Archived from the Tools In Action forum (Power Tools). This thread is read-only.
So guys I never introduced myself properly. I’m an eighteen-year-old guy, senior in high school, still living at my parent’s home. I’m from central/eastern Washington. No, I’m not talking about D.C. I’m talking about the state. I know many of you think Washington is rainy all the time and made out of Starbucks stores. That is true for the west side of the cascade mountains. The east and west are polar opposites in both climate and political views. I live in the basin which is technically a desert (less than 10″ of rain annually). We got cold winters and climb above 100 regularly in the summer without seeing any rain between May and September.
I come from a construction background. I grew up around and with tools. Since I could walk I spent time “helping” my dad at work. I have done a lot of little jobs here and there while growing up. I didn’t really start buying tools until I bought a project vehicle when I was fifteen. What was going to be a leaky radiator replacement quickly spiraled out of control and became a complete rebuild of the whole truck. It has given me some experience in the automotive field and working with hand tools. When I tore it down I had next to no tools. I used a concrete stake hammered through the oil filter to take it off. My first real tool purchase was a proto torque wrench, which led to another torque wrench, which led to my addiction. I currently have grown a collection that exceeds most.
About two and a half years ago I got a job with an agriculture company. It has given me experience in many fields (both uses of the word) and requires me to adapt quickly to new trades. I do some electrical, plumbing, construction, concrete, remodeling, animal husbandry, fabrication, welding, equipment repair, facility maintenance, operate heavy construction equipment, drive semi’s, and sometimes some tractor work in the summers. It is good work and allows me to put my tools to the test in extreme environments (e.g. cow shit, snow, rain, dust).
I always enjoy seeing other people’s tools and hearing their thoughts on them. That is what led me to the T.I.A. forum. It makes me glad to see I’m not the only addict around. I’m in the process of cleaning and organizing my tools so I figure I would share some pictures and short thoughts on each one. I will be going through and posting a section a day, starting today, until I have gone through my complete collection. Day one will be the largest as I have a lot of time today. I look forward to your feedback. If anybody else wants to start another thread for their collection I would love to read it.
Day One: The Junk In My Trunk
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So I’m going to start off this series with a walkthrough of some of my more expensive units.
ToughSytem Tower
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ToughSystem Radio
Price: $200
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This is one sweet radio. I look forward to the guys’ video on it. It costs the same as other competitors and the sound is by far the best I’ve experienced. I’d take it over any other day in and day out. I’ve had it side by side with the Milwaukee 2792 and it is substantially clearer. Don’t get me wrong, that Milwaukee is a fabulous radio but the DeWalt is just something special. It can handle dust and water. Some things I’d like to point out are the fact that the battery is completely enclosed. [External image (i1302.photobucket.com), not copied]
And the cord is removable. It does have some issues though. The clock doesn’t work and never will. The storage compartment has a usb port to charge your device but it doesn’t fit your phone if you have a big guy or a bulky case.
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The compartment is difficult to get open most of the time and it is next to impossible to get the power cord to fit into it. It takes a while to get it to turn on and off. The Milwaukee was too easy to turn on, one tap and sound is coming out. This one is too hard to turn on. You have to press firmly for a good 3 seconds to get toggle it and it takes a while to boot up. This will explain what I mean better.
ToughSystem Boxes:
Price: Around $50 for DS150 (small guy) and $55 for DS300 (big fella)
My man George Frontino did a pretty good write up on these here and some guys you’ve probably heard of did their take on them here so all I’m going to say on these is that if you want a small parts organizer just go with the Milwaukee it is a lot cheaper and the Dewalt bins are kinda lightweight.
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The DS150 was bought for a separate battery project that I haven’t gotten around to finishing and it has become my M12 storage. The larger one has become my DeWalt powertool box. I am looking into the ridged boxes as an alternative because these are pricey.
Milwaukee
Organizer
Price: $20
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TIA has a review of these here.
Just the highlights I noticed, everything is great quality, a lot cheaper than DeWalt alternatives. I plan on getting some more. I have noticed the seal likes to come out though. The buckets have hooks that allow them to be hung on screws if you need them to.
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Size comparison:
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The M12 Army
Let me just say that this isn’t my complete collection and there is more M12 to come.
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Fuel 3/8 Impact Wrench
Price: $200 Kit
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The guys are on top of it all.
This thing has two speeds and is really a nice machine to have. It doesn’t have quite as much power as an impact driver but its small size and weight is convenient for most stuff.
