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Stercorarius' Ultimate Tool Porn/Review Thread


Stercorarius

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Haven't gotten to that point in my collection yet. I don't have any because they aren't worth anything till I have a running truck and my current job doesn't frame enough that we need anymore than the one gun my coworker runs. I do have a compressor that I can have, if I can fix it. I can tell you that if you are looking for a framing gun, just get a NR83A2 or NR83A3 by Hitachi. That is all my dad has used for decades and it's the only gun I've ever used and ever will. All the framers around here also use the same gun. Hitachi makes all around great guns. Bostitch guns are a PITA and expensive to get parts or service for ever since they merged into the Stanleyblackanddecker deal. Paslode makes good stuff too. Porter cable and Hitachi make decent roofing guns. There are several roofing companies that exclusively run Senco guns though just because that's what they have the best luck with. As far as automotive tools go, I'm not qualified to comment on. There are a lotta guys on here that are really knowledgeable on the subject.

It's interesting you mention Senco roofing nailers, that's what we used all the time, the SCN40R with the centering jaws quickly became the deciding factor, it was a pretty slick feature, and must have went through several dozen nailers in a ten year period because of how much they got used. I bought three myself when I got into my own roofing, then two got stolen, and I'm holding onto this one, I don't know if they still make it with the centering jaws anymore....

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just wondering if he had any. I have some of my own but im always looking for more

A happy life is one that involves tools as often as possible

www.frontinoconstruction.com

Always looking for more yeah, not that I'll get any necessarily, but always looking!

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Day 3: Zeus' Handbag

 

Today I'll be covering my electrical bag.

 

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The Bag: DG5543

 

Price: Around $50

 

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I really like this bag. I picked it up at ace one day with no particular use in mind. It started out as a general tool bag and then quickly became my electrical bag. It has a lot of convenient pockets and it is rigid enough that none of the tools have problems staying upright. It is the perfect size for me because I like to keep my tool bags closed.

 

Screwdrivers And Nut Drivers

 

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       Screwdrivers are pretty standard equipment. They either are good or they are garbage so I can't say a lot about them. Included in my collection is the Klein 11 in 1 screwdriver that I picked up for $20. It is convenient and works. It is nice to keep in your back pocket when you don't know what screws you'll be encountering.

 

      The Klein nut driver set is really nice, but also really expensive (around $50 at Platt). They have hollow shafts, but I regret not getting either the longer ones, or the ones that are magnetic. 

 

      The Klein screwdriver set is, once again, very nice and very expensive (also around fifty dollars). It is a comprehensive set that includes the stubby screwdrivers. It only comes with philips and flat heads though. They have square shafts or hex bolsters on the large flat heads to allow you to hook a wrench on when you need extra torque. The one thing they lack is magnetic tips, but I am okay with that.          

 

      The insulated Milwaukees are quality and offer me a little bit more peace of mind when poking around inside panels. They were around $20.

 

      The Kobalt precision screwdriver set has a lot of quantity for a low cost. They aren't the greatest quality, but they work for my level of usage. If you use precision screwdrivers regularly, I would suggest looking at something else.

 

The Pliers and Stuff

 

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      I am going to work my way from left to right, starting with the top row, and then the bottom row.

 

      First up are the Channellock wire strippers. I am a big fan of Channellock. They make quality, american-made tools that you can afford.The wire strippers are no exception. They are the bomb.

 

     Next are a set of Klein needle-nose pliers. I really like this pair for wiring in fixtures. The cutting jaw has one stripping hole that works perfect for stripping 12 AWG romex right before you hook it, eliminating the need for a separate strippper.

 

     The Channellock cutter/crimper was possibly the first tool I added to my electrical tool collection. They are a great all around crimper and cutter. I highly recommend them.

 

     Klein conduit cutters. They are pretty basic equipment. I can't say much more than that they work.

 

     The next pair are a set of dikes that I found inside the hydraulic access panel of an old Gradall. I cleaned them up, gave them the black finish, filed some new jaws, lubed them, and just need to plasti dip the handles. I use them for trimming zip-ties mostly. I couldn't just leave them to rot.

 

     This is the Thexton wire insertion tool. It is used for pulling wires through grommets and firewall seals. Think hollow screwdriver. I bought this after seeing a straight up OG thug make one in a different thread.

