Just returned from @ 2700+ mile round trip thru 8 states over the past week & 1/2, and was able to drop in on fatfillup's pressure washer & tool emporium while spending a few days in the old home state of MD (now the PRM - Peoples Republik of Marxland) with family. Was great catching up with Phil again (who's not fat BTW, for those who haven't met him) and his wife after a long hiatus. Spent a handful of hours in the afternoon getting a really good tool fix - for those who don't know, Phil has a huge selection organized throughout his establishment in many Vidmars, large roll cabs/boxes, and stacked on shelves. If you find yourself anywhere within driving distance of the Finksburg MD area you owe yourself a stop at Phil's.
Came away with a big smile
, a (temporarily) satisfied itch to drool and paw over massed amounts of quality and (mostly) used mechanic's tools
, and a nice box of stuff to add to my tool cab and the ratchet obsess.... er, collection. Fortunately (for my bank acct) I failed to stop at an ATM beforehand
, so I forced myself to a pretty tight $ limit, but was still a very happy haul for me.
Been trying to put a mixed set of RP Barcalo-sourced combo wrenches together for years (just luv the shape of the sculped box end) but have had a hard time finding decent condition ones over 11/16" - Phil had a complete Barcalo branded set to 1" that came back to AR. The little 1 gal fuel/oil can is in excellent shape & just downright cool - will eventually hold fuel for a someday purchase of a yellow dog oilfield lantern (or few). Also scored a few more ratchets I either didn't have or are in better shape than ones I do, including an apparent prototype Craftsman with an XXXXX pat # (exeptionally cool!). The "home-crafted" NAPA 1/4" stubby RHFT stirs mixed feelings - a stubby RHFT is a welcome little working addition (that really should've been a standard offering in it's day), but I also don't have that particular NAPA model # unaltered in the "collection" yet, so it's a real bummer seeing one chopped up like that.
Was a great time seeing Phil (and all the tools) and gotta do it again sometime sooner (and with a fatter wallet). Thanks Phil!