Right Angle Drill
Price: $80 Bare Tool
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Not very heavy duty. Plastic chuck. Reversal switch is a pain. That being said it is convenient to have. Nice for running through tight studs or if you are a guy who screws together concrete forms. Really what this tool has made me want is a right angle impact driver
Lantern
Price: $59 Bare Tool
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This thing is fantastic. Good light quality and pattern. Adjustable lights let it shine 180 degrees or 360. The usb port on the back is a nice addition. It isn’t as bright or as big as the M18 but it works out nice in small rooms. I’m really liking the true view line of lighting. I’m still not sure why manufacturers bother with having strobe functions built into all their lights, but at least on this one you have to hold the button if you want it to strobe so you don’t have to cycle through it to turn it off.
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3/8 Drill Driver
Price: $100 with Hackzall
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I was really impressed with this little drill. I got it during the holidays with the hackzall and was expecting it to just be a junk drill. It has two speeds and a surprising amount of torque I know it isn’t the fuel hammer drill but it has no problem punching a 9/16 hole through 16-gauge steel. It has become my go to pilot hole machine. It’ll zip right through vehicle frames.
Hackzall
Price: $90 Bare Tool or $100 Kit with Drill
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I was really impressed with this little thing. Like an elf on pcp this thing has a lot of power in a small package. I don’t get a whole lot of use out of it though. I would really like to compare it to the fuel version at some point. It is nice for cutting sheet metal. To be honest though I go for my aviation snips over this thing on thin metal. https://youtu.be/zkz6J2XGlTk
Nice collection
Nice reviews, first off I have 5 of them milwaukee boxes and they are great. I love the right angle drill, I use it for kreg pocket screws all the time in tight places. Don’t find the reverse switch annoying either, I find it a nice change of pace. Nice reviews dude.
Coming up for day 2
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You can’t beat the Milwaukee True Vue Led lights they came in super handy during the power outage I had. Man I wish I had the tool setup you got going on when I was 18!!
Agree with Jason bro you have a very nice arsenal at the age of 18 bro and Thank you for the reviews man keep up the great work!
Nice collection …..keep posting
DeWalt
Living at home still…. must be nice lol oh man I had to say something haha. I actually moved out at 18 for college, 5 hours away, but still had some support from parents.
Sounds like you caught the bug early I never thought much of tools until I found TIA!! Also love seeing the view points from different perspectives and backgrounds. Definitely an interesting job description too.
And now I need to get myself some of those Milwaukee organizers…. why am I not surprised lol
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Stercorarius wrote:
Milwaukee
Organizer
Price: $20
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TIA has a review of these here.
Just the highlights I noticed, everything is great quality, a lot cheaper than DeWalt alternatives. I plan on getting some more. I have noticed the seal likes to come out though. The buckets have hooks that allow them to be hung on screws if you need them to.
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Have you thought of using gasket adhesive? Such as what is used for automotive or maybe a spray adhesive like 3M makes
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I’ll dab on some stuff I have laying around and see what happens. Thanks for the idea.KnarlyCarl wrote:
Have you thought of using gasket adhesive? Such as what is used for automotive or maybe a spray adhesive like 3M makes
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Dang, you sure have an awesome collection of tools going on there. Thanks for the review of the DeWalt Radio, I think I am going to score that for the workshop.
Man wish they had these types of tools back when i was 18,id have a grundle of sweet stuff. That Dewalt radio is on my list for the garage.
Day 2: Team Yellow Strikes Back
So today I’ll be going through my DeWalt cordless tool collection in its entirety. I really like how the large ToughSystem box DWST08203 conveniently fits all my tools.
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DCF899H
Price: $200 Bare tool
I did a pretty in depth review in a different post here. It’s easily my most used DeWalt
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DCF886
Price: Varies
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This li’l guy was my go to compact impact wrench until the M12 came into my possession. It has taken apart a lot of Honda pieces. As far as impact drivers go today this thing is pretty basic. If you are looking for different settings this isn’t for you. It doesn’t have three speeds like it’s successor. It also doesn’t have a self tapper mode like the Fuel gen 2’s. It is lower in torque compared to the Milwaukees. So what I am saying is that on paper this is clearly not the best impact driver on the market. That probably also correlates to not the best performance in the real world, but I can’t say for sure. However, what I can say for sure is that this is one fantastic impact driver. I’m a huge fan of the DeWalt grips. They really knew what they were doing with regards to the ergonomics and solid feel.
I can’t and won’t say that it is better or worse than any other impact driver on the market because I don’t have the experience with other impact drivers. I have used the Milwaukee Gen 2 and was impressed with it. That being said, I really don’t care that this doesn’t have multiple speeds or a self tapper mode. Just because of habit and preference I would always have it on the highest setting and control the speed with the trigger. It is just what I am used to doing. If it had more torque I wouldn’t be complaining. Even if it isn’t the best in the market, I really can’t find any major problems with this tool. This thing always gets the job done for me, and that’s all that matters at the end of the day.
