Tool Deals Thread

[evilfij]

Review: Gedore cable knife $15 delivered from Gott Electrics through Amazon via USPS

Pros: real wood, says made in Germany (although I think it’s made in Italy based on a YouTube analysis), good size and reasonable weight. Has “the look”. Sharp. Steel looks nice as does the wood. Could be 100 years old design. Inexpensive.

Cons: not branded Gedore (some apparently have this on the blade but mine did not). There is no easy flip open just a thumb nail ridge thing, mechanism is a bit stiff (have not oiled it yet). Wood was unfinished so I put some waxy oil on it (I used beard balm because that’s what was sitting around). I will hit it with tung oil next time I Tung oil something. Maybe I will try ballistol.

Neat tool you can use. It went in one of the Klein bags. Keeping my old Gerber for daily carry.

 

[uc4me]

Not really a deal rather than a cool little 3/8 folding ratchet offering from Tekton. Been pretty happy with their tools. May come in handy when just standing around and someone asks if you happen to have a 3/8 ratchet in your pocket..

https://www.tekton.com/3-8-inch-dri...l&utm_campaign=folding_ratchets_now_available

 

[Adam]

Not really a deal rather than a cool little 3/8 folding ratchet offering from Tekton. Been pretty happy with their tools. May come in handy when just standing around and someone asks if you happen to have a 3/8 ratchet in your pocket..

https://www.tekton.com/3-8-inch-dri...l&utm_campaign=folding_ratchets_now_available

Just small enough for me to forget where I put it

 

[Tbaumer]

This tools thread is brutal. I haven't felt like mine didn't measure up like this since high school. Appreciate the humbling guidance & have placed some orders.

 

[evilfij]

Sorry @Tbaumer

You have to tell us what you got though

If for some reason people don’t like Wera screwdrivers, I can also recommend Felo

The $20 5 piece striking handle wood set is probably the best deal I found, but it does not have posi. You have to spend $52 for the seven piece to get posi.

I wonder if @Adam likes the wood ones as he ordered a set.

Because I am nuts, I decided to build another screwdriver set for the to go bag and I went with Felo ergonic because I liked the wood ones so much (and my 13 euro Hazet set has not shipped from .de — I should not have bought them as they are sort of crap but they were $13 euro and say Hazet). My first order has just shipped as of 10 minutes ago, but the Hazet 916hlp 1/2 ratchet looks to be an issue for some reason (although they show 14 in stock and the Hazet torque wrench and Stahlwille breaker bar are “dispatching now” rather than dispatched?). Global is delivering two of my Stahlwille wrench sets and the 3/8 Stahlwille socket and ratchet set monday.

The idea being with the Felo for the to go bag is that I know these go in the to go kit because they are different than the Wera.

The six piece set is $38, I added the small bit driver ($12), the long bit driver ($15), a posi #2 ($10) and a large flathead ($13) for mainly prybar use (I liked this deal so much I ordered two and will leave one in the big box which defeats the segregate the tools, but the equivalent Wera was 3x the money). I also ordered the bidriving T-handle for $10. All of this is on Amazon. The one real fault of the Gedore red kit (which at $133 from prime is a top 5 deal for me due to reasonable quality and comprehensiveness) is that the bit holder is a 1/4 drive socket end so you have to use an adaptor and it is crap so having the bit holders was key for me. I am not sure why, but I often use stubbys (insert measuring up joke here). The T-handle will probably stay in the big box though. Could not resist for $10. The big flathead below as an example.

Felo 0715753127 1/2" Series 400 Ergonic Slotted Screwdriver, 8" - Flat Head Screwdrivers - Amazon.com

Felo 0715753127 1/2" Series 400 Ergonic Slotted Screwdriver, 8" - Flat Head Screwdrivers - Amazon.com

smile.amazon.com

They are not striking head, but the grip is both squishy and has some texture to it and they have the critical nut on the shaft. They seem nice.

