Cold War Era Power Tools vs 1990's vs Today
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- čas přidán 8. 02. 2024
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Air Thor: amzn.to/42tP1nv Milwaukee Impact: amzn.to/4895jTU
Journey with us as we travel back to the 50's & 60's, then jump ahead to the 1990's and today to see how far we've come with power tools, specifically impact wrenches on today's episode.
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As always, the creator of this channel works in product development for Astro Tools, who also make the air Thor impact in this episode, always consider multiple sources when looking at a tool! - Auta a dopravní prostředky
This one was a lot of fun to make. Thank you guys for making doing stuff like this possible. It's not lost on us
I have the same model cleco but with a 3/4 anvil I use as a lugnut gun. Swaps right in with no modification. I still torque wrench everything but it's just so consistent.
Ok
Please throw a classic tool test like this into the rotation here and there. It’s about the same dopamine hit as “How it’s Made” delivered back in the day.
It shows. This is one of your best videos yet :-)
Thank you buddy! This is a fun test.
I have a 70s chrome bullet nose model 875 craftsman that was brand new in the box when I started using it. I used It in a shop for 7-8 years. And it never let me down.
As someone who worked as a mechanic in the 70's and 80's, I can say this. Ingersoll-Rand was a "go to" brand in that era. Were they top of the line? Can't say. But, I bought an impact in 1979 or 80 (can't remember). I still have it and it works just as well as it did all those years ago. I'll have to admit being somewhat envious of you younger guy's access to all these newer tools. No air line, no electric cord; just a battery and tool. Very cool!
Yep you are, but only cos their vids drop Saturday morning New Zealand time 😉
I wonder what kind of jealousy I will have when I'm older looking at the young guys with new tech tools!
its cool, but if your shop has a big enough air tank.. the air tools still have their place. the electric tools over heat in the texas 114F summers.. and the -20c degree canada winters the batteries loose a lot of power. but the compressed air? it's the same...
Nice to see older people appreciate the future instead of falling back on how great things were back in their day
As someone who just got into working on heavy equipment, air is still king. For anything over 3/8 I don't bother with cordless impacts because I'm not spending $1000 on a giant battery tool when a cheaper and more compact air tool does a better job, lasts longer, and can be run all day.
I have a soft spot for vintage tools. If it does a good job, just keep using it. Something fun about being the 2nd or third generation using a particular tool.
Yeap, and they *last* 2 to 3 generations or more.
"Welcome to the Torque Test Channel, founded in 1893"
Wow you've been at this a long time!
1800's algorithm was somethin else I tell ya!
@@TorqueTestChannel Torque's Traveling Tool Testing Exposition
@@PhillyFixedstep right up and get your torque elixir! Made from special coco extract and ethanol
@@TorqueTestChannel this has me wondering how much torque a late 1890's mustache straightener puts out
@@TorqueTestChanneldon’t forget snake oil 😂
The Cleco is the definition of old man strength.
Grandpappy like a mug....
That's seriously cool. I like episodes like this. And remember, those older tools were also designed without computer simulations or any of the other modern design tools we're used to.
Computing was done just not by central processing, motherboards etc...
Mainframes (IBM 360 for example) existed back then but, you had to have some serious work to justify buying them or renting time to use them. They had engineer's cookbooks, draftsmen, slide rules, toolmakers, and established manufacturing processes to help with product development. That and good old-fashioned prototype testing i.e. trial and error.
Also these were American made, back when that actually meant something. You could be in a restaurant eating dinner a few feet away from the guy who inspected your power tool.
That's a major part of why the tools were overbuilt. They didn't have the ability to fine tune each part to be just strong enough for it's intended purpose, and last just long enough for it's expected lifespan
Genuinely upsetting that 1990 is closer to 1960 than we are to 1990
only a 4 years difference... you make it seem like a decade
@@mosasa1307 you can infer whatever you like from what i said. But the fact still stands lol.
1960 seems like a long time before 1990 and 1990 feels like less long ago compared to now. It's really weird. I was born in 1974. The end of the Vietnam War seems like a long time before my birth year but it was only a few years. The pandemic was 4 years ago and that's more than a few years, but it doesn't feel like a long time before now. 😮
I love my "newer" battery tools however the 1970's and 1980's air tools are still going. I just cant see my battery impact still operating in 40 or 50 years. Thankyou for the comparison of the old to the new. cheers from down under.
Depends what it is. All of my dewalts are still running 12 years later. With the original batteries with daily use
You have to love that little Cleco.
Geez that Bauer brings the beans...I didn't expect it to be that good.
It's very bulky! First impact I ever owned and used it quite a bit fixing up an older Corolla. You can get it for $60 at Harbor Freight.
