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Welp, I'm officially done with Craftsman Tools. I'll keep the ones I have but I'm not buying any more. My compression tester apparently has hose that can't handle more than 150psi. Every single time I've used it the hoses have blown at that pressure. I don't like exploding tools.
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Mar 21, 2009 00:55
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Jonny 290 posted:Christ, that's awful. the M50 in my 325i is supposed to do over 200 PSI, that wouldn't be useful in the least bit. The good news for me is that both engines I'm responsible for have pressures around or below 140psi to indicate that they're in need of a refresh or rebuild. So blowing at 150 means the cylinders are still fine. But I keep running out of hoses before I run out of cylinders to test. It's horrible. The hoses don't even have a pressure rating listed on them. The instruction manual only says not to do a wet test on a diesel engine, and the gauge goes well over 200psi. I'm also severely limited on what tools I can buy. My only other easy option is Husky tools at the small Home Depot in town. There's a Snap-On guy and there *might* be a Mac Tools franchise in town, but both their websites won't tell me poo poo. I don't have any real experience with the really high end tools, but it looks like I'm going to get to find out (if they're even available in my area).
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Mar 21, 2009 03:25
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I doubt there's a HF within a thousand miles of me. And I'd prefer to buy higher quality stuff over higher quantity stuff anyway.
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Mar 21, 2009 07:32
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sharkytm posted:I can't believe that no one has mentioned the trailer hitch mounts that are all the rage on garage journal. I've got one on my bench and it's great. I can also mount my tools on either my front or rear hitch on my truck, which is a nice touch. Details on that? New benches are on my list this year. The ones that came in my shop are, uh, full of spiders and immovable.
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May 5, 2014 08:34
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I’ve got Torin Big Red stands; I know some people don’t like them but I bought the ones with a locking pin and I’m happy.
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Apr 16, 2021 19:25
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No coupons worked so well for JCPenney. Without coupons I just don’t see the HF value. Their stuff isn’t *that* cheap; at least not anything I actually want. Crazy Jeff’s Flea Market has everything at least as cheap.
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Apr 20, 2021 17:14
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I suspect the no-coupon thing is more because wholesale prices on imports have gone up dramatically. Couple that with everyone figuring out how to be HF super-couponers and they likely weren’t making enough money on most sales. I know that I never bought anything large without a 30% off coupon. That’s a big chunk of change for some items that take a lot of shelf space. Plus, has anyone ever actually paid for a HF flashlight or moving blanket?
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Apr 20, 2021 17:29
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Sort of like how HF keeps trying to move their power tools upmarket? I think JCP was also crippled by being a department store - as your comment highlighted, everyone thinks of them as a clothing store. Yet clothes were only 2/5 floors at the JCP in Anchorage, the rest were home goods. I know I never went there looking for a spatula.
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Apr 20, 2021 17:44
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What’s the current best option for floor jacks? The Daytona Super Duty jack seems to check all the right boxes but getting one from a Harbor Freight to me is a problem. I wouldn’t say I’m banned, exactly, but I would have to travel out of state. Bonus points if whatever is great these days is available to be shipped for not-insane amounts.
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May 2, 2021 07:18
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Rhyno posted:Banned? I did some very dirty things in a hole with a big black iron pipe & HF pipe threader. Completely wrecked it. (the pipe threader) Raluek posted:sounds like an entertaining way of saying "aint got poo poo in alaska" I’m allowed in any Harbor Freight not located in Alaska.
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May 2, 2021 07:49
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That hides in the spoiler tags really well. To be absolutely 100% clear: I am not banned from Harbor Freight. There are no locations in Alaska and getting a 104-pound jack to me from the Lower 48 would be a PITA - but possibly worth it if the jack is that good.
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May 2, 2021 21:12
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Juneau’s not on the road system. There are 4 ways in: Boat, plane, vagina, or a trek over the icefield to Canada. We’re off the beaten path for road trips (but an awesome spot if you take the ferry as a DIY cruise). We’ll see about GIR. I think I want to do the 3FE swap *before* I tear it down, so I can figure out where to put stuff before I care about cutting holes in fresh paint. If I pick up a nicer FJ62 I might be able to bring a jack back, but I really need a new jack sooner than that. The friend who’s ‘storing’ his jack at my place is supposed to be signing papers on a house with garage any day now. I may have to make a shopping trip to Seattle soon.
