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jimf909 
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 7455
Location: WA/ID
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 Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 10:30 pm Post subject: Re: Luxury Tools |
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A few weeks ago I was rummaging through my dad's shop to bring home some memories. Here's how he problem solved a split-ring plier tool (child's play for a tool & die maker).
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- Jim
| Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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Crankey
Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2004
Posts: 2656
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| Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2021 6:51 pm Post subject: Re: Luxury Tools |
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Swapping out sheet metal screws for machine screws is pretty de-luxe to me.
Or is it pro-luxe ?
Anyway if you must drill holes to attach things, finishing out the holes with neat and tidy machine threaded inserts sure makes things look official and it's real satisfying. |
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Sodo
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 9600
Location: Western WA
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| Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2021 11:21 am Post subject: Re: Luxury Tools |
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Link
I’m liking this 18v Makita ratchet
_________________
'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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riceye
Samba Member
Joined: March 09, 2006
Posts: 1661
Location: Caledonia, WI
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| Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2021 11:57 am Post subject: Re: Luxury Tools |
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I finally finished replacing all of the cooling system hoses and installed stainless cooling pipes and distribution tower on my '87. This is now my favorite tool. It has interchangeable ends featuring three different spring clamp jaws. It also has a set of jaws for crimping Oetiker clamps. I have not tried that, yet.
The ratchet lock and the length of cable actually makes it easier to set a spring clamp than to tighten a worm drive. While still not the most pleasant job, the tool was worth every cent.
Astro 94093 spring clamp tool
_________________
'87 Westy Weekender - daily driver on salt-free roads
There's gonna be some changes made.
“I find that things usually go well right up until the moment they don't.” - Ahwahnee
"Quality isn't method. It's the goal toward which the method is aimed." - Socrates, later quoted by R.M. Pirsig |
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sanchius
Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2007
Posts: 1450
Location: IN
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| Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2021 5:26 pm Post subject: Re: Luxury Tools |
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| jimf909 wrote: |
| A few weeks ago I was rummaging through my dad's shop to bring home some memories. Here's how he problem solved a split-ring plier tool (child's play for a tool & die maker). |
Funny, I did exactly the same thing last year with a .99c set of Harbor Freight small needle nose pliers when my normal snap-ring plies wouldn't fit on the 2 through-the-water-jacket wrist pin snap rings. It worked great and they've become my preferred SRPs.
Getting back to luxury tools thread, I found this nice Ickler belt sander at a neighborhood garage sale a couple weeks ago for $15 and it followed me home. Amazon has it for almost $700 delivered. Now I'm using it for flattening all kinds of interfaces and cleaning up the surfaces on all those WBX water pipes.
Better yet, I didn't need to find any new horizontal real-estate for it as it fits perfectly on the 25ton press that I found on Craigslist a year or so ago, which I only use a couple times a year. I've since taken out that belt angle between the small front wheel and the table.
It made flattening my concave oil pump cover easy
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The Syncro years (2005-16) - The 2WD years (2017-23) - Westy & WBX rebuild spreadsheet - Sanchius & Tuna: The Video
Your gold star membership keeps this awesome list going! |
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Crankey
Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2004
Posts: 2656
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| Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2021 10:10 am Post subject: Re: Luxury Tools |
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| The press probably helps with a dull sanding belt too. |
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Steve M.
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 6817
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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| Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2021 9:04 am Post subject: Re: Luxury Tools |
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Drill bit sharpener that works.
"Drill Doctor"
https://www.amazon.com/drill-doctor/s?k=drill+doctor
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This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.
There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them. |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32565
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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ragnarhairybreeks
Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2009
Posts: 1890
Location: Sidney B.C. Canada
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| Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2021 12:34 pm Post subject: Re: Luxury Tools |
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Got a good deal on a hazet Assistent 172hd, some VW specific hazet tools included.
