As The Don Requested: Tool Discussion Moved - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Jeremy5848 · #31 03-11-2015, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maki

Whenever I'm at a swap meet I head for the used-tool vendors to check out their wares. Got a nice 1/4-inch drive Easco ratchet awhile back that beats any of the mass-market stuff I've seen in recent years. Thirty years old if it's a day. Estate sales are also a great source.

You can find some amazing good deals that way. My first tools were bought at a swap meet in Tucson, Arizona about 1970. A mix of brands (one wrench at a time guarantees variety), about half American-made, a dollar or two apiece, I still have most of them. Later in the '70s and '80s I bought a lot of Craftsman tools while they were still Made in USA. Since then I've bought a variety of brands including Harbor Freight tools; some are junk, some are OK. If I were wrenching for a living I could justify the high-priced tools.

Jeremy

Adriel · #32 03-11-2015, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mytmousemalibu

My Snap-On dealer (biggest in the state) has a huge truck and a lot of inventory and he showcases boxes on his truck and happened to have mine in there one day, I had to have it!

I'll keep it for as long as i'm around, shouldn't need to ever replace it. My previous box, a much smaller craftsman was running out of room and showing wear n' tear from daily use so i decided to upgrade. I could by a new or barely used car for what that box costs. I'd hate to count my total I have wrapped up in tools, lets just say I could buy a small house, payed in full

As for quality, each person must weigh that on there own. How much are you going to use them? How much should I spend? Etc. I'd say buy the better end of what you can afford. I don't mean like, go sell a kidney just to buy the best you can, but buy what your budget allows comfortably.

I tossed in a pic of hollow ground (right pic) VS flat ground (Left pic) tipped screwdrivers, easy to see why a HG engages better

mytmousemalibu, talk about an impulse purchase!

I buy on the edge, as good quality tools mean that much to me!

Thank you so much for the visual, from a visual person!

So, are any of your screwdrivers hollow ground or come close? I mean, better grinding on the American and European?

Quote:

Originally Posted by charmalu

Any of you guys remember Wizard tools?

There use to be Western Auto stores. They sold everything, appliances, lawn mowers, tools you name it.

They had a line of tools with their name on them, Wizard.

I bought a 3/8" ratchet maybe about 1970, I used the heck out of it, and became my favorite
even over craftsman. It had a Flex Head that actually stayed put instead of flopping around.

Finally about 10 years back it finally gave up the ghost.

I searched around for info on them but come up more or less empty handed.

I replaced it with a Craftsman 3/8 with a Flex head, and cut the handle to the length the Wizard has.
The damn Flex will not stay put, so doesn`t get much use.

I agree with Rollguy, those Craftsman with the lazer etched sizes on the Sockets are hard to read, and with wear, almost impossible to read.

There is no warranty for replacement if the etch wears off.

Charlie

Charlie, looks like it died the same way as Monkey Wards and Longs Drugs.

What broke on the Wizard ratchet?

When did you try and get the socket replaced based on finish? Will other brands not do the same?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

You can find some amazing good deals that way. My first tools were bought at a swap meet in Tucson, Arizona about 1970. A mix of brands (one wrench at a time guarantees variety), about half American-made, a dollar or two apiece, I still have most of them. Later in the '70s and '80s I bought a lot of Craftsman tools while they were still Made in USA. Since then I've bought a variety of brands including Harbor Freight tools; some are junk, some are OK. If I were wrenching for a living I could justify the high-priced tools.

Jeremy

Jeremy, love to find a swap meet, but I am clueless... Especially when it comes to quality and selection.

mytmousemalibu · #33 03-12-2015, 01:36 AM

As for hollow grinding, you would just need to look, ask, or check the packaging but it should be visually obvious. The majority of my drivers are not hollow ground, most of the time thats fine and has been on cars but once in a while a bugger of a screw pops up, I have a bit set with HG bits I can use. All my gun work I use HG tipped drivers. Grace USA makes some good ones and not terribly expensive and can be used on about anything.

charmalu · #34 03-12-2015, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adriel

mytmousemalibu, talk about an impulse purchase!

I buy on the edge, as good quality tools mean that much to me!

Thank you so much for the visual, from a visual person!

So, are any of your screwdrivers hollow ground or come close? I mean, better grinding on the American and European?

Charlie, looks like it died the same way as Monkey Wards and Longs Drugs.

What broke on the Wizard ratchet?

When did you try and get the socket replaced based on finish? Will other brands not do the same?

Jeremy, love to find a swap meet, but I am clueless... Especially when it comes to quality and selection.

Something in the ratcheting mechanisim gave up.

I n read that Sears would not replace the etched Sockets, think on this Forum a couple years ago.

I think Western Auto was bought out by...???

Charlie

mytmousemalibu · #35 03-12-2015, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charmalu

Something in the ratcheting mechanisim gave up.

I n read that Sears would not replace the etched Sockets, think on this Forum a couple years ago.

I think Western Auto was bought out by...???

Charlie

We had Western Auto still when I was a kid, I loved that place but they didn't have the cool stuff they used to like guns and other non-automotive things. Still have a Western Auto/Joe Amato t-shirt somewhere! I miss the small shops that catered more to the DIY guys and garage hot rodders. We even used to have a Super Shops performance parts store!
Western Auto stores here all got bought out by Advance Auto Parts, which is the absolute last place i'd go for parts here.