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May 2, 2021 21:45
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net work error posted:Thoughts on getting a little Rubbermaid shed or similar from home depot and storing them in there outside? My only concern is rust from humidity since I'm down in South Florida but maybe I'm just being overly paranoid about it. I bet that shed will cook the humidity out daily in the South Florida sun. If you can mount stuff on the wall, I keep getting IG ads for wall hangers that hold them sideways. IOwnCalculus posted:I had one of the Costco Arcan hybrid steel/aluminum jacks and had nearly zero complaints with it. The only reason I replace it with a HF Daytona is because the latter has 4" more lift height, which only became an issue when lifting a Jeep from the frame instead of the axles. Yeah, I’m running into that issue with the 20” jack I’m ‘storing’, even on the little Mazda pickup. I had to do some sketchy lifting with a 2x4 to get it high enough to pull a lower ball joint. sharkytm posted:I love the signs in Alaska at the end of the roads. When I was in Ketch, we drove the whole road system. It took about 45 minutes including the couple of logging roads. This is why there are 500+ Nissan Leafs in a town of under 35,000 people. 
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May 3, 2021 15:57
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sharkytm posted:I assume you've never been to AK. It costs a ton to get rid of anything responsibly, so everything piles up. Anything bought new gets relatedly sold, traded, handed down, or stolen until it's worthless, and then ditched so Advent can pull it out of the ditch and dispose of it correctly. I have to pay to get rid of metals recycling. $18 per 500 pounds. The only times people get rid of working tools is when they die or move out of town. It cost me $145 to dispose of my last dead refrigerator properly because I’m a good citizen. Also don’t forget that most of our official dumps are just a clearing piled with garbage that will eventually require a project to properly dispose of. Our city dump is on tidelands and unlined; everyone expects it to be a superfund site sooner or later. Uthor posted:99% Invisible had an episode on dead cars in Alaska. Realize also that these vehicles very rarely arrive off the road system in as-new condition. They get hauled out to the bush when they’re already half dead since it’s a land of poverty and if the vehicle is missing a body panel that’s less weight on the cargo manifest. We used to buy used trucks and haul them to a job site, use them all summer, then sell them to the locals who were more than happy to have the newest vehicle in town. Here in Juneau the City charges $50/year for ‘disposal’ on every vehicle registration. People bitch but it goes into a fund to haul away the cars when dead. If you take one to the scrapper they used to charge $500/vehicle with fluids already drained. Now they just bill the City. Sorry, this is a bad side track. What I’ve figured out from this thread is I need to take a weekend trip to Seattle to visit Harbor Freight and drop it at the barge dock to ship home. That would still be cheaper than buying the NAPA or Snap-On versions of the same jack, plus I’d get some sun in the city. Advent Horizon fucked around with this message at 01:22 on May 4, 2021 |
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May 4, 2021 01:16
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I wouldn’t turn down the offer if you’re already headed near Boeing Field, but don’t go far out of your way for me. Also it looks like I got a jack reprieve. My friend’s house purchase fell through - the current owner pulled some sovereign citizen bullshit and filed a motion in court to declare that they don’t have to pay back the mortgage. Needless to say, the bank isn’t letting them do that and now they have to pay back all my friend’s expenses (mortgage filing fees, home inspection, etc). He’s kind of hoping they don’t pay him so he can file his own lien against the property.
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May 4, 2021 04:48
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If porn has taught me anything, it’s that some people have an affinity for the taste of farts. (TIL the difference between propane and butane for cooking, and shall strive not to add fart flavor to my sous vide)
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May 4, 2021 23:55
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No matter what size you buy, all lighter fluid comes in a single-serving container.
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May 6, 2021 05:58
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I need a 17mm flare nut wrench so it’s time to buy a set. I see GearWrench has a 6 piece set of flex head that seems ideal but stock everywhere looks like a bitch (and Home Depot, despite having a store here, will not ship a set to me for any price). Any suggestions for a decent set of metric flare nut/line wrenches, ideally with flex heads?
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May 10, 2021 02:35
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I’m going to say 100% because they’re very useful for stuff like brake lines. I’ve had several things I could have used them on before but made do with a regular wrench and cursing.
