Tools I Wish I’d Known About Before

GP NOIR

GP NOIR

Hooked
I’ve been building, fabricating, repairing, modifying aircraft, automobiles and other machines for more decades than I care to admit and I still come across tools I wish I’d known about sooner.

The latest is the handheld induction heater. I’ve known about induction heating metal, a machine shop I worked at use it to hot forge the heads on fasteners made from everything from ordinary steel to exotics like titanium, Greek Ascaloy and Inconel. What I didn’t know is they make a handheld version for removing bolts that need a little persuasion to remove. Some are expensive. Snap On wants almost $1,000 for theirs.

Some more affordable. I ordered this Solary off Amazon for a little over $200, delivered overnight to remove a couple of really stuck bolts in SWAMBO’s Grand Cherokee.
IMG_9293.jpeg
There are several brands, some costing more, some costing less. I’m not recommending this induction heater in particular just induction heaters in general. An induction heater heats metal faster than a MAP torch and keeps the heat localized. It’s a game changer!

Induction heaters can be used to heat metal to a plastic state for bending and forming. I wish I’d known about handheld induction heaters before snapping a few rusty bolts on the frame of my Rubicon!
 
GP NOIR said:
I’ve been building, fabricating, repairing, modifying aircraft, automobiles and other machines for more decades than I care to admit and I still come across tools I wish I’d known about sooner.

The latest is the handheld induction heater. I’ve known about induction heating metal, a machine shop I worked at use it to hot forge the heads on fasteners made from everything from ordinary steel to exotics like titanium, Greek Ascaloy and Inconel. What I didn’t know is they make a handheld version for removing bolts that need a little persuasion to remove. Some are expensive. Snap On wants almost $1,000 for theirs.

Some more affordable. I ordered this Solary off Amazon for a little over $200, delivered overnight to remove a couple of really stuck bolts in SWAMBO’s Grand Cherokee.
View attachment 413823
There are several brands, some costing more, some costing less. I’m not recommending this induction heater in particular just induction heaters in general. An induction heater heats metal faster than a MAP torch and keeps the heat localized. It’s a game changer!

Induction heaters can be used to heat metal to a plastic state for bending and forming. I wish I’d known about handheld induction heaters before snapping a few rusty bolts on the frame of my Rubicon!
Click to expand...

That’s a really cool tool!
Great idea for a thread also.
 
GP NOIR said:
I’ve been building, fabricating, repairing, modifying aircraft, automobiles and other machines for more decades than I care to admit and I still come across tools I wish I’d known about sooner.

The latest is the handheld induction heater. I’ve known about induction heating metal, a machine shop I worked at use it to hot forge the heads on fasteners made from everything from ordinary steel to exotics like titanium, Greek Ascaloy and Inconel. What I didn’t know is they make a handheld version for removing bolts that need a little persuasion to remove. Some are expensive. Snap On wants almost $1,000 for theirs.

Some more affordable. I ordered this Solary off Amazon for a little over $200, delivered overnight to remove a couple of really stuck bolts in SWAMBO’s Grand Cherokee.
View attachment 413823
There are several brands, some costing more, some costing less. I’m not recommending this induction heater in particular just induction heaters in general. An induction heater heats metal faster than a MAP torch and keeps the heat localized. It’s a game changer!

Induction heaters can be used to heat metal to a plastic state for bending and forming. I wish I’d known about handheld induction heaters before snapping a few rusty bolts on the frame of my Rubicon!
Click to expand...

That’s sick. Very cool.
 
GP NOIR said:
I’ve been building, fabricating, repairing, modifying aircraft, automobiles and other machines for more decades than I care to admit and I still come across tools I wish I’d known about sooner.

The latest is the handheld induction heater. I’ve known about induction heating metal, a machine shop I worked at use it to hot forge the heads on fasteners made from everything from ordinary steel to exotics like titanium, Greek Ascaloy and Inconel. What I didn’t know is they make a handheld version for removing bolts that need a little persuasion to remove. Some are expensive. Snap On wants almost $1,000 for theirs.

Some more affordable. I ordered this Solary off Amazon for a little over $200, delivered overnight to remove a couple of really stuck bolts in SWAMBO’s Grand Cherokee.
View attachment 413823
There are several brands, some costing more, some costing less. I’m not recommending this induction heater in particular just induction heaters in general. An induction heater heats metal faster than a MAP torch and keeps the heat localized. It’s a game changer!

Induction heaters can be used to heat metal to a plastic state for bending and forming. I wish I’d known about handheld induction heaters before snapping a few rusty bolts on the frame of my Rubicon!
Click to expand...
I have a buddy that has one of those. Definitely a neat addition to the tool box!
 
That would’ve been nice when I removed the body bolts to install sliders at 800 miles. That factory loctite was a mother to bust loose.

Gonna be a fun thread.👍
 
We've had something similar in the piping biz for several years. For those places where an open flame is a big No-No and you need to solder copper pipe.

www.ridgid.com

RT-100 Electric Soldering Gun | RIDGID Tools

RIDGID's RT-100 Electric Soldering Gun is designed for soft soldering (50/50, 95/5 Alloys) 1/4" - 11/2" Copper Tube. Shop now.
www.ridgid.com www.ridgid.com
 
The first induction heater for automotive repair was the Inductor Series model, invented in 2000 by Tom Gough, the founder and president of Induction Innovations. The first handheld induction heater for automotive repair was the Mini-Ductor MD-600, introduced in 2004.
 
The inner axle side seal press was a real life saver when it came to installing the inner axle seals in the rear. There wasn’t enough room in the housing to swing a hammer and using a loooong pipe through the axle tubes was awkward. That’s when a friend loaned me his side seal press.
IMG_9615.jpeg
Put it in place and turn the nut to press the race into place. I got both installed in less than 15 minutes!
IMG_9612.jpeg

I’d never seen one before! You can bet I’ll be ordering one for myself.
 
I'm probably late to the game on these grease gun couplers but they really are nice. I had a cheap Horrid Fraught set and figured it was good enough but these things are way better.
20250418_114731.jpg
I used to use a 90 fitting to get to the zerks on the top of the controls arms and although possible it was a pain. This lock and lube one just slides on and doesn't leak a drop. 17456224124299208468688650414405.jpg
Plus the coupler comes right off even if you over pressurize it. Five stars would recommend to friends and family.
 
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Spazbyt said:
I'm probably late to the game on these grease gun couplers but they really are nice. I had a cheap Horrid Fraught set and figured it was good enough but these things are way better.
View attachment 424596
I used to use a 90 fitting to get to the zerks on the top of the controls arms and although possible it was a pain. This lock and lube one just slides on and doesn't leak a drop. View attachment 424597
Plus the couplers comes right off even if you over pressurize it. Five stars would recommend to friends and family.
Click to expand...
Nice, I like that a lot!
 
Spazbyt said:
I'm probably late to the game on these grease gun couplers but they really are nice. I had a cheap Horrid Fraught set and figured it was good enough but these things are way better.
View attachment 424596
I used to use a 90 fitting to get to the zerks on the top of the controls arms and although possible it was a pain. This lock and lube one just slides on and doesn't leak a drop. View attachment 424597
Plus the couplers comes right off even if you over pressurize it. Five stars would recommend to friends and family.
Click to expand...
I've got that set.
have had it for some time, worth the investment
 
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