Alistair
_________________
'86 7 passenger syncro, converted to westy pop top, project still in progress
'82 westy, diesel converted to gas in '94, now gone...
https://shufti.blog/
Old address still works...
http://shufti.wordpress.com
Last edited by ragnarhairybreeks on Sun Aug 08, 2021 3:35 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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DanHoug
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 4753
Location: Bemidji, MN
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| Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2021 3:34 pm Post subject: Re: Luxury Tools |
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i have a vintage RCA TV service cart.. about a 24" square all steel rolling work table with a bottom shelf. all 4 casters swivel so it rolls and spins easily. one of my most used shop features whether holding a vintage 72lb receiver or a big ol' chunk of Vanagon. put tool cases on it or just loose tools. so handy.
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-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
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Jake de Villiers
Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2007
Posts: 5911
Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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DanHoug
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 4753
Location: Bemidji, MN
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| Posted: Wed May 25, 2022 4:37 pm Post subject: Re: Luxury Tools |
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ECU breakout ... inserted between main plug and ECU to give access to pins/values while running.
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-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
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jimf909
Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014
Posts: 7455
Location: WA/ID
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| Posted: Wed May 25, 2022 9:54 pm Post subject: Re: Luxury Tools |
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^^^ Pretty. Did you make it? The color coded wires suggest no but you appear to be resourceful.
_________________
- Jim
| Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
|
Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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Schnippzle
Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2021
Posts: 288
Location: Swede in London, UK
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2022 3:30 am Post subject: Re: Luxury Tools |
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| sanchius wrote: |
| Absolute genius |
Wow, I wish I'd thought of this a million times before!
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1988 Caravelle - FB25B - Syncro converted
2016 MB E63 AMG S - The daily driver
2019 Harley Davidson FXFBS Fat Bob - The leisure |
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DuncanS
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013
Posts: 4583
Location: New Hampshire
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2022 3:50 am Post subject: Re: Luxury Tools |
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| riceye wrote: |
I finally finished replacing all of the cooling system hoses and installed stainless cooling pipes and distribution tower on my '87. This is now my favorite tool. It has interchangeable ends featuring three different spring clamp jaws. It also has a set of jaws for crimping Oetiker clamps. I have not tried that, yet.
The ratchet lock and the length of cable actually makes it easier to set a spring clamp than to tighten a worm drive. While still not the most pleasant job, the tool was worth every cent.
Astro 94093 spring clamp tool
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I'm just about to do the full coolant line replacement myself. Since you love the tool, then maybe I should get one before I start. But what does it do and why do I want one?
Duncan |
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DanHoug
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 4753
Location: Bemidji, MN
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2022 6:19 am Post subject: Re: Luxury Tools |
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| jimf909 wrote: |
| ^^^ Pretty. Did you make it? The color coded wires suggest no but you appear to be resourceful. |
i bought it off an individual. it appears well made but not really polished enough to be a factory item. dunno.
_________________
-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16496
Location: Brookeville, MD
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2022 8:13 am Post subject: Re: Luxury Tools |
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| DuncanS wrote: |
| riceye wrote: |
It has interchangeable ends featuring three different spring clamp jaws. It also has a set of jaws for crimping Oetiker clamps. I have not tried that, yet.
The ratchet lock and the length of cable actually makes it easier to set a spring clamp than to tighten a worm drive. While still not the most pleasant job, the tool was worth every cent.
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I'm just about to do the full coolant line replacement myself. Since you love the tool, then maybe I should get one before I start. But what does it do and why do I want one?
Duncan |
_________________
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD
"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson
MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646
Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371
The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794 |
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jlrftype7
Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2018
Posts: 3574
Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2022 8:21 am Post subject: Re: Luxury Tools |
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| DuncanS wrote: |
| riceye wrote: |
I finally finished replacing all of the cooling system hoses and installed stainless cooling pipes and distribution tower on my '87. This is now my favorite tool. It has interchangeable ends featuring three different spring clamp jaws. It also has a set of jaws for crimping Oetiker clamps. I have not tried that, yet.
The ratchet lock and the length of cable actually makes it easier to set a spring clamp than to tighten a worm drive. While still not the most pleasant job, the tool was worth every cent.
