Tool Thread - Post up your new tools!

[b*saint]

I use the HD torx bits from SO.

[e46s54dr]

Matco's online catalog is not as complete as Snap-ons. You almost have to deal with a truck to get all the stuff. Its ok, except if the truck doesn't stop by your house.

Im a diesel mechanic by profession and Ive had nothing but problems with matco tools. I purchased their complete sets of metric and standard ratcheting flex head open/box wrenches, a 3/8ths flex head locking ratchet wrench, 1/4 flex head locking rathet wrench, their silver eagle branded set of torq socket and allen head sockets, and other miscellaneous tools. Their design is awesome but their quality disappointed me. Its been a little over a year and Ive busted pretty much all of the ratcheting open/box wrenches, Blew out the gear on both the 3/8th and 1/4 inch ratchets over a dozen times each, and destroyed pretty much all of the allen and torque bits.

Pretty much every week when the matco dealer came, I had a bucket of tools which I needed repaired or replace. Not only that but now the matco dealer doesnt even come to my work anymore which I feel is pretty shady.

Im not here to bash matco but from my personal experience, Ive learned that snap on and mac tools tend to last alot longer over matco. Also, most importantly, my snap on dealer is always on time every week and very professional.

P.s. Dont buy any silver eagle driving bits! Ive done side by side testing of a matco t40 bit and a snapon t40 bit which proved that snap on bits almost had double the tensile strength before snapping.

[TwoJ's]

I looked into those. People say that they don't work on reflective surfaces, and you can't always tell when a surface is reflective enough to throw off a reading? - Just FYI. I don't know exactly. Something about the surface needs to be dark. I went a different route.

This is true. I worked as a test engineer for a company that made hydraulic actuators for large equipment, and in the R&D lab we used infrared thermometers all of the time. The actuators were always painted with gloss enamel, so we had to spray primer on the areas that we needed to take temp data.

[J308]

As some of my close r3v friends know, my older Brother suddenly passed away this fall. ... While my brother's death was and is a sad, sad deal for all involved, his tools will be used lovingly by me and his friends who also recieved TONS of his hand tools as well. It makes me happy to walk into my workshop and see his stuff sitting there waiting for me to use.

Dude that sucks. So sorry for your loss.

[b*saint]

Matco's online catalog is not as complete as Snap-ons. You almost have to deal with a truck to get all the stuff. Its ok, except if the truck doesn't stop by your house.

[Gooch]

where are you guys buying the matco rebuild kits from? straight from the tool truck? I can't find the rebuild kit on matcos website or ebay. And how much are they?

Sending PM with info of a Matco dealer. Anyone else that wants his email let me know.

I paid $19 for the 1/4", $22 for the 3/8" and $26 for the 1/2"

[M-technik-3]

As some of my close r3v friends know, my older Brother suddenly passed away this fall. He and I work for the same parent company. He worked for The Ridge Tool Co.

Sorry to hear about your brother but at least you have a few objects to remind you of him every time you go out to the garage.

[deutschman]

Latest addition to the lab. It's an older model, but trusty.

I'll try to get some pics of my set up one of these days when I can do a nice panorama if anyone is interested.

Does this thing scan for babies? :D
Got this little thingster today. A nice set of thread pitch mesuring devices should be on my door step soon as well.

[S62]

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-4-qua...tor-99849.html

Ive done the front suspension on my dads E39 M5, my bros 740il and a couple components on my car. Great tool. I'll post up some of my tools when I find time.

[coop]

where are you guys buying the matco rebuild kits from? straight from the tool truck? I can't find the rebuild kit on matcos website or ebay. And how much are they?

[b*saint]

It was a bitch to get the boot on.

[Mlarsen]

But - with that said....I think a cordless impact is where it's at for most e30 week-end shade tree guys.

Very true. I use my 3/8 impact all the time. A 1/2" would be nice to have if you just work at home on weekends. I use Makita.

Just got this SOB

http://www.factoryauthorizedoutlet.com/makita/us/products/BTW253.asp

[b*saint]

Shit this is the thread Ive been wanting. Not the stupid garage thread.

[gooseadrian]

Buy the biggest compressor you can afford. You can never have too much air. Impact guns eat it up REALLY quick.

any brand recomendations??

[george graves]

But - with that said....I think a cordless impact is where it's at for most e30 week-end shade tree guys.