It's a great impact
Harbor Freight's stuff is becoming really good and still maintaining low prices. Good value for the money.
i was always told that air impacts were just way, WAY better than anything else all the way until pretty recently (the late 2000's or so). there is a good reason why pit crews used air impacts lol
They still are better you can do a lot more with air then you can with battery
Battery powered tools are just more convenient and, especially for a diy-er, don’t require you to have a noisy, expensive air compressor sitting in your garage.
You can stall an air tool and the motor part will survive. Stall anything electric and it will burn up.
Air tools are just more practicle and powerful. Also they last longer and are cheaper to buy. I have both electric and air in my garage and air gets used for the heavy work while electric is for the easy stuff
That thor impact is such a beauty. It would looks so good being polished up
Respect to all those OG's. They were the pioneers of the industries. Without them, there won't be any incremental improvements and we won't get all those awesome toys of today.
Been a Diesel mechanic for 23 years. A lot has changed since 2000s. I used to have cordless snap on impacts 2003-2007. Moved on to Dewalt. Jumped to Milwaukee a few years ago. I love em. My 1 inch tire gun kicks ass. I wish I had that in 2001. It would have saved me a lot of sore body parts…
Hey TTC, I would highly suggest you pull the armature out of that vintage Thor and polish the commentator bars (what the carbon brush rub against) that may give that old motor a decent boost in speed. I'd also suggest removing all the old grease and crud from the bearings and adding fresh stuff. I'd love to see what it's capable of, if it's been restored.
I was hoping that they would do a pre and post rebuild test on that old gem. I would love to have one in my tool box. It's beautiful
8:16 That was some sticky looking grease in that thing.
Commentator???
Or commutator?
@@mmarciniak Autocarrot is fun
In all likelihood your Cleco WP-421C was manufactured sometime between 1980 and 1988. It was replaced by the “D” model and discontinued in the early 1990’s. It uses an oil foam bath for lubrication is very different from other comparable impact wrenches.
We asked cleco years ago and they replied 60-70's but we're unsure
that corded electric one was probably used on assembly lines back in the day...75 footpounds is about the torque on most lug nuts on smaller cars today....and that was the max on that gun...they have come a long way
I suspect that's why there hasn't been much 'advancement' from corded impacts, I think they've pretty much fallen into a production role kinda niche. Consumers certainly have little interest in them that's for sure lol, kinda wild that they're still offered as a consumer product TBH.
Am I the only guy that wakes up Friday morning and starts refreshing CZcams looking for the new episode of TTC. Sure I get alerts on my phone, but I still refresh every 15mins on my PC.
Well sir.. We are legion so we TTC otherwise, our weekend can't begin.
I love some scienticious CZcams on a Friday.
Yes
I would recommend a browser extension to auto-refresh if I were you. Any time you check your subs you can be confident it's up to date!
It’s cool to see these old tools and nice to be reminded that there is still innovation and progress overtime from engineers building on previous designs
I'm glad you did the street view. I did too but couldn't find the exact location.
From hub of manufacturing to a covid test parking lot. What different worlds indeed 💀
In the early 1060 when I was 13 and wanting to start woodworking and other things, my father bought me a 3/8” RAM drill to start. Another polished aluminum case which turned grey shortly.. it had a 1.9 amp motor, 1900 rpm, a lock on button and that’s it.
Damn you're 977 years old? What's your secret?
that would make you.. 997 years old this year!! 🤣
@@raoulrr yeah, a bit of a typo there. Obviously, the 1960s. It didn’t catch it.
@@melgross Fix it...
@@m9ovich785 I’ve always felt, having worked with the publishing industry, that fixing errors was cheating. I made the mistake and I’ll live with it. I’m pretty sure that all the smart people out there know it was a typo.
Gotta love old tools, they just last forever. Even the recently old tools. I've got a 25 uear old corded Milwaukee angle grinder that just won't quit
When I was a kid, my dad had some ancient, all metal drill he got from my grandfather. The sparks you could see inside it were awesome. The occasional jolt you’d get from touching it was pretty fun too. It’s ok. I was a kid in the 1970s. Stuff like that could not end us. 😂
I have a Black & Decker drill and jigsaw from the 1950’s, both all metal, both work as new!
I’ve got a Thor drill that was my grandfathers. That thing will break your wrists and not notice.
I've got a 5/8 Black & Decker from the 40's that's similar. It works amazingly, but you're in for a wild ride if the bit gets stuck.
Its fun seeing old tools and yes how well they were built to last. It's sad that everything we buy now is designed to break so they can sell us another one.
My dad has used that Thor electric for 40 year, and I’m pretty sure great grandad bought it new. He finally bought a Snap On at a yard sale last year.
