I have been slowly buying zombie people in preparation for the zombie apocalypse. That way I will be really prepared. I could start a zombie army or a zombie dance troop.
Harold Wray wrote:
I could start a zombie army or a zombie dance troop.
You could re-make Thriller! 😆
Conductor562 wrote:
You could re-make Thriller! 😆
LOL. I never thought of that. So much for my original idea. 🙁
Nah, Thriller would be just fine with a middle aged white man. You gotta think, when Thriller was made Michael Jackson was still black and still sporting his birth nose.
The Proto order arrived today! $400 doesn’t get you far with Proto….
Kinda bums you out when you spent that much and it comes in a box you couldn’t get 1 shoe in….
Wow! It’s glowing like the crown jewels. You can tell that’s quality. There is not one imperfection on them.
The combos are satin finish. I prefer satin on wrenches personally. They stay looking nice longer and you can hit them with a brass wire brush without them looking like shit. Full polished costs more and it’s scratched all to hell in no time.
Conductor562 wrote:
The combos are satin finish. I prefer satin on wrenches personally. They stay looking nice longer and you can hit them with a brass wire brush without them looking like shit. Full polished costs more and it’s scratched all to hell in no time.
Never liked satin finish, All polished for me… easier to clean and gleam like a diamond when all cleaned up
I use these
get the set on sale for like 49,99 lost of times during the year… can’t beat them for the money… I know lots of guys who even use them professionally
Some nice tools though, and I guess you don’t get much for 400 bucks haha
The only thing I need at this time is some nice ratcheting combination wrenches and a nice ratchet and some more impact rated sockets. I only have deep well sae right now I need to get both metric and shallow sae. I would be pretty set for what I work on. I would kill for some of the new fuel impact wrenches and the non fuel ratchets.
DR99 wrote:
The only thing I need at this time is some nice ratcheting combination wrenches and a nice ratchet and some more impact rated sockets. I only have deep well sae right now I need to get both metric and shallow sae. I would be pretty set for what I work on. I would kill for some of the new fuel impact wrenches and the non fuel ratchets.
Check out Tekton for your impact sockets. I got a set of shallows for review a few months back and they are very nice for the money. Tekton’s customer service is awesome! They warrant them for life and the warranty process is truly no hassle. The send out a replacement immediately, no questions asked! Seriously, they’re good sockets for the price.
Ratcheting combos are a little trickier. Gearwrench are pretty nice for the money, but they’re headed down the shitter. Rumor has it Apex is phasing out the Taiwanese models and making them in China. Already hearing complaints about them. Craftsman is the same story, Chinese crap. Blackhawk are nice, but considerably more expensive than what you’ll find Gearwrench and shit for. I’d watch eBay for a good used set of Blackhawks or Taiwan made GW’s. The new Proto spline drives are awesome! Best on the market IMO. A 15 piece set (5/16 – 1-1/4 will run you around $500. To rich for my blood, but if I needed them everyday it might be a different story.
07Sierra wrote:
Never liked satin finish, All polished for me… easier to clean and gleam like a diamond when all cleaned up
To each his own. Many manufacturers don’t offer a satin option. It’s really only prevalent with the industrial brands and Craftsman.
A bit of trivia for you. The 15 degree offset that became the industry standard for combination wrenches was introduced by the Plomb tool company in 1933 (Plomb became Proto in 1948).
Conductor562 wrote:
To each his own. Many manufacturers don’t offer a satin option. It’s really only prevalent with the industrial brands and Craftsman.
A bit of trivia for you. The 15 degree offset that became the industry standard for combination wrenches was introduced by the Plomb tool company in 1933 (Plomb became Proto in 1948).
The cheaper line of mastercraft wrenches are a satin finish, all the maximum line is all fully polished…
Conductor i am split, I love the full polish Kobalt you gave me, but then the non polish Danneraha era ones seem tougher then nails, Kobalt really made some quality stuff!!
ChaseRogers wrote:
Conductor i am split, I love the full polish Kobalt you gave me, but then the non polish Danneraha era ones seem tougher then nails, Kobalt really made some quality stuff!!
The quality of the 1st generation stuff was excellent. For awhile they were the best value in tools and far superior to the Craftsman offerings of the time. 2nd gen (Danaher) stuff was still nice but was pretty much identical to the Craftsman stuff which Danaher was also making at the time. They lost me at the 3rd gen. It’s not bad stuff, the ratchets are actually better, but the price point is too high for Asian import stuff. For what a nice Kobalt rat costs, I can shop around and get a Proto or SK for the same price. I still feel Kobalt is the best of the store brands, but still not what it once was.
