AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2025
I got this set for Christmas. Luckily haven’t ran into a situation where I had to use it… yet haha. Looks pretty well made and I’m sure it will be handy and hopefully save time by avoiding drilling it all the way out.
New tool thread
- Thread starter jhellwig
- Start date
I'm great at dropping bits and bobs - usually in a dark corner and just out of reach. A very useful tool indeed.
A 10" adjustable wrench from the Japanese company Lobtex. Maximum opening is 36mm (about 1/4" larger than my much older Blue Point and Crescent 10" wrenches). Has a very smooth action with low free play in the lower jaw. Bought at Amazon for $38.
http://www.lobtex.co.jp/english/products/tabid/153/pdid/E-UMXG/catid/82/Default.aspx
http://www.lobtex.co.jp/english/products/tabid/153/pdid/E-UMXG/catid/82/Default.aspx
A Mitutoyo 0-1 inch dial indicator, purchased from Travers Tools (@ Amazon) for $120. This indicator has 4 attachment points: at the 3/8" stem, at the lug on the back, and at 2 dovetails on the side of the case. Specified full range accuracy is +/- 0.002". My sample measured at a maximum full range error of only -0.00014", which is fantastic.
AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2025
Every year my Ace Hardware stores have a 50% off sale on New Year’s Eve and day and every 4th of July. So I took advantage of the sale and being the tool fool I am bought a bunch of stuff lol. Let’s see I got a 6 inch 1/2 extension Craftsman made in Taiwan. And then one of the stubby regular handle screwdrivers made in USA. 16.5 inch Channellock pliers which are handy for opening oil barrels and compressing caliper pistons too. Then a 26mm wrench a 1 5/16 wrench both to fill in my sets and get me closer to completing them. I’m sure I’ll find something to use the 1 5/16 on I think my dads truck has that size somewhere. The wrenches are made in China they had the India made ones for both sizes too but believe me the China ones felt way more quality than the India ones. Then an Ace Hardware brand magnetic tray. Only two locations had those luckily I picked it up at the second one that did. Any mechanic or car person knows they are required to have. Then I got some Kroil both the penetrating oil and the protectant. I bought the penetrating oil because that stuff is the best of the best dad paid for the protectant. When I seen they had it I was happy. Napa has it for $15 a can but with the 50% off it ended up being $10. Then I managed to find some Duke Cannon pumice hand soap which will be good we will see how it does. My hands usually stay stained for a few days so we will see if this will prevent that. I think that’s everything I got today haha went to every Ace around that had the sale. Sorry for the mess in some of the photos. I had all that stuff nicely lining the stairs and my brother in law knocked it off when he was carrying his toolbox up the stairs lol. I didn’t buy any sockets because I have way too many and they didn’t have any sizes I needed as I already have all the common and not so common sizes they sell.
Edit to add: forgot the Milwaukee wire strippers.
GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
Purchased these extra long ratcheting wrenches to work deep into a dash. Worked wonderful. Reviews suggest these don't work so well breaking big bolts like caliper bolts, but for my use, super happy. I went with this set over the Tekon on because the Tekon extra long wrenches only come in six point. I wanted twelve point for easy on to the hard to reach bolt/ nut.
I love the acetate handle screwdrivers! I still have a few of the old USA Craftsman models lying around, along with a complete set of new imports. IMO the new ones are very good quality.
I saw @AutoMechanic's post and thought I could use another wire stripper. For a hair under $20 on Ebay I grabbed one.
Attachments
My order of Hylomar Blue arrived yesterday. Ordered it on Amazon from a supplier in the UK.
AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2025
Good to hear on the new ones. I do have a couple of those I got from warranty but haven’t really used them one is in my work box. I love the acetate handle too so much better than the comfort grip that they offered. This one was still USA made. Only one store had these too and I didn’t see any of the Taiwan made ones so hopefully they didn’t discontinue this particular model or style. Everyone I know says when new the handles smell like cherries
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AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2025
Also forgot to post these too. I got these from Ace Hardware as well. Only USA made set they had left.
GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
Just opened a Christmas gift from my Wife. We waited until we returned from Denver to open gifts.
Seems my Wife might have a thing with Trav? My middle Son also gave me a Trusty-Cook hammer. A different model.
Seems my Wife might have a thing with Trav? My middle Son also gave me a Trusty-Cook hammer. A different model.
Is that the 26oz ball pein? Good hammers.
I've got the Carlyles and have such a love/hate relationship with them. The spline drive is meh, Kabo's reversing button design is dumb, and yeah, the beams are too thin to break stubborn fasteners before flexing.
That said, they're occasionally useful and work pretty well for serp belt tensioners
AutoMechanic
Site Donor 2025
New 19mm wrench. It’s one size I don’t have very many of and I use this size all the time so I figured I’d get an extra to keep around and have. Was going to pick up an extra 21mm too but they were all sold out I only have 2 21mm wrenches and one is at home and one at work.
FYI the Craftsman 12 PC set is on sale for $20 at Ace right now, in case you need more sizes. The set does not include 21 but the lower sizes are all there.
