tool review section

[horrace]

is there a tool review section? where we can rate all the tools we use for the restoration and up keep of the minors? for example i bought a new angle grinder from screwfix the other day on special offer for £20 so far so good but time will tell. i have also been using a sip welder (amongst other workshop tools) for the last 3 years and can offer feedback on this etc etc ???

[simmitc]

Sounds like a good idea. The quality of simple things like sockets and ratchets varies significantly.

[bmcecosse]

I have a large heavy hammer - it's great!

[Trickydicky]

I think it would be a great Idea, who looks after ccreating new parts of the message board?

I also have a "Big Heavy Hammer" plus the 1 Thou and 2 Thou and 5 Thou versions.......

[brucek]

Have heard that the Scottish version of the large heavy hammer is also known as a Glasgow screwdriver . In England, of course, it is also known as the Clarkson micrometer (See Top Gear where a Caterham was built!).

This also brings up the need for someone to write up a test report on the left handed screwdriver, the long stand, the quality of the sparks for the grinder and the temperetaure of the buckets of blue steam. My inititiation as a very young part time parts assistant was to get some spark plugs for a diesel engine - they made me drive round until I found some. All the motor factors, of course, knew the routine, and sent me in ever decreasing circles!

[Alan Pearse]

SNAP ON you pay for what you get the best in the business, expensive yes but the quality and customer support are second to none, plus if you break a spanner or screwdriver or any other tool thats proven to be faulty within reason they will replace it FREE. can't see Halfords or your local tool shack doing that.

[mike.perry]

I have a 1/4 - 5/16 open ended Whitworth Spanner which came with my ex GPO van in 1969 and has provided excellent service ever since

[bmcecosse]

Blue steam ???? Explain please....I'm obviously missing something there......

I have a 7/16 ----1/2 AF ring spanner that's really really useful

[brucek]

Steam is available in a wide selection of colours - blue being a particularly popular colour. Sky blue Pink and dayglo Yellow have also had their moments. Along with the other items mentioned, this was a popular and impossible errand to send young and wet behind the ears factory juniors to go and fetch. Not wanting to incur the wrath of the person asking for the item, the new junior would be given a series of tasks on their first couple of days which all the old lags in the parts depratment or engineeruing shop knew about and would play along with. Mike Harding does a particularly good version of this on one of his albums 'Rooted'. Fetching a bubble for the spirit level was also another favourite.

[bmcecosse]

Number 3 Sky Hook is always handy.......

[brucek]

Indeed so. I'm sure there is a whole 'tool-box' of impossible items to be found out there!

[Rasputin]

Tin of elbow grease !!!

[brucek]

That's the spirit - must have a tin of that in the 'box too!

[rayofleamington]

I've given up on cheap angle grinders. My first (decent) angle grinder lasted 20 years. My shortest life from a cheap one is 20 days until it had no brushes... (aparently that's not faulty, it's wear and tear :roll)
Got a fairly expensive (yellow american well known brand) angle grinder and after 5 years it's still happy - very useful feature is the ability to change disk without tools . 3 times the price of a cheap one and probably 20 times the lifespan.

Cheap tools are often a useful way to pad out a toolbox (2nd or 3rd version of a good tool you already have) but rarely any use for hard work.

These days I'm getting overloaded with tools so have seperated the metric ones into their own toolbox for the Eurobox.

[horrace]

i have a makita which is a nice bit of kit a black and decker and the titan one from screwfix, i thought the black and decker one was going to fall to pieces after 5 mins but its about 5 years old now and still going strong although the cable had to be repalced as it become very brittle. today i can confirm the black knight automotive gloves are cack and the cheapo one you get for £4 a box from boot fairs last much longer.

[linearaudio]

Are we allowed to advertise on here??
If so my vote goes to the Halfords "Professional" range. Having abused their ratchet ring/ open end spanners for the last 10 years with no ill effect, I would recommend them to anyone. "Snap-on" is just a marketing/stamping company. For the trade it is excellent, with the van boys swapping dead for new without quibble. The quality is first rate, but others exist to challenge them with far lesser prices for general use!
When it comes to the Moggy, I am mourning the recent inexplicible loss of my WD 3/16"-1/4" Whitworth open ender. Fitted nearly everything, was nice and short and fat (ooh-no, Missus!!).
Its next size up compatriate is similarly useful for the more serious stuff!

[horrace]

advertise good stuff or slate poor quality its fine say what you like
perhaps we should copy top gear and have a cool wall ?? wher ewe can rate stuff...
i.e
cool = morris pick up
warm = draper 1/4" socket set
uncool = modern day repro rubber bits for morris minors

[dp]

I remember in a school science lesson a kid from the class downstairs had been sent upstairs to our teacher for a Long Stand. He was asked to stand there and wait a minute. Our teacher carried on with our lesson. I didn't twig this at all as there were these stands which were quite long that you attached clamps to which held bunsen burners. After 5 minutes the kid was asked if he'd had a long enough stand yet. I don't think he understood either We would only have been 11 so no idea of the various apprenticeship initiations to come.

[Alan Pearse]

Tartan Paint is one i can remember.

[win]

I recently broke my Britool E86 1/2" swivel bar, 24", not sure how long I have had it, but I think I paid in £.shilling & pence.
Took it to Britool, now Stanley, Mac tools. They replaced it without a quibble. What better accolade than that.

Regards Win