22 Jul
2008
22 Jul
'08
8:13 a.m.
Non-OT: it always seems to be worth buying a set when
it comes to things like
this and gambling on needing at least one other size at some point down the
line. Individual "specialist" tools always seem to have a huge mark-up...
The other reason is that if you need one size of such a tool, you'll use
it to get the cover off and then find some other size of the same type of
tool is needed to go further. Been there, done that :-)
Trouble is, at least back in the UK, the walk-in stores often only carry the
individual tools; sets have to be ordered online, which is no use when you
Odd... I find the reverse. Plenty of places will sell me a set of
spanners, finding a shop that will sell an idividual spanner is a lot harder.
The problem with ets is that they don't always include every size. Most
UK-sets of inch-size Allen keys do not include 9/64", which is a stnadard
size for a small UNX bold. You'll have 'fun' dismantling an ASR33 or
getting the backplane out of a PDP11/45 without one.
And how many UK spanner sets include 11/32 A/F? An open-ended spanner of
that size is esential for getting the PSU panel out of an HP9810 or 9820.
I did manage to get one from a good local tool shop, it was _very_
expensive, but excellent quality (and worth it to restore an old HP
machine...)
need it right away...
-tony