Thread: Tools of the Month Club

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Nice tool Mike. My problem with tools like it, is I have a tendency to missplace the small stuff, and never be able to find it when I need it! Funny enough while cleaning the garage out a bit the other day, I stumbled across an old plastic tool box I used for woodworking stuff. Opened it up and found chisels, saws and scrappers I thought I lost years ago. My goal this spring is a complete cleanout of the garage followed by epoxy painted cement slab, and a finish coat to the primed dry wall in there. After that a lot of thought is going into what to toss and what to keep! And most importantly how to store and where so I can readily find it when needed!

Here’s a golden oldie but unfortunately as far as I know isn’t made new anymore.

If you still work on engines that use a mechanical fan however and can find one at a swap meet or on E bay snatch it up.

It’s for getting to the bolts that hold the fan to the water pump. Almost everything I still build has a mechanical fan so mine still gets used on a real regular basis.

You may have heard about the organization Chicago Electric Power Tools, the amusing thing is though it could as well be called China Electric Power Tools. You won’t find the state website for Chicago Electric Power Tools since there is none, the power tools goods are made in China and slapped with the name Chicago Electric Power Tools to make it sound American.

Since Chicago Electic power tool products result from China you can get them for really cheap prices, you can aquire the power online via major online marketplaces Ebay and Amazon. I must warn you, you receive what you pay for when it comes to Chicago Electric power tool products. There’s been many discussions online associated with the products and how these are made very cheap and aren’t durable and do not last very long.

All the best . finding replacement parts, user manuals or support, you’ll find nothing online associated with Chicago Electric Power Tools, the makers don’t even have a Chicago Electric power tools website.

The primary company involved in the import/export of Chicago Electric Power Tools is Harbor Freight which states inside their logo “Quality Tools at ridiculously Low Prices”.

About Harbor Freight
Last 1968 Harbor Freight Tools attempt to make it simpler for your working man and woman to have the best value on top-quality tools. Now, over 35 years later, these are the largest tool and equipment catalog retailer with more than five million satisfied customers enjoying their hassle-free ordering-all backed which has a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

We also found the power tools available on well loved internet vendors, Amazon, Ebay and AOL Shopping.

fitzwilly - Funny, when I was there last week they had a new sign in all the isles saying all hand tools come with lifetime garauntee. I guess they are directly taking on Craftsman now. Unfortunately Craftsman seems to be using china for alot of their stuff now too, so it's a toss to which will hold up. I haven't bought any Snapon, Mac, or S&K recently, so I'm not sure where they stand on the China issue anymore either, but I'm guessing we still can rely on the quality!

Future tools?

Anyone use a Rotozip with a mandrel for cutoff wheels? I'm wondering if they'll hold up to say.....cutting off header pipe? It's been my experience in the past that stuff with plastic surrounding the bearing melts away with repeated use on cutting metal. Not sure of the ruggedness of the Rotozip. I was thinking this tool would be even better than the pneumatic because I can maintain a constant speed (30000 RPM) under load. Thoughts?

Also, a manual bead roller? I've never used one and wondered if I can make a clean line with the manual set up. If not then I'd spring the extra coin for a motor drive. But why waste the money if a manual will work? Eastwood sells a fairly cheap one that I've been eyeballing for a couple months now.

Don't have any pictures but I like my coach hammer. Automatically shrinks as you hammer. Has a rounded back head perfect for off dolly work.

David

Don't know about the rotozip, but they look like they would eat metal!
The manual bead rollers will depend on the size of material you pass thru them. I know some guys on here have posted stuff in the past that looks pretty good. That being said, I have a metal/ welding shop friend who will fabricate floor panels for less than the initial investment for a roller big enough to do the same, so I guess it depends on how much you will use it.
Haven't heard of a coach hammer? Sounds like it's for sheet metal work?

Steve,

Yes, its for sheet metal work and works great. I'll try to remember to get a picture of it. BTW this is a cool thread!

David

Thanks! This is my tool of the month though it isn't for hot rods, it does server to protect them! It was one of those great deals for about 400.00 new, shoots 7.62x39 which is easy on the budget!

Somthing new from Dewalt

The cheap Eastwood bead roller is made in china as well.. The Harbor Freight bead is the same for less money.

Lastest gadget I received for christmas.
Amazon.com: Exterior & Interior Thread Restorers Internal Thread Restorer: Arts, Crafts & Sewing
Self adjusting thread restorer.

Scott I have a similar thread tool I bought to fix my steering wheel threads on my steering column. It's called a chasem back die. It's hinged in the middle to go on a bolt or threaded shaft below the damage and will cut threads as you unscrew it. In my case it fixed the tip of my threaded 1948 steeing column shaft. Worth every penny.

Here is another tool tip someone on heretold me when I was trying to remove old rusted bolts off the 1948 F1. Since all the body panels are bolted together, it was a nightmare trying to get t them from all sorts of contorted angles only to have a bolt head strip and the have to try cutting it off. The solution was so simple I was amazed. Instead of trying to unscrew them with two wrenches(one on bolt head, and one holding the nut), use an air impact wrench and tighten it vs. losening it. It almost always will snap the bolt (if it's old enough) making your life and knuckles much better!

I'm about to undertake a spark plug change on my V10 powered pickumup. Since Ford in their infinite wisdom decided to stick them in a deep hole that will fill with carbon plus made them an extended welded two piece part that will often break while removing them, will possibly need this tool, a Lisle (LIS65600) Broken Spark Plug Remover for Ford Triton 3 Valve Engines. $60 bucks from Amazon, and winging to me as I type, but it's a lot cheaper then Ford's several hundred or more just for labor to change plugs.

Broken plug remover.jpg

Then there is this one for removing the rear hub nuts on the same truck - $16 bucks from Advance Auto parts. Kinda crude, but it works as well as the $40-50 pieces:

Hub nut socket.jpg

I had a bunch of pipes to cut (like 200+) when I was doing my deck railing project and they needed to be consistent and fairly accurate. I bought a Cold Cut Off Saw (also called Dry Cut Off) from Northern Tool ( FREE SHIPPING — Northern Industrial Dry Cut Metal Saw - 14in., Model# RP2814A | Chop Saws | Northern Tool + Equipment ) that worked great, and I've since used it for lots of metal cuts on flat, round, add angle iron. It cuts amazingly smooth, leaving no burr, and while the chips are hot the metal stays pretty cool. NT also has one with a Milwaukee name, and Makita makes one, too, but both are in the $500 range. No more than I use it this one works good for me.
Dry Cut Chop Saw.jpg

Here's a dandy cheap little helper when your assistant doesn't have opposable thumbs! It's a magnetic parts holder. They sell em cheap at HF for like 3.99 but boy do they come in handy!Or for a few bucks more they have the 22 piece magnetictic screw driver and tool set that includes a magnetic tray in tool box red. I wish I had that last week end while working on my regulator clock. Nice not to have to chase the screws around in a tight space!

http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-...der-97825.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalog...category/1446/