New tool thread

[JHZR2]

Whatever Bro? Mind telling me what you're pulling down a year? Maybe you have money to buy whatever you want, no matter the cost, but not I, I have to watch every penny, I'm only pulling down $14,400.00 a year. Not ashamed to admit it either. Imma guessing you never buy nothing at harbor freight then?

I certainly try to avoid it for most things. And there is something to be said about what HF does, and undermines domestic manufacture. But that’s not even the point here.

Lots of stuff on Amazon is Chinese counterfeit. I’m really not a fan of sending money and manufacturing to the Chinese war machine. When I see something that looks like a ripoff or counterfeit, it’s a different discussion. Unless the lock n lube patent ran out, it looks to me like a ripoff of someone else’s idea. Which is unfortunate regardless of how you look at it.

I’m really sorry if you earn a below poverty wage. But
That’s not an excuse for someone to counterfeit another entity’s tech.

 

[JHZR2]

You don't have to explain yourself .

There’s nothing to explain. Are the couplers a Chinese ripoff or not?

This person isn’t the first or last to buy such things. But it’s unfortunate when you see it regardless.

 

[nomas]

I’m really not a fan of sending money and manufacturing to the Chinese war machine.

Don't even go there ...

 

[mrbreezeet1]

I certainly try to avoid it for most things. And there is something to be said about what HF does, and undermines domestic manufacture. But that’s not even the point here.

Lots of stuff on Amazon is Chinese counterfeit. I’m really not a fan of sending money and manufacturing to the Chinese war machine. When I see something that looks like a ripoff or counterfeit, it’s a different discussion. Unless the lock n lube patent ran out, it looks to me like a ripoff of someone else’s idea. Which is unfortunate regardless of how you look at it.

I’m really sorry if you earn a below poverty wage.
But that’s not an excuse for someone to counterfeit another entity’s tech.

Well, I had to take my SS disability early because I got sick, that's why I only make what I make.
I'm good though, I have everything I need.
TBH I really didn't think much of it, I just saw them and brought them. I've just recently seen the LnL grease gun attachment.
I wonder now if the LnL patent did run out?

 

[RyanY]

I wonder now if the LnL patent did run out?

Here is the listing filed in 2009. I see that this one is set to expire in 2030. Therefore the knockoff units would have to be substantially different from the LnL in order to avoid patent violations.

https://patents.google.com/patent/US8955544B2/en

 

[wavinwayne]

Recently picked up this Duratech 3-in-1 ratchet from Amazon. Haven't had a chance to use it on anything yet, but the concept is interesting. As long as it fits in the area I'm working in, I only need one ratchet regardless of socket size. It's a cheap Chinese made product, so we'll see how long it holds up.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
OMG it has all 3 sizes on it!!!!!

 

[mrbreezeet1]

It's a cheap Chinese made product, so we'll see how long it holds up.

Duratech is not bad at all!

 

[D60]

I used to think Duratech was sort of an underrated gem, but I had one of their ratcheting wrenches fail just sitting around. It had seen very little use and NO hard use, and the next time I went to use it it was just freewheeling.

So I emailed Duratech and said I had one of their 17mm flex head ratcheting wrenches that failed, and asked if they could help me. I also attached a picture to my email.

I got a response asking to please describe which product failed, and could I please send a picture. Not kidding-- can't make this stuff up.

So, I jumped through their hoops again and after a couple more moderately painful correspondences, they told me they were shipping a replacement from China.

They did, and it arrived more quickly than I would have expected, something like 2-3 weeks while I was expecting at least 2 months.

But overall, it left me feeling that Duratech is Chinese junk. Great for a 16-year-old's first tools or a roadside kit, but that's it.

 

[D60]

Oh and Duratech wanted a receipt. They were fine with a screenshot of my Amazon order history, but it's not exactly a no questions asked warranty.

 

[wavinwayne]

...But overall, it left me feeling that Duratech is Chinese junk. Great for a 16-year-old's first tools or a roadside kit, but that's it.

I paid a whopping $15 for the Duratech 3 in 1 ratchet. It's a throw away item if it breaks. It got very good reviews on Amazon so maybe it'll pleasantly surprise me.

 

[JHZR2]

 

[Astro14]

Not a tool, per se, but a new organizing system. This cart has the things I use most in the drawers, and I decided, as I’ve gone mostly electric, to put my power tools nearby as well. They had been in a drawer, but this seems more useful. The top of this cart is a work surface for lots of small tasks. Mounted a light on the bottom of the tool storage unit, don’t care for the angle, but it does put out good light. Moved the towel roll holder to this new tool storage to allow for another row of cans on the larger cabinet for the things I use often.

Oh, and there are new tools in the picture, shown:
Milwaukee M12 right angle die grinder
Milwaukee M12 rotary (dremel type) tool

 

[Astro14]

Shown behind the work surface, under the stairs, the most important tools, three laptops running dealer level software. Can’t do good work without good information. Printer so I can print out details and not have to jump back to the laptop while working.

 

[Astro14]

I’m calling this one a “truck wrench”, bought for very little during recent Amazon promotion days.

I’ve got four torque wrenches in the shop, one at home, but I’ve added this one to the truck tool set.

 

[Astro14]

Some 1/4” set expansion. Across the top, Tekton swivel sockets. Very shallow. Well designed. They can get into really tiny spaces.

To the left, a Koken ratchet and a couple of extensions. To the right, a Nepros ratchet with extensions, and a set of Nepros 1/4” e-torx sockets. I have a set of 1/4” drive eTorx, but they are Gearwrench and don’t include a 1/4” E10. So, these include an E10, and that drive/size difference is significant in some tight spots on the V-12s.

 

[Astro14]

Frustrated with the performance of the SK LP 90 3/8” ratchets I bought a while back, I ordered a Koken flex head ratchet and Nepros ratchet. Shown at the top. The offending SK on the bottom. I have since been able to get the SK to perform adequately. The Koken is far better.

The Nepros is light years ahead of all of them. So smooth. So little backdrag. I didn’t know a ratchet could be that good!

 

[D60]

Shown behind the work surface, under the stairs, the most important tools, three laptops running dealer level software. Can’t do good work without good information. Printer so I can print out details and not have to jump back to the laptop while working. View attachment 183432

Thanks for doing that. Log in ID and password?

 

[Astro14]

Thanks for doing that. Log in ID and password?

Like the Battlestar Galactica, I have computers, but they’re not networked.

No internet out here in the shop. They stand alone, running Win XP, and work great.

 

[Astro14]

Let me add that the right angle die grinder was bought yesterday. Home Depot had a promotion: buy a set of batteries and charger, get a tool for free. The batteries and charger were $199. Box shown, and included a M12 5.0 and M12 2.5. The die grinder was listed as $219.

So, $199 for everything, 10% off (thank you, Home Depot, for the discount) or about $180 for the tool, two batteries, and charger. Too good a deal to pass up, so, I’m looking forward to trying it out soon.