Do it yourself

Quote: Face

I totally know what you mean. I've snapped a few cheap tools that looked to be chrome-moly, but the insides were like nougat. Just a weird, dull, porous material. Granted, I almost never snap wrenches and only have bent a few, but you can absolutely feel it. There's a spongey-ness in the junk ones. Still, I'm not above using the junk where they're concerned. I save all the "free" no-name ones that come with desk and chairs or other stuff where assembly is required. I usually use them as "disposables". When I need to pry, it's those types of screwdrivers I use. When I weld, it's those pliers I use. And when I'm gonna hammer and crank the s#$% out of something, I grab those wrenches. And they're a good stand in if you've lent out or temporarily lost your good one. I wouldn't say they're a go-to and they're certainly not worth buying, but to me they do have value.

My dad always said the old "buy good tools once" thing even after I became an adult got older (lol.) I have tried to explain to him that there are times a cheap tool is needed. Like the repair kit for a car or boat. You hope to never use them, but for a a pinch why spend huge cash.

I spent something like $20+ for a made-in-USA hammer at THD while redoing the house. It is nice, one forged piece with a rubber cover on the handle. It just feels so much better, again hard to describe until one feels the difference.

Quote:

Sockets I refuse to settle. I've busted so many sockets it's laughable. And they were made of the same metal nougat b.s. If I bust a socket, you know I've already tried, and pried, and heated, and pounded, and got out the breaker bar. So when one goes, I'm already waaaaay past losing my patience. It's never pretty when I break a socket =p Quality brand name only for those

Memory lane time here. My dad came by a 1947 Cadillac with a 346 Flathead that no longer ran. He bought an impact wrench at a hardware store (this was before Blue Boys and Agent Orange were around) which was no use. So he borrowed a real good one from work. It was then I learned how the Craftsman guarantee worked. I think I had to walk to Sears three times that day for the sockets he should not have been using and cracked. Cleared them off the shelf by the time we were done.




I'll have to pay attention. There's a constant ad on my country station for cordless tools. I remember it was a quality brand, and they advertise that their battery design hasn't and won't ever change, so when they go, you can be certain you can get replacements easy. I remember thinking "that's my next set". I'll pay attention and report back.

When I went to auctions every weekend
in the 80's, there were a couple old guys
who would buy old Craftsman tools for
almost nothing and turn them into Sears
for new ones.

Sometime between 2000 and 2005, I was outside working on my car in Vegas and one of these kids (like the kind that sell magazine subscriptions) wanted me to buy a screwdriver with the removable tips that are stored around the base of it.

I looked at it, and pretty much was thinking this is junk, because it was the first time I either saw one (or at least handled one). But I have to say, I got my $5 worth out of the new fangled screwdriver. It worked as designed and didn't break on me. Definitely an improvement for typical screwdriver needs.

Quote: rxwine

Sometime between 2000 and 2005, I was outside working on my car in Vegas and one of these kids (like the kind that sell magazine subscriptions) wanted me to buy a screwdriver with the removable tips that are stored around the base of it.

I looked at it, and pretty much was thinking this is junk, because it was the first time I either saw one (or at least handled one). But I have to say, I got my $5 worth out of the new fangled screwdriver. It worked as designed and didn't break on me. Definitely an improvement for typical screwdriver needs.

Those are good for around-the-house stuff. Tightening a drawer handle, replacing a cupboard door, dismantling electronics. But never take them outside or you'll lose the bits, and never use them on anything outdoors, because they can't handle the torque needed on oxidized fasteners. Oh, and don't pry. Even a paint can is risking a failure =p

You want quality tools, just go to 3-4
Saturday farm auctions. They auction
off tools by the handful and box. Pick
out the good ones leave the rest there.
Before long you've got good tools for a
fraction on the price new.

I need somewhere to get the specialty stuff. Stuff like lathes and routers and presses and MIGs. All the basics I already have covered, either by purchase or hand-me-down.

Mama's going estate saling on Saturday. I gave her a list =)

Quote: Face

I need somewhere to get the specialty stuff. Stuff like lathes and routers and presses and MIGs. All the basics I already have covered, either by purchase or hand-me-down.

Mama's going estate saling on Saturday. I gave her a list =)

Check the auctions in your area. Look
online, all places have a central page
where they list upcoming auctions.
You'll be amazed at what you can buy
for a low price. They'll have a lathe and
it will go cheap because everybody there
has one already. Presses, band saws,
table saws, the old ladies can't wait to
get rid of the old mans crap when he kicks
the bucket.

It's addicting. I have a buddy who's been
going for 20 years and has a barn full of
3 of everything, stuff he'll never use. Great
to borrow stuff from, though. Still got the
12' stepladder I borrowed last year to change
the bulbs in the barn.

On stepladders, I have one that folds up. When I asked for a Christmas gift I asked for one. It turned out to be one of those gifts that was so practical my brother and brother-in-law ended up with one.

But on to other things. A question.

What does anyone know about drill presses? I am looking at them, mostly on CL or at HF. They are one of those tools that you may rarely use but when you use them there is no substitute. A drill press is one of the ones of those that I do not have and cannot borrow. Any features I need to look for? I will get a benchtop one that I can slide behind the band saw, which fits the same when you need it profile. Both will sit to one side of the workbench and slide out when needed.

Are you aware that there are woodworking clubs in many cities?

They have all the cool tools that a guy would love to have "once in a while". Lots of skills and knowledge, mostly guys. I have a friend who visited one in Vegas and said if was great.

They have big saws that will cut 4x9 sheets easily and accurately, dust collection systems. Maybe worth checking out?

http://woodworkingclubs.com/

Or if metal is your thing, I'm sure they have those as well.

When I used a press, it was wonderful. But it is easy to go years without needing one?

Quote: petroglyph

When I used a press, it was wonderful. But it is easy to go years without needing one?

I put new bearings in my racer before I took it to the track.

200 miles later and they have a half inch of play.

Yeah... I'd use a press quite often indeed. Plus it's such a savings on labor cost, it'd pay for itself a lot sooner than many tools.