2014 BS and Chat Thread!

[Tacoclaw]

They just felt bad for Zach because he went all hobo and camped in their parking lot for like 6 months.

[cmann250]

Diesel freak, I think were in a similar boat. I have 3 semesters of my ASM degree left. I know I don't LOVE wrenching, but I'm good at and it's easy. Still, my mechanical skills would be far more useful on a daily basis than my degree. I'd be the only one in the shop with a degree and maybe 25% have a degree overall. I think my biggest concern is that I'll get trapped. It's just different. I'm used to weld-it-together-and-limp-it-through, not order new parts. I'm used to working out of a 3 drawer craftsman box and another lunch box tool box.

It's the rental shop, so I could see anything from a D4 dozer to a man lift.

[ellis93]

Oh man the tool buying experience.....I remember my first tool truck,still own the wrench set I bought that day too

I swear I could not work for 5yrs and still have money left if I had back all the coin dropped for tools. Of course that's figuring new prices for everything I doubt I'd get back the 10k I spent on tool box,side cabs and carts. Probably couldn't get a 1/4 for the scanners and meters/diagnostic tools either.
I have and old sun oscilloscope/ingnition analyzer I'd about give away

[cmann250]

See, I'm crafty on that type of stuff. If it has moving parts (impacts, ratchets, etc.) you get exactly what you pay for. Otherwise, I'm not giving inflated prices for a name. I'm all about buying used and trading stuff.

[peobryant]

First full fill up this morning. I bought the car with less than a half a tank of fuel so today was the first time I could really calculate the mileage.



602 miles traveled and it took 13.827 gallons (less, actually. The pump stopped earlier but since I like even numbers I added a little more fuel to make the total $47 even) to fill her up. By my Kentucky math that is 43.5 mpg. Not bad for winter fuel and a little bit of spirited driving.

[diesel freak01]

Taco your math is bad. I camped out for two years....


Cmann I wouldn't hesitate to take the job providing you can finish your degree first. Worst thing that can happen is you gain some experience that you can use later in life. Yes the buy new parts and not cobble it together is different. If it's in the rental side it wouldn't take much to slide in to.a rental coordinator job and from there you can go to management or a machine sales job. Maybe even end up on the Ag side. You never know where you will end up. Also I would inquire about tuition reimbursement for degrees earned while working. Would make the job worth even more.

[ellis93]

See, I'm crafty on that type of stuff. If it has moving parts (impacts, ratchets, etc.) you get exactly what you pay for. Otherwise, I'm not giving inflated prices for a name. I'm all about buying used and trading stuff.

you'll get over that eventually,I was the same way.....till I was losing money. Fooling around with craftsman ratchets,J A Pan sockets and bargain basement tools will only wound you.

[cmann250]

you'll get over that eventually,I was the same way.....till I was losing money. Fooling around with craftsman ratchets,J A Pan sockets and bargain basement tools will only wound you.

Craftsman ratchets piss me off in my current shade tree mechanic state. I agree with you.

Thanks for the pointers guys

[PToombs]

you'll get over that eventually,I was the same way.....till I was losing money. Fooling around with craftsman ratchets,J A Pan sockets and bargain basement tools will only wound you.

BS! I use about anything, Craftsman, Mac, Snap on, HF. It all works. Ratchets I have Craftsman, wrenches are anything and everything, sockets are HF, Snap on, Mac, Craftsman. I've had good luck with the HF impact sockets. I bought a set of 1/2" drive deep well impacts for $15 and it was about 8 years before I broke one. I went and bought another set for $15, replaced the broken one and use the rest at home. We don't have the tool trucks stopping at work, we don't buy enough to make it worth it for them.
The only thing I don't scrimp on are socket drive bits, allens, torx. Those I have all Mac or Snap on. If I need it, I need it, and those take a lot of abuse and get broken regularly. That's where the lifetime warranty is good.

[meby]

I think my biggest concern is that I'll get trapped.

If you never stop learning, you'll never be trapped. I've got a broad range of skills and in the 17 years I've been working full-time, I've not been out of work more than a couple months total and have never been stuck at a job I didn't like for more than a couple months. In my opinion, its better to do something you love than to do something for money. I can't say I've ever heard of someone regretting they didn't make more money, but people regret not doing a whole bunch of other things like work at a job they hate.

[ellis93]

you'll get over that eventually,I was the same way.....till I was losing money. Fooling around with craftsman ratchets,J A Pan sockets and bargain basement tools will only wound you.

BS! I use about anything, Craftsman, Mac, Snap on, HF. It all works. Ratchets I have Craftsman, wrenches are anything and everything, sockets are HF, Snap on, Mac, Craftsman. I've had good luck with the HF impact sockets. I bought a set of 1/2" drive deep well impacts for $15 and it was about 8 years before I broke one. I went and bought another set for $15, replaced the broken one and use the rest at home. We don't have the tool trucks stopping at work, we don't buy enough to make it worth it for them.
The only thing I don't scrimp on are socket drive bits, allens, torx. Those I have all Mac or Snap on. If I need it, I need it, and those take a lot of abuse and get broken regularly. That's where the lifetime warranty is good.

You call bs on what? That a craftsman ratchet isn't a pos? I've broken more of them than I care to admit and I won't touch a new 1/4 or 3/8 ths one. Those suck monkey balls,and the professional line ain't much better,and why the hell would you buy a craftsman ratchet that's supposedly "professional" quality when you can pair 20$ to it and buy a proven tough ratchet.
They suck Pete and you know it.
Hey I have said it before.....there's nothing wrong with the good HF line of tools,NO WRENCHES. Those suck big time. I have a set of composite ratchets from there in my box at home. They are tough as all get out. I also have some chrome and impact sockets,even some swivel Impact sockets. They're good....I just ain't making money with them.
I will add that I don't buy any brand impact but Ingersoll rand,you. Can't beat that titanium and torque 1/2 impact,and it's cheaper than any tool truck brand. I have used them since they first came out and have physically worn out two. I'm talking that the flats on the anvil were rounded and the edges were chippin away. I bought another anvil for 25$ shipped and fixed it,took it home where I still use it. Dang good tool.
Another line of tool that I use mostly at the house is the old popular mechanics tools. My folks gave me a set when I turned 16 and I still have it....it's actually in the chevy now,and what I use in shtf situations.

[Remps]

Here in Canada the mastercraft (canadian tire) tools are my favourite. Sockets and wrenches are well made, and I have only broke two 3/8 ratchets in the last 10 years. And all the tools have a no questions asked lifetime warranty. I even found a 20-30 year old broken 3/8 drive 9/16 socket buried in the dirt in the alley behind my house a few years ago, rinsed it off, took it to Canadian tire and walked out with a new one 5 mins later. Some of the mastercraft stuff is a bit junky, but the basic tools are pretty darn good.

[PToombs]

I have some of the Popular Mechanics wrenches, 1", 1 1/8, 1 1/4. I like them too, no sharp edges and they take a beating. I bought them at Wally world many years ago.
My main ratchet at work is a Wright 3/8 drive I got when I was 16 or 17, It came in a set and I only have 3 or 4 of the original sockets left. I just put my 2nd rebuild kit in it a couple months ago. Not bad for a 35-6 year old ratchet!

[DMan1198]

Most of the stuff I have is snap on. Mostly because that's the only truck that comes around like at all. I like the Matco ratchets though. They've got a thinner head design, and more teeth, so they fit into tighter places easier.

On another note my sump came in from Eric. That is very nice piece of aluminum, and it should be easy to adapt to 1/2" line

[Remps]

About 1300 kms to cover today starting now. Knock on wood for the 96!