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Reloaderguy
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New Tools Thread

Post by Reloaderguy » Sun Oct 21, 2018 2:13 pm

In this thread we discuss new tools. Post your new tool buys.

Over the last few years I've been using Milwaukee M18 tools, mainly just the 1/4" impact driver, drill, angle drill, etc. I've reluctantly stayed away from the brushless because mine were good enough and I thought the first gen would get improved pretty quickly. Anyway, second gen M12 has been out a while and Milwaukee released a few tools that caused me to jump and upgrade to most of the M12. Specifically the M12 3/8 Impact. This isn't a powerhouse that will break giant fasteners but rather a small compact tool that is useful for the majority of the fasteners I am likely to remove. In the process I switched to the M12 1/4" driver, 1/4 ratchet, and 3/8 ratchet. 18v and 20v are easily more powerful tools but 12v far more convenient.

For comparison, M12 1/4" driver vs. M12 3/8 Impact

Image


Also, if you're waiting to buy a electric ratchet, don't. Your elbows will thank you. The gen 2 Milwaukee ratchets are out but in my opinion aren't an improvement over gen 1. Gen 1 is smaller and puts out less torque (you don't need more torque, it's a ratchet, just pull on the tool if you need more torque).

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Re: New Tools Thread

Post by RustyPW » Sun Oct 21, 2018 2:53 pm

I just got the G2 Milwaukee M18 1/2" drill and trim saw. Big improvement over my old 19v Craftsman. :lol: When I worked at the power plant. We started off with DeWalts. The batteries would not last a year before replacing them. The tools would last about 18 months before hitting the scrape pile. Management had a love affair with DeWalts. Took me 6 years to get them to change to something else. Ended up with Milwaukee's. They're still using the Milwaukee's. Working at Home Depot part time. The most returned cordless tools is DeWalt. Hardly see a Rigid or Milwaukee returned.
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Re: New Tools Thread

Post by Reloaderguy » Sun Oct 21, 2018 5:38 pm

Rigid tools are made by the same company that make Milwaukee tools.

BTW, I drove 120 1/2" bolts five times and only used half of a 2.0AH battery using a 1/4" ratchet.

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New Tools Thread

Post by DamageWagon » Sun Oct 21, 2018 6:53 pm

My cheap Rigid drill lasted me surprisingly long, in a hard life. The bearings are full of chips now and the batteries are toast but that’s 6 years of daily use.

My Makita 1/4” impact is outstanding and I use it almost daily. The Makita 1/2” still bought with it is absolute garbage - speed control is basically useless unless it’s wide open, chuck has axial and radial play in it from less than a years use. I feel like I’m going to snap it in half pretty often with how flimsy the housing is.

My Makita 1/2” impact is beefcake though. I kind of wish I went 3/8” impact because it’s got so much power I almost can’t use it on anything. Even the 1/4” impact I use with sockets on a lot of the truck fasteners up to 12mm-1/2”

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Re: New Tools Thread

Post by Colibri » Mon Oct 22, 2018 10:20 am

9F306BBE-6620-4782-9307-67B8810B884B.jpeg
Does a new air compressor count?
Central Texas and Houston area
2009 5.7 auto quadcab
Carli 3” coils deaver leafs 3” kings with 4 tube bypass rear and fr/rr hydro bumps
Howe steering pump and gear with hydraulic ram assist
Custom tube bumpers and white knuckle sliders
Creative fab trussed axle. rem polished and cryoed 5.13 gears with arb lockers fr/rr
Sharadon stage 2 545rfe with 3000 stall edge converter
Lots of other stuff lol

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Re: New Tools Thread

Post by DamageWagon » Mon Oct 22, 2018 10:27 am

Colibri wrote:
9F306BBE-6620-4782-9307-67B8810B884B.jpeg
Does a new air compressor count?
If it’s cool it does Image

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Re: New Tools Thread

Post by DamageWagon » Mon Oct 22, 2018 10:28 am

And NOW the picture loads! Dude that’s sweet, how quiet is it?

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Re: New Tools Thread

Post by Colibri » Mon Oct 22, 2018 10:48 am

5-10 feet from it you can carry on a conversation at normal volume. It’s by far the quietest compressor I’ve ever owned.
Central Texas and Houston area
2009 5.7 auto quadcab
Carli 3” coils deaver leafs 3” kings with 4 tube bypass rear and fr/rr hydro bumps
Howe steering pump and gear with hydraulic ram assist
Custom tube bumpers and white knuckle sliders
Creative fab trussed axle. rem polished and cryoed 5.13 gears with arb lockers fr/rr
Sharadon stage 2 545rfe with 3000 stall edge converter
Lots of other stuff lol

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Re: New Tools Thread

Post by RustyPW » Mon Oct 22, 2018 8:18 pm

Colibri wrote:
Mon Oct 22, 2018 10:20 am
9F306BBE-6620-4782-9307-67B8810B884B.jpegDoes a new air compressor count?
Nice! :rockon:
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AOAA Summer '19.

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Re: New Tools Thread

Post by olyelr » Mon Oct 22, 2018 10:10 pm

Holy shit now that's a compressor!
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Re: New Tools Thread

Post by DamageWagon » Mon Oct 22, 2018 10:15 pm

I got quotes last week from Kaeser for screw compressor/dryer/receiver combo. Gotta think those numbers over haha. Eaton Quiet compressors are looking aweful good at those prices!!

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Re: New Tools Thread

Post by Colibri » Mon Oct 22, 2018 11:22 pm

DamageWagon wrote:
Mon Oct 22, 2018 10:15 pm
I got quotes last week from Kaeser for screw compressor/dryer/receiver combo. Gotta think those numbers over haha. Eaton Quiet compressors are looking aweful good at those prices!!
Kaeser makes great stuff! It was between them and Quincy for me, and just came down to local support and dealer preference for me. I don’t know your compressor experience or needs, but I have a rotary screw compressor at another location and they’re beasts, but they prefer relatively consistent loads. They don’t seem to like constant or frequent cycling. Also they’re more maintenance intensive usually. But if a screw is right for your situation, they’re awesome! That’s why I went reciprocating on this one, with hydraulic unloaders/pressure oiling. Handles varying demand much better.

Also good call on the air drier, they’re an absolute must. I went non cycling refrigerated on this one just for simplicity sake, but upstream it’s intercooled and has a centrifugal moisture separator pre receiver as well. If either of those are options for you I heartily recommend them.

I assume this is for business purposes? If so skip right past commercial grade and go industrial if you can. It’s a whole different animal at that point and you won’t experience but a fraction of the downtime for compressor issues. Reliability is greatly improved. Also are you single or three phase? What kind of cfm are you looking at? It’s exciting stuff but also a hard pill to swallow because it does add up quickly price wise for sure.

I’m excited for you man! Glad you’re in a position to need such equipment. Good luck with everything! And definitely show us what you end up with!
Central Texas and Houston area
2009 5.7 auto quadcab
Carli 3” coils deaver leafs 3” kings with 4 tube bypass rear and fr/rr hydro bumps
Howe steering pump and gear with hydraulic ram assist
Custom tube bumpers and white knuckle sliders
Creative fab trussed axle. rem polished and cryoed 5.13 gears with arb lockers fr/rr
Sharadon stage 2 545rfe with 3000 stall edge converter
Lots of other stuff lol

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Re: New Tools Thread

Post by DamageWagon » Mon Oct 22, 2018 11:42 pm

I’ve got a piston compressor that’s done fine for most of my uses. I’m looking for a higher output compressor for a new piece of equipment coming in for the business :) rigging company was over this afternoon planning the move.

I won’t know my air needs until the new machine is running. It will either be only around 5cfm @100 or might be 18-25cfm. I really want something that I don’t need to wear hearing protection around. The Eaton Polar Air stuff actually seems the best bang for the buck here, and very good quality. Quincy is really nice too.

You can buy even small Kaeser compressors on eBay with 30-40,000 running hours on them. Super reliable rigs. $10k is a lot for an air compressor haha!

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Re: New Tools Thread

Post by RustyPW » Tue Oct 23, 2018 12:28 am

I used to work on Elliott PAP air compressors. 3 stage, intercooled between each stage. Anywhere from 125 psi to 500 psi. CFM from 100 to 1000. To power it. It was either electric motor or steam turbine. To rebuild just the compressor was $90,000. Complete overhaul on the system was $200,000.
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Re: New Tools Thread

Post by Colibri » Tue Oct 23, 2018 12:47 am

Oooh! So much new machine smell in this thread! I’m dying here Marcus! What do you need a rigging company to move?

That’s nuts rusty! What a monster line of compressors.
Central Texas and Houston area
2009 5.7 auto quadcab
Carli 3” coils deaver leafs 3” kings with 4 tube bypass rear and fr/rr hydro bumps
Howe steering pump and gear with hydraulic ram assist
Custom tube bumpers and white knuckle sliders
Creative fab trussed axle. rem polished and cryoed 5.13 gears with arb lockers fr/rr
Sharadon stage 2 545rfe with 3000 stall edge converter
Lots of other stuff lol

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Re: New Tools Thread

Post by Mule » Tue Oct 23, 2018 1:19 am

We've got a Kaeser system at work. It's nice when it works, but we've had some issues with it too.
One included a call at about 1745 on a friday night just as I was getting ready to leave from one of hte manufacturing engineers. "Can you come down and look at the compressor? I think it's broke."
Go downstairs into the corner where the compressor is, and it smells of burning, and there's a puddle of oil under the compressor... "Yup, you're right, it's broke. I'm good at fixing stuff, but this is too broke for me."
"b-b-but production's down till its fixed!"

Turns out they really only needed to run leak testers, which only use a little fart of air every cycle. Shit, my little half-horse 12gal will do that all day long. Kaeser dude's coming on monday to look at it? Yeah, that's fine, I can go without mine for a few days.

Shoved the noisy little bastard into a closet, air line out the door to the assembly benches, and they were up and running...
Image

Somewhere someone got a 240v two-stage 40-gal upright... problem is, the kaeser's a 208v 3-phase... "i mean, a couple extension cords, i could probably make that work, but god that's an ugly hack, and a huge fire hazard i'm not comfortable putting my name on... but that's a decent compressor, and not too different from what i'll end up with..."

then that nod, "y'know, if we have here at work what mule has at home, i'd say we're doing pretty well." :lol:

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Re: New Tools Thread

Post by Mule » Tue Oct 23, 2018 1:34 am

and on topic, sorta. Not really a new tool, but an upgrade to one i've had.
RALS has two marine cig lighter outputs. Light head uses one of them, when i'm using it as an area light.
Image

I have a cig lighter to Anderson adapter, which I kept in the case along with a 4-port/30W USB charger. Also have a 12v laptop charger, terminated with Anderson, so last week I used that to run my laptop for a while (Just put a new battery in the laptop this evening, been running off it for about 2hrs now and it's still at 75%, where the old battery ran about 15mins).
Image

Stopped by HRO, they carry Powerwerx/Anderson products. The round anderson adapters "should be" teh same size as the marine cig lighter plugs... easy wiring harness, and didn't have to modify anything on the RALS. Easy drop-in replacement.
Image

Reassemble
Image

Image

And i've got one marine cig lighter for the light head, and a dual Anderson connector for whatever else. No cig lighter adapter needed anymore.
Image

Definitely one of the more useful tools in my garage (and on the road, where utility power isn't always available and generators are kind of annoying to work next to).
Image

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Re: New Tools Thread

Post by Bill2014 » Tue Oct 23, 2018 10:22 am

The compressor industry still has opportunities to improve silencers (and engine mufflers that don't choke the power) :idea:
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Re: New Tools Thread

Post by RustyPW » Tue Oct 23, 2018 7:08 pm

Colibri wrote:
Tue Oct 23, 2018 12:47 am
Oooh! So much new machine smell in this thread! I’m dying here Marcus! What do you need a rigging company to move?

That’s nuts rusty! What a monster line of compressors.
PAP units are small fries. :lol: ! worked on bigger Elliott compressors. 110M centrifugal compressor. 8 stage, each stage rotor is 110" in diameter. 12ft inlet, 9ft outlet. 35 psi, at 1.5 million CFM. And they weight 95 tons. Also 17 stage axial compressors with 2 million CFM. You mostly see this stuff in chemical plants, steel mills, and oil refineries.
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My build thread. http://forum.powerwagonregistry.org/vie ... =13&t=2826 :cash: :cash:

Moab '09, '10, '12, '14.
Rausch Creek - Summer '10, Spring-Fall '11, Spring '12, Summer '13, Summer '14, Summer '15, Summer '16, Summer '17, Summer '18, Summer '20, Summer '22,
AOAA Summer '19.

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Re: New Tools Thread

Post by Reloaderguy » Tue Oct 23, 2018 7:45 pm

Colibri wrote:
Tue Oct 23, 2018 12:47 am
Oooh! So much new machine smell in this thread! I’m dying here Marcus! What do you need a rigging company to move?

That’s nuts rusty! What a monster line of compressors.
He bought a Sybian XL.

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Re: New Tools Thread

Post by Colibri » Tue Oct 23, 2018 8:36 pm

Reloaderguy wrote:
Tue Oct 23, 2018 7:45 pm
Colibri wrote:
Tue Oct 23, 2018 12:47 am
Oooh! So much new machine smell in this thread! I’m dying here Marcus! What do you need a rigging company to move?

That’s nuts rusty! What a monster line of compressors.
He bought a Sybian XL.
Every now and then you drop solid gold in a thread sir. :rofl:
Central Texas and Houston area
2009 5.7 auto quadcab
Carli 3” coils deaver leafs 3” kings with 4 tube bypass rear and fr/rr hydro bumps
Howe steering pump and gear with hydraulic ram assist
Custom tube bumpers and white knuckle sliders
Creative fab trussed axle. rem polished and cryoed 5.13 gears with arb lockers fr/rr
Sharadon stage 2 545rfe with 3000 stall edge converter
Lots of other stuff lol

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Re: New Tools Thread

Post by DamageWagon » Tue Oct 23, 2018 10:53 pm

If it stays wrapped up and gets moved with an industrial forklift, nobody will suspect a THING ;)

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Re: New Tools Thread

Post by RustyPW » Tue Oct 23, 2018 11:19 pm

Reloaderguy wrote:
Tue Oct 23, 2018 7:45 pm
Colibri wrote:
Tue Oct 23, 2018 12:47 am
Oooh! So much new machine smell in this thread! I’m dying here Marcus! What do you need a rigging company to move?

That’s nuts rusty! What a monster line of compressors.
He bought a Sybian XL.
:lol:
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My build thread. http://forum.powerwagonregistry.org/vie ... =13&t=2826 :cash: :cash:

Moab '09, '10, '12, '14.
Rausch Creek - Summer '10, Spring-Fall '11, Spring '12, Summer '13, Summer '14, Summer '15, Summer '16, Summer '17, Summer '18, Summer '20, Summer '22,
AOAA Summer '19.

Russ
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