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Cool New Tool Thread

Nice thing about the adjustable style dies is that you can sort of get away with using them as chasers without losing too much thread.
Does a new tin can to hold your cool tools count? Clearanced out of Harbor Freight, cheaper than I've ever seen a 72".
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Thays a nice box. I have it in the Lime Green they offer. I think it's probably one of the best boxes for the money, even more so if it's on sale.

The only real con vs the bigger names I think is the drawer release is only one the right side vs a full length sliding tray under the lip to open each drawer.
 
Here's some pics of that thread restorer kit I mentioned. Used it the other day to clean up some drain plug threads (made a mental note to replace the plug next oil change, too)

This kit comes in a nice case and can be found for $75 ish online. Super handy tool that you may not use very often, but fills a very specific purpose.

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I have that same set I got from Cornwell. I swear there is ONE company selling those chasers and they just arrange them differently in slightly different cases. In any case mine had served for some 15 years and I've only broken one. I added a pair of thread pitch gauges to my kit. (Metric and SAE.) I like to be SURE of what the thread is before I start cranking on the fastener.
 
Even though I have good Ingersoll air die grinder, never liked the scream of air tools. So one more replaced. Had my eye on one of these for over a year. Sale came up where the "bare tool" came with a free (small) battery and I bit. I LIKE it!
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How long is a battery supposed to last using that? Seems things that spin fast eat up batteries very quickly. It would be much easier than firing up the compressor and running a hose all the time!
 
I imagine it'd depend on battery size. U know the Dewalts have different amp hours.

I got to use a nifty new worklight! Very bright, folds up and even has a snazzy bag to store and carry it in.

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I forgot about this thread. Time to catch up!

A lot going on in the garage. At least as far as projects and stuff to do. Finding myself needing to clean up metal surfaces and stuff all the time lately. Decided to pull the trigger on some tools to make those tasks easier and the results more consistent.

First up bought one of those "surfacer" tools. Harbor Freight knock off of the Eastwood Chinese made tool that started it all.
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Followed that up with a tubing sanding tool. Rear end tubes, roll bars and really anything with curve or radius to it can be ground down, sanded or surface prepped much easier and evenly with this thing.
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Went with a company called Empire Abrasives for a load of consumables for the aforementioned tools
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Ever get sick and tired of tripping over rear ends in the shop? Sore back from lifting and moving those hulks around? Ever need a hand holding and positioning a beefy nine inch in just the right place. Easy there {.}

Since I am almost always found working alone in the garage I'm constantly seeking out ways to do two man jobs by myself without breaking my back. Currently I am building a chassis and specifically focused on the rear suspension. To do so I need to hold a rear end in precise location relative to the frame while fabbing link bar brackets etc. Historically, I'd use jack stands and piles of shims, etc. to try and get all close enough to work. PAIN IN THE ASS. Plus once set up you can easily move things aside to facilitate welding positions or whatever. Found a better way.

Bought a couple of these mobile pipe stands. Height adjustable in two ways. First a gross adjustment by raising or lowering the main column then a fine adjustment can be done by screwing in/out the top threaded support piece. I plan to make pieces to rest on top of the current "V" bits to give a flat surface as well for other purposes I see coming my way.

They sell these things in a few different height ranges. The pair I got go from like 24" to 32" or so. I cut a couple inches off the main column already to get them a bit lower to serve my purpose. You can get them without the casters too but why would you? I can see using them to store a rear end that I can easily move about and out of the way as needed when not in actual use.

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Added to the tool chest collection as well. Sticking to the Husky blacked out line. My bigger boxes are of the heavy duty line and I added another of the standard duty little guys to fill a gap and serve as the base for something I will keep secret for a while longer. Next to it is my original large combo setup and next it is the latest to join, a twin if you will. So this gives me two 52" upper/lower chest combos to go along with two of the 27" wide lower cabinets and my large 62" workbench/chest. Up top I still have the four matching wall cabinets.

