Conductor562

Best part so far: NO METRIC! Everything is 3/4, 1/2, or 7/16 all stainless SAE! Don't remember the last thing I worked on I could say that about. I removed bolts that had been in place for 50 years and never rounded off a single one. Used a little WD-40 and they twisted right out. It's nice to work on something that was built with pride.

Got started on the tear down today. Turns out it's a 1962 model. You know, the tires are shot and it looks like hell, but it's actually in pretty sound working condition. The motor's going to be a trick. It's pre alternator and is equipped with a generator. I've never done any work on anything quite this old, but I've got a buddy that dabbles in Gravley's who's agreed to help me out. Luckily the transmission and rear end seem to be in good shape.

They definitely don't build em like they used to. The same is true with pretty much everything though. When I moved to the new house I gave away the old Gibson freezer I had from the mid 60's. The door seal was bad but other than that it still ran like a Swiss watch. Now days you feel good with getting 10 years out of any appliance.

Those Dewalt cases are flimsy for sure. Hope it can be repaired.

Hello, welcome to the forum!

Touching on something you said in an earlier post, I don't like the multi purpose tools, none of them! I prefer to have a dedicated tool for each task. This isn't a big issue and seems to be more common in homeowner grade tools, but I hate it none the less. Maybe I'm strange, I just don't care for it. There are many new tool trends I do like though. I like the longer cords that my newer tools have. LED lights are nice though they really aren't needed on some tools. The ratcheting feature combined with the carbide teeth on most pro grade keyless chucks has made keyed chucks damn near obsolete. The run time offered by today's batteries was unthinkable a few years ago, though that more innovation and really not a trend. The bare tool option has made it much more feasible for a DIY'er/hobbiest/mentally addicted junky like myself to own a broad range of pro grade stuff where as before it was just not economically possible, but again, that's really not a trend in the context of which you speak. I'm not always crazy about rubber overmold though. Some tools it's nice, other it's somewhat un-nessecary. It looks nice, but if your're like me and clean your tools after every job, it's the stuff compulsive disorders are made of.

To be totally fair, I do store my inspection camera and my SDS hammer in the supplied blow molded cases. The camera for obvious reasons and the SDS because it's not used on a regular basis and it makes it easy to store the bits and things with it.

Here is the Cub Cadet I was speaking of. Best I can tell it's a 1963 model. I'll update every so often with progress pictures.

I haven't been in the market for a grinder so I can't attest to the funny angle of the handles. I really didn't like the fad with putting lasers on cutting tools. I guess they had their use, I just didn't care for them personally. I suppose my biggest complaint is that the all say MADE IN CHINA! I really like the move toward tool-less blade, bit, and accessory changes though.

Back in December (2011) I ordered the Milwaukee M12 Jig saw kit I'd been lusting over which came equipped with a standard capacity Red Lithium battery. The very next payday (2 weeks later) I got the M12 inspection camera which came equipped with 2 of the standard pre-Red Lithium batteries. So, I'm messing around in the garage today glancing over my power tool cabinet and I wonder "what's the real difference in these M12 batteries?". Naturally I decided to test them and see for myself. To conduct this test I used the M12 multi-tool (model 2426) which I positioned on a bench vise. I simply inserted the battery, turned the tool on, and let it run until it died while timing it with a stopwatch. Of course the recorded times are under no working load what so ever, but all conditions being equal I felt the results would provide a true answer to my question. To insure the integrity of the test I assured both batteries were fully charged by placing them both on the charger until the light turned green immediately prior to beginning the test. I don't feel there is any issue with age or use because I got both batteries in the same month and I use a battery rotation system to insure usage is spread out equally among all the batteries I have. Additionally, I allowed the tool to cool for 3 hours between tests to ensure that heat would in no way manipulate the results. Anyway, on to the results. The standard Lithium battery died after 21:06. The Red Lithium lasted 3:13 longer for a total run time of 24:19, an improvement of just under 15%. While it fell below Milwaukee's claim of up to 30% more run time, the Red-Lithium technology increased cost to the consumer 0% so I don't suppose I have any right to complain. Aside of run time, I did observe the tool running at a higher rpm with the Red-Lithium battery which was noticeable by the higher pitched sound coming from the tool. Again, these run times are no load times and based on my experience with the tool I'd feel comfortable saying that run time under intermittent load would be around half of the no load times. The only variable not addressed by this test is in regards to the extent that extra little kick of the Red-Lithium affects the amount of work able to be done per charge. I would have loved to throw an XC battery in the mix, but I've yet to get around to purchasing one. While it certainly isn't a perfect test, I do feel it accurately reflects the run time differences between the two. Feel free to share your thoughts. 24:19 21:06

It'd just be like everything else. What hers is hers, and what's mine is hers, lol. There'd be hers and hers and i'd have to suffer through twice as much sappy Lifetime crap.

