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silverwaterlady
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# Posted: 13 Jan 2014 09:57pm
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Tools I use everyday:
1) My hammer to check the tires on the truck.
2) My screwdriver to open the cabinets on the truck since the latches are broken due to being built out of plastic.
3) Duct tape for everything else that is falling off the truck. And to tape the cabinets shut.
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ChuckDynasty
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# Posted: 13 Jan 2014 10:11pm - Edited by: ChuckDynasty
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I was beginning a remodel on a newly purchased home about 30 years ago, a little country 100 year old home with 1960's paneling over every deteriorated plaster wall. If you touched the paneling you would hear plaster falling behind it. I was trying to decide whether to spend 100 bucks which was a lot of money to me on a tool not knowing if I'd ever use it again after I was done sheet rocking and I could have simply used a hammer to do the job...I bought it and it had been invaluable to me throughout the years, handy as heck until it recently vanished. Can't for the life of me figure out what happened to it, it was my go to tool for so many projects and repairs...My Black & Decker Pro drywall/screw gun.
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TheWildMan
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# Posted: 14 Jan 2014 11:02am
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Lawnjocky, There are a lot of Amish in my area, they created a market for them so a local hardware store under the true value franchise started carrying them. you cant get them from lowes or home depot (they only want people buying expensive power tools) but if you have any smaller stores like a family owned, or franchise store they may be able to order one.
or you could get a welding shop to make one for you, take an older brace bit and one of the modern screwdrivers with a changeable socket head. cut the head off both and weld the driver head onto the brace bit. its basically the same thing as the adaptor. leave the bit in and swap out what you have in the socket.
I like it for things like doing drywall as you all but eliminate the possibility of over driving a screw. since you cant get the same high speed with a brace as you can with a power drill you won't likely break the weld. living off the grid electric is rare resource and a brace that can accept modern bits is priceless, modern bits are cheap and easy to find. makes a lot of work on the farm easier.
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lawnjocky
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# Posted: 14 Jan 2014 06:48pm
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Thanks. I started using a brace for fastening planks on wood boats many years ago. There is nothing like driving a hundred #16 2 1/2" screws to make you a true believer in using a brace. Electrc drills can't take that kind of punishment and forget trying a screw driver. The Amish have the right idea about a lot of things.
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Truecabin
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# Posted: 14 Jan 2014 07:59pm
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i have 18v dewalt stuff im happy even tho its nicad its ok i geuss
tried a new makita angle grinder with a lithium battery it shut off when you bear down even a fraction of the dewalt angle grinder
i would never be able to use a tool like that
i saw the new milwaukie cordless tools at a contractors show very nice and almost wanted to buy the set but other than being heavier my dewalt set works so i walked away quickly before doing something dumb
the rep said ryobi and milwaukie been owned by same company several years now
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Dekagoldwingers
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# Posted: 15 Jan 2014 12:28am
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I have 2 Mikita cordless drills that won't quit. 1 9.6 volt with the long battery and a 12 volt. Found a good source of replacement batteries for them. www.saskbattery.com. My Mikita recipe saw us the best. The harder I push the harder it cuts, I even cut up an old stump under ground to pull out with it. Thought this testing hammers were the best till I met stiletto. Love my Stanley 14" handsaw, for working in the girls and tight corners. Still really like a good carpenters pencil that you ca sharpen in the field with a Swiss Army knife
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Dekagoldwingers
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# Posted: 17 Jan 2014 12:43am
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Sorry, I should proof my writing. I was talking about my makita recip. Saw. And I like my Stanley 14" handsaw for working in tight corners and for general duty cutting while building. Sometimes it's faster than getting an electric saw. Also I like my estwing hammers lots! Specially the 20 oz framer. But then I met a Stiletto hammer, now that's nice!
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SE Ohio
Member
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# Posted: 17 Jan 2014 10:28am
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Lawnjockey,
Lee Valley sells the brace adapter as well as a socket adapter.
http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=32300&cat=1,180,42337
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lawnjocky
Member
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# Posted: 18 Jan 2014 09:39am
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Thank you, I found them and ordered both.
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NMC
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# Posted: 7 May 2015 05:19pm
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I'm new to the forum and just came upon this thread. You may think I'm joking, but I would say pliers and bailing wire. I grew up on a farm and ranch, and I have used this combination to continue many projects that derailed.
