Jump to content

dwasifar

Members
  • Posts

    259
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    7

Posts posted by dwasifar

  1. 3 hours ago, Cr8ondt said:

    Yep that's the one, I really wanted to get the Hitachi the only hang-up was it was a tad heavier, and the Kobalt was already at the limit of weight.

     

    Well, from what I'm seeing it looks like the Hitachi has a 1" arbor.  I've emailed Hitachi to verify, but I don't think I'd want a saw that's harder to get blades for. 

     

    So let me know how your dad likes the Kobalt.

  2. 51 minutes ago, Cr8ondt said:

    Apon giving it to him he said " You guys are fucking idiots" Which is his way of saying thank you to us.  Not gonna lie, probably the warmest feeling I've had giving a gift. 

     

    Now I know how to compliment you. :)

     

    You bought him this, right?

     

    847962005083.thumb.jpg.2a1f9a39b287afb339d0a9b67c2fb364.jpg

     

    I was in Lowe's yesterday looking at table saws for no good reason.  I have a bad reason: I discovered my adjustable dado is too thick for the arbor of my Porter Cable table saw.  I've had the P-C for several years but this is the first time I needed to dado on it.  I ordered a more conventional dado set, and if it fits, that's good, but if it doesn't, I may need to change saws.

     

    The Porter Cable table saw Lowe's sells now looks like a toy compared to the one I have, but they have a really nice Hitachi:

     

    717709020450_08184650.thumb.jpg.8b64aaa430cd2917721f8bf2e7bd749b.jpg

     

    For $350 it seems to have all the features of the $500 DeWalt that was sitting next to it.  The downside of both the DeWalt and the Hitachi is the stand.  I leave my saw set up all the time and just roll it under the workbench when I'm not using it; the workbench is designed with a spot for the saw.  But that only works with a stand that has wheels on the ground like my current saw or your dad's new Kobalt.

     

     

    • Like 2
  3. The Craftsman sale at Ace was still going on, so I snagged one of the magnetic torpedo levels for $2.99:

     

    pACE3-18611061enh-z7.jpg.fea951d06175b1ccda55570a9a2c4531.jpg

     

    I don't know when I'll need it, but for three bucks why not have it.

     

    I also built myself an industrial strength power strip out of spare parts:

     

    photo5058069971480979404.thumb.jpg.8987de80eaae1975d43290e8c5c5756d.jpg

     

    14/3 computer power cord garbage-picked at work, other components scrounged out of a junk drawer.

    • Like 2
  4. I have gone to the dark side:

     

    IMG_20170615_211201.thumb.jpg.14013adff6686bfba855e1b8b8bc2754.jpg

     

    I've always wanted a set of box end ratchets but never quite enough to shell out the green.  HF is having one of their 20% coupon deals, and the set was under $20 with tax, so let's see how they are.  The chroming is good, but they're awfully thin, and the 12mm is larger than the 13mm.  Whaddya expect, I guess.  We'll see how they do.

     

    Of course where there's a wrench set, there's another one of these:

     

    IMG_20170615_211305.thumb.jpg.6cdb339ed937d6265509266fa613d068.jpg

     

    Not as nice as the others.  The piece of firewood I picked out that I thought was ash turned out to be something softer, maybe silver maple.  But it gets the job done, I guess.  The 12mm and 13mm look funny together.

     

    Speaking of toolbox organization, the rest of my Goliath socket rails arrived today, so now I have my sockets drawer organized:

     

    IMG_20170615_160314.thumb.jpg.cc12f4ddb2f6aa9fae10bc5fd4572aa3.jpg

     

    Metric on the left, SAE on the right.

    • Like 4
  5. The Tekton elf came again today:

     

    IMG_20170613_221133.thumb.jpg.19d19333fb6083bbcb41bd235b488dfa.jpg

     

    IMG_20170613_221144.thumb.jpg.e2b8164ef34988c067735a02ecb11e71.jpg

     

    This time I actually might have something to complain about.  I think there's a plating flaw on the 18mm socket.  See it?

     

    Also there's this.  It's not a tool I bought, per se, but it is new:

     

    IMG_20170613_215838.thumb.jpg.b61e2a214eb834c1b82a3e081b919b80.jpg

     

    In this case I can literally say I did not buy this wrench rack.  I made it out of a piece of firewood:

     

    IMG_20170613_204329.thumb.jpg.0f2f2a1e470bbcfc4fbb739db556a903.jpg

    IMG_20170613_210603.thumb.jpg.d038cbff2c16995d6264e5287d530603.jpg

    IMG_20170613_215748.thumb.jpg.e14d416e97ad3a0132817df1e81d8d23.jpg

     

    This is part of the toolchest organization project.  All the commercial wrench racks would have left empty slots.  Now I have two more to make for my other two wrench sets. I'm pleased with how it came out, though.  It's oak, nice and heavy, so it doesn't shift around in the drawer when I pick up a wrench.

