Hilmor...may be you should think again

[Tech Rob]

Fast forward 10 years into the future...

You are standing at the supply house counter, gearing up for an install tomorrow. You say to the counter guy "Give me a 50' roll of 1 1/8" aluminum tubing, a 50' roll of 3/8" aluminum tubing, some elbows and couplings, and a single-use disposable micron gauge."

[mark beiser]

Fast forward 10 years into the future...

You are standing at the supply house counter, gearing up for an install tomorrow. You say to the counter guy "Give me a 50' roll of 1 1/8" aluminum tubing, a 50' roll of 3/8" aluminum tubing, some elbows and couplings, and a single-use disposable micron gauge."

You are not to far off!
I've no doubt at all that there will be composite layered refrigerant tubing, possibly with aluminum as the metal layer, because it is already being worked on, at least it was a few years ago.

There has already been a single use vacuum indication product in the industry too.

[ga-hvac-tech]

i don't agree. No body around here had heard of BluVac either ....and now they can be ordered thru most suppliers here. (suppliers would not even consider that before)And we BluVac owners know how rugged they are.
No, I don't buy that a product won't sell because it is "too good".

Further, most techs on here own more than one brand of digital, so I don't see suppliers losing on sales because most guys will more than one set of digitals.

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What you say 'should' be true... however it is not.

Do some reading of past threads... you will find tool makers WANT to SELL boxes... they do NOT want to build quality that lasts.

[hvac5646]

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What you say 'should' be true... however it is not.

Do some reading of past threads... you will find tool makers WANT to SELL boxes... they do NOT want to build quality that lasts.

I don't think that would be accurate as a bench mark....most tool thread are based on personal opinion rather than objective research.

I have confidence in my quality tools and instruments. I paid half a grand for a Fluke 289 made in USA. You think that is "just selling boxes". I trust my Testo and and FD digitals so much I own two of each. I own four diff micron gauges all top tier.

All my hand tools are Craftsman handed down to me by Uncle Clover. My Robinair five cfm pump is fifteen years old.

I can't agree mfgs want to sell only boxes....not if your dealing with the right manufacturers.

But if you go out of your way to pinch pennies, you are going to get what you deserve.

[ga-hvac-tech]

I don't think that would be accurate as a bench mark....most tool thread are based on personal opinion rather than objective research.

I have confidence in my quality tools and instruments. I paid half a grand for a Fluke 289 made in USA. You think that is "just selling boxes". I trust my Testo and and FD digitals so much I own two of each. I own four diff micron gauges all top tier.

All my hand tools are Craftsman handed down to me by Uncle Clover. My Robinair five cfm pump is fifteen years old.

I can't agree mfgs want to sell only boxes....not if your dealing with the right manufacturers.

But if you go out of your way to pinch pennies, you are going to get what you deserve.

You and I can agree on this.

What I will suggest you consider: Does a person counterfeiting paper money produce a pink $3 bill... of course not. If one is going to pass a fake paper unit of money... it must appear to be the real thing... that is 'fool' the person receiving it.

Corporate America has been more interested in profits than quality (or for that matter even safety) for longer than any of us have been alive. One should NEVER blindly trust a large corp... rather verify quality.

BTW: Why does one need multiple examples of a test instrument if it is a quality unit... If it is quality... it should not fail; or it should give you a warning. Sounds like you answered your own statement.

As far as objective research... tell me how that would work... Regardless of how 'through' the procedure... there always will be holes in it.

[marybear]

This week Gemair in Orlando started selling their stuff.

[meplumber]

Fast forward 10 years into the future...

You are standing at the supply house counter, gearing up for an install tomorrow. You say to the counter guy "Give me a 50' roll of 1 1/8" aluminum tubing, a 50' roll of 3/8" aluminum tubing, some elbows and couplings, and a single-use disposable micron gauge."

Thank goodness that I don't have more than about 15 years left (if my body lasts that long.) Most of my tools are old and still going strong. Very little of what I have purchased in the last 10 years lasted more than a year or so. It is a damn shame. I have a set of analogs that is older than some of the members of this forum and I still use them on R22 systems today. They were made with heavy brass and quality gauges. Not the case anymore.

[beachtech]

If it's credibility they need, maybe they should make some tools that don't look like cheap shiny plastic toys. That would be a real innovation. How long will it be before our tools are so cheaply made that we consider them consumable truck stock items and have to start billing customers for them?



This is the same stuff everyone else makes, just a different color scheme.

you ain't kidding!!!

i left the auto indusrty, still have all 50k worth of my tools plus another 12k in tool boxes.

i entered the HVAC industry almost ten years ago and have been quite unsatisfied with tools ever since.

at least i enjoy working on my personal vehicles again lol i enjoy holding a quality tool in my hand

[lytning]

I will be 68 in a few weeks. I have tools left from when I was in the automotive field. My truck is older than a lot of members here on the forum.
I replaced a lot of my tools and equipment in December, still have a few to go. I remember the fist Tif digitals. I have a low side gauge that still works, not all that accurate but then it never was. I don't know how many sets of gauges I have. Just bought the Testo 570's and so far so good. My research now says I should have gone with the DC's. Don't know if I have another 10 years left, if I do I expect I will have to retool a few more times to keep up with the ever changing industry.

