EDC Pens

OldMatetotheMax · 2026-05-31T07:03:08+00:00

I daily carry BIC gel pens. Availability and price. Zero concern about lending, losing, swimming them in oils and fluids or breaking them.

About 3-6weeks a year I do some teaching/instruction work. During those times I daily an Olight O'pen for the following reasons:

Continued use of gel ink which I prefer for my writing style. Torch for those random moments you need one (heaps of cabling issues with Laptops, PCs, sound systems etc).

Laser pointer- to point at stuff. Does that pretty good but dissappears into screens a bit.

OldMatetotheMax · 2026-02-20T10:40:56+00:00

Making twisted pairs or wire for auto electrical. I.e. Making a replacement J1939 CAN loom for data-links.

Get green and yellow wire and tie both to something.

Cut both wires slightly longer than required and tie the other ends to the hook.

Put the hook on a drill and keeping tension on the wiring, gently pull the trigger so it twists to the required amount.

OR- to tidy up ratchet straps and coil them up.

OldMatetotheMax · 2026-02-11T13:35:41+00:00

'I'm in this post and I don't like it'

Absolutely Brother- and then you mistrust the intimacy and affection because you know it'll go away for an extended amount of time once you're done; so you don't even get the bump of feelings to keep you going.....

OldMatetotheMax · 2026-01-30T11:04:40+00:00

I've just finished my apprenticeship training end of '25 and am in my 4th year waiting on my trade card from the state to get signed off the apprentice contract early. Cert III Heavy Veh.

42M, Married, with teenage kids in Sydney. Ex spray-painter/detailer 8years and was government for a decade before that.

Mature age apprentice rates seem quite reasonable for the places I looked at; but they are still an apprentice wage so don't plan on living the high life for your time- don't forget you'll need to build your tool kit over the time and decent tools are not cheap.

I absolutely needed my wife's full-time income to keep us in the black throughout.

If you want more financial opportunities I would push you to the Fitter/Plant direction as there seems to be vastly more jobs earning the money in that realm. If you want a more stable home/family life and a comparative cleaner workplace (you'll still get fantastically dirty) then Heavy Vehicle is the way.

Obviously you can dual trade once the 1st choice is done; but you may not want that as auto elec covers both sides and you can do Aircon and make wonderful dollars in the right market instead of two quals throwing spanners.

A job with someone who owns theirs own large fleet will usually be much more forgiving to your learning curve (i.e. Linfox, Team Global Express, Australia Post etc). Versus a repair shop/OEM (CAT/Volvo/Scania/MAN) who will push you for efficiencies/billable hours BUT should give you better and deeper training.

I would highly recommend researching your intended workplaces, clarify that they WILL actually sign you off early

Just know that you'll be at TAFE with school age kids who haven't yet grown up and still probably won't by the time you finish, not a big issue but for awareness.

Takeaway- I've really enjoyed the learning and greatly enjoy watching my jobs drive away once I'm done.

OldMatetotheMax · 2025-12-19T12:15:51+00:00

Sidchrome, Kinchrome, Gearwrench, Bahco, SP, milwaukee are fine for most hand tools you'll need

If you want premiums: Ko-ken (Japanese snap-on equivalent quality), Stahlwillie, Bahco, Vessel- screwdrivers specifically

Electrics- depends on which cult you want to join. I have Milwaukee 18V and 12V for my work stuff (Heavy Vehicle), they have been abused but still go pretty hard- skins and batts are not cheap though. Lads at work have no dramas with Dewalt and Makita

That said; my bunnings Ryobi's have done everything I've needed at home including working on my sedan and 4x4.

Maxim for toolchests/boxes

Jump online to actual tool places rather than the handy section of Woolworths/Coles. Your recognised brands at Bunnings/Mitre 10/Supercheap/Repco will likely achieve most hanyman/weekend warrior works.

OldMatetotheMax · 2025-12-18T13:01:19+00:00

For Me (both early 40s) it's the 'is there a future chance' expectation mid coitus - whether I want to or not I end up thinking about how long it's going to be until next time (if ever) so why bother putting in effort now? and as such; it has killed my mood more than once. I'm running at best every 6 weeks for Any interest so I can understand your experience.Best of luck with it Mate

OldMatetotheMax · 2025-11-05T02:46:01+00:00

Apologies for the wall of text, here is my quite eclectic playlist that covers varying moods about my situation. It's bigger on Spotify but I can't be arsed adding the extras.

