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New tools you've bought recently?


I picked up a coolant system test and refill kit for the Escape and a R134A A/C Manifold gauge set for the 2011 since the A/C seems to fall on it's face when in traffic and it's pretty hot out.

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Since there was a possibility that I would need to pull the water pump on the Escape and the timing belt as to be at least partially removed to do the job, I ordered this kit. I ended up not need ing it but I now have it for the future, when the timing belt needs changed.

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While I was there, I also finally ordered the timing kit for the 4.0 SOHC. Not the best time financially, but I've been wanting to get it for a while and sooner or later, I'm going to need it.

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My brother got the kit to do timing on Duratec engines, simple really... Also ended up getting him a 3/4" air impact for the crank bolt (he farms so not bad to have around anyway) but I ended up making an "inertia" socket by welding a cheap socket in a big heavy impact socket, my "high torque" bauer 1/2" impact got it right out with that... Also while I had the welder out I welded a big nut with 1 1/8" hex to a 1/2" drive 2" long extension so I can assist an impact if needed (we had plans B, C and D covered). While at Harbor Freight getting that impact I grabbed some more 1/2" impact extensions since I was wasting one...
 
I bought a huge 100 - 600 lbs-ft 3/4" drive torque wrench along with a big six point impact socket set. Apparently, Timberen recommends checking the torque on their hinge bolt once a year, 450 lbs-ft. Nothing I have will go that high and I would probably be hanging off of what I have to get even close.

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I also bought a new soldering gun since the iron I have seems to have pooped itself.

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I talked myself into one of the Titanium welding tables from Harbor Freight, the thing's a beast really, should be pretty nifty after I get some of the gross stinky oil off of it... I mean a fab table with clamps for $150? not bad... assuming I start using it appropriately... I'll try...
 
I guess they would count as a new tools.

Bought a new battery charger last night after discovering that my old one was bad, the leads had corroded to the point that the clamps broke off. I probably could have fixed that, but was suspicious of it already and wanted instant gratification of just replacing it. I've got the little NOCO 5 and 2 amp chargers, but mostly use them like maintainers and I prefer having a "proper" charger for something like this truck's big dual batteries. It can also charge charger at a higher amperage, and serve as a jump starter when needed. Turns out that weak batteries probably aren't the problem, looks like I'm pulling the starter to get it tested this week.
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Today I did a little Black Friday shopping. Been wanting a bigger tool box to clean up my shed, organize my tools properly, and a bit of a work surface. (Will eventually build a bench too.) Was planning to get one of the 52" US Generals from Harbor Freight. They get good reviews on the interwebz, and that plus a badlands offroad jack would have made the purchase ellegable 24 month 0% interest with equal monthly payments. Unfortunately they would have had to order the box and I'd have had to pick it up at a store in another town. Allegedly they don't have space for them in the storage at my local store.

I used a 42ish inch Snap-on for years at work. While it was a good box (but too expensive for my taste/needs), I knew that I wanted more space than it offered. After riding around and looking at the other stores in the area most of trhem only offered something in that 40" size range. I ended up getting a 63" Craftsman box from Lowes. Little bigger than I planned, but should leave plenty of growing room and gives more work space on top.


If I'm being completely honest, the US General did feel like a sturdier box, and there were some features that I prefered. Namely drawer latches and a charging drawer. This one was $140 less and I don't see lack of those features being a major issue, and it was available today without going out of town for pickup. I won't be rolling it around enough for lack of drawer locks to be an issue, and the soft close slides might have helped with that anyway. Having a charging drawer isn;t much good if there isn't an outlet nearby to plug the box in. Even if I do run wires for an outlet, it might be better that a drawer isn't dedicated to charging. This will be a good one for now. If down the road I build an actual shop, I might get see about getting something bigger and sturdier for that. Then this one can be repurposed into a Freedom Seed Spreader maintenance station, with storage for spare parts, tools and acessories. Didn't buy for the mural, but it didn't hurt, and it's magnetic, so easy to remove.
 
I don’t mind the Craftsman boxes but they never have enough shallow drawers. It’s like their trick to get you to buy a huge box that will immediately turn into a disorganized mess because you pile stuff on top of stuff… because you can. JMO anyway, I’m just a shallow drawer guy.
 
I don’t mind the Craftsman boxes but they never have enough shallow drawers. It’s like their trick to get you to buy a huge box that will immediately turn into a disorganized mess because you pile stuff on top of stuff… because you can. JMO anyway, I’m just a shallow drawer guy.
I hear you, but the HF box I was looking at isn't any better in that respect. Honestly, from my years working from a Snap-on box with several shallow drawers, they were almost too shallow. The company owned and built the boxes, so we didn;t get a say so in the tools, layout, or organization. Commonality was a plus for tool control and accountability. Anyway our tool boxes at work were foam lined with tool slots cut out of one layer and a thin contrasting layer below it. That made the effective drawer depth slightly less, but at times it would stop a drawer from closing if tools weren't in just the right place or turned the wrong way.

I'm planning to use tool organizers instead of foam shadowing, what I want to use probably will probably work better with the deeper drawers. I think that was an issue that I had with my little personal box years ago, the organizers I wanted to use wouldn't fit int he drawer, or too up too much space. My problem is more likely to be piling stuff on top of the tool box, not in drawers.

I'm still going to have the little box that I have now that will do fine for storage of miscellaneous supplies and the oddball specialty tools.
 
Just received a new leaf blower from Amazon. Specs say 480 cfm and 280 mph out of a 28cc 2 stroke. Looks pretty cheap build but was only $C150 delivered. Will fire it up tomorrow and see how it blows snow...
 
I have US General series 2 boxes in my garage and shop and honestly for drawer layout I prefer the series 2 versus 3 layout by far... I have zero use for powered drawers in my use and that really screws up the series 3 layout. I have the mid size box in the garage and the 5X" box in the shop with two side boxes and top box and it's great other than the latches are annoying... I have a couple friends with the Husky boxes that are similar and with the soft close instead of latches they're nicer... but whatever, I'm very used to my latches and my layout, they're great!

I setup the welding table yesterday and finally used the drywall sander a few minutes ago, it's a beast really, I used 220 grit paper and still got through the green layer in a couple spots! It only took me like 10 minutes for the 8x14 room... probably a waste to get it but my shoulder enjoyed not being abused... I can see it being useful on other things...
 

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