Recent tool purchases.

My snap on screw drivers where starting to get a bit worn so i grabbed a cat screw driver set the other day while getting parts. Happy with my new toys i went to use the number 3 phillips. Put my shoulder on it and gave it a twist. Crack! Broke the tip right off it.

Also picked up a seal pick. 195-4609. 1/3 the price of snapon. Interesting it’s a non returnable part.

One tool i am really happy with is Fluke 325 clamp metre. Measures a/c and d/c amps. Tested against my digital multi metre and its almost spot on. Can use clamp as a holder. Hertz measurement is a little sensitive. Have to clamp wire inbetween the end of probes but worked well to set generator rpms.

Cliffy said: My snap on screw drivers where starting to get a bit worn so i grabbed a cat screw driver set the other day while getting parts. Happy with my new toys i went to use the number 3 phillips. Put my shoulder on it and gave it a twist. Crack! Broke the tip right off it. Click to expand... Now it's a number 4 Phillips

I was at a pawn shop they had one snap on screw drive $25.00 ? I would like to get some new drivers alot of mine are over 30 years old but i also would love to slow down on the mechanic work.

I like the williams screwdrivers better than the snap on. They are the old style snap on hard handle. The new snap on cushion handles just become a mess after a while when working on greasy equipment. How much were the cat screwdrivers? Currently williams set $75 on amazon- Amazon.com

crane operator said: I like the williams screwdrivers better than the snap on. They are the old style snap on hard handle. The new snap on cushion handles just become a mess after a while when working on greasy equipment. How much were the cat screwdrivers? Currently williams set $75 on amazon- Amazon.com Click to expand... Guess I'm getting old, I remember buying my Craftsman (back when they were pretty good tools) 3/4 inch ratchet and socket set and only paying $75.00 for that! Think it came with most of the sockets from 15/16th to 2 inch, ratchet, breaker bar and one or two extensions. Think I only broke a couple sockets over the years. Company also had some 3/4 inch sets of chrome sockets so they were the ones that were used at ties when abuse was needed, but then being company tools the common sizes were usually missing or broken!

Set is $110 au. Number 3 wasnt in kit. Was about $18 au extra.

Cliffy said: My snap on screw drivers where starting to get a bit worn so i grabbed a cat screw driver set the other day while getting parts. Happy with my new toys i went to use the number 3 phillips. Put my shoulder on it and gave it a twist. Crack! Broke the tip right off it. Click to expand... That Cat screwdriver sure looks a lot like a Snap-On. I'd take that back. I don't think the new snappy tools are as good as they were when I started in the late 70's. The new sockets are difficult to read the size on. I have a new 3/8" 6 point socket that broke the first time I used it and a new 1/2" wiggler extension that broke at the base if the wiggler the first time I used it also. A new pair of flush cut pliers were ground out of shape and worthless. This crap did not happen back in a previous life when I wrenched full time. Sign of the times I guess. You wouldn't believe how screwed up things are in the medical field. Don't get sick my friends...

One bad thing now is getting anything broken rebuilt or replaced. I haven't seen a snap on or mac truck forever. Its kind of a good thing i dont really need alot more tools i have about 10 of every thing already.

I just had a matco breaker bar replaced after breaking the anvil. The new replacement said Matco with a american flag emblem, but I suspect that means a different thing, than my old one that said USA on it. I asked the Matco man if that meant made here, and he got kind of stumbley / mumbley that "I don't know where any of it is made" which is B. S.

Milwaukee has some very well made hand tools for reasonable prices. Amazon.com

Milwaukee has some good stuff but i am concerned they are spreading themselves too thin and will get into trouble

Like Milwaukee cordless. But i find that there 3/4 impact sockets are to soft and wear out prematurely. At least the size is cast/stamped into the socket. Just about every other brand is printed on and rubs off.

Melted my test light. I drilled the centre out so i could run 12v and 24v voltage festoon bulbs. Unfortunately she got a bit hot finding a 24v short. I have a hate if LED test lights and couldn’t find a decent multi voltage one. I like them to pull a bit of current. LEDs glow on bugger all voltage and you can get caught out with high resistance. So i made my own. Uses 5w wedge bulbs. Have 12 and 24v adapters. Even thinking of making a wedge LED with red and clear reversed parallel.

I got a test light that shows whatever voltage appears. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PX16XDX?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_as-reorder_k3_1_4&amp=&crid=2H8VBZ8EY8LEE&amp=&sprefix=volt

i looked at similar but didnt know if they put a load on the circuit. Plus they look a bit flash for me. Sign im getting old. Is it basically a hand voltage meter?

It just shows voltage to tenths. 12.3 24.2 etc. Little more accurate than a test light, but I don't think they put a load like a bulb would. I just like it, because its eliminated me blowing 12v bulbs on 24v systems.

I’ve got the snapon 12-36v version of that one you posted craneop and when I find a wire that won’t carry a load, the LCD screen reads -.- -v I’ve used it for better than 10 years and I can’t say it’s ever let me down yet.

I have been gingerly using an Ashcroft 25-1490 low-pressure, 10psi gauge for tank testing, going on 5-years. Dutifully having Alaska Metrology calibrate annually. Along with an identical sister gauge for when the other gauge is at the calibration shop and for backup. Both have traveled the state with me. I pegged both of them this week, about 12 hours apart, by being stupid. Four new ones are on order. Dooooh ​