Conductor562 wrote:
The quality of the 1st generation stuff was excellent. For awhile they were the best value in tools and far superior to the Craftsman offerings of the time. 2nd gen (Danaher) stuff was still nice but was pretty much identical to the Craftsman stuff which Danaher was also making at the time. They lost me at the 3rd gen. It’s not bad stuff, the ratchets are actually better, but the price point is too high for Asian import stuff. For what a nice Kobalt rat costs, I can shop around and get a Proto or SK for the same price. I still feel Kobalt is the best of the store brands, but still not what it once was.
I agree 100% and would you agree that Taiwan manufacturing is closer to USA made than china?
ChaseRogers wrote:
I agree 100% and would you agree that Taiwan manufacturing is closer to USA made than china?
Absolutely! Many modern Taiwan items are very, very, close to USA made items in terms of quality. I will buy the occasional Taiwanese item. Some Blackhawk items are Taiwan made and have given me very good service. The quality of Chinese items is better than it was 10 years ago, but still garbage. Taiwan and China represent 2 different market categories. Taiwan is offering quality on a budget, China is offering the cheapest possible pricepoint, quality be damned. Take Kobalt for example. The current Kobalt ratchets are very nice. The 3/8″ flex head is one of, if not the, smoothest ratchet I own. It’s made by a company called Rotar who makes ratchets under several names including Toptul, Titan, and God only knows how many others. Under the Titan name I can get a Rotar ratchet for under $20. Under the Kobalt name the same rat is $30+. At $15 it’s a killer ratchet, double that cost and it’s an Asian made ratchet at a USA price. No thanks. If I’m buying a Taiwan made item it’s to save money on an item I’m not going to use all the time and the current Kobalt pricing hinders that logic. In the interest of full disclosure, I’m fucking upset with Lowe’s anyway. They have all their Knipex, Channellock, Greenlee, etc on clearance right now. They are replacing them with Chinese made tools branded “Southwire” and charging at or near Knipex and Channellock prices for them. Southwire has been around a long time…making fucking wire! Not tools! Lowe’s found a name they could cash in on with an exclusivity agreement to keep prices close to what they are currently, and offering Chinese crap in return. They are treating their customers like morons, assuming you will buy whatever Chinese shit they put on the shelf, and making more money per unit for doing it. Fuck them. I don’t mind paying $25+ for high quality German or USA made pliers, but I do mind paying $25+ for Chinese shit.
Yeah i was really upset when I heard about that south wire, channellock green lee and knipnex were all good pro brands…. and the 3/8 flex head ratchet, I basically stole it, I found way back in a clearence shelf a kit that has the 3/8 flex head, 6 in extension 5/8 spark plug socket, and 13/16 spark plug socket, for……………………..$9.96!!!! I couldnt believe it it was a steal, I then go and see how much a flex head alone is and its 30+ makes no sence but it was a steal, I will review it soon…
I thought they didn’t want to carry the premium brands because of the price the average homeowner has a limit on how much they are going to spend on a tool. Lowes is insane in thinking they can charge that much for poor a lesser quality tool.
So Conductor, did you buy anything else yet?
Harold Wray wrote:
So Conductor, did you buy anything else yet?
Yes Sir! Got a set of Blackhawk 6 pt. flare nut wrenches in SAE and Metric because why the hell not? lol. I’ll try and post them tonight. Also bought another pair of 386 Channellocks after the previous pair vanished, an old Klein hacksaw at an antique mall for $2!, and a 7 piece Proto metric crowfoot wrenches for $15 on eBay. Will try to post them all.
Conductor562 wrote:
Yes Sir! Got a set of Blackhawk 6 pt. flare nut wrenches in SAE and Metric because why the hell not? lol. I’ll try and post them tonight. Also bought another pair of 386 Channellocks after the previous pair vanished, an old Klein hacksaw at an antique mall for $2!, and a 7 piece Proto metric crowfoot wrenches for $15 on eBay. Will try to post them all.
Thats a good deal for the crows feet!
Yes it was. They usually run $10-$15 per wrench.
Sorry for the delay on the pics. The Wi-Fi is jacked and trying to upload on an iPhone is just a pain in the ass.
Since my last update I got a set of Knipex 8″ mini bolt cutters, a 2 1/2 ton long reach floor jack from HF, and a 12 ton bottle jack. Then I got a wild hair up my ass and talked my dad into going in with me on a 12′ x 7′ trailer to haul my new tractor around on. It’s square tube construction with a powder coated frame, and has a 3,000 lb. rating on both the trailer and the loading gate. My dad decided to help me out and paid $1200 of the $1500 price and Christmas came on August 1st. Now I’m buying up heavy duty ratchet straps, a tongue mounted tool box, a winch, and God knows what else. Clearly I’ve over spent my budget. I’ll have to cash in 2 or 3 vacation days to get my compressor, but hey, you only live once. Right?
Oh, and I also picked up an 8 ton bottle jack to throw in the trailer box.
