Zaphod and Colonel you guys crack me up! I had to read your stuff aloud to my wife.

I'm of the opinion that if I ever need to do something more than once in my life to just buy the tool. Often it pays for itself in the end and I don't like to have to depend on someone else whether I'm paying for the work or not. Then again I have a tool fetish. I do like my cheap tools and HF knockoffs. If I can make a tool myself rather than buying one that is even better.

Lately I've purchased a Bendix 2-speed Automatic kickback coaster-brake hub. Now WAY I'm going to just put it on any bike without tearing that bad boy apart and seeing what makes it click inside! I need to make myself one of those special cone tools out of either a rod coupling or a 3/8" gas pipe. Wouldn't think of buying the actual tool when I can make my own

Love my home-made $16 cotter press. Just used it yesterday to press out some 50-year old cotters that came out with no fuss after cranking on my socket wrench to just push them out.

Yup -I have a tool fetish and I like the cheap trampy tools just as much as the high-class society tools.