DCD995
Price: Varies
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I purchased this drill in the kit with the driver. It has plenty enough power for me. It has three speeds over the typical two. It feels good, looks good, is solidly built, and most importantly drills holes.It has a staggered start in screwdriver mode to help start your screws, but I rely on my impact driver for that. The handle rotates around the chuck and can be placed in any position, an option not offered with the Milwaukee. To be completely honest, I rarely ever use the hammerdrill function. All the concrete drilling I deal with is in SDS sized holes so I can’t comment on its capabilities. I got the hammer drill exclusively because it was that, or the compact kit. I originally had the compact and returned it because the drill didn’t have enough power.
DCS380
Price: $120 Bare Tool
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This saw is powerfull for a brushed model. I would like to upgrade to a Fuel Sawzall at some point, but for now this thing is plenty. It doesn’t have the power or run time of a brushless tool. DeWalt really has been lagging behind in the brushless game. I was really surprised by how much power this thing does have though. The four way blade clamp comes in handy frequently. With it’s lightweight is nice to run up a ladder with when you just need to cut out a few boards. It makes removing/modifying exhaust set ups a breeze. This thing is a real time saver.
DCF620
Price: $200 Kit
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This thing was an impulse buy when I had to do a small drywall job. I used it for the one job and haven’t gotten any use out of it since. It’ll probably end up as a gift to my dad. It had amazing runtime though. I really enjoyed using it. It has a nice weight and feel to it with the compact batteries, but felt odd and bulky with a full size battery. Can’t really say much more about it.
DCG412
Price: $120 Bare Tool
[External image (i1302.photobucket.com), not copied] What can I say? DeWalt really screwed up when it came to cordless grinders. Milwaukee totally leap frogged them with the new fuel grinder with magnetic brake. This thing has a surprising amount of power and is great for an occasional cut. It just doesn’t have any run time at all. You run through all your batteries in a matter of minutes. This thing is hardly useful with how quickly it eats through the batteries. I’m definitely looking into the Metabo brushless as a replacement.
Lights
Price: $60ish a piece
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These things are great. The stick light can be hung anywhere and is nice for lighting up an area. The Spot light is great for focusing on a certain work piece. The red LED option on it is a lifesaver under vehicles where you run the risk of having the light unintentionally blind you. The light color isn’t as nice as the True View series but it definitely does the trick. I love these two and have spent many nights working in the dark with these things. Definitely worth the investment.
Lookin good man! I have used that dewalt recip saw with the 4 way head many times before, it does make it nice sometimes there’s no question there
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Im looking to get the drywall gun…as a business purchase[emoji23][emoji23]
A happy life is one that involves tools as often as possible
www.frontinoconstruction.com
Nice write ups! I’m a Dewalt guy myself, upgrade that 886 to the 887 it’s a little beast, the extra torques kick some arse.
I have the hammer drill to and I love it, 3 speeds is awesome handle is great and it is pretty powerful until red came into my life and it just seems like it lacks a little IMO. That thing chews through concrete though.
I think you have the model number wrong on the drywall gun, I have it too and I think it is the dcf 620… Great screw gun.
Love them lights the work light is the first thing I grab for!
Nice write ups man keep them coming!
Jimbo
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Oh shoot you’re right man. Nice catch, thanks. I have actually ran the hammer drill side by side with a first gen fuel without any substantial difference between the two. No gen 2 usage so I’ll take your word for it.Jimbos1ice wrote:
Nice write ups! I’m a Dewalt guy myself, upgrade that 886 to the 887 it’s a little beast, the extra torques kick some arse.
I have the hammer drill to and I love it, 3 speeds is awesome handle is great and it is pretty powerful until red came into my life and it just seems like it lacks a little IMO. That thing chews through concrete though.
I think you have the model number wrong on the drywall gun, I have it too and I think it is the dcf 620… Great screw gun.
Love them lights the work light is the first thing I grab for!
Nice write ups man keep them coming!
Jimbo
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Stercorarius wrote:
Oh shoot you’re right man. Nice catch, thanks. I have actually ran the hammer drill side by side with a first gen fuel without any substantial difference between the two. No gen 2 usage so I’ll take your word for it.
Check on later YouTube later [emoji6]
Jimbo
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Nice collection so far son, I can call you son cause I have kids older than you….lol it is nice to see you spending your hard earned money on something other than things that disappear……..Don’t look like you need much arm twisting but TIA is always here to help with that…..
Yeah between Jimbo and Comp and afew other of you guys, I’m not sure how there are tools I don’t have. Thanks for all the feedback guys! Anybody got any requests for what they want to see next? [External image (uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com), not copied] Not my whole collection, but a good sized chunk of it.
Pneumatic tools?
