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Recent tool purchases.

Cliffy

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2023
Messages
426
Location
Qld
My snap on screw drivers where starting to get a bit worn so i grabbed a cat screw driver set the other day while getting parts.
Happy with my new toys i went to use the number 3 phillips. Put my shoulder on it and gave it a twist. Crack!
Broke the tip right off it.
 

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Cliffy

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2023
Messages
426
Location
Qld
Also picked up a seal pick. 195-4609. 1/3 the price of snapon. Interesting it’s a non returnable part.
 

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Cliffy

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2023
Messages
426
Location
Qld
One tool i am really happy with is Fluke 325 clamp metre. Measures a/c and d/c amps. Tested against my digital multi metre and its almost spot on. Can use clamp as a holder. Hertz measurement is a little sensitive. Have to clamp wire inbetween the end of probes but worked well to set generator rpms.
 

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Old Doug

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2013
Messages
4,974
Location
Mo
I was at a pawn shop they had one snap on screw drive $25.00 ? I would like to get some new drivers alot of mine are over 30 years old but i also would love to slow down on the mechanic work.
 

kshansen

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2012
Messages
11,313
Location
Central New York, USA
Occupation
Retired Mechanic in Stone Quarry
I like the williams screwdrivers better than the snap on. They are the old style snap on hard handle. The new snap on cushion handles just become a mess after a while when working on greasy equipment.

How much were the cat screwdrivers?

Currently williams set $75 on amazon-

Guess I'm getting old, I remember buying my Craftsman (back when they were pretty good tools) 3/4 inch ratchet and socket set and only paying $75.00 for that! Think it came with most of the sockets from 15/16th to 2 inch, ratchet, breaker bar and one or two extensions. Think I only broke a couple sockets over the years.

Company also had some 3/4 inch sets of chrome sockets so they were the ones that were used at ties when abuse was needed, but then being company tools the common sizes were usually missing or broken!
 

Legdoc

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2007
Messages
521
Location
south texas
My snap on screw drivers where starting to get a bit worn so i grabbed a cat screw driver set the other day while getting parts.
Happy with my new toys i went to use the number 3 phillips. Put my shoulder on it and gave it a twist. Crack!
Broke the tip right off it.
That Cat screwdriver sure looks a lot like a Snap-On. I'd take that back. I don't think the new snappy tools are as good as they were when I started in the late 70's. The new sockets are difficult to read the size on. I have a new 3/8" 6 point socket that broke the first time I used it and a new 1/2" wiggler extension that broke at the base if the wiggler the first time I used it also. A new pair of flush cut pliers were ground out of shape and worthless. This crap did not happen back in a previous life when I wrenched full time. Sign of the times I guess. You wouldn't believe how screwed up things are in the medical field. Don't get sick my friends...
 

Old Doug

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2013
Messages
4,974
Location
Mo
One bad thing now is getting anything broken rebuilt or replaced. I haven't seen a snap on or mac truck forever. Its kind of a good thing i dont really need alot more tools i have about 10 of every thing already.
 

crane operator

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2009
Messages
8,940
Location
sw missouri
I just had a matco breaker bar replaced after breaking the anvil. The new replacement said Matco with a american flag emblem, but I suspect that means a different thing, than my old one that said USA on it.

I asked the Matco man if that meant made here, and he got kind of stumbley / mumbley that "I don't know where any of it is made" which is B. S.

IMG_5743.JPG
 

Cliffy

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2023
Messages
426
Location
Qld
Like Milwaukee cordless.
But i find that there 3/4 impact sockets are to soft and wear out prematurely.
At least the size is cast/stamped into the socket. Just about every other brand is printed on and rubs off.
 

Cliffy

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2023
Messages
426
Location
Qld
Melted my test light. I drilled the centre out so i could run 12v and 24v voltage festoon bulbs. Unfortunately she got a bit hot finding a 24v short.
I have a hate if LED test lights and couldn’t find a decent multi voltage one. I like them to pull a bit of current. LEDs glow on bugger all voltage and you can get caught out with high resistance.
So i made my own. Uses 5w wedge bulbs. Have 12 and 24v adapters. Even thinking of making a wedge LED with red and clear reversed parallel.
 

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Cliffy

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2023
Messages
426
Location
Qld
i looked at similar but didnt know if they put a load on the circuit. Plus they look a bit flash for me. Sign im getting old.
Is it basically a hand voltage meter?
 

ahart

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2020
Messages
937
Location
Indiana
I’ve got the snapon 12-36v version of that one you posted craneop and when I find a wire that won’t carry a load, the LCD screen reads -.- -v I’ve used it for better than 10 years and I can’t say it’s ever let me down yet.
 

Coaldust

Senior Member
Joined
May 9, 2011
Messages
4,170
Location
North of the 60
Occupation
Cargo Tanks, ULSD, RUG, Methanol, LPG
I have been gingerly using an Ashcroft 25-1490 low-pressure, 10psi gauge for tank testing, going on 5-years. Dutifully having Alaska Metrology calibrate annually.

Along with an identical sister gauge for when the other gauge is at the calibration shop and for backup. Both have traveled the state with me.

I pegged both of them this week, about 12 hours apart, by being stupid. Four new ones are on order. Dooooh


 
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