Tool Sets Reviews

There are numerous inexpensive aluminum u-channel bar clamps out there and I figured they were all inexpensive. These are downright CHEAP and I'm not talking about the price only. They twist while clamping and and the screw is so rough it's hard to turn. Lube doesn't really help.

Don't purchase these clamps!

I would agreewith the other comments here. With the exception that my price was only $60! Handles don't turn well. Okay for light work I suppose but I will have to get more substantial clamps and I had hoped I wouldn't. You get what you pay for.

Ok lightweight clamps. Shipment came split three clamps in each box. Had to request second box be shipped. Amazon came through after comparison of box size and weight to short reach set which came six to the box.

I agree with the previous reviewer. The multitude of sizes is terrific - the case is an abomination. Most of the little plastic tabs that hold the keys in place were broken off on arrival. Several more have broken since I started using the set. This makes it impossible to use the case to keep the keys organized. If you purchase this set, plan on devising an alternate means to store the keys.

On the plus side, this is a hex set that contains more sizes than you'll ever need or use. It should take care of any and all mechanical projects you need to work on. Be aware, though, that these hex wrenches do not have the "ball" end.

The worst feature is the plastic box it comes in. Fuller needs to totally rework the design. The tiniest of the wrenches all too quickly and easily fall out with the slightest bump. Once that happens, good luck at trying to figure out what each size is, IF you're able to find them. This hex set with its poorly-designed case will not hold up to the rough treatment that it would receive in any repair shop, and remain intact.

I was rather disappointed in this tool set, as I have a set of Por Grade ratchets that I really like. The sockets and ratchets are ok, the tool chest is ok, but the renches and other tools are sort of a joke. There are a lot better deals for better tools out there.

Don't be fooled boys and girls. if you're looking for some real steel, stainless isn't the way to go, save that for your kitchen-ware. and the back sheath looks damn sexy, but try pulling anything longer than a few inches out of one and you're bound to get stuck. unless you can pull straight up without moving your hand forward for the entire length of the blade then there'll be some dificulties in attaining that "easy access" they promise.

These are far, far from "ready for use" as described above. The cutting edges look like they were made by someone who really didn't care. These will take a lot longer than planned for refinishing before use. I thought "Made in Sheffield England" was supposed to be a statement of quality. I think they should start taking lessons from the Chinese. I also ordered separate 1 1/4" and 1 1/2" chisels which were even worse, with both having a chip on the cutting edge. I'll be reviewing those separately and rating them even lower.

This set is packaged in a flimsy lightweight cardboard box with 3 equally flimsy cardboard dividers between the 6 chisels. It is a joke. The chisel handles were all a little roughed-up, but no damage to the cutting edges.

While the cost of shipping was greater than the cost of the product, the wrenches themselves didn't have enough material to make the wrench comfortable in your hand. In any situation when you need to really torque the wrench, you find your hand in immense pain.

The wrenches aren't bad, but they're not the best. For a few more dollars, step up to some that have a wider handle to save your hands.

Let me preface this review by saying that I'm a novice woodworker with very low standards. In buying this set, I expected to get a basic, entry level set of Forstner bits.

Let's start with the good. The set arrived promptly. I ordered on a Saturday afternoon and had them by Tuesday morning. The bits come as pictured in a solid wooden case. The bits are covered in plastic wrap and the cutting heads are protected by a light plastic cap, and were tightly in place within the case.

Now with the bad. The bits were dull. Without exaggeration, it would be difficult to cut skin with any of the edges or points on any of the bits straight out of the box. I have regular spiral and spade drill bits that you might pick up on clearance at Target or Sears and they are infinitely sharper. The bits are poorly milled; the larger bits are saw-toothed and many of the teeth were blunted by 1/8" or more. Many of the bits are slightly lop-sided and/or misshapen. The center cutter on each bit is little more than a square pyramid (think of the shape of the Great Pyramids). This means that the center of the bit ends up basically just pushing wood aside rather than doing any real cutting. The most puzzling thing was that--despite the apparently careful packaging--roughly one third of the bits were badly damaged in addition to the poor workmanship. There were many scratches (not a big deal) and a pile of chips and dents as large as 1/8" in the cutting edges (a very big deal). The only possible explanation I can come up with is that the bits are stored loose in big bins at the warehouse where they bang around a lot before being put into the various sets before shipment.

