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nmfree posted:IIRC a lot of people in this thread use the free one from Harbor Freight for doing ballpark/"is it hot?" measurements, and it works well enough. I've butchered up a set of leads to have alligator clips n the ends. You can get the right end connectors if you want too or even some alligator clips have a through screw which you can be sneaky and use to clamp them to a probe. Alligator clips on a multimeter can be a godsend if you need more than two hands to hold it in place and do something else at the same time. It's fairly often that I graft things like bullet or blade connectors on to the multimeter somehow too. Even the multimeters that can be had for a few $ are fine for a car. It is however really useful to keep an analog and a digital in inventory because both have their own uses.
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Apr 6, 2013 22:37
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Anybody know how often the HF racing jacks go on sale? They have the 1.5 ton on now, but I'd like something with bigger capacity.
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Apr 7, 2013 00:44
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Uthor posted:When working in a car, whatever works is probably good enough. You'll want an expensive one when exact and consistent readings matter, but in a car, "is it hooked up" and "is this getting 12-14 V" are generally all you care about.
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Apr 7, 2013 01:02
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blk posted:Anybody know how often the HF racing jacks go on sale? They have the 1.5 ton on now, but I'd like something with bigger capacity.
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Apr 7, 2013 05:30
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blk posted:Anybody know how often the HF racing jacks go on sale? They have the 1.5 ton on now, but I'd like something with bigger capacity. The May 2013 issue of Super Street (It was free, don't judge me), has coupons for the 1.5 and 3 ton aluminum jacks and the 3 ton and 2.5 ton low profile steel jacks.
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Apr 7, 2013 13:02
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Any suggestions for a good 5-6" bench vise? I don't see good reviews for the HF ones or any others for less than $100 or so.
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Apr 7, 2013 13:42
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Larrymer posted:Any suggestions for a good 5-6" bench vise? I don't see good reviews for the HF ones or any others for less than $100 or so. 
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Apr 7, 2013 14:35
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I have this one. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...s_tnt=39869:4:0 It's a vice alright.
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Apr 7, 2013 14:44
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Jesus, don't buy a new vise. Unless you are spending $200+, you'll get an imported piece of crap that will break if you push it. Buy a used American vise off of Craigslist. I've bought 6 in the past 2 years (I've got a problem with vises, they are my vice), and they outperform anything imported ine very category. If you don't give a poo poo, or just want something to beat on, buy an import. The cheaper the better... they all suck. Info: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62716 There are groups of people who collect vises, but if you get in touch with one of them and explain your need, they'll sell you a good used vise for reasonable money. My collection includes a 4.5" Charles Parker, a 3" Athol, a 4" DesmondSimplex, a 3" older Chas. Parker, and a decent Colombian.
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Apr 7, 2013 17:38
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You sure that isn't a jazz music collection you're talking about?
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Apr 7, 2013 20:30
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sharkytm posted:Jesus, don't buy a new vise. Unless you are spending $200+, you'll get an imported piece of crap that will break if you push it. Wow, thanks for the response. I kind of was thinking that all the new ones I see were poo poo. I don't see anything on the local craigslist with a blanket search for "vice" so maybe I'll have my dad look for a nice old one at a flea market.
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Apr 7, 2013 20:48
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I find that surprising, but check for "vise" as well.
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Apr 7, 2013 20:49
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kastein posted:I find that surprising, but check for "vise" as well. That's what I had been searching. Typo.  This sounds like a good one possibly. Any input? http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/tls/3698088123.html Edit: another Record vise it looks like. http://annarbor.craigslist.org/tls/3727440740.html Suburban Dad fucked around with this message at 20:59 on Apr 7, 2013 |
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Apr 7, 2013 20:55
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I am looking at buying the HF $350 rolling toolbox. I think we have a mailer coupon that makes it about $300, am I going to do better scouring the internet for a different coupon or should I just go for it? The next 'big' HF sale probably what, Memorial Day? I can't wait that long. The thing that swung me to the HF one was the large number of shallow drawers, it seems like Craftsman will only give me one or two shallows in the whole cabinet on most of them, and there's not much else local to cross-shop against. Splizwarf fucked around with this message at 21:25 on Apr 7, 2013 |
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Apr 7, 2013 21:22
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kastein posted:I find that surprising, but check for "vise" as well.
