How to spend $100 on Tools @ Amazon

[csmith12]

I received a $100 amazon gift cert from a friend this xmas. What does one get? I nearly have a full track setup but I would like a better portable tool kit.

So who can point me in the right direction for decent tools that I may use trackside and spend my $100 (will add more $$$ as needed).

[alex.s]

i recently was faced with the same dilemma. i wound up buying a tool cart. love that cart.

[dcj13]

What do you get the man who has everything?

A container!

[fry1024]

Ugh, the gift card dilemma. Who would have every thought spending gift money would be so hard, lol.

I'm in similar boat but w/ Sears.

@alex.s may be on to something with buying a cart.

Buy one of those tool cart/cabinets for your tools, drill a hole through all the drawer handles, add an L-shape anchor at the top and bottom inline w/ the holes and run a small rode through the holes to effectively "lock" the drawers closed while traveling. Roll it on/off your trailer when you get to the track. Get one w/ locking wheels and a couple of nice ratchet straps to keep that sucker from rolling. Honestly, if i had to make a bet, i'm sure you already have a setup like this.

[fry1024]

Or a gas generator! or compressor! or a mobile refrigerated beer tap!

[crazymadbastard]

you can sell the gift card and get a craftsman set.- always on sale and easy to exchange if necessary.
or load on on irwin pliers, channelocks specialty tools.

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by alex.s

i recently was faced with the same dilemma. i wound up buying a tool cart. love that cart.

Link please?

Originally Posted by fry1024

Or a gas generator! or compressor! or a mobile refrigerated beer tap!

Got a genny already, and my pit mate Kevin has a little compressor worthy of tires. The fridge and beer tap is a valid idea though.

[alex.s]

it was very similar to this, but blue instead.

http://www.sears.com/excel-two-tray-...4&blockType=G4

you can see it in this photo:

[csmith12]

I see... I could do something like this. Roll it in and out of the trailer, trackside and at home ready to work. Hmmm.... maybe.

[Hero Danny]

Why not get a bunch of little things?

Like a headlamp so you can see what you are doing while having your hands free? (i'll add more if I think of anything else)

http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Bright-L...words=headlamp

[adouglas]

Remember my toolbox/footstool? Very handy... get one of those for starters. Then pack it with stuff that stays there, so your shop tools stay at home. Idea is to have a grab-n-go box that always has what you need already in it.

Ideas for stuff to fill it:

T handle
Metric bit "sockets" in the usual suspect sizes -- 4, 5, 6, 8mm
Box wrenches and sockets in the usual suspect sizes... 8, 10, 12mm
Holder for the above sockets
Magnetic parts dish
Loctite (they make paste now, which is awesome)
JIS screwdriver

A big sign that says "DON'T FORGET YOUR TOOLS, FOOL!"

Food for thought: Stuff that's light, compact and simple will get used. Stuff that's heavy and a PITA won't.

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by adouglas

Remember my toolbox/footstool? Very handy... get one of those for starters. Then pack it with stuff that stays there, so your shop tools stay at home. Idea is to have a grab-n-go box that always has what you need already in it.

Ideas for stuff to fill it:

T handle
Metric bit "sockets" in the usual suspect sizes -- 4, 5, 6, 8mm
Box wrenches and sockets in the usual suspect sizes... 8, 10, 12mm
Holder for the above sockets
Magnetic parts dish
Loctite (they make paste now, which is awesome)
JIS screwdriver

A big sign that says "DON'T FORGET YOUR TOOLS, FOOL!"

I think I am going the toolbox/footstool route as it will pull double duty. I am always using the little footstool in my garage but it is not a toolbox.

Plans and the sign have been made! lol

[nickjpass]

Dremel kit !

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by alex.s

it was very similar to this, but blue instead.

[Sirref]

good list @adouglas

reminded me I need to get me a T-handle set, makes fairing work easy and fun instead of annoying

[crazymadbastard]

Originally Posted by nickjpass

Dremel kit !

best tool ever!

