Garage Shop: Tools

Most guys that know about tools know that anything that comes off the tool truck especially snap on tool truck cost more for the red paint and the logo , but they will stand behind it when or if it does have an issue so pay now or pay later is up to the individual I guess . I know I over paid , that version of vise with the Wilton logo in a grey bluevcolor sells all day for 650-750 .

 

It was fun for me and i only bought the 44" top and bottom. I had the top and bottom loaded in my Tacoma and was solo unloading. I recommend loading the top in first and the bottom in behind it. I managed to get the bottom off the crate and used wood ramps to get it out of the bed, just held it and let it slowly roll down. Then for the top i just had the bottom box right behind the bed and was able to pretty much slide the top off the bed and onto the top of the bottom cabinet. The 44" weights 500lbs combine, im sure with 56" will be harder than what i had to do haha

 

PM Sent!

 

I inherited an old made in USA Columbian vise from my father-in-law who was downsizing. I thought I was getting a good solid vise. It turns out that the main bar is bent so the jaws don't line up and clamp evenly and the main body is completely hollow cast iron. Oh well.

After doing a bunch of research on vises, I decided that these seem to have a lot of bang for the buck and is probably what I will get:

https://capritools.com/shop/forged-steel-bench-vises/

It seems that there are a few "legacy" vises like the Snap-On one posted above that will last for generations, a lot of cheap disposable vises and a few that are somewhere in between.

I have a beautiful old (1950's?) Craftsman legacy vise but it's only 3 1/2" and is just too small.

 

Ordered these over a month ago and forgot about them lol. Brown Santa stopped by today and dropped them off. I’ve not been in too many scenarios where they’d be useful but when I was it would have saved a considerable amount of time

 

I got my Wilton vise on Ebay. It was used, but a great deal, and all the consumer protection means you don't have to worry too much about getting a bad product (bent, etc). I will say its amazing what Made in USA vintage vises go for though!

 

Troy that's a beautiful vise, and I'd pay that money any day. Beautiful and proud too.
Zim

 

I can’t remember if I shared pics earlier but here’s my vice. It’s from the 1940’s and was made in Chicago. 4” jaws and opens up 7”. Still smooth as butter and can operate it with a single finger. Bought it for $150 on Craigslist and weighs about 60 lbs.

 

Picked the wand light up a few hours ago. It's heavy metal! lol. Well built and rechargeable. Most of the ones I've seen are plastic. I'm a little hard on these things and this one looks like it will take the abuse. Has magnetic base and hook too. $31.00
Zim
(somewhere on the east coast there is a F250 with a Matco Tools rechargeable hanging in the driver front wheel well. If you see it, and it was turned on, tell the guy it needs a charge)
Z



https://www.feit.com/product/500-lumens-rechargeable-handheld-led-worklight/

 

I picked up a similar light from snap on a few months ago , it’s seams very solid . Although it’s plastic , it comes with a wireless charging pad also , I’ll post picks later when I get to work .

 

The older the better , I always look for vises at estate sales or old barn sales . Or old large c- clamps always like finding old US made tools for cheap.

 

It’s pretty nice , the wand is a light on both sides, you can turn one or both on , it also has a standard flashlight when it’s closed , and a magnetic base .and it charges off a wireless charging pad or a usb C corded charger .

 

When I first posted pics of my tool box a few people asked for pics of my top drawer and with the cabinets opened up , well here they are it’s nothing special , I have a lot crammed in this thing , I’ve been wrenching for over 25 yrs , a bunch of my stuff is at home cause I don’t need it at work .

 

Is that a one can Frigidaire on the top shelf

 

6 pack baby

 

Yeah, just found it at Wally World, must be bigger than it looks.

 

I got on Black Friday a couple of yrs ago it’s a fun add on .

 

Yeah that is what I was looking for but a hundo cheaper....lmao. I know, I wrenched a few days too, and had a steady $500 on the truck. LOL. Nice light. I'll let y'all know how it works. It's in the truck shell for camping so will use it this weekend.
Zim

 

If you want a great light for the money get this one from Astro pneumatic I used it hard for 4 yrs and it’s still going strong it’s pretty bomb proof, I even drove over it with a 2 ton truck .

 

What do you guys use for socket and driver storage in your boxes? I'm tired of the mess in mine. Been looking at foam, but that just seems like a pain to cut out for that many sockets? What do you folks do?