This is one of those awesome channels that have been around for awhile that you just discovered and say WOW!
Welcome aboard!
TY for doing this. I hope you do this again in the future with some more old school tools.
That was a great video!!! I really like the details you went into and the "why". Keep it up. Great job!
This is awesome to see how much you guys listen and interact with your subscribers. Keep up the awesome videos!
I have an ingersoll 212 3/8 impact I bought 30 plus years ago and still use it to bench build transmissions .
I still have a Thor impact driver. It makes funny sparks sometimes but it's never let me down yet
It's crazy how they figured out back then how to make something with that much beans. WW2 to late 60s was such a massive jump.
Incredible editing by the way. Takes hours to edit a video well sheesh.
I really enjoyed this video, especially seeing how each one worked. Keep up the great work.
Always wanted to do something like that! Good one for sure!
P.S. Maybe something along the lines of Eastern vs Western Europen tools at the time of the Iron Curtain.
My dad has a thor impact identical to the one in the video. He finally retired it about 2 years ago when Home Depot had a cordless Makita impact on sale and he decided to buy it.
Now we just need someone to make a cordless version of the 1950s Thor with modern electric motor design. I’ll take a polished aluminum housing over fiber reinforced plastic any day.
Wow your ability to have new content on an otherwise pretty straight forward subject is amazing.Thats for the video
2 minutes in and I was riveted. Seriously. This video is one of the best ever on CZcams!
I am still using the first gen IR carbon body 1/2'' impact for decades . No complaints !
That opener. Welcome back to the torque test channel founded in 1893. Woah TTC has been around hella long.
@TorqueTestChannel. Thank you for all of your hard work and time creating such informative and entertaining content.
You and @ProjectFarm are the only content creators that I trust when it comes to accurate and non biased results/opinions on products.
I was wondering if you happened to have any recommendations for good quality dexterous, durable work gloves. Any advice, thoughts and opinions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you, all the best to you and the team!
W0W... a few months ago I came across a few of these old tools!! Initially, I don't think I found much info on the Thor tools and I think it also said something about old Chicago or just chicago tools??? I was looking for information on refurbishing these old..heavy pneumatic tools!!! Thanks for the video and some history!😮
Dotco, Cleco and Atlas Copco are the go to tools in the Aerospace field. Anyone who's had the pleasure of using them know the quality and durability they offer.
Yes! The first place I learned of Cleco was in A&P school with those wonderful sheet metal tools.
Vintage comparisons are a lot of fun, thanks for the short history of the companies! I bet you get a lot of donated stuff to test if you want to keep this going.
Nice switchup this Friday, thank you!
I wonder how many Milwaukee tools will still be working in 60 years...
None, but the IRs will still be rocking along.
@@sgtbrown4273none? How did you determine that?
Thank you for educating us all! Have a great weekend.
Once had a 40s Thor valve grinder...heavy as hell but hard to beat the quality..sold to a hotrodder a few years ago and he is still using it...
This is up there with my favorite videos on the channel
I pulled out my hilti gp22 for the first time since I bought it to drill holes for anchoring racking. It’s gas powered rotary hammer with a Kawasaki engine from 1988, started up 4th pull, crazy as hell, not as fast as todays hiltis but it’s a hell of a cool tool, sounds sweet to rumbling on idle,one day I’ll make a reel with the two side by side for instagram, love your content!
A note about 5.0 engines: the ones starting in the 70s were actually 4.9 marketed as 5.0 (302 Ci) and not the same engine as the one today, the coyote 5.0 which is actually 5.0. I'm not sure why ford couldn't round properly.
Great video! Interesting to see the old vs new tech and pros/cons of each. The history is interesting as well. Keep these videos coming!
Shout out to you finding these oldies but goodies!
Never thought I’d see a random parking lot I’ve driven through many times, lol, I did start to think where could that address be. Laramie ave is the way around, when Cicero is backed up.
That was an awesome video it was super interesting to see how far those tools have come.
I first got into the auto repair biz in the mid 1970's and that Cleco impact was the first impact gun I ever bought. I think I paid $35 for it used and I used it for a decade before I traded it for a Snap On impact gun that I used until I left the biz in the late 90's.I've probably still got that old Snap On gun but I haven't used it in at least a decade or more.
This is an impressively fresh idea for a video. Great job as always
Great video TTC, Tools have come along way since back in the day
Just noticed I was unscribed, that is strange I've never unscribed since I started watching long ago. Anyway keep up the good work I enjoy your videos.
