"Matt Brown" (superfastmatt)
10/20/2017 at 10:58 • Filed to: None
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"Matt Brown" (superfastmatt)
10/20/2017 at 10:58 • Filed to: None | 5
| 18 |
I have a $400 multimeter in my toolbox. I’m not sure why, but at some point in the recent past, I decided I needed to measure voltage with an accuracy of less than one-tenth of one percent and current down to ten microamps. Sitting on top of it, is that red multimeter that Harbor Freight occasionally gives away free with any purchase. Guess which one gets used most often?
http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticles/ID/4651/Wrench-Tip-In-Defense-of-Cheap-Tools.aspx
PartyPooper2012
> Matt Brown
10/20/2017 at 11:04 |
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I sometimes need a feature on my multimiter which my current multimeter doesn’t have. I find it so irritating. Why can’t one do everything. I’ll even pay 400 bucks for one.
Also annoying are those short cables. I can’t put the meter where I’d like to and where I can, I cannot reach. DAMN YOU, MULTIMETERS
lone_liberal
> Matt Brown
10/20/2017 at 11:04 |
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In a previous life I was an electronics technician and used all sorts of fancy Fluke and Simpson meters. For my personal use, though, I don’t think I’ve ever spent more than $20 on one.
HammerheadFistpunch
> Matt Brown
10/20/2017 at 11:06 |
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I recently paid a little more for a little nicer multi-meter, reason? Because the last of the 3 cheap ones I had finally broke. As In physically broke in half. In between Hazard fraught and Fapp-off is the middle ground where most tools should live.
Tripper
> Matt Brown
10/20/2017 at 11:09 |
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I’m a big supporter of the beater toolbox. I keep a beater box in each car, then I have a really nice tool bag with all of my really nice tools that will take care of 99% of situations. Everything else goes in/on the workbench.
Funny that it mentions a fancy multi-meter, as that is the best thing that I got out of my short run in auto-tech school.
HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
> Matt Brown
10/20/2017 at 11:15 |
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I don’t miss cheap tools. If it’s something you don’t use often, done spend a bunch of money on it.
Also if you’re just a hobbies like most of us, you don’t need a tool that will last 10 years of day in day out use. You need a tool that will last 5 years of use maybe a couple hours week when you get a chance to to play with your project.
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Tripper
> PartyPooper2012
10/20/2017 at 11:19 |
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+1 on the short leads! I have a kit full of different sized wires with alligator clips on the end because of this.
functionoverfashion
> Tripper
10/20/2017 at 11:20 |
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I love how clean that bench is.
And I do the same, I keep a few cheap tools in each car in a little bag stashed somewhere, all the “good stuff” is in my toolbox at home.
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Tripper
> functionoverfashion
10/20/2017 at 11:25 |
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Thanks. It’s even cleaner now. I’ve added an MDF work surface, and a bunch of storage in the rest of the workshop. I’ve got to finish putting together my router table, and get rid of some furniture that is being stored in there. Then it will be my palace haha.
Deal Killer - Powered by Focus
> Matt Brown
10/20/2017 at 11:26 |
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My tools are the cheapest, as I borrow tools from my dad over the years. As he slims down his tool chest, I’ve expanded my collection of wrenches, ratchets, nuts and bolts. His are typically Craftsman tools, as he was a repairman for a dental supply company for over 30+ years.
E92M3
> Tripper
10/20/2017 at 11:31 |
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I’d be truly embarassed to show you my garage right now.. even my kitchen isn’t this clean.
Urambo Tauro
> Matt Brown
10/20/2017 at 11:31 |
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I have a bad habit of not getting my money’s worth from expensive duplicate tools, as I use the cheaper ones regularly. I have four full sets of combination wrenches (two sets of MM and two sets of SAE). I bought the Craftsman ones first, then put them away as backup wrenches while using cheaper Tekton ones.
It doesn’t make sense, I know. I oughtta be using the Craftsman stuff. I shouldn’t be afraid of them breaking, what with being able to run to the local Sears for free replacements. They’re not even that expensive compared to Snap-On, and they’re the older made in USA ones, too, which means they’re even less likely to break anyway. On top of that, I haven’t even broken (or lost) a Tekton wrench, so why the hell should I be afraid of that happening to a quality Craftsman?
bhtooefr
> Matt Brown
10/20/2017 at 11:52 |
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Hazard Fraught meters and Fluke meters both have their places, really.
My old Fluke 8062A is pretty fantastic for continuity testing, because it’s fast and it beeps when you have continuity. But, I’ve got a couple of the Hazard Fraught ones around, because who cares if the 12.02 V reading you’re getting on a PC power supply is 0.1 V out, it’s still in tolerances.
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Tripper
> E92M3
10/20/2017 at 11:54 |
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Haha I wouldn’t judge, I have a problem. I can’t start a new project until the bench is clean. I’m installing retracting/flip up benches around the border of the room so that I can separate projects that I’m working on in tandem.
Regarding the kitchen, I can’t cook until I’ve cleaned the kitchen and emptied the dishwasher lol.
TheTurbochargedSquirrel
> Matt Brown
10/20/2017 at 12:03 |
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I had one of those CenTech Multimeters once. Went to check a 12V car battery with the 20V range and it detonated like someone had stuck a firecracker in it.
ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
> HammerheadFistpunch
10/20/2017 at 12:11 |
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While cheap tools certainly have their place, many moons ago I bought an auto-ranging Fluke for around $175. That has been probably the best money I ever spent on a tool.
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HammerheadFistpunch
> ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
10/20/2017 at 12:17 |
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buy once cry once.
bison78
> Matt Brown
10/20/2017 at 17:51 |
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Buy the cheap version first, then figure out what you really need.
That’s my approach. Cheap tools are so cheap that you will save money. In many cases, you will find that you don’t need to buy the expensive version, but when you do buy the expensive version, you will know that you needed it.
MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
> Tripper
11/28/2017 at 14:37 |
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Where-as I have multiple projects in various states of completion, a work bench that is half storage, and a garage full of crap my wife needs to decide if she wants or not, and i have various tools laying about wherever they were used last...I’m not very organized