I like Hakkos for soldering stations, but really any of the name brand stations will do you just fine.

 

Thanks, never heard of McMaster before. Just curious have you ever re-covered seats before? If so what size did you use? There seems to be a few sizes.

 

Oh right, hog rings are different than snap rings My comment still stands for snap ring pliers. Never used hog rings before.

 

That't the first time I've ever heard a car guy say that.

 

I've been using Northern Tools mostly.. haven't bought any hand tools for a long time sans some specialty sockets. Way too many tools I don't use already. Will use them for the hog rings though.

 

Serious thumbs down for the Harbor Freight ratcheting wire crimpers. Refused to crimp a connector onto the temp sensor line. No problem doing it with the (substantially more expensive) Greenlees that followed.

 

Assuming you are using insulated terminals, make sure you're loading from the correct side. They're directional. I didn't have any real problems with mine, but it will be a long time before I see an insulated crimp terminal again.


HUGE thumbs up for the folding steel welding table. I picked that bad boy up for $59 on cyber Monday and don't know how I lived without it.

 

I think the tension was wrong, but I tried both ways. I was tired of messing with it and needed it done right. The Greenlee crimpers and uninsulated connectors worked perfectly.

 

I felt like this belonged here:

 

Slight update. The crimpers suck, I tried adjusting them, they still suck. That said, the insulated crimp dies fit and work in the nice crimper frame, and at $25 for the whole setup vs $35 for Greenlee's jaws, I guess it's not a horrible deal.

The aluminum bow was perfect for taking to the track, as are the aluminum jack stands.

 

HF fail: 1/2" 18V Cordless Impact.

Couldn't break a single lug that was torqued to 86lbs.
Best it could manage on install was about 40-45lbs.

I knew it had no chance of being a regular use workhorse but this is frickin' ridiculous.

Their 1/4" cordless impact still continues to spin off fasteners, but that's a different beast.

Here's hoping that last year's Rebco/Longacre 24V cordless impact is actually functional for swapping wheels.

Otherwise it'll be time to pony up for a big daddy Milwaukee.

 

Sounds like you just got a dud, or it had an almost dead, battery. Return that thing.

 

Polypropylene Plastic Service Cart - 24" x 36"
Win. Easy to assemble and very sturdy. The handle wiggles a bit because it just slides into place, but it isn't flimsy.

 

Leafy, found a blemished 2014 model at Longacre for $10 more... Usual pricebis $279. My price will be $110 delivered. Makes it a pretty easy decision.

 

5 Amp Heavy Duty Jigsaw = win.

My other off-brand saw died, picked this one up in a pinch. Pretty beefy, zero issues with it, made some pretty damned accurate cuts, even came with a guide attachment.

 

I keep forgetting to post this...


Total win. Their folding mechanic's pad.

About $20. Always the last thing I tuck into the trunk before closing it.
Kneeling becomes a non-issue, even on the hardest of surfaces. Plus it helps keep you off the ground when you're rolling around under the car.

Wipes off clean. Has velcro straps to keep it compact when you're not using it.

Haven't met anyone yet who has borrowed it who doesn't say "man, I have got to get one of these".

 

I'll bite:
6 inch cut off saw: Win - if you are doing work with small tubing, its nice not to lug the huge 14inch saw out, I've used it a week or so now, seems great.

belt sander -4inch x 36 inch, 6 inch disc sander: win! just tighten everything up before your first use. I didn't, it rattled apart in a day or so, tightened everything good, and now it's been great through 3 or 4 belts.

drill press vise: win... it's a basic little bench vise that works just like a little bench vise should.

No 2 pipe cutter: fail fail fail, the casting was way out of being straight and so it just wound spiral shaped gouges down my tube.

 

i love tribology.


seriously, i read about it in my spare time

 

Front Wheel Bearing Tool is a win. I used this to remove and install the rear bearings on the miata. I wanted a shop press but I have no room in my garage and yes I could've taken it to a shop for the same money, but I'd rather spend money on tools. However, it is no help if the hub is stuck.

 

You need less spare time and more time working on cars then lol.