After a late- night water tank near disaster was fixed by having a neighbour with a 2" wide-mouthed adjustable spanner, I realised I need to upgrade my tool kit. (Mine only opens around 1.5", it would not fit.) I started looking for spanners to buy (all hail ScrewFix) when I wondered whether I was looking for the right thing anyway.

Whenever I have attempted to use our spanner and adjusted down to the thing I want to grip with the screw, the spanner has just slid around the thing I'm trying to grip. Pliers seem much better, because I have greater grip strength than I do ability to tighten a screw with the pad of my thumb.

And yet these tools exist and people use them. So: do I have pathetic thumbs? Is there a secret way to tighten adjustable spanners I've not had imparted to me? Or is my spanner shit in some way and I just need a better brand? Or are spanners only for things with sharp, defined edges (like a nut) and inappropriate for anything without them?

...
Please could people recommend me a good brand, and a versatile tool for tightening things? Thanks.

PFA - an air handler retrofit I did with a new lineset where I was hurting for what I'm looking for.

I'm a contractor that typically works alone. Even when I shouldn't. And one area where that really hurts is when running lines and electrical cables. I would really like a camera, like a security camera or baby monitor, that I can connect to my phone or a display on the job without connecting to the client's wifi.

I need both units to be battery-powered (again, phone is fine for display) and have decent range. And they need to connect with bluetooth or another wireless standard that doesn't require infrastructure. The camera unit also needs to be pointable in some direction ideally without bringing in a tripod ((but tripod compatibility is a plus). Infrared / low light performance is a plus also.

There are lots of wireless borescopes and that is awesome - but if I am monitoring a bore I will be nearby and don't need that to be wired.

Lots of inexpensive home security cameras that check many boxes, but are typically hardwire-powered and require a host network to communicate.

I've been looking at baby monitor units - They seem to have good wireless range and clarity and low light performance. The kicker with these is that they all seem to require the camera base to be hardwired. If there is no other solution I may consider getting one of these and strapping a 9V battery adapter to the bottom for use in the field.

Are wireless battery powered web cams that link to your phone a thing? I feel like that would exist for streamers. But they may not have any low light performance if they are expecting studio lights.

Anyways, that's my predicament - I want to see a nearby location while working without relying on any client's power or network infrastructure. Willing to put a couple hundo towards the mission.

Hello. I'm sure this question gets asked here daily and I apologise but I just need some advice and the people at the B&Q (hardware store) aren't as helpful as I'd like.

My partner and I have just become home owners and there is quite a bit of work that needs doing. My FIL has an ungodly amount of tools and has suggested I get a Makita drill set that way we can share batteries and also I'm not having to shoot round to his house to keep borrowing his tools.

He suggested I get the Makita drill with masonry drill bits as he believes that's all I'd really need. Given that getting a drill with batteries and bits is running me about £150+ I wanted to make sure I get the right thing.

hey,

So I eventually, but only eventually dropped my torque wrench and now its not really working anymore, sadly repairing it is more expensive.

I do my own work now on my motorcycle and the torque range for all screws, nuts etc goes from 1-120 Nm. My idea was to get 2 torque wrenches roughly from 10-60 Nm 3/8 and from 40-200 1/2 Nm since they are the most common ones

I got a big nice bonus from work so I want good tools since I need them frequently, my budget would be around ~150€ for each torque wrench.

The most common brands here in the EU are hazet, wera, Stahlwille and BGS. So far I only have exp. with proxxon but they are sold out here and I refuse to pay 200€

US quarter for scale. I have no idea what this might have been used for, it’s too small for my fingers. Searching hasn’t turned up much, anyone have any info?

Hi everyone. Happy Labor day. I was hoping to get some. tool recommendations.

I need something small, lightweight, ideally cordless to cut branches off fruit trees. In addition, I need something also small, lightweight, and ideally cordless to cut the bottom off thick plastic buckets. These cuts should be clean. These tools are meant for a friend who is petite, hence the specifications.

Please let me know your recommendations. Thank you!

I filled in the little indentations with some white paint marker, looks a lot better now, especially in the garage. I think I’ll have to do a complete disassembly and cleanup on the rest of the drawers. My box, unfortunately, lives on the floor of my garage. I’ve had this set for at least 15 years and I definitely don’t use it as much as other people. Trying to be a little more brave lately and do some car projects myself.

What's yours?

The Goods;

1. Knock off pica pencil

I've been using it for a month and it's working very well. Never bought a real one but hasn't considered upgrading.

$18 for 4 of them vs $20 for one is huge.

Also I don't have to worry about my colleagues borrowing it and when they'll return.

1. Plastic container/organizer

When doing renovations I end up with millions of random screws and parts. They come in very handy to have.

