Fresh Olives and Longnose Pliers

[dark horge]

I was wondering if anyone can point me towards a retail source of fresh olives (with the pits still in) here in the Chicago Area.




Also, (mild rant warning!)

...why the heck are nearly all hand tools for sale in the US of A, made in China? I've done HD & Menard's (useless when it comes to handtools), and gone on to SEARS hardware (slightly better)...

I need two pairs of small, high-precision longnose pliers --just like the ones in the Professional Series by Craftsman, with springback action in the handles ---the very ones that are now seemingly, exclusively made in China!!

I thought Craftsman was proudly made in U.S.A.

Anyway, I tried these Chinese-made 'Craftsmen', and found them simply not up to the standards set by my old and worn-out US-made Craftsman longnoses. Metal's a bit soft, and that's bad for keeping the pliers aligned in high-stress jobs.

There still are some US-made Craftsman longnoses, but the chunky, ordinary, handyman kind.

I don't want to have to buy West German make ---I'd probably have to tap relatives in Europe to obtain those, and that can take forever, unless I go there myself (eek). Too much expense right there!

***The longnoses are to be used in making (chain) maille, as armouring is one of my "OT" hobbies, on a par with collecting Philippine coins (1760's to present) and gardening.***

Hope someone can help.


horge

[Spanky]

Stop it, you're giving me nightmares again.




Have you tried SnapOn tools? I don't know but my Dad used them for years.

[Calvinc4s]

All my tools are snap-on. They have a huge selection of any type of tool you could amagine and the quality is outstanding.

[paulF]

yep i agree, i have a combination of snap on and mac tools, i find the snap on to be a little better. they are worth the extra money without question.

[dark horge]

Thanks, I'll look for Snap-On longnoses tomorrow.


Now, how about a source of FRESH, UNPITTED OLIVES?

[Minnreefer]

I would think that Chicago would have some good markets and or a farmers market type of place. Here is a good place for other types of olives and other spicy foods. http://www.arizonagunslinger.com/

Jon

[Rick O]

Originally posted by dark horge
Thanks, I'll look for Snap-On longnoses tomorrow.

I believe they only sell out of a truck. If there is an automotive repair shop nearby you could ask them how to get in touch with the Snap-On distributor.

Snap-On makes good tools.

http://www.snapon.com/

[GSM]

I don't want to have to buy West German make

Didn't you hear? Germany reunified!

[hesaias]

I dont know about fresh ones, but i got some awesome garlic stuffed olives from the store the other day. My wife didnt think they made my breath too fresh, but my, my, they sure were good on that onion and horse radish sandwich

[dark horge]

Originally posted by GSM


Didn't you hear? Germany reunified!

I guess I gave my age away



------------------

Scott: I eat lots of olives too, and if they give you knockout breath (ya think MAYBE ythe garlic and other stuff might have had something to do with it???), they're probably CURED olives, as in steeped in brine usually. Yummy stuff, that's for sure, hehe.



There was a Severe Thunderstorm warning today, so I cancelled my tool hunt. Maybe the weekend will be less threatening.

Still hoping someone out here has a tip on Chi-town olives...

[cath]

hesaias- Onion and horsradish sammich

btw, thanks for the snap-on tools recommendation, guys.

[cyberchef]

Horge... Check out "Treasure Island" stores in the chicago area, N Broadway I believe is the largest one.

Another good store is "Wild Oats" in Hinsdale, thier number and adress can be found in the link further down.

Also you can go to the "South Water Street Market", it's mainkly wholesalers for restaurants and such but cash was usually never questioned.. lol
South Water Market just a few miles away at 15th Street and Morgan.

Also check out this link to the top 10 stores in chicago...
http://chicago.citysearch.com/roundu...cs_generic_2_1


This link will give you names/adresses/phone numbers for a few of the grocers in Chicago... lol Just need to look down the list for the store you want... Most of the stores I listed above can be found here.
http://www.bonesuckin.com/customers/il.html

HTH... If you still can't find them let me know and I'll see if I can make a few phone calls to friends back home (chicago)...

Don Pelino
Cyberchef

[Bingo]

Jorge, Try Excellite or CK they make great small tools. Also, look at some metalsmithing web sites. They will have recommendattions as well.

I'll have to get back to you later on the olives. I will get killed for calling my friend (who worked at Bin36) and waking him up at this hour.

Brett

[dark horge]

Thanks Brett & Don,

I'm shopping downtown on Monday anyway, so the tip on Treasure Island is much appreciated. I'll look out for CK, and Excellite.



Much thanks also to all who pointed me towards Snap-On...
I am sadly having some difficulty finding a way to obtain Snap-On tools, but there's a friend of a friend of a friend I'm visiting this morning who might know a friend of a friend of a friend...

keeping my fingers crossed.

[GSM]

Can fresh olives be eaten? Are they not unbelievably bitter? Is this an acquired taste?