fm2176
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Posts posted by fm2176
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1 hour ago, wingless said:
Not mentioned but am sure there is a generator w/ sufficient fuel storage.
Note that the biggest issue to properly protect from is flooding.
Nice list...
When Irma trucked through several years ago I had to suffer through less than an hour of no TV / Internet and was searching for where to file my complaint on the outage, when it suddenly restored.
While I remained on my waterfront property for that storm, I moved my vehicles to an elevated garage, plus sent the wife and her parents inland, out of the storm path (at the decision time). The storm turned, passed over them, not me, leaving them in the dark and stranded w/ the roads closed for days.
Preparation w/ storm windows / doors and EVERYTHING possible stored inside. Hopefully negligent neighbor stuff doesn't projectile through your stuff.
Yes, a generator is on the short list, and the reason for keeping so much gasoline. Ideally we'll get a backup generator like a Generac, and if needed I'll get a NG or propane tank for it (haven't done a lot of research yet). I did have a generator but someone decided they needed cocaine more than I needed it just before I went to the beautiful Land of the Afghans.
I found a bunch of moisture absorbing flood barriers on clearance in a Savannah, GA area Lowe's before I moved from the area in 2016, but passed as I figured they might not be useable by the time I retired. Of course, after a career in the Army I have a small number of sandbags, but my portion of the street has never flooded, even when the 2016 floods claimed 80% of the Parish.
Finally, I have nice cypress shutters that match my house columns, but I'm thinking about making functional shutters to protect the interior against hurricane or tornado debris. Heck, I'm even considering installing a tornado shelter inside the house...it's built on a concrete slab, so why not?
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Who here believes in keeping a fair amount of food and essentials on hand? We're doing a super healthy dinner consisting of Waffle House inspired "All the Way" hash browns, waffles, omelets, and who knows what else tonight, and as I was digging through the pantry for the sausage gravy and chili (normally I make my own slow cooker chili, but tonight we're keeping it simple), I was satisfied seeing that my food stocks are slowly dwindling. With a move coming in a few months it's time to eat what we can before we donate whatever's left.
The events of two years ago validated my belief of buying in bulk and keeping a decent supply of both food and essentials on-hand. While people were hoarding toilet paper I already had a couple months' supply. When the shelves started getting bare, I had enough canned goods, pasta, and other shelf-stable foods to avoid panicking as so many others were doing at the time. At the start of the year we had a few days long power outage, with temperatures dropping below freezing. Despite not being as prepared as I would have liked in this all electric house, I had firewood and enough charged power tool batteries to keep the cell phones charged (though service was non-existent) and run some lights. I also rigged up a sterno stove and was able to use it and the propane grill to feed everyone.
In a few months I'm moving to the Gulf Coast and my plan is to be prepared each hurricane season. Also, as evidenced by my trip down there last February, there is the occasional freak ice storm which Gulf Coast states are never prepared for. Right now the plan is to keep 25-50 gallons of gas on hand, rotating out about 1/3 each month. I have at least six propane tanks I plan to keep filled and plan to get a big chest freezer to keep about 100 pounds of ice in (for food and evaporative cooling with the Arctic Cove fan. My house down there lacks a pantry, but I have plenty of shelving and will be keeping at least six months of canned food and staples on hand. I also plan to find a good butcher and keep a few months' worth of frozen meat on hand. Oh, and there's plans for a garden and the goats I tease my wife about getting (she tells me she's going to laugh when the goats eat the vegetables).
Maybe I'm what some would call a "prepper", but I believe in avoiding the stress that many Americans face when they are out of their comfort zone. If I can't get to the store, or if the power is out for a week or two, I want the family to be as comfortable and well-fed as possible. It's bad enough when the internet goes out, with constant yells of "I'm borrrreeeeedddd". 🥺 So, what is your philosophy? Do you just make the weekly trip to the grocery store and rely on Uber Eats if you can't get out, evacuate if severe weather is moving in, or make basic preparations to shelter in place for an indeterminate amount of time?
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I'm not sure. Most of my levels are Stanley Fatmax made in Thailand, I believe. I have a few 24" and 48" Empire levels (owned by Milwaukee) but am not sure of their COO. Empire and I think Johnson at least used to be made in the US.
