Topic: Cool Tools.

[Don R]

I made a socket head screwdriver for M4 screws. I will use socket head screws on carb  bowls.

I like it!

  I like that too, I got a set of socket head bolts for my Mikuni 29 smoothbores.

[Don R]

 Years ago, a friend had his tool box and everything in it stolen. He made a list for the insurance man, collected and proceeded to Sears to buy the replacements. The sales lady said no, don't buy them individually let's get some sets out. They picked out a bunch of tool sets, laid them all out on the floor in the stock room and then picked out the multiples.
 She gave him a credit for the tools he didn't want extras of, and they applied that towards new stuff he wanted. He got a bigger tool box and bolted it to his garage wall from the inside.

[grcamna2]

Years ago, a friend had his tool box and everything in it stolen. He made a list for the insurance man, collected and proceeded to Sears to buy the replacements. The sales lady said no, don't buy them individually let's get some sets out. They picked out a bunch of tool sets, laid them all out on the floor in the stock room and then picked out the multiples.
 She gave him a credit for the tools he didn't want extras of, and they applied that towards new stuff he wanted. He got a bigger tool box and bolted it to his garage wall from the inside.

I miss walking into Sears to exchange broken and purchase new Craftsman tools.

[BenelliSEI]

Years ago, a friend had his tool box and everything in it stolen. He made a list for the insurance man, collected and proceeded to Sears to buy the replacements. The sales lady said no, don't buy them individually let's get some sets out. They picked out a bunch of tool sets, laid them all out on the floor in the stock room and then picked out the multiples.
 She gave him a credit for the tools he didn't want extras of, and they applied that towards new stuff he wanted. He got a bigger tool box and bolted it to his garage wall from the inside.

I miss walking into Sears to exchange broken and purchase new Craftsman tools.

I worked at SEARS Canada for 23 years (before Home Depot). I had a 25% discount so most of my tools, garden equipment and appliances came from there. Parts and Service locations that provided excellent service too. All gone now. Sad.

[Don R]

 When I was an apprentice plumber one of the journeymen that I worked with had a cousin that hauled the sears dumpster. He always had to inspect the load before and while dumping it.

[Stev-o]

Years ago, a friend had his tool box and everything in it stolen. He made a list for the insurance man, collected and proceeded to Sears to buy the replacements.

I miss walking into Sears to exchange broken and purchase new Craftsman tools.

My wrench and socket sets as well as my SS tool chest and cabinet are all Craftsman.   Lowes now sells Craftsman [made in China] and you can replace damaged tools there, if they have it in stock.

https://www.craftsman.com/pages/warranty?srsltid=AfmBOoosto-7mzuMvcirw7lhrD3lU1XASi7yhQOCJ425_lNbDS3Ibzvj

A few weeks back I was at my buddies house and he asked if I has an adjustable wrench handy [I keep a small tool kit in my truck]. So I handed him the Crescent wrench, but was unable to adjust it to the size of the nut.  I bought the Crescent tool, prolly at Home Depot, a year or two ago and may not have never used it, it still looked like brand new.  Once back at home, I tried everything but could not get it to adjust size, WTF?!  I looked up the warranty online, they also have lifetime, I filled out the form and sent it in with a pic of the tool and a couple weeks later received a brand new tool, no questions asked.

 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Crescent-6-in-and-10-in-Chrome-Cushion-Grip-Adjustable-Wrench-Set-2-Piece-AC2610CVS/206967927

[Don R]

 I have a nice Stanley fine tooth ratchet with a long swivel handle, it got to where I couldn't make it hold the sockets on and then sometimes wouldn't release. I sent them an E-mail about buying a repair part and they sent one to me free.
 Stanley tools is now part of Black and Decker. 

[grcamna2]

I have a nice Stanley fine tooth ratchet with a long swivel handle, it got to where I couldn't make it hold the sockets on and then sometimes wouldn't release. I sent them an E-mail about buying a repair part and they sent one to me free.
 Stanley tools is now part of Black and Decker.

A complete ratchet to match your original Don ?