Despite all this storage I still have space issues. This largely due to me using drawer and cabinet space to store car parts and bits! If I can ever get to the point of putting stuff for good onto my projects I have to believe I will eventually have enough storage space. At least I hope so, as the entire front wall of my three car garage is now fronted by Husky tool chests.

Here is my old box between the latest additions. I love me some tool storage!

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Horseplay said:
Added to the tool chest collection as well. Sticking to the Husky blacked out line. My bigger boxes are of the heavy duty line and I added another of the standard duty little guys to fill a gap and serve as the base for something I will keep secret for a while longer. Next to it is my original large combo setup and next it is the latest to join, a twin if you will. So this gives me two 52" upper/lower chest combos to go along with two of the 27" wide lower cabinets and my large 62" workbench/chest. Up top I still have the four matching wall cabinets.

Despite all this storage I still have space issues. This largely due to me using drawer and cabinet space to store car parts and bits! If I can ever get to the point of putting stuff for good onto my projects I have to believe I will eventually have enough storage space. At least I hope so, as the entire front wall of my three car garage is now fronted by Husky tool chests.

Here is my old box between the latest additions. I love me some tool storage!

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Looks great.
 
kb3 said:
How long is a battery supposed to last using that? Seems things that spin fast eat up batteries very quickly. It would be much easier than firing up the compressor and running a hose all the time!
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It is easier. I've been using such die grinders for years and outside of head porting just about ALL the time I just one is like just a minute or two so staying power isn't an issue. If I have a lot of wiring harness soldering to do I've had to have at least two more batteries on deck. Milwaukee also has a "rapid charger" spendier option which recharges them markedly faster than the stock charger. AND they have larger batteries. I like the smaller ones for usability but the bigger ones let you stand your tool on end too. Like this. And OK, on topic, I just bought this too. Co-worker has one and I'm not borrowing his anymore.
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GypsyR said:
It is easier. I've been using such die grinders for years and outside of head porting just about ALL the time I just one is like just a minute or two so staying power isn't an issue. If I have a lot of wiring harness soldering to do I've had to have at least two more batteries on deck. Milwaukee also has a "rapid charger" spendier option which recharges them markedly faster than the stock charger. AND they have larger batteries. I like the smaller ones for usability but the bigger ones let you stand your tool on end too. Like this. And OK, on topic, I just bought this too. Co-worker has one and I'm not borrowing his anymore.
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How about some more info on the new one that you show above Gypsy
 
Mach1 Driver said:
How about some more info on the new one that you show above Gypsy
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OK. It's a (not cheap) little 13 inch belt sander. Different speeds and the belt can be rotated 360 degrees. It's pictured in the "fit in the frickin" drawer" position. It's a bit of an awkward shape. Body shop guys are big on these things and one of them turned me onto them. There's also an 18 belt sized one. You don't use it much but it's still handy as hell sometimes. Ever grind off a rivet or something with an angle grinder and leave "C" shaped grinding marks you wish you could have avoided? Everyone uses just the tip of these for spot sanding/grinding. Once you get in the habit actually having it around more uses for it seem to pop up. Like doing a super sharpen on a lawn mower blade without taking the blade off. Sometimes you will use it instead going to a big belt sander or bench grinder just bacause you don't want to walk over there. Spot weld grinding, taking shard edges off sheetmetal, all kinds of things you can do.

Belts in different grits can be had for a buck apiece or even less like off Temu or at Harbor Freight but the really good ones that last are made by 3M and run about 3 bucks each.
 
I'll second the comment from Gypsy about 3M abrasives vs cheaper brands/sources. No matter the format, quality pieces end up costing less than the cheap stuff. For small 2" or 3" Roloc style sanding discs I learned to only use 3M Cubitron. Cost a bit more but work so much better and hold up way longer. I just posted about buying a bunch of sanding supplies from a place called Empire Abrasives. From what I found online their stuff is supposed to be a grade above the norm too. Hope that turns out to be true as it is was a bit cheaper than comparable other big name stuff.
 
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