Latest tool buys

[Hickory n Steel]

The shafts are held in place with a round tinnerman clip, Remove the clip and the shafts can be removed - they have a 1/4 drive male end like the rubber handle ones all the internal parts are the same between the two drivers.

With a ball detent and everything?

I guess it makes sense to streamline production down to just 1 mechanism, but why lock the otherwise removable shaft in place ?
Are they just trying to incurage customers to buy the more expensive unit?

[j.a.f.e.]

Yes the same shanks are interchangeable once that clip is removed. It is standard 1/4 drive - there is a 1/4 drive shank that is identical on either end.

[Hickory n Steel]

I wonder if the William's T handle driver is the same ?

[Uncle Buck]

I wonder if the William's T handle driver is the same ?

I cannot see it being otherwise.

[Hickory n Steel]

I needed a new head light for work.
A year or two ago I bought a Fenix HM50r and it has been great but I somehow lost it last week.
I have no clue what happened, but it disappeared so I went to order another one.
While on the Fenix site I came across the larger HM61r and it's longer runtime and outputs were appealing so I decided to go with it instead.


I really like this type that is a right angle flashlight with a headband that it can attach to.

This new one offers a magnetic base.

It also has a proprietary magnetic charging cable which I'm not crazy about,  but if it charges even faster that'll be great.

[Uncle Buck]

I have no pics, but a few weeks back at a local flea mkt. I bought 1 pair of scissors, and 3 heavy shears, all 4 roughly 12" long. All 4 I immediately dropped at a local hdw. store to ship off for sharpening. Here is the kicker, the 3 heavy shears which all look like heavy scissors appear very old, roughly 1900 or older. One of those shears has curved blades and they were made that way! Has anyone ever seen shears/scissors with curved blades? Keep in mind, these are not tiny, those I have seen. These are most of 12" long!

[AbiggerGarage]

Sounds like they might be leatherworkers shears, as I seem to remember some being curved for pattern making.

[Hickory n Steel]

Sounds like they might be leatherworkers shears, as I seem to remember some being curved for pattern making.

A round knife is used in leather working more than shears or scissors.
I'm thinking they're probably for upholstery where thin leather and heavy fabrics are worked with.

[AbiggerGarage]

Sounds like they might be leatherworkers shears, as I seem to remember some being curved for pattern making.

A round knife is used in leather working more than shears or scissors.
I'm thinking they're probably for upholstery where thin leather and heavy fabrics are worked with.

Where my father used shears was to cut down the hides.  Now if it were just a belt or something, there are other tools to do that, but big projects would require more of the hide, then he used a knife for.

[Hickory n Steel]

Sounds like they might be leatherworkers shears, as I seem to remember some being curved for pattern making.

A round knife is used in leather working more than shears or scissors.
I'm thinking they're probably for upholstery where thin leather and heavy fabrics are worked with.

Where my father used shears was to cut down the hides.  Now if it were just a belt or something, there are other tools to do that, but big projects would require more of the hide, then he used a knife for.

I suppose it depends on the work being done and the thickness.
I most work with 8oz veg tan and can't imagine using shears for it.

[Hickory n Steel]

Visiting my mom yesterday and had to stop by BARGAIN SMART as usual.



I never knew V&B made this shape of super bar, so of course I had to have one.


The 12" I beam nail puller is another V&B bar I didn't yet have.

The Stanley safety cutters I use at work, so I grabbed couple more at 50 cents a piece.

This 20pc Enkay swiss burr set was something I couldn't pass up for the money, the quality seems extremely good and they're made in Switzerland.



I looked at these Craftsman " V series " ( that " V series " thing is such BS) flush cut dykes before but didn't pay that much attention till they marked them down to $10.

They seemed fairly nice, so I looked for the COO and saw that they were made in France so I decided to pick a pair up.


They actually weren't as flush cutting as I'd like though.


So I put them on my 1x30 belt grinder and it only took maybe 30 seconds to significantly improve them.

[Hickory n Steel]

A new pocket flashlight made by Peak LED Solutions in Phoenix AZ.



I'm a bit of a flashlight nerd but  not somebody who chases the latest greatest this & that with a built in lazer and UV, I just know enough to have quality standards and feature preferences.
I really like these flashlights from peak because they offer a very warm LED which represents color better, and the ability to turn it on very low doesn't wash things out or reflect back and blind you.

If you've ever had to look inside a small engine or an airgun valve or pressure tube...etc with an LED flashlight that's too bright and too white you'll understand why I appreciate these lights.

[Hickory n Steel]

The widow of that flea market tool seller had her annual yard sale again, this time she pulled fewer tools out of storage so she could sell these Christmas ornaments she made but I found 3 tools I had to have.


A little rigid tubing cutter which I've been needing for $1.

A nice old pair of Crescent 1000-8 fencing pliers for $1.

And a pair of Snapon #96 vacuum grip needle nose pliers that I needed, i gave $5 for them


I have a pair of them from my grandfather that were my favorite needle nose pliers, but a few years ago I broke one of the tips on a snap ring.
I've been looking for another pair but never willing to pony up big bucks on Ebay.

The rust cleaned right off both ( the snappys cleaned up fairly well ) and the snappys are freeing up nicely, but the Crescents are going to need some serious working in.

[Uncle Buck]

If you are not using Evaporust for cleaning tools like those, you should. It is a game changer for sure. Weekly i restore tools like those with the stuff.

I dump the tools in a tub of Evaporust and put a lid over it and leave the tools there overnight at least, in some cases I have left tools soaking for days and have never experienced ill effects.

Never use Evaporust on stainless steel, you will regret it. When removed from the tub, rinse them with water, then dry them. The tools usually are flat black looking straight out of the solution. The magic happens when you wire wheel them on the bench grinder.

[Hickory n Steel]

If you are not using Evaporust for cleaning tools like those, you should. It is a game changer for sure. Weekly i restore tools like those with the stuff.

I dump the tools in a tub of Evaporust and put a lid over it and leave the tools there overnight at least, in some cases I have left tools soaking for days and have never experienced ill effects.

Never use Evaporust on stainless steel, you will regret it. When removed from the tub, rinse them with water, then dry them. The tools usually are flat black looking straight out of the solution. The magic happens when you wire wheel them on the bench grinder.

That stuff is pretty pricey, and I've just never been a fan of soaking tools.
A big reason is that I'm just not patient enough to wait.