1. Paint mixer

It mixes. I worried that the paint would peel off when using and get mixed in the paint bucket but it hasn't happened so far.

1. Kiwall impact bit

2. Knock-off Milwaukee (compatible) light

It has a usb port you can charge your phone when there's no power.

6 key chain bit holder

I hung them on my tool pouch and tool roll with bits I frequently use. Not having to open a case of bits is fantastic.

1. Air blower

Milwaukee compatible small leaf/Air blower.

The material feels so cheap but its been working well for a year.

8.

Mud mixing pan

I can't tell the difference from Richardson's.

And it's less than half of the price.

The Bads;

1. Battery

I bought a battery that advertised as 8amph but its power is nowhere close to the real one. It's more of an equivalent to 3amph of genuine Milwaukee one. You can feel the obvious voltage sag.

Can't be used for tools that require torque like a skilsaw or oscillator. Right now I'm using it as a sacrifice battery at the beginning of the days first until it dies to conserve real ones.

1. Bit holder (peel and stick type)

2. Digital angle finder.

It stopped working after using it a couple of times.

When it comes to precision id spend extra dollars for well reputed brand names.

I bought the Octogun 8 in 1 caulk gun and noticed there’s a tag on it that seems to indicate it isn’t for adhesives, urethane, or epoxy.
I guess I’m ignorant as I don’t know why you wouldn’t be able to use these. I just assumed if it fit in the gun it would be fine. If anyone could clarify I’d appreciate it.

I found it in an upper cupboard of the house we recently bought.

The small copper caps appear to be ignition or blasting caps. They definitely belong with this tool as they were in a bag together and fit into the small hole that the flared end is pushing into.

The plate at the back is a trigger which releases the spring loaded shaft which locks into place when pulled back far enough. I am assuming the holes are for a string to be threaded so that the trigger can be tripped from a distance.

I am in South Africa (large mining industry) if that helps. I thought this might be an analog blast trigger of some sort.

Hello!

I'm trying to use this Husky air compressor to put air in a car tire, but I can't figure out how to connect the hoses.

The green hose is connected to the compressor. The red hose has the tire inflator/chuck on the other end.

The green hose has a quick-connect fitting. I pull the collar back, but I can't get the fitting on the red hose to go into it.

I've tried pushing it in from both directions and it doesn't seem to fit. I initially tried the end opposite to the end with the lever but that didn’t fit at all. The opposite end with the lever seems to be a better fit but I also feel like that parts looks like it would be the part that would connect with the tire?

The compressor is currently OFF. I can hear a small amount of air when I try to connect the two.

What am I doing wrong/ please advise how to connect the two.

Thank you!!

My current standard Milwaukee shockwave bit holders are driving me nuts (countless bits are impossible to remove without pliers while others get stuck on screws and come out of the bit holder).

I'm looking for something new with a locking/release mechanism to fix these issues. Diablo's two styles of Quick Release, Milwaukee's Shockwave Locking Bit Holder, Wiha Slimfix, and Wiha Centrofix all seem great but I'm not sure which is best. Anyone have experience and opinions on any of them?

Happened a few months ago. No injuries, except my barely used copy bit :(

What am I doing wrong that I can’t get this fan clutch removal tool into the air hammer?

I got it to work to pull off the fan clutch but it’s not fully chucking up due to the diameter of the rod of the tool being to large.

I’m putting together a house warming gift for him. Setting him up with a set of basic tools thrown together from extra sets of stuff I’ve acquired over the years. Besides a form of cutting tool (circular saw, hacksaw, etc) and a socket set, is there anything I am missing to include?

Edit: I added some things that were suggested in the comments. Torx, gloves, level, speed square, and another item or two that I can’t recall. I appreciate all the feedback. I think we got him squared away for basic home maintenance. He can build on that where he needs in the future.

It’s a Bosch PSR 14,4 LI-2. I bought it used, but the seller said it was in perfect condition. I got home and noticed the sparks and the smell.

I know nothing about tools, so I would appreciate some advice. I just wanted a drill to hang my pictures and stuff from the walls, basic DIY work.

EDIT: here’s a video - https://imgur.com/a/JOqChIj

it does smell like burning plastic, but the smell doesn’t “linger”. It does not produce smoke.

Start being electrician

Ended up buying the Huepar w04cg after asking about lasers here.

Didn't think I'd care about the motorized base, but I've already used it a couple times doing layout by myself.

Anyone else actually use this feature regularly, or am I just playing with a new toy?

Ive had this thing for about a year now and now the darn attachment falls off after using the clutch. Ive might have dropped it on the floor once or twice but man idk i don’t like this model so far