Tool Discussion and Reviews New Thread Per Request

[evilfij]

If anyone wants a decent punch and chisel set (more expansive than the Gedore Red five piece that comes with the hammer), I was pleasantly surprised by the Amazon basics set for $14. I added a $6 3/4 in mayhew chisel which fit in the pouch with moving things around. Unfortunately, that chisel went up to $14.

Anyway, not as nice as the big mayhew set I have, but it gets you what you need for not much money.

I was also happy with the $20 five piece metric flex head ratcheting wrench set. 8, 10, 13, 14, 17

 

[evilfij]

Bahco is merely ok. High quality Taiwan stuff.

these on the other hand ….

 

[MountainD]

Nice. They are crazy strong for how small they are. I have them. Honestly I prefer the 125mm versions as I like that style of handle and adjustment better (and you can get the cobras in chrome in 125mm). The 100mm ones go in the bag of small, cool things I don’t particularly prefer but work

View attachment 22859

I also decided I needed a 3/8 set for the LWB and I wanted to try Bahco, so I bought this for $56. Will report back later. Any decent 3/8 set with the spark plug socket, extensions etc. will be all of $30-40 so a couple extra bucks, whatever. I really want the S138 full 1/4-1/2 big set with wrenches, but it’s not on global and $97 to ship from. .de.
View attachment 22860

PS everyone should still just buy the Gedore red 172 piece set and be done with sockets (minus the 14mm 1/2in drive 12 point and 8mm 1/4in drive 12 point you will need).

What is the 14mm for? I use my 13mm/12pt on my calipers but am spacing on where I need a specific 14mm….

 

[evilfij]

Bolts that hold the rotor to the hub, swivel balls to axle are both 14mm 12 point. I think. I can go check to confirm.

Edit: could not find a hub to check. But the swivel ball bolts are 14mm 12 point (obviously use a wrench to break them free and then a ratcheting wrench to spin them off).

 

[evilfij]

I was sick of using small and/or crappy floor jacks.

So I went with this (these) for $240 each (coupon at harbor freight). I need to find a good spot for the one at the small house. They are very nice. They weigh 104lbs (113lbs shipping weight) so they are a bit of a challenge to load into a vehicle. Of course it’s still too tall to easily lift the GT3, but I think I can do it if I engage front axle lift. Edit: also, the five drawer tool cart is on sale with a coupon for $219 and they had some at my local harbor freight. If they had a black or white one I probably would have grabbed it for the small house.

 

[evilfij]

What are the best tin snips? Malco? Midwest? Are the $15 for three Amazon basics any good? I assume I want offset, but why?

The Germans have Freund, Erdi/bessey, and the Austrian company Stubai. They all look similar. They seem nice. I don’t know. Please help before I buy them all for a comparison (the five piece Stubai set is $275).

Thanks for any feedback.

 

[Tbaumer]

Definitely include Wiss in your comparison. The smaller tips allow for small tight cuts that the heavier tips do not allow. Much easier than most for detail work.

 

[evilfij]

Definitely include Wiss in your comparison. The smaller tips allow for small tight cuts that the heavier tips do not allow. Much easier than most for detail work.

Thank you. I took a flyer on a set of straight cut offset weis as they were on sale for $16. Conflicting info on country of origin (USA or China). Also, mixed reviews (4.6 stars). Will report back when they arrive, regardless, they will get me through the job I need to do (cut copper sheet). I know the old weis are good.

I will add weis and channellock to the ones I am considering.

I also ordered a set of Malco 6in forged metal brake pliers. Malco is super nice, but they don’t come cheap. They were recommended by my friend who rebuilds Porsches and is a contractor (he also has an LR3 and had a D1).

Here he is temporarily fixing the issue (wind ripped it off). For scale, the ladder on the left of the pic is an 8ft ladder.

 

[evilfij]

At this point a drug addiction would be much less expensive, but anyway, I thought I would give some thoughts on Hazet ratchets.

So about four years ago, Hazet came out with a 90 tooth ratchet (middle). About a year ago, they came out with a 90 tooth quick release ratchet (left). Previously, they had a 36 tooth ratchet (right).

the 90 tooth non-quick release are about the strongest ratchets you can buy. The 1/2in is rated at (and breaks at based on a test) 1000nm.

Anyway, my only gripe is that they have more backdrag than the Stahlwille. I doubt I will use them enough to matter, but I will get all the flex heads when they come out in 90 teeth (not sure what is taking so long for Hazet to make them — they still sell 36 tooth).

 

[evilfij]

The crescent Wiss offset snips are perhaps cursed. First one arrived as an empty envelope with a hole in the bottom, second one now undeliverable, I have ordered a third.

