evilfij
Well-known member
You live in California. That does not count.
Try it on a rusty truck. I carry a 1/2in drive 24in breaker bar (which also has a 28mm socket on it for chrome lug nuts).
Tool Deals Thread
- Thread starter WreckITFrank
- Start date
Try it on a rusty truck. I carry a 1/2in drive 24in breaker bar (which also has a 28mm socket on it for chrome lug nuts).
erover82
Well-known member
Both great options. Comes down to personal preference over minor differences.
If you want something built like a Swiss watch:
I’m back in Virginia now, but lived in NYC for a few years before moving to LA.You live in California. That does not count.
erover82
Well-known member
Or suspension and chassis.
rocky
NAS-ROW Addict
I swear some LR owners start with 1/2 for wheel changes and don’t know how much better 1/4 or 3/8 can be until years down the road.
I do carry a 1/2” 24” long snap on flex head ratchet and use an adapter for head bolts. Most techs at the dealerships that I have worked also use 3/8” drive for head bolts.
erover82
Well-known member
If you're working in a more open area like suspension or head, why use spindly 3/8 tools? I guess when one is a pro, you invest in the highest quality tools possible and can manage using relatively small drives without breakage. Still seems like it would place undue wear on the tools though. The pros I work with, work on large industrial equipment, so that could also account for a portion of what I'm accustomed to.
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evilfij
Well-known member
I found a “used—very good” Heuer 180 vise on Amazon US for $540. Said “comes in original packaging, packaging is damaged.” Well no sh** cardboard does not contain 60lbs of forged steel .... normal price is $737.
Given what the Heuer 160 went through without any damage, I figure the worst I get is some damaged paint or maybe a slightly bent handle.
I could not find anything like the $400 160 Heuer deal on .de and I need a vise for the castle and I just could not bring myself to get the equivilent chinese Wilton for $229.
I already put the 160 to use installing Kleinkoat handles to “backdate” a set of Klein linesman pliers (yes I have Heuer vise jaws I just did not want to use them). I have enough kleinkoats coming to do a full set of pliers. I am trying to create an age appropriate circa 1929-30, set of tools for the castle. Funny enough the tenite used in the kleinkoats was invented at nearly exactly that time as were the leather handled estwings and the tape is a Stanley reproduction for their 175th anniversary.
I made a wood top (out of a tongue and groove oak countertop that was in the castle) for my craftsman 26 3/8in box to mount the vise until the stand comes, but I did not have the right hardware (what I had was too long SAE and for some unknown reason I did not have an SAE tap set). I am going to harbor freight tomorrow. I figure I will order a 72in box.
Given what the Heuer 160 went through without any damage, I figure the worst I get is some damaged paint or maybe a slightly bent handle.
I could not find anything like the $400 160 Heuer deal on .de and I need a vise for the castle and I just could not bring myself to get the equivilent chinese Wilton for $229.
I already put the 160 to use installing Kleinkoat handles to “backdate” a set of Klein linesman pliers (yes I have Heuer vise jaws I just did not want to use them). I have enough kleinkoats coming to do a full set of pliers. I am trying to create an age appropriate circa 1929-30, set of tools for the castle. Funny enough the tenite used in the kleinkoats was invented at nearly exactly that time as were the leather handled estwings and the tape is a Stanley reproduction for their 175th anniversary.
I made a wood top (out of a tongue and groove oak countertop that was in the castle) for my craftsman 26 3/8in box to mount the vise until the stand comes, but I did not have the right hardware (what I had was too long SAE and for some unknown reason I did not have an SAE tap set). I am going to harbor freight tomorrow. I figure I will order a 72in box.
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I can’t really give you a good reason other than just having more room and using lighter weight tools. Even doing suspension work on Defenders doesn’t usually require 1/2” drive stuff unless you are doing bushing replacement where you need really big sockets (and maybe a torch and press). It gets old using a heavy 1/2” drive impact when you do it all day.
evilfij
Well-known member
32oz estwing ball peen hammer, $23.26 (usually sells for mid-high 30s)
PS yes, I am buying every estwing hammer ... at least the big ones.
PS yes, I am buying every estwing hammer ... at least the big ones.
evilfij
Well-known member
20% off Klein with Klein20 code
Also some bogo offers (the VDE set with the free plug tester looks like a great deal)
Also some bogo offers (the VDE set with the free plug tester looks like a great deal)
evilfij
Well-known member
Regular handle Knipex forged wire strippers in stock via Amazon for $55. Yes, that’s $10 more than prime, but odds of getting those before July are not good and $55 is a good price and these ship now.
There are the best of breed in the genre and are parricularly good at cutting screws. I have the comfort grip in one set and the set I just ordered is for the castle set (because those tools are all dipped handle). Basically this is the only tool you need to do 90% of wiring. It is expensive, but worth it.
The Gedore 3/8 torque wrench 3549-05 UK is on global for $137. Type in the number to us Amazon. I bought one to compare to Hazet and Stahlwille. I think I will like Stahlwille best (because all the stahl) but the Stahlwille was 2x the price.
PS since this is now Ron’s tool adventures, I ordered pretty much every socket Stahlwille makes in SAE and metric 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 up to 36mm in 6 and 12 point metric and 12 point SAE (they don’t make 6 point SAE) except the deep ones, torx, and I could not bring myself to pay $25 each for flex head ones ... yet. I am going to get some frequent buyer card for mister worker.
There are the best of breed in the genre and are parricularly good at cutting screws. I have the comfort grip in one set and the set I just ordered is for the castle set (because those tools are all dipped handle). Basically this is the only tool you need to do 90% of wiring. It is expensive, but worth it.
The Gedore 3/8 torque wrench 3549-05 UK is on global for $137. Type in the number to us Amazon. I bought one to compare to Hazet and Stahlwille. I think I will like Stahlwille best (because all the stahl) but the Stahlwille was 2x the price.
PS since this is now Ron’s tool adventures, I ordered pretty much every socket Stahlwille makes in SAE and metric 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 up to 36mm in 6 and 12 point metric and 12 point SAE (they don’t make 6 point SAE) except the deep ones, torx, and I could not bring myself to pay $25 each for flex head ones ... yet. I am going to get some frequent buyer card for mister worker.
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acheck
Well-known member
On the topic of drive sizes, its also hard to beat the fine tooth/precision nature of the smaller tools. Every 1.2 rather I've ever used is a clunky beast, even snap on. I just now on my desk have a new SO 1/4 drive ratchet, their "long" (not extra long) at 6.5" and it is featherweight, ultra fine, and super slim so will fit everywhere.
"Wear and tear" on tools is a moot point as these are lifetime warranty, no questions asked. In 15 years I've broken one 3/8 drive ratchet drive - sheared the square right off. Thats it.
"Wear and tear" on tools is a moot point as these are lifetime warranty, no questions asked. In 15 years I've broken one 3/8 drive ratchet drive - sheared the square right off. Thats it.
I’ve never broken a 1/4” or 3/8” drive ratchet, but I have broken one of my snap on 1/2” drive ratchets. Excluding bits, I’ve only broken a couple of chrome 3/8” sockets over years and I regularly use them with an impact
evilfij
Well-known member
Try a Stahlwille 80 tooth 1/2 if you are looking for a delicate feeling 1/2. The back drag is nearly non-existent. I have broken a 1/2in ratchet, a couple 1/2in breaker bars (but not my craftsman US era one!), a few 3/8ths ratchets, heck I broke a 1 1/16 socket doing lug nuts and a snap on socket (not my socket I can’t afford snap on) doing head bolts.