I promise I’ll get some pics up tomorrow guys 🙂
Wow! Check out Stacy David’s GEARZ episode, I think you would be interested in this setuphttp://staceydavid.com/episodes/trailer-towing-and-modification
Watch the videos to the right of the screen, its a cool setup.
Pretty awesome trailor!
Conductor562 wrote:
Pretty awesome trailor!
That is my dream trailer haha Yeah He’s ready for about type of thing you can haul haha, What kind of winch did you get and where are you mounting it?
ChaseRogers wrote:
That is my dream trailer haha Yeah He’s ready for about type of thing you can haul haha, What kind of winch did you get and where are you mounting it?
I just went with a 1 ton, geared, hand crank wench. I won’t use the trailer all the time and didn’t want to have to fool with keeping a battery charged and stuff.
Conductor562 wrote:
I just went with a 1 ton, geared, hand crank wench. I won’t use the trailer all the time and didn’t want to have to fool with keeping a battery charged and stuff.
Yeah I couldnt imagine the feeling you would get when you go to use your winch and your battery is dead…..
Here are my Blachawk Flare Nut Wrenches:
Here are the Proto Crowfoot wrenches. I plan to add a few sizes shortly. All look new with the exception of the 16mm which is clearly heavily used.
Here a couple of Proto DOE’s I got for free:
Here are the Knipex 8″ Mini bolt cutters and the 386’s:
And here is the Trailer. I haven’t put any of the stuff on it yet, but I did put a coat of water sealer on the floor:
That are Very nice Conductor!!! Your trailer is great!! You will get a lot of years out of that.
Nice stuff conductor!, will you be able to keep the trailer at your house?
ChaseRogers wrote:
Nice stuff conductor!, will you be able to keep the trailer at your house?
Yea. I’ve got a 5×8 I’ll keep to use for a farm trailer, but I can hide it out back of the property somewhere.
Thanks Chase, after your little Proto Clik Stop tease I had to order a set. The 6″ was ordered separately and hasn’t arrived yet.
Conductor562 wrote:
Thanks Chase, after your little Proto Clik Stop tease I had to order a set. The 6″ was ordered separately and hasn’t arrived yet.
Proto Click Stop 1.jpg
Proto Clik Stop 2.jpg
No problem Conductor!! Those look great!
Those are nice!
Got a Mac gasket cutter set off eBay today. Won’t use it everyday, but handy nonetheless…
You are going to own the most tools of anyone. I guess you win.
Harold Wray wrote:
You are going to own the most tools of anyone. I guess you win.
My goal in life has always been that when I die my kids walk into my garage and say “what the hell are we going to do with all this shit?”
Tools are an addiction. I have come to realize that I’m getting to the point where there aren’t many items in which I have the knowledge and skill to use, but do not have. My laptop took a dirt nap which required me to spend $1100 I hadn’t accounted for thus putting a damper on my plan to get the new mig and plasma cutter. No biggie, I’ll just have to wait a bit.
“My goal in life has always been that when I die my kids walk into my garage and say “what the hell are we going to do with all this shit?”
That’s awesome
Conductor562 wrote:
Got a Mac gasket cutter set off eBay today. Won’t use it everyday, but handy nonetheless…
Mac GC 1.jpg
Mac GC 2.jpg
Mac? What happened, Proto does not make these?
. Funny. Conductor is the Proto guy.ChaseRogers wrote:
Mac? What happened, Proto does not make these?
Well either conductors kids are going be appreciate all of the nice hand tools passed down to them, or they are atleast they are going to have a nice chunk of money after selling the tools. That’s the nice thing about hand tools and corded tools they really never become obsolete. Yea,the only thing I have bought recently is the Knipex and greenlee tools that Lowes was getting rid of
DR99 wrote:
Well either conductors kids are going be appreciate all of the nice hand tools passed down to them, or they are atleast they are going to have a nice chunk of money after selling the tools. That’s the nice thing about hand tools and corded tools they really never become obsolete. Yea,the only thing I have bought recently is the Knipex and greenlee tools that Lowes was getting rid of
What did you steal from lows haha? Some of those deals were great!
I got the 5 piece set, mini bolt cutters, 2 linesmen pliers, wire cutter and some other stuff.
Clearance sales are awesome. Glad you guys are back. The forum has been a little slow lately. I’ll have some good posts starting next week when the re-model begins.
Here is a photo of the stuff I was able to get.
That’s a fine spread of Knipex DR. I love the mini bolt cutters. I used mine the other day to cut the metal transition for my moms tile. Worked like a charm.
Really nice stuff DR. Like you said, nice hand tools never become obsolete.
I was going to ask you and Conductor what you use your mini bolt cutters for. I thought just for getting out of jail. 🙂
Conductor562 wrote:
Clearance sales are awesome. Glad you guys are back. The forum has been a little slow lately. I’ll have some good posts starting next week when the re-model begins.
Yeah I have been busy lately with school.