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This is interesting, and I'd like to see where it goes. Cordless OPE seems to be all the rage, but in the US the market may be saturated when it comes to OPE specific platforms. We hear most about EGO, while Ryobi 40v is heavily marketed in Home Depot. Greenworks and Echo also offer cordless OPE-only systems, and DeWalt infamously pulled the plug on their way entire 40v Max system.
This isn't to mention the 18v class tools from DeWalt, Milwaukee, Ryobi, and Makita, nor the Makita 40v stuff, all of which are compatible with the tool batteries.
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1 hour ago, hloevrona said:
Electrical equipment is easier to service a fact. The most obvious advantage of electric yard equipment (whether battery-operated or corded) is that no gas engine maintenance is required - no oil changes, spark plugs, or air filters.
Besides the 20" chainsaw, all of my OPE is cordless. It's definitely true that it's easier to service (because, well, it doesn't need annual servicing). Most homeowners, along with some professionals, are well served with electric mowers, chain and pole saws, hedge trimmers, and string trimmers. I get some satisfaction when I see a neighbor struggling to pull start their mower or other equipment,, while I pop a battery in and start working.
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I looked it up this morning, some kind of pistachio roll?
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3 hours ago, wingless said:
The open glass door is shown against the wall in front of the toilet, can still see through back to back glass, so not one way.
Sorry, I didn't word that correctly. The toilet area itself is clear, but I wonder if the external glass panes are one way. Regardless, that bathroom would require someone very confident and brave to use.
I just imagine having a rough night after drinking and eating too much. This wouldn't work for me as a bathtub or bucket is sometimes required next to the toilet. 🤮
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12 hours ago, Sphillips said:
I just got my tool box and I have a couple dents in the bigger drawers. Very frustrating after paying this kind of money. I've sent 2 emails to Milwaukee with no response. I will be calling them tomorrow or the next day. I'm willing to pay for a couple of new drawers because I can't seem to find anyone who offers replacement parts.
Hopefully they stand behind their product, though the damage was likely caused during shipping. I know Stuart at ToolGuyd has mentioned his hesitance to have toolboxes and such delivered due to the chance of receiving damaged goods.
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2 hours ago, Eric - TIA said:
Yes, I think a cordless option would be nice but I have a corded tile saw and that would be one of my last upgrades to go cordless.
The lack of a cordless DeWalt tile saw was referenced in this thread by both Altan and me as an example of SBD not having their stuff together. I have to agree with you that this would be one of the last tools I'd buy, as I don't often need a tile saw. In fact, the Ryobi saw I picked up for $45 in 2017 is still new in the box, alongside a few benchtop tools.
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Recently, my daughter's (ex?) boyfriend took an entry level position as a mechanic. With no experience and few tools, he's likely not bringing home top pay. Like many new techs, he got roped into a Snap-On account, and shortly after starting he spent $8000 on a shiny new Snap-On toolbox. Now, I have no right to criticize the way he spends his money, but the guy is approaching thirty and pays child support, so being new to the trade and having obligations makes it a bit irresponsible to finance a multi-thousand dollar tool storage product.
I was a mechanic from roughly 1998-2001, sometimes working multiple jobs. Started with trailers, moved on to Cadillacs, then to material handling equipment, where I also worked part-time for a large tire and service chain. Tool trucks came by weekly, though I was a road tech at the forklift dealership so I rarely crossed paths with them. I racked up a fair amount of debt, owing as much as $700 at some points to the tool guys, with my Snap-On and Matco accounts getting as high as $500. My starting pay working on $50,000 Cadillacs was $6.50/hr. and by the time I left the forklift dealership I was making a whopping $12/hr. I made do with an ancient 3-piece Mac single bank stack and eventually a Craftsman 2-piece stack alongside it. The truck tools I bought were mostly trade-ins or specialty tools I couldn't get anywhere else. Most of the rest of the shop had their brightly colored Snap-On and Matco boxes; my work bay reflected my low pay and lack of experience. Later, when I worked out of the back of a service truck, I was glad I didn't have something shiny and new. A week in the truck would have had any tool box looking the worse for wear, and the tank-like Mac mid and top box I kept in it held up fine, albeit with a little welding being needed after a few months.
