Nothing like raising the thread from the Dead...
Couple of thoughts:
- Instead of the black grinding/cutoff wheels, I now recommend the cutoff/grinding discs from Bad Dog Tools. Been using these for ~ 1.5 yrs now. Be forwarned: these things are "Ohh, hot mama!, expensive" , but they have a lifetime warranty(I've already had a 4.5" disc done by them, because it had a slight concave-shape done to it, due to mounting in the grinder wasn't perfect, by me. Guy, at his insistence, replaced "just in case" w/o any unhappiness/complaint. & a friend made me a proper adaptor so now it sits/spins correctly, as their adaptor didn't fit my grinder.). The other thing is, these things are *highly* aggressive, & will rip the grinder outta your grip iffen you aren't careful/cautious & don't have a death grip on that grinder! But they absolutely rock for rough cutting/grinding welds & as a cutoff wheel. They have the diamond(or something)-grit on both sides of the disc & the outer edge. Made in a number of sizes. One of the best bennies, other than long-life, is no more blk-dust/grit from the cutting/grinding wheels - you'll still get the metal-dust, but no more blk-snot/burned-resin-taste/blk-grit-everywhere. Yes, I do still have the good fiber-reinforced extra-thin cuttoff zizz wheels for my mini-grinders. All-in-all, *well* worth the money. I got them at the Btt50s w/a slight discount, but these are actually *worth* the cost! Rarity these days. I *may* exchange the 4.5" disc soon or at the next Btt50s, as I've had to cut ~60 brake drums(~20+ cars w/stuck brakes & I want them to roll *now*) & other steel. Still cuts, just slightly less sparks & cutting speed. Will know more in a couple months, as outer edge of disc still has visible diamond(?)dust on it.
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Another thought is on wrenches n sockets. Although retired, I own a lot of Snap-On & Mac. Back then it was 6pt, 12pt, 8pt, etc. Sockets & hand wrenches - in each variety; & in each drive-size. Just before I retired, they came out w/a full line of Spline-Drive. *IF* I was doing this from scratch, or going to be still in it for awhile, I would buy the Spline-Drive 1st, sockets, combo wrenches, etc; then fill as needed if Spline-Drive wasn't available. They work on 6pt, 12pt, Spline, & probably some other stuff. A whole lot less to buy. I did buy some just prior to retirement, so I do value them, just couldn't justify the whole kit-n-caboodle of available stuff. I wish... ;( .
Along w/that goes where/when/etc to purchase. If possible, find someone going to vo-tech mechanical/etc. Snap-on & Mac both offer serious discounts to the students, like 40%+->~65% off. Some tools can be bought multiple times, others only once. The discount is high enough that it almost makes it worth signing up for the classes alone...
, & if you are the student, they offer(did anyways) ridiculously low(er) financing terms. This version of purchasing is cheaper than pawn shops, swap meets, etc; & tools are new. Only other way is buying tools from wife/relatives of deceased mechanics, or retiring/retired mechanics. Lifetime warranties for Snap-on n Mac apply to hand tools & boxes(last I heard), air/electric are vastly different, as are the sub-lines like blue-point/etc. Still good stuff, but do check things out.
Marcus...