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May 10, 2021 06:36
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I ordered the GearWrench set. I seriously considered Proto but the sets don’t include 16mm, which I know I will need.
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May 10, 2021 17:22
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Everything I work on by choice is metric so I ordered a metric set. The GearWrench ones also looked like a better design with 15* angles built in to the handle. I’d love to buy ‘Made in the USA’ but in this case that would be the only reason to buy Proto. This is the GW set I ordered: https://www.gearwrench.com/gearwrench-81906-6-pc-flare-nut-metric-wrench-set.html
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May 10, 2021 17:57
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Vice grips - I at least need new needle-nose, willing to buy a set with more. What brands are good? I’ve heard Vice-Grip brand are ‘meh’. I don’t have any Knipex stuff (yet) but their vice grips seem suspiciously cheap - do they have different quality levels? Are Tekton pliers any good?
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May 10, 2021 22:12
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I forgot to mention Milwaukee - I have a couple of them and really like the big grippy handles and easy adjustment lever, but I have no real experience with longevity (yet), nor have I really reefed on them. StormDrain posted:All of my Knipex pliers are top notch. I don't think any of the locking pliers look suspiciously cheap? These are what I’m seeing: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EXO1B2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_VN9QFR2YS4RC90JJ2CKP That seems cheap given what their other pliers cost. Some quick googling indicates maybe they’re outsourced but to another German tool company.
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May 10, 2021 22:32
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Any coil spring compressor suggestions? I’ve never even looked at them before. I’m not using c-clamps and zip ties.
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May 14, 2021 17:46
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I would like my car to ride like new when I’m done. No torchy torchy. I’m doing the shocks, struts, and lower control arms on my Leaf. I’d like to just buy a tool so I’ll have everything - if nothing else, a close friend just paid to have his LCAs replaced on a Subaru and if I have the tools we’d be able to do it. Another friend suggested an OTC 7294: OTC 7294 MacPherson Strut Spring Hook Compressor - pair https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000F5HUZS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_VE29BVRMRGRWGMBR5M3T
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May 14, 2021 19:59
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Do you all factor tools into your project expenses? Example: I had to buy a ball joint puller for the last truck project. I included it in what I spent on that project, even though I still have the tool.
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May 17, 2021 21:19
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OMGVBFLOL posted:there's "afford" as used by people who think having a mortgage is "financial stress", and there's "afford" as used by people choosing between meds and rent Have you met American millennials? PitViper posted:I just look up how much it would cost to fix at a shop. Then add up the parts and any special tools I don't already have that I'd need. As long as parts + tools is less than the shop, I'm coming out ahead. I’m pretty much the same, though I’m getting a lot more daring with what I’ll attempt. I liken it to the learning curve when we bought our house. The first month we paid people to measure and install blinds; less than three years later I replumbed a building and gutted the bathroom so I could move the shower. At this point I’m just about willing to take on any non-fabrication automotive project so long as I can get the right tools to do it. Since I have a garage and multiple spare vehicles I can just swipe a card and wait for the thing I need to arrive.
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May 18, 2021 05:10
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Presumably you want 6 point, then. I’ve had good luck with Tekton. I’ve heard their warranty is top notch but I’ve never had to use it. Their website has 10% rewards and free shipping. https://www.tekton.com/hand-drive-sockets/6-point-sockets
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May 18, 2021 20:47
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12 gauge should be fine, that’s usually what’s in the wall. Most of the good polar-rated cords seem to be blue with an orange stripe. Other than that I think it’s aesthetics.
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May 25, 2021 22:18
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Aren’t the 120 ‘tooth’ ratchets really just a 60 tooth with a double-but-half-size pawl? Or do I have it backwards and it’s 120 half-size teeth with a normal pawl?
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May 26, 2021 19:26
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Exceptional in which direction? They don’t specify. https://toolguyd.com/gearwrench-120xp-dual-pawl-ratchet-disassembled/ I’m not likely to bust one, honestly. Just seems like a teeth arms race.
