What's your best tool purchase ?

> My 4" Record bench vice. I bought it when I was 14 for 10/- (50p) in 1962

I can beat that, my Record No. 3 was free from the recycling centre, just needed a broken pin in the screw replacing IIRC. Could do with a shim where the moving part passes through the body, to be honest.

Neil

My best buy was my Mk1 Myford Super Seven bought in 1987 made in 57.It has been a joy to use and after a regrind

in 2005 is as accurate as new.I have a large bore Myford I bought at the Myford sale but don,t get the pleasure of using it as much as the old girl.My worst buy was a set of taps and dies ,the die wouldn't cut brass .Cheap.

Frank

So many brilliant tools its hard to list, unfortunately most cost. Off top of my head Kennametal threading tools, Ceratizit drill/turn/bore, Iscar Do Grip DGTR, Dewalt repo saw awesome, English old files and hacksaw blades.

Likewise so many bad experiences with tools I cannot also list but what springs to mind are:- Nutool beefy bench drill, Mini lathe, Glanze tools, unbranded drills, B&Q branded linisher and repo saw.

I suppose my best tool purchase was the M & W and eclipse tools bought during my apprenticeship, and for a while afterwards, at 5 shillings a week, 1958 to 1964 my toolmakers cabinet was the most expensive at 147 shillings,the price was marked on it in pencil and its still there,it took over half a year saving.though there was some discount. When I had a bit of cash saved in the club and lived and breathed motor cycles I got my employer to get me a bench vise the same as we used every day at work,it was a Parkson as big as a record 6 inch but with narrower jaws ,nice vice to work with and I still use it every day.

I suppose one of my best bargains was the workshop compressor, 100L tank and a twin cylinder westinghouse compressor unit, needed a rewire and the pressure switch replacing, but it cost me £3, from the local recycling centre, in the days when they would still let you take electrical items.

One of my best tools is a Facom multi grip wrench (like mole grips on steriods) cost me £25 back in 1981 and still using them today along with a set of Stanley screwdrvers, bought in 1979 when I started my apprenticeship and still going strong.

Best Purchase ?

Perhaps not strictly the best, but I have some simple quality tools bought second hand, that I really enjoy using.

First to spring to mind is an eclipse tap wrench. Honest, quality tool that has the edges worn smooth through (I like to think) hours of useful past work.

Worst ? Yep, I agree, cheap, bargain tools that break first outing and have been replaced. I tend not to get "duped" like that nowadays !

(brilliant topic Peter, by the way)

Cheers - Will

A good quality 1/4" drive socket set with ratchet, extension bars, deep sockets, uni joint etc etc.

It gets into places on motorbikes and cars that simply would not be possible otherwise.

Couldn't live without it now.

Dremel plus accessories, never gets put away

Longest lived despite being well used: Elora socket set purchased in 1966 and still nothing has broken.

Best value for money: Edgar lathe bought in 1971 for £50, or was it the Atlas that replaced it five years later and is still in use despite a more recent lathe that has come and gone.

Russell.

Agree with Russell re. longest-lived (Elora) plus an ORIGINAL Workmate (NOT B&D) also around then. An oddball from the same sort of period - Tridon Multi Clips. These were first bought from Proops at the Seymour Hall MEX - 50p for a pair. After much searching, I recently found the present vendor who sells them at close to £3.00 each!!! with a minimum quantity of 1000!! Difficult to describe but they are heavy duty plastic, operate like jubilee clips but can be joined to make any diameter and IMMENSELY strong. Have used them for all sorts of odd jobs, even securing ladders to scaffolding. Shame they are not more easily available.

rgds

Bill

PS - I didn't buy 1000 - negotiated for 36!!

First, a Christmas present when I left school to join the RNZAF, 6" engineers square, 6" steel rule, 6" inside, outside spring calipers, and dividers, odd legs. All Moore & Wright. Then when I started my (civil)Aircraft apprenticeship, the firm payed for three socket sets, they are 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" SAE by S-K Wayne, still going strong after 50years, I'd hate to think of the price of the socket sets today.

Ian S C