Tools and Gadgets

[J0eW]

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I almost bought an electric staple gun, but decided it would not get the use required to pay for itself. (Mr. Miser speaking)
However, I did purchase a Ryobi trim nailer and impact driver. The nailer has proved to be an excellent buy, well worth the cost. The impact driver has not seen nowhere near as much use. It is hard on batteries, using their charge very quickly. Knowing this at purchase time, I would not have bought the driver.
A question to anyone with interest. What is the best driver bit? Phillips is better than Slotted. Torq seems better than Phillips. My main concern is the screw head getting stripped out by the bit. From what I can tell, there appear to be many more types of driver bits. which is the best? How do they all rank?

 

[J0eW]

I almost bought an electric staple gun, but decided it would not get the use required to pay for itself. (Mr. Miser speaking)
However, I did purchase a Ryobi trim nailer and impact driver. The nailer has proved to be an excellent buy, well worth the cost. The impact driver has not seen nowhere near as much use. It is hard on batteries, using their charge very quickly. Knowing this at purchase time, I would not have bought the driver.
A question to anyone with interest. What is the best driver bit? Phillips is better than Slotted. Torq seems better than Phillips. My main concern is the screw head getting stripped out by the bit. From what I can tell, there appear to be many more types of driver bits. which is the best? How do they all rank?

In response to the anti seize photo above, I have never considered the potential dangers of lubricants. According to this article, I should consider it. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6720566/

Weren't a large number of manufactured items grandfathered in during the drafting and passage of EPA laws?

 

[Relayer]

A question to anyone with interest. What is the best driver bit? Phillips is better than Slotted. Torq seems better than Phillips. My main concern is the screw head getting stripped out by the bit. From what I can tell, there appear to be many more types of driver bits. which is the best? How do they all rank?

Just my opinion...

Torx (or even a combo) is the best if the concern is stripping out. Actually, Phillips is easier to strip out than slotted.

 

[Bazza]

Just my opinion...

Torx (or even a combo) is the best if the concern is stripping out. Actually, Phillips is easier to strip out than slotted.

Agree on the Torx. Today, in fact, I picked up another 3 boxes of Deckmate screws with the Torx head. I use my Ryobi cordless driver and Bosch Torx bits......and then just go to town!

 

[J0eW]

Agree on the Torx. Today, in fact, I picked up another 3 boxes of Deckmate screws with the Torx head. I use my Ryobi cordless driver and Bosch Torx bits......and then just go to town!

I'm not sure about Phillips versus slotted, but slotted can be trickier and more of a pain to drive.

One problem that I have with both Philips and Torx is no-drive after hitting knots or winter slow growth rings. I wind up having to back out and drill pilot holes after hitting this hard material! I have had this in SYP using either a drill or impact drill. It seems some screws have a better ability to self tap.

 

[Bazza]

Continuing the impact driver discussion.....

I picked up this Makita magnetized bit holder. There are other brands who makes a similar device, including Dewalt, but I liked what I read about this one and have to say it doesn't disappoint....

 

[Bazza]

 

[Toddrn]

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My son went to Vocational school right out of high school to be a mechanic. MAC tools sold them tools at a 50% discount while they were in school. He changed careers after a few years but he and I have gotten a lot of use out of those tools.

 

[Bazza]

 

[J0eW]

I have to tell myself this constantly - an old man needs to know his limitations.

 

[Bazza]

 

[UAH]

This is an entirely new one for me. I have a Samsung Front Load Washer which is basically a terrible appliance but being cheap I don't want to spend over $1,000 to replace it. We purchased it used and the trunnion broke almost immediately. Morale of that story is never bring an appliance into your house without knowing the repair/warranty history for that model.

Recently the unit had a catastrophic appearing failure when the tub fell backwards into the cabinet!!!. Upon investigation I found that a suspension spring had pulled through the hanger on the plastic outer tub.

Being frugal to a fault I am determined to repair the hangar and reassemble the washer which I may use in a rental house later.

Here is an epoxy product that I have found that potentially offers the best opportunity to repair a structural plastic part. It is called steel filled epoxy and likely has thousands of applications for the do it yourself community.

When I search Amazon I find a number of product offerings of similar product.

I will attempt to post pics before and after.

