What would you get?

teebo said:
Craftsman beam style like this?

I'm keeping this since I need it for my 140 foot lbs lug nuts on my truck. Not about to buy a new high end torque wrench for that. No idea how accurate this one is. Probably close enough.
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Yup, like that only older probably. Was bought in the late '60s or really early '70s. I remember having to float in the middle of the pivoting handle travel to avoid influencing the reading. It's probably accurate enough for your lug nuts. My problem is having to spend an excessive amount of money on something that will only get used once a year on average, but unfortunately the cheaper alternatives are usually just that - cheap and not worth investing in. Doubt anyone even sells that style anymore too.
 
I use 3/8 drive Craftsman beam wrench for the smaller stuff, the rest of the time I use an ancient 1/2 drive New Britain clicker style. At work we have a 3/4 drive (150-500 ft/lbs) and inch drive (250-1500 ft/lbs) for the big bolts.
 
teebo said:
Craftsman beam style like this?

View attachment 12923

I'm keeping this since I need it for my 140 foot lbs lug nuts on my truck. Not about to buy a new high end torque wrench for that. No idea how accurate this one is. Probably close enough.
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Yep. You need proper technique even with a clicker. If the indicator gets bent, you can re-bend it to 'recalibrate'.
 
teebo said:
This is a fair review. I go there for "staple" type stuff. Or stuff that is seldom used but will work.

For stuff I expect to use often, and I want it to work, I try to find the better stuff.

I did end up springing for a Snap-on torque wrench. I had tried a wrench from Amazon (that got great reviews) and when I tried it at 40 foot lbs, it never even signaled me. Multiple tries. Returned it. I mean I should trust that or not even use one, right?
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I recently picked up this used torque wrench on ebay. CDI is a brand owned by Snap On as I understand so hoping it is of decent quality. Payed $70 and it sells new for double that.
I got interested in this particular model because it was the only one I could find that had a more useful range for my CB350 (50 in lb - 250 in lb or 4 ft lb - 21 ft lb). I want to rest assured I am not over torqueing those acorn head nuts and other engine fasteners. I still need to take it to work and test the accuracy though.

Another handy tool is the wire brush on a grinder, in this case three of them sandwiched together.

torque.jpg

wire brush.jpg
 
WintrSol said:
Don't forget a good set of JIS type screwdrivers.
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Any particular recommendations on JIS sets? I do have some. They were fairly inexpensive on Amazon. But there were more expensive sets. More expensive doesn't always mean better (enough), and the ones I got seem to fit fine.

Its easy to see why so many Honda screws get stripped without them.
 
WintrSol said:
Don't forget a good set of JIS type screwdrivers.
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This is what I have and they work for me. Contains five inch hex shaft in Philips style and flat blade bits. Three sizes of each style for a total of six. Not sure why it says 10pcs on package :frown:

jis.jpg
 
For those that were, or could be, professional mechanics... What brands of tools did you use? Were there general favorites?

For example, it seems Snap-on has a huge following. I've seen Starrett or Brown & Sharpe for calipers. What were the same for say... Sockets, or wrenches? Does it matter?

Just kind of curious.
 
I bought all my SAE tools from snap on and all my metric tools in MAC. No big reason I just decided to do it that way. My boxes are snap on. My wife bought me the vessel JIS set for Christmas.
 
All of my hand tools were Snap-On with a few Mac thrown in because they had what I needed at the time. A majority of those are long gone being lost or misappropriated by "friends" who borrowed them. My sons friends weren't any help there either once the tool boxes came home in the late 80's.
While the professional grade tools are nice and actually needed for the full time mechanic because of the quality for the casual home mechanic they are too expensive unless there's specialized need.
 
I have a set of JIS drivers from Vessel also, and a couple sets made by Moody. I use them on my Japanese bikes and my RC model aircraft (most are made in Asia). Sizes 00 through 2 cover most screws for me.
 
