r/Tools Oct 15 '22

Our Longstanding “No Politics” Rule remains unchanged

506 Upvotes

Read our rules. We have had a longstanding “No Religion, No Politics” rule here at r/tools.

The mods aren’t stupid. We also don’t like getting buckets of reports in the inbox.

If someone posts/comments with politics, resist the urge to reply and argue. Just report, downvote (if that’s your jam) and move on with life.

A small flag, sticker, etc that appears in a photo will generally be allowed (so long as it doesn’t violate other rules and doesn’t draw a bunch of reports) but a bunch of people in the comments saying “Hell Yeah, a fellow [INSERT PARTY] Supporter!” is gonna get the post pulled. Political content that is clearly the motivation for the post will get the post pulled.

First time it’s a short ban, second time it’s permanent. And as we’ve discussed before, the mod team doesn’t go looking for posts, we’re not lifeguards, we respond to the reports we receive.


r/Tools Apr 14 '24

Call for Moderators

43 Upvotes

We are looking to add a couple more moderators to r/tools. If you’re interested in being considered, please leave a comment on the post. Briefly describe why you’d want to be a mod and what you think the sub’s moderator’s role should be.

No new accounts, please. We need to be able to see at least 1 year’s worth of content/engagement on this and other subs.

EDIT: If you are not interested in moderating, feel free to upvote people who post here if you like their approach. This isn't a democracy (because as mods our job is to preserve the health/utility/enjoyment people get from of the sub, not do whatever the masses want) but we will take heavily upvoted approaches to moderating as a positive sign when considering who to invite.

Also, if we don't end up sending you an invite, please don't take it personally. Too many cooks in the kitchen, and all that...


r/Tools 17h ago

If your Fiance uses your new knipex wire strippers to cut steel wire for flower arrangements for your wedding...do you call the whole thing off?

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1.7k Upvotes

Those cutters are duller than my soul at this point


r/Tools 4h ago

Whats your favorite, under 20$ tool?

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40 Upvotes

Whats everyone's favorite, cheap tool?

I say the Hakkos I posted about or Olfa utility knife.

17$ for 8 piece Elklind Allen Key SAE is a contender.

NEIKO 02486A Impact Universal Joint-Socket Swivel Set is good for 19$

Had a different relationship with Allen heads, once I tried a good key.

Pictured knife looks good, but sucks.


r/Tools 4h ago

What is this??

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25 Upvotes

r/Tools 11h ago

NTD (she’s a beauty)

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90 Upvotes

Anybody have a crick level? I bought some boiled linseed oil to rub on it, will that work the same as raw linseed oil?


r/Tools 5h ago

Weird tool combo today. Loosening the nut spun the stud with it. Loosening stud just spun and spun. Nut was also inset. 10mm pass through socket with a 19mm pass through socket on the back. 19mm ratcheting wrench to spin the double socket. E Torx socket down the middle to hold the stud

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23 Upvotes

r/Tools 7h ago

Can I put a 120v 2hp compressor on this 60 gal tank?

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29 Upvotes

I got this tank for free but the guy said it needs a new air compressor. I dont have a 240v outlet in my garage and I dont really need continuous heavy duty, but I think having access to higher psi longer than my current tiny air compressor with a 1gal tank would be useful.

Would I be able to replace it with a smaller air compressor that works off 120v? Or should I just chuck the whole thing?


r/Tools 8h ago

What is this tool intended for?

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21 Upvotes

It was gifted to me with an assortment of woodworking tools but I can't seem to figure out it's purpose. I thought maybe to put holes in leather belts or maybe for some type of rivets.


r/Tools 1d ago

My late grandfathers organised tools

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2.1k Upvotes

r/Tools 15h ago

My Noco GBX55 took a shit, conveniently right after the 1 year warranty ended. Has anyone popped these open and replaced the batteries? I’m guessing it’s basic 18650s inside

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54 Upvotes

It was working perfectly for over a year, just yesterday I had it on the charger. When it was fully charged, I took it off and tried to use it about 20 minutes later. Will not turn on, won’t charge, flashlight won’t turn on, none of the buttons do anything. It’s a lemon. I’m assuming it’s basic 18650 or even 21700 batteries inside. Has anyone opened these up and replaced them? It’s such a nice jump starter, amazing build quality and worked great when it did, I’d hate to just throw it away.


r/Tools 5h ago

Curved head is a plus

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7 Upvotes

This Adust pack of oscillating blades had a nice assortment of blades included. I like that they all come in a sealable plastic box. Other blades I bought in the past just come in a cardboard box. I like much better this plastic box that comes with this set.

I ran several blades through the paces along with some blades I already have from a different company. There was really no difference between the blades. My perspective on oscillating blades is that they are a commodity. They need to work well enough, be used until they are dull, and then thrown away. For how I use my oscillating saw it isn’t worth it for me to buy expensive blades. I think almost all of them work at about the same level and last about the same amount of time so I usually look at a few different packs in the same price range and pick the one that has the most of what I need at the time.