Thank goodness that I don't have more than about 15 years left (if my body lasts that long.) Most of my tools are old and still going strong. Very little of what I have purchased in the last 10 years lasted more than a year or so. It is a damn shame. I have a set of analogs that is older than some of the members of this forum and I still use them on R22 systems today. They were made with heavy brass and quality gauges. Not the case anymore.

[hvac5646]

I will be 68 in a few weeks. I have tools left from when I was in the automotive field. My truck is older than a lot of members here on the forum.
I replaced a lot of my tools and equipment in December, still have a few to go. I remember the fist Tif digitals. I have a low side gauge that still works, not all that accurate but then it never was. I don't know how many sets of gauges I have. Just bought the Testo 570's and so far so good. My research now says I should have gone with the DC's. Don't know if I have another 10 years left, if I do I expect I will have to retool a few more times to keep up with the ever changing industry.

Happy Birthday!

I am sure the Uncle would have the same sentiments about himself.

[beachtech]

I will be 68 in a few weeks. I have tools left from when I was in the automotive field. My truck is older than a lot of members here on the forum.
I replaced a lot of my tools and equipment in December, still have a few to go. I remember the fist Tif digitals. I have a low side gauge that still works, not all that accurate but then it never was. I don't know how many sets of gauges I have. Just bought the Testo 570's and so far so good. My research now says I should have gone with the DC's. Don't know if I have another 10 years left, if I do I expect I will have to retool a few more times to keep up with the ever changing industry.

those 570's will do you just fine

[mark beiser]

My local Johnston got the Hilmor Swag, flare and bending kits in today, but the pricing is whack.
$430 for the compact hydraulic swag kit, and it is made in China.
The competitions hydraulic swag tools are also made in china, but cost $100 less, and come with more expander heads.

Due to the superior ease of use design, I may pick up the Hilmor set if the price difference comes down a good bit, but am passing on it for now.

[Mike19]

I have heard that Hilmore is sending out a fleet of "sales", trucks to impress the hell out of us. Going to allow us to "trade" up.
Think I will take a pass on that.

I saw a Hilmor truck going down the interstate today. Don't know where it was coming from, I was way up north, it must have been up in Duluth or somewhere else in northern Wisconsin or Minnesota. I haven't heard of any of the wholesalers around here selling it yet.

[lytning]

Something about the Hilmore just doesn't set right. I have the master cool swage kit, it works great but sometimes it would work better if it was not so bulky. I have all the lever type benders but I like the YJ bender. Next on the list is the reverse attachment. wonder if I will ever use it?

My local Johnston got the Hilmor Swag, flare and bending kits in today, but the pricing is whack.
$430 for the compact hydraulic swag kit, and it is made in China.
The competitions hydraulic swag tools are also made in china, but cost $100 less, and come with more expander heads.

Due to the superior ease of use design, I may pick up the Hilmor set if the price difference comes down a good bit, but am passing on it for now.

[mark beiser]

Next on the list is the reverse attachment. wonder if I will ever use it?

I use the reverse attachment almost as often as I use the bender without it.
The reverse attachment is a must have for bending a copper stub out from a wall, or bending the suction line into the connections for a coil in a tight closet install.

[klee7013]

two supply houses stopped by yesterday with sale ads for it with no prices on it but one saying u can get 10% off of any purchase of their tools and one with 5% off of a total invoice over $750 can be materials mixed in with it. One acted like it was the bees nees and said no one else has anything else like what they have i just shook my head and thought about this thread. Most of it is already out in the field just a different color. He said they do have lifetime warranty on all hand tools and i think 3 years on gauges. Alot of hand tools do have lifetime but most people dont keep the receipts or try to deal with the hassle

[lytning]

When I buy something I etch or paint the date on it, the supplier initials also. Then if there is a problem I just take it back to the supplier and have them look it up. Also paint the date on most all new parts replaced. Another thing is to mark the refrigerant in the system. Paint sticks are handy.

two supply houses stopped by yesterday with sale ads for it with no prices on it but one saying u can get 10% off of any purchase of their tools and one with 5% off of a total invoice over $750 can be materials mixed in with it. One acted like it was the bees nees and said no one else has anything else like what they have i just shook my head and thought about this thread. Most of it is already out in the field just a different color. He said they do have lifetime warranty on all hand tools and i think 3 years on gauges. Alot of hand tools do have lifetime but most people dont keep the receipts or try to deal with the hassle

[Vortechs]

My opinion is that the Fieldpiece SMAN4 is the better of the digital gauges. Hilmor has some great features as well.

[hvac5646]

When I buy something I etch or paint the date on it, the supplier initials also. Then if there is a problem I just take it back to the supplier and have them look it up. Also paint the date on most all new parts replaced. Another thing is to mark the refrigerant in the system. Paint sticks are handy.

Good idea. I do that too.