The wood set is headed to the castle (seems appropriate given the house’s era). I am not sure how it happened, but I had a radiator purge valve leak (the radiators are behind metal panels in the wall with flathead screws with retainers behind them) and wouldn’t you know the only flatheads I could find in the house was a bent off brand I had and some weird universal thing. Lol. I gathered some spare tools to set up a set there. The Hazet 1/4 and 1/2, the Stahlwille 3/8, and some wrenches can live there.

Oh, one more neat thing for cheap. I got this set of stickers to label the drawers. If you are forgetful (like me) or have people come over to help (like me) I think it is a great idea so you know what is where. They included some blank ones to write on and they seem high quality for $18.

Amazon.com: Tool Box Organizer Labels: Home Improvement

Buy Tool Box Organizer Labels: Drawer Organizers - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

smile.amazon.com

 

[acheck]

I wonder if Adam likes the wood ones as he ordered a set.

Thats me, not the other guy

You've prompted me to open the amazon package that has been sitting on my desk for a week.

I love these. Quality is superb and I just love the nostalgia of the wooden handle. "Made in Germany" quality for sure.

This will be my new primary screwdriver set. I have a complete set of Snap On pozi drivers which were literally my first "off the truck" tool purchase when I started wrenching on Land Rovers professionally, 15 years ago. I've posted about those before, I believe in a thread, "Tools you love", or similar.

Cannot believe this Felo set was only $20 shipped.

 

[evilfij]

My bad. Get a weird name like me not an actual name.

$20 is a steal. I spent that on a battery brush from Hazet. And yes, it is the finest battery brush I have ever seen.

 

[acheck]

@evilfij

Hazet 810SPC/6 Screwdriver Set 6-Piece: Amazon.de: Baumarkt

Hazet 810SPC/6 Screwdriver Set 6-Piece: Amazon.de: Baumarkt

www.amazon.de

okay, maybe i need two new primary screwdriver sets.

 

[evilfij]

That’s the one I ordered from .de. It won’t be here from a month probably. My neighbor has them, but I like the Wera and Felo better. I just bought them to go with the Hazet stuff I have because they were inexpensive. I think they are made by witte, but I have not confirmed.

 

[acheck]

I can tell by the photo they are not as nice as the Felo set, strictly because they lack the hex on the shank for putting a wrench on if necessary.

Honestly I could not be more impressed by the $20 wood handle set.

 

[evilfij]

Looks like .de was never going to ship me my Heuer 180 vise so I canceled my second order (the rest of the stuff was just because it did not add much to shipping). Everything in the first order except the 916hpl Hazet long half in ratchet shipped. Time to go back to the well on .de and get close to whatever the customs limit is.

Apparently there are no more good vise grip pliers. Grip-on, Knipex, all have issues. Irwin is crap. I really want some Gedore as apparently they are good, but they are like $60 in the US.

 

[evilfij]

The Hazet 916hpl shipped from amazon.de via .... Australia Global Post

So everything on the first order from .de has shipped.

In other hoarding news, I ordered the Knipex ($22) and the Gedore ($47) 10in visegrip pliers. I bought a new Irwin visegrip ($12) and it is crap. It’s going in the to go bag. Apparently the Knipex are not great. The Gedore are only 20 euro on .de but I am impatient.

 

[Tbaumer]

Never thought about trying Amazon.de before. I would have thought the pricing would be similarly adjusted, but the set of Gedore circlip pliers listed above is $193.52 on Amazon, but only $100.35 (plus $38.33 shipping) on Amazon.de - total of $138.68 ($54.85 less, even with big shipping). While this one saved a lot, not all of the comparisons were favorable.
Just this week I'm in for a 2.5# Nupla brass hammer, Knipex super knips, Wera star driver set & the Gedore circlip pliers. I'm going to have to block this thread.

 

[evilfij]

Nice tool haul! (BTW you think this thread is bad, don’t search tool haul or tool unboxing on YouTube). The Gedore visegrips I ordered are 19 euro on .de and $47 on prime.

