The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest What was the last tool you bought?

The last tool I bought wasn't vehicle related, but it would come in handy for re-wiring work. It was day before yesterday and within 2 hours of buying it, the thing may have saved my life. Or at least saved me from an unwanted shock. It was one of those combination wire cutter, crimper, stripper things and I was adding lights under the south part of our place in the mountains. That part of the house only has about 18 inches of clearance at best, is dark as a coal mine and I've grown tired of dragging a crawl light around with me when something needs to be done. There was a wire down there...probably left from when the place was built. Just laying there coiled up and when I tested it a couple of years ago it didn't seem like it had juice in it. I had decided it was connected to a switch somewhere (which was off) or which had been run but never connected at the breaker box. It was 14/2 wire, which I needed a bit more of, so I cut straight through it and POW. Large spark which was followed immediately by me banging my head sharply on the beam above me. Still holding the thing and seeing lots of little dots dancing in front of my eyes, I reflected on how nice it was somebody somewhere added rubber grips on the handles. The brand was Gardner-Bender and it was about $9 at the Foxworth-Galbraith store. One of these days I'm going to have to start wearing gloves.