 

[J0eW]

This is an entirely new one for me. I have a Samsung Front Load Washer which is basically a terrible appliance but being cheap I don't want to spend over $1,000 to replace it. We purchased it used and the trunnion broke almost immediately. Morale of that story is never bring an appliance into your house without knowing the repair/warranty history for that model.

Recently the unit had a catastrophic appearing failure when the tub fell backwards into the cabinet!!!. Upon investigation I found that a suspension spring had pulled through the hanger on the plastic outer tub.

Being frugal to a fault I am determined to repair the hangar and reassemble the washer which I may use in a rental house later.

Here is an epoxy product that I have found that potentially offers the best opportunity to repair a structural plastic part. It is called steel filled epoxy and likely has thousands of applications for the do it yourself community.

When I search Amazon I find a number of product offerings of similar product.

I will attempt to post pics before and after.

Good luck with the repair. I tried an epoxy putty on a leaking pipe a few years back. Unfortunately, it did not work out.

 

[Relayer]

Came across this when I was re-organizing the garage. When was the last time you used one of these? Some (most?) probably never have.

 

[crimsonaudio]

Wow, maybe 35 years ago?

 

[J0eW]

Wow, maybe 35 years ago?

Ha! Probably 45 years for me. I wonder what year oil companies introduced the screw top plastic containers?

 

[crimsonaudio]

Ha! Probably 45 years for me. I wonder what year oil companies introduced the screw top plastic containers?

Wiki says: "Motor oils were sold at retail in glass bottles, metal cans, and metal-cardboard cans, before the advent of the current polyethylene plastic bottle, which began to appear in the early 1980s. Reusable spouts were made separately from the cans; with a piercing point like that of a can opener, these spouts could be used to puncture the top of the can and to provide an easy way to pour the oil."

So yeah, 35-ish years is probably about right for me. I was thinking mid-80s, when I got my first car.

 

[Bazza]

I had a landscaping business in the 80's and my work truck was a '76 F250 Ranger. The engine used oil but otherwise ran great. I gave up on doing oil changes because at one point it seemed I was pouring a quart of oil in it every couple-three weeks.

The convenience stores at that time used to carry recycled oil and that's what I usually bought. It was the cheapest and if my motor was going through it why get the expensive stuff?

Eventually I closed the business and re-located to Naples to work full time for a millionaire as his gardener. I think I told this story before. My boss was the one who basically pioneered the cable TV industry. His company was Cablevision Enterprises. He lived in New York but had a winter home in Naples plus the house next door they used as a guest house. The benefits package for me included free cable with all the bells and whistles, needless to say. I ended up taking a job with one of my venders, Lesco, Inc. and worked for them for the next 10 years, which is where I really got my stuff together both financially and personally.

So what happened to the F250 that used oil, you ask?

Well I had brought her with me to Naples and used her for side jobs while living there. I ended up selling her to a local and she still ran and drove pretty good.

And yes, I have used those piercing spouts in my time. I remember both Dad and Grandfather having and using them, too.

The guy I worked for as a groundskeeper.....he ended up buying the land where Woodstock was held! It was an interesting experience for that 1.5 years I worked for him.

Nice blast from the past post @Relayer !

 

[Padreruf]

All too well...my first car, in 1971, was a 1963 ½ Ford Galaxie 500XL...red inside and out--not a ding and it was beautiful. Came out halfway through the year. It had a 390cc? -- 429? something like that -- incredibly powerful engine. It literally burned a quart of oil every month to 6 weeks. I did the same as Bazza, only I added STP oil treatment every 3 months or so. I changed the oil and filter yearly...Bought it for 500 and sold it for 350 2 ½ years later. Stupid...pure stupidity.

 

[UAH]

All too well...my first car, in 1971, was a 1963 ½ Ford Galaxie 500XL...red inside and out--not a ding and it was beautiful. Came out halfway through the year. It had a 390cc? -- 429? something like that -- incredibly powerful engine. It literally burned a quart of oil every month to 6 weeks. I did the same as Bazza, only I added STP oil treatment every 3 months or so. I changed the oil and filter yearly...Bought it for 500 and sold it for 350 2 ½ years later. Stupid...pure stupidity.

Probably 390 or stroked up to 428. These were absolutely beautiful American Iron with some of the best paint on the streets.