Tools & equipment that are fantastic.

[Captain Dirty]

For ArlyA

Klein markets 11 in 1, Milwaukee markets 13 in 1, the extra 2 being the 3/8" and 5/16" internal hex (Allen) sleeves that hold the 1/4" hex bits.

 

[Tinhack]

This stihl magum beast rocks with power and I can start and stop it while wearing it. Best tool I bought last summer...

I have, most likely, a cheaper version (not Stihl). It has electric push button start with auto choke. It has a small rechargeable battery about the size of a pack of cigarettes. From what I remember--I quit smoking years ago.

 

[BravoXray]

For ArlyA

View attachment 804344
Klein markets 11 in 1, Milwaukee markets 13 in 1, the extra 2 being the 3/8" and 5/16" internal hex (Allen) sleeves that hold the 1/4" hex bits.View attachment 804345
View attachment 804344
View attachment 804345

Got one of those right here in my desk drawer, very handy to have.

Someone, I know who she is, "borrowed" the previous multi-screwdriver I kept in my desk, and I never saw it again. She could lose and aircraft carrier I believe.

 

[RobertEH]

70 lumens isn't a lot, about like a 10 watt incandescent or 1 watt led (guessing), but about same as an old style 2 D cell flashlight. I have powerful ones, up to a million candlepower but is just a little smaller than pen or sharpie, fits in pocket and enough to see 20-30 feet ahead.View attachment 785648

On the subject of portable flashlights...

I picked up the Streamlight Pocket-mate the other day. So far I am very happy. It fits on my keychain, is rechargeable and the spec say:
-High: 325 lumens; 76m beam; runs 20 minutes
-Low: 45 lumens; 28m beam; runs 1 hour.

I somehow think actuals may be less... but good enough for the occasional use

Also on my keychain is a set of magnifying lenses, and a locking carabiner with a breaking strength of 4kN (Just under 900 lbs).

Light: https://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-73300-Keychain-Rechargeable-Flashlight/dp/B09351Z6JM/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=streamlight+pocket+mate&qid=1686059245&sprefix=streamlight+poce,aps,181&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFCSDFVT1JHSThNUkwmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTEwMTI3MzUyN1RRT1dURk41RU5GJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAxODExOTIyMlhONUJYS1BXMlhMJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Lenses: https://www.amazon.com/ThinOPTICS-Keychain-Reading-Glasses-Strength/dp/B01KJQ7IVI/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2BAERX44H2KLY&keywords=keychain+glasses&qid=1686059501&sprefix=keychain+glasses,aps,188&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzTlcxQUlaS1VRWTBMJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODAyMzM2SVFITzRPOUQyRVZUJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAwMDA4MzAxVU1IUzk3SU5CUE9IJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Locking biner: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B096897RLY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[ArlyA]

Actual battery capacity = 1/2 as stated by manufacturer.

Paint longevity = 1/4 to 3/4 as stated by manufacturer.

Light lumens = 3/4 as stated by manufacturer.

Actautor max output = 3/4 as stated by manufacturer.

What's your favorite manufacturers statement?

 

[2manyrocks]

20 yr roof shingle.

 

[WinterDeere]

Surprised no one has posted their coffee machine yet. Ahead of the bottle opener, caffeine the most useful tool in any environment.

My bar counter is populated with:

Baratza Sette 270 espresso grinder
Baratza Virtuoso coffee grinder
Bunn A10 commercial coffee pour-over machine
Highly-customized Gaggia Classic Pro PID and pressure profiling
A good old classic cheap Bodum French press

 

[WinterDeere]

What's your favorite manufacturers statement?

Victory Golden Monkey Belgian-style Tripel ABV, at least 2x that stated by manufacturer... or so many claim.

 

[two_bit_score]

Goggles to wear when using the Stihl Mangnum 800c backpack blower. In addition to hearing protection.

 

[Oaktree]

20 yr roof shingle.

Roof shingle life is very dependent on (1) local climate and (2) proper installation.
I put "20 year" shingles on my first house when I bought it in 1977. Last time I drove by there (a couple years ago) the house had the same roof. But this was in New England, I'm sure in the south where heat and solar intensity were much greater it would have been a different story.