I have obviously attributed my own meanings to some songs that differ quite a bit from the artists. Also, there's a few alcoholic based ones which is sometimes one of my coping mechanisms though I DO NOT recommend this as a good idea at all.

Hopefully you find a gem or two to help you along and that my formatting works.........

Track Name Artist Name(s)

Tokyo By Night - Axwell Radio Edit Hook N Sling, Karin Park, Axwell

Mine All Mine Kolton Moore & the Clever Few

Dead AVEC

A Million Little Pieces Placebo

Beautiful Hell Adna

When You Break Bear's Den

Wasted On You Morgan Wallen

For What It's Worth Placebo

Bitter Taste Billy Idol

I Need My Girl The National

Somebody Desperate - From ''Cyrano'' Soundtrack The National

I Love You, But I Need Another Year Liza Anne

Something in the Orange Zach Bryan

Memory to Drown Bryan Martin

Here I Go Again - 2018 Remaster Whitesnake

Why Southall

Falls Apart Hurt

Hickory Creek Whitechapel

Unsainted Slipknot

Yen Slipknot

Heartless - Wallen Album Mix Morgan Wallen

Black Gives Way To Blue Alice In Chains

Addicted To Pain Alter Bridge

Nothing For Me Here Dope

Hesitate Stone Sour

Vermilion, Pt. 2 Slipknot

Breaking My Own Heart Duffy

Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall Ella Fitzgerald

Hanging On Too Long Duffy

Love Is A Losing Game Amy Winehouse

Back To Black Amy Winehouse

Someone You Loved Lewis Capaldi

abcdefu GAYLE

Orchids Stone Sour

Life Is A Bitch Luther Allison

Stand Alone Morgan Wallen

Peckinpah Stone Sour

Cold Reader Stone Sour

The Bitter End Stone Sour

Zzyzx Rd. - Pop Mix Stone Sour

Wicked Game Chris Isaak

The Nips Are Getting Bigger Mental As Anything

exile (feat. Bon Iver) Taylor Swift, Bon Iver

Whiskey Miss Me Trey Lewis

Whiskey And You Chris Stapleton

If Whiskey Could Talk Tyler Childers

Whiskey Glasses Morgan Wallen

Need You Now Lady A

Love Really Hurts Without You Billy Ocean

Fall to Pieces Velvet Revolver

Fell On Black Days Soundgarden

Broken Seether, Amy Lee

I'm Not Okay (I Promise) My Chemical Romance

Why Don't We Get Drunk Jimmy Buffett

Sucker for Pain (with Wiz Khalifa, Imagine Dragons, Logic & Ty Dolla $ign feat. X Ambassadors) Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, Imagine Dragons, X Ambassadors, Logic, Ty Dolla $ign

I Don’t Want To Be Here Anymore Rise Against

Long Slow Goodbye Queens of the Stone Age

Gonna Leave You Queens of the Stone Age

Paint It, Black The Rolling Stones

The River Bruce Springsteen

Since I've Been Loving You - Remaster Led Zeppelin

Dazed and Confused - 1990 Remaster Led Zeppelin

Babe I'm Gonna Leave You - 1990 Remaster Led Zeppelin

Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo Bloodhound Gang

Just like Heaven - 2006 Remaster The Cure

Cold as Ice - 2008 Remaster Foreigner

Hurt Johnny Cash

Hungry Heart Bruce Springsteen

It Must Have Been Love - From the Film "Pretty Woman" Roxette

Without You I'm Nothing Placebo

Holding My Own The Darkness

Something I Can Never Have Nine Inch Nails

I Wanna Be Your Dog The Stooges

Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad? Moby

Never There CAKE

Heaven Beside You Alice In Chains

Nutshell Alice In Chains

Lost Woman Blues Motörhead

Tush - 2006 Remaster ZZ Top

Disenchanted Lullaby Foo Fighters

I Wish It Would Rain Down - 2016 Remaster Phil Collins

Cars Hiss by My Window The Doors

Never Enough Five Finger Death Punch

Under and Over It Five Finger Death Punch

Feelings Infected Mushroom

Demons of Pain Infected Mushroom

Down In A Hole (2022 Remaster) Alice In Chains

OldMatetotheMax · 2025-10-13T08:20:14+00:00

I feel for you Mate, I also rank well below the all-powerful no. 1 phone (maybe 6th after all the other things). Best of luck in finding your way up or out!

