed with when first used that it surprised you and now would be one of your first to replace if you had to do it all over again?


Mine is a prybar, a Snap On TR100. Well it’s listed as a rim tool.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?search=true&item_ID=636016&PartNo=TR100&group_id=675674&supersede=&store=snapon-store&tool=all


When I was a tech at Honda I was having the damnedest time trying to pop an axle out of a non-Honda transmission. My Snap On guy was watching, went to his truck and brought in this pry bar with a curved end. It popped that sonofabitch right out and since then it has been my go to tool for axles.
 
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tjmonsen5

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Joined
Oct 14, 2009
Messages
1,341
Location
Crystal Lake IL
My Knipex mini bolt cutters. Absolutely amazingly strong pliers that require no effort to squeeze and cut something. My biggest pair of Channellock diagonal cutters will only put a small dent in a penny, the Knipex will cut it right in half, one handed.
 

Super Sport

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Joined
Jun 30, 2011
Messages
4,081
Location
West Michigan
One of my few HF tools, the long handle 3/8 breaker bar.

I'm also very impressed with my C3 lithium impact wrench.

Both I wish I had found several years earlier.
 

metaleltr

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 4, 2009
Messages
2,680
Location
Western Ohio
F80- Never saw a ratchet so smooth before, This was great introduction to Dual 80 technology

SHLF80A- Nothing like 25" long 1/2" drive ratchet :) I've snapped bolt with that thing that an impact couldn't touch!

Victor Journeyman Heavy Duty Outfit- Between the EDGE regulators and a huge rosebud, what's not to love!

Knipex mini bolt cutters-And to believe I used to think the cutting power of my compound action diagonal cutters was amazing!
 
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Dieselbutterfly

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Joined
Oct 19, 2012
Messages
412
Location
Louisville Kentucky
tjmonsen,what is the model or part number for those knipex,i have a pair i use at work to cut 1/0,etc.but i might be interested in the model you speak of.edit;nevermind,found them,thanks
 
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sparky5982

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Joined
Feb 17, 2013
Messages
89
My #1, #2, and #3 Japenese Industrial Standard screwdrivers. Never turn a Japanese screw with the wrong phillips again. Gearwrench #81225 3/8 roto-ratchet. I never knew how much I hated flex heads until I bought it.
 

wafrederick

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Joined
Jul 3, 2010
Messages
6,045
Location
Holton,Mi
My Knipex mini bolt cutters. Absolutely amazingly strong pliers that require no effort to squeeze and cut something. My biggest pair of Channellock diagonal cutters will only put a small dent in a penny, the Knipex will cut it right in half, one handed.

X2 I use mine for cutting junk brake lines,cut them easily like butter with one squeeze.My father's friend Rich talked me into buying a pair and he was right.I spray the joints down with brake clean after cutting brake lines with them.
 

Mk4fool

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Joined
Oct 9, 2012
Messages
63
My SataJet 3000RP. Lays down clear better than any gun Ive ever tried.
 

FunkyfullWidth

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Joined
Oct 3, 2011
Messages
1,238
Location
Three Rivers, ma
x2 for a smart phone. I always had an old flip phone and didn't see a need for much more. Now I use my phone to take pictures to help with rerouting hoses, wires and cables. I use it if i think there may be a trick to putting something back together. Then simple things like resetting oil change reminder lights.
 

TAMPAGT07

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Joined
Feb 20, 2008
Messages
11,147
Location
Palm Harbor, Fl
HF composite ratchets....I don't think they'll be handed on from generation to generation (like my SO's), but for $10 you can't beat them.....
 

sberry

Banned
Joined
Jun 18, 2005
Messages
35,747
Location
Brethren, Michigan
I have a big paint pot I had some in between jobs and the cost of materials and time was hi, quality not such an issue so I price a new setup, like a grand. The parts man says we got this setup in ATD and its a hundred bucks, I figure at that rate steal the parts hoses fitting and add a different gun if needed. With epoxy figured to use it for a month and toss it, over 10K work whats a hundred buck gun, solvent/time etc. That sucker worked so good I sprayed maybe 10 or a dozen jobs with it. Still works.