Quite apt that some of this discussion centres on 'budget' tools.

I've just snipped this. Middle tape is Chinese:

piIQFy3.png
 
I'm sure there's a joke somewhere about that middle rule being used to measure body parts, but it's probably racist and non family friendly ...
 
Returning to the other type of tools, in the UK Halfords own brand 'Professional' range of spanners and sockets are well regarded, inexpensive, with a life time replacement guarantee against breakage, usual caveats about misuse apply.
 
ballbearian said:
I have a #3 that I haven't really used with a hammer. Truth is, I didn't know it had a 12 degree rotation. Duh.
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I didn't know they made them until Chris told me he used them, but then again I haven't needed anything in that area for a long time so more than a few new versions are around - and sadly, one that isn't - the Vessel t-handle I bought long ago and still have, for whatever reason they quit selling it.
 
ausman1000 said:
This is what I have and they work for me. Contains five inch hex shaft in Philips style and flat blade bits. Three sizes of each style for a total of six. Not sure why it says 10pcs on package :frown:

View attachment 12939
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The cheapies don't last like Vessel. I've twisted and even sheared off the tips of #2 with the hammer impact. I need to get some of the long #2s.
 
2wheel said:
Some of them are not impacts. My set is not. I have the megladora series.
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The packaging was in Japanese, but did say impacta and has the steel end. I thought the arrow meant you could apply twisting grip while hitting. It actually has a spring and cam inside that gives a 12 degree twist when struck.
 
ballbearian said:
The packaging was in Japanese, but did say impacta and has the steel end. I thought the arrow meant you could apply twisting grip while hitting. It actually has a spring and cam inside that gives a 12 degree twist when struck.
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And appropriately called the "Impacta" series...
 
Sometimes it's about the electrical stuff so a decent selection of soldering gear.

solder.jpg
 
ausman1000 said:
Sometimes it's about the electrical stuff so a decent selection of soldering gear.
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Yep, and to have the right stuff for small work is essential. Do you have a solder sucker too? They're really helpful when working on small traces on a board
 
ancientdad said:
Yep, and to have the right stuff for small work is essential. Do you have a solder sucker too? They're really helpful when working on small traces on a board
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As pictured I have a basic manually operated solder sucker but actually prefer the rosin impregnated solder wick.

wick.jpg
 
ballbearian said:
When I looked the cost of LED tubes that fit the fluorescent fixtures was twice what self contained LED 4' were and then if the ballasts go bad you have to deal with that. I'm retiring my old fixtures, the new ones are very light, bright and literally plug and play. See below amazon link and figure what 6 T12 (4') LED equivalents cost. The 6 pack costs about $45 and they draw less.
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I think you forgot the amazon link 'cause I don't see it?
 
What would I get? HYPNOTIZED and convinced I don't need to save things for "someday" when I'll again have use for .... anything. My garage would be a lot more useful if it wasn't jammed with stuff that I can't bear to recycle. I might as well be saving a 55 gallon drum of mustache wax as some of the stuff I have.
 
wentwest said:
What would I get? HYPNOTIZED and convinced I don't need to save things for "someday" when I'll again have use for .... anything. My garage would be a lot more useful if it wasn't jammed with stuff that I can't bear to recycle. I might as well be saving a 55 gallon drum of mustache wax as some of the stuff I have.
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But what if you grow that giant mustache? You'll need that wax.
 
On a serious note, a Vessel Megadora, #2, 100 or 150 mm screwdriver is the BEST screwdriver I have, for any cross headed screw. I use it all the time. $13.90 on Amazon. Not worth debating with yourself. I don't use the impact feature because I have a Milwaukee impact tool and some JIS bits.
 
Just been using my Vessel JIS driver. Nice M10 hex at the base of the shaft, so you can use a spanner to get more leverage when tightening screws, also metal right through the handle, so that it can be gently tapped with a hammer to loosen things.
 
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