Tools you wish you'd bought sooner...

[Chumley.mouse]

Fast and Spurious said:

Lifetime guarantee. As an example, screwdriver bits are the best tested (see project farm on YouTube) for durability, they are just lovely tools.
I'll leave you with this: every single tool has it's own serial number, this is a 1.2mm slotted:

Ive seen some good stuff on this thread but a screwdriver having its own serial number is definitely not one of them

[hidetheelephants]

Not keen on having a 1.2mm blade on the end of a 4-5mm shaft either, it won't reach half the screws I need it to reach.

[Fast and Spurious]

Chumley.mouse said:

Ive seen some good stuff on this thread but a screwdriver having its own serial number is definitely not one of them

I guess! It just shows that quality matters to them and backs up the lifetime guarantee. But it satisfies my OCD too.

[57Ford]

Fast and Spurious said:

I guess! It just shows that quality matters to them and backs up the lifetime guarantee. But it satisfies my OCD too.

I shall now severely aggravate your OCD by asking the question: Are all your screwdrivers’ serial numbers consecutive?


By the way, I’ve only got one but yes, they are belting quality. It was a gift from a distributor.

[Lefty]

57Ford said:

Lefty said:

skwdenyer said:

GeneralBanter said:

Lefty said:

SlimJim16v said:

Lefty said:

Screw extractor kit
Absolute game changer

Potentially disastrous. The extractors can snap and you're fked. The drills should really be left hand too, as they can sometimes get it out.

Hmmm, interesting. I guess from the point of view of already being fked with a stuck or broken screw or bolt you’re not any more fked if an extractor breaks than you were before you tried.

I have several sets bought in the optimism at the time that they would work. They don’t though - needed many times but the smaller ones snap and the larger ones exert too much force outwards so jam the bolt even tighter.

I think a cheap welder (which would not be any more expensive than a decent set of bolt extractors) might be a better bet for most situations: tack on a washer, then a nut, and work from there.

Ahhh well I’ll be careful with it, I’m taking the body off a cerb just now and used it a few times with no problems.

I’ve used similar carefully on various older cars and they are great.
I also found their corresponding mate for dealing with rounded nuts / bolts heads extremely useful:
Impact Bolt & Nut Remover Set

Oh that’s weird, I bought this today

[B'stard Child]

skwdenyer said:

More in keeping with this thread would be to suggest that what’s really needed is this:



At £27 it is a bargain IMHO, and further (eg Bahco) pass-thru socket sets are available to extend the size range.

Available here: https://toolshouse.co.uk/collections/neilsen/torqu...

I went to the restoration show at the NEC looking for a pair of 6T axle stands and a pass-thro socket and wrench - I found neither at the show

I ordered both from toolhouse

According to the delivery company both are on route however toolhouse have refunded me £27.10 so I'm going to guess that they didn't have the stock they thought they had as it's now marked as out of stock

[skwdenyer]

B'stard Child said:

skwdenyer said:

More in keeping with this thread would be to suggest that what’s really needed is this:



At £27 it is a bargain IMHO, and further (eg Bahco) pass-thru socket sets are available to extend the size range.

Available here: https://toolshouse.co.uk/collections/neilsen/torqu...

I went to the restoration show at the NEC looking for a pair of 6T axle stands and a pass-thro socket and wrench - I found neither at the show

I ordered both from toolhouse

According to the delivery company both are on route however toolhouse have refunded me £27.10 so I'm going to guess that they didn't have the stock they thought they had as it's now marked as out of stock

As an aside, how was the show? Never been; considered going this year (as we had free tickets to the outdoor show in one of the other halls, so could kill a few birds), but other commitments got in the way. I couldn't quite work out from publicity and prior show write-ups whether it was actually worth a 7hr round trip. How did you find it?

[B'stard Child]

skwdenyer said:

As an aside, how was the show? Never been; considered going this year (as we had free tickets to the outdoor show in one of the other halls, so could kill a few birds), but other commitments got in the way. I couldn't quite work out from publicity and prior show write-ups whether it was actually worth a 7hr round trip. How did you find it?