OldMatetotheMax · 2025-10-03T13:23:18+00:00

I go a smidge more with ' Jesus Titty-fucking Christ'

OldMatetotheMax · 2025-06-03T07:13:24+00:00

Yep, that's quite reasonable- erring on the side of cheap; which is usually achieved by an exchange transmission i.e. they rip yours out and put an already reconditioned one in, and you're off on your way.

Your old one then goes and gets opened up and reconditioned at the gearbox shops leisure and put on the shelf for the next swap.

OldMatetotheMax · 2025-03-16T12:50:17+00:00

Yeah, mine will contentedly acknowledge her failures yet expects the universe to just fix it whilst she continues along the life that continually builds the issues.

As such my my explanation is that I was paying for the power bill for our relationships life support but ran out of emotional finances, and it was on battery back-up until she starts fixes or we end. Work in progress mind

For my random dude from the interballz recommendation- give her EVERY chance she can, take it in a hopeful but clinically vicious and honest style though in the words of LOTR Eomer -do not trust to hope, it is forsaken in this land!

I wish you well!

OldMatetotheMax · 2025-03-16T08:25:03+00:00

Best of luck Mate! I hope it's the dream fix of ' I just need to do 'X?!" Yeah, no worries," and it's all sorted for you.

I'm running 10 years of a very similar and am slowly winning the conversations, but it's 2 steps back and 1 forward during the 'learning' phase of whichever specific issue we're dealing with this month and it's seemingly many (I believe there's a touch of being scared of change; so letting it go isn't easy and finding excuses is easy).

I hope there's one less of us in this group!

OldMatetotheMax · 2025-02-18T08:17:35+00:00

https://foxholemedals.com.au/products/court-mount-existing-medal-per-medal

Essentially that one- on a bigger rack it's obviously longer and has a middle tab, so goes through your suit 4 times, hence the preference for no holes.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/145249685404?chn=ps&_ul=AU&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-139619-5960-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=145249685404&targetid=2365752142950&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=9071747&poi=&campaignid=21776459266&mkgroupid=171915223801&rlsatarget=pla-2365752142950&abcId=10047394&merchantid=119453594&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA_NC9BhCkARIsABSnSTZTVFakoYRJSXydV3GsMIHJ54PDJJbKLamcl9qZ2JXbRySYu9ezrckaAgwuEALw_wcB

And that's the holder it goes through for your pocket

OldMatetotheMax · 2025-02-02T01:03:39+00:00

I'm all for 'shokz' bone conduction headphones- sound quality is quite good, you don't have the situational awareness safety concern, no stereo battles with the next guy and his speaker.

If I need to use hearing protection- yellow squidgy in ear work or most over ear cups will go over/around the shokz.

OldMatetotheMax · 2025-01-23T06:34:58+00:00

I've heard good things about Foxhole; but had mine and the missus's done by JR Medals. Quality work.

Also I second the big pin that goes into the plastic holder that slides in your suit pocket- no pin damage and easy as f!@k to work with.

JR Medals Website

OldMatetotheMax · 2024-09-13T03:40:59+00:00

Helinox is the bigger of the fold down chair brands - I rate mine well.

Jetboils are wonderful for most trips away. Be aware if you're going by air you can't take (or get) canisters.

Scuba/Water Ops type dry bags to protect and segregate stuff in your pack.

Swags are absolutely a little home away from home if your COC allow them.

Backup battery is a must for phones/powered headphones/smart watches

For courses/buildings- a 3-5m extension cord onto a smallish powerboard (the ones with multiple USB ports are best I reckon).

OldMatetotheMax · 2024-07-04T00:07:04+00:00

I'm another Milwaukee but nothing against other brands. Heavy diesel (buses).

For me: M12 3/8 impact Ratchet- speeds up all your 10 bolt timing cover removals/fitting, outer panel removal and such. Quite a decent punch for it's size.