 

[evilfij]

So a few things. First, love the Sata vise. I also found out that it is the same vise as the entry level Wilton. Same casting marks and everything. If they go on sale again, I think it is a good buy. I located a Wilton 800s used locally, but the guy is being weird.

The Wiss snips are made in USA of global components. They seem nice enough.

I also have been doing a bit of harbor freight shopping. Next week the 5 drawer cart is $200 again. I like mine. I am going to get the $100 17ft ladder.

But what I have been buying are shop tools. Things like a ball joint press, steering wheel puller, exhaust expander etc. i am pretty sure all this stuff is sold by other brands for more money. I also go my free flashlight. Yes, I dropped my new electric drain cleaner on it and cracked it, but it works well and is bright. I also abused my Pittsburgh 1/2in breaker bar. It’s stout. I picked up a few for $16 each. Got a pair of Doyle slip joint pliers. They seem nice. $8. Other than the dirt cheap entry level stuff like $2 screwdriver set I have been happy with the stuff I have gotten.

 

[jymmiejamz]

Since you mentioned the all joint press, I would highly recommend the big snap on one for doing bushings. I use it a ton and it is way faster than setting up a press for the same thing. I often am doing several sets of suspensions arms at once

 

[evilfij]

Since you mentioned the all joint press, I would highly recommend the big snap on one for doing bushings. I use it a ton and it is way faster than setting up a press for the same thing. I often am doing several sets of suspensions arms at once

I have a torch and a 3lb Estwing drilling hammer. Never needed anything else.

 

[MountainD]

I have a joint press— the c clamp style. I rarely use it opting for my 20ton press and a socket. Like butter….

 

[evilfij]

Ya, I got the 20 ton HF press when it was on sale, but the C-style one is probably going to be helpful for IFS/IRS vehicles. Plus I can use the cups too. It was $70 on sale from $90.

 

[Adam]

Not sure if anyone is following Craftsman tools these days, but it looks like Stanley Black & Decker has launched the upmarket Craftsman V-Series tools using re-branded Facom.

Search Products | CRAFTSMAN

www.craftsman.com

 

[evilfij]

Yes, they have been out a while. Wrenches are similar but shorter than Mac wrenches.

Pretty expensive and Taiwan made from what I understand.

 

[Napalm00]

New Harbor Freight Icon Pliers Wrench Imitates Knipex

Harbor Freight has come out with a new Icon Pliers Wrench.

toolguyd.com

 

[evilfij]

Not sure Icon is worth what they are asking, but with a 20% off it may make sense. The Icon is basically priced as a premium brand (as with most Icon stuff). Like the article says, for that close on the price, I generally will buy the premium brand.

As far as pliers wrenches, I have the Carlyle (thanks Frank for pointing me to the deal at $20 it’s a fujiya rebrand made in Japan), the Lenox (super wide jaws for plumbing), the Gedore (nice), and a bunch of the Knipex and Stahlwille ones. As with most pliers, Knipex is the best, Gedore/Stahlwille a close second (Stahlwille is a different design and made by VBW and for some things is better than Knipex), the others (here Fujiya) is a distant third (not as nice but hey $20) and the Lenox build quality is good, it’s just really a special use tool and not as nice as Knipex/Gedore/Stahlwille.

 

[evilfij]

NCVT

Or non-contact voltage testers. The ticker, wand, whatever you want to call it. The thing that beeps when you put it near power.

So I love these things because I am unusually paranoid about getting zapped working on house wiring. And I am always misplacing them or leaving batteries in them etc.

So the basic entry level Klein one got recalled (for what I considered to be non-important reasons), but I never liked that one because the buttons were annoying and putting batteries in was hard because you had to manipulate the pocket clip. The Gardner bender and the southwire are similar. They go for $10-20.

I really like the harbor freight one because it is so simple. It works while you hold the button down and only takes one AAA battery, not two ($6, $4 on sale).

Klein came out with some nicer ones. One has a lazer, one temp, one flashlight etc. i got the flashlight one, and it’s great. Has a screw off battery compartment and the flashlight is great and it seems more durable. Only downside is that it is $30. You ca get a deal like I did by buying a set with other testers.

Flukes are really expensive.

So I wanted another flashlight one with a screw off battery compartment. But I did not want to spend $30. Well, Woot is selling one for $9 that looks like a Klein clone and it includes a break in the wire function (I have not tried this function). Turns out it is a taclife (got banned from Amazon for fake reviews), but it’s actually really nice and seems to work well.

Anyway, this thread is for me to talk to myself, but if you need one or a spare, I recommend the harbor freight or the one on Woot unless you want to splash out on the fancy Klein’s (or presumably a fluke).

PS I know you are supposed to use a meter and I do, but not just as a second check to make sure there is no power.