December 2025 Tool Box Challenge

[Humayd A R Mahomedy]

   I started thinking about how good some biscuits would be on a cold day like today.  Next thing I knew, there were some in the oven.  Evidently the biscuit baking center of my 40 Watt brain took over guidance of necessary body functions.  Turned out that I had more dough than pan, so I had to squoze some in there.  They came out fine anyway.  Full disclosure.  No multi-tools were used in the preparation of this bakery item. 
Best wishes.  G
 
  [ Quoting of attachment images from other messages is not allowed ]

Those look similar to what we call scones here.

Not really. Alcohol is less volatile; lighter fluid is closer to petrol. In fact I have used plain old automotive petrol in my Zippos. I've made alcohol work too, but it has to be warm.

Alcohol is good for burning in a small can, for cooking or heating water. Lighter fluid or petrol burns way too fast for that.

Thanks for that info WECSOG.
I made a "hobo" stove some years back,ran it with methylated spirits (which I've just googled is basically denaured alcohol with some additives to prevent consumption. I think there is a "clear" version with less additives,guess we've been using denatured alcohol all along  ).

Day 10
I missed the mini challenge,today's post will be in the spirit of that challenge.
I got into knives, shooting and knifemaking through my father,who had an interest in knives from his youth. My grandfather was not of a similar mindset and did not allow my father to own or carry knives.
When my father decided to get into guns,as he was paying for his first (a 4in colt python which he still has) he bought his first decent knife,a Case Bowie,their reproduction of the V44 Bowie (guess where i get my love for big blades from  ). He probably bought this in 1979,or 1980.
Over the last few years,my father gave me most of his old knives,and this was 1 of them (i took this pic a few days ago,intending to enter the mini challenge).
  [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ]  

Some time after that,my father gave me his old gerber drop point folder,1 of his edc's from then,used for years. I know he bought this knife in the early 80's,definitely 1983 or earlier,but I can't recall exactly when. I think I even saved the box,but forgot where I put it.
My father was into Gerber and Almar knives then,and at least 1 Kershaw from that time.
I have those too,2 of which I "spirited away" a few decades ago (my father knew but didn't say anything). Everything in my life is due to my father's support and guidance. We aren't emotional like that,but I'll tell him somehow, someday.
  [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ]  

A friend,and former bowhunting buddy (he had to stop archery due to health issues,and i slowed down around the same time) recently gave me this Gerber Bolt Action folder (i think this was 1 of Blackie Collins' designs). He bought it new back in the day,it's also seen some years of use.
  [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ]  

[WECSOG]

It's a shame Mag Instrument did so poorly adapting to and keeping up with changes in the flashlight world.

I disagree. I have quite a few modern flashlights, and I'm glad Mag still makes their old school lights. For some purposes, 2 D cells powering a PR2 or PR6 works just fine. I have a few 2D Mags in various locations for those purposes.
And, the Maglite in the photo is an ML50L (LED) that uses 3 C cells and will put out over 700 lumens for over 9 hours on high, around 100 lumens for a couple of days, or 20 lumens for 184 hours. 20 lumens is enough to read by, or it can light a room well enough to safely walk through during a power outage. For over a week, continuously.
Maglites are also very moddable. In fact I'm thinking about building a 1S2P pack of 21700s for the ML50L, which will give basically the same voltage and greater capacity than 3 alkaline C cells. If I do that I will probably eventually swap the emitter for one with a warmer tint and high CRI. Maybe a different driver, too.
Then of course there are some of the custom incan Maglites that will start fires at close range.
 

[fullbreakfast]

Day 18

Cutting sausage.



I had just used my utility blade, seen lurking at top of shot, to open the packet.

[IMR4198]

Day 18

   Yes, biscuits in the US are like scones.  Might be served with preserves or jelly or by themselves.  Very good split open and covered with gravy made with pepper, country sausage drippings and chunks, and milk browned together in a skillet.  Might just put a slice of ham inside or maybe bacon with a scrambled egg.  Good breakfast. 
    Toddled down to Walmart yestiddy.  Visions of little flashlights dancing in my head.  The store was full of people whose sole purpose seemed to be standing in the way.  Christmastide narcosis.  I forgot about navigating that bunch to the hardware/sporting goods and headed for groceries.  I have been reading how W-Mart is taking out self-checker lanes because of petty purloining, but this store has them.  All jammed.  I got in line and finally headed home.
     No knife gift sets photos like I said I would obtain.  Maybe another day.  I wouldn't have bought anything anyway.  I dropped my last remaining cheapie black flashlight the night before.  I picked it up and it had a bad case of rattles.  Still worked.  I got peeved about losing my other black 2AA light and decided to tear the house down board by board until I found it.  I had already looked at the likely spots where I would have put it.  No go.  What was left?  Look in the places where I know it wasn't.  Bingo.  I found it.  Good as new.  Ahh, good as it was when I lost it anyway.  Between the two of them and my balky Gerber mini, maybe I can get through the winter.  I stopped by Dollar Tree, where nothing is a dollar anymore, and saw some Rayovac Alkaline Fusion AA batteries.  Pack of 4 AAs coat $5.  It would cost $10 to put batteries in a trail camera.  I think I would sell a camera for that much.  I could buy Rayovac Alkaline 4AA for $1 about 3 years ago, and $1.25 last year on sale.  Last ones I bought were smurf. 
     I have been Opinelling for the last few days.  Plain sometimes and blue sometimes.  Here is the blue one with the Gerber 1AA.  Best wishes, G
 
