Tool Review Time
- Thread starter NIKwoaC
- Start date
Good tip. Will read again. Oh wait...
In other news:
Furniture Pad
Furniture pads can be used to cover most furniture and appliances to prevent nicks and scratches during a move.
www.uhaul.com
Worth their weight in gold. Toss one over something you want to cover for a time. Put them on the ground to lay on when you're working on something and set tools on so that they don't roll away or get lost in the grass. Cut them up and wrap parts in them for shipping or storage. I've cut off strips and soaked them in diesel for a make-shift torch. Camping blanket, seat cover when you're dirty and your car isn't...
The list goes on. They're cheap (I got a dozen or so, free) and I can't say enough about em. There's no worry about whatever you decide to use them for.
Agreed on all counts. The moving blankets at Harbor Freight are also fantastic for all of the above, and can be had for as little as $1.99 with a coupon. I use one at the dealership as a fender/bumper protector so my belt buckle and shirt buttons don't scratch customers' paint. When it gets filthy? Demote it to a lesser use and grab a new one.Good tip. Will read again. Oh wait...
In other news:
Furniture Pad
Furniture pads can be used to cover most furniture and appliances to prevent nicks and scratches during a move.
Worth their weight in gold. Toss one over something you want to cover for a time. Put them on the ground to lay on when you're working on something and set tools on so that they don't roll away or get lost in the grass. Cut them up and wrap parts in them for shipping or storage. I've cut off strips and soaked them in diesel for a make-shift torch. Camping blanket, seat cover when you're dirty and your car isn't...
The list goes on. They're cheap (I got a dozen or so, free) and I can't say enough about em. There's no worry about whatever you decide to use them for.
I've been doing a lot of electrical repairs again...
This time, I'm going to talk about soldering irons.
These Weller soldering guns are the some of the best ever made. They still make a similar gun, but if you can find the original vintage piece at a flea market, garage sale, pawn shop, Ebay, etc... grab it. I paid $5 for mine at a garage sale, in the original case, including solder and rosin, and everything but the light bulbs on the front still worked (those can be purchased online pretty cheap). As much room as it takes up in the toolbox, it became my soldering iron for use at the house, but it is an absolute gem of a tool, and so well made that every tech I know over the age of 40 that has a soldering iron has, and still uses, one of these.
I mentioned way back on page two that there would be Snap-On tools I felt I wasted money on. This thing is absolutely one of them. I made the mistake of paying $250 for it about eight years ago. It's always been a little finicky (frequently getting TOO hot for it's own good), and it's 100% a re-badge of a much cheaper soldering iron from Portasol. I liked that it was made in Ireland, I loved the ergonomics and solid feel of it, but it's temperature control was way too finicky, and it got hot enough to melt its own steel tip at one point. When it died, I couldn't get parts for it, leaving me with the option of replacing it... which I did.
That is what replaced the Snap-On. It was all of $30, and unlike the Snap-On, which included just the soldering iron and one tip, this came with a full kit including everything but the butane! I hate how this thing feels in the hand, as it feels like a cheap and flimsy piece of crap, and it's a pain to refuel, squirting almost as much butane all over you as it allows into it's too small fuel reservoir, but when it comes time to solder some wire, it's fantastic. It has four set temperature settings, and I find myself using the two highest most frequently, and with great results. The exhaust vent is conveniently located to use it for heating up heat shrink to cover up my solder joints when done. The included case is nice, though it's insert to hold the pieces of the kit is a bit flimsy.
Another yard-sale find, these old RadioShack soldering irons are great as well. This particular one (Catalog # 64-2802B) is a 30-watt, continuously on, single-temperature unit. I find it great for delicate work on the workbench, and though I prefer the convenience of a butane soldering iron underhood or inside a car, there are certain situations where that's just not safe, and this little guy comes out of the toolbox to save the day. The crazy thing about these is that RadioShack stores inside of HobbyTown locations may still have them: https://www.radioshack.com/products/5-piece-basic-soldering-set If the newer versions are as good as this one from the 1980s is, $12.00 is a steal. (I think I paid all of $5 for mine at a yard sale, but it came without accessories and needed a good cleaning).