 

     Apart from an odd brand naming strategy, the Fluke T5-600 multimeter is amazing in every way. It has voltage, current, and resistance/continuity testing capabilities. It is quite literally a life saver. I got it on an apprentice tool discount account for around $90 and don't have enough good things to say about it. I would like to purchase a smaller meter and/or the alligator clip tips for these for the sake of automotive wiring. I used to have a cheap GE meter that I had soldered alligator clips on for wiring cars, but I had that one stolen.

 

     The Irwin Vise-Grip pump pliers/slip joint/tounge and groove joint/channel locks or whatever you want to call them, are nice. They are quality pliers. Personally, I am more used to classic Channellocks. I am constantly trying to adjust these like Channellocks and so It gets kind of annoying. It isn't the fault of the pliers, rather it is an issue of habit. I can see how these would be more convenient, but I always reach for the blue handles. The only real issue I have with these are that, no matter how they are configured, the handles will never touch at the bottom like the Channellocks do, making it difficult to put in pockets and bags. That is just a minor thing though. These really are nice, quality tools.

 

     Next are the Channellock locknut pliers. All I can say is that they work.

 

     The Irwin PowerSlot high-leverage cutters are the greatest thing to happen since sliced bread. They are premium cutters at a premium price ( almost forty bucks ). They effortlessly slice through anything from romex to SO cable to screws. While the United States of America is the one country that I always want to see my tools being made in, "Made in Germany" is always reassuring to see on a tool. 

 

     The Channellock cable cutters are my go to cutters for SO cable. You can feel the quality from the second you pick them up. I highly recommend them. Once again I am a Huge fan of Channellock.

 

     Okay, have I mentioned that I am a Channellock fanboy? Well nothing will ever, and I mean ever, replace Channellock brand channel locks. Made in the U.S.A. of course. I know that Knipex makes quality stuff, but these are a staple in every American's tool collection. I can't say enough good things about these or tell you how many times I've been saved by a pair of Channellock channel locks, and I don't have to because there is a pretty big chance that you own a pair or two yourself.

 

      We have here a set of SummitRacing brand ratcheting wire crimpers with a pair of MSD insulated terminal crimping jaws. I bought these because I need the different jaws for crimping spark plug wire terminals on and another jaw for Deutsch connectors. I really don't use the MSD insulated crimping jaws because I can't trust the connection quality. Nice tool for $15 though.

 

      These are a pair of cheap WorkForce brand pliers that I still can't figure out why I haven't replaced with some with blue handles.

 

      The automatic wire strippers are really nice. I still am in the habit of grabbing my manual wire strippers but that isn't due to any problems with these.

 

      Finally, we have a pair of Klein linemen's pliers. These are the classic electrician's tool. Big fan of these, as are most people. They are popular for good reason. As with anything else with the Klein brand name on it, you will be paying a good chunk of cash for these. 

 

The Other Tools

 

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     We have here two sets of Stanley stubby wrenches, one SAE and one Metric. Stanley makes some nice cheap wrenches. For about fifteen dollars a set at Lowe's, it is worth always having some common wrenches on hand for the occasional nut on panels or miscellaneous covers. They are great to have in the bag when I'm on the move and I leave my hand tool boxes at home.

 

     Duracell 250 Lumen flashlight is cheap and bright in a compact package. You can always use a flashlight when you have to cut power to work on something. I don't like the fact that you have to deal with a strobe function to turn it off.

 

     DeWalt utility knife is nice for stripping insulation back. Really like this knife. From what I can tell it is identical to the Stanley FatMax.

 

     The Milwaukee no contact voltage detector has literally saved my life. Buy one. Buy one now. It doesn't have to be a Milwaukee, but everyone should have one in their tool collection. The integrated flashlight is really convenient too. It gets used as a penlight more times than I care to admit.

 

     Maglites are great flashlights and are really common. If you go by lumens, it really isn't that great of a flashlight. The thing that I love about them though is the simplicity and durability. One click: light on, Next click: light off. You don't have to click through a bunch of pointless, annoying settings. I'm sorry, but I really don't want three different brightness settings and a strobe that light manufacturers insist on integrating into every damn light that they produce. I want to hit a button and have my light and then hit it again and have it off. I don't want to have to hit it three times and get blinded to turn it off. Rant over. This is a no nonsense light and I love it for it.