Another story...my brother spent decades as a mechanic, working on quite a few different things from small engines to heavy duty trucks (he's the one that got my my first job at the trailer shop). He prided himself in his Snap-On tools, keeping a relatively modest double bank toolbox setup and always making his weekly payments on time. When he left his last job he owed quite a bit, but the tool guy gladly took his toolboxes and a lot of the tools as payment. Simply put, my brother invested in overpriced tools that were worth pennies on the dollar after seeing some use. When he could no longer make the payments, he probably gave back 50% or more of his tools to break even financially.
The gist of this thread is this: if you're just starting out, avoid the tool trucks. Home Depot, Lowe's, or another big box has most of what you need, and Harbor Freight is excellent for the beginning mechanic on a budget. You might not have the nicest looking toolbox, the most tools, or the brand names that your peers have, but you'll have what's most important...that thing that you took the job for in the first place...your money!
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Looks nice, but I'd never be able to keep it clean. 😀
I wonder if the glass is a one-way type affair, offering privacy from the outside. Otherwise, it would take someone especially comfortable to use the tub or the toilet.
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These are sold as the Tri-Vise over here. I picked one up at Lowe's on clearance a few weeks back for about $5. Decent concept, lift the lumber up enough to avoid hitting the ground with the blade, while locking it in place. I used to use a piece of scrap lumber and my foot for a similar effect.
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On 3/29/2022 at 4:27 PM, Altan said:
I think the major US brands (also Makita and Milwaukee in a way but not as much as DeWALT) are more interested in the bottom line because they don't want to introduce a full line, At least till now that was the intention but I can not talk about the future and the reason is they think doing the business this way will make us buy more tools, that is why they all have this policy and kind of hidden cooperation with each other. It is something rare that Hilti started to introduce a big range of new line all in one go which they did recently, normally brands do introduce tools slowly and one by one or a few at a time, but not 70 tools at once. Cordless tools batteries are not just used for tools, Makita uses their batteries for cordless coffee maker, kettle, warmer/cooler and TV as well. Bosch is an European brand, Festool also is an European rand, also Fein, Hilti, Mafell, Rems, Rothenberger and a lot of others and these are known by Americans, I would not say all brands within CAS are well known though. The only way that will push American brands to go for something similar to CAS is that CAS has to be introduced to US market properly and American brands should feel the fear of a proper competitor otherwise they will not go for this.
The problem with SBD is that they did copy a lot of tools from Porter Cable for DeWALT like 1/4" router from DeWALT for Craftsman like a few drills, but why not the cordless tile saw from Craftsman or Porter Cable for DeWALT? What is the logic in this?!!! The logic is to not give a full range in any of their brands with this thought that they will make us wait for them for ages to come up with the tools we want.
This is entirely my opinion, based off of observation and experience, but I think many Gen-X Americans simply see DeWalt as the "go-to" brand thanks to Black & Decker's marketing of them as top tier professional tools in the 1990s. A little digression here, but I was surprised to read that Black & Decker only merged with Stanley Works twelve years ago. We throw the SBD acronym around so much that I forgot the company as it currently exists hasn't been around forever. While Black & Decker acquired DeWalt in 1960, they didn't acquire Porter Cable until 2004, so I have a couple of theories about their current brand proliferation issues.
My first experience with DeWalt was as a gutter installer in the mid-'90s. At the time UniVolt was being touted as the next big thing, and we had both B&D and DeWalt Univolt drills and batteries. There was a Service Center downtown and we'd take our tools there if they had an issue, unlike now where a lot of people just buy a new drill if the warranty has expired. The framing crew I worked with used some DeWalt tools, but mostly used pneumatic nailers (I forget the brand). Later, my older brother invested in a big DeWalt 18v kit for his window installation business. He swore by the brand, as did many of his friends, and Yellow was the dominant color on most jobsites I went on. Even the US Army seems to have chosen DeWalt over other brands, as their tools are the only cordless option I recall seeing in supply catalogs for unit purchases.