Update: When I wrote the original review, I hadn't even used the bits, but wanted to warn people of their poor quality. My initial worries were confirmed when I tried them out. Even on dry spruce, the holes were rough and the bits burned wood in no time. As well, there was massive tearout on the bottom of the holes. If you're using these bits, put some scrap wood on the bottom to prevent tearout.

I have to say that I didn't return this set. I use these. After some (extensive) tuning, both of planes sliced thin curls from some wood including oak. I can even say I like the smoothing plane. However, I was a bit disappointed by the block plane.

1. Smoothing plane
This is definitely an OK plane. Has roughly No.4 plane dimension: 9 3/4 inch long sole, 2in wide blade.

It has all the standard adjustment mechanisms: Blade adjustment knob, blade lateral adjustment lever, and frog adjustment screw. Though I haven't bothered to adjust the frog, blade adjustments worked as they should.

I had to make the sole flat on a sheet of sandpaper on a glass plate, but anyway this is not unusual for any plane. The blade came with rough grind mark on the bevel, but again this is not unusual for a cheap tool. After taking some time to hone, it became razor sharp. I tried it on ceder (including knot) and white oak, and it performed respectably.

The blade thickness is exactly 2mm, i.e. roughly 5/64 in. Looks thin, but probably it's OK.

2. Low angle block plane.
A bit disappointed.

It has 6in sole and 1 13/32 blade. It has a lateral adjustment lever as well as a brass adjustment knob. The mouth is also adjustable.

The blade is surprisingly thin (only 0.055in or 1.4mm), and I can easily flex it by my hands. Not a good sign.

Unlike some of other similar planes, it doesn't have any flat surface against which the blade can rest securely. The blade is pressed against the edge of the mouth opening of the sole and the highest point of the sliding seat used for the adjustment.

The upper edge of the mouth opening against which the blade is pressed was roughly and unevenly ground. I had to spend more than two hours to sand this part flat by using a piece of wet-and-dry paper attached to the blade using double side sticky. Even after this, I feel the blade is not as stable as it should be.

The moving part of the sole seems as if it was stamped rather than machined. Only the bottom of this part was ground flat, but the sliding edge seems to be left rough (and round, thus my suspicion about having been stamped). I had to file off some high points and then use fine paper to make it flat. Then it took some time to lap the sole together with moving part. Despite all these, lateral fit of the moving part was not that bad.

I have to say that it performed, though. After taking hours (yes it took hours) for all of these adjustments and honing the blade sharp, this plane sliced wood. I tried white oak endgrain and it worked.

3. Other things
The wooden box looks nice, but is of poor quality. The bottom plate is made of some soft wood veneer, and it seems that they cannot hold the weight of the planes. The bottom plate of my box is already coming off. I prefer sturdy plastic box (or no box at all, preferably with cheaper price).

Effective turning tools need length and weight as well as sharp steel. Small chisels may look right when you are making small things on a small lathe, but they will actually make the work harder. Your hands will have to do too much of the work that the leverage of a larger tool would do for you. This is true even if you've bought a lathe as limited as the Jet pen lathe.

A quarter inch gouge may be alright for beading, but most of the work a gouge does in pen turning is roughing out a shape, and a 3/8 or 1/2 gouge will make the work go much faster. The skew is the most important tool you will use, and half inch skews have a problem - they will catch more often than the larger edge of a full size skew. I use a 3/4 inch skew for pen making, ground to a slight curve.

All of these tools work well, but they are very limited and not particularly cheap. If you are going to do anything else besides pen turning you will need full sized tools anyway, so you should putting the cost of this set into buying the best chisels you can afford. In the long run you will save money and get better results.

I received this order a couple of weeks back.

This is a two sided 1 PIECE Metric Flip impact socket NOT a "2 Piece 1/2" Drive Metric Flip Impact Automotive Socket Set". I guess that's where the "Flip" comes into play. The 1/2" drive is recessed in the middle of the socket. I think you need an extension to use the bit as the 1/2" drive is in the middle. You can't directly hook up to a standard impact wrench without an extension to the 1/2" drive.

I don't know why they called this a socket set, because all I received was one socket and nothing else.


I wish they would clear this up in the title and the picture listed for this item.

I gave it two stars for this reason, as far as durability, use, etc... I have not had the chance to use this socket.