TLDR for soldering irons: Vintage Weller good, SnapOn butane bad, Bernzomatic butane good enough, vintage Radioshack good.
This time, I'm going to talk about soldering irons.
These Weller soldering guns are the some of the best ever made. They still make a similar gun, but if you can find the original vintage piece at a flea market, garage sale, pawn shop, Ebay, etc... grab it. I paid $5 for mine at a garage sale, in the original case, including solder and rosin, and everything but the light bulbs on the front still worked (those can be purchased online pretty cheap). As much room as it takes up in the toolbox, it became my soldering iron for use at the house, but it is an absolute gem of a tool, and so well made that every tech I know over the age of 40 that has a soldering iron has, and still uses, one of these.
I mentioned way back on page two that there would be Snap-On tools I felt I wasted money on. This thing is absolutely one of them. I made the mistake of paying $250 for it about eight years ago. It's always been a little finicky (frequently getting TOO hot for it's own good), and it's 100% a re-badge of a much cheaper soldering iron from Portasol. I liked that it was made in Ireland, I loved the ergonomics and solid feel of it, but it's temperature control was way too finicky, and it got hot enough to melt its own steel tip at one point. When it died, I couldn't get parts for it, leaving me with the option of replacing it... which I did.
Bernzomatic ST500 Cordless Soldering Iron and Micro Torch Kit with 7 Settings, Lead-Free Rosin Core Solder and Case-368600 - The Home Depot
Precision that fits in the palm of your hand. Designed for fine detail projects such as electrical soldering, jewelry repairs, craft projects and heat shrinking wire, this torch kit is versatile and mighty.
www.homedepot.com
Another yard-sale find, these old RadioShack soldering irons are great as well. This particular one (Catalog # 64-2802B) is a 30-watt, continuously on, single-temperature unit. I find it great for delicate work on the workbench, and though I prefer the convenience of a butane soldering iron underhood or inside a car, there are certain situations where that's just not safe, and this little guy comes out of the toolbox to save the day. The crazy thing about these is that RadioShack stores inside of HobbyTown locations may still have them: https://www.radioshack.com/products/5-piece-basic-soldering-set If the newer versions are as good as this one from the 1980s is, $12.00 is a steal. (I think I paid all of $5 for mine at a yard sale, but it came without accessories and needed a good cleaning).
TLDR for soldering irons: Vintage Weller good, SnapOn butane bad, Bernzomatic butane good enough, vintage Radioshack good.
I have a couple of those as well. 65Watt with base station. I've got one set up as a desolder station... Somewhere.
Quick question, now that Lowe's is carrying Craftsman brand, do they honor the old "Lifetime" warranty?
I shattered a socket yesterday trying to get a lug nut off of my Jeep. It was a regular 6-pt. socket, not an impact-type, and the shop gorilla who rotated my tires last time obviously wasn't using a torque stick. (One of the other wheels, the lugs came loose more easily than they should have... The other two seemed about normal.)
I shattered a socket yesterday trying to get a lug nut off of my Jeep. It was a regular 6-pt. socket, not an impact-type, and the shop gorilla who rotated my tires last time obviously wasn't using a torque stick. (One of the other wheels, the lugs came loose more easily than they should have... The other two seemed about normal.)
If they have an equivalent yes. If not, you can supposedly do it online.
HemiRick
I'd be looking at jacking under the house
WOW read thru this entire thread and only spent about $100, mityvac 7400 and a set of those Hyper Tough Ti Bits. OH and I got a pair of the OTC angled wire crimpers in my Amazon cart.
Blown88GT
Founding Member
Still have my Weller 8200, bought it new about 60 years ago.I've been doing a lot of electrical repairs again...
This time, I'm going to talk about soldering irons.