Err I'll try to keep this brief as it's OT

First time for me (PH'r Gewy had been before, had bought tickets for himself and his son but his son got called to Italy to work on some "red cars" so I got to take his place

A lot more compact than the classic car show in November (only 3 halls) - you could actually feel like you've seen the whole show properly in just a day

There was a lot more fun stuff (actually people working on cars) going on that could hold your attention - there were a bunch of polish guys building an FSO Polonez from scratch - OK not a fan of the cars and never owned one or would want to own one but their stand was a brilliant display of how many hands don't make light work

I was hoping to find a timelapse video of it but my searches so far have drawn a blank -- All I've found is this



The Jowett stand was also quite fun - in fact lots of stands had something going on - there was a lot less polishing going on (there was some) overall it was a more hands on gritty show with less shiney car displays and more interesting variety and exhibitors we more grass roots is the only way I can describe it.

The Jowett stand won "Best Live Working on Vehicles at Show - Jowett Car Club" I think they have previous for picking up this award.......

The FSO Club didn't get an award for their stand as far as I know so I'm going to give them "My vote" (which is 1 million votes more than anyone elses vote) for just the way the stand was laid out and the prep/planning work that had gone into it.

There aren't many car shows where "Best Live Demonstration on a Car Club Stand at Show" can be won by "Morris Marina Owners Club"

£10 for a brochure to access the auction area cars was skipped as it seemed a bit much - I have enough cars/bikes to keep me busy I don't need another.

Would I go again - yes but like the classic Car show in Nov it's a once every few years thing for me

Edited to add

Oh and a massive selection of tool stands but nearly all of them only sold US Pro (and I've not had a great experience with some of their stuff so it's a bit of an avoid brand for me)

Edited by B'stard Child on Wednesday 10th April 09:36

[skwdenyer]

B'stard Child said:

skwdenyer said:

As an aside, how was the show? Never been; considered going this year (as we had free tickets to the outdoor show in one of the other halls, so could kill a few birds), but other commitments got in the way. I couldn't quite work out from publicity and prior show write-ups whether it was actually worth a 7hr round trip. How did you find it?

Err I'll try to keep this brief as it's OT

First time for me (PH'r Gewy had been before, had bought tickets for himself and his son but his son got called to Italy to work on some "red cars" so I got to take his place

A lot more compact than the classic car show in November (only 3 halls) - you could actually feel like you've seen the whole show properly in just a day

There was a lot more fun stuff (actually people working on cars) going on that could hold your attention - there were a bunch of polish guys building an FSO Polonez from scratch - OK not a fan of the cars and never owned one or would want to own one but their stand was a brilliant display of how many hands don't make light work

I was hoping to find a timelapse video of it but my searches so far have drawn a blank -- All I've found is this



The Jowett stand was also quite fun - in fact lots of stands had something going on - there was a lot less polishing going on (there was some) overall it was a more hands on gritty show with less shiney car displays and more interesting variety and exhibitors we more grass roots is the only way I can describe it.

The Jowett stand won "Best Live Working on Vehicles at Show - Jowett Car Club" I think they have previous for picking up this award.......

The FSO Club didn't get an award for their stand as far as I know so I'm going to give them "My vote" (which is 1 million votes more than anyone elses vote) for just the way the stand was laid out and the prep/planning work that had gone into it.

There aren't many car shows where "Best Live Demonstration on a Car Club Stand at Show" can be won by "Morris Marina Owners Club"

£10 for a brochure to access the auction area cars was skipped as it seemed a bit much - I have enough cars/bikes to keep me busy I don't need another.

Would I go again - yes but like the classic Car show in Nov it's a once every few years thing for me

Edited to add

Oh and a massive selection of tool stands but nearly all of them only sold US Pro (and I've not had a great experience with some of their stuff so it's a bit of an avoid brand for me)

Edited by B'stard Child on Wednesday 10th April 09:36

Thank you. I do miss the old British Motor Shows in (from memory) 10 halls containing all manner of fantastic machines and oddities. And I was smaller, so it all seemed so huge and glamorous

[Caddyshack]

I just got a Tornador Black from Ultimate Finish and some interior chemical….wow, it brought up our dirty Rangie interior a treat.