 

     Stanley 16' tape. I insist on having a tape in every bag, just because I like tapes and this is a nice tape. I know that I am only saying positive things about my tools, but I don't buy tools that I don't like (usually).

 

     Southwire allen key set. It works. Nothing noteworthy about it.

 

     Bernzomatic butane soldering iron. It gets hot quickly and is portable. It is nice for working on car wiring because you don't have to find a power source. It is cheaply constructed and feels like it is constantly on the verge of collapsing, but it was only twenty bucks so I can live with it for now.

 

The Other stuff.

 

      Just a bunch of consumables tucked away inside the bag. Nothing is really noteworthy. The picture is more for the sake of showing how versatile the bag is.

 

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     The Milwaukee no contact voltage detector has literally saved my life. Buy one. Buy one now. It doesn't have to be a Milwaukee, but everyone should have one in their tool collection. The integrated flashlight is really convenient too. It gets used as a penlight more times than I care to admit.

Love my Milwaukee voltage detector, I got two for one when acme tools was having that sale. I ended up not bothering to get a pen light after I realized how useful the led on it was, I keep it on me at all times and pull it out more often to use the flashlight than the detector part. I told the guys at work when I bought it that I got myself a new pen light that happens to have a voltage detector built in lol

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On 2/22/2016 at 6:30 PM, Stercorarius said:

So guys I never introduced myself properly. I'm an eighteen-year-old guy, senior in high school, still living at my parent’s home. I’m from central/eastern Washington. No, I'm not talking about D.C. I'm talking about the state. I know many of you think Washington is rainy all the time and made out of Starbucks stores. That is true for the west side of the cascade mountains. The east and west are polar opposites in both climate and political views. I live in the basin which is technically a desert (less than 10" of rain annually). We got cold winters and climb above 100 regularly in the summer without seeing any rain between May and September.

Okay, where in Central Warshington? I was born in the sprawling metropolis of Ephrata, WA, population ~7000. Spent a bunch of time on my cousin's wheat farm outside of Pomeroy. Spent a fair amount of time in Walla Walla (admittedly, I don't remember much because I was pretty drunk most of the time). Spent a lot of time in Clarkston with my great aunt Eulah. Hung out at Lake Chelan a fair amount.

 

Cool setup, man. When I was 18 most of my money went to gas, guns, and beer.

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Okay, where in Central Warshington? I was born in the sprawling metropolis of Ephrata, WA, population ~7000. Spent a bunch of time on my cousin's wheat farm outside of Pomeroy. Spent a fair amount of time in Walla Walla (admittedly, I don't remember much because I was pretty drunk most of the time). Spent a lot of time in Clarkston with my great aunt Eulah. Hung out at Lake Chelan a fair amount.

 

Cool setup, man. When I was 18 most of my money went to gas, guns, and beer.

Lol, just south of you in Moses.

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Episode 4: The Bucket List

Okay, real quick disclaimer. I'm in no way sponsored by any company and receive no compensation in any form for anything that I say about any of these tools. This is a completely unbiased perspective on these tools. You will notice, however, that I do favor certain brands (Irwin and Channellock particularly) but that's entirely based off of having good luck with their products. Additionally I must say that there are very few tools that I have had for an extended period of time so take everything I say with a grain of salt.

I know that bucket organizers tend to be a controversial method of organizing tools. I hated the idea of bucket organizers but I actually had some luck with these tools. DSC_0479_zpsog0k5a8c.jpg

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This has some of my favorite tools in it.

Proto Box End Wrench Set

Price: $200

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I love this set of wrenches. It was on the pricey side of things but they're quality and american made. I like the weight and feel to these. They are also offered in chrome. I just like the black oxide finish because it never chips.

Stanley Wrench Set

Price: $80ish

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These aren't the nicest or the most compact wrenches on the market, but I really like them. The wrenches have never failed me. They work really well for the price. I like the cast finish. The only complaint I have about this set is that the roll/wrap itself is garbage. It started falling apart really quickly. One important thing to note is that these are not the same as the ones sold at Lowes. They appear to be slightly higher quality. The lowes wrench is the one on the top. 