A happy life is one that involves tools as often as possible
www.frontinoconstruction.com
Haven’t gotten to that point in my collection yet. I don’t have any because they aren’t worth anything till I have a running truck and my current job doesn’t frame enough that we need anymore than the one gun my coworker runs. I do have a compressor that I can have, if I can fix it. I can tell you that if you are looking for a framing gun, just get a NR83A2 or NR83A3 by Hitachi. That is all my dad has used for decades and it’s the only gun I’ve ever used and ever will. All the framers around here also use the same gun. Hitachi makes all around great guns. Bostitch guns are a PITA and expensive to get parts or service for ever since they merged into the Stanleyblackanddecker deal. Paslode makes good stuff too. Porter cable and Hitachi make decent roofing guns. There are several roofing companies that exclusively run Senco guns though just because that’s what they have the best luck with. As far as automotive tools go, I’m not qualified to comment on. There are a lotta guys on here that are really knowledgeable on the subject.george frontino wrote:
Pneumatic tools?
A happy life is one that involves tools as often as possible
www.frontinoconstruction.com
Nice write up, good collection. Tools are always a good investment.
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tomdog22 wrote:
Nice write up, good collection. Quality Tools are always a good investment.
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Corrected
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It’s interesting you mention Senco roofing nailers, that’s what we used all the time, the SCN40R with the centering jaws quickly became the deciding factor, it was a pretty slick feature, and must have went through several dozen nailers in a ten year period because of how much they got used. I bought three myself when I got into my own roofing, then two got stolen, and I’m holding onto this one, I don’t know if they still make it with the centering jaws anymore….Stercorarius wrote:
Haven’t gotten to that point in my collection yet. I don’t have any because they aren’t worth anything till I have a running truck and my current job doesn’t frame enough that we need anymore than the one gun my coworker runs. I do have a compressor that I can have, if I can fix it. I can tell you that if you are looking for a framing gun, just get a NR83A2 or NR83A3 by Hitachi. That is all my dad has used for decades and it’s the only gun I’ve ever used and ever will. All the framers around here also use the same gun. Hitachi makes all around great guns. Bostitch guns are a PITA and expensive to get parts or service for ever since they merged into the Stanleyblackanddecker deal. Paslode makes good stuff too. Porter cable and Hitachi make decent roofing guns. There are several roofing companies that exclusively run Senco guns though just because that’s what they have the best luck with. As far as automotive tools go, I’m not qualified to comment on. There are a lotta guys on here that are really knowledgeable on the subject.
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You looking at getting some or…?george frontino wrote:
Pneumatic tools?
A happy life is one that involves tools as often as possible
www.frontinoconstruction.com
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just wondering if he had any. I have some of my own but im always looking for moreKnarlyCarl wrote:
You looking at getting some or…?
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A happy life is one that involves tools as often as possible
www.frontinoconstruction.com
Always looking for more yeah, not that I’ll get any necessarily, but always looking!george frontino wrote:
just wondering if he had any. I have some of my own but im always looking for more
A happy life is one that involves tools as often as possible
www.frontinoconstruction.com
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Day 3: Zeus’ Handbag
Today I’ll be covering my electrical bag.
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The Bag: DG5543
Price: Around $50
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I really like this bag. I picked it up at ace one day with no particular use in mind. It started out as a general tool bag and then quickly became my electrical bag. It has a lot of convenient pockets and it is rigid enough that none of the tools have problems staying upright. It is the perfect size for me because I like to keep my tool bags closed.
Screwdrivers And Nut Drivers
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Screwdrivers are pretty standard equipment. They either are good or they are garbage so I can’t say a lot about them. Included in my collection is the Klein 11 in 1 screwdriver that I picked up for $20. It is convenient and works. It is nice to keep in your back pocket when you don’t know what screws you’ll be encountering.
The Klein nut driver set is really nice, but also really expensive (around $50 at Platt). They have hollow shafts, but I regret not getting either the longer ones, or the ones that are magnetic.
The Klein screwdriver set is, once again, very nice and very expensive (also around fifty dollars). It is a comprehensive set that includes the stubby screwdrivers. It only comes with philips and flat heads though. They have square shafts or hex bolsters on the large flat heads to allow you to hook a wrench on when you need extra torque. The one thing they lack is magnetic tips, but I am okay with that.
The insulated Milwaukees are quality and offer me a little bit more peace of mind when poking around inside panels. They were around $20.
The Kobalt precision screwdriver set has a lot of quantity for a low cost. They aren’t the greatest quality, but they work for my level of usage. If you use precision screwdrivers regularly, I would suggest looking at something else.
The Pliers and Stuff
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I am going to work my way from left to right, starting with the top row, and then the bottom row.
First up are the Channellock wire strippers. I am a big fan of Channellock. They make quality, american-made tools that you can afford.The wire strippers are no exception. They are the bomb.
Next are a set of Klein needle-nose pliers. I really like this pair for wiring in fixtures. The cutting jaw has one stripping hole that works perfect for stripping 12 AWG romex right before you hook it, eliminating the need for a separate strippper.
The Channellock cutter/crimper was possibly the first tool I added to my electrical tool collection. They are a great all around crimper and cutter. I highly recommend them.