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morock
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# Posted: 7 May 2015 10:16pm
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I have to say my japanese handsaw is my go to tool. Cuts everything fast and clean, from ABS pipe, framing, siding and trim. Just splurged and bought an new one after 5 years..... less than $30. 
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Malamute
Member
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# Posted: 8 May 2015 02:14am
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I tried this 18v hammer, but it doesnt hold a charge worth a hoot. I was interested in the hydraulic nail unbender, but am not sure now after the experience with the hammer.
hazard fraught tools ad 2
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hazard fraught tools ad 3
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Steve_S
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# Posted: 8 May 2015 08:20am
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I've spent many an hour perusing Lee Valley tools in Ottawa... So many good things in there to make any tool lover nutz... Ohhh... how to go broke quickly !
Gotta say that my DeWalt 20v cordless tools serve their purpose very well, although I wish the 4aHr packs were lighter. I bought the entire 5 tool kit on sale for $399 which came with 2 3aHr batteries plus I got a pair of 4aHr also on sale at the time for $99. Very Pleased with the DeWalt tools.
BTW: Porter Cable, Black & Decker, DeWalt, Stanley and others are all owned by the same holding company and all produced off-shore now.
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burke
Member
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# Posted: 8 May 2015 02:19pm
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DeWalt 20v Framing Nailer
This thing is amazing, i don't really know what else to say, I get about 600 nails per battery and i have 3 of them, they charge in ~45 min.
Milwaukee 18v Circular Saw
This thing is a champ, I have 5 3ah 18v batteries and i did all my cuts for my 12x16 with this saw. As long as you keep sharp blades on it, cut in a straight line and don't lock up the blade, you can get through quite a bit of wood with it.
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TheCabinCalls
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# Posted: 8 May 2015 03:34pm - Edited by: TheCabinCalls
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I suppose a fishing pole and milktreuse Venom grub doesn't count.
#1 - Simple Swiss Army Knife with locking blade and phillips head. It is always in my pocket. If they ever made a version with replaceable razor blades I would be all set.
Others:
- Lithium Bosch and Makita Drill 9.6v
- Level
- Klein Wire Stripper (electric, audio, car, boat, etc)
- Petzl LED Headlamp
- Telescoping Pole Trimmer (manual)
- Skilsaw circular saw
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creeky
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# Posted: 8 May 2015 04:54pm
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i had to go look at the milktreuse grub. nice.
what I use the most
table saw.
framing nailer. finish nailer.
hitachi lithium drill/sawzall/circ. blessed be the portable tool.
ridgid random orbit sander.
triton router
i bought the super blade, oh what's it called, the red one, for my circular saw. wow. did that extend the battery time. and I keep high end 10" finishing blades on both the chop and the table saws. you get real nice cuts (I got an incredible deal on them of course).
but my favorite tools
the chisels
(and I'm picking from a wide range of little gadgets I have accumulated)
You have to be patient using them but they do stuff really quite quickly.
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bobrok
Member
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# Posted: 8 May 2015 05:45pm
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Quoting: TheCabinCalls milktreuse Venom grub
Back in the day these used to be called Mister Twister's.
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davestreck
Member
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# Posted: 9 May 2015 08:27am
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My current favorite is my Stanley #48 tongue and groove plane:
Set the fence one way and it planes a groove, set the other it planes a perfectly matching tongue. Super clever, and it actually works. I used it to build pine t&g shutters at our place, no electricity required!
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Gary O
Member
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# Posted: 9 May 2015 10:39am - Edited by: Gary O
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Gosh, favorites....too many.
Goes from my framing hammer to my bamboo back scratcher.
Howevah, my 18v Dewalt screwdriver has been a horse.
Even after dropping it a couple stories....more than a couple times.
But
Gotta say
Right now, and for the last 6 or 8 years at the cabin, it's been my no name 8" compound sliding miter saw ($100).
(Now, once I get a larger genny, it'll be my 12" Ridgid compound sliding miter saw.....considerable more money, but a lovely tool....indeed)
As for duds?
Bought a little Craftsman (yes a Craftsman) bench top drill press.
The motor smoked after very little use.
Brushes are sealed.