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by crazymadbastard

best tool ever!

I have owned a dremel for years and years.

[cadd]

Not to go off topic, but what's the big deal about Dremel? I was going to pick one up, but I found my dad's old Black & Decker 3 speed rotary tool. I had a Dremel set laying around and all the pieces seemed compatible with the Black and Decker.

Problem is, the black & Decker has been abused for over 10 yrs and the end is near. I'm thinking about picking up another one. This time a Dremel?? Are they superior?

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by cadd

Problem is, the black & Decker has been abused for over 10 yrs and the end is near. I'm thinking about picking up another one. This time a Dremel?? Are they superior?

I don't believe in fixing what I not broken. If the B&D has been working for you, get another and I hope the new one works just as well as the old one.

The big deal with a dremel for me is the form factor. I can wiggle it in places I cannot get a full sized drill. I use the dremel for soooooo much. Cleaning stubborn rust off chains, cutting, polishing and unfortunately... rounding off sharps from when the bike goes down. So many uses in a single tool. I use it the most cleaning threads of rusted bolts but that is nothing that a wire wheel can't cure. but....

Aint nobody got time for that.

[cadd]

The only reason I want to go with B&D again is solely due to the price difference. A comparable Dremel model is almost 2x the $$$.

Here's the one that looks like the one I currently have. And this is the one I'll most likely purchase if mine stops working. But I do want to try a Dremel...just because they are so popular!

Black & Decker RTX-B 3-Speed RTX Rotary Tool Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MUSLCC..._v8fRub13N93NG

[csmith12]

No worries mang, those work just the same. Yea, it doesn't say dremel on the side... who cares. The job getting done is what is important.

[alex.s]

use it towards a welder and start fabricating!

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by alex.s

use it towards a welder and start fabricating!

oh oh oh!!!! dood, I got this...



For sub 1 hunnit at a yard sale. Need some tlc, but I will have it working soon.

[alex.s]

doooood!

what is it? mig? tig? flux core? i see its 225watt so i'm guessing dual mode mig? i've heard good stuff about lincoln. not as nice as a millermatic but still good!

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by alex.s

doooood!

what is it? mig? tig? flux core? i see its 225watt so i'm guessing dual mode mig? i've heard good stuff about lincoln. not as nice as a millermatic but still good!

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-us...olnElectric%29

Yard sale finds FTW!!!!!! I am a lucky bastage....

EDIT: 100% honest, it was an estate/yard sale.

[alex.s]

duuuuuuuuuude.

that is siiiiiick! you might consider buying a nice welding table to go with it. they have ones with a bunch of holes to mount jigs and stuff. they range in price depending on how fancy you get but they're pretty nice for welding.

[csmith12]

I am still 100% straight n00b at welding. I created a thread about it a few years ago. Imma give it a best effort, which means I will be boss after some good practice.

[alex.s]

find some scrap steel and go to town on it. expect to lay down about a mile of welds before you can call yourself "decent" ... i'm still a terrible welder.

if you know anyone who welds, a teacher is extremely valuable to tell you what you are doing wrong at any given moment. it can sometimes be hard to tell exactly what's wrong without a lot of experience with it. tig can be hard because you need to manage the strength with the pedal as well as tip distance or spray type. but even without a teach, just playing around with it enough will get you where you need to be. its pretty straight foward. mild steel (low carbon -> just barely steel, mostly iron with less than 0.3% carbon) is the easiest to work with as it doesn't change crystal structure while working with it but higher carbon stuff you gotta be careful not to cool the weld too quickly or you will essentially "quench harden" the steel and the weld will become too brittle.

for scrap steel, you can do a "spark test" to see the carbon/alloy content... simply grind on the steel with a grinder and observe the sparks... lots of long straight yellow sparks means low carbon iron. red at the grind point means other alloys like in tool steels. you can tell carbon content by how quickly each individual spark "explodes"... high carbon (1%) looks like fireworks with each spark "popping" like a firework after about 4 inches. bright white means titanium. no sparks is a non-iron alloy like aluminum or copper or brass. if you pay close enough attention, each spark is an indivdual grain of steel that has been heated above supercrit. which means as the spark is flying away, you get to see exactly how it cools. if there is enough carbon (above the eutectoid) then the carbon will forcibly leave the iron crystal structure at the lower martensite temp. this produces a little pop. its not consistent carbon content throughout unless its a powdered metal, so each spark wont be the same. just average it.

