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Easy. My Tekton impact sockets. They have gotten me out of so many jams that if they were to break tomorrow they wouldn't owe me a dime. I used to strip so much rusted garbage with my cheapo True Value house brand sockets.
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Jan 20, 2016 23:42
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For me it's the plain old F80 ratchet. Not too short, not too long, nice and tight 80 tooth mechanism; I use it for everything.
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Jan 21, 2016 01:52
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kastein posted:I don't have just one, but if I had to choose, it'd be my snapon 312cp long reach/high leverage diagonal cutters. My favorite is actually the same tool, except not SnapOn branded. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B21CGN0 Picked it up a couple weeks ago and it became an instant favorite. I never knew how often I needed something like that. Beyond that, its the Milwaukee M12 3/8 ratchet. My wrists are really messed up and it saves so much repetitive movement. I really can't survive without the M18 fuel 3/8 impact and the big fuel 1/2 either, though. e: Knipex Orbis pliers are also the poo poo. You can never have too many weird-shaped pliers. Hypnolobster fucked around with this message at 02:20 on Jan 21, 2016 |
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Jan 21, 2016 02:15
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These are probably my favorite. I love being able to have two wrenchs on me and do 99% of jobs. Sure its not as good as one normal wrench thats the right size, but when you're under the car its a lot better than going to the tool box. http://www.amazon.com/GearWrench-85...rwrench+quadbox These would be my second favorite. They make working on hoses deep in the engine bay a dream. http://www.amazon.com/GearWrench-82...+2x+needle+nose
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Jan 21, 2016 03:32
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A buddy of mine is an electrician. He spilled something on a multimeter, and rather than gently caress with it, he bought a new one. I threw out the "New Leader" batteries and popped in three new AAAs and bam, brand new Klein CL200. Nicest meter I've ever owned.
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Jan 21, 2016 06:14
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Knipex pliers wrench.
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Jan 21, 2016 09:38
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My favorite tool is my Knipex large-diameter insulation removal tool. I bought it after once too many times having stabbed my left hand with my sidecutters. My uncle, an electrician for four decades, is a loving artist with just sidecutters, but I'm not. Enter the Knipex KPX1630135. It's not cheap, but by Senna it's awesome!  Here's a video showing how it works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaCb8mBVfsQ
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Jan 21, 2016 11:22
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Hypnolobster posted:My favorite is actually the same tool, except not SnapOn branded. That looks like it's probably the same factory producing them as the ones HF sells. They're... alright, I guess. Not hardened as well as the Snapon ones, and the cutting edges are a lot more "rustic" (for lack of a better term), along with most of the rest of the design. They'll do 80% as well 95% of the time, I've used both. Having owned the snapon ones for free for 3.5 years now, though, I'll probably buy another set if I can't get these ones warrantied. That knipex cable stripping tool is nifty, but I'm not sure I'd use one much, requires lots of working space. It appears that Greenlee has an equivalent, also.
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Jan 21, 2016 20:09
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Since I'm going to have a garage again soon I've been thinking about going mostly airless and getting Milwaukee/other vendor's battery based tools. Pros/Cons?
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Jan 21, 2016 20:15
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Wrar posted:Since I'm going to have a garage again soon I've been thinking about going mostly airless and getting Milwaukee/other vendor's battery based tools.
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Jan 21, 2016 20:26
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I went with Bosch's 12V drill and impact system and it's great for its tiny size, but I do feel a bit limited in that they don't have anything else beyond drivers. I would definitely check out some of the nicer 18v+ systems like from Milwaukee.
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Jan 21, 2016 20:33
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mod sassinator posted:I went with Bosch's 12V drill and impact system and it's great for its tiny size, but I do feel a bit limited in that they don't have anything else beyond drivers. I would definitely check out some of the nicer 18v+ systems like from Milwaukee.
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Jan 21, 2016 20:45
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Krakkles posted:Milwaukee is fantastic. I've had good luck with Bosch as well, but I've got more Milwaukee and feel more strongly that it's a really great system. Makita or Milwaukee in my opinion. I'm a Makita guy, but the Milwaukee tools are pretty drat good, and more of them are available in brushless. Makita has a better selection, however.
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Jan 21, 2016 23:23
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I have both Bosch and Milwaukee stuff and I'd definitely go Milwaukee. The 18v Bosch stuff has OK selection, but Milwaukee at both voltages seems to have way more. The quality for either seems pretty equivalent. Edit: one nice thing about Milwaukee is that the chargers do 12v and 18v at the same time. Great for me since I have 12v drills and ratchet and then 18v impact wrench.
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Jan 21, 2016 23:27
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I will say that now that I have a mix of Milwaukee M12 and M18 tools - I actually wish I had started off with just M12. It's nearly as powerful for what I do, and so much lighter / easier in the hands than the M18. I jumped to the M18 stuff because I was used to old cheap NiCad ~14-18V tools being still kinda poo poo.
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Jan 21, 2016 23:59
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Milwaukee has better selection, they are absolutely flooding the market with a ton of tools like Dewalt did in the early '00's. Makita makes the better tool, just not as many of them. I got to try all of their 36 volt 2 pack stuff out last week, holy poo poo is it ever awesome, the demo hammer and blower are crazy powerful. They are planning some nice cordless finish nailers as well. Picked up a couple of their 4 stroke hot saws today, will give a run down when I see them...
