Agreed! My set-up is the Klein Tools premium meter electrical test kit, model # CL220VP. It covers everything! Well realistically 98%. But everything one of us would use such a kit for.
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Totally worth getting a multimeter. Worth springing for auto ranging and ideally auto shutdown (when it gets left on by accident, the batteries do not drain to rubbish).
Not only for checking voltage, checking continuity (is a bulb/emitter/wire/switch completing the circuit?) can really help find solutions.
Not only for checking voltage, checking continuity (is a bulb/emitter/wire/switch completing the circuit?) can really help find solutions.
Being able to use a NiMh battery is certainly preferable for some of us.
PhotonWrangler
Flashaholic
Yes. Auto-ranging and true RMS if possible. I have one meter that can also check transistors and capacitors.
Also a non-contact voltage detector is a must of you're working around live power circuits. They're inexpensive and readily available. If possible, spring for a better one with adjustable sensitivity.
Hooked on Fenix
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Now that's a knife. KA-BAR/Becker makes good large knives. I have their 7" USMC knife. It isn't full tang like the BK9, but it's big and tough enough. If I need something tougher than a Kabar, I'll invest in a Busse knife with INFI steel. For larger, I usually go with my Camillus Carnivore X 12 inch Machete.
For lightweight backpacking knives (let's face it, you aren't going to lug around a big heavy knife everywhere), Mora knives are decent fixed blade knives. Companion knife is cheap, but sharp. Bushcraft Survival knife gives a carbon steel blade, a firesteel, and a Diamond sharpener on the sheath. If you want full tang knives, they start at around $170. I've got a Light My Fire Knife which is a Mora Knife with a Light My Fire firesteel that comes out of the handle and uses the back of the blade as a striker (not dulling the blade). Hard to find many other knives as sharp out of the box.
The largest knife I always have on hand when I take a hike is my Cold Steel Survival Edge knife. It weighs 5.7 ounces with firesteel and survival kit in handle and a 5 inch blade. Has a couple holes in the blade guard for making it into a spear. A trekking pole through one hole and a wrap of duct tape and you have a decent defense against a large 4 legged predator in your camp with this knife.
The handle on the Carnivore is very comfortable, my son has one and I think that it is lighter than my Ontario Knife Company SP8
I also have a Morakniv Companion. I agree that it is very sharp. I am a little uncomfortable using it though because the tip is so sharp and pointy, and although I have never done it, I'm afraid that I am going to jab my finger with it.
I don't know why, maybe its because it has a drop point? But I don't know... I don't have a problem with my Buck 110.
I have cutlery I'm afreaid to use for that reason. But man are those cermamic blades good at slicing a turkey.
Hooked on Fenix
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Most ceramic knives are very expensive. They can't be sharpened. I get the ones from Harbor Freight and stick to cutting meat, fruit, and veggies with them. They hold their razor edge for a long time with that type of use.
Like so many things, especially with stuff that can kill you (like an unplanned electrical path going through your heart) never trust fully. Sensor batteries can become weak and useless, sensitivity adjustments can result in false negatives.
Best to absolutely know open circuits before working on them, but for troubleshooting, and getting a general idea, volt sensors are so handy.
Yes, and it's arguably perhaps the best in its category as well. Fluke 87V Max. Uses 3xAA.
Fluke 87V MAX True-RMS Digital Multimeter
The Fluke 87V MAX multimeter contains all the trusted features of the popular 87V, plus IP67 Withstands drops up to 4-meters (13 feet) with industrial strength casing and holster and more.
www.fluke.com
The 289 uses 6xAA as well.
For shorter knives, I like my Cold Steel SRK with the 6" blade. (Actual military standard issue to all Navy seal recruits during training). Sheath is serviceable. Technically full-tang. Ontario 12" Machete. Classic, gets the job done.
For Bushcraft, I do like the Condor Tool & Knife Bushlore model. Just under 4.5" blade. Not too expensive. Gets the job done. Some folks hate on it. But I've found it's a good knife. For a shorter overall blade for hiking, my ESEE 3 or ESEE 4 are the two knives that get the nod for that. Though I'm glad I bought my TOPS Knives C.A.T. model years ago before the price jump.
PhotonWrangler
Flashaholic
Oh yes. I keep a bottle of this at home and another bottle at work.
Hooked on Fenix
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If you want something for bushcraft, a Pocket Chainsaw helps (the original with a 28" blade). Don't get the others with shorter blades. They suck. A Pocket Chainsaw will be much lighter and safer to use than a large knife for cutting wood.