[Don R]

 Oops, no they sent the repair part. I'd had the ratchet for 20 years at that time, it took about a minute to swap out the parts.

[Trevor from Warragul]

I will use socket head screws on carb bowls.

It took me ages to figure out that doing this on my CB350F would mean I could remove the bowls without removing the carburetors...

[Alan F.]

Just found a low priced wheel balancing/truing stand.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09N1C74SR/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=AG0F0UJGMJQPO&psc=1

[Terry in Australia]

I love my Vevor air jack. I’ve gone off a lot of air tools because modern cordless tools (rattle guns, drills and grinders etc) are so much easier to use without dragging an air hose around, but the air jack has made working on my cars so much faster and easier. I left my big workshop trolley jack over at Spotty’s place and haven’t been in a rush to get it back, just because the air jack works so well. Like me, it was cheap too, which is an advantage.

[CycleRanger]

Years ago, a friend had his tool box and everything in it stolen. He made a list for the insurance man, collected and proceeded to Sears to buy the replacements.

I miss walking into Sears to exchange broken and purchase new Craftsman tools.

My wrench and socket sets as well as my SS tool chest and cabinet are all Craftsman.   Lowes now sells Craftsman [made in China] and you can replace damaged tools there, if they have it in stock.

https://www.craftsman.com/pages/warranty?srsltid=AfmBOoosto-7mzuMvcirw7lhrD3lU1XASi7yhQOCJ425_lNbDS3Ibzvj

A few weeks back I was at my buddies house and he asked if I has an adjustable wrench handy [I keep a small tool kit in my truck]. So I handed him the Crescent wrench, but was unable to adjust it to the size of the nut.  I bought the Crescent tool, prolly at Home Depot, a year or two ago and may not have never used it, it still looked like brand new.  Once back at home, I tried everything but could not get it to adjust size, WTF?!  I looked up the warranty online, they also have lifetime, I filled out the form and sent it in with a pic of the tool and a couple weeks later received a brand new tool, no questions asked.

 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Crescent-6-in-and-10-in-Chrome-Cushion-Grip-Adjustable-Wrench-Set-2-Piece-AC2610CVS/206967927

Lowes will only honor the Craftsman warranty on a tool if you bought it there.
(At least that's what they told me at Lowes.)
For older tools sold by Sears you have to use that Craftsman web site.
I had a 40+ year old ratchet break.
A repair kit is NLA for that model. I had to fill out a form and and submit a photo of the damaged ratchet. A few weeks later I received a newer model replacement from Craftsman.
Imho the newer model isn't the same quality as the older ratchet but it's a 1/2 inch and I don't use it that often.

[Terry in Australia]

My home made harmonic balancer holder. I didn’t want to jam the flex plate in my Ford pickup to tighten the bolt to 90 foot pouns, so I made a tool from an old CB750 oil cooler adapter bolted to a length of aluminium bar, with 6 stainless allen bolts that grabbed the spokes on the harmonic balancer. Worked like a charm.

[BenelliSEI]

My home made harmonic balancer holder. I didn’t want to jam the flex plate in my Ford pickup to tighten the bolt to 90 foot pouns, so I made a tool from an old CB750 oil cooler adapter bolted to a length of aluminium bar, with 6 stainless allen bolts that grabbed the spokes on the harmonic balancer. Worked like a charm.

Clever!

[Terry in Australia]

Thanks John, I hate working under cars, so I’m happy that I could fix it with my newest “Cool tool”.

[BenelliSEI]

Thanks John, I hate working under cars, so I’m happy that I could fix it with my newest “Cool tool”.

Whenever I “build” something like that I label it with a marker. I imagine my son getting a laugh out of it in 10-20 years, just before he tosses it!

[Terry in Australia]

Yep, with luck I’ll never need to use it again.

[70CB750]

Thanks John, I hate working under cars, so I’m happy that I could fix it with my newest “Cool tool”.

Whenever I “build” something like that I label it with a marker. I imagine my son getting a laugh out of it in 10-20 years, just before he tosses it!

Great idea - I mean the label. 