I'm glad someone finally decided to package their tools in something useful. I always preferred the bags to the blow molded cases because I could use them for something else if I wanted. I use the small bag that came with my M12 jig saw as a carry all for smaller jobs and I use the big bag that came with my M18 combo kit for bigger jobs. When I tiled my buddy's bathroom I was able to put everything I needed in it with the exception of the tile saw. As for the blow molded cases, I don't use them to store or transport my tools, I hate to throw them away, but they take up a lot of the limited space I have. If I hauled my tools around every day I'd likely use them as the offer better protection, but that's just not the case. With the new Bosch boxes you get a nice compromise. Hope the other manufacturers follow suit.

We have a DVR. It really doesn't help me though because it's constantly recording any number of the 10 or more shows my wife follows. All my memories of TV shows are from the 80's and early 90's because that's the last time I got to watch any.

I can honestly say that I've never priced international shipping, but I know it's got to be high.

I've never even heard of electron beam welding.

And I'm sure the M12 SDS will be the 1st choice for conduit work.

I'm probably looking most forward to scoping out the M12 caulk gun. The price of the M18 always detered me because I don't use a caulk gun a whole lot, but every time I do I always say "Damn, I wish I had one of those Milwaukee caulking guns". As information, I say the same thing about the grease gun. lol. If the Caulk gun is in the $150 or less range, bare tool of course, I'm going for it. I'm certain the M12 run time would be more than sufficient for 99% of what I'd need it for.

Not really. I blow the crud out of it with my compressor every once in awhile. Like a lot of other tools, they threw them out at the plant my dad works at because it got caustic on it. He brought it home, cleaned it up, and I've had it ever since. I got it in the mid 90's so I've had it at least 15 years and it was used when I got it. It's definitely been a good one. It's amazing the stuff these big plants throw out for the littlest things. They'll change the blade in a saw every time they use it. They'll open a box of fasteners, uses 1/4 of them, and throw the rest out. Anything that is supposed to be inspected either by OSHA or manufacturer guidelines, they rarely ever get them inspected, just throw them out. Ladders, fire extinguishers, doesn't matter, just toss it in the dumpster. Probably 1/2 the industrial tools I own were thrown out after only a handful of uses because they were exposed to caustic soda, which will burn you, but is easily cleaned up with water. They throw out a $100+ ratchet rather than wash it off in the sink. It's insane! Anything under $500 isn't ever cleaned or serviced. They used to not care what you took home, if it was in a dumpster, trash can, or scrap pile, it was fair game. Not so much anymore, now they try and make sure it stays in the trash.

I found a bunch of videos on youtube. I think that will get me started. I've got a buddy thats a Boilermaker, he gave me a few tips to get me started out. He also offered to stop by one day and give me a crash course.

We had 2 styles of Redwings available through our program. Some of the guys that got the other model seemed to like them, but the ones I got might as well been made of concrete. I have a 10" pair or Insulated Redwings I only wear when it gets cold and nasty. They're great boots, but I gave like $250 for them several years ago.

Love the Who! I listen to a lot of country as well.

I hardly watch any TV. Well, let me rephrase, I hardly watch any TV of my choosing. I watch plenty of disney and nickelodeon of the day, lots of chick shows in the evenings, and after everyone else is asleep, if I'm not to tired to breathe, I get to watch whatever manner of IQ reducing crap happens to be on at midnight.

Hard to believe the majority of holes are that small. It looks pretty sweet regardless. Any word on what kinda runtime does it gets?

Here it is. It's on ProTool. http://www.protoolreviews.com/reviews/hand-tools/cutting/milwaukee-fastback-2-folding-utility-knife

The Fastback blade storage info was on Protool or coptool, don't remember which. Looks like its tucked into the blade arm rather than the handle. I'm sure the M12 SDS will find it's share of use on the job site, I just don't work I'm masonry enough to justify having 2 SDS hammers. Well, come to think of it, I really don't NEED alot of things, but I still want one, lol.