My other top pic is the Walmart 7750 grinder.
 
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Brownsfan

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Joined
Apr 16, 2012
Messages
5,974
Location
Cleveland Ohio
My craftsman pro pry bars. They are awesome and have never let me down. Then my Cornwell dead blow ball peen hammers. They are great and not that expensive.
 

dbabicky

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 30, 2012
Messages
874
Location
NE Wisconsin
Pratt and Whitney "Big Bertha" hydo-ratchet wrench used to remove the #5 bearing retaining nut on the F100-PW-200 Jet engine. Have to pick it up with the over head crane to put it in place. 300,000 PSI max Pressure.
 

Gotmayhem

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 12, 2013
Messages
351
Location
CT
Pratt and Whitney "Big Bertha" hydo-ratchet wrench used to remove the #5 bearing retaining nut on the F100-PW-200 Jet engine. Have to pick it up with the over head crane to put it in place. 300,000 PSI max Pressure.

Going to need some pics on that, google isn't helping out...
 

dbabicky

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Joined
Dec 30, 2012
Messages
874
Location
NE Wisconsin
I can't recall the actual P&W part # or nomenclature for it. In the shop it was just known as "Big-Bertha".
I know we used it to remove the #5 bearing retaining nut on the F100-200 Jet engine used in the F-16. Same for the F100-100 used in the F-15. Circa 1984-87 Luke AFB, AZ.
 

Pumpman1968

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Joined
Oct 21, 2012
Messages
1,520
Location
Upstate, NY
I got my first real job working for an old school electrician when I was 17 in high school. I got pretty damn good at stripping bx (armored) cable with hacksaw.

A few years later, I saw one of these Roto Splits and almost crapped myself! I had stripped hundreds of feet of bx 6" at a time with that damn hacksaw......and that bastage didn't get me one of these??????
 

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woody 73

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Joined
Apr 14, 2009
Messages
11,542
Location
The Great State Up North
Mine would be a Wolverine grinding Jig; it is a special tool that helps me sharpen a variety of lathe tools and drill bits by hand on one of my many bench grinders.:thumbup:

I will tell you that the new snap on ratchets, along with the Matco 88 and wright ratchets are a joy to use.:thumbup:

The sure grip technology of the wrenches that are made today are up there on my list of tools that I am impressed with.:thumbup:

The lower Decibel ratings for the IR air guns along with the rubber texture handles.:thumbup:

New cordless tools coming out all the time just fantastic and getting lighter and more powerful.:thumbup:

One tool I would love to get my hands on is the extra long Matco wrenches but at over $400.00 for a set I must wait, but still they look like a winner in my book.
 

dbabicky

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Dec 30, 2012
Messages
874
Location
NE Wisconsin
tried to look it up on-line also, guess I'll have to go out to the shed tomorrow and dig out my old Tech-School **** to find the part #. Now it;s bugging ME!:lol_hitti
 

Gotmayhem

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Joined
Feb 12, 2013
Messages
351
Location
CT
tried to look it up on-line also, guess I'll have to go out to the shed tomorrow and dig out my old Tech-School **** to find the part #. Now it;s bugging ME!:lol_hitti

Do it!! :thumbup:
This thing sounds seriously cool...aircraft stuff usually is.
 

natas2000

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Joined
Jan 18, 2011
Messages
250
ok TJmonsen5 you said Knipex bolt cutters. I have ones like that from HD and they worked great for three months and got dull. Dont know if they can be resharpened or not? I would spend the money for them if they dont dull or can be resharpened.
I use them to cut steel(which is not a strong steel at all) pieces that are 1/4 wide and thin. in fact they have a indention to make them easier to break. also I cut screws for the same thing which are 12-24. They also have break point so you can make them to a certain size in the field.
You have any comments???
 

