New tools you've bought recently?

[pjtoledo]

with 4 of them being corded I think a good cartoon is in the works. and maybe a hanging.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

with 4 of them being corded I think a good cartoon is in the works. and maybe a hanging.

Cartoon,... Hanging... You're kind of wishy washy with the direction you're going...

 

[scotts90ranger]

I mounted one of those 4' power strips from HFT on my welding cart and have storage for I think 5 grinders on it, works well... better if I kept the little work surface on the welding table clear enough to use for it's intended purpose...

 

[Shran]

Now all you have to do is make a grinder tree to hang them from...

This was my solution to that, it's basically just two pieces of pipe mounted at different distances from the wall. They hang by the handle, not the guard or disc - I tried that style and it didn't work for me because some guards are inset more than others. This holds anything assuming you have the handle.

 

[scotts90ranger]

On my welding cart I have two short pieces of camp chair tubing welded to the uprights to go inside the handles on the back side then a piece of 1" steel strap along one side in the tank area to hook the guards on but I like what Shran's got going on, wouldn't work in my situation as is though...

 

[scotts90ranger]

Kinda a tool but a Tractor Supply opened up in the biggest town near my house so I could finally get some affordable solvent for a parts washer... I got the parts washer almost 2 years ago, it's still gross inside and needs cleaned (I technically have two, finding a second for $20 wasn't worth digging the other one out of the garage...) but I'm more motivated since I have 10 gallons of PSC1000... $55 a jug is half what NAPA wants anymore I think... It actually took me two trips to get it because for one they were new and for two I was looking for a metal 5 gallon bucket, now they're in one of those square 5 gallon jugs... walked by it like 10 times... Before I fill it I need to come up with a scrap of carpet for the bottom and put a ball valve in the drain hole...

 

[Shran]

I had a $30 off coupon for Vevor so I bought one of these brake line flaring tools, allegedly they are amazing:

View attachment 123111

Quick review on this brake line flaring tool I bought last year:

Works good. I have done a bunch of 3/16 flares. As long as you do your part to cut the tubing square and deburr, you'll get a nice flare. The tool itself is kinda crudely made. I have to manually line up the die with the tubing - it's off by just a little bit. Has to be used in a vise, will not work under a car.

Worth $50-80? If you do even a handful of new brake lines on the bench, yes. If you're working exclusively under a car, no - the bar style or the hydraulic tool is a better option.

 

[Rick W]

Quick review on this brake line flaring tool I bought last year:

Works good. I have done a bunch of 3/16 flares. As long as you do your part to cut the tubing square and deburr, you'll get a nice flare. The tool itself is kinda crudely made. I have to manually line up the die with the tubing - it's off by just a little bit. Has to be used in a vise, will not work under a car.

Worth $50-80? If you do even a handful of new brake lines on the bench, yes. If you're working exclusively under a car, no - the bar style or the hydraulic tool is a better option.

Good info

 

[RobWigglezz]

Ordered a long, ratcheting flex head 15mm box end wrench from TEKTON to try out before buying a few more sizes. I got the 15 to keep behind the seats to use on the belt tensioner

 

[sgtsandman]

These alignment tools came in today. We use the toe alignment tool at the VMF and seems to work pretty well. The tolerances on the 2019, and from what I gather on the 2011 (I need to dig into the Service Manual to verify) are just barely withing the limitations of what the tool can handle. The tolerances on the Escape are much more loose and well within the capabilities of it.

Toe Alignment tool:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F2RYBMSG?tag=959media-20

Camber alignment Tool:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZMQ1T3J?tag=959media-20

And I got this steering wheel holder to more securely lock the steering wheel in place compared to using a seat belt:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074PVYSSL?tag=959media-20

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

These alignment tools came in today. We use the toe alignment tool at the VMF and seems to work pretty well. The tolerances on the 2019, and from what I gather on the 2011 (I need to dig into the Service Manual to verify) are just barely withing the limitations of what the tool can handle. The tolerances on the Escape are much more loose and well within the capabilities of it.

