New tools you've bought recently?

[Curious Hound]

X3 on cutting a cross into the head. Then I use a regular hand cold chisel and 3# hammer. Usually takes one swing per 1/4. Then a punch for the center.

Absolutely. The 3# BFH for the win. Chisel the head off after weakening it with the cutoff wheel. Then I have a home made punch (10" long rebar ground down to the diameter of the rivet shank) to knock the remains through the hole.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I prefer using a torch on rivets, but a good sharp cold chisel and a 4# hammer works well…

 

[Roert42]

I have never had success using an air hammer against rivets on my trucks. All it ever does is jump around randomly, bang my knuckles against stuff and cause pain and bleeding. I almost hate the stupid thing.

If you hold it with your own hands, instead of letting the neighbor’s 12 year old daughter hold on to it, works much better.

 

[pjtoledo]

a set of number/letter stamps form HF.
now I can properly mark parts when ripping stuff apart.
almost forgot, bought the HF press brake accessory last week.

 

[Shran]

I scored this cool old NAPA/New Britain tool box from an estate sale for $34:

I also scored this crappy little tool box full of sockets & stuff for $40. I think it's going to be mostly mismatched junk but there is at least one 3/8 drive Snap On ratchet in the mix. Probably some other goodies too, I haven't even looked through it yet but I think I can sell the box and most of the tools, keep the good ones and break even.

 

[Roert42]

Got some new spark plug tools recently. Heard good things about magnetic spark plug sockets so I bought 5/8, and 13/16 ones from Lang. they don’t have one in 9/16 for whatever reason.

Also got a spark plug gap checker from Lang.


Then I got a thin wall extra long 9/16 spark plug socket from OTC. Specifically designed for the for 5.4 3v. Have one in my wife’s expedition that needs plugs done. Done them before without, but seemed work while spend.

The two Lang sockets are Taiwan. One of the few Taiwan tools they sell.
OTC socket also Taiwan
Lang Gap stick is USA.

 

[Shran]

I think it's going to be mostly mismatched junk but there is at least one 3/8 drive Snap On ratchet in the mix.

One 3/8 Snap-on ratchet, a couple of Snap-on sockets, nice flex head New Britain 3/8 ratchet. There was a bunch of SK and other made in USA stuff in the box but nothing I wanted.

There were a bunch of other tool lots in this auction that I didn't bid on and it was almost all junk. Not even cheap tools I would keep, it was the horrible made in Japan crap from the 70's and 80's that just ends up in the scrap iron barrel. It's really weird that someone would have a whole garage full of terrible tools but somehow some Snap-on makes its way into the mix. Happens a lot with these auction lots, 95% junk and 5% treasure.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

95/5 is my stuff...lol.

 

[Shran]

I bet you don't keep sockets that are so stripped out that you can't see the teeth in them anymore though... I threw away at least 10 of those from that box.

My ratio is probably 30/70, I do have some cheap socket sets and stuff but I've scored a lot of good, used name brand tools over the years so I have no reason to keep stuff I don't like.

 

[pjtoledo]

I bet you don't keep sockets that are so stripped out that you can't see the teeth in them anymore though... I threw away at least 10 of those from that box.

My ratio is probably 30/70, I do have some cheap socket sets and stuff but I've scored a lot of good, used name brand tools over the years so I have no reason to keep stuff I don't like.

I keep some worn sockets for use as spacers, collars, hammering aids, and other improvising reasons.
if they are the type with sharp angles they are automatically downgraded.

 

[Shran]

Not really "new" but related to my auction buy. I've been working on this for the last couple of years - I thought it would be cool to put together a vintage tool kit. I am trying to shoot for pre-1980 if possible. The idea being, quality tools, that a mechanic could have bought at the beginning of his career, say maybe in the 50's, and ending at retirement. My main requirements are obviously period correct stuff, automotive tools only, and no homeowner grade junk. So no Truecraft/Buffalo/"chrome vanadium" brands... but definitely stuff like Proto, SK, Snap-on, Mac, etc. I'm including Craftsman though, I imagine there were plenty of pros using that brand back then.

The last requirement is that everything has to be functional. No broken tools. Maybe someday I will buy an older vehicle and use this stuff exclusively to work on it.... just for fun.

This is the box I started with and have now abandoned, mainly because it is just too heavy. Not even half full and it weighed like 50 pounds...but it was for sure period correct and pretty cool.

I transferred everything over last night into the New Britain box I bought. It looks weird and empty but I'll get it filled up eventually as I run across stuff. There are some pretty old tools in there, one partial set of sockets is from the very early days of Snap-on in the 1920's where the logo is just an S with an O stamped across it.

Enjoy:

 

[mikkelstuff]

Not really "new" but related to my auction buy. I've been working on this for the last couple of years - I thought it would be cool to put together a vintage tool kit. I am trying to shoot for pre-1980 if possible. The idea being, quality tools, that a mechanic could have bought at the beginning of his career, say maybe in the 50's, and ending at retirement. My main requirements are obviously period correct stuff, automotive tools only, and no homeowner grade junk. So no Truecraft/Buffalo/"chrome vanadium" brands... but definitely stuff like Proto, SK, Snap-on, Mac, etc. I'm including Craftsman though, I imagine there were plenty of pros using that brand back then.

The last requirement is that everything has to be functional. No broken tools. Maybe someday I will buy an older vehicle and use this stuff exclusively to work on it.... just for fun.

This is the box I started with and have now abandoned, mainly because it is just too heavy. Not even half full and it weighed like 50 pounds...but it was for sure period correct and pretty cool.
View attachment 123740View attachment 123741

I transferred everything over last night into the New Britain box I bought. It looks weird and empty but I'll get it filled up eventually as I run across stuff. There are some pretty old tools in there, one partial set of sockets is from the very early days of Snap-on in the 1920's where the logo is just an S with an O stamped across it.

Enjoy:
View attachment 123742View attachment 123743View attachment 123744View attachment 123745View attachment 123746View attachment 123747

Love it but I never saw a claw hammer in my Dad's shop.

 

[Shran]

Love it but I never saw a claw hammer in my Dad's shop.

I'm on the fence on that. Might take it out. I have used one for automotive purposes before but only because I had nothing else within arm's length.

 

[Uncle Gump]

@Shran

Is that red handled Phillips screwdriver a MAC Tools? Looks to have AL scribed on the handle. Crazy because I scribed TAL on all my handles on my MAC set.

If it's a MAC... I'd like to trade you something for it... mine is bent.

 

[RobbieD]

I thought it would be cool to put together a vintage tool kit.

Damn; your "tool museum" looks like what I use now.

But, I guess that I'm considered "vintage" just like my tools . . . I started buying mine in the 70's.

Cool idea, though. If you ever get to a point where you have a "need" list, I'd be glad to look through my spare "extras". I even still have some of the old Snap-On calendars; 80's definitely, but I'm not sure if I have any from the 70's.