All that said, SBD is missing the mark by releasing tools under other brands while denying DeWalt owners similar products. I understand why Craftsman borrows heavily from Dewalt and other brands, as SBD wanted to hit the ground running after their acquisition, but this only muddies the water. To use your example, Porter Cable released the tile saw for their relatively unpopular 20v Max system in early 2018. Less than two years later, Craftsman got a V20 version. Meanwhile, four years later, DeWalt still doesn't have one. I can run my Ryobi off the Power Station, but that's still a compromise. Between 20v Max and FlexVolt, DeWalt could and should release every type of tool other brands in the SBD portfolio offer. While Black+Decker seemed to be solidly behind DeWalt in the '90s through '00s, Stanley Black & Decker was formed right as Li-Ion technology started taking off, with both DeWalt and Porter Cable releasing the 20v Max systems that would eventually entirely supplant the old Ni-Cad (and later Li-Ion) 18v platforms. When they acquired Craftsman, they only added another "professional" brand to the mix, diluting the DeWalt name by a little while almost killing Porter Cable.
So, looking at the history and timeline, I think SBD got its priorities skewed in the 2010's by having so many brands simultaneously. Porter Cable's 18v lineup was pretty nice but seems to have been a bit short-lived (I can't find reference to when it was released, but it was being pushed heavily until 2012 or so). PC 20v Max was released in 2013 and alienated those like me who'd recently invested in a seemingly similar system (Li-Ion, slide-on battery packs) that couldn't use the new batteries. Still, PC was considered the second tier cordless platform behind DeWalt. Five years later, Craftsman V20 was released, effectively relegating PC to third wheel status. While PC had previously received some unique products like the tile saw, those went to Craftsman, which is marketed as just below--and in some cases the equivalent of--DeWalt. DeWalt, being well established already, seems to have gotten the short end of the stick when it came to certain tools. Let's not forget either that SBD also made both the Stanley Fatmax and Bostitch cordless systems for Walmart and perhaps other retailers, further clouding the SBD brand hierarchy.
I've seen the various Makita comfort products and think they're a decent concept. Why not maximize the use of your batteries? Over here, for better or worse, Ryobi seems to be the brand that offers the most flexibility in its product line. Unfortunately, a lot of their stuff seems to have limited-time in-store availability, but they are innovative. I have some of the clamp fans, the Devour floor sweeper, and the pricy Score speaker system (originally $200 for the hub and one satellite speaker, with additional speakers $100 each, but 75% off thanks to clearance policies), along with the 150w inverter. Besides those, they have/had a cooling cooler, underwater pool vacuum, floating pool light/speaker, and quite a few other non-tool One+ products.
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There are a couple of 70mm PlusMinus bits on the KC Tool site: https://www.kctool.com/search.php?search_query=Plusminus
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On 3/26/2022 at 9:40 AM, fm2176 said:
Another day of carry...still have to order one or two spare LCP Max mags, so it's going to be that and the tried and true P32 with a spare mag. The Para-Ordnance with three mags is the car gun of choice for the day.
I need to get some good holsters. Still thinking of a shoulder rig for the Model 29 and need to find my old M1911 and Beretta IWB holsters.
After I shared this I realized that it was an ACP day, with .32ACP, .38ACP, and .45ACP being the order of the day. Went out earlier with the LCP Max and the Model 29 for a backup.
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Hmmm...is it something like this? The PlusMinus blade seems like it fits the bill. I'll stick to my Milwaukee bits (and the couple of 10-in-1 drivers I have that have ECX inserts) until and if I wear them out, but the Wera ones look nice. I don't have any of there drivers at the moment but have had a set of Matco precision drivers made by Wiha for over twenty years, and also have the Wiha insulated screwdrivers.
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I couldn't find the Wera ones online. I did pick up a bunch of Milwaukee ECX bits at the Habitat for Humanity Restore a few years ago. Decent in concept, but I usually just use a philips but in my DeWalt 8v Max gyro driver.
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Welcome!
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I've heard this a lot. The brushless compact drill we've been using at the flipper house seems decent, as does my M12, but I honestly haven't used my other Milwaukee drills enough to comment on their chucks.
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I think that major US brands are more interested in the bottom line than in allying themselves with smaller companies. The Cordless Alliance System seems to be comprised of a number of specialty and/or regional companies anchoring themselves to a major international brand (Metabo). Call it ignorance; as an American I know little to nothing about European brands. The concept seems solid and it would be nice if we had something similar over here, but I think the market here is already saturated with minimal opportunity for anything approaching CAS.