Klein conduit cutters. They are pretty basic equipment. I can’t say much more than that they work.
The next pair are a set of dikes that I found inside the hydraulic access panel of an old Gradall. I cleaned them up, gave them the black finish, filed some new jaws, lubed them, and just need to plasti dip the handles. I use them for trimming zip-ties mostly. I couldn’t just leave them to rot.
This is the Thexton wire insertion tool. It is used for pulling wires through grommets and firewall seals. Think hollow screwdriver. I bought this after seeing a straight up OG thug make one in a different thread.
Apart from an odd brand naming strategy, the Fluke T5-600 multimeter is amazing in every way. It has voltage, current, and resistance/continuity testing capabilities. It is quite literally a life saver. I got it on an apprentice tool discount account for around $90 and don’t have enough good things to say about it. I would like to purchase a smaller meter and/or the alligator clip tips for these for the sake of automotive wiring. I used to have a cheap GE meter that I had soldered alligator clips on for wiring cars, but I had that one stolen.
The Irwin Vise-Grip pump pliers/slip joint/tounge and groove joint/channel locks or whatever you want to call them, are nice. They are quality pliers. Personally, I am more used to classic Channellocks. I am constantly trying to adjust these like Channellocks and so It gets kind of annoying. It isn’t the fault of the pliers, rather it is an issue of habit. I can see how these would be more convenient, but I always reach for the blue handles. The only real issue I have with these are that, no matter how they are configured, the handles will never touch at the bottom like the Channellocks do, making it difficult to put in pockets and bags. That is just a minor thing though. These really are nice, quality tools.
Next are the Channellock locknut pliers. All I can say is that they work.
The Irwin PowerSlot high-leverage cutters are the greatest thing to happen since sliced bread. They are premium cutters at a premium price ( almost forty bucks ). They effortlessly slice through anything from romex to SO cable to screws. While the United States of America is the one country that I always want to see my tools being made in, “Made in Germany” is always reassuring to see on a tool.
The Channellock cable cutters are my go to cutters for SO cable. You can feel the quality from the second you pick them up. I highly recommend them. Once again I am a Huge fan of Channellock.
Okay, have I mentioned that I am a Channellock fanboy? Well nothing will ever, and I mean ever, replace Channellock brand channel locks. Made in the U.S.A. of course. I know that Knipex makes quality stuff, but these are a staple in every American’s tool collection. I can’t say enough good things about these or tell you how many times I’ve been saved by a pair of Channellock channel locks, and I don’t have to because there is a pretty big chance that you own a pair or two yourself.
We have here a set of SummitRacing brand ratcheting wire crimpers with a pair of MSD insulated terminal crimping jaws. I bought these because I need the different jaws for crimping spark plug wire terminals on and another jaw for Deutsch connectors. I really don’t use the MSD insulated crimping jaws because I can’t trust the connection quality. Nice tool for $15 though.
These are a pair of cheap WorkForce brand pliers that I still can’t figure out why I haven’t replaced with some with blue handles.
The automatic wire strippers are really nice. I still am in the habit of grabbing my manual wire strippers but that isn’t due to any problems with these.
Finally, we have a pair of Klein linemen’s pliers. These are the classic electrician’s tool. Big fan of these, as are most people. They are popular for good reason. As with anything else with the Klein brand name on it, you will be paying a good chunk of cash for these.
The Other Tools
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We have here two sets of Stanley stubby wrenches, one SAE and one Metric. Stanley makes some nice cheap wrenches. For about fifteen dollars a set at Lowe’s, it is worth always having some common wrenches on hand for the occasional nut on panels or miscellaneous covers. They are great to have in the bag when I’m on the move and I leave my hand tool boxes at home.
Duracell 250 Lumen flashlight is cheap and bright in a compact package. You can always use a flashlight when you have to cut power to work on something. I don’t like the fact that you have to deal with a strobe function to turn it off.
DeWalt utility knife is nice for stripping insulation back. Really like this knife. From what I can tell it is identical to the Stanley FatMax.
The Milwaukee no contact voltage detector has literally saved my life. Buy one. Buy one now. It doesn’t have to be a Milwaukee, but everyone should have one in their tool collection. The integrated flashlight is really convenient too. It gets used as a penlight more times than I care to admit.
Maglites are great flashlights and are really common. If you go by lumens, it really isn’t that great of a flashlight. The thing that I love about them though is the simplicity and durability. One click: light on, Next click: light off. You don’t have to click through a bunch of pointless, annoying settings. I’m sorry, but I really don’t want three different brightness settings and a strobe that light manufacturers insist on integrating into every damn light that they produce. I want to hit a button and have my light and then hit it again and have it off. I don’t want to have to hit it three times and get blinded to turn it off. Rant over. This is a no nonsense light and I love it for it.