US Amazon with global seems to be the best for single items. If you buy a few, de usually ends up being the least expensive. Sometimes regular prime is the least expensive (for example the wood Felo screwdrivers).

 

[evilfij]

Here are some .de deals. As I noted above, they decided not to ship me my vise, so I went back and cancelled that order and ordered all the stuff I wanted up to close to the import duty limit. I include these because they were “deals” to me (and I was particularly enveous of the Gedore snap ring set of pliers that @Tbaumer got).

To show some deals, the Knipex knife is $10 on .de and $28 on prime. The Gedore locking pliers are $20 on .de and $47 on prime. The Gedore pliers wrenches are $45 on .de and $71 on prime. Knipex pliers are about 30-40% less on .de.

You will see some pressol oil stuff and pferd files. Pressol and pferd make stuff for Hazet, Gedore and I think Stahlwille and if you buy the pressol one, you just don’t get the other brand logo and it’s the same part just less money (sometimes half). They are supposed to be very high quality and are not much more than the cheap Chinese stuff on prime, but have things like brass fittings and all that good stuff. The Swiss Reilang brand oilers are probably a bit better, but I liked the design of the pressol.

Then I got carried away with Hazet brushes after I saw the battery brush. And I added a couple valve stem tools and a cable knife.

Then I went nuts with knipex stuff to build out my set including a cable knife. And I got the Hazet version of cobras and the Gedore version of pliers wrenches, just cause. And two sets of the Gedore locking pliers I overpaid for on prime. Can never have too many visegrips.

On screwdrivers I got the inexpensive Hazet set (because Hazet). The wood Felo set is the one with the posi #2 (and another small slotted I think) so the $20 set will be a gift or spare. Then I added a couple Wera #2 posi to build out sets and got the giant Wera chisel driver I wanted.

Not sure why I ordered the Stahlwille 1/2in other than I might like it better than Wera, Gedore or Hazet and wanted to try it. At least I did not buy more wrenches or sockets.

 

[evilfij]

Back to deals on inexpensive tools. (I absolutely realize what I am doing with the German tools is ridiculous and insane ... sorry if I have offended anyone ... although those who have met me know I am a hoarder ).

So I could not bring myself to pay $300-800 or more for a 3/4in drive socket and ratchet set from Gedore or Stahlwille (as much as I wanted to, it’s a rarely used item ... at least on the vehicles I have). All the sets sit in my cart on .de .....

So I went prime hunting for a deal. I have a precision instruments 3/4in drive torque wrench (this is the one snap on rebrands in 3/4in) and I have both the torque bar end and the regular end so I have a ridiculous long (but in pieces so you can make it shorter) 3/4in drive torque wrench which can also be used as a ratcheting breaker bar, but it was a one trick pony as its sole purpose was to take on and off the GT3 centerlock wheels. (Pic borrowed from the internet of the precision instruments torque wrench I have). I got a deal on it unused or barely used off rennlist. Well, I wanted something to use it with and while I have purchased the Gedore 3/4 to 1/2 adaptor (and apparently I also had a Tekton impact one) and I found this after digging on prime for 30 minutes or so for $50 (hey it’s better than being at a bar). I think it is so inexpensive because it has been discontinued.

Amazon.com: Crescent CTK14ME 3/4-Inch Metric Mechanics Tool Set, 14-Piece: Home Improvement

Amazon.com: Crescent CTK14ME 3/4-Inch Metric Mechanics Tool Set, 14-Piece: Home Improvement

smile.amazon.com

It has a breaker bar, ratchet, extensions, and some big metric sizes for crank pulleys and such. Description says six point but picture shows 12. I am not sure that I care honestly. It’s probably Chinese crap, but it’s 1/3 of what it should be and 1/10th the price of the German stuff, 1/5th the price of Williams so YOLO. If I find a giant size I don’t have, I can always add a socket from prime.