DeWalt seems to drag its feet on new tools. I agree that the 120v Max system could (should) be built upon. They made the 12" SCMS, which I own, and I'd be sorely tempted to outfit my entire shop with FlexVolt 120v tools if given the chance. The saw already costs substantially more than its corded only siblings, so DeWalt isn't really looking at taking a loss if someone decides to run it on AC power alone. Make a 10" table saw, tile saw, planer, joiner, drill press, band saw, heck even a lathe, and have a complete FlexVolt bench top tool offering. If anything like that was released and I needed it, I'd buy a kit if that's all that was available. Run it with the adapter and use the batteries in other tools, with the justification that I might need to take the tool to a remote site at some point.
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1 hour ago, Altan said:
I was always thinking of having all tools I need in one battery platform, I have given a time for it to finalize it by the end of 2024, either I will move to another battery platform, or will decide to be in two or three battery platforms. It is early to decide now.
That would be ideal. Even for someone like me, an impulse buyer who essentially turned tool purchases into a hobby from 2016-2021 or so, it's not too late to streamline my platforms.
I have the basics (drill, impact driver, and circular saw) in Milwaukee M12 and M18, DeWalt, Ridgid, and MetaboHPT. I have a couple Ridgid 18v reciprocating saws along with the M18 Fuel Sawzall and M12 Fuel Hackzall.
The only plus to having all that is the ability to kit out a few modular toolboxes without the need to mix and match platforms (read: have multiple batteries and chargers). As I stated above, for my use I could probably get by with Ryobi as a sole, or at least primary, platform, though when I get into a renovation the tools are put through their paces.
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I added Metabo to the poll but besides your mentioning CAS in various posts I know nothing about the alliance. It does seem nice that all tools and batteries produced since 2009 are compatible.
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Postscript:
It isn't a pleasant thing to think about for honest people, especially those who rely on their tools to earn a paycheck, but tool theft (and theft in general) happens all too often. I don't know how many times I've seen unsecured Packout or ToughSystem boxes in the beds of pickups at Home Depot. An opportunistic thief could easily grab one or two. Maybe it's full of M18 Fuel tools and batteries, or maybe it holds some fittings and hardware. That's a gamble most thieves would be willing to risk--after all, if the contents aren't valuable, the box itself is worth $20 or so to the right person.
When I have to transport my boxes in the truck bed, I always padlock them and have at least two cable locks securing them to the truck. When possible, I put a tarp over them or obscure them with construction materials or debris.
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It finally happened to you. You were on a service call or construction site and left the truck unattended for a bit. You stepped into the house for lunch, or left the van unlocked while grabbing a bite to eat at the local burger joint. Worse yet, your shop was broken into or a trusted friend or employee proved to be a thief. The police report has been filed, but unless your tools end up in the local pawn shop, there's little chance of getting them back. Maybe your insurance will cover the loss, maybe not. Regardless, some dope fiend stole your property for a fix and now you find yourself in need of replacing your expensive cordless tools. The good news is, it's an ideal time for an upgrade. Your old tools were getting long in the tooth anyway, and those old 4Ah batteries weren't running as long as they used to. So the question is, regardless of whatever brand(s) you're invested in now, what brand would you replace them with if they were lost/stolen?
I almost hate to admit it, but I might be tempted to take the Ryobi road unless I end up using tools to earn a living. Of all the brands I own Ryobi is the least "sexy" and by far the cheapest, but the tools do the job. Also, I find myself using One+ non-tools more than the tools themselves, such as the Air Cannon fan, Score speakers, and 150-Watt inverter. If I turned turned pro again I'd probably choose Milwaukee these days. DeWalt has been a long-time favorite of mine, but with a background as a mechanic, I think Milwaukee has them beat when it comes to ratchets and impact wrenches (not taking into account Mac Tools' interchangeability with DeWalt).
If you had to start again...replace every cordless tool you currently own...what would you choose?
What Are Your "Go-To" Power Tools?
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Kobalt must have released their 18v system shortly afterward then, as I distinctly remember their changeover from 18v to 20v Max around 2014. IIRC, 18v was a legacy Ni-Cad system with some newer Li-Ion technology, while 20v Max maintained compatibility with those while offering newer tech. Basically, the 1.5Ah and 3.0Ah 18v batteries were upgraded to 2Ah and 4Ah 20v Max. I had a 20v Max impact wrench I gave away when I got my Milwaukee. Kobalt 24v Max tools were released only a couple of years after the 20v ones, though, similar to how PC did their 20v Max to replace 18v.