Tools: Member involvement appreciated

[squawberryman]

I just wanna know what you did with all the stuff that was on top for the photo? Don't say there wasn't anything, the floor under the box gives you away. Give a man a clean horizontal surface and I'll, I mean he'll fill it up.

[kings6]

Dec 24, 2019 19:04:32 GMT -5 cas said:

Think I may have posted this once.



This was the smaller of the two we had, I don't know where the bigger one went, must have been loaned out and never returned. We used to use it for changing valves on the pump trucks.

I had the same sized pipe wrench for the exact same purpose when I ran the septic trucks. You don’t just reach in a toolbox drawer and grab a wrench that fits on the flange of a 6” septic discharge valve when it’s time to rebuild it.

[matt56]

May 13, 2020 4:54:14 GMT -5 squawberryman said:

I just wanna know what you did with all the stuff that was on top for the photo? Don't say there wasn't anything, the floor under the box gives you away. Give a man a clean horizontal surface and I'll, I mean he'll fill it up.

Believe me, it’s all junked up now along with my work bench. You can tell when I’m not busy, that’s when pics like that get taken

[squawberryman]

I have two battery chargers and one battery tester. I have a number of batteries, and dead batteries usually fall under my buddy Scott's category of "A clear case of over maintenance". This little thing right here has taught never to say never on a battery. On two occasions now when my solid state charger that has 2 amp and 15 amp settings says it's dead, and my Snap On tester says it's dead, this thing has brought them back to life. One battery took three days. The charger itself got so hot a couple of times I unplugged it for a rest. The battery did not get hot. I like this charger, it has saved me money.

[Rimfire69]

I’ve had the same one for a few years now, it’s rarely not hooked up to something. Wonderful unit, hook it up and forget about it for weeks or even months. Sure a nice way to have everything charged up for spring, you just have to remember to move it once in a while.

[seancass]

Knipex wrenches are worth the money!
Center of picture are the Cobra Water Pump Pliers. Think of these as a pipe wrench: They're directional. The teeth are hardened so they GRAB.
Left of picture are the Pliers Wrench. Think of these as an adjustable wrench. They're also directional but only because the leverage against the jaws works better one way vs the other. Thanks to the clamping, these are BETTER than a wrench of the same length, as long as you have room for them.
The interesting part of both plier types is the way they "lock". Once you put a load on them, you don't have to squeeze. Either plier: Put it on, squeeze it, start turning, and it doesn't work against your grip: You can push on it with an open palm to protect knuckles.
I was sold on the pliers-wrench when it grabbed a soft, partially-rounded brake line fitting and turned it right out. Instantly worth every penny.
Far right, Flush Cuts. I love flush cuts. Never cut the end off a zip-tie without them! Your arms will thank you someday.
Leatherman Free, for scale, because those small pliers are small.

[jgt]

I like small pliers like those. They are just the right tool for some jobs.

[squawberryman]

I've picked up Knipex at garage sales for a song.

[matt56]

I’ve got some knipex side cutters I keep in the boat for line and the occasional hook. Very well made pliers, too nice to leave in the garage

[seancass]

Truck kit.
I needed Knipex with me everywhere, so in the truck they go. Indisposable. Might as well add some more kit.
Every kit needs a screwdriver. Save space with a multi-driver. But I'll have 'Merican, if you please. A made in USA driver? Never heard of it. These are usually cheapo junk! This one is Channelock, says Made in USA right on it. Fantastic quality too!
A kit needs a light, so you can see what you're doing. You can just see the band of a Streamlight headlamp. So far, so good. very bright.
One needs to make his mark. A Markzall will do the job here.
Not shown is a cutter. One needs side-cuts as well as a one-way cutter, a Knife.
Today, I bought a knife. It'll be on my person, possibly along with a multitool.
See previous post. A multitool is a compromise of a lot of better tools, except you have a bad version of each of them. Mediocre pliers, cutters, file, and knife. Alone, you wouldn't tolerate any of them. But in a pocket-sized package, it's a welcome addition to the kit.
I run leatherman. Wingman, Wave, and Free. Great tools and I hope I'm never without one when i need it.

[seancass]

I forgot to mention in the post above: Cheap electronics murder batteries. The old maglight always turns on, but the free light from harbor freight is dead in two weeks. There's more to that example, but the point is really cheap electronics don't always turn off when you turn them 'off'.

It took me a long time to stop using cheap pen-lights and finally buy a decent light. Much more powerful and the batteries last longer.

It's the reason i ponied up for a Streamlight for this kit. My other two headlamps ate their batteries while sitting in a drawer. That won't do for a truck kit. Time will tell if i paid for performance, or just a name I'd heard of.

[junebug]

I always have a tool bag in the truck but didn't have enough Saturday morning. Blew a tire on the trailer, o dark thirty no lug wrench,its at home[dumb a%$ mistake.Son was running behind me and stopped, we broke three ratchets trying to brake lugs lose,never let someone put your lugs on with an air gun. Got it changed with some improvisation,lesson learned ,bought another 4 way goes in trailer box with jack. Now to replace some chewed up lugnuts.

[squawberryman]

I'll get a pic of a forged 4 way tomorrow.

[bushog]

Nov 15, 2020 21:25:05 GMT -5 seancass said:

Truck kit.
I needed Knipex with me everywhere, so in the truck they go. Indisposable. Might as well add some more kit.
Every kit needs a screwdriver. Save space with a multi-driver. But I'll have 'Merican, if you please. A made in USA driver? Never heard of it. These are usually cheapo junk! This one is Channelock, says Made in USA right on it. Fantastic quality too!
A kit needs a light, so you can see what you're doing. You can just see the band of a Streamlight headlamp. So far, so good. very bright.
One needs to make his mark. A Markzall will do the job here.
Not shown is a cutter. One needs side-cuts as well as a one-way cutter, a Knife.
Today, I bought a knife. It'll be on my person, possibly along with a multitool.
See previous post. A multitool is a compromise of a lot of better tools, except you have a bad version of each of them. Mediocre pliers, cutters, file, and knife. Alone, you wouldn't tolerate any of them. But in a pocket-sized package, it's a welcome addition to the kit.
I run leatherman. Wingman, Wave, and Free. Great tools and I hope I'm never without one when i need it.

Where'd you get that little pack?

[squawberryman]

The Knipex pliers are 28 bucks on amazon, I know. So thanks Bushog for the pac question.