Those who have read Bigsteel know that I
experiment with making my own equipment. I also use and abuse some
tools, like Crescent Wrenches and sledgehammers. Below you will find
some of my favorite picks from Amazon, and for the most part I have picked
the highest quality tools that I am aware of in each of the various
categories.
Channellock 808 8"
Adjustable Wrench with 15/16" Capacity
Well, of course I'd offer Crescent wrenches for sale, and
rest assured that I can test the quality of the wrench "by
hand." I've examined one of these wrenches at the local
hardware store and I am certain that I cannot bend one, so it's
tough enough for the frightener of steel, as opposed to this one:
Perhaps more important than breakability is the quality in the
adjustment screw, and this one is very smooth and precise.
Channellock 812
12" Adjustable Wrench with 1-3/8" Capacity
Here's the 12" version of the wrench above.
Personally, I find I use 8" wrenches more frequently than 12"
crescent wrenches. If you got big nuts this is the way to
go.
I was sufficiently impressed with the quality of the
Channellock brand to also recommend these pliers. Excellent
for grip trainers using the pliers lift (attach weight to a belt and
lift using the pliers).
Finding this micrometer on Amazon was
another happy coincidence since I purchased the identical one (for a
few bucks more) at my local hardware store. I bought it for
measuring gripper springs and steel bar thickness, but if your a
curious person like myself you would be amazed at the things you
will find to measure.
This sledgehammer and the
one below is much higher quality than the ones that I currently use
to lever over my head. It's probably more approiate for
actually hitting things, with the heavy duty handle which looks like
it would last a lifttime.
As I was growing up I saw a lot of these laying
around since my father was a plumber. My father gave me many
of these wrenches, the very same ones I remember from 30 years
ago! And it's not like we treated them well, I remember them
covered with mud many times. Proud to offer this through
Bigsteel.
This looks like a very good buy for the average homeowner,
but don't expect the quality of the higher end wrenches and pliers
from above, considering the price of all these tools and box.