 

[evilfij]

So this is about how I am used to working on rovers. To start, I fished this out, cleaned it, and fixed the bottom drawer. I am leaving the base cabinet in the garage as the bottom holds the welder, and the top will be used a a bench (I usually work on the floor or bring things into the kitchen table)

I have found that whenever I go visit for a wrenching day, Rover Rescue, or on a road trip, that I go to my snap on box, grab everything I think I need (which takes several trips from the garage to the truck) forget some stuff, and then it rides around in the truck for two weeks, the tools fall out when I drive or try to remove them (because I put them in a cardboard box and grocery bags usually) and when I return, I put them back in the snap on box wrong. To solve this problem, I have been building my “travel” kit based off the Gedore red 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 set I bought. To supplement it, I bought an inexpensive tool bag (since it will be visible when parked I did not want a Klein, Wera To Go, or a name brand like dewalt). A Sata for $13 (I liked the color). It also cleared out some duplicates and lesser quality tools from the snap on box.

And I think I now know how to insert photos mid post.

So in the bag (let me know if there is anything I forgot that’s good to have). All in, this is about $200 inclusive of the $133 Gedore Red kit (Gedore Red is Taiwan but nice, all the Kobalt crap came in a much bigger to go bag for $100, I gave away the metric sockets, wrenches, and ratchets to my friend starting out they were not horrific, the screw drivers I broke two, and this is a small part of the kit).

Screwdrivers (I know the Gedore Red kit has a 1/4in drive and bit holder but I hate using those): I went non-Wera so I know the Wera stay in the big box. 5 piece slotted and Phillips Felo wood ones, the big Felo slotted ergonic, and a kobalt bit driver and set of bits (with square, at 1/4in socket adaptor, and PH3 in them).

Pliers: new Chinese Irwin visegrips, Kobalt channel locks, wire strippers, side cutters, and needle nose from a cheap set I bought a while back.

Wrenches: Gedore 10x13mm open end, metric 13-22mm popular mechanics brand made in Taiwan from Walmart circa 1999, ratcheting 13mm, SAE 3/8 to 11/16 from the Kobalt kit, and an adjustable popular mechanics brand adjustable.

Sockets: SAE 5/16 to 9/16 in 1/4 and up to 7/8 in 3/8 from the Kobalt kit.

Misc: Hammer, cold chisel, cheap snap ring pliers set, razor blade scraper with spare blades, trim tool, tape measurer, headlamp, electrical tape, silicone tape, a ratchet strap, bailing wire, small magnet on a stick, gloves, two microfiber towels, and a pen. I am sure I will throw a can of PB blaster in there too.

The other things I can take with me are a ginder, sawzall, 1/2in corded electric impact, Hobart flux core welder, and I will always take with me my 20v dewalt bag with includes a drill, impact with 1/4in hex output, bit set with 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 socket adapters and has actual bits for SAE to 9/16, drill bits (Bosch they are nice I have a four sets).

And some sacrilege here at the end.

 

[evilfij]

If anyone wants to step up their oil pan game, Hazet has you covered.

The 197-1 and 197-2 are apparently pretty nice.

since they are plastic, there are some knock offs floating around per the .de and amazon reviews. Besides, neither site has them, or has them for anything reasonable. So enter Chadstoolbox. Now usually, you can get a bit better price on .de or global (and sometimes prime) but it really depends on what it is. So, for example, I was sort of disappointed in my wiha stubby bit driver ($12 on prime). It’s good, but I just like Wera and Felo ($11 on prime) better. And the Felo ergonic stubby is narrow and longer. Sort of half way between the long narrow Wera that comes with tool check and the Wiha. I really just wanted a German version of the craftsman stubbys I am used to so j wanted the stubby Wera. But it’s $21 on prime and not on .de (except in a set with bits for 37 euro). I also wanted to round out my cable knife set and get another Gedore as a gift (people really like that knife and now that I have oiled and waxed it, it is perfect). So I went to Chad’s and started cross referencing the Hazet stuff I wanted. For example, I already ordered the 190L tool tote and the magnetic plastic coated nut cup (love the nut cup, I should buy more).

