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

"If the head is off the block, I prefer the non-overhead style (it's faster)."

Since our Hemi fuel heads have some beastly springs in them, I took an old "C" clamp and made my own compressor. Similar to this and this.

I have no idea what a non overhead style even looks like. Do you know of a place that would even have a picture? I tried google searching and couldnt find anything called 'non overhead style'

google/search for google/search for valve spring compressor

https://www.google.com/search?q=valve+spring+compressor&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

http://www.amazon.com/OTC-4572-Large-Spring-Compressor/dp/B000F5ECUY

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Valve-Sprin...tive-Engine-Repair-Tool-HD-/111106860674

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1954truck/54ctsm0608.html

The Amazon one seems like it would work okay for our purposes?

Yes, and it is on sale and free shipping

Done. Thanks!

The last tool I bought was.....sandpaper.

Just picked up a set of metric allen wrenches.

Various tin ships, metal cutting tools, including a power driven snips which attaches to a power drill.
Also a punch and bending tools, plus a metal cutting blade for my circular saw.

I just finished installing a 26ga. standing seam, concealed fastener, metal roof on my house.

While this is not much of a challenge on a simple gable roof, my house has a hip roof with a gable running into it, along with three valleys running into a large fire place chimney, plus another gable roof running into the other gable
and a cricket behind the chimney.

I would call this a project and a half ! lol

Last proper tool I bought was a 1/2in breaker bar from HF. Use it on the lug nuts... I hate having to take apart my ZJ to get to the factory one... if you don't put it away properly the factory lug wrench will vibrate so you have to arrange everything JJUUSSSTTTT right.

Just picked up a Pexto 12U52 to replace the 3' jump shear

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4735108&postcount=1171






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I went to a garage sell that a guy has every spring. He always has tools. I got 3 vice grips for $3.00 a pair and 10 wrenches 4 of them were snapon for $ 30.00. I have more tools than i need now but i like going to fleamarkets and other sells. I have a note book that i care that i write down what i need to finish sets and things that i think i need.I need to update my note book for this year. What can i do about a Snapon ratchet i bought new years ago i have babyed it but its striped teeth 3 times and been rebuilt. It must be built wrong and now the chrome is wearing off from rideing around in my pickup hopeing to find a snapon truck to get it fixed.

I saw yesterday that my tool man left me a couple of socket racks for my allen and Torx bits.

Bought an INNOVA code reader. Every once in a while have to work on something newer and a code reader comes in handy.

Picked up something called a blow brush. An interchangeable brush head blow gun. I have yet to unwrap it and try it.

I also picked up a compression gauge kit before I realized that I already had one. This one is nice though as it has 12" adapter whips where, with the old one, the adapters screwed in to the spark plug hole, then you connected the short gauge whip. So, one set for home, the other for work.

Time to put the Suburban in the garage and see what is making the coconut banging sound on fire up. Usually goes away once warm.

Let's see. Got a remote starter button and a leak down gauge.

Dropped a couple hundred on a complete set of Estwing hammers and got rid of everything I had that was marginal.

A butane refillable pencil style soldering iron. Great tool for any type of wiring job. $20.00 bucks at Home Depot.

Darn it!
Another anvil yesterday, that puts me back up to ten.
The wife (the enabler) was at an auction and called me to describe it.
I gave her a low top bid and she bought it for less.
Then latter that day, I made enough real easy money that paid for it. Just for letting a couple boats park at our dock.

Don

Just bought ANOTHER Heath-kit Ignition analyzer scope yesterday.

Picked up and old T handled post hole digger, at a garage sale.

We always sold wiper blades and wiper arms at our gas stations until we went self serve in the early 70's. Getting wiper arms off without scratching the chrome was always a trick so most everyone had a tool to remove the wiper arms. I have no idea what happened to all of the ones we had and had almost forgotten they existed. I saw one on eBay and it arrived last Saturday.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-60s-nos-MAC-windshield-wiper-arm-removal-auto-car-tool-accessory-part-/311385896767?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=ctQ0RybtBs7hWlbcaCXAMF0MeAc%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

Its new and still works like they did 50 or 60 years ago.

That is cool, Ken. What was the tool used to remove dog-dish hubcaps without busting the hubcap paint all up?

Brad

It actually is used to pry wiper arms like the old GM vehicles had in the 50' and I don't know until when. Since the serrated part is a different metal than the wiper arm, it was common for them to get stuck on the vehicle. The spring pressure makes them awkward to pull off straight. Using a pair of pliers screws up the chrome. The little gadget pries them right off.

I don't know if you'd call it a tool, but it sure lets me see the tools I have better. I bought and installed 8 four foot bulbs to convert the fluorescent tube fixtures in my garage to LED fixtures and the new style ballast units those bulbs use and man...I'd say it is a remarkable difference. No more blinking and flickering, no more humming, all of them come on (at the same time) and it looks like broad daylight out there. I got them from 1000bulbs.com and the price seemed ok. If you want any information about this, please send a PM or an email to jon_goodman@yahoo.com
Jon

disclaimer: I have no connection to 1000bulbs.com or anybody who works there. They just happened to be a company I bought some bulbs from.