 

[ArlyA]

Roof shingle life is very dependent on (1) local climate and (2) proper installation.
I put "20 year" shingles on my first house when I bought it in 1977. Last time I drove by there (a couple years ago) the house had the same roof. But this was in New England, I'm sure in the south where heat and solar intensity were much greater it would have been a different story.

40 year shinlges sure don't last 40 here! Even steel roofs take a beating.

 

[ArlyA]

For ArlyA

View attachment 804344
Klein markets 11 in 1, Milwaukee markets 13 in 1, the extra 2 being the 3/8" and 5/16" internal hex (Allen) sleeves that hold the 1/4" hex bits.View attachment 804345
View attachment 804344
View attachment 804345

I don't like these "do all" tools with little bits. I drop them and you can't locate them. I do keep these screwdrivers with different ends in machines for emergency's.

 

[jjeff]

HF used to give those away I was pretty surprised the bits were decent and capable of taking screws out without stripping the heads off.

 

[WinterDeere]

40 year shinlges sure don't last 40 here! Even steel roofs take a beating.

Old house nut, here. Slate roofs are similar, in that good slate can last > 150 years, but the nails tend to rust out around 75 years. Always sad to watch good slate slide down the roof and smash on the ground, when the nails let go.

My raised seam steel roof is just starting to rust from the chimney flashing. It's 32 years old. Debating on whether it's worth scrubbing and painting it, or just wait it out for replacement. It is a very steep and very high (4 stories @ 12:12 pitch) roof of 14 squares, so not a small job.

 

[JethroB]

I had the original roof shingles from 1953 replaced on my parents home in 2016 for my mom. 63 years! Oh, but they were asbestos. If you’ve never seen any they look and feel like Hardie board siding.

 

[Oaktree]

HF used to give those away I was pretty surprised the bits were decent and capable of taking screws out without stripping the heads off.

The bits may be decent, but the handle doesn't grip the shaft very well, at least on the couple I have. Keeps falling out. Good enough for an emergency fix, but I'll gladly pay the extra for a Klein.

 

[Oaktree]

Old house nut, here. Slate roofs are similar, in that good slate can last > 150 years, but the nails tend to rust out around 75 years. Always sad to watch good slate slide down the roof and smash on the ground, when the nails let go.

Worked as a roofer's helper one summer when I was a teenager. We had to repair a few slate roofs. Always kinda scary since those roofs were steep. Didn't have the modern safety gear back then they do today...the guy I worked with's "safety harness" was a rope knotted under his armpits with me on the other side of the peak holding it.

 

[ArlyA]

Sure are liking my baby sized Makita 18v chain saw. Camping this weekend.

 

[jjeff]

DeWalt clones, recently acquired a work light, and a cordless heat gun clone couldn't justify getting the actual DeWalt brand cuz of my current non commercial usage. Both were very inexpensive, work good all things considered and use quality 20 volt DeWalt batteries. Came to find out there's a lot of different cordless tools made by various foreign companies for DeWalt 20 volt batteries perfect for a self proclaimed semi serious tinkering cobbler like myself who likes or occasionally needs the convenience of cordless tools but can't stand buying a cheap cordless tool only to have the specific non interchangeable battery fail long before the cheap tool does.

 

[LD1]

DeWalt clones, recently acquired a work light, and a cordless heat gun clone couldn't justify getting the actual DeWalt brand cuz of my current non commercial usage. Both were very inexpensive, work good all things considered and use quality 20 volt DeWalt batteries. Came to find out there's a lot of different cordless tools made by various foreign companies for DeWalt 20 volt batteries perfect for a self proclaimed semi serious tinkering cobbler like myself who likes or occasionally needs the convenience of cordless tools but can't stand buying a cheap cordless tool only to have the specific non interchangeable battery fail long before the cheap tool does.

Nice....

That is the one thing that has always drove me nuts....is why we cannot standardize batteries and voltages.

We have with alot of batteries. AA, AAA, C, D-cell, 9-volt.

Buy a maglight, or streamlight, or whatever brand it dont matter. You can run energizer, duracell, or dollar store house brand batteries. Dont matter.

Blows my mind why we have to have proprietary batteries and chargers for cordless tools 3-decades after they really started becoming popular.