One of the many great photos from NASA Artemis
April 9, 2026
More on the Sun SST 1500 Scope
April 8, 2026
A lot of this information is still relevant today. We just use different tools but the waveforms and rules remain unchanged. This manual is full of great illustrations.
There’s more pages to this post. See below.
NASA Artemis II
April 8, 2026
The images coming from Artemis II are incredible.
The lengths NASA go to for the best screensavers is admirable.
Sun SST 1500 Digital Oscilloscope(Snap-on EEOS104A)
April 7, 2026
This made its way into my workshop today. Looking forward to using and posting more about this.
Jake’s 540z Tire Air
April 7, 2026
Tools found in an old toolbox
March 30, 2026
I bought an old Simmonds machinist tool chest in a reclamation yard recently and it had a couple of tools in it I’m trying to identify.
Google and Chat GPT haven’t been successful in identifying them precisely.
The first tool: A pliers
This was stamped: AUTOCRAFT TOOL CO. STAMFORD CONN.
Chat GPT’s best guess was a wire crimping tool for wire fencing repair. It also suggests it has a wire cutting part near the pivot point but I don’t see that.
My guess is it’s a former or a tool for holding round stick without damaging it. Another tool that was in the box looks like a seam former for sheet metal, so that would tie into that.
Seam former?
This looks like a tool for shaping a seam into the edge of sheet metal. The handle end is chisel like, so it looks like it’s used with a hammer to form a shape on the edge of metal sheeting to match it to a seam or another panel.
I’m open to ideas and I’ll continue to check what these tools are.
Never give them an opening
March 27, 2026
I was having trouble with my mobile service, so I called my provider.
I foolishly, because I was trying not to be a jerk, started the conversation with “I’m not sure if it’s my phone but ….”
For the whole conversation he just kept going back to that, when I would explain my issue to him he’d refer to my phone. Didn’t matter now what I said he would refer to my phone.
I came away actually thinking there might be something wrong with my phone.
Later that morning service returned as normal. And then today I get an email saying there were service issues yesterday and please accept their apologies. Thanks.
I still have the same phone!
From Filing Cabinets to Scan Tools: How technology changed my job.
March 26, 2026
Technology has changed my job quite a bit and in my opinion for the better.
That’s not to say everything is perfect. DEF systems spring to mind straight away. But if you zoom out and look at the bigger picture, the positives far outweigh the negatives.
Now I can plug into a car and read live data from a system to get clues in the form of codes on a screen that gives me direction to fix the fault.
Technology can’t tell me exactly what to fix or how to fix it, you still need to have skills and think about issues.
Also getting information and data necessary to repair cars is much easier now, it’s on the Internet. Yes you have to pay subscriptions for it, but it’s still a huge improvement over how it used to be. I remember having filing cabinets full of data books, constantly going out of date.
Even going to get parts has been made better by technology. Now you go into the parts store with a registration or VIN number and they can look up any part you need. I remember having to get multiples of the same part because it was impossible to figure out which was the correct one.
It was inefficient, frustrating, and completely normal at the time.
So while there are downsides to modern vehicle technology, overall it’s made the job faster, more accurate, and in many ways more interesting.
You just have to keep up.
I caved and bought an ICON ratchet too
March 25, 2026
To go with the 10 mm sockets I bought at Harbor Freight I bought an ICON 3/8 drive ratchet that was on special.
First impressions are good. It looks the part and feels good on the hand.
I’ve a few jobs to do over the next while and I plan on putting them to use and see if they live up to the hype.
This is not the G2 ratchet that’s all over social media this is the low profile head 90 tooth ratchet with a 4° arc swing. It also comes with soft handle but I prefer the full metal chrome design.
Will report back soon on the performance of all items.
Saying no is strategy not a negative
March 25, 2026
Daily writing prompt
How often do you say “no” to things that would interfere with your goals?
I have a real problem saying no. I rarely do it, and it gets me in a bind sometimes.
But going forward as soon as I’m set up again I will be saying no more often. There’ll be a strategy to it but it’s something I have to do for my sake and for the sake of my clients.
The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.
Warren Buffett
Automotive Telepathy
March 24, 2026
Being able to diagnose a car over the phone. Now that’s a skill I’d love to have.
The amount of times I’ve had people call me and ask to tell them what could be wrong with their car just because the check engine light is on.
Or hold their phone to the engine to ask can I hear something, unfortunately all you can really hear is the wind.
But never fear, the technology does now exist to make this kind of scenario possible. So very soon it will be commonplace.
Changes like the weather
March 23, 2026
Warm weather and working on cars doesn’t really mix, but warm weather and driving them works well.
So somewhere in between.
But mood changes that opinion too.
The ICON socket comparison
March 21, 2026
I just got my first ICON socket as a free gift from Harbor Freight. If you spend $34.99 or more you had a choice of one of three free gifts. I chose the 10 mm socket set, a deep and a standard in both 1/4 and 3/8 drive.
The 10 mm socket pack is a play on the old mechanic story of always losing or finding a 10 mm socket
My sockets are mostly Snap-On so I was curious to see an ICON because of all the hype around this Harbor Freight brand. If you watch any YouTube car repair stuff you’ve definitely seen some of the creators use these tools and say they are equal quality to the high-end brands.
To put it in perspective this set is normally $9.99 and that’s for four pieces. I don’t think you’d get the 3/8 drive deep Snap-On on its own for that. At the time of writing this it’s just over $30.
First impressions are that this socket is an exact copy of the Snap-On. It feels the same, has extremely similar markings and its size is the same in every way – such as wall thickness etc obviously the size of being 10 mm is the same – it really feels like they went out of their way to make this a copy.
At this stage I’ve used it a couple of times but it’ll take a lot more use to say if the quality of the known brand is there.
Considering my oldest Snap-On 10 mm socket is almost 30 years old and still works well it won’t be a like-for-like comparison but I’ll see in a year or so if it’s still doing the daily grind.
Compliments: A Reflex, Not a Tactic
March 18, 2026
I feel I give more compliments than I receive. That’s not a cry for attention or an invitation for them. I just feel some people will give them and others won’t; I do it without thinking about it if the situation warrants.
Especially in business if I find someone who I’m drawn to because I feel they’re like minded I will always comment on their work or brand.
As I said I do so without thinking, it’s not a tactic – It’s just me.
Because I tend to give compliments on quality workmanship the best compliments I’ve received have always been to do with my work and the services I provide.
What mode of transport are you taking?
March 17, 2026
Daily writing prompt
You’re going on a cross-country trip. Airplane, train, bus, car, or bike?
I’m definitely going to choose the car.
Even if the distance is in Plane or Train territory I’m still choosing the car. I know it’s possibly the unpopular choice for many reasons but it’s in my control.