Feel free to post your info here.

I got these for the 4 foot bulbs at $9.99 each:
http://tinyurl.com/o3xar2v

The fixtures I have are cheap ones bought about 30~35 years ago and have two 4 foot bulbs in each fixture. Very common style, hangs from small chains. So I got 4 of the ballast units they (1000bulbs.com) suggested ($10.16 each):
https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/98460/BU-B232IUNVHP-N.html

These ballasts connect differently than the old ones, but this is clearly marked on the unit. I'd say each fixture took me about 15 to 20 minutes to convert...the large part of that having to be on a ladder and fiddling with putting screws back into a flimsy fixture. Interestingly these old fixtures were all made in the USA, so I didn't have to curse at them in another language. Not so interestingly I installed the top plate in the last fixture upside down and didn't notice it until later. I'll admit cursing at that one freely, but I think it understood I was really cursing at myself for not paying attention.

The old ballasts used .85 amp to run. That much I know, and honestly I didn't realize those required that much current or I'd have changed them earlier. Besides they run so hot you have to let them cool before you can touch them. The new ballasts (from the data I have) seem to run at around at around 13~14 watts...which is remarkably less and they run very cool. Each 4 foot led bulb requires 16 watts to run whereas the previous 4 foot fluorescent bulbs required 40 watts each. So any way you do the math, there is going to be a positive savings of over 50%. Plus as I said earlier you can see every square inch of that garage as if it is daylight in there. If you look around, you'll see I didn't get the highest rated (by lumens) bulbs. In fact, I got the least expensive ones. Trust me, I don't need any more brightness out there. No more reaching into the fridge and getting a bottle of waffle syrup thinking it is a beer.

One other interesting thing is these plug right in to the old style fluorescent bulb fixtures. I didn't have to change those.

Hope this helps.
Jon

I bought a diamond dust hole cutter for tile and a carbide tip wonderboard knife. Anything to get this bathroom reno done so I can play.

Found me a 2" DA sander. Air powered.

Picked up this little welder at Princess Auto ..works great and is the size of a murse complete with shoulder strap ...great little lightweight portable welder that plugs into 110. Better than lugging around the buzzbox for smaller jobs.

man purse welder

My son brought me another workbench for my shop. This monster is 10 feet long and all steel. The frame is 2"x2" pipe and the work surface and shelf are 3/8" plate. Best of all, it came with 2 huge Wilton vises attached.

All these years, I can't believe I never owned one. Got myself an air (hack) saw. Also got myself an air powered, angle, random orbital sander that uses 1" and 2" discs, hook and loop. And I replaced my broken inspection mirror with a long reach version.

I had a period of no car work and several house moves the past 11 years and along the way I sold off or wore out tools. Since I am now working on my '51 truck, I had to re-tool and just bought a new Miller 211 MIG welder and a new Speedaire 5hp/60 gal compressor. Now I better get some work done so the wife stays happy!

Scott

I just bought a cool DC, DC Tig. and Plasma Cutter from Simadre and it works really great. Finely had a chance to use it in all three phases.
Don

I bought a lathe off cl last week for $400 plus a gas/delivery tip for the guy who brought it over from ptown (1.5 hrs one way).
From the pic's I swore it looked like a south bend but could find nothing in the casting. Went with it anyway as the price was right for where I'm at.

Turns out it was home made by a guy in Pdx. back in the day... what day I have no idea, other than his name turns up back in the 40's and later in the 60's as a businessman.
I ran some run out tests and it seems to be within accepted tolerances but I'm not really qualified to say that as fact. my dial indicator is in mm and built for very fine values i.e. recording equipment and my starett doesn't mount to my base.
Still waiting for the one I ordered to get here.

I can turn hardened steel pins (think backhoe bucket) down slightly (a few thousandths) with the tool post... and majorly (several tenths) with the angle grinder add on I built for it.

Why hardened steel pins?
They were laying in the mud at the recycle center when I went looking for scraps to play with. With them were a bunch of drill bits and assorted large taps.

Turns out the large drill bits are JT2 (my tail stock size) and after cleaning and some dressing up are way worth the 20 bucks I gave for the lot.

I'm just learning (YouTube School of Machinists Knowledge)as I go. There are no schools or classes to attend, so when I have a question I can usually find answers online.
At some point I'll score some Al or bronze and find out how things go with a more appropriate material.
I think I see some bushings that need made in my future.

Forstner 1 9/16 cutter

new Dewalt circular saw to replace the old skil saw - man this thing cuts like a hot knife through butter. while not a tool to work on the vehicle projects - it was needed to make some shelving for the shop:)

I was able to buy a "Bay Bumper Jack" (Air LIft) for $35. at a local auction. Real pleased.

Are you sure about that? With all the truck beds and Suburban plywood floors that need to be restored?