[grcamna2]

Thanks John, I hate working under cars, so I’m happy that I could fix it with my newest “Cool tool”.

Whenever I “build” something like that I label it with a marker. I imagine my son getting a laugh out of it in 10-20 years, just before he tosses it!

Great idea - I mean the label.

electric engraver/Dremel

[BenelliSEI]

I used this JBWeld “Plastic Bonder” on a black plastic fender on the LM650 side X side. One of my g’children stepped on it and almost broke it in half, on a seam line. Smoothed it in the crack and then built up the underside with an extra layer. I left the applicator on a sunny window ledge and it squirted out easily (almost liquid). Set up quickly in 5-7 minutes. The repair is almost invisible and certainly as strong as original part. Very good stuff and works extremely well!

Cracked headlamp bucket or side cover? Try it.

[grcamna2]

I used this JBWeld “Plastic Bonder” on a black plastic fender on the LM650 side X side. One of my g’children stepped on it and almost broke it in half, on a seam line. Smoothed it in the crack and then built up the underside with an extra layer. I left the applicator on a sunny window ledge and it squirted out easily (almost liquid). Set up quickly in 5-7 minutes. The repair is almost invisible and certainly as strong as original part. Very good stuff and works extremely well!

Cracked headlamp bucket or side cover? Try it.

John,I like JBWeld products.
Does that 'Plastic Bonder' set-up flexible? or hard like Superglue ?

[BenelliSEI]

I used this JBWeld “Plastic Bonder” on a black plastic fender on the LM650 side X side. One of my g’children stepped on it and almost broke it in half, on a seam line. Smoothed it in the crack and then built up the underside with an extra layer. I left the applicator on a sunny window ledge and it squirted out easily (almost liquid). Set up quickly in 5-7 minutes. The repair is almost invisible and certainly as strong as original part. Very good stuff and works extremely well!

Cracked headlamp bucket or side cover? Try it.

John,I like JBWeld products.
Does that 'Plastic Bonder' set-up flexible? or hard like Superglue ?

Bill… if you look closely at this photo you’ll see the split (pencil point to point). One of the kids must have put a hand or foot on the front when climbing into the dump bin. I opened the crack and liberally “painted” both half’s of the gap. After it started setting, I put a good coat on the underside of the split. It’s dried hard after 24 hours and it’s clearly a bit shinier than the fender material (PVC?). It’s stiff and hard, seems as strong as the surrounding material. I suspect if I repaired a cracked side cover the same way it could easily be sanded and blended in. Seems like really good stuff!

[grcamna2]

I used this JBWeld “Plastic Bonder” on a black plastic fender on the LM650 side X side. One of my g’children stepped on it and almost broke it in half, on a seam line. Smoothed it in the crack and then built up the underside with an extra layer. I left the applicator on a sunny window ledge and it squirted out easily (almost liquid). Set up quickly in 5-7 minutes. The repair is almost invisible and certainly as strong as original part. Very good stuff and works extremely well!

Cracked headlamp bucket or side cover? Try it.

John,I like JBWeld products.
Does that 'Plastic Bonder' set-up flexible? or hard like Superglue ?

Bill… if you look closely at this photo you’ll see the split (pencil point to point). One of the kids must have put a hand or foot on the front when climbing into the dump bin. I opened the crack and liberally “painted” both half’s of the gap. After it started setting, I put a good coat on the underside of the split. It’s dried hard after 24 hours and it’s clearly a bit shinier than the fender material (PVC?). It’s stiff and hard, seems as strong as the surrounding material. I suspect if I repaired a cracked side cover the same way it could easily be sanded and blended in. Seems like really good stuff!

Oh,I see what you mean now. The fender you repaired on the Land Master is a hard plastic.
I was thinking it was a type of soft plastic fender that will flex under stress;I was curious if the type of plastic that are used by certain ATVs which have flexible plastic fenders would benefit by this product?

[Terry in Australia]

Looks like a great product John, I love the “Superglue and bicarbonate of soda” method for fixing cracked side covers, it’s amazing, and like me, cheap.