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General Vintage Technology Discussions For general discussions about vintage radio and other vintage electronics etc. |
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Thread Tools |
18th Jun 2020, 8:17 pm | #21 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 13,996
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Re: Tool rip offs
Quote:
Spiralux was another of my go-to brands: a couple of decades back when the "Texas" D-i-Y chain was quietly imploding I visited any branch I was passing and bought a slew of Spiralux 'stubby' screwdrivers for pennies on the pound. |
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18th Jun 2020, 9:22 pm | #22 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Oxfordshire, UK.
Posts: 4,934
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Re: Tool rip offs
My worst experience has been with tools made in Taiwan. Tools can be really quite dangerous when they fail and I am choosier than ever about what I will buy now.
B
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18th Jun 2020, 9:26 pm | #23 |
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Re: Tool rip offs
If I can I get dayglo pink tools, no one nicks them.
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18th Jun 2020, 9:43 pm | #24 | ||
Octode
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Bristol, UK.
Posts: 1,654
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Re: Tool rip offs
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Mike |
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18th Jun 2020, 10:06 pm | #25 |
Hexode
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Hohenroda, Eastern Hesse, Germany
Posts: 460
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Re: Tool rip offs
Thanks to almost 40 years being employed now in underground mining I have gained much experience of "heavy duty" hand tools of various brands. In the end all glorious oriental names failed sooner or later.
All-time survivors are pipe wrenches of RIDGE tool company, Elyria, Ohio and spanners and sockets of HAZET, Remscheidt, Germany. Regards, Joe |
18th Jun 2020, 10:20 pm | #26 |
Octode
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,795
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Re: Tool rip offs
As with some of my contemparies in this group, I / we are of an age where great tools were available in the 60's. Guyloyd BA nut runners, Lyndstrom pliers and cutters, Stanley screw drivers. My Avo 8 Mk3 cost me £25 from Farnells in 65. Still have all of them.... except the Picstone Soldering iron gun, which was basically a transformer on an aluminium handle. that Weller thing was useless.
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18th Jun 2020, 10:34 pm | #27 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Oxfordshire, UK.
Posts: 4,311
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Re: Tool rip offs
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A very strange feature of Amazon is that occasionally they will release a small number of these - 10-20 pairs, perhaps - at a laughably low price, perhaps 20% of normal. As individual pairs sell the price for the remaining ones rises, but still relatively slowly, so the last pair might go for half price, say. I have an acquaintance who must keep a much closer eye on things than I do (or maybe he gets alerts ?) and who lets me know when he spots an offer like this. I think both my pairs were under £20 each. Cheers, GJ
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19th Jun 2020, 8:02 pm | #28 |
Pentode
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, UK.
Posts: 158
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Re: Tool rip offs
Well that certainly got people talking, I have a set of those nut runners marketed by RS in a red wallet,very good they are,and the BA spanners are in my box too. I've had some good stuff pinched over the years, major pita. I always buy dear tools, even one's I don't use for work.Last year I went to a site and the guys were amazed at what I had, the previous electrician had a few odds and sods of tools apparently, all cheap stuff, I think one of my pairs of cutters cost more than his whole toolkit!
My only worry is what will happen to it all when I pop my clogs, my son isn't interested and neither it appears is my grandson, so who knows? one thing is sure, after a lifetime of collecting a decent set of very expensive kit I would hate it to just end up in a skip. |
19th Jun 2020, 8:38 pm | #29 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 9,642
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Re: Tool rip offs
Not necessarily Sons and Grandsons. My Daughter in Law is quite handy in that direction, you'll be none the wiser anyway. Or you could always will them to a self help charity. When we moved I gave an engine hoist I had no room for to one that helps miscreants back onto the straight and level.
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20th Jun 2020, 8:33 am | #30 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Southport, Merseyside, UK.
Posts: 646
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Re: Tool rip offs
I still have a "YANKEE" No 10; ratchet screwdriver inscribed "NORTHBROSMFG CO PHILADELPHIA USA"
It still works perfectly and is in regular use. It was my father's who had a policy of only buying good tools. I can recall it being around from my earliest memories. I imagine it was bought in the late 1930's or early 40's. The sort of thing they don't make 'em like anymore.