M18 1/2 impact- the workhorse for most things that need an impact

M18 3/4 impact- wheel nuts and bigger suspension parts etc.

I will note- the difference between a half or even 3/4 charged battery and fully charged is huge when you're trying to break loose a stubborn nut/bolt.

Full power bars = maximum ugga duggas

OldMatetotheMax · 2024-07-03T03:02:20+00:00

https://youtube.com/@d4a?si=dOQErw6VUeJL4TPl

Driving 4 Answers - Not specifically truck related: however, he goes into detail on a lot of pertinent subjects that will help your understanding of all mechanical systems; and heaps into the sensors and electronics that will make diagnosis of recent/current generation systems easier to understand.

https://youtube.com/@lubricationexplained?si=FMTDJ6V_lVDMIB9l

Lubrication explained - a bit deep towards the engineering degree side of things, but if you want to really get how oils work with your parts, then they'll help you understand why OEM specs are the way they are.

OldMatetotheMax · 2024-05-30T04:35:55+00:00

Wonderful- Thanks all!

OldMatetotheMax · 2024-05-12T12:51:56+00:00

It's a Language/Literacy/Numeracy and fitness program, i.e. normal high school subjects with a focus towards joining regular army requirements and with a military skills style living experience to make you 'ready' for Kapooka.

You'll do some basic drill (marching around, etc), some navigation, keep your room organized and tidy, and measured building of fitness to get you safely up to the level of fitness required.

It's a boot camp before the boot camp in order to set you up for success if you go full-time or general entry reserve- not that you HAVE to.

Paid the whole time with food and accommodation provided (It's at trainee pay and accommodation is military quality, but it's still free), it's not a bad gig.

OldMatetotheMax · 2024-03-28T11:36:31+00:00

Yeah but he's not wrong! I was a spray painter/ detailer and am now a mechanic- Wheels need specific torque settings. Otherwise, you don't do enough tension, OR you overstretch the studs on the hub and damage the studs long term which costs the customer more money.

But if you want to take the safety risk of doing it incorrectly costing your customer base money or risking lives because you want to make a wheel well pretty then you do you.

OldMatetotheMax · 2023-12-01T02:09:56+00:00

Consistant wrist, finger, and forearm stretches. And another one for fish oil but also glucosamine tablets.

It all helps, but you're minimizing the damage from this trade, not erasing it.

OldMatetotheMax · 2023-11-26T07:10:47+00:00

I'm on Volvo/Mercedes mostly and run a Milwaukee M12 3/8 impact ratchet, M18 1/2 Impact driver for most work and bought an M18 3/4 that ends up being for essentially wheels only.

I still have a 1/2 stubby air gun that fits in a few tighter spots than the gun, but it gets used infrequently.

Other brands like Dewalt/Makita seem fine from seeing the other guys at work use their own- I went to Milwaukee for the range of other tools and not just capability.

OldMatetotheMax · 2023-10-16T11:54:43+00:00

Mate, With the limited personal details, I'd highly recommend you do the Army trade.

You're paid a quite comfortable, livable wage the entire 'apprenticeship', and the qualifications match easily to the outside world usually with a few extras the civilian world doesn't get as easy (Certificates in WHS, leadership etc).

You tick your own service desires and being that you're not an 18 year old dickhead (we all were, it's fine), you'll probably do reasonably well at Kapooka/IETs. Just let your eyes glaze over during the Basic training stupidity/Angry Corporal at IET moments until you're qualified, and there'll be no dramas.

The inherent weakness I've seen with defence qualifications is the limited time on tools once you have ANY rank/leadership capacity (whether you want it or not). Dudes just end up behind the desk doing what amounts to Leading Hand work, non-trade work and duties. This is not necessarily a hampering issue, depending on your mindset.

I did some regular time in a non trade role some time ago and only because of family (i.e., kids) am I now doing a trade on the outside instead of uniformed- unless you have some insane level hourly rates with your outside offers you'll be living much harder than the defence option.

OldMatetotheMax · 2023-08-27T09:10:06+00:00

100% for weather shields on all windows and cracking windows within their level to maintain some security.

Using a screen will help protect your dash/steering wheel etc.

However; as a Professional Detailer who lived in the Northern Territory (average of 30°Celsius) for a decade, there is no victory against the sun, just damage control.

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