I’ve been doing yard work this morning.
STIHL. It’s money well spent!
STIHL. It’s money well spent!
-
Enjoy XS650.com? Consider making a donation to help support the site.
XS650.com receives a small share of sales from some links on this page, but direct donations have a much greater impact on keeping this site going.
What are your favorite items of equipment, implements, products or Brands?s ?
- Thread starter OLD ROOKIE
- Start date
I bought this 1957 Kirby in 1984. It’s still on the job. The POS beside it will go in the trash if anything else breaks. Parts aren’t available. Kirby parts don’t seem to be a problem.
That looks like it’s for killing Orcs!
Yikes! Idk what an Orc is.
I don't actually kill anything at all anymore but do carry that out in the remote high desert, why idk.. cold beer is more necessary lol
Years ago I had a pair of 7.2V Makita drills which turned in thousands of screws for me, despite their puny size.
Some time later I decided to invest in more Makita, simply because I'd been so impressed with the performance of the tiddlers. I started buying 14.4V tools and ended up with half a dozen or so. To keep them up to date I intend to buy a couple of 14.4V Li-Ion packs with adapters.
They perform well enough for my use, everything from simple drilling at the vice to disassembly procedures via a chucked 3/8" or 1/4" socket driver.
If they ever peg out I'll simply replace them, but only if I'm sure the 14.4V system is gone forever.
I've been using a Thorsen 3/8 ratchet for five decades.
Simple, low profile, easy to use, and tough as nails.
I have 2 3/8 thorsens now so not sure if this is the one I've had so long, but expect it to be in service on it's 100th birthday.
Simple, low profile, easy to use, and tough as nails.
I have 2 3/8 thorsens now so not sure if this is the one I've had so long, but expect it to be in service on it's 100th birthday.
Been using this guy for over 40 years. Favorite ratchet.
Most of the tools in this are as old. And all work as well as the day I got them. Wish I could go back to those days. Don't miss the wrenching all that much, the youth thing is a different story.
Most of the tools in this are as old. And all work as well as the day I got them. Wish I could go back to those days. Don't miss the wrenching all that much, the youth thing is a different story.
@GLJ - Cool! I have the remnants of a set of 3/8 SK Wayne sockets that a friend gave me for Christmas when I was around 16 or 17. The ratchet got lost in one or another of my Navy moves, but the rest is still in service. So, 50+ years old.
I also have a handful of hand tools that were my father's. A mish-mash of offset box ends, combos and open ends and a Miller's Falls hacksaw frame with his name etched in the frame. HAS to be at least 70 years old, maybe older and still as square and rigid as new. I also have his Craftsman 1hp router from the 60's in the original steel box. Using them always feels special.
I also have a handful of hand tools that were my father's. A mish-mash of offset box ends, combos and open ends and a Miller's Falls hacksaw frame with his name etched in the frame. HAS to be at least 70 years old, maybe older and still as square and rigid as new. I also have his Craftsman 1hp router from the 60's in the original steel box. Using them always feels special.
Most of the hand tools I have that I used working on heavy equipment are Craftsman and most of them date from the mid to late 1970's. This along with a hand full of Mac, Snap-on and Matco. Torque wenches still in use are Snap-on's, Craftsman one did not hold up after several years of use mostly at home.
As a parting gift from company when I retired had a catalog things to pick through. All kinds of useless "to me" things, jewelry, clocks, golf clubs and such. Only thing that caught my eye was the set of Dewalt cordless 18 volt tools. $ 1/2 inch grinder, 7 inch circular saw, Hex bit screw/nut driver, 3/8 inch drill/rotary hammer drill, reciprocating saw, jig saw, 1/2 impact wrench, and a rotary cutter. I think that is all at least as far as I can recall! I think the company that does these gift things got a deal on them as shortly after I got this set Dewalt started pushing the 20 volt versions. Compared to the older cordless tools of say the 1980's these pack good power and seem to take a bit of abuse.
When the time come to replace the two 20 inch push mowers I'm probably going to look real close at the electric ones, heck by then there might not be gas powered ones! Also starting to think about an electric chain saw for when I'm just looking to do some trim work, as the two Homelite Super 2's while working good can be a bit stubborn to start if let set for too long. The idea of knowing I can just grab saw and in a second have it running to do a couple quick cuts is very appealing!