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Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana Last edited by rontech; 20th Jun 2020 at 8:40 am. Reason: More info found |
20th Jun 2020, 8:53 am | #31 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Spalding, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK.
Posts: 2,858
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Re: Tool rip offs
I have a fair assortment of ex bt tools. Knipex long nose pliers and sidecutters are particularly good. The No. * series of screwdrivers are excellent as well. But, BT could afford decent tools.
I find that the cheapo large screwdtiver can't be found when needed to prise the lid off a paint tin and then use it to stir the paint. Just a decent one that is far above such abuse. Rob
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20th Jun 2020, 9:47 am | #32 |
Nonode
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, UK.
Posts: 2,015
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Re: Tool rip offs
Lindstrom stuff is no longer made in Sweden. Production has been moved to Spain.
Whether there has been any effect on the tools I have yet to decide. |
20th Jun 2020, 10:21 am | #33 |
Octode
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Morden, Surrey, UK.
Posts: 1,557
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Re: Tool rip offs
Warmer handles.
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20th Jun 2020, 11:21 am | #34 |
Hexode
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 278
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Re: Tool rip offs
Here’s a cheap screwdriver, kept in my rammel drawer, handy for removing battery covers on toys, remote control etc, it is ‘steel’ though, not the aluminium or monkey metal some are made from, had it years, complete with teeth marks on the handle like a school biro, anyone else like me, going round a market or car boot is drawn to where anywhere selling tools, it’s my late dads fault......
Regards, Alan. |
20th Jun 2020, 2:21 pm | #35 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK.
Posts: 8,830
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Re: Tool rip offs
So long as we keep buying cheap, rip off tools that are poorly made, the countries that make them will continue to supply them. I have old Stanley screwdrivers from my days working in Thorn EMI's test department in the 70s that have been hit with a hammer, used as a prising tool, etc, and they are still functionally perfect. In contrast with most stuff from the far east where the metal is soft (use once on a stiff screw/nut) and the plastic splits even before you abuse it. We really do need to be more proactive in sourcing our tools and hopefully make it financially viable for UK manufacturers to retake the tools market at all levels.
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20th Jun 2020, 2:30 pm | #36 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 9,642
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Re: Tool rip offs
Forlorn hope. Engineers will seek out, and pay for, good tools as we say repeatedly in this and all the many similar preceding threads. The other 90%+ of the population will continue to want cheap and cheerful, often adequate for their infrequent use. Merchants will therefore instruct their manufacturers to produce this.
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20th Jun 2020, 3:50 pm | #37 |
Pentode
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 192
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Re: Tool rip offs
I was at a local second hand market and as I approached a s/h tool stall a guy picked up a bunch of screwdrivers cable tied together, His mate said don't bother they will chew up the first time you use them.
He put them down and I picked them up, they were Vessel screwdrivers 5 of them made in Japan for £3 so I happily bought them they were JIS. Months later I saw a yellow case with some screwdrivers and they were Draper but made in Japan and exactly the same as the Vessel screwdrivers so I bought them too (£4). Quality screwdrivers for my Japanese bikes and electronic equipment with JIS screws PS, I didn't even know about JIS screws till I read a topic on here |
20th Jun 2020, 4:48 pm | #38 |
Heptode
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 510
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Re: Tool rip offs
I have a pair of pliers I was issued with in Egypt when in the army in 1953 and they are in daily use. a lots of our tool were US lease lend. Socket sets were sought after and when the Brits vacated the Canal Zone tons were just left. Bedford Stanley and Britool were good reliable tools.
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20th Jun 2020, 5:14 pm | #39 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK.
Posts: 8,830
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Re: Tool rip offs
Quote:
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A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever.. |
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20th Jun 2020, 5:56 pm | #40 | |
Octode
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Evesham, Worcestershire, UK.
Posts: 1,422
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Re: Tool rip offs
Quote:
Still have the Elliott lucas stuff bought with almost my first pay packet, despite much use they're still undamaged. Greg.
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