2025 : Tool Reviews you buy, rent or borrow?

[Crosley.In.AZ]

Bought this Harbor Freight Magnum tape measure. It was $16.00 plus tax. 1.25 inches wide. It is marked on both sides , large numbers for us older folks.

Extend length with out tape  folding is what I wanted. This unit works well on that , when I am on a step stool or ladder while working on this house projects.

It is working well.

I have near 7 tape measures around here and still struggle to find one when needed? 3 in the shop. 1 in the truck. I know where 3 are here in the house.  I see one as I type this while sitting in the living room. 

Same with utility knives. I own like 5 or 6 Stanley 10-788 utility knives. I struggle to keep one near or on me.  LOL   Just a week ago I was whizzed off.  Order a pair of 10-788 knives from Amazon, with a dispenser of 100 blades... Could'nt find my other dispenser around here.

Oh ! Those snap off blade utility knives? There are near 8 here. I buy a package of 2 each visit to Home Depot.. Like 3 buck$ for large and small knife in the package.  Anvil brand as I recall ?

Being organized has never been my strong point.

ok, I have rambled enough here.

 

[chimp koose]

I have one bin shelf in my bolt bin just for tape measures. Seems every time I set one down I have to look for it. Now I just walk to the bin and get another . You would think a yellow or orange tape would jump out and be seen, not so . Each time I see one laying out I put it in the bin , seems to work for me. If I stop what I am doing and look for the lost tape I end up losing my train of thought on what I was supposed to be doing in the first place  . Less frustration this way.

[sirstude]

I screwed my blade dispenser to the door frame right next to my walk in door.  I have 10 or 15 tape measures and still can't find the some times. When I can't find the tapes, it is time to clean the shop.

[idrivejunk]

At a glance, my tool organization strategy is deplorable. But it was developed over decades and I'd go up against anyone in a tool finding race. Bodywork requires relatively few tools.

Big snap knife and blades stay in top box drawer. Tape measures clip to push handle on cart, 25' Stanley on one side and 12' Lufkin with momentary and regular lock on the other. Trigger spray bottle of tap water hangs in between. Big one sits square on floor for checking heights and the little one is good for patch fab on bench.

The safety glasses were the biggest and most recent hurdle. I don't wear regular glasses so didn't have the habit. Realized it is all in the where you set them down at. I now only let them leave my hand into a pint mixing cup in corner of cart top tool heap. They are only either there or over my knee if seated or on top of head if standing. That works amazing when I stick to it and the glasses last much longer and cause less eye strain not being all scratched up.

[chimp koose]

I have my safety glasses in a drawer next to the man door to my shop . I literally have a drawer full of them . put on when I come in , Take off when I leave.

[Crosley.In.AZ]

REcent years I have mostly bought the greenish  and black Stanley brand tape measure .. Easier for me  to find?  Nope.

I was in my shop just a short while ago.  I have 2 greenish and black tapes in there and 1 H-Freight tape in my mechanic roll cart.  I can only find 1 green and black tape ,, plus the H-freight unit in the tool cart.  I have SHOP written on those 2 green and black for a reason.  LOL

Have not found the missing shop tape yet.

 

[58 Yeoman]

Hey, Tony, I have at least 6 tape measures in the shop, I think 4 or 5 in the attached garage, 3 in the tool shed, wife has at least 2 in her potting shed and one in her purse, 2 or 3 in the truck and 1 in the car.  That doesn't count the ones in the basement or the kitchen drawer.  A mixture for sure of brands.

I have two work benches similar to the picture in the shop, one in the tool shed, one in the garage and one in the potting shed.  The belt clips fit right on the front of the drawer,so they're always handy.  Box cutters and scissors are in one of the drawers.

[Crosley.In.AZ]

Found my lost shop tape measure...  Lets say someone else was using it and finally returned it to the shop.

 

[Crosley.In.AZ]

Home Depot had a battery deal with phree (LOL) tool of choice offer a few weeks ago.

We needed a screw gun for sheet rock since I will be hanging a shat load of sheet rock in this house.

A Dewalt brand 4ah and 6ah battery pair offer , I chose the Dewalt screw gun.  It works well since I have learned to use it and adjust the depth setup.  You must learn the eye - hand coordination , plus keep the screw straight too.

The screw bits are sorta basic short bits with a reduced diameter.  Some numbers are PR2 or PH2R phillips style bit.

Since I already own a few Dewalt cordless tools.. This worked well

 

[Crosley.In.AZ]

My large package that was over 70 pounds contained a lift for sheet rock.

It comes pre-assembled in a few sections.  Slips together and apart for easy transport.

We have not used it yet. That will happen soon.  Gonna be interesting.

[58 Yeoman]

Tony, those are the handiest things to have.  When my ex wife and I had our first house built, we did the finishing work inside, including the drywall.  The builder was just starting out and told us that if we bought that drywall lift, he would buy it from us when we were done.  Win-win situation for us.

[Crosley.In.AZ]

Bought this aux propane heater for my work shop. Harbor Freight Bauer brand unit.  The 100 pound propane tank I've had for a few years.  Heater is same design as the salamander kerosene heaters we used years ago. Kerosene out here is crazy expensive

Used the heater for a week now.  Works well. Warms the shop up a good amount.  Its rated at 30 to 60k btu as I recall.  Of course I had a coupon for HF when I bought this heater.

I run propane heater  for an hour or less at a time.  The electric heater that in the shop when we bought this place , I have that set for 50*F to kinda keep the chill off stuff?

[Crosley.In.AZ]

I updated this thread to 2025 year.. Also added to the thread title about tools you may rent , borrow, etc.. Keep the conversation going?

I had a personal rule on tools when I worked in a shop.  If I need to borrow a small tool from a co-worker more than 2 times, I buy that tool for my tool box.

[58 Yeoman]

Keep your eye on the humidity in the shop, Tony.  I had a non-vented propane heater in my last shop and had a lot of humidity in there.  Not good for your tools.

[Crosley.In.AZ]

Keep your eye on the humidity in the shop, Tony.  I had a non-vented propane heater in my last shop and had a lot of humidity in there.  Not good for your tools.

Phil:  yes sir.  I run the propane heater about an hour if I am in the shop long enough.  Which is not often right now. I have small jobs to preform on my car trailer.  Half way thru that.