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Kobalt Wrench Set

Price: $20

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I bought these because I needed a specific wrench and this set was cheap so I figured, why not? Well this set is worthless garbage. The head splits out on the loosest fasteners. I keep it around for poly air fittings mainly. This would be a great wrench set if you only intend on using it to assemble IKEA furniture.

Some More Blue

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Kobalt Strap Wrench:  This thing isn't the highest quality, far from it. It works for me and that is what matters. If/when it finally ceases to work I probably won't be purchasing a Kobalt though. Plenty enough for occasional use though.

Vise Grip Long Reach Pliers : I can't find a price for the two pack, but I have not Idea how I got along without them. They make me want to try the Crescent ones with the double pivot.

Vise Grip Adjustable Wrench:  Cost about $11 and they work. Big fan of black oxide finish.

WorkForce Adj. Wrench: It's not the highest quality. I really never reach for it, in fact I rarely reach for adjustable wrenches in general. 

Crescent Self Adjusting Pipe Wrench: I bought it for twenty dollars mostly out of curiosity. The concept actually works quite well. It works very well on bolts and small OD pipe. I'm a little underwhelmed by the teeth quality though.

Bic Lighter:  Because sometimes you just need to light a match and walk away.

Channellocks: These are the second biggest pair. Best tool ever. Use it all the time on large pvc fittings.

Savage Torpedo Level: This thing is aluminum and Magnetic so its nice for metalworking. Nice solid level. Pretty good price too at less than $20

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Pittsburgh Screwdrivers: They're magnetic, come with hex bolsters, and were $9 for the set (came with more screwdrivers that are in a different toolbag). They are nice enough. The handles are made out of cheap plastic. I don't expect too much out of them but they get the job done.

Pittsburgh extensions: Both 3/8, one impact and one not. HF has some cheap extensions. They are long and convenient. They are worth the little bit of money they cost.

Lenox Hacksaw: I'm not a very big hacksaw user so I can't say much about it. It does work very well for cutting key stock though.

Dewalt Pop Riveter: It has a swivel head and I like it. I haven't used it enough to feel comfortable saying much more about. 

Kobalt Linemen's: I got a set of Kobalt pliers on sale for about $30 and that's where all the Kobalt pliers in my collection come from. The Linesmen's are actually pretty impressive in quality. They will probably become a stocking stuffer for a younger brother at some point though. 

Kobalt "Channel Locks": They are by no means on par with name brand stuff but they aren't too shabby. Probably will be handed down to a younger brother.

Napa Slip Joint Pliers: They work. Not impressive.

Crescent Chain Wrench: This was an impulse buy that I haven't had much use for. I've used it once or twice for some welding but I can't say much about it.

Breaker Bars

These things run about $10 a piece at Harbor Freight.

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I have a 1/2" long and short one and a 3/8". I honestly don't think you can find a single other tool where you get more value for your money. I don't have anything negative to say about these. They are worth picking up if you are ever in a HF.

 

 

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Excellent post Ster! I have to say you have some pretty fine tools there, Kolbalt and Stanley both make quality tools you can't go wrong. But you wouldn't see me spending 200 dollars on a wrench set unless it was made of gold. I will say I agree with you about the Oxide finnish, very important. [emoji6] So I thought I would share a couple of pics with you! As always, click on pics to see full size

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Sweet bits man!

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Sweet looking pile o' goodies!

You want to be overwhelmed by the teeth on self adjusting wrench? Get the ridgid rapidgrip wrench. Beyond awesome!

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I'm so jealous right now. I've spent too much time at the tool shop staring at those. Definitely not $20.

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I'm so jealous right now. I've spent too much time at the tool shop staring at those. Definitely not $20.

I'm ten years older than you, I've broken my wrist and im already starting to feel pain when I would squeeze down on a pair of channellock pliers such as that big one you have. I go to these wrenches as often as possible (or adjustable Irwin wrenches) so I could avoid using the channellock style.

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I'm ten years older than you, I've broken my wrist and im already starting to feel pain when I would squeeze down on a pair of channellock pliers such as that big one you have. I go to these wrenches as often as possible (or adjustable Irwin wrenches) so I could avoid using the channellock style.

