What tools have you bought for the garage recently?

That's something that is beginning to bug me, lack of need to purchase a new tool. I guess I have finally "arrived" since I haven't needed to buy a new tool for several years now. Seems no matter what task I undertake, I seem to have the tool I need.

Imagine my frustration when I go into a nice tool store and everything I look at, I have. I'm almost at the point of leaving the shop unlocked for a few days and maybe somebody will steal something just so I can replace it!!!

Bear in mind that I'm in my late 60's and have been collecting tools all of my life. It's kind of like reaching the end of the internet, what's left to live for???
 
I don't know what I last bought, but I'll next be buying a 3/8" combination wrench from snap-on to replace the one that my wife and daughters didn't borrow.
 
I've been/was shop based for so long I never had had much at home beyond the basics. I have also 'lost' a bunch of stuff to my gear head kid. He is currently on a tour of the N.E. and took my floor jack and both of my Bosch cordless impacts so I'm on a bit of a buying spree.
 
I occasionally have to replace ratchet wrenches that I bought with my first set of Craftsmen tools in 1979, but I have everything I thing else I need.
 
Bailey Boat said:
That's something that is beginning to bug me, lack of need to purchase a new tool. I guess I have finally "arrived" since I haven't needed to buy a new tool for several years now. Seems no matter what task I undertake, I seem to have the tool I need.

Imagine my frustration when I go into a nice tool store and everything I look at, I have. I'm almost at the point of leaving the shop unlocked for a few days and maybe somebody will steal something just so I can replace it!!!

Bear in mind that I'm in my late 60's and have been collecting tools all of my life. It's kind of like reaching the end of the internet, what's left to live for???
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I envy you. Just bought my first house & seem to have to buy something for every project lol.
 
Compound sliding miter saw. Runs at 2300RPM to accommodate metal cutting blades. Leaves burr-free ready to weld edges.

rage3-db-lg.jpg
 
Rage Evolution 3. I ordered from Home Depot, but you can find them on Amazon also.

The stock blade will cut metal, wood, etc, but isn't exceptional at anything. I upgraded to a Lennox metal only blade.

The key is to just let the blade work at its own speed, don't force it.
 
That is soooooo much nicer than the regular old fiber bladed chop saw .. Nicely done!
 
Angled feeler gauges. Had 3 sets of straight gauges and couldn't get an accurate valve tappet reading with them.

I know, that's an exciting purchase.
 
Sort of fell onto a vintage Grizzly Radial Drill Press # G5046 this week. A real surprize as I stopped looking for a while. Used ones were out of my price range, lower priced new ones had really bad spindle wobble.

This was on the neighborhood website, perfect! It's a beam type that will move the spindle out 14".

Grizly G5046 Drill Press.jpg

-R
 
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Was a couple weeks ago, but saw a 10' fiberglass step ladder on NextDoor recently. Type IA (300lb) Werner. Couldn't pass it up.
 
I'm in the middle of prepping the Valkyrie for paint and my compressor decided to crap out on me yesterday. So I had the privilege of spending a bunch of money getting another one.
 
Nothing I'll have to build a bigger shop before I can buy more stuffs... the 30' x 30' barn is full. I need to have a great big yard sale or an auction so I can start over cause for me the hunt is the fun part.
 
I picked up a 20volt dewalt drill and a 18v to 20v battery pack adapter so I could use the new batteries with my old tools.
 
I got this for free.

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It's an Ingersoll Rand 2475N5, 5hp, 3ph, 80gallon with built in intercooler. The motor is bad. $350 for a 5hp single phase Baldor on eBay.

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thread gauge checker.
Like what you find at Lowes/Home Depot, its a wallmounted unit to check nuts and bolts. Metric and Standard.
Im excited about it.

Also, bought some VERY cheap (price and possibly quality, though I wont be putting much torque to them) standard sockets for 2.50
WILL BECOME A TOOL: 1/4" square stock. Going to, hopefully, head it up, bend it to a 90* angle and have a small socket holder.
The two items above are for an idea Im going to try - a small altoids sized socket kit for the dirtbike. Already have a small ratchet and socket set, but realized that those 3 sockets werent enough and on some of the fasteners I needed to use two sockets (or a socket and a wrench, but why not try to create this little kit?)
It WONT be just tossing some sockets into a tin though.
 
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I have a pretty good selection of tools and equipment, but can always find more! The problem is, the equipment that I don’t already have is pretty expensive ;(

Recent purchases include a vertical kit for my Ellis 1800 series bandsaw, and some special pliers for removing broken studs. Next on the list (which I will probably make instead of buying) is to make a barrel wrench so that I can replace the barrel on my Thompson. I lucked out and scored two NOS barrels that are the correct type of manufacture for my gun.
 
^This. I realized I had a lot of tools when the wife wanted to know what I wanted for Christmas and we took a walk through Sears. I couldn't find anything I didn't have already or really needed.

The problem now too is that the things on the list are expensive. The short list would be upgraded welder, lift, mill, lathe, etc. Slowed down the acquisition but I'll get there.
 
Picked up a 20 ton shop press the other day. Pretty much just one of the last pieces in my home shop puzzle. Worked in the automotive repair industry for 17 years and was laid off a week before Christmas. So now my shop at home is about as well equipped as any other repair facility. Adding a two post lift soon, and plan to leave my shop set up for side work and give myself a change of pace with a non-automotive career.
 
MikeDawg46L said:
Angled feeler gauges. Had 3 sets of straight gauges and couldn't get an accurate valve tappet reading with them.

I know, that's an exciting purchase.
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9mm tappet wrench and angled feeler gauges are next on my list. I bought my son a little China 4-wheeler for Christmas and there’s a little tick that is driving me crazy. Going to adjust the valves and see if it goes away.

Latest thing I’ve bought was a wheeler in/lb torque screwdriver for gun related stuff. Oh and some Plasti dip to mess around with.

CHRIS
 
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CHRIS_WNC said:
9mm tappet wrench and angled feeler gauges are next on my list. I bought my son a little China 4-wheeler for Christmas and there’s a little tick that is driving me crazy. Going to adjust the valves and see if it goes away.

Latest thing I’ve bought was a wheeler in/lb torque screwdriver for gun related stuff. Oh and some Plasti dip to mess around with.

CHRIS
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If the valve adjustment doesn’t solve the tick, check the exhaust flange for leaks. You’ll get a little tick with every pulse of the exhaust stroke if there’s a slight leak. Run with that kind of leak for too long, which is a lean condition, and you’ll burn the engine up.
 
Today I bought a carbide tipped hacksaw blade for my reciprocating saw. I think I’m in love.
 
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it lives in the garage. Replaced a 25 year old Milwaukee cordless. Hope this one lasts at least half as long.
 
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