Anyway, they had the Hazet oil pans I wanted for less than elsewhere and since they are an authorized dealer, I know they will be genuine. I had $5 credit and $100 gets you free shipping so I placed an order.

The Stahlwille knife is a bit of an extravagance given it is the same as the 10 euro Knipex in a different color without a tether loop and with a different blade, but what can I say. I am a sucker and they are hard to find.

So I will have the Gedore, the Hazet, the Knipex, and the Stahlwille cable knives. Night stand, castle tool set (building a Hazet set although I have yet to order a Hazet assistent), electrical repair kit, and Stahlwille goes in the snap on box ... so it makes sense in my mind. Oh, the Hazet tape is a short one and is less on .de but whatever. It’s both metric and inch. I have a couple of others, but I can never seem to find a tape when I need one, and I am trying to get ones with metric so I can be like @JimC and express everything in metric (I use non-incrementalized descriptors — aka it’s long).

 

[jymmiejamz]

If anyone wants to step up their oil pan game, Hazet has you covered.

The 197-1 and 197-2 are apparently pretty nice.

View attachment 17663View attachment 17664
since they are plastic, there are some knock offs floating around per the .de and amazon reviews. Besides, neither site has them, or has them for anything reasonable. So enter Chadstoolbox. Now usually, you can get a bit better price on .de or global (and sometimes prime) but it really depends on what it is. So, for example, I was sort of disappointed in my wiha stubby bit driver ($12 on prime). It’s good, but I just like Wera and Felo ($11 on prime) better. And the Felo ergonic stubby is narrow and longer. Sort of half way between the long narrow Wera that comes with tool check and the Wiha. I really just wanted a German version of the craftsman stubbys I am used to so j wanted the stubby Wera. But it’s $21 on prime and not on .de (except in a set with bits for 37 euro). I also wanted to round out my cable knife set and get another Gedore as a gift (people really like that knife and now that I have oiled and waxed it, it is perfect). So I went to Chad’s and started cross referencing the Hazet stuff I wanted. For example, I already ordered the 190L tool tote and the magnetic plastic coated nut cup (love the nut cup, I should buy more).
View attachment 17667
View attachment 17668
Anyway, they had the Hazet oil pans I wanted for less than elsewhere and since they are an authorized dealer, I know they will be genuine. I had $5 credit and $100 gets you free shipping so I placed an order.

View attachment 17665View attachment 17666
The Stahlwille knife is a bit of an extravagance given it is the same as the 10 euro Knipex in a different color without a tether loop and with a different blade, but what can I say. I am a sucker and they are hard to find.

So I will have the Gedore, the Hazet, the Knipex, and the Stahlwille cable knives. Night stand, castle tool set (building a Hazet set although I have yet to order a Hazet assistent), electrical repair kit, and Stahlwille goes in the snap on box ... so it makes sense in my mind. Oh, the Hazet tape is a short one and is less on .de but whatever. It’s both metric and inch. I have a couple of others, but I can never seem to find a tape when I need one, and I am trying to get ones with metric so I can be like @JimC and express everything in metric (I use non-incrementalized descriptors — aka it’s long).

The first drain pan looks to be just a step above what you would get for free from an auto parts store with 6 qts of oil and a filter. The next one is very similar to what we’ve had at every dealership I’ve worked.

This is my favorite style. I bought one off of the snap on truck years ago, but I doubt it was snap on branded.

 

[evilfij]

How do you pour into bottles with that? That’s my big issue. And draining the oil filter. It’s under $20 so whatever. The big guy I will use for coolant etc.

I would love a big one with a barrel and telescoping neck for a lift (my mechanic gave me a one post lift, but it is still there since snow ... not sure what that says about our relationship that he gave me a lift) but since I don’t have the lift let and I have to take the oil back, I need something to easily get it back into bottles so I can dump in my mechanic’s recycling tank.