Stanley 16′ tape. I insist on having a tape in every bag, just because I like tapes and this is a nice tape. I know that I am only saying positive things about my tools, but I don’t buy tools that I don’t like (usually).
Southwire allen key set. It works. Nothing noteworthy about it.
Bernzomatic butane soldering iron. It gets hot quickly and is portable. It is nice for working on car wiring because you don’t have to find a power source. It is cheaply constructed and feels like it is constantly on the verge of collapsing, but it was only twenty bucks so I can live with it for now.
The Other stuff.
Just a bunch of consumables tucked away inside the bag. Nothing is really noteworthy. The picture is more for the sake of showing how versatile the bag is.
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Stercorarius wrote:
The Milwaukee no contact voltage detector has literally saved my life. Buy one. Buy one now. It doesn’t have to be a Milwaukee, but everyone should have one in their tool collection. The integrated flashlight is really convenient too. It gets used as a penlight more times than I care to admit.
Love my Milwaukee voltage detector, I got two for one when acme tools was having that sale. I ended up not bothering to get a pen light after I realized how useful the led on it was, I keep it on me at all times and pull it out more often to use the flashlight than the detector part. I told the guys at work when I bought it that I got myself a new pen light that happens to have a voltage detector built in lol
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Have some more I’ll be posting. In Canada right now, but I’ll be finishing it up when I get back stateside.
Stercorarius wrote:
Have some more I’ll be posting. In Canada right now, but I’ll be finishing it up when I get back stateside.
What do we have to look forward to?
A happy life is one that involves tools as often as possible
www.frontinoconstruction.com
george frontino wrote:
What do we have to look forward to?A happy life is one that involves tools as often as possible
www.frontinoconstruction.com
All sorts of stuff. I think I might start one one of my boxes. [External image (uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com), not copied]
Nice
A happy life is one that involves tools as often as possible
www.frontinoconstruction.com
Stercorarius wrote:
All sorts of stuff. I think I might start one one of my boxes. [External image (uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com), not copied]
I’ve thought about that but I have so much random stuff
Jimbo
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Stercorarius wrote:
On 2/22/2016 at 6:30 PM, Stercorarius said:So guys I never introduced myself properly. I’m an eighteen-year-old guy, senior in high school, still living at my parent’s home. I’m from central/eastern Washington. No, I’m not talking about D.C. I’m talking about the state. I know many of you think Washington is rainy all the time and made out of Starbucks stores. That is true for the west side of the cascade mountains. The east and west are polar opposites in both climate and political views. I live in the basin which is technically a desert (less than 10″ of rain annually). We got cold winters and climb above 100 regularly in the summer without seeing any rain between May and September.
Okay, where in Central Warshington? I was born in the sprawling metropolis of Ephrata, WA, population ~7000. Spent a bunch of time on my cousin’s wheat farm outside of Pomeroy. Spent a fair amount of time in Walla Walla (admittedly, I don’t remember much because I was pretty drunk most of the time). Spent a lot of time in Clarkston with my great aunt Eulah. Hung out at Lake Chelan a fair amount.
Cool setup, man. When I was 18 most of my money went to gas, guns, and beer.
BK13 wrote:
Okay, where in Central Warshington? I was born in the sprawling metropolis of Ephrata, WA, population ~7000. Spent a bunch of time on my cousin’s wheat farm outside of Pomeroy. Spent a fair amount of time in Walla Walla (admittedly, I don’t remember much because I was pretty drunk most of the time). Spent a lot of time in Clarkston with my great aunt Eulah. Hung out at Lake Chelan a fair amount.
Cool setup, man. When I was 18 most of my money went to gas, guns, and beer.
Lol, just south of you in Moses.
Nice! I want to get up that way duck hunting one of these years…
PROTOOLNUT wrote:
15 hours ago, PROTOOLNUT said:You forgot woman 😉
Well, yeah, there is that. I was dating an older woman (in her ’20s! LOL) and she did nice (and nasty) things when I bought her lingerie…
Episode 4: The Bucket List
Okay, real quick disclaimer. I’m in no way sponsored by any company and receive no compensation in any form for anything that I say about any of these tools. This is a completely unbiased perspective on these tools. You will notice, however, that I do favor certain brands (Irwin and Channellock particularly) but that’s entirely based off of having good luck with their products. Additionally I must say that there are very few tools that I have had for an extended period of time so take everything I say with a grain of salt.
I know that bucket organizers tend to be a controversial method of organizing tools. I hated the idea of bucket organizers but I actually had some luck with these tools. [External image (i1302.photobucket.com), not copied]
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This has some of my favorite tools in it.
Proto Box End Wrench Set
Price: $200
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I love this set of wrenches. It was on the pricey side of things but they’re quality and american made. I like the weight and feel to these. They are also offered in chrome. I just like the black oxide finish because it never chips.