Took it back to Sears.
For $100 they'd replace the motor.
The thing cost $100.
Went to HFT
Same exact unit, different color...$35.
If I had money lying around with nowhere to go, and was a pro, I'd buy just Dewalt or Makita..or Ridgid.
But, gotta say, my HFT framing nailer won't quit.
aaand, it only weighs 3 tons!
(Kicks like a mule too)
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rmak
Member
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# Posted: 9 May 2015 03:40pm
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I have a full compliment of electric cord tools and table saw, chop saw, joiner, lathe, etc. Stihl chainsaw.
But my favorite is going to stick in the craw of people who like fancy name brands.
I love my Craftsman battery powered. They are cheap compared to the higher price spread. I don't pamper them and they've given good service back at the cabin when I didn't have a generator to power the cord driven. I have gone through a few batteries, but at $60 a pop for the stronger ion batteries it doesn't seem like a big deal. I own two drills, a hammer driver, circular saw, reciprocal and a jig/scroll saw. batteries charge in 30 minutes from stone dead. The circular is pretty amazing. I have angle cut 2 X 12's. Yes, that's about pushing the limit and it takes a while, but not bad for a relatively inexpensive battery powered tool. This is the 7 1/4". They make a smaller circular that I bet would be great for lighter work that I will probably pick up now that I'm down to the trim stage.
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creeky
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# Posted: 9 May 2015 04:06pm
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i loved my craftsman too, until the batteries were toasted by charging on a msw inverter. i looked up the manual online. DO NOT USE with MSW said the page.
dang. should have read the manual I thought. Then, one day, found the manual. Looked. Nope. Said nothing about MSW.
Still have the drill hanging around. It was 'spensive too. Can't bear to throw it out. If bats are 60 bucks i might just get me one next time i'm at a sears in the US.
while I'm at it. WARNING to all DEWALT owners. We had a real hot summer in 2013. Guys were taking the dewalt tools back to the big boxes in droves. Do not leave your tools in the sun or the silicone bushings will melt. (but another nice thing about Dewalt. they were replaced.)
probably extends to all the new tools.
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Gary O
Member
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# Posted: 9 May 2015 08:40pm
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Quoting: creeky Do not leave your tools in the sun or the silicone bushings will melt
yup
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KinAlberta
Member
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# Posted: 3 Dec 2017 04:37pm - Edited by: KinAlberta
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I’m still using a couple of my father’s 50 and 60 year old electric power tools. They plug in - they work.
However, for the last 15-20 years now I’ve avoided buying anymore cordless drills because my first two cordless drills wouldn’t charge after a couple years (they had built-in batteries). I thought it was because the batteries had drained and then froze in my garage. Total waste of money.
So finally this year I bought an Echo 58-volt cordless trimmer on clearance. Nice unit. I’ve since picked up the grass trimmer and the chainsaw. All nice units. Moreover I’d read that lithium batteries aren’t affected by freezing so that’s great but I planned to keep them warm and charged anyway. Ive spent hundreds of dollars so far.
Well, yesterday I unpacked a some older never used, still in the boxes, solar Christmas lights bought by the in laws years ago, and then given to us. So I put the solar panel in the sun and then nothing. Opened up the units today and found lithium-ion batteries inside. Dated 2008.
So I googled lithium battery shelf life and found this link below and thought to myself: Oh, oh what have I done!
Does this make for built in obsolescence on anything that uses a non-std battery? That is, most cordless power tools. After a couple years, the manufacturer changes their battery pack and suddenly you can’t get replacements and does that mean for the sake of a battery pack design change, the entire tool has to be scrapped?
Lithium-ion Battery Life and Death Lithium ion chemistry prefers partial discharge to deep discharge, so it's best to avoid taking the battery all the way down to zero. Since lithium-ion chemistry does not have a "memory", you do not harm the battery pack with a partial discharge. If the voltage of a lithium-ion cell drops below a certain level, it's ruined. Lithium-ion batteries age. They only last two to three years, even if they are sitting on a shelf unused. So do not "avoid using" the battery with the thought that the battery pack will last five years. It won't. Also, if you are buying a new battery pack, you want to make sure it really is new. If it has been sitting on a shelf in the store for a year, it won't last very long. Manufacturing dates are important. Avoid ...†https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/everyday-tech/lithium-ion-battery2.htm
Found this below. Nothing very clear or definitive but it would seem that to avoid a lot of cost and hassle, there’s a great need to find and rank cordless tool manufacturers by their years of consistency in battery pack design.
