Would You Like To RoadTest a HandTools Kit?

Agree 100%.

When you first start out collecting tools for your toolkit you have lots of choices and suppliers.

It is very hard to know what is a good investment, and why it pays to spend more money on x than z.

My philosphy has been to NOT buy the cheapest version, but spend more and look after it.

Even if you think you'll only use it for that job, you will find another need/use for it later, so the investment is worthwhile.

I can't advocate spending $100 - $150 on side cutters when a perfectly acceptable pair is available for $25 - $30, and has the same specs, shape and is a reputable brand.

Likewise I cant advocate getting a pair for $3 from your nearest online or $dollar shop to use as your main tools.

In the end it does come down to budget, and you can only buy what you can afford.

I tend to shy away from 'kits' as they seldom deliver all the quality and tools you'll need.

Perhaps the only exception is electricial screwdrivers which come in 6 or 8 sizes packed together by the same manufacturer that sells them seperately.

In a workplace the lending of tools is very likely to end up with someone else misusing the item, and when you want to use it, you'll find the abuse.

So since we all get the same tool allowance, then I tend to not lend mine out, or I'll do whatever they were wanting my items for.

philips screws with about 10 already stripped

You'd be surprised how many technicians can't tell the difference between a Phillips and Pozidrive.

They can't identify the screw or the driver and hence have no idea why it doesn't fit or is loose.

Mark

I suspect we all have very definite views on hand tools and our favorites of each type, and lots of reasons why we like them or don't like them. Its probably a lot of work but I would like to see separate mini-road tests on each type of tool - some of them will be interesting. I wouldn't compete to road test a general hand tool kit as I have a pretty complete set and others would benefit more. But any tool kit has gaps; like although I have lots of Allen keys and hex bits, I don't have a complete set of dedicated Allen key screwdrivers. The same goes for nut drivers - I actually have several of those but they are not metric.

Maybe a road test could list a bunch of tools and members could apply to road test the one they need the most.

Sorry to suggest a logistical nightmare, but that would be a a pretty unique road test.

I would readily do a roadtest, preferably with tools I don’t already own, but we have a community “tool library” where I live and even if a tool in a kit was a duplicate to what I already have I could donate.

I see much value in a road test for something like hand tools. We all use pliers, cutters, screwdrivers, spudgers, and countless others in our labs. How often do we step back and consider these "simple" tools? Just because it does not contain an LED and use a power source, it does not mean we should not think about the best option in our workflow.

Reading a road test review might be an opportunity for some of us to step back and think about that set of pliers we have with a bent nose and falling-off handle, that has been sticking around for 30 years. (I am just using an example from my, uh, friend's electronics bench...)

Also, like with some of the test equipment reviews, I would look forward to seeing how the different reviewers use the tools. It is amazing how many little tricks you can pick up along the way.

There are some always useful, basic hand tools that would come in handy on one's bench, but may be hard to focus into a RoadTest review.  Aside from those basic tools, my electrical engineering tool set looks a little different from my mechanical engineering set, as well as from my software set.  Within my EE set, my RF tools may look and function differently from my audio tools.  In other words, you need to understand your requirements and the functioning of the tools to meet those requirements to road test them.  Another thought did cross my mind (sometime that happens).  Tools of any kind, including hand tools, most likely are used in the road test process to evaluate the "development boards, test equipment or other kinds of electronic devices".  What if those faithful testers who have sufficiently completed all their review/evaluation on time, be offered the opportunity review a hand tools set that would best suit their needs.  E14 would still get a review, but from someone who could better evaluate the tools.  It could also be considered an additional reward to completing their reviews.  Just a thought.

Gordon

Clamping tools, wires and connectors. These are what I always have difficulty. They break usually. Which wire, which connector with which clamping tool is the best for your data wiring or power wiring in harsh environment?? Wet environment and so on??

Getting some reviews on different products on these topics is fantastic for me. Because I never managed to find a solution to be:

• robust
• easy and fast to make connectors
• easy and fast to connect and disconnect them

I used JST connectors which are always difficult to make and not to break.

One of the hand tools I would be very interested in roadtesting would be wire strippers. Looking at standards for automotive or aeronautical applications often mention no tool that scores the wire may be used. I would therefore be interested in finding good wire strippers that can remove the shielding from a wire without causing a stress point or score mark on teh underlying wire.

There are definitely other tools on my list, but this is just one that springs to mind.

Kas

Cool picture : ) I believe TVs did come like that in the past : )

What is great about tool reviews is that many people also provide a lot of feedback from their experience over the years, and so that and the original review are useful, and remain relevant for quite a while.

Regarding stories, often lending out tools means them not arriving back in the same condition, but once the borrower didn't arrive back in the same condition..

He borrowed without asking and came back and complained that something was wrong with the mains wiring, because he kept getting quite a strong feeling of electricity.

It turned out that he'd taken the ESD pliers with the conductive rubber handles!

Handtools would add an interesting category to the roadtest program. I agree the kits usually are not the best quality, so going with individual tools is the way to go.

I would like to see tools that are either very innovative or not something typically seen in the standard tool box. 

My first thought was that I needed more tools like I needed another hole in my head.  I'm at the point where I need to get rid of a bunch of tools to get ready to move to an apartment.  But...then I thought of the really crappy crimper I have for crimping female contacts for 0.10" headers.  I could use one of those. - Ed