ddo

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Joined
Oct 29, 2012
Messages
153
Location
Richland
Pliers wrench from knipex, cobra by knipex, reversible pipe wrench adjustable combo by bahco and wera zyklops 1/4 ratchet. Lots of smaller pipefitting here and those have been priceless.
 

tjmonsen5

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Oct 14, 2009
Messages
1,341
Location
Crystal Lake IL
ok TJmonsen5 you said Knipex bolt cutters. I have ones like that from HD and they worked great for three months and got dull. Dont know if they can be resharpened or not? I would spend the money for them if they dont dull or can be resharpened.
I use them to cut steel(which is not a strong steel at all) pieces that are 1/4 wide and thin. in fact they have a indention to make them easier to break. also I cut screws for the same thing which are 12-24. They also have break point so you can make them to a certain size in the field.
You have any comments???

Ill be honest and say that I have only used them a handful of times. But when I needed them, they were the only tool that would cut. Ive used them to cut screws, thick springs, pennies, plastic, cotter pins, nails, cant remember what else. I am not sure how long they will stay sharp or if they can be sharpened. They have a lifetime warranty.
 

Jeffksf

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Joined
Jul 24, 2007
Messages
381
Location
Cleveland Ohio
I like my oscillating tool, it's one of those "how did I get by without this" kinda tools.
I love it for cutting dry wall right on the stud for when doing patch work. Also a must have for any flooring work and triming moldings and door jambs.
Mine happens to be a HF unit.
 

Haveblue

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Joined
Feb 8, 2013
Messages
1,484
Location
kansas
I would have to say all of my old USA made blackhawk tools. I bought a large set for vo-tech in 1990 to start out. Ive added other brands to the mix as well..but those old Blackhawks just keep going!!!
 

dfreeman616

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 13, 2009
Messages
242
Location
Grand Rapids, MI
SnapOn plier wrenches. They are not the same as the Knipex Plier Wrench, more like a cross between channel locks and a pipe wrench. PWZ0, PWZ1, PWZ2, and PWZ3 are the part numbers. I started with the 2, and ended up with all 4 because they are worth it.
 

wxm

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Joined
Dec 15, 2008
Messages
901
Location
NJ
+1 for Knipex plier wrench and Chas Parker vises.
 

cburnscrx

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Joined
Jan 15, 2013
Messages
1,751
Location
Indianapolis
Dremel - I've cut things, buffed things, and grinded down stuff that could have only been done with a Dremel. Fantastic and wouldn't trade it for anything.
 

Haveblue

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Joined
Feb 8, 2013
Messages
1,484
Location
kansas
^^agree! Dremel is not heavy duty, but it has always had its place among my tools!
Another 20 year old tool that keeps going! :thumbup:
 

Armstrong1720

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 25, 2012
Messages
197
Location
In the arm pit of TEXAS
Matco 88 long handle locking flex ratchet and iphone 4s i can ask siri how many miles it is from here to downtown new york and apps for trucks stops ,fuel prices ,road service .you name it and its got it. Its very best trucking tool there is.
 

supra90turbo

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Joined
Sep 30, 2011
Messages
595
Location
Central MA
Snap on pwcs7 wire stripper/crimper/cutter - absolutely amazing tool
Snap on ratcheting screwdriver. I modified mine to accept interchangeable shanks, and carry it in an hs50 quick cutter pouch along with a 6" extension, I also keep extra bits and 3 sockets stored in the handle.
 

William Payne

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Joined
Mar 15, 2010
Messages
7,690
Location
Wanganui, New Zealand
My snap-on f936 ratchet, super smoove, no slop at all which is something I hate in ratchets, I like my ratchets to have gears that fit perfectly if they slop around in the housing I am not happy at all.

My snap-on ratchet lived upto all the hype.
 
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