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May 26, 2021 19:42
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Tyro posted:So uh... any recommendations for Babby's first impact sockets and impact bits/drivers? I just bought the full set of Tekton 1/2” impacts and love them. The universal joint is a major game changer - it’s a CV rather than a normal ujoint. I’ve been using that set for all kinds of stuff rather than my lovely 3/8 chrome sockets, so I guess it’s time I upgrade those…
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Jun 13, 2021 06:07
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Do not buy Stihl pressure washers. I’m honestly turned off to the whole brand after this; if they sell this as a ‘premium’ product what other crap are they selling? I bought a Stihl RE 110 Plus pressure washer a month ago. I wanted a quality unit that would last so I paid about double the Ryobi price for equivalent features (on paper). Unfortunately the design is terrible and it kills the hose quickly - and somehow they made it so the hose can only be replaced by a servicing dealer. I can’t even buy a replacement. I got three uses out of this POS before the hose burst. Three. I followed the directions for use religiously as it had a warning that not completely uncoiling the hose would ruin it, but uncoiling the hose also ruins it: 
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Jun 14, 2021 18:15
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I know it’s a bit late but our DeWalt weed whacker is great. I used it to mow our yard last night and even the smaller 20V battery I put into it lasted the whole time.
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Jun 14, 2021 18:58
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I finally got through Stihl tech support - they’re loving useless. They told me to take it to a dealer 150 miles away on an island to get the hose replaced (which they will not sell me directly).
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Jun 14, 2021 19:23
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Focus on chainsaws or not, I bought the Stihl because it was supposed to be a quality brand and this isn’t badge engineered - it clearly is a Stihl design, and it’s garbage. I’ve now shown three Stihl chainsaw owning friends and every one of them cringed. I still need to figure out how to get my money back but since I need a pressure washer now I bought a replacement from a quality, high end (lol) brand: Ryobi. Basically the next step up in electric pressure washers is a cold water Hotsy and I’m not quite there yet.  To recap, the Stihl hose setup is garbage and not user replaceable (the whole pressure washer has to come apart):  I took some comparison photos of the two, shall we start with the hose?  WHAT THE gently caress STIHL. The pressure washer is rated to 2000psi and they only gave it a 2170 hose? If the pump is putting out anywhere near rated pressure and you let go of the handle it could easily spike over that. Also note the Ryobi hose is reinforced while the Stihl is not. Ryobi takes standard fittings, Stihl is custom everything:  Ryobi holds spare nozzles up high where you can reach them:  Stihl stores them down at ground level, inside a compartment:  Said compartment is easily jammed shut by the cord, especially if you try to coil the cord neatly:  Here’s the ONE advantage to the Stihl I can find - the handle has a nice holder for the plug:  Vs this lol ‘cord storage’ lol for the Ryobi:  The Ryobi hose storage is honestly better, if less elegant, than the hose reel as it doesn’t kink the hose like the Stihl. The Ryobi plug is also better since it’s not a wall wart and I can use it without an extension cord in my covered exterior outlets.
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Jun 15, 2021 04:49
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slidebite posted:…just as an fyi as you (and others) may not be aware. Hoses like that are rated for 4x their rated labeled "working" pressure as a fail/burst pressure. So don't be concerned that its marginal, it really isn't. That’s actually really reassuring. These pressures could really mess up a finger if the hose failed wrong.
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Jun 15, 2021 07:17
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Any suggestions for a cheap but decent plasma cutter? I have 20A 240V available as well as 20A 120V.
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Jun 16, 2021 22:02
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A friend in Seattle owes me a small favor so I’m going to have her grab me a couple items at Hazard Fraught Tools and drop them at the barge dock. There’s a minimum shipping charge of over $100 so I want to make this count. I know I want the Daytona Super Duty jack: https://www.harborfreight.com/automotive/jacks-jack-stands/3-ton-low-profile-super-duty-rapid-pump-floor-jack-yellow-63183.html And a transmission jack: https://www.harborfreight.com/automotive/jacks-jack-stands/transmission-jacks/450-lb-low-lift-transmission-jack-61232.html What else should I have her grab that’s best purchased from Harbor Freight? I already have an engine hoist and 20 ton shop press.
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Jul 7, 2021 23:00
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| # ¿ May 4, 2024 00:38 |
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I already have most of those. My slide hammer could use more accessories but Amazon has a better selection of that. Basically looking for stuff that’s hard to order online. Edit: Ooh, tool carts. Suggestions? US General is the go-to, right? Also, plastic trim tools - I have never head of such a thing and it sounds vitally important. Link?
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Jul 7, 2021 23:57
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