WeldfabNeil

I myself prefer cast iron. All mine I bought used or inherited. I've been pleased with used Ridgids. A big 48" or 60" pipe wrench is suprisingly good for benching metal plate in the field.

Since I no longer need my own tools at work my truck is pretty much my mobile shop on call but yet daily driver an plow truck. It trually has everything needed. I have more hand tools in my truck then I do garage. Some power tools are kept as well. The whole backseat is full of tools. I have two topside boxes with welding stuff as well. Oxy an acetylene tank mounts if needed as well as a 10 gallon air tank that I use with my little compresser to run plasma cutter. Of course my miller trailblazer is mounted in the bed. I did specificity put a kit together for my western snow plow. I have all the common parts, an spare hoses. I also have some random parts for boss plows, not that I have a boss. I think I also have a few for Meyer plows for some odd reason. I do have four separate tool boxes with chains, shackles, recovery straps. tie downs, chain binders, come along, bungee cords an light rope. I also have a bunch of oils, greases, brake fluid, coolant, power steering fluid, hydraulic fluid(for plow), chainsaw bar oil, every filter for my miller trailblazers kubota engine, wd40, basically everything I might need. Of course there's duct ant electrical tape as well.

I see cup holders, are they cooled cup holders as well?

The trucks are great for some but not for me. I have been on them an just don't care for them. I can buy used or other alternative but good brands. I have bought my boxes used locally. I also have my grandpas craftsman from the early 90s. I would like to get one big box but for some reason I keep adding small boxes one at a time. I worked with a dude who spent almost 30k on a snappy box, half of witch was empty. It looked great an all but just not worth it to me. He always gave me crap for not having the newest stuff. Some of my daily user tools are my grandpas from 25 years ago. There not shiny but ime not paying every week for them. all I care about is getting the job done right. It doesn't matter how well your ratchet looked during the process but that whatever product we sent out that day lasts for years to come. Are my welds 100%, did I get the measurements right, etc.

As others said its a tool by tools basis. For me there vise grips are pretty good. I have several of both the vise grips an locking c clamps. I wish they would make a larger style deep throat one thoe. Screwdrivers an tape measures are decent as well. Linemen pliers work but I prefer my kleins or knipex. Same goes for the needle nose. I have yet to try there other pliers or tins nips. Fastback pocket knife is good but it's no Kershaw. For the price you can't beat it thoe.

So the parents bought a 4 year old foreclosure an it needs some work. I got the ok to spend money to buy some tools. Even thoe I won't be paying for them Obvisouly money is well not growing on trees. I was wondering if anyone had feedback. Tools are gonna be used around the house to do cosmetic projects an minor repairs an finishing a basement. I have always believed In buying quality tools but is it necisary if I don't use them daily? Ime a welder by day so those tools are all top notch but ime no professional carpenter. Firstly I am looking for a sliding miter saw. I like the Bosch dual bevel glide but ime struggling with spending the 600 on it. Lowes currently has a dewalt 12 sliding with rails on sale for 400. I am a big Bosch fan like the bevel glide but I don't think I trually need to go all out on a saw I won't use every day. Before we moved I had a craftsman radial arm saw witch was good. Next is a tablesaw. I absolutely love the Bosch 410009 but again do I really need it. I can get a cheap Kobalt for like 265. Next I am gonna need a finish nailer, I have a roll air compreser I run my plasma cutter off of but no nailers. Any input on finish nailers is great. Next off witch I am deffintily willing to spend money on is a good shop vac. I had my grandpas craftsman in Illinois but well it didn't make the move. It was great in its day but desperately needed a filter an the hose was all duct taped an seen better days. It also was missing the casters. We figured after 15 years it wasn't worth the space to move it. Another thing we are gonna need is a snow blower come winter. The single stage craftsman was good but wasn't worth moving. It to like the shop vac seen better days. We would like to go with a dual stage model this time. We haven't really looked at any specific models or even brands. Also a big thanks to Regopit He offered a dewalt drywall screw gun for free just pay shipping an I took him up on the offer. I only used it to test it out but the whole basement is framed, wired an plumbed but needs drywall. The screw gun will be a real help.

I've used my sawzalalso for just about everything. I even used it to help take a small stump out of the ground, about two feet across. I didn't wana ruin a chain saw chain an it was positioned were I didn't have room to pull it with my truck. Just took the sawzaw an cut around it an in quarters. Of course I've used them for pruning trees as well. Before I had my plasma cutter, metal cutting circular saw an porta band I cut a lot of metal with sawzalls as well. My only complaint is I've spent more money on sawzall blades then the actual saws themselves. I've got the following ones - m18 brushed -m18 fuel brushless -12 amp corded millwakee -Makita sawzall, not sure the amps or model I also had a corded ryobi but it bit the dust.

i was wondering how hard everyone is on there tools? I sorta look at pics on various forums an see some tools I think man I couldn't possible keep it that clean after how I use mine. Then there's other people I think I would never abuse my tools like that. Either way is cool as long as it works for you but how are you with your tools? . Personally I consider myself to use my tools somewhat hard. I wouldn't say I abuse them but I could probably be a little nicer. I wipe my wrenches down every now an then but not every use. I run my welder at the max but always keep it maintained an ready. With that thoe I buy the good stuff even if it means buying used I would rather have a used snap on then a new harbor freight.

