Show us your tools!

[JeffS7444]

May I ask why the Rigol brand?

When I purchased my Rigol DS1102E, I was influenced by David Jones / EEV Blog. He did a teardown and analysis, and gave it high praise.

Only downside that I'm aware of is relatively short product cycles for affordable DSOs. In my case, I needed to order low-capacity USB sticks because the scope didn't recognize 32 GB or larger, and when I finally decided to try the companion PC software, I had to go on a scavenger hunt to find the last-known versions.

 

[xanalog]

...Only downside that I'm aware of is relatively short product cycles for affordable DSOs.

LoL: My Tektronix TDS410S does not even qualify as a door-stop anymore, and probably won't qualify as a boat-anchor, due to toxic chemicals.

Which one did you find for $400 or above?

Mine was not a trick question.
OWON ADS822A ($670) and OWON ADS812A ($510) are two contenders that come close...

 

[LTig]

The Rigol DHO900 models that are over 200 MHz bandwidth are about double that.

That's a reasonable price though. A few years ago I bought a 200 MHz scope (Siglent SDS 1202X E) for about € 390 but it has 2 channels and 8 bit resolution only, no digital channels and no function generator or frequency counter.

Edit: just seen the Rigol DHO934 with 4 channels and 350 MHz BW for € 975. This is incredible, we payed thousands of € for an analog Tektronix 2465 with 4 channels and 300 MHz BW 30 years ago. And this is not the end: MHO0984 4x800 MHz BW for € 1200. Wow.

 

[xanalog]

...but it has 2 channels and 8 bit resolution only, no digital channels and no function generator or frequency counter.

I think 2 channels are just enough. REW can take care of the SigGen functions in reality.

 

[LTig]

I think 2 channels are just enough. REW can take care of the SigGen functions in reality.

For me: agreed, that's why I chose 2x200 MHz over 4x70 MHz. 200 MHz to make sure I see any unwanted oscillations.

 

[PristineSound]

Sheesh. The internet isn't big enough for me to show you all my tools. Maybe just a taste. I'll list them by category:

Machine tools:
Lathe:

Mill:

Drill press (one of two):

Grinding station (L to R--cleaning and deburring, grinding HSS tools with aluminum oxide wheels, more cleanup, and grinding carbide tools with silicon carbide and diamond wheels):

Cordless tools:

Electronics bench tools:

Watchmaker tools (sorry for the extreme wide angle):

Mechanic tools:
SAE box:

Metric box:

Metrology and main bench (missing the Gerstner box which is now on the bench):

There are also categories for bicycle tools, woodworking tools, musical instrument tools, and categories I've forgotten I own, plus...

...let's just say the internet isn't big enough to show them all.

Rick "happiest when out in the shop" Denney

Holy mother of dragons, that is a huge workshop with LOTS of manly tools!

 

[PristineSound]

I became spoiled with cordless screwguns and drills and eventually purchased Makita cordless versions of all but the largest power tools. It was an expensive transition, but worth it for the convenience. Life without cords is good!

Speaking of cordless, my beef with tools manufacturers over the last 10-15 years is that they turn the battery business model into the printer ink business model.

Batteries costs easily $50 a pop, the "advanced" batteries cost over $100 a pop.

I looked into some of the generic batteries from Amazon, and I have them, but for some tools, they don't work properly.

 

[Somafunk]

I haven't a clue what that tool is specifically made for but here is a tool (in one of my 'collections') that you are welcome to guess its intended purpose/usage!View attachment 505075
ADD: Ooops! Forgot the spoiler: Bicycle disc brake re-alignment/straightening tool.

Easy, disc brake rotor straightening tool

 

[xanalog]

Speaking of cordless, my beef...

...is that when I am ready; those batteries usually are not.
I enjoy and prefer using ummm... tools... w/o batteries... that we have to declare as hand-tools, today.

Rick "happiest when out in the shop" Denney

Your collection is exhaustive... but what is more awesome is the amount of square-footage you have available.
I think you still have plenty of room for a 3D printer, an autoclave and an audio system!

I have to walk sideways in our 2-car garage.

 

[tineared]

Speaking of cordless, my beef with tools manufacturers over the last 10-15 years is that they turn the battery business model into the printer ink business model.

Batteries costs easily $50 a pop, the "advanced" batteries cost over $100 a pop.

I looked into some of the generic batteries from Amazon, and I have them, but for some tools, they don't work properly.

I should have mentioned in my earlier post to never buy aftermarket batteries for your cordless tools.
They are always made from inferior lithium cells and not only do they not hold as much charge as OEM, they don't last very long either.
I have Makita batteries that are over nine years old and have seen a lot of use and are still going strong.
All of my garden tools are Makita LXT as well, including my lawn mower, leaf blower, line trimmer, hedge trimmer, etc. They require two batteries due to the power requirements.
I buy my Makita batteries off of ebay, but you must be very careful who you buy from because counterfeit batteries are the norm, not the exception.
Find a seller with high ratings who sells tools and has been in business for a long time.
With lithium batteries you really do get what you pay for.