Astro 94093 spring clamp tool
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I'm just about to do the full coolant line replacement myself. Since you love the tool, then maybe I should get one before I start. But what does it do and why do I want one?
Duncan |
Duncan, these allow a more flexible reach for grabbing Spring Type Hoe Clamps, opening them, and holding them open with a ratchet tooth arrangement usually. With the cable set-up, you have reach and flexibilty with this version of tool compared to the straight plier style Hose Clamp Pliers[ which ARE useful too]
I use this cable plier when a hose clamp is not positioned in a place that my regular hose clamp pliers can reach ,OR, the jaws don't have the room to swing open. With this 90 degree set-up on the end of this tool, you are more compact at the clamps as well once attached to the 'ears' of a clamp.
The different end attachments are to allow a range of spread for small to very large clamps, since the movement needed to squeeze the clamp open differs depending on hose diameter, with each clamp.
They DO eventually break the cables if used in a true day to day work setting, but for DIY or rarely used tool status, you may never break the cable.
Hope this explains it for you.
_________________
'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto |
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valvecovergasket
Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2018
Posts: 1491
Location: pnw
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2022 8:35 am Post subject: Re: Luxury Tools |
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| jimf909 wrote: |
After years of using cheap multi-meters with fixed 18" or 24" leads my world changed when I got decent 60", flexible leads. 20' or longer leads to a clearly visible meter (not one that's awkwardly balanced and will tip over as soon as the leads are moved) is a winner. Assorted clips and fine points have also been a huge step forward for me in getting the leads to what I need to test.
Basic meter, leads, clips, probes, jumpers, test light and continuity tester that have made my never ending electrical misdiagnoses easier to do and nearly luxurious.
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nice kit!
i can add this as a recommendation as well for nerding out with more electrical tools..
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IB4N3YG
so far it seems to be sensitive enough to pick up on quiescent current without needing to unhook the battery and put a meter inline.
and can help diagnose power drop across flakey connections without poking at stuff (recently found a bad splice in a mk1 glow plug harness)
| jlrftype7 wrote: |
They DO eventually break the cables if used in a true day to day work setting, but for DIY or rarely used tool status, you may never break the cable.
Hope this explains it for you. |
on that note, ill add a recommendation for Astro in general, some of their stuff is priced like semi-disposable overseas tools but they do actually sell service parts for them!
we absolutely destroyed the head of one of their rivnut setters, and i was tempted to toss it given the price, but they had all the service parts for it and was able to get it rocking again for a fraction of the price (even considering it was relatively inexpensive) of buying another kit.
_________________
MegaSquirt resource - SpitfireEFI.com
gone, but not forgotten: '83 tdi westy - swap thread |
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DuncanS
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013
Posts: 4583
Location: New Hampshire
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| Posted: Thu May 26, 2022 7:56 pm Post subject: Re: Luxury Tools |
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The ratchet lock and the length of cable actually makes it easier to set a spring clamp than to tighten a worm drive. While still not the most pleasant job, the tool was worth every cent.
Duncan, these allow a more flexible reach for grabbing Spring Type Hose Clamps, opening them, and holding them open with a ratchet tooth arrangement usually. With the cable set-up, you have reach and flexibilty with this version of tool.
I use this cable plier when a hose clamp is not positioned in a place that my regular hose clamp pliers can reach ,OR, the jaws don't have the room to swing open. With this 90 degree set-up on the end of this tool, you are more compact at the clamps as well once attached to the 'ears' of a clamp.
So now the question comes down to what kind of clamp. I--Duncan--always used the expensive 100% 316 stainless worm clamps. With a yellow nut driver they can be tightened every quickly and easily without the tool slipping off. Somehow the idea of a spring clamp where you get what the manufacturer thought was and adequate amount of clamping has always made me nervous. Yes, I know that under the worm screw the clamping force is not even, so on below the waterline hoses on my boats, I always double the clamps and orient the worms to be 180º opposed. Knowing they can't rust seems preferable to me where my DD sees New Hampshire salt half the year.
Thoughts on the delta of these two choices?
Duncan |
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