However in my defense there not all the larger xc batteries, some are just the older m18 red lithium from when I first started with the m18 platform. Over the years I've bought this an that to add on an well yeh.

That's a great deal, thanks for sharing. I really don't need a 14th m18 battery so I guess I will pass.

How come it feels like there trying to re invent the wheel?

I've spent time on one. To work on stuff well it's moving slightly is fine but when your trying to weld off it deffintly takes getting use to.

When I went to a vocational program for construction that was my best friend. Even today as a welder I still keep a square handy.

I know someone is gonna disagree but.... I personally love my carharrt an don't see a need for the all these fancy heated jackets or heated truck seats or fancy do dads.

Way to go millwakee, it's time we all bring back American manufacturing am do more export then import. As a American I support my fellow Americans. To me that includes buying the products that provide my neighbors jobs.

I would mainly recommend the ryobi tek4, as dr99 said. My aunt was looking for a small power screwdriver. I offered her my old m12 drill cause I moved up the fuel line of m12. I showed it to her an she wasn't impressed because its was to bulky for her liking. She ended up getting the ryobi tek4 an the utility light an is very pleased. I don't know how much she uses it but she loves it. In comparison to my m12 fuel the ryobi tek4 is a child's toy but for very light duty around the home stuff it does the task. It's also much cheaper an easier to handle. If my needs were occasionally putting together a basic bookshelf or hanging a picture I would buy it.

Either millwakee, makita would be a good choice. I run millwakee an am very pleased. Most of my needs are metalworking an diy. Either brand I would consider a oscillating multi tool if you do woodowrking or diy stuff.

Hey conductor I was curious, do you have just the stock husquvarna chain for it or another chain type. If so do you have any recommendations on what to go with? I have sharpened my one chain to death an My other chain is starting to get to its last few sharpenings. The third chain I have I hit some sort of nail in a tree an yeh. I've had other of the same chains but there worn out as well. Ideally I would like to have at least two chains ready. Currently I have a stihl 25" bar with a 3/8 pitch an .050 gauge with a stihl rs3 chain.

I was browsing Home Depots website an saw that they have about half of their hk Porter stuff at 30 or 40 percent off. Not a great deal but not a bad deal. Ime tempted to go with the 24 inch bolt cutters but not sure. http://t.homedepot.com/b/Tools-Hardware-Hand-Tools-Hand-Saws-Cutting-Tools/HK-Porter/N-5yc1vZc21jZok&currentPLP=true

The temptation was to great, I had to open them. Can't wait to test the whole saws out thoe.

That's a great saw for the price. Ive used the rancher before an it's a great all around saw. Nothing full professional but for me I wouldn't mind having one. I have a stihl ms 441. It's a great saw but bigger then I trually need. Only reason I got it is cause I did some welding repairs on the side for a lawn equitment shop that also sold Stihl. He was tight on making ends meet an I needed some sort of saw. He offered a few different saws combined with cash or all cash. I went with the biggest saw little cash he offered. Deal worked well for both of us. I am very pleased with it when I've used it. It's a pure beast. I don't really know enough about chainsaws to tell you what brand is better.

I picked up the Lenox whole saw kit an the Lenox utility knife with free blades. Haven't got a chance to open them yet cause ime out of town with work but they look sweet.

However biggest I can give advice for any generator thoe is.... -always drain gas for storage an rotating out the gas cans every so often you have for it -check oil often along with filter/filters -use surge protectors -heavy gauge cords -careful location of were you run it -understand difference between running an surge watts I know it all sounds like common sense but these seem to be common causes for most issues. Also never back feed to a houses main improperly. If done wrong excess power will go into power lines an can possibly injure/kill linemen working on trying to restore your power lines.

It's a great price for a pretty small generator. a generator is just one thing you don't want to go cheap on thoe. I am a big fan of Honda generators. There pricy but well worth it. We had a eb6500, but recently sold. It ran 60+ hours in a little under four days running from around 1/2 to 3/4 load. Only reason I sold it was cause I got a miller trailblazer 325 diesel welder/generator, with a 12k generator.

I have both the m18 fuel an m18 non fuel version of millwakee angle grinders. No questions asked there both battery hogs, an don't compare to there corded versions. I always keep a corded models as well. There great for small jobs but don't expect to bevel a whole edge with just one battery. For just cutting a lock or something either would do.