As a parting gift from company when I retired had a catalog things to pick through. All kinds of useless "to me" things, jewelry, clocks, golf clubs and such. Only thing that caught my eye was the set of Dewalt cordless 18 volt tools. $ 1/2 inch grinder, 7 inch circular saw, Hex bit screw/nut driver, 3/8 inch drill/rotary hammer drill, reciprocating saw, jig saw, 1/2 impact wrench, and a rotary cutter. I think that is all at least as far as I can recall! I think the company that does these gift things got a deal on them as shortly after I got this set Dewalt started pushing the 20 volt versions. Compared to the older cordless tools of say the 1980's these pack good power and seem to take a bit of abuse.
When the time come to replace the two 20 inch push mowers I'm probably going to look real close at the electric ones, heck by then there might not be gas powered ones! Also starting to think about an electric chain saw for when I'm just looking to do some trim work, as the two Homelite Super 2's while working good can be a bit stubborn to start if let set for too long. The idea of knowing I can just grab saw and in a second have it running to do a couple quick cuts is very appealing!
Ok, I’m a cheap meat. Most of my tools are Craftsman and Harbor Freight. The majority of my Harbor Freight tools were purchased back in the 70’s. I was a welder and I took a job in a fleet garage, I found myself in a need for a lot of tools in a hurry. Back then you didn’t run to the Harbor Freight store, they didn’t exist. I had a catalog, kinda like JC Whitney. I filled out an order sheet, wrote a check , stuck them both in an envelope and waited about a month for my tools to show up. A big heavy box with reinforcing straps around it. I still own almost all of those tools, including some absurdly large open end wrenches that were needed for hydraulics and large truck parts.
Anybody else ever buy tools from a catalog?
Anybody else ever buy tools from a catalog?
I avoided being escorted to the tool truck and getting fleeced for $30,000. I went to Sears and bought the tool sets to cover me. I still have some and gave a bunch to my son-in-law. That bought me time to figure out what tools I liked. My tool box is eclectic. In many cases the Craftsman tool was good enough to remain in service indefinitely. In a few cases, only the Snap-on tool would do. The Bonney tools had a delightful feel and appearance and proved at least as good as anything on the market and at an attractive price. I still prize them. Along the way, I picked up stuff off the various tool trucks or even the discount store. There's no reason for me to pay a Snap-on price for a tool that sees little action. Since I no longer live by the wrench, I buy adequate tools for enjoying my hobbies.
Sonic Tools sell from a catalog and do warrantee by mail. I think it's a good deal for somebody starting out.
Yep. JC Whitney and Warshowski (sp?). Mine are an eclectic bunch too. Craftsman, SK, Chinese, Mack, Snap On, Continental American (made in Germany and Japan oddly enough
).... even have a set of Popular Mechanics offset box ends. My prize would be my SK 1/4" ratchet. My Dad gave it to me when I was a kid. It was used when he gave it to me, so no telling how old it is... 60-70yrs and it's still my go to out of the half dozen or so 1/4 inchers I have.The Continental Americans were picked up when I bought my first bike in '68.... a Honda 50.
60+ yrs old and used almost daily, yet it's still the tightest action of all of 'em.
Jim, that 12mm wrench looks like it's been up close and personal with electrons.
Prolly multiple times DE. I weren't too bright back in '68....
My hand tools are a mish-mash. Quite a bit of Crapsman, plus whatever the local Surplus & Salvage joint had in stock. A lot of Stanley and Mastercraft, some Kobalt, some Husky...I ain't proud. Other than REALLY cheapo Wallaby World "mechanic in a box" kits, I'll buy whatever is priced right. I do tend to spend a little more money on screwdrivers. I have a full set of Vessel JIS.
Mikey
got muscles in his head that ain't never been used
I've had this B&D screwdriver for 20+ ? years and I use it a lot for starting screws in wood or sheetrock or wherever
just where you can hold a screw but can't turn it to get started
But The damn charger puked out on me but where am I going to find a charger that takes 120v and puts 5.5 v AC back into the drill and how can a battery accept AC voltage
just where you can hold a screw but can't turn it to get started
But The damn charger puked out on me but where am I going to find a charger that takes 120v and puts 5.5 v AC back into the drill and how can a battery accept AC voltage
