Would You Like To RoadTest a HandTools Kit?

On my units the table clamp parts are aluminum, the ball is some kind of alloy casting, the jaws are a different heavy (painted) alloy, possibly cast iron, the screws are all stainless steel. The design is extremely versatile and has been cloned by many manufacturers. I'm sure I've seen versions that are all aluminum except for the ball and screws.

>"Would You Like To RoadTest a HandTools Kit?"

The right tools (and being able to find them!) make all the difference in a hobby or DIY project being either fun or frustrating.

So I'm definitely interested.

And if it means the kind of hand tools I can use to finish up the Trillium trailer project, then my wife will be even more excited about it than me!

(There's some electrical, some plumbing, some cabinets, some riveting... but it's getting closer!)

-Nico

Parts of it could be aluminium. I too like using an aluminium vice for light work. I have one a bit like this, it was quite cheap:

The benefit being I can easily move it around on the table, and can clamp it with another clamp! - quick release clamp - on a table edge if needed. The disadvantage being it doesn't have all the adjustments available with a ball head of course : (

It looks like its made from a softer metal (not steel), any guesses?

Would eagerly apply to this!

My first soldering iron was a Heathkit iron (40 W) - it had a clip that could snap on the heater barrel. the clip had a notch that would melt insulation - you melted just at a point, then you could pull the freed insulation off the end.

Yes, on one side the collar has a cutout allowing 90 degrees.

Once upon a time we had an engineering build lab (gone with the dinosaurs), the guy in charge (Bill Betz) was an old timer, who had built his own perfect wire stripper made from Cu-Ni wire, with a few electrons flowing it melted wire insulation perfectly, a little pull and you had a perfectly stripped wire with no nicks in sight. I suspect there must be commercial versions of this, using batteries, but I have never seen one. I would be the first in line to buy such a game changer (and it had better be called the Betz Cutter).

Can you get that ball joint to go at least 90 degrees from vertical?

I'm a tool junkie, bring it on, and then some more...

My tool acquisition philosophy starts with the idea that it is good to have two of everything, an el cheapo that can be abused without regret (there is always a need to abuse, and loaning to that pesky neighbour) and the second priced right, that never gets abused and does exactly whats needed, in a way that makes you feel good using it.

I feel it is impossible to know what a good tool is without experience, so start by buying something cheap and on sale and learn from it, then relegate it to the abused tool box. Then buy the right tool, keeping in mind that feeling good is what its all about.

Road tests should be an excellent way of discovering tools.