[alex.s]

http://www.smithy.com/machining-hand...apter-2/page/7

[csmith12]

Thanks, I need all the help I can get.

Lemme fix it first. It may work perfectly, it may not. Either way, I knew I was looking at something that was worth some paper. So I bought it, $29... hahhahhaha All everyone else seen was a small welder. If I can get it working, I will have made out like a bandit.

[snot]

Originally Posted by csmith12

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-us...olnElectric%29

Yard sale finds FTW!!!!!! I am a lucky bastage....

EDIT: 100% honest, it was an estate/yard sale.

Your in KY, the stuff in yards sales down there very greatly.... 10¢ table: barbie head, ken leg, broken ash tray, car keys (no car), welder, jumper cables...

[cadd]

I'm assuming you have time iron/lever/spoons already?

Motion Pro 08-0049 Tire Iron Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000WJFF6S..._VqiRub1NW6TWP

Amazon had a 20 piece set of combination wrenches (ratcheting) for $50. Gear Wrench makes them. But looks like they are back up to regular price now.

After using the ratchet wrenches, I have no idea how I lived without them for so long!

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by cadd

I'm assuming you have time iron/lever/spoons already?

I have only but one rule... to never change my own tires. I hate it, but thanks.

[Foxrider64]

Originally Posted by csmith12

I have only but one rule... to never change my own tires. I hate it, but thanks.

Never change your own tires??

Dooood I have changed 4 sets of tires in the last 2 weeks. One set was a on a 10inch wheel for my 50.


In regards to your original question- I'd go with a mobile cart for sure. I have been using a set of drawers on wheels that was my "dresser" in college. It aint pretty and it doesn't say snap-on, but it hold all my tools in one place and keeps it simple to roll in and out of the trailer.

[nickjpass]

I've gotten pretty good at changing them.

[csmith12]

Cool! Ya'lls can come and change mine. There are 2 extremes too, really large/heavy and really small wheels. Both seriously suck when it comes time to change. The 250's/r6's aint to bad to change, but I still hate it.

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by csmith12

Cool! Ya'lls can come and change mine. There are 2 extremes too, really large/heavy and really small wheels. Both seriously suck when it comes time to change. The 250's/r6's aint to bad to change, but I still hate it.

[csmith12]

bwahahahahahahhahaha dood, that made me smile.

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by csmith12

Cool! Ya'lls can come and change mine. There are 2 extremes too, really large/heavy and really small wheels. Both seriously suck when it comes time to change. The 250's/r6's aint to bad to change, but I still hate it.

its all about what kind of tire it is. soft tires are really easy. hard carcass tires are insanely hard to get on. just recently we threw a new superslick on one of the 40cc bikes... its a soft compound race slick... it basically just slid right on. hardly had to lube it. thing was soft A.F.

[ninjunk]

Originally Posted by csmith12

I received a $100 amazon gift cert from a friend this xmas. What does one get?

Motion Pro or Park Tools

Recently my wife graduated from college and got a job, i've been working now for two years so we're finally (just barely) ahead of the bills every month. I've started to tool-by-tool replace some of my old well used harbor freight/craftsman/etc. crap with better stuff from motion pro or park tools.

one example, i've always had 2-3 valve spring compressors none of which worked that good. I uprgraded to the Motion Pro one and don't regret a dime of the 120-some bucks it cost me.

stuff like those custom long length spark plug sockets, spoke wrenches, chain breakers... you can get buy with the cheap ones, but I can't think of a single expensive tool that i've ever regretted spending the money on.