I now prefer Autozone. Some of there Duralast tools are ok. Really the HF Pittsburgh and Pitts professional stuff ain't bad. Their "gearwrenches" are great!

The old Craftsman stuff & service for that matter was great but it's slid down the hill fast. I have always hated their ratchets but it wasn't too big of a deal when you used to hand the guy the broken one and he grabbed one off the shelf and you were on your way. I saw the plummet ahead when I got handed a "new replacement" ratchet that had hammer marks all over it. I ask, "What the hell is this?", he says, "oh we don't give out new ones anymore, only refurbished ones, if we have any on hand". I was not pleased, you buy the tool, you buy the guarantee too. And most the time the refurbished ones are terrible. I don't even bother anymore. Sad really. I have a pile of broke Crapsman ratchets at home. I use my old garage sale tools, like old Proto's and SK's at home. They actually hold up and work.

Adriel · #36 03-12-2015, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mytmousemalibu

As for hollow grinding, you would just need to look, ask, or check the packaging but it should be visually obvious. The majority of my drivers are not hollow ground, most of the time thats fine and has been on cars but once in a while a bugger of a screw pops up, I have a bit set with HG bits I can use. All my gun work I use HG tipped drivers. Grace USA makes some good ones and not terribly expensive and can be used on about anything.

mytmousemalibu (what a mouthful to say every time), I didn't mean full hollow point grinding. I am really trying to understand the point of buying higher end screwdrivers.

I do see the nicer ones have a black oxide tip, which I would think bite better than slippery chrome and have more precision?

When I get back out to Comufornia, will look at Opa's screwdriver's, as do recall one that looked exactly like the Grace hollow point. I just bet there is one, just really noticed the difference.

Quote:

Originally Posted by charmalu

Something in the ratcheting mechanisim gave up.

I n read that Sears would not replace the etched Sockets, think on this Forum a couple years ago.

I think Western Auto was bought out by...???

Charlie

Charlie, that is what I thought. If you could get it apart, just bet one of your generations machinist could make a replacement. I helped with that on a Jaguar window regulator. Cog stripped out and since some good teeth left, used that to pattern the rest. Went back in the door, evaluated, and send back for final finish.

Yep, so defiantly after my experience and before they went down hill.

Not so Advanced Auto Parts apparently, by strangulation.

Jeremy5848 · #37 03-12-2015, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adriel

Jeremy, love to find a swap meet, but I am clueless... Especially when it comes to quality and selection.

If you're confused by the terminology, a "swap meet" is the same as a "flea market." Different parts of the country use different names for the same thing and I'm sure there are local words in languages all over the world. In Algeria and Morocco we went to the "Souk," the Arabic word for "market" or "bazaar."

Picking the good stuff out of the trash at either one is like buying on eBay—it helps to know what you're doing. Like most of us, I learned the hard way, by experience. "Before you meet the handsome prince, you have to kiss a lot of frogs."

For tools, I looked for stuff marked "Made in USA" with a recognizable name brand like Thorsen, Proto, Craftsman, etc. In 1970, the "cheap" tools came from Japan and Taiwan; today it's China and other Asian countries. I spent a lot of time wandering the stalls, offering, bargaining, "I'm a poverty-stricken student" (true in 1970), occasionally spending a dollar or two. My prize was a set of ten (10) Bonney ignition wrenches for $2!

Jeremy

Adriel · #38 03-12-2015, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

If you're confused by the terminology, a "swap meet" is the same as a "flea market." Different parts of the country use different names for the same thing and I'm sure there are local words in languages all over the world. In Algeria and Morocco we went to the "Souk," the Arabic word for "market" or "bazaar."

Picking the good stuff out of the trash at either one is like buying on eBay—it helps to know what you're doing. Like most of us, I learned the hard way, by experience. "Before you meet the handsome prince, you have to kiss a lot of frogs."

For tools, I looked for stuff marked "Made in USA" with a recognizable name brand like Thorsen, Proto, Craftsman, etc. In 1970, the "cheap" tools came from Japan and Taiwan; today it's China and other Asian countries. I spent a lot of time wandering the stalls, offering, bargaining, "I'm a poverty-stricken student" (true in 1970), occasionally spending a dollar or two. My prize was a set of ten (10) Bonney ignition wrenches for $2!

Jeremy

Jeremy, I know there used to be one back in El Cajon, but nothing here in Arizona. I just looked again, same as before.

Yes, made in U.S.A. is a good start. I have a pile of wrenches that came in the Squareback, and they are made in Japan I think, know maybe Taiwan, and one of my favorites due to weight and feel is India. They are from the 1970's to 1980's approximately, and bought by her and her bother when they were keeping up the Squareback.

That sounds like a deal! But, when do those actually become useful?

Jeremy5848 · #39 03-12-2015, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adriel

That sounds like a deal! But, when do those actually become useful?

Ignition wrenches (SAE to boot, not Metric) are indeed useless on a Diesel! However, they are nice to have around the house and for electronic projects involving small hardware. The fractional SAE sizes do match some Metric sizes so I occasionally get to use them on a car, especially in tight areas where standard tools are too large.

Jeremy