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Apr 7, 2013 21:50
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InitialDave posted:If you can find the equivalent in the US, I like my Clarke one, because it's made from steel rather than cast iron, so it won't crack when (ab)used: I saw a big old heavy duty vise at a garage sale on Saturday. I knew the type and have used them before. Shame I couldn't afford it 
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Apr 7, 2013 22:09
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I know you weren't calling that one heavy duty, but that picture isn't of a heavy-duty model. You can tell because of the "T" shaped jaws, there isn't any support under the ends of the jaws. You want "V" Shaped jaws. Concealed screw models are usually stronger than exposed screw. In your case, look for something from England or the US. In any case, most of the American companies went out of business and were bought by the Chinese (in name only) after they realized that the vises they made were basically a "buy one per family, and pass it down" sort of quality. It'd be like if Ford made cars that never wore out or needed to be replaced... Those Records look good, although the prices are higher than you'd pay a few years ago. Unluckily, pricing has really come up in the past year. In general, the advice given in that post from GJ is good: quote:Q:How can I tell if my vise is a cheap import? (note: I'm not talking about the GOOD vises that have been imported like Records) quote:Q: How much is this old vise worth? FYI: I paid $60 for both the Simplex and the Athol (which was basically unused)... that was a screaming deal. I paid $20 for the big Parker, but it has a crack under the dynamic jaw support (couldn't tell because of the rust and paint and dirt). That vise has been restored by me, and I love it, but its really not worth much thanks to the crack. The smaller Parker I got on eBay for $30, and its been brazed back together. I liked the design, and don't beat on it. I also have a 4" Monarch that I got at a yard sale for $10... another steal. Its in mint shape. The saddest thing is that the vise I use the most is an imported Larin that my father gave me when I moved out. Its a complete POS, but it was all I had when I built my bench, and thus, its the only one that's permanently mounted. An old picture:  Order: lovely Larin, Athol, Torco/Wilton (which I forgot about. $5 garage sale score), Simplex, and big Parker. And the Monarch: 
sharkytm fucked around with this message at 01:12 on Apr 8, 2013 |
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Apr 8, 2013 01:02
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sharkytm posted:I know you weren't calling that one heavy duty, but that picture isn't of a heavy-duty model. God no. I could make short work of that thing in a few minutes. Even the toothed bits on my F clamps are bent like bananas. Pretty sure I'd break the jaws off that vise in about 3 minutes flat. The one I saw at the garage sale is like none of those. It had serious meat around the jaws etc. It was a lot like the old ones the Dept. of Education used to equip in schools when they still cared about providing equipment. So 1950's vintage maybe? I mean most of the equipment I used in the science labs was WWII era. Wax paper boxes, vacuum tubes, Model T buzzers etc. etc. Most of the industrial arts stuff was the same vintage.
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Apr 8, 2013 01:20
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Yeah, I didn't think of just finding a properly made old vice, do that instead.
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Apr 8, 2013 09:41
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I think I'm going to go with the Eastwood 135A MIG Welder. It's only $300 and it has infinite voltage and wire feed settings. It gets very good reviews and it has a 3 year warranty. There is a distributor for Eastwood stuff in Essex so I won't have to worry about having it shipped to Canada. Eastwood also has a 175A model that includes a spool gun for $500 but it runs on 220. I'd really like to have that one but I am renting my house and I'm not sure how keen the owner would be to upgrade service to the garage.
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Apr 8, 2013 11:33
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bung posted:I think I'm going to go with the Eastwood 135A MIG Welder. It's only $300 and it has infinite voltage and wire feed settings. It gets very good reviews and it has a 3 year warranty. There is a distributor for Eastwood stuff in Essex so I won't have to worry about having it shipped to Canada. I was born on the wrong continent.
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Apr 8, 2013 13:31
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Splizwarf posted:I am looking at buying the HF $350 rolling toolbox. I think we have a mailer coupon that makes it about $300, am I going to do better scouring the internet for a different coupon or should I just go for it? This thread on another forum is pretty good for Harbor Freight coupons and whatnot, but from what I've seen regarding their larger items (compressors, tool storage, etc), you're pretty much stuck with their rarer coupons that pop up very seldomly. What's the item #, and is the coupon a reg, super, or ITC coupon? It rarely gets better than a super coupon for those items 
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Apr 8, 2013 16:22
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Splizwarf posted:I am looking at buying the HF $350 rolling toolbox. I think we have a mailer coupon that makes it about $300, am I going to do better scouring the internet for a different coupon or should I just go for it? Which one do you mean?
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Apr 8, 2013 22:14
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The one you can't get as separate top and bottom boxes. Honestly, I'd prefer just a good wide bottom box, but everything seems to have a few massive drawers instead of the thin ones that I want.