Stanley Wrench Set
Price: $80ish
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These aren’t the nicest or the most compact wrenches on the market, but I really like them. The wrenches have never failed me. They work really well for the price. I like the cast finish. The only complaint I have about this set is that the roll/wrap itself is garbage. It started falling apart really quickly. One important thing to note is that these are not the same as the ones sold at Lowes. They appear to be slightly higher quality. The lowes wrench is the one on the top.
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Kobalt Wrench Set
Price: $20
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I bought these because I needed a specific wrench and this set was cheap so I figured, why not? Well this set is worthless garbage. The head splits out on the loosest fasteners. I keep it around for poly air fittings mainly. This would be a great wrench set if you only intend on using it to assemble IKEA furniture.
Some More Blue
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Kobalt Strap Wrench: This thing isn’t the highest quality, far from it. It works for me and that is what matters. If/when it finally ceases to work I probably won’t be purchasing a Kobalt though. Plenty enough for occasional use though.
Vise Grip Long Reach Pliers : I can’t find a price for the two pack, but I have not Idea how I got along without them. They make me want to try the Crescent ones with the double pivot.
Vise Grip Adjustable Wrench: Cost about $11 and they work. Big fan of black oxide finish.
WorkForce Adj. Wrench: It’s not the highest quality. I really never reach for it, in fact I rarely reach for adjustable wrenches in general.
Crescent Self Adjusting Pipe Wrench: I bought it for twenty dollars mostly out of curiosity. The concept actually works quite well. It works very well on bolts and small OD pipe. I’m a little underwhelmed by the teeth quality though.
Bic Lighter: Because sometimes you just need to light a match and walk away.
Channellocks: These are the second biggest pair. Best tool ever. Use it all the time on large pvc fittings.
Savage Torpedo Level: This thing is aluminum and Magnetic so its nice for metalworking. Nice solid level. Pretty good price too at less than $20
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Pittsburgh Screwdrivers: They’re magnetic, come with hex bolsters, and were $9 for the set (came with more screwdrivers that are in a different toolbag). They are nice enough. The handles are made out of cheap plastic. I don’t expect too much out of them but they get the job done.
Pittsburgh extensions: Both 3/8, one impact and one not. HF has some cheap extensions. They are long and convenient. They are worth the little bit of money they cost.
Lenox Hacksaw: I’m not a very big hacksaw user so I can’t say much about it. It does work very well for cutting key stock though.
Dewalt Pop Riveter: It has a swivel head and I like it. I haven’t used it enough to feel comfortable saying much more about.
Kobalt Linemen’s: I got a set of Kobalt pliers on sale for about $30 and that’s where all the Kobalt pliers in my collection come from. The Linesmen’s are actually pretty impressive in quality. They will probably become a stocking stuffer for a younger brother at some point though.
Kobalt “Channel Locks”: They are by no means on par with name brand stuff but they aren’t too shabby. Probably will be handed down to a younger brother.
Napa Slip Joint Pliers: They work. Not impressive.
Crescent Chain Wrench: This was an impulse buy that I haven’t had much use for. I’ve used it once or twice for some welding but I can’t say much about it.
Breaker Bars
These things run about $10 a piece at Harbor Freight.
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I have a 1/2″ long and short one and a 3/8″. I honestly don’t think you can find a single other tool where you get more value for your money. I don’t have anything negative to say about these. They are worth picking up if you are ever in a HF.
Sweet looking pile o’ goodies!
You want to be overwhelmed by the teeth on self adjusting wrench? Get the ridgid rapidgrip wrench. Beyond awesome!
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sweet tools dude, much more involved than my simple bag, i just ordered some new knipex pliers for my bag, and a pair of klein strippers
PROTOOLNUT wrote:
Excellent post Ster! I have to say you have some pretty fine tools there, Kolbalt and Stanley both make quality tools you can’t go wrong. But you wouldn’t see me spending 200 dollars on a wrench set unless it was made of gold. I will say I agree with you about the Oxide finnish, very important. [emoji6] So I thought I would share a couple of pics with you! As always, click on pics to see full size[External image (i173.photobucket.com), not copied]
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Sweet bits man!
KnarlyCarl wrote:
Sweet looking pile o’ goodies!You want to be overwhelmed by the teeth on self adjusting wrench? Get the ridgid rapidgrip wrench. Beyond awesome!
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I’m so jealous right now. I’ve spent too much time at the tool shop staring at those. Definitely not $20.
Stercorarius wrote:
I’m so jealous right now. I’ve spent too much time at the tool shop staring at those. Definitely not $20.
I’m ten years older than you, I’ve broken my wrist and im already starting to feel pain when I would squeeze down on a pair of channellock pliers such as that big one you have. I go to these wrenches as often as possible (or adjustable Irwin wrenches) so I could avoid using the channellock style.