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Jan 22, 2016 05:13
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My favourite tool has to be my Koken 1/4" ratchet. Bought 8 years ago when I started a trade. I've put ridiculous amounts of torque through the little bastard and still going strong. Then there's the time I lost it, quoted $70 to replace it so I bought a cheap replacement composite and broke that. The Koken then turns up after someone emptied to drain pan from the wheel loader I was working on. After two weeks in oil I may never have to lube it up again.
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Jan 22, 2016 05:22
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I think Makita has more variety in their 18v line than Techtronic(Milwaukee), though you don't see most of it in physical stores. Over the holidays I picked up a Makita 18v shop light (freaking fantastic) and brushless weed trimmer I'm pretty excited about, and there are literally hundreds of other tools on their LXT line. If you can think of it, they've probably got a cordless version. Plus they've stuck with their battery form factor for years and years, which is great for longevity. Honestly, whoever you go with, I doubt you'd see a difference around the house. You might check out Hitachi stuff too, if you're looking for a budget alternative. Not as great overall selection, but you're probably not looking for a battery powered drywall screw gun, trim nailer, or battery powered chainsaw anyways. Also, battery powered impact wrench is the best thing ever.... Never quite realized how much I hated dicking with air hose and charging the compressor till I didn't have to do it anymore
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Jan 22, 2016 05:35
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OSU_Matthew posted:I think Makita has more variety in their 18v line than Techtronic(Milwaukee), though you don't see most of it in physical stores. Over the holidays I picked up a Makita 18v shop light (freaking fantastic) and brushless weed trimmer I'm pretty excited about, and there are literally hundreds of other tools on their LXT line. If you can think of it, they've probably got a cordless version. Plus they've stuck with their battery form factor for years and years, which is great for longevity. http://makitatools.com/en-us/Modules/Tools/LXTAdvantage/FullLineUp.aspx I disagree about the difference "around the house". Craftsman batteries don't last more than 2-3 years in my experience, ditto with B&D, Ryobi, PorterCable, or any bottom-tier brand. I'd rank DeWalt, Rigid, and Hitachi as middle-of-the-road for various reasons. Bosch is slightly higher, but limited selection and high prices aren't winning them any favor. Makita, Milwaukee, or Metabo if you're international... I know Ryobi gets a lot of hate, but the 1+ system has been around for a decade or more, and they're cheap as gently caress. We used them during boatbuilding because the fiberglass dust got into everything and ruined it. Ryobi's lasted as long as anyone else's tools, and were 1/2 the price. Batteries interchange with old stuff, the new chargers will charge the old stuff. It's a solid choice for a weekend warrior on a budget.
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Jan 22, 2016 06:14
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I'm still happy with my ryobi stuff, I just wish the 1+ mower was a reasonably price, it's nearly 400 quid. I'll live with petrol thanks. I've started to see a lot more Milwaukee kit appear in the shops here but it's so expensive, like twice the price of dewalt etc. Literally £420 for the 18v impact. Without battery and charger.
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Jan 22, 2016 09:42
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The one+ whipper-snipper is pretty great, it's really not designed for tall people though. I recently bought the circular saw as well and that thing is so much nicer to use than the corded ozito we've got as well. So nice to be able to grab it and cut something out in the shed instead of having to run an extension cord.
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Jan 22, 2016 12:54
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sharkytm posted:http://makitatools.com/en-us/Modules/Tools/LXTAdvantage/FullLineUp.aspx Love the tools, hate the shortsighted warranty weaseling they pulled on me. I think I have cost them enough in negative referrals and lost referrals now though. Hope they enjoyed that 10 to 15k in lost business because they decided to gently caress me out of my warranty on a 60 dollar pair of batteries. I don't think I'll ever buy one of their batteries again (mostly since I gutted one of my non warrantied batteries and hooked it to a 7Ah belt-mounted lead acid pack that runs forever and a day for less than a new nicad pack would have cost) but their tool line is great, I gotta admit. REGISTER YOUR poo poo ON THEIR STUPID SITE AND JUMP THROUGH THEIR STUPID HOOPS.
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Jan 23, 2016 02:56
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Rigid is worse. Register immediately, hope they don't gently caress up the registration, wait 3-5 weeks for confirmation, and then be prepared to send back everything that uses the batteries (charger, tools, etc) if a battery dies. Apparently, they've loosened up a bit, but they asked me to send in the entire kit we had at my old job. gently caress them.
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Jan 23, 2016 03:43
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I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that skipping the air compressor and going for a solid lithium setup is fine then?
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Jan 23, 2016 05:09
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For most things, sure. Nothing beats air for truly stuck things or versatility, but I've had fantastic luck with Hitachi battery impact tools.
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Jan 23, 2016 05:58
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Speaking of dumping air, are there any decent finish nailers that run off batteries? I'm looking for something to do simple box/cabinet assembly so it just needs to drive small brads or nails. Hoping for something that leaves a nice clean hole with minimum of marring.