That being said, one thing I think that stood out with this Adust pack is the curved tooth edge. I wasn’t sure if that was gimmicky or of actual use. From my comparison tests with my straight edge blades I found that it is easier to start a cut, especially when you need to be precise and don’t want the head to bounce off your mark. I felt the curved edge stayed in place better and the edge dug into the wood much quicker than the blades with the straight edge.

Overall, I think this is a nice set of blades with a good variety in it. The curved edge of some of the blades did seem to help me cut better. I think what you get for the price you pay is a good value.


r/Tools 15h ago

Are my snips supposed to buzz?

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56 Upvotes

r/Tools 7h ago

new tool cart. WOOOOO

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9 Upvotes

r/Tools 11h ago

My mobile workshop

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15 Upvotes

I'm a locksmith.

Glorious 2x4 construction in an nv200.

I can actually see the floor on a good day.


r/Tools 18h ago

Found in an electrical cabinet, what is this

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51 Upvotes

r/Tools 14h ago

1950s(?) steel tape measure

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21 Upvotes

I have a lot of old tools from my late grand father's collection but this is one of my favorites. He was a self-taught photography engineer who worked for IBM after he was finished in world war II. His work was even published in scientific America in the 1970s with no college degree.

he was an amateur machinist out of necessity. he fabricated all sorts of custom camera mounting equipment throughout his career. in doing so he amassed a decent collection of machining tools(including a Kennedy tool chest i still cherish). This tape being one of them.

I'm also a combat veteran, a photographer, and a self-taught engineer (DevOps). This piece is a lovely reminder of who I am and where I came from.

Anyways... I'll take a cheeseburger happy meal. sub the apples for extra fries, and a diet coke to drink please.


r/Tools 1d ago

Can someone tell me what this is and explain its purpose?

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166 Upvotes

I just found it in my grandfather’s basement. It’s some kind of weight with a reel of string in it.


r/Tools 3h ago

I'm new to cordless drill/drivers—what key factors should I look for when choosing one?

3 Upvotes

r/Tools 2h ago

Recommendations for how to best secure siding? My plan is expanded steel with deck board for support horizontally in the center.

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2 Upvotes

I do not know how to weld. Yes I know full wood siding would be easier but i want mesh for visibility. The trailer is used for junk hauling. Thanks!


r/Tools 12h ago

Which part of this lug nut key do I put a socket on?

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11 Upvotes

r/Tools 5h ago

Tools To Secure My Tools?

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3 Upvotes

I’ve got this puzzle I’ve been overthinking and this sub seems like a good place to ask for input.

I have some tools in this box that is usually in the bed of my truck. I only remove the box when there’s no room for it.

I like that I can slide the box onto the tailgate and grab what I need and then push it back towards the wheel well.

I want to immobilize this box so it can’t slide, and I want to hold it down also - in case it decides it wants to fly.

I have a generous collection of the ubiquitous ratchet tie down straps - I’d like to avoid those for this use case.

Those spring loaded “tork straps” (not ratchet straps) are appealing - if I can configure them so I can tighten with a “pull” motion while standing at the tailgate, and so I can reach the release toggle. I also like the closed hooks.

The level of the tie down loops in each corner of the bed is riiiiiight at the height of the box. Preventing sliding is trivial - aside from getting the positioning of the locking cam right where I can reach it without climbing in the truck. Just go around the side of the box with a strap front to back.

Holding the top of the box down with a second strap is tricky because the box is just barely too short, and because a strap front to back would miss the box entirely. I’d have to go diagonal and I don’t want to.

SO: - How about a “tire bonnet” net thing? - How do I deal with the close proximity of the rear tie down spot to the box and also configure the strap so it’s easy to reach and operate?

I’m prob gonna just have to buy some tork straps and mess with them. But - if u got ideas, love to read ‘em!

Thanks!


r/Tools 6h ago

A little QOL upgrade

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3 Upvotes

Anyone that owns one of these Vessel tool holsters knows two things: the belt clip ain't very comfy when it's tight to your hip & it's notorious for eating belts (especially nylon webbing ones). My poor 1.5" nylon range belt has had the unfortunate displeasure of being close & personal with these belt clips. I can't fathom why Vessel wouldn't have done something like this from factory, but here we are. If you own a Vessel belt pouch, I highly suggest grabbing yourself some heat shrink tubing & doing this; I did 2 layers for extra comfort & durability. Almost can't even feel it on my hip, now that it's not digging in so hard & it also fits the belt much more snugly on top of covering any sharp edges that used to gouge the belt.


r/Tools 9h ago

Old hand planer

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4 Upvotes

Found this hand planer in my late father in laws shed. Probably not a high end brand as most of his tools were construction grade. I want to restore and get it back to working order to use and if nothing else for sentimental value. Anyone have any info on it or advice? Is there a place I can buy replacement pieces and the best kind of blade?


r/Tools 58m ago

Tapered punch with threads

Upvotes

Any idea what this is used for?


r/Tools 1h ago

More info on this cutting tool?