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KnarlyCarl wrote:
I’m ten years older than you, I’ve broken my wrist and im already starting to feel pain when I would squeeze down on a pair of channellock pliers such as that big one you have. I go to these wrenches as often as possible (or adjustable Irwin wrenches) so I could avoid using the channellock style.Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
If I did more plumbing I would definitely seriously consider one, but right now I can’t even justify buying a Ridgid pipe wrench even though I’ve used them and know for a fact that they are worth the premium price.
PROTOOLNUT wrote:
I know what that is like, when you want something but can’t get it cause you can’t afford it, amen brotha. Its that way for me for the Milwaukee M18 Brushless Fuel Sawzall
Amen to that.
Episode 5: Fifty Shades of Red
You see my roots truly run deep in Team Red. Just not the same team that you guys call team red.
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Lincoln Electric 180 Dual
Price: $800-1000
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I bought this thing primarily for sheet metal work. The thing can run on 120v or 240v. It does flux core or gas shielded wire. I’ve always used Lincolns and like the way they are put together. I’ve used Millers and they make nice machines, but Lincoln is my brand. I bought the welder and got the bag and most of the stuff in it for free.
The Bag:
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These things retail for about $50 a piece but Lincoln had a promotion where I could get this and a bunch of gear free with the welder. I love the bag and it makes it convenient to keep all my gear clean and in one place. I can just grab the bag and know that I’m all set.
The Insides
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Lincoln Viking Welding Helmet and Optiva Helmet
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The Lincoln helmet retails at almost $200 and came free with the welder. It is, without a doubt, one of the best affordable welding helmets on the market. I love the external shade control knob. Great helmet. It came with a nice cinch sack for it and stays in the welding bag.
The optiva is one of the cheapest auto darkening helmets on the market at $40. I bought it because it took 2 months for lincoln to process my purchase and send me the helmet and gear. It isn’t great. You can feel the cheapness, but it works. This one doesn’t stay in my bag.
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Tillman Welding Sleeves
It took a severe case of arc burn (well into second degree burn territory) to get me to buy a pair of sleeves. These are goatskin and super comfortable. They ran me a whole $12. I highly recommend them.
Kingco Fleece Lined Gloves
Not for welding or sparks but are fantastic for material handling in cold weather.
Black Stallion Stick Welding Gloves
Goat skin and Nomex lined. These things are super comfortable and one of the cheapest pair you can get. I stick welded for the longest time without gloves or any form of protection other than a helmet and will never go back. It isn’t worth it.
Lincoln Electric Doo Rag and Bandana
I would have never thought of buying either of these. Since they came with the welder I wore them, and I have to say that it is the most comfortable way to weld. This especially holds true when you are running overhead beads. Beats a backwards baseball cap any day.
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Lincoln Gloves and Welding Jacket
I got these after my other ones and wear them when there isn’t any manure involved. They don’t see a lot of use. I really like the jacket though. It’s very quality. The gloves aren’t my preferred style, but they are very durable.
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Norco Welding Jacket
I don’t know who makes these for Norco (industrial supply chain) but they are very similar to the Lincoln. They run about $15 so I bought one to wear over my insulated coveralls in the winter and love this jacket. It saves all my clothes from becoming fishnet.
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Tools
Some pretty standard stuff here.
A dasco center punch.
A General automatic center punch. It ran about $50 and is well worth the money.
There are two carbide scribes with magnetic ends, also made by General. They’re great for laying things out.
Some soapstone and silver pencils for layout work.
A T-bevel gauge made by Swanson. I like it.
A Stanley Hi-Viz tape measure because not having a tape isn’t an option. This tape is great for small layout work but I wouldn’t ever use it for framing or any other construction.
Husky fingerless mechanics gloves are great for material handling when you might have to deal with fasteners.
Lincoln Electric Steel Worker gloves came with the welder and have become my favorite all around glove. They are leather and just the right thickness to not be cumbersome.
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Dewalt shaded safety glasses are ridiculously overpriced. They are decent glasses but shouldn’t be $10 a pair. My other pairs of $3 Nemesis safety glasses are just as good, if not better. Do not purchase these unless they are the only option.
Craftsman flashlight was $20. It is the perfect size and shape. I just don’t like how dim and inefficient the LED is.
Defiant Magnetic light was on sale at HD over the holidays and works for welding in the dark. I just wish the magnets were stronger.
Swanson Combination square is my favorite tool. A combination square really saves me all the time. It’s a great affordable square and is the only way to lay things out.
Welper Pliers are a must for anyone with a MIG machine. Welper brand (pictured) makes the best ones. They’re worth the little bit extra.
Slag hammer isn’t optional for running stick. I don’t remember the brand or price of this one.
Of course there is the Miller metal and wire gauge. I pulled this out of the packaging that was going in the trash of one of the several Millers they got at work.