These Weller soldering guns are the some of the best ever made. They still make a similar gun, but if you can find the original vintage piece at a flea market, garage sale, pawn shop, Ebay, etc... grab it. I paid $5 for mine at a garage sale, in the original case, including solder and rosin, and everything but the light bulbs on the front still worked (those can be purchased online pretty cheap). As much room as it takes up in the toolbox, it became my soldering iron for use at the house, but it is an absolute gem of a tool, and so well made that every tech I know over the age of 40 that has a soldering iron has, and still uses, one of these.
I mentioned way back on page two that there would be Snap-On tools I felt I wasted money on. This thing is absolutely one of them. I made the mistake of paying $250 for it about eight years ago. It's always been a little finicky (frequently getting TOO hot for it's own good), and it's 100% a re-badge of a much cheaper soldering iron from Portasol. I liked that it was made in Ireland, I loved the ergonomics and solid feel of it, but it's temperature control was way too finicky, and it got hot enough to melt its own steel tip at one point. When it died, I couldn't get parts for it, leaving me with the option of replacing it... which I did.
That is what replaced the Snap-On. It was all of $30, and unlike the Snap-On, which included just the soldering iron and one tip, this came with a full kit including everything but the butane! I hate how this thing feels in the hand, as it feels like a cheap and flimsy piece of crap, and it's a pain to refuel, squirting almost as much butane all over you as it allows into it's too small fuel reservoir, but when it comes time to solder some wire, it's fantastic. It has four set temperature settings, and I find myself using the two highest most frequently, and with great results. The exhaust vent is conveniently located to use it for heating up heat shrink to cover up my solder joints when done. The included case is nice, though it's insert to hold the pieces of the kit is a bit flimsy.Bernzomatic ST500 Cordless Soldering Iron and Micro Torch Kit with 7 Settings, Lead-Free Rosin Core Solder and Case-368600 - The Home Depot
Precision that fits in the palm of your hand. Designed for fine detail projects such as electrical soldering, jewelry repairs, craft projects and heat shrinking wire, this torch kit is versatile and mighty.www.homedepot.com
Another yard-sale find, these old RadioShack soldering irons are great as well. This particular one (Catalog # 64-2802B) is a 30-watt, continuously on, single-temperature unit. I find it great for delicate work on the workbench, and though I prefer the convenience of a butane soldering iron underhood or inside a car, there are certain situations where that's just not safe, and this little guy comes out of the toolbox to save the day. The crazy thing about these is that RadioShack stores inside of HobbyTown locations may still have them: https://www.radioshack.com/products/5-piece-basic-soldering-set If the newer versions are as good as this one from the 1980s is, $12.00 is a steal. (I think I paid all of $5 for mine at a yard sale, but it came without accessories and needed a good cleaning).
TLDR for soldering irons: Vintage Weller good, SnapOn butane bad, Bernzomatic butane good enough, vintage Radioshack good.
My Weller solder station died after 30 years of daily use. The electronic controls gave out, would no longer heat up for more than 1 sec before shutting off.
Replaced the controls with a voltage controller module, but it's pretty much full on, only. Good for wiring, but not electronics.
Got a Weller WE1010.
WE 1010NA Soldering Station | Weller
Weller WE Line is the most powerful station in its class now in a new design.
www.weller-tools.com
Amazon product ASIN B077JDGY1JView: https://www.amazon.com/Weller-WE1010NA-Digital-Soldering-Station/dp/B077JDGY1J
Two things... what brand are these jack stands he's testing? I want a set, and also, does anyone have a set of Harbor Freight stands to send him for similar tests?
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjmXQNhKCks
As a reminder, if you have Pittsburgh jackstands from Harbor Freight, take them back to the store for a refund, there's a recall.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjmXQNhKCks
As a reminder, if you have Pittsburgh jackstands from Harbor Freight, take them back to the store for a refund, there's a recall.
HemiRick
I'd be looking at jacking under the house
Yes, Lowe's does cover the Craftsman Lifetime Warranty! My broken 1/2 drive 6-pt. 3/4" socket was the old "mid height" size which is no longer made. The older guy in the tool section said I could choose what I wanted, so I got a deep-well socket. He wrote a note for me to take up front stating it's a suitable replacement.
