Good tools cheap vs cheap tools

[bluewool]

Yep. Mine works fine, even though I've beat the snot out of it probably far beyond what it's designed for.

A deadblow hammer is, admittedly, a pretty simple device and hard to screw up.

I have something like 12 hammers for various mechanical tasks. One of the coolest is a copper sledge I inherited from my Dad. I've never even seen one for sale, but the head is a 4 or 5 pound chunk of copper, and it's just incredible when you need to thwack a piece of steel without marring, like seating bearing races. The copper is hard enough to apply a goodly amount of force, but soft enough that it can't damage the steel.

I have a couple of claw hammers somewhere, but I detest woodworking.

Yeah that's what I thought, however I'd ask before spending six dollars on something that would be unsatisfying and just turn to crap. If I wanted that sensation out of six dollars I'd eat at McDonalds.

Four or five pounds!! thats $12 to $15 in scrap copper you've got and you're using it as a hammer!
I have a little 1.5lbs Brass hammer made by Jet; Handy for similar albeit smaller applications.

[Road Rash]

You sure that's brass and not copper? I use brass hammers all the time at work but have never even heard of a copper hammer.

[barnbiketom]

20 years ago my toolbox at a car dealership contained mostly S-K tools. you could get them replaced anywhere and were way above sears tools. I still use them today.

some other techs made fun of me and they bought MAC and Strap-on..

I made double house payments while they went into debt.

What I'm saying is, there's a line between good tools and stupidity.

[bwringer]

You sure that's brass and not copper? I use brass hammers all the time at work but have never even heard of a copper hammer.

Nope, it's definitely copper. I've never seen one before or since, but it's really handy. And yes, I have a brass hammer, too, and some brass drifts. The copper hammer is a good bit softer than the brass.

[bluewool]

Hammer paradise

http://www.thorhammer.com/Mallets/Copper/

[willie]

I like to tap the bit into the bolt head with a hammer, then put the ratchet on it and "poof"!, off the bolt comes.

X2!
I couldn't have described it better myself.

[Allie]

I tapped into the slots on a couple of the screws to straighten them out a little after mauling them with a non JIS driver. Once you get a good fit in the slot with a JIS bit you're set, it will not slip. Tapping can also jar loose the odd spot of corrosion in the threads.

[1980GS1000E]

I like to tap the bit into the bolt head with a hammer, then put the ratchet on it and "poof"!, off the bolt comes.

My thoughts, exactly. I have never used or needed an impact driver. And I have worked on many bikes over the years.

[Crankthat]

Whats that old saying?
You get what you pay for.
Not always true.
I own a lot of craftsman tools and napa tools.
The napa are shiner.
Craftsman not looking so attractive to me anymore as I am really trying to watch where what I buy is made.
It can be a difficult decision between prices though!
Most of the wrenches I own over a inch and metric equivalent are cheaper brands, If it fits snug and the quality is good...
I have visited harbor freight a few times, some things looked great and some things not so.
I am more of a hands on type of person when purchasing most things, with tools I like to feel the weight and play the action before purchasing.
There goes the alarm, time to make the ponchikis.

[tkent02]

My thoughts, exactly. I have never used or needed an impact driver. And I have worked on many bikes over the years.

I can't go a day without needing one. Best tool in the shop.

[Guest]

An impact driver is a life saver when you finally need one, I've needed one several times and not just for the bike.

[bluewool]

Snap ring pliers are another serious, "you get what you pay for"

Tapping is fine if theres no corrosion, no salt, little rust, and someone hasn't already been there with their #2 on the #3 bolt/screw head.

[bwringer]

Whats that old saying?
You get what you pay for.
Not always true.
I own a lot of craftsman tools and napa tools.
The napa are shiner.
Craftsman not looking so attractive to me anymore as I am really trying to watch where what I buy is made.
It can be a difficult decision between prices though!
Most of the wrenches I own over a inch and metric equivalent are cheaper brands, If it fits snug and the quality is good...
I have visited harbor freight a few times, some things looked great and some things not so.
I am more of a hands on type of person when purchasing most things, with tools I like to feel the weight and play the action before purchasing.
There goes the alarm, time to make the ponchikis.

The ponchkis. We must know more. Delicious pics, please...

[Crankthat]

The ponchkis. We must know more. Delicious pics, please...

So sorry to disappoint!
It would just make you hungry anyways!
Was just making a reference to the dunkin doughnuts guy commercials as I needed to go to work.
Was curious if anyone would catch that

[koolaid_kid]

I have been collecting tools since the 70s. My first real set of metric wrenches are in a wrapped pouch that I purchased from the back of a van in a convenience store parking lot. Unbranded, from size 6mm to 32mm. I use them to this day when I need large sizes. I still have every wrench in the set, although I admit to being a bit anal about replacing every wrench in the set after using them.
I have lots of Craftsman tools and I like them. Good quality, lifetime guarantee, although you have to be careful these days. A lot more of their mix is now from China and no better than anything else on the market.
My impact driver is a Snap-On and is great. I used it to remove the JIS screws from my carbs when I rebuilt them.
I'll buy Harbor Freight tools if they have the lifetime guarantee (lots of their tools have this now) or if they are a one-time use item. I cracked a HF impact socket and took the set into HF. They gave me a new set with no questions asked.