Toe Alignment tool:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F2RYBMSG?tag=959media-20

Camber alignment Tool:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZMQ1T3J?tag=959media-20

And I got this steering wheel holder to more securely lock the steering wheel in place compared to using a seat belt:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074PVYSSL?tag=959media-20

We might have to have a conversation at some point

 

[SenorNoob]

I just saved those links. For $88 and a level surface I can do my own alignments? Hell yeah. Got me wondering how much it'd cost to get a pad poured to work on.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Way back when I was really hitting JY's hard 15 years ago as I was working on my engine swap I picked up a cheap Stanley 1/4"-3/8" drive socket set from walmart. I figured if something broke or got lost it wouldn't be the end of the world. Since then it has worked its way into being a major go-to set. Unfortunately last year the flex hinge for the case lid finally gave out and now it keeps getting dumped over which I don't like. Until then I had never lost anything and never broke anything either. Super handy set that has proven to have an awesome base of what a guy needs. Some sockets are not shown as they are being currently used on my truck or are missing from the lastest dumpover into a toolbag I am still searching through.



So initial reaction was to just buy another set. Walmart unfortunately does not sell Stanley anymore and really from what I can tell I don't think anyone does. I could not find a similar set anywhere for sale reasonably.

A few years ago I got in a bind and snagged this Kobalt set when I needed a 12pt socket to remove a driveshaft. Its ok, ratchet broke the first time out and by the time I got it warrantied they changed everything so the new ratchet doesn't even fit in the case. Replacement ratchet is really nice though. Also missing 1/4" drive and has no nutdriver, it tried to replace the Stanley set by default but in the end fell hard. I didn't buy it at the time to replace the Stanley set but I had it on hand.



So I tore the internet upside down trying to find something close. Most sets are either 1/4 or 3/8... or 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2. It is a tough niche to find and for me if I need 1/2" I will probably need an impact and probably a torch anyway so I don't think I really need to carry it around. I stumbled upon a Craftsman set which checked all the boxes of my old set but added a 1/4" ratchet so I didn't have to use an adaptor for 1/4" and deepwell sockets as well. Also it has a lot more crossover between the two sets, like my Stanley cut off at 12mm, the Craftsman set has 1/4" drive 10mm and 3/8 drive 10mm so I can get after it with a ratchet or I can still just use a nutdriver/smaller ratchet. Also has a place for a wobble which I had stuffed into the Stanley set. Sockets lock into the case nice and there is a nice range of sockets, ratchets feel nice, I used it to put the alternator and valve covers back onto my truck last night and am very impressed with it so far. The case is bigger of course but I think it will still make a nice portable socket set.

One big catch was it had a bit driver instead of a nutdriver.



So I fixed that.



And I also picked up a stand to work on bikes.

 

[Rick W]

Way back when I was really hitting JY's hard 15 years ago as I was working on my engine swap I picked up a cheap Stanley 1/4"-3/8" drive socket set from walmart. I figured if something broke or got lost it wouldn't be the end of the world. Since then it has worked its way into being a major go-to set. Unfortunately last year the flex hinge for the case lid finally gave out and now it keeps getting dumped over which I don't like. Until then I had never lost anything and never broke anything either. Super handy set that has proven to have an awesome base of what a guy needs. Some sockets are not shown as they are being currently used on my truck or are missing from the lastest dumpover into a toolbag I am still searching through.



So initial reaction was to just buy another set. Walmart unfortunately does not sell Stanley anymore and really from what I can tell I don't think anyone does. I could not find a similar set anywhere for sale reasonably.

A few years ago I got in a bind and snagged this Kobalt set when I needed a 12pt socket to remove a driveshaft. Its ok, ratchet broke the first time out and by the time I got it warrantied they changed everything so the new ratchet doesn't even fit in the case. Replacement ratchet is really nice though. Also missing 1/4" drive and has no nutdriver, it tried to replace the Stanley set by default but in the end fell hard. I didn't buy it at the time to replace the Stanley set but I had it on hand.