 

[rdenney]

I have to walk sideways in our 2-car garage.

I lived with that for decades. Being able to use the table saw required an hour of Rubic’s Cube.

I have the space for a 3D printer, but I have enough time and money sucks at present.

Rick “no room for a surface grinder or a second lathe if heated parking is preserved” Denney

 

[xanalog]

Uze 'awl with your fancy batteries and chargers musta heard about CEENR (gofundme was about a year ago) universal batteries?

CEENR Batteries are third-party power tool batteries designed for universal compatibility across multiple brands, including Milwaukee, Makita, DeWalt, Bosch, and others.

Youtube review peeps were all going gaga-googoo over them...

 

[Somafunk]

I haven't a clue what that tool is specifically made for but here is a tool (in one of my 'collections') that you are welcome to guess its intended purpose/usage!View attachment 505075
ADD: Ooops! Forgot the spoiler: Bicycle disc brake re-alignment/straightening tool.

Forgot to post my disc rotor straightening tool, could only find my “trickstuff” tool in a quick rummage of my box . , I bought a set of the first trickstuff special brakes at stoopid expense (£1k+) back in 2013/14 and was given the titanium rotor tool in the wooden boxed service kit, I also have a nice “Abbey Tools Stu Stick” rotor tool somewhere and a “Unior” rotor tool somewhere in this tool chest or could be in shed boxes?

Here’s a couple of what will be “rather obvious” tools to any cyclist - but these were two of my favourites to use and both used daily in the shop, I thought about some pics of suspension servicing tools, hub tools or even reaming/facing tools but that’d just be dickish.

 

[DonDish]

Just got one of those, they do show up on eBay every now and then, love it. Doesn't take a hold of the thinnest of things, but it helps a lot...

Cheers

View attachment 504805

Is this for glass?

 

[Palmer]

Is this for glass?

Well, one could - but I think it would be of little use. It is a hand held vise - if you have a small part that is hard to hold in your fingers, this helps. It can take a drill bit, and let you drill a hole by hand in a specimen, that would be too small for a drill press. Watchmakers and jewelers use these things, so for me working on Tonearms and Cartridges, amongst other Turntable related things - very helpful.

Cheers

 

[Palmer]

I can take a shot on that one. Pros argue between Rigol and Siglent, and really both are decent and usable. I have the Rigol DHO804, which may be the least expensive 4-channel O-scope that is actually worth buying for serious use. It's priced at a little over $400, but I think the bandwidth is officially only 70 MHz--plenty for what I do. The DHO812 is 100, and 2-channel, for about the same price. 200MHz bandwidth may blow your budget for something new in the box.

I but I find the modern digital storage scopes are menu-intensive and complicated. For most routine measurement, my go-to is an old HP 54622A, but it's also limited to a 100 MHz. (It's also about a dollar or a bit more per MHz of bandwidth, vs. $4 per MHz for something new.)

Rick "on EEVblog, the Siglent fan boys would be here in 3...2...1..." Denney

The older Tektronix are sometimes cropping up - way less than they were, originally. But, like you - simple and quick - I like the old, CRT scope.

 

[xanalog]

The older Tektronix are sometimes cropping up - way less than they were, originally. But, like you - simple and quick - I like the old, CRT scope.

Yes, you can get an old eBay Tektronix CRT scope at good prices... but just because the page states 'confirmed working'...

The opposite is my problem: I stared at those phosphorescent (green) old CRT screens for so many years, that they give me the heebie-jeebies to this day.

 

[xanalog]

Along the lines of @Palmer's nifty handheld vise, here is an another weirdo:

Bet you didn't know it is called a "Yankee screwdriver" but I've used it more for drilling into wood.

 

[Palmer]

Yes, you can get an old eBay Tektronix CRT scope at good prices... but just because the page states 'confirmed working'...

The opposite is my problem: I stared at those phosphorescent (green) old CRT screens for so many years, that they give me the heebie-jeebies to this day.

Not quite - I have a guy here in Sarasota, Florida - he is an old ex-Navy man, who refurbishes - and even upgrades newer Tektronix, and sells them for prices I can't even post here... the scope is digital.
I bought a TDS-540 A that he upgraded to a 560 D, for less than a grand. As to green screen - I worked in a motion picture film lab, we used an old Russian Night vision in the dark end - until I purchased a newer US model Gen2 - glad I didn't get cancer...

 

[xanalog]

A gift from the tool-godz"

I call them/it "aligazers" and you can imagine how useful they/it can be for butter-fingers.