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Jan 23, 2016 08:47
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mod sassinator posted:Speaking of dumping air, are there any decent finish nailers that run off batteries? I'm looking for something to do simple box/cabinet assembly so it just needs to drive small brads or nails. Hoping for something that leaves a nice clean hole with minimum of marring. Paslode Impulse guns. Combination of propane and electricity, they work drat well.
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Jan 23, 2016 13:02
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mod sassinator posted:Speaking of dumping air, are there any decent finish nailers that run off batteries? I'm looking for something to do simple box/cabinet assembly so it just needs to drive small brads or nails. Hoping for something that leaves a nice clean hole with minimum of marring. Most brands have have nailers or are about too so you can pretty much just choose which system you like the best. I haven't heard anything really negative about the ones on the market. Personally I've got the ryobi 18 gauge brad nailer and love it to death.
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Jan 23, 2016 13:30
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One thing i like bout milwaukee is the batteries have the capacity gauge on them, not the tool. Means you dont wind up battling your way to a far corner of your ceiling, drilling one hole and your "Full" battery dies. Saves you un needed wear on your tools throwing them in frustration :P
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Jan 23, 2016 13:31
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Ferremit posted:One thing i like bout milwaukee is the batteries have the capacity gauge on them, not the tool. Means you dont wind up battling your way to a far corner of your ceiling, drilling one hole and your "Full" battery dies. Saves you un needed wear on your tools throwing them in frustration :P The battery indictor is the one thing I really wish Makita would have. They're starting to implement it now, but it's on the tool, not the battery. Rigid had it on the battery, and that was mighty convenient.
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Jan 23, 2016 16:06
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mod sassinator posted:Speaking of dumping air, are there any decent finish nailers that run off batteries? I'm looking for something to do simple box/cabinet assembly so it just needs to drive small brads or nails. Hoping for something that leaves a nice clean hole with minimum of marring. Robin has a few that are 18v cordless. Probably worth a look on Craigslist instead of buying new.
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Jan 23, 2016 17:43
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Ryobi has a series called the Airstrike. They work pretty well, and don't break the bank. The Paslode propane nailers used to be the best, but I'd do battery over propane nowadays.
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Jan 23, 2016 18:43
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Senco makes cordless finish guns. I have their 15 and 18ga, they work fine. They aren't as beefy as a Hitachi gun but it's not bad. Dewalt also makes (made?) a 16 GA cordless gun on their old 18 volt platform.
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Jan 23, 2016 22:21
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Finally picked up a pair of Astro Pneumatic Hose Clamp Pliers, and I really have no idea how I got by before these things--definitely my new favorite specialty tool! Such an ingenious design, I've always hated futzing with hose clamps, trying to squeeze them while moving hoses on and off, but this really simplifies everything by several orders of magnitude, especially hard to reach clamps. Anyone here change their own tires? Is it worthwhile to pick up the equipment to DIY that, or is it such a pain and hassle that I'm better off sticking with shops? I just got new tires, but I saved the best one to buy a junkyard wheel so I can have a full size spare. I've manually changed out my motorcycle tires before, but I'm not sure just how involved car tires are. Is something like the 50$ tire changer at harbor freight a good buy, or would I need multi thousand dollar shop equipment to do a good job?
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Jan 26, 2016 15:44
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You can do it by hand, and I've done so 6 or 7 times, but leave it to a shop unless you are dead broke or stuck in the woods with a blown tire and a spare that isn't on a wheel... because you can't balance them afterwards anyways, so you're going to either be using balancing beads or bringing them into the same shop for balancing. Breaking the beads sucks, seating the beads sucks, and wrestling the tire on/off the wheel with tire spoons sucks too.
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Jan 26, 2016 17:13
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I've got that exact same set of pliers, and yeah it's loving awesome. Kastein hit it on the head, that is one job that is almost universally better off left to the people who do it all day every day.
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Jan 26, 2016 17:27
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Anyone still have that link for cheap RX safety glasses? I remember them being around 40 bucks.
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Jan 26, 2016 20:18
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Mcqueen posted:Anyone still have that link for cheap RX safety glasses? I remember them being around 40 bucks. These are the glasses I use. I wound up paying $60. http://www.rx-safety.com/
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Jan 26, 2016 20:44
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EDIT: ^^^ Those look so much nicer, which makes sense for the more money you pay. Also, whoa! http://www.rx-safety.com/prescription-safety-glasses/bluetooth-safety-glasses/bonsayon-prescription-bluetooth-safety-glasses-s302-rx.html ^^^Mcqueen posted:Anyone still have that link for cheap RX safety glasses? I remember them being around 40 bucks. $40? Look at Mr. Big Spender! Zenni Optical has two pairs for $20-$25: http://www.zennioptical.com/glasses...ble%20Rx%20Lens|6 Uthor fucked around with this message at 20:49 on Jan 26, 2016 |
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Jan 26, 2016 20:45
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Uthor posted:EDIT: ^^^ Those look so much nicer, which makes sense for the more money you pay. They ain't exactly pretty, no matter how you slice it. 
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Jan 26, 2016 20:50
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