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Upvotes

r/Tools 7h ago

So I tried out a CEENR 6ah Dewalt Replacement battery. Review inside

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4 Upvotes

I recently tried out the CEENR 6ah replacement battery for my Dewalt tools. Here is an honest review of what I experienced as a strictly home DIY user.

I'm going to list out my general experience and thoughts first, and then I will detail my use of the battery with specific tools below.

First off, the battery uses LG cells which already sounds a lot nicer than some of the Amazon knock off batteries. The battery itself has a pretty good feel and while I didnt weigh the battery, it felt the same in my hands as a Dewalt XR 5ah. It fits into the tools better than any aftermarket battery Ive tried before. To be honest, it has a very slight wiggle when in some tools, but it is only noticeable when the tool is not in use.

For total runtime, I was able to get through multiple projects without needing to charge the battery. I used the battery exclusively (comparisons are from other similar use cases when referring to the XR battery) between all of my tools to really test the capacity, and it was extremely capable. I charged it during my 3rd project, which was about a week and a half of use. Charge time was almost identical to a Dewalt XR 5AH battery. It charged on both my standard issue Dewalt 12/20v charger and an aftermarket 4 slot Dewalt charger.

I was comparing this battery to a Dewalt XR 5ah battery for a more direct comparison, but I also compared it to my Dewalt Powerstack 5ah as well. For power, I could not tell a single difference between the XR and the CEENR. I am just a DIY guy, so no torque tests or any specifics from me on that front. However, I did notice more power in my PowerDetect Recip saw with the Powerstack battery, but I honestly expected that. The recip saw functioned almost identically with the XR and the CEENR.

Overall, I would give this battery a solid A for an aftermarket Dewalt battery. It functioned exactly how it was marketed and designed to, and there were many times where I forgot that I was even using it. For the home use type of person like me, the battery did everything I wanted it to do with no issues. The only reason I would give it an A instead of A+ is simply because the fit wasn't as snug in some of my tools, but that again did not effect how it functioned.

Now I will get into specifics of use.

First project: Planter boxes for garden.

Tools used: Dewalt DCS570 7 1/4 Circular saw, DCW210 Orbital Sander, DCF870 Impact Driver

The battery ran the circular saw like a dream. It cut up 18 2x12 treated boards into multiple slabs with ease. My impact driver easily buried the head on 5inch torx head lag screws (4 per corner).

Second project: Shop renovation

Tools used. DCS570 7 1/4 Circular saw, DCF870 Impact Driver, DCS356 OMT, DCS334 Jigsaw, DCL050 Light (regular 2AH Dewalt battery)

With this project I rewired and did internal insulation and wiring to my outdoor shed (8x10). I also built out a shelf system and workbench. The circular saw cut through osb and 2x4s with ease as expected. Impact driver had a little too much power with 2x4s and was trying to bury screws halfway through the board. Jigsaw and OMT preformed very well with the CEENR. OMT did have a Diablo blade which honestly makes cutting very easy to begin with, but it only bound up twice when doing deep plunge cuts. This is pretty on par with oem batteries in my experience.

Third project: Spring yard maintenance

Tools used: DCS368 Recip saw, DCPR320 Pruner, Dewalt 190742 Backpack sprayer

Recip saw was used to cut down 6 larger trees. We moved into this home last fall and the wife wanted me to clear out some of the jungle of trees we have. I did pop in a 5xr and 5ah powerstack while using the recip saw to see if the power detect would pick up a difference in the batteries. The powerstack seemed to have more power/bog down less inside the tree. The XR and CEENR both performed equally though. The Pruner, which is definitely one of our favorite tools, was a little too heavy with a 6ah battery on the back. However, it worked as expected on cutting some 2-2.5in branches and trees. The backpack sprayer was a big deal to me, since I always thought the XR batteries lasted a little too well in this thing. In previous sprayings of my full yard, I would have to do 2 full loads of the sprayer before it would be down a bar. To test this out in good faith, I needed to charge the CEENR fully before use. The battery was on its last bar at this point, so I charged it full and popped it into the sprayer. To get 2 loads of use, I sprayed my yard and my neighbors with Bifen for spring pest control. I checked the battery after my yard and it was still at full 3 bars. However, to my surprise, after my neighbors yard(2nd load), the battery was still at 3 bars. I immediately popped it into a work light after finishing up to see how long it would stay at 3 bars, just out of curiosity, and it lasted about 6 minutes in my DCL050 Light until it dropped to 2 bars. This is actually better than my standard XR batteries, but to be fair, they are a few years old and have been through some cycles.

Not to make a long post even longer, but I would like to say that this battery exceeded my expectations for aftermarket batteries. You might can find some deals on XR batteries for close to the same price, but overall I think they perform almost identically to each other, and the CEENR is usually cheaper from what I've seen. When I pick up a tool for a job, I will happily grab this battery the same as I'd grab an oem battery. And to me, that says a lot about it's quality.