You need a comperssor to run it.

[Sway]

This arrived today, so perhaps a bit early to post on this thread - but it's a Makita clone with great reviews, and in the hand it seems more than up to the job. Different bases are solid, controls are smooth and precise.

Will get some decent bits, and then get on with the modified IKEA cabinet I'm doing as a control cab for my marine aquarium.

[GeneralBanter]

Sway said:

the modified IKEA cabinet I'm doing as a control cab for my marine aquarium.

More questions than answers. I suppose you already know ikea MDF doesn’t tolerate water well?

[Sway]

GeneralBanter said:

Sway said:

the modified IKEA cabinet I'm doing as a control cab for my marine aquarium.

More questions than answers. I suppose you already know ikea MDF doesn’t tolerate water well?

Plenty on the 'show me your aquarium' thread in the animals section.

Yep, it's all getting sealed fully, and shouldn't be subject to any water spills (it's going to be full of electrics and electronics!) - rear is getting replaced with 6mm ply, and mods to allow power management/controllers/cable management with a 'feed' through to the tank/sump.

[eltax91]

Rebuilding a classic Range Rover at present. After recently making some bits to replace rusty ste, I’ve drilled some less than straight holes to be tap’d/ threaded.

Not many bits left to justify this tool purchase, so I also don’t want to break the bank. But…. Pillar/ press drills? Just grab a used cheapy from marketplace? Or one of those very cheap presses you could put battery drill in?

Or something else?

[donkmeister]

Mag drill is the answer. I'd go in eBay and look for a used one.

I've seen them used to drill steel girders on-site, it's really just a drill press with a magnetic base.

ETA I've just had a look on eBay and 1) they're not cheap, even used and 2) they're more like a mill than a drill. But apart from that

Edited by donkmeister on Thursday 11th April 21:58

[Jakg]

eltax91 said:

Rebuilding a classic Range Rover at present. After recently making some bits to replace rusty ste, I’ve drilled some less than straight holes to be tap’d/ threaded.

Not many bits left to justify this tool purchase, so I also don’t want to break the bank. But…. Pillar/ press drills? Just grab a used cheapy from marketplace? Or one of those very cheap presses you could put battery drill in?

Or something else?

A cheap pillar drill is much better than the expensive one you put off buying. I'm happy with my Wickes own brand one.

I've not tried the DIY drill press but I reckon they are rubbish.

[GeneralBanter]

eltax91 said:

Rebuilding a classic Range Rover at present. After recently making some bits to replace rusty ste, I’ve drilled some less than straight holes to be tap’d/ threaded.

Not many bits left to justify this tool purchase, so I also don’t want to break the bank. But…. Pillar/ press drills? Just grab a used cheapy from marketplace? Or one of those very cheap presses you could put battery drill in?

Or something else?

Only one choice IMO - get a s/h floor pillar drill of any age off eBay or FB, one with a decent size chuck. You should be able to get one for under £120 (possibly much less).
I bought a 1950’s one 35 years ago it’s been utterly hammered with thousands upon thousands of uses every which way and apart from treating it to a new chuck last year its never needed a thing.

[The Gauge]

This appeared as a Facebook advert, an adapter for using a router with track saw tracks, is this something new or have they existed for a while?

[Sway]

Been around a while. I've just ordered one for my new trim router!

Great idea.

[moustachebandit]

Sway said:

This arrived today, so perhaps a bit early to post on this thread - but it's a Makita clone with great reviews, and in the hand it seems more than up to the job. Different bases are solid, controls are smooth and precise.

Will get some decent bits, and then get on with the modified IKEA cabinet I'm doing as a control cab for my marine aquarium.

Bought an identical Katsu branded unit many years ago and it's been excellent, for the £70 odd it cost at the time with all the bases it was a no-brainer. The only thing I did was put a longer flex on it as the supplied one was quite short. Good buy.