On fixing, finding, repairing, replacing discontinued battery packs:
Is there any way to replace drill batteries? - Home Improvement Stack Exchange
https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/13491/is-there-any-way-to-replace-drill-batte ries
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razmichael
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# Posted: 3 Dec 2017 06:35pm
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Your resurrecting an old thread! The battery design change is one of the reasons I have stuck with Ryobi for so long - I will never claim they are the best cordless tools out there but the have kept their 18V backwards compatible for many many years. I have a 15 yr old drill that runs on new batteries (actually runs better) - and even have a couple of very old batteries that still work and will run my latest Ryobi tools.
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Borrego
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# Posted: 3 Dec 2017 09:34pm
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"Lithium ion chemistry prefers partial discharge to deep discharge, so it's best to avoid taking the battery all the way down to zero. Since lithium-ion chemistry does not have a "memory", you do not harm the battery pack with a partial discharge. If the voltage of a lithium-ion cell drops below a certain level, it's ruined."
Not true....I run batteries all the way down every week.....no problems at all.
"They only last two to three years"
Funny....I have 10 - 20 Makita batteries and many are 10+ years old......
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KinAlberta
Member
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# Posted: 4 Dec 2017 02:20am
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Quoting: razmichael Your resurrecting an old thread!
Yes, isn’t embracing the computer age wonderful!!!
In the old days, you couldn’t just update a book, encyclopedia or article when new information or opinions arrived. Yesterday’s news was forgotten the next day after the garbage truck arrived to take away the old newspapers. Only those of us that clipped newspapers retained history.
When news occurred or new information or opinion arose it was ignored as the story had already been published. If it did go to press, you had to publish a whole new version, often deleting what was seen as important information just to make room for new information. Good riddance to that old hardcopy world and mindset. (And I’m someone that collects books, but jumped onto the Internet in about 1993 because it offered so much possibility for discarding the old narrow, myopic, short-term memory world.)
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KinAlberta
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# Posted: 4 Dec 2017 02:29am - Edited by: KinAlberta
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Talked with a friend tonight who has collected various battery packs for a few years. He pulls them apart for the std sized batteries inside. He was telling me that most of the time it’s only one or two batteries inside any pack that have gone bad and that the rest are still good.
His words were that; basically the world is landfilling huge numbers of perfectly good batteries for the sake of a couple failures in the various battery packs in millions of tools and laptops.
He also said it’s easy to rebuild most battery packs and he’s even upgraded to lithium for a lighter unit.
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creeky
Member
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# Posted: 4 Dec 2017 09:34am
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that's great advice on the tools. my gf at the time decided to buy me a gift and took my batteries into a battery store. they didn't have anything like them at the time. but took the batteries for recycling. Now I don't have the shells to rebuild and the old craftsman sits unloved but cherished on a shelf.
lots of good vids online on how to replace the cells.
and on that note. I found a 24v lawnmower "free." turns out just one battery (of two) was bad. I got a good usable 12v battery out of the deal. and after swapping in a lithium pack. a cordless lawnmower.
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paulz
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# Posted: 4 Dec 2017 09:59am
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Coincidentally I was just reading up on cell phone/tablet battery care, as I have a couple of spare devices that sit in drawers. Some conflicting opinions but general consensus seemed to agree with what you found: keep them above 50% and no need for constant or full charge.
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Kamn
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# Posted: 4 Dec 2017 03:11pm
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I have the Ryobi cordless drill and impact driver combo with Lithium batteries that seem to be working and holding up well.
But this past season my go to has been my Stihl 029 with a 039 cylinder and piston that I swapped in....cant beat more CC's. And if truly need more CC's then I grab the 066 for which I have a 24 inch or 36 inch bar.
A few tools I'm missing for future work are table saw (will look for solid older model), mitre saw, and I could use a larger planer than my current 10 inch planer.
And Im not shy on buying older tools that need a little fix up to have a life again..... I find a lot of the newer stuff is really cheaply made but also more expensive than older stuff that was built like a tank
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