I have a small Thor circular saw and a Mall 3/8" power drill, what they lack in power to today's tools they make up for in longevity and build quality. Seriously doubt any of my Yellow, Red, or Blue tools will be around in 60 years from now. As an aside to the Thor impact in this video, it seems the spring is very crucial to the torque output and since springs wear out with use, it would probably be insightful to see what a new spring would do in improving the Thor's numbers. High hopes to find such a spring today but something that should be noted given how small the hammer is and how little surface area is involved with the pin-type anvils.
i left a comment as well saying the same thing about modern products and their planned obsolescence getting out of hand.
Hell, even if a modern tool did last 50 years no way you would be able to get a battery for it.@@cerberus1166
I love this episode thank you. Keep them coming.
Would be awesome to see some hydraulic impact wrenches. Not sure if the dyno could handle them.
Should do a few videos on early 00s tools, stuff like the old high end XRP dewalts and V18 Milwaukee
the old windy gun was proper good & amazingly still good ...
Best video ever! That was truly fascinating!
Can you test pneumatic 1” extended anvil tire guns for the diesel shops
Why do I watch this channel? I have no idea but I can’t stop.
Just a thought, but is it possible to use gasket sheets and cut out some gaskets for the Cleco?
I mainly use a 3/8 and 1/2 compact Kobalt. Meets 95% or more of my DIY needs. On the rare occasion I need a bit more, my father-in-law gave me a 30+ year old pneumatic (Snap-On I am pretty sure but the plastic cover is brittle). It runs just fine off my tiny compressor as I only need to zip out a single bolt or nut.
It would be interesting to see vintage saws performance, like Skil.
Oh yeah. Grandpa’s makita vs the worm drive skill vs the hypoid drive dewalt 60v vs makita’s newest 40v offering of the hypoid drive.
Impressive and entertaining . . . all of them.
Loved the video. 👌😎👍
What was that program or website with the planetary gearing you used?
I had that IR impact wrench. Wonderful tool.
Awesome stuff! Now you're thinking out of the box to make videos! I miss the old intro; the new one is so cut off by the time the video loads, it's like 1 drum playing lol.
Love this channel❤, have not seen y’all test cordless band files yet and every brand out there is making one these days. I have the Milwaukee 12v one and honestly it’s not as great as I thought it would be. Would love to know if the dewalt is better and by how much. Or Makita, or Ryobi, or maby even the cordless ingersoll.
Love seeing older stuff
That’s wicked. I’ll be looking more closely at old crappy looking air tools at yard sales.
Your air impact is the exact one my dad has that I've used since I started working on cars as a kid in the 90s I had no idea it was that old lol great video
Still have my Dad's 50 ish Thor inpact wrench and it still works great.
Absolutely fascinating thankyou!
Dang I want that corded Bauer for garage use! I have all M12 Milwaukee line at my work but such a pain to haul it back and forth.
50s retro-futurism just looks so god damn good; take us back to that design aesthetic
I have a Thor drill, it looks like something Buck Rogers would use.
Pretty sick. They have a picture of the internals like that in the Manuel
Awesome video!
Would you consider retesting the "Thor" corded after cleaning and regreasing? That old grease looked more like molasses :D
Love to see this. I have an old school craftsman dremel of a similar style. It has a right angle handle that makes it look like a 40's sci fi laser gun.
That’s a die grinder….
incredible. I still have my shiny IR.. don't even know what year. Found it under a mobile home in a mobile park made in the 60s. it's been gripped so long, and banged around..the text imprinted is even worn. Not sure what year you tested the chicago electric 40 dollar special from HF.. but I am still using that 450 ft lb beast making a rattling noise with a twisted chuck today. Great channel.
Dang!! They were made in my old town Chicago!!❤❤
I have a corded Milwaukie from the 90's that I bought new that still works when I need it. I'm surprised you didn't include one in your test.
I bought a new Milwaukee battery drill yesterday and i was very very hesitant because i am a little bit luddite and prefer a cord but it works very well and had a torque setting that wont shear off my drillbit when i drill 25 inch long tomahawk handles to make a pipe hawk. I am pleased
I'm really digging on that Cleco now 😮
Great episode! TY
Alright, since you opened the door. Can we just start mailing you a selection of 5-15 year old cordless impacts? (to see how much we are missing out on by not upgrading.)
i have a model 55, it worn and beat up, bearing whine, cord cut and spliced, but works still
I've got one of those Thor electrics.
It was special for Lineman. It uses 1/2" female hex. Just like the 1/4" on small screwguns but bigger.
Fantastic video 👍
Would be cool to see some snap on im51 and im31 impacts as well.
I'm digging the Cleco. It reminds me of a 1960s muscle car. Sure it's outdated by modern standards. Cast iron, oldschool engineering. Maybe not the most powerful thing today, But when you get on it, it can still give you the beans.