So I tore the internet upside down trying to find something close. Most sets are either 1/4 or 3/8... or 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2. It is a tough niche to find and for me if I need 1/2" I will probably need an impact and probably a torch anyway so I don't think I really need to carry it around. I stumbled upon a Craftsman set which checked all the boxes of my old set but added a 1/4" ratchet so I didn't have to use an adaptor for 1/4" and deepwell sockets as well. Also it has a lot more crossover between the two sets, like my Stanley cut off at 12mm, the Craftsman set has 1/4" drive 10mm and 3/8 drive 10mm so I can get after it with a ratchet or I can still just use a nutdriver/smaller ratchet. Also has a place for a wobble which I had stuffed into the Stanley set. Sockets lock into the case nice and there is a nice range of sockets, ratchets feel nice, I used it to put the alternator and valve covers back onto my truck last night and am very impressed with it so far. The case is bigger of course but I think it will still make a nice portable socket set.

One big catch was it had a bit driver instead of a nutdriver.



So I fixed that.



And I also picked up a stand to work on bikes.

I’ve got several sets, some quality and some cheap, that I’ve had for years and years and years. Whenever I’m at the pullapart, I usually dig through the bucket of sockets and tools they have out front for $.50 or a dollar each, and I pick up spares of the things that wear out. I’ve got a bunch where I’ve rounded down the end to make it more square, or I’ve thinned out the wall to fit in a tight place. Hard to justify with a new socket.

On the plastic cases, I’ve had the hinges break, also, everyone has. I just drill a few holes in the right place and run some small zip ties through so it is still opens up and it closes snug. I usually use two or three small zip ties instead of one big one on each hinge.

One big thing I came up with is to take a couple zip ties and make a loop that slides over the box fairly snuggly, but still easy to slide on and off. I can’t imagine how many times I’ve knocked the box over and had to crawl on my hands and knees, back when my knees actually still worked, to try to find everything. Of all the different weird things I’ve come up with, that zip tie strap around the box has been a lifesaver a bunch of times. I’m thinking of upgrading to a Velcro. That’s glued to the box, but I haven’t gotten that far yet.

The other thing you get out of that loop, is I probably have a half dozen extensions and adapters and other sockets jammed into the original cases, and that loop will keep them closed.

I also store a lot of extra sockets or things that I don’t use too much in old video cassette cases. First, I take a small grinder and I knock out the little rings that used to hold the cassette tapes in place. For sockets, I use those super El cheapo metal socket holders, the ones that are metal strip with little metal loops that insert in the sockets, and I cut them off so they fit in the video cassette box. Then there’s usually two or three loose sockets or whatever in there too. One of the things I like about them, is they will store easily & line up like soldiers. And then I code the outside with a sharpie. M for metric, E for English, MD for metric deep, TRX, STAR, etc., etc. very little digging to find something.

And if you look on eBay, you can buy the rollover tool pockets. I love those for all my loose, wrenches and screwdrivers and nut drivers and such they’re the ones that have the little pockets on one side that go up a little bit in size as they go across with a big pocket on the far side. The top folds down and you can roll them up and then they have a string tie. I only beef with those is they have cheap stitching, so the stitching will pull loose of the pockets, and then I have to find somebody with a sewing machine and get them some nylon thread to put them back together. But those things are dirt cheap on eBay, especially if you buy a half dozen at a time.

And this last one should probably be on the government shed of miracles instructions, but when I have a little parts or weatherstrip or you name it and I throw them in a box and I put them up on the shelf. I label all four sides of the box with a sharpie, so the label is always facing outward.

Just major league anal food for thought, for anybody getting started

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

On the plastic cases, I’ve had the hinges break, also, everyone has. I just drill a few holes in the right place and run some small zip ties through so it is still opens up and it closes snug. I usually use two or three small zip ties instead of one big one on each hinge.

I thought about that but one I was down to one latch on the lid and it wasn't super healthy either. I have a smaller toolbox that it fits in the drawers of perfect so that will be its retirement home.