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Apr 8, 2013 22:48
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sharkytm posted:In any case, most of the American companies went out of business and were bought by the Chinese (in name only) after they realized that the vises they made were basically a "buy one per family, and pass it down" sort of quality. It'd be like if Ford made cars that never wore out or needed to be replaced...
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Apr 9, 2013 01:41
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Decided it would be more cost effective to start making my own penetrating fluid. http://www.ebay.com/itm/16oz-REUSABLE-REFILLABLE-MULTIPURPOSE-AEROSOL-SPRAY-CANISTER-SPRAY-TIP-SET-/380501608835 This is awesome.
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Apr 10, 2013 18:38
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Holy gently caress, you are my hero. I bet I can cut my brakleen usage by 3/4 with one of those. ... mind updating this thread after putting acetone/atf mix in it? I'm afraid the acetone might dissolve the seals or spray head, it tends to have that effect on a whole lot of synthetics.
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Apr 10, 2013 18:44
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That looks like a fantastic idea. As above can I'd be interested to know if it's ok to run acetone / atf mix through. I've found it generally ruins spray bottles after a fairly short period.
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Apr 10, 2013 18:46
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kastein posted:Holy gently caress, you are my hero. I bet I can cut my brakleen usage by 3/4 with one of those. Sure. I ordered a can just to see. I will go heavier on the ATF just to be easy on the heads. I imagine they have to make them relatively robust though. HF used to sell them, if you Google Harbor Freight 1102 the manual pops up but there is no mention on the website. I also have heard people having good success with hand pumps. http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...CFeZFMgodijoAjQ Ed China off Wheeler Dealers uses one of these very extensively throughout the show. I figured as to how many tips and tricks I have picked up off that show, I imagine that this sprayer will work well. He used it on one episode to clean rotors off, which I am taking a stab that he is using some form of brake cleaner on it.
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Apr 10, 2013 18:54
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I should try this with my $10 HVLP harbor freight paint gun
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Apr 10, 2013 19:01
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I use this for 50/50 acetone ATf. 3 bucks. http://www.harborfreight.com/8-oz-high-pressure-oiler-66350.html
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Apr 10, 2013 20:08
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I picked up the Eastwood 135 MIG welder today. I also got the "master welding kit" which consists of mig pliers, gloves, angle grinder, 3 flap discs, and an auto darkening hood. The distributor I found here in Canada charged the current US prices plus 4% exchange rate fee and the ridiculously high 13% sales tax. All you see here totalled $516 CAD.
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Apr 10, 2013 20:36
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When I learned how to weld auto-darkening hoods did not exist. I've never used one, are they as amazing as they sound?
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Apr 10, 2013 22:46
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Yes, doubly so if you are stick welding.
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Apr 10, 2013 22:55
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revmoo posted:When I learned how to weld auto-darkening hoods did not exist. I've never used one, are they as amazing as they sound? They're not astounding or anything (best for stick welding, to be honest), but they're pretty fabulous all around. I certainly don't like welding with a passive hood anymore unless I'm in the field. Certainly worth picking up one of the cheap ones from Harbor Freight or something.
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Apr 10, 2013 22:56
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Auto darkening masks are the poo poo. Mine has darkness, sensitivity and delay controls. If it wasn't for the lovely headband design on mine that broke and resists being patched I'd say it was perfect for me.
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Apr 10, 2013 22:57
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revmoo posted:When I learned how to weld auto-darkening hoods did not exist. I've never used one, are they as amazing as they sound? They are amazing. Get one - a good one.
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Apr 10, 2013 23:01
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The guy at the shop accidentally gave me the wide view hood instead of the normal one from the kit. The wide view makes a huge difference over the standard hood.
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Apr 10, 2013 23:15
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So one of the last things in my "portable tool setup" (not air) I need is a good torque wrench. Currently I'm using this fine specimen which has actually gotten me through quite a bit. It's done everything I've thrown at it from suspension to engine rebuilds. Problem is people laugh at it and it's not as accurate (easy to go over). Ideally I'd like a nicer click-style one, although the non-digital Craftsman one (which is on a nice sale) gets much worse reviews than the digital one which seems a little unnecessarily complicated but kind of cool. There's also this option which is maybe made by Snap-on? I like the idea of craftsman, because when it breaks I can take it in and get it replaced for free, rather than sending it out in the mail. That being said I'd rather it not break every month, like some of the reviews seem to indicate. Anyone have some sound advice?
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Apr 12, 2013 06:16
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What about a $20 clicker wrench from Harbor Freight? People have checked their accuracy and it's quite good, within +/-5% or so of where it should be. I haven't had any problems with mine.
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Apr 12, 2013 06:20
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