For folding knives, I like my Spiderco Native 3 with VG-10 steel for hiking. Got it years ago when it was only $60. For general use, I use a Milwaukee Hardline 3 inch Knife. Blade is D2 tool steel. That's the steel they use to cut steel while pressing it into blanks for making lesser quality knives. Hard to find another D2 steel knife under $100. Got mine free with buying a 12 volt 800 lumen Aluminum Milwaukee flashlight. Now sharpening these knives is expensive. Had to get a Spyderco Sharpmaker which was $80 back when I got it.
scalpel_ninja
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Ontario Rat 2 D2 (R2D2)
Kershaw Cryo D2
Civivi Elementum D2
QSP Penguin D2
Ka Bar Dozier D2
…and a myriad of other D2 knives. I would venture to say paying over $100 for D2 knife would be difficult and unwise.
Hooked on Fenix
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Looks like times have changed a bit since I got my Milwaukee knife maybe 7-8 years ago. D2 is hard to sharpen well so back then it was more used in knives by Benchmade, Chris Reeve, Spyderco, etc. Many were $200+. The Milwaukee was the first one back then under $100. It was around $80. Nice to see the price has dropped. Some of my knives have about doubled in price. Bought a Buck Knife Special model 119 from Walmart for $40 years ago. Now they want $75 for it. Gave my sister a pink Spyderco Native with S30V steel I got for $60. Same knife goes for $140, but is discontinued. Newer version that's available costs $194. My Leatherman Surge I paid $80 for now costs $140 for the new version.
scalpel_ninja
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Nowadays "super steels" are more easily attainable. The newfangled Magnacut is being used in knives from the mid to high price range knives. The current Sebenzas tout this steel, but they cost over $400.
However, the Hogue Deka is an excellent knife that also has this steel, can be had in either wharncliffe or drop point variants, and uses the same lock as Benchmade. Also made in USA; all for $140 new or could be found for a bit less on the secondary market.
Jean-Luc Descarte
Enlightened
Cushioned insoles. In my experience, there hasn't been a single pair of shoes that hurt my feet that haven't been fixed by switching their stock insoles to these. Especially boots.
I have a new pair of work boots that used to cause me pain if I walked on them for more than a kilometer, but were otherwise good; after I added a pair of silicone insoles to them, they rival sneakers in sheer comfort, even in days when I stand around for hours upon hours or walk considerable distances. The one caveat was that I had to break them in further, as I added the silicone ones under the stock pair, but that wasn't horrible or anything.
Mind, they won't rescue a bad shoe, they'll only make a decent but unfitting shoe better.
I have a new pair of work boots that used to cause me pain if I walked on them for more than a kilometer, but were otherwise good; after I added a pair of silicone insoles to them, they rival sneakers in sheer comfort, even in days when I stand around for hours upon hours or walk considerable distances. The one caveat was that I had to break them in further, as I added the silicone ones under the stock pair, but that wasn't horrible or anything.
Mind, they won't rescue a bad shoe, they'll only make a decent but unfitting shoe better.
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Something is WAY the Hell wrong!
Let me explain. For decades, D2 was a premium Tool Steel.
Very few production knives used it. Same for Custom Knife-makers.
You wanted D2 up until fairly recently, you bought a Bob Dozier knife.
Worked extensively and exclusively with D2.
Short hunting knife, right around $160.... back in 1993!!!
So, I know the price has gone up on one of his customs.
Fast forward to about 3 years ago? Maybe less?
NOW, it's common as dirt! D2 magically became a budget steel.
HUH?!?! How?! How is that remotely possible? Practically overnight.
One shill on YouTube answered me by saying, "Advances in metallurgy techniques."
Yeah, that's BS! Did we have the equivalent of a 2nd industrial revolution where creating expensive steel became cheaper than dirt? Hell no. What we have is reject D2 that some factory in China was able to somehow make into barely serviceable knives. I have a couple of Bob Dozier's D2 customs from back in the day. Comparing the real thing to the modern budget thing, not even close. The modern stuff has a tendency to snap like glass. Too brittle. That doesn't happen with older, premium D2. But nowadays, there's no distinction. Just as hard to resharpen as older D2, but a lot more brittle. Heck, YouTube currently buzzing over the $10 Wal-Mart knife made out of D2. Yeah, $10, and folks genuinely believe they're getting real D2.
I mean, imagine if GM released a brand new Corvette model. MSRP $5,000. They claimed it was just as good as the previous year's model. Nothing missing. Fully complete Corvette. Brand new, only $5K. Just as fast 0-60mph. as the previous model was. Come get you one! Meanwhile, every knowledgeable car guy would say "Something is WAY the Hell wrong!"