    IMG_20170613_215956.jpg

    • Like 7
  6. 20 minutes ago, dwasifar said:

     

    Might as well do this again. Today we're comparing new Tekton 1/2" drive sockets to vintage Craftsman. 

     

    One more thing I noticed is that the Tekton "points" are not as sharp as the Craftsman.  You can see it in the pictures.  So there's that.  I don't know if that makes a difference, though, and it looks to me like a Snap-on socket's points are more like the Tekton than the Craftsman:

     

    SWM241.jpg.c54b08f7d3ec988fcf94671bf59cd2a6.jpg

    • Like 1
  7. On 5/31/2017 at 3:54 PM, dwasifar said:

     

    So today, since I'm recovering from surgery and don't have anything better to do, I'll spend more time than it's worth comparing the new Lowe's Kobalt extension I posted about the other day to a 1990s USA Craftsman.

     

    Might as well do this again. Today we're comparing new Tekton 1/2" drive sockets to vintage Craftsman. 

     

    I have the Tekton set in metric and the Craftsman in SAE, so I'm choosing the closest match in size, and comparing 3/4" to 19mm and 5/8" to 16mm.

     

    The pairs are pretty much the same size, except that the 19mm Tekton is step-sided whereas the Craftsman is straight:

     

    IMG_20170612_190455.thumb.jpg.b33e9eb23fcc643b64c96fbd37536452.jpg

    IMG_20170612_190525.thumb.jpg.0cc612334cba8b01928ae007c1fe86f8.jpg

     

    In the smaller pair, the depth is about the same:

    IMG_20170612_190539.thumb.jpg.f8182b3ce2309654172cf5f6ab3f18f5.jpg

     

    But in the larger pair, the Craftsman is definitely deeper:

     

    IMG_20170612_190554.thumb.jpg.488c2621cfa20b79505c362f9b104ffd.jpg

     

    This is probably possible in the Craftsman because of the straight sides. So that seems like a cut corner on Tekton's part. 

     

    The finish and chrome quality seem pretty comparable. There are no visible external imperfections. But the smooth chrome extends partway into the inside of the socket on the Tekton pieces, which I think is a nice touch. Same on the bottom. 

     

    In each pair, the Tekton socket is distinctly heavier:

     

    Craftsman 5/8" 52g

    Tekton 16mm 64g

     

    Craftsman 3/4" 72g

    Tekton 19mm 78g

     

    I'm not sure where the extra weight comes from. Different kind of steel? I don't know, I'm not a materials expert. 

     

    On the surface, the Tekton looks like a comparable quality product to the USA Craftsman. I don't see any visible evidence of cutting corners, except for the stepped sides on the larger sockets, and there might be a good reason for that besides saving a few pennies. The only thing I can't test for you is break strength. Well, I probably could, but I'm not going to. 

     

    I wish I could report some major differences favoring the USA Craftsman over the Tekton from Taiwan. But I really just can't. They look good. 

    • Like 3
  8. Today I bought a bunch of Horror Fright tent sale stuff that doesn't warrant photos: a hose sprayer, a set of grinding stones, a three-plug outlet strip, a magnetic tool storage bar, a bucket organizer, and one of their better-than-it-should-be digital calipers. 

     

    I also indulged a stupid OCD thing. You will recall the screwdriver set rack:

     

    IMG_20170609_141518.thumb.jpg.7cf05b9f1ba5cb50bf941982acce6f2f.jpg

     

    Well, now it looks like this:

     

    IMG_20170611_191625.thumb.jpg.59d6c1d82306a40ed298b95bea4a05a5.jpg

     

    Yes, I actually went to Sears and bought a new clear handle #3 Phillips so it would match. There was nothing wrong with the old one except that it didn't match. OCD. 

     

    Of course, with what's going on between Sears and Western Forge, it might be my last chance to get a WF USA driver. That's my rationalization and I'm sticking to it. 

    • Like 3
  9. Here's a USA Craftsman 42793 3/8" flex head quick release ratchet handle for you guys who like the older USA Craftsman tools.  This one is probably late 1970s, early 1980s vintage.  

     

    The reason I replaced it was that the flex head detents are a little sloppy by now.  Annoying to me, might not be a problem for you.  So you can buy it and live with that, or you can fix the detent if you know how to get in there and replace that spring (I don't), or you can swap it for a new non-USA one at Sears and still be ahead of the game price-wise.  I don't know what to ask for it, so let's say $10 or best offer.  I'm in the northwest Chicago burbs.

    00X0X_fkLd6JykYFf_1200x900.thumb.jpg.57322084a630349e812d6156693f62c4.jpg

    00t0t_1zsiWDzqjg8_1200x900.thumb.jpg.15cf5a14564bc773eba0dbe3152e7a5c.jpg

    • Like 1
  10. Hi folks,

     

    I have this Channellock screwdriver set that I changed my mind about. It's new and factory-sealed:

     

    00P0P_bNLD0YJHl0a_1200x900.thumb.jpg.54b1a19ef013fecf538b8244df907769.jpg

     

    For a better look, here's Channellock's pic of what's in the set:

     

    00o0o_er1PMwQ1bca_1200x900.thumb.jpg.ad315df19dc45070dad4714c47cfab66.jpg

     

    These are made in USA with clear acetate handles, chrome shafts, vapor blasted tips. Lifetime Channellock warranty.

     

    Set includes:

    #1 x 3" Phillips
    #1 x 6" Phillips
    #2 x 4" Phillips
    #2 x 6" Phillips
    #3 x 6" Phillips
    3/16" x 3" slotted
    3/16" x 6" slotted
    1/4" x 4" slotted
    1/4" x 6" slotted
    5/16" x 6" slotted
     

    List for this set is $68.18.  I've got $50 into it.  Make me an offer.

     

    I'm in the Chicago NW suburbs if anyone is close enough to pick them up.

  11. The other day I was drilling through some tough jatoba wood with a large twist drill, using the cordless 3/8" DeWalt, and the bit got stuck good and proper.  Couldn't drill it through, couldn't back it out.  The drill would strain but not move.  Eventually I had to break out the corded 1/2" to break the bit loose.  But after I removed the DeWalt from the stuck bit, I detected that distinctive electrical overheat smell from it.

     

    Do I need to do anything?  Check the brushes or something?  Did I shorten the tool's life?

  12. Today I picked up the things BMack pointed me to at Ace.  I got the same USA screwdriver sets and USA framing square he did, plus these spring clamps:

     

    593afafe367ac_Screenshotat2017-06-0914-45-52.png.ce008beb6aa18c1d8b59841ed70e4b47.png

     

    I adapted the screwdriver rack originally built to hold the Channelock screwdrivers to hold the Craftsman drivers instead:

     

    IMG_20170609_141518.thumb.jpg.451afc3dea65b8d1f638517193e52862.jpg

     

    This means I'm not going to keep the Channellock set, for which a replacement is already on the way to me.  If anyone's interested in a sealed new 10-piece set of USA Channellock acetate drivers, PM me.

     

     

    • Like 2
  13. 7 minutes ago, BMack37 said:

     

    I thought about getting those but I have three spring clamps and the other type of similar clamp by Irwin...and loads of locking pliers. At work I have a ton of them too. I always seem to misplace my levels so I buy them when I see a deal...then I find the one I lost.

     

    Honestly, as much as I dislike acetate screwdrivers, the Craftsman are pretty good...especially at the HF pricing this deal is at. The oddball is the stubby [which is a little long for a stubby (that's what she said)] screwdriver, it's a PH1, that should be pretty useful when the problem arises. I think they're made by Western Forge.

     

    I might sell the replacement set of Channellock screwdrivers instead of opening them, and build a Craftsman set instead around these purchases to go in that custom rack I made.

    • Like 1
  14. Lookee lookee what I got today:

     

    IMG_20170608_215656.thumb.jpg.4095e371ab3834612f953c26fc5ca0a1.jpg

    IMG_20170608_215853.thumb.jpg.7ef35bcb04ee248531ea64951fdda0ee.jpg

     

    You're probably thinking, so what?  It's a basic angle grinder.  But the thing is I have never owned one before, and for a stupid, stupid reason: I thought they were expensive.  I had never priced one.

     

    This one was stupid cheap: $36 at Lowe's.  I don't have a particular use for it right now but for that price it's nice to have it on hand.  And it has a case, which is a big deal for me.  Even if I burn this one out, I will have a box to put the next one in. 

    IMG_20170608_215813.jpg

    IMG_20170608_215931.jpg

    • Like 2
×
×
  • Create New...