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If I did more plumbing I would definitely seriously consider one, but right now I can't even justify buying a Ridgid pipe wrench even though I've used them and know for a fact that they are worth the premium price.

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Episode 5: Fifty Shades of Red

You see my roots truly run deep in Team Red. Just not the same team that you guys call team red.

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Lincoln Electric 180 Dual

Price: $800-1000

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I bought this thing primarily for sheet metal work. The thing can run on 120v or 240v. It does flux core or gas shielded wire. I've always used Lincolns and like the way they are put together. I've used Millers and they make nice machines, but Lincoln is my brand. I bought the welder and got the bag and most of the stuff in it for free.

The Bag:

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These things retail for about $50 a piece but Lincoln had a promotion where I could get this and a bunch of gear free with the welder. I love the bag and it makes it convenient to keep all my gear clean and in one place. I can just grab the bag and know that I'm all set.

The Insides

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Lincoln Viking Welding Helmet and Optiva Helmet

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The Lincoln helmet retails at almost $200 and came free with the welder. It is, without a doubt, one of the best affordable welding helmets on the market. I love the external shade control knob. Great helmet. It came with a nice cinch sack for it and stays in the welding bag. 

The optiva is one of the cheapest auto darkening helmets on the market at $40. I bought it because it took 2 months for lincoln to process my purchase and send me the helmet and gear. It isn't great. You can feel the cheapness, but it works. This one doesn't stay in my bag.

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Tillman Welding Sleeves

It took a severe case of arc burn (well into second degree burn territory) to get me to buy a pair of sleeves. These are goatskin and super comfortable. They ran me a whole $12. I highly recommend them.

Kingco Fleece Lined Gloves

Not for welding or sparks but are fantastic for material handling in cold weather.

Black Stallion Stick Welding Gloves

Goat skin and Nomex lined. These things are super comfortable and one of the cheapest pair you can get. I stick welded for the longest time without gloves or any form of protection other than a helmet and will never go back. It isn't worth it.

Lincoln Electric Doo Rag and Bandana

I would have never thought of buying either of these. Since they came with the welder I wore them, and I have to say that it is the most comfortable way to weld. This especially holds true when you are running overhead beads. Beats a backwards baseball cap any day.

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Lincoln Gloves and Welding Jacket

I got these after my other ones and wear them when there isn't any manure involved. They don't see a lot of use. I really like the jacket though. It's very quality. The gloves aren't my preferred style, but they are very durable.

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Norco Welding Jacket

I don't know who makes these for Norco (industrial supply chain) but they are very similar to the Lincoln. They run about $15 so I bought one to wear over my insulated coveralls in the winter and love this jacket. It saves all my clothes from becoming fishnet.

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Tools

Some pretty standard stuff here.

A dasco center punch.

A General automatic center punch. It ran about $50 and is well worth the money.

There are two carbide scribes with magnetic ends, also made by General. They're great for laying things out. 

Some soapstone and silver pencils for layout work.

A T-bevel gauge made by Swanson. I like it.

A Stanley Hi-Viz tape measure because not having a tape isn't an option. This tape is great for small layout work but I wouldn't ever use it for framing or any other construction.

Husky fingerless mechanics gloves are great for material handling when you might have to deal with fasteners.

Lincoln Electric Steel Worker gloves came with the welder and have become my favorite all around glove. They are leather and just the right thickness to not be cumbersome.

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Dewalt shaded safety glasses are ridiculously overpriced. They are decent glasses but shouldn't be $10 a pair. My other pairs of $3 Nemesis safety glasses are just as good, if not better. Do not purchase these unless they are the only option.

Craftsman flashlight was $20. It is the perfect size and shape. I just don't like how dim and inefficient the LED is. 

Defiant Magnetic light was on sale at HD over the holidays and works for welding in the dark. I just wish the magnets were stronger.

Swanson Combination square is my favorite tool. A combination square really saves me all the time. It's a great affordable square and is the only way to lay things out.

Welper Pliers are a must for anyone with a MIG machine. Welper brand (pictured) makes the best ones. They're worth the little bit extra.

Slag hammer isn't optional for running stick. I don't remember the brand or price of this one.

Of course there is the Miller metal and wire gauge. I pulled this out of the packaging that was going in the trash of one of the several Millers they got at work.

 

 

 

 

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