  [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ]  

[ReamerPunch]

Day 18

This WorkPro is good especially for the price. But the black one is much better. This one is a little slippery. If you are thinking of getting one, get the black one.

[IMR4198]

Are the black Workpro pliers less slippery?  Best wishes.  G
 

[ReamerPunch]

The black mini pliers are not slippery at all. The difference is night and day. The black just stay in the hand perfectly. I still like both, but for actually doing things, the black pliers win.

[WECSOG]

Day 18

L-R
A house very near me burned to the ground a couple nights ago. I could see it out my kitchen window. I put batteries in this pocket scanner and used it to monitor the truck-to-truck talkaround frequency.

These little leather pouches ( I have a few of them) are very handy. I thought about emptying one and using it to carry screwdriver bits, before I got the keyring pill bottle. Here it's carrying some home-cast lead No. 4 buckshot that I use in my .22 caliber black powder revolver.

Rough Ryder 1743, large soddy pattern in T10 carbon steel with a liner lock.

[nate j]

Day 18

There’s a lot to unpack with this little Klein multi-bit screwdriver, so let’s jump right in.

One of the major issues with carrying a non-MT screwdriver is that one end tends to be rather pointy and pokey.  This model solves the problem neatly with a sliding shroud (yellow) that protects the business end of the screwdriver when not in use.

I’ve been carrying this tool loose in one of my cargo pockets, but I still appreciate the addition of a pocket clip.

The freely rotating end cap (grey) is another clever feature, while the rubberized portion (black) provides a secure grip given the small size of the tool.

The reversible shaft that allows a choice between shorter for more control (and for storage) or  longer for additional reach is well thought out also.

Two double-ended bits with ball detents are included:  Phillips #0, Phillips #00, flat 1/8”, and flat 3/32”.  Fit and retention seem adequate.

Overall, it’s a well-designed little tool.  It’s very suited to pocket carry due to its small size, light weight, pocket clip, and tip protection shroud.

The only negative, in my view, is lack of bits for some larger common size screws, e.g. Phillips #1, Phillips #2, 1/4” flat.

[IMR4198]

MINI CHALLENGE TOMORROW
 
See Fullbreakfast's rules for his challenge.  Let's see who can answer this one.  Best wishes.  Gary
 

[ReamerPunch]

Day 19

Kinda early but it is 8am here.
Mini challenge: Plier Wrench to open sealed pistachios. 

[Farmer X]

I disagree.

You made some good counterpoints there. I can add another: it's much easier (as far as I can tell, anyway) to replace a burned-out incandescent buld than it is a dead LED. I'll have to see what sort of Mag-Lite mods are out there.

Cutting sausage.

That looks good!

There’s a lot to unpack with this little Klein multi-bit screwdriver...

I like that one!

Plier Wrench to open sealed pistachios.

Day 18

Here's a set of four tweezers. Mrs. FX bought them, undoubtedly from the Big River Store. The one at the top of the photo has been used to assist in applying those pesky adhesive labels to Lego bricks. I will say that, in my opinion, they don't work as well as SAK tweezers for grooming needs.

  [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ]  

[cody6268]

Welp, I left my phone at Wing Stop on the 16th; so I'm a day short it looks like.

Day 16 :

In the process of looking for my phone, I finally found my 125mm Pliers Wrench. The Snap-On mini prybar was NOT in the same place under the seat as it was last time I lost it.

  [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ]  

[cody6268]

Day 17:

The dryer died for the third and final time.  My grandmother insisted the last two times on calling a place that Lowe's often recommends, but has a reputation for ripping people off (they also use generic Amazon knockoff parts and charge OEM prices). She paid as much to buy a new washer when it didn't work long afterwards.

Used my Hyper Tough "3-in-1" drill (basically an installation driver) to take it apart.

Before a new one is bought, I'm gonna try a new thermal fuse. I suspect the knockoff heating element or thermostat they used was what failed again. The thermal fuse is the only thing I've tested, and it's blown.

  [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ]  

[LoopCutter]

Day 18

My kit at end of the day.
  [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ]