Cheap tool alert!

[Bill Huson]

Back in the good ol' days, you couldn't go wrong buying a Craftsman (tm) power tool from Sears. I got rid of all my old Craftsman tools before I moved mainly `cause they were so heavy (REAL METAL) I figured I couldn't get them in the truck without hired muscle. So now that I have a new workshop in my back yard I went tool shopping at Sears. 4" belt/6" disk sander. O-boy-o-boy! I unpack the sander and begin to assemble the piecey-parts. Hmm, bad screw head on the disk dust cover strips out the allen wrench. I use Vise-Grips to remove junk screw, figure I can get a new screw and allen wrench from the hardware store. Next up, the winged screw to clamp down on the work table after you set the angle you want. *striippp* That was a strip threads while using fingers to tighten!

Back in the box, back to Sears. This belt/disk sander, made in China, is pure junk-o-rama. The metal, what there is of it, is so cheesy it won't hold threads while finger tightening bolts? JUNK! Then the Sears person attempts to charge me a $17.10 "restocking fee." We had a very short discussion about that. Got my $17.10 back but the Sears said she marked my account with some code that means I can never return an open carton again. No prob, I ain't never buying anything from your store again, especially Craftsman power tools.

Any suggestions on power tools that reek of quality construction?

[HRTV]

Snap On maybe ?

http://www.snapon.com/

[Bill Huson]

Snap-On ???

Great mechanics tools, but I don't think Snap-On is into woodworking tools, such as belt/disk sanders, table saws, etc. Dewalt has a nice "portable" (if you've been doing `roids) 10" table saw. That one's on my list

[kws]

PORTER CABLE or BOSCH and some of the MAKITA sanders are good . But not all of them! MAkita i like their obital sanders but not their belt sanders.
i like both porter cable and bosch belt sanders and porter cable makes a real nice orbital sander
ONE guys opinion hope it helps

[bill boyes]

PORTER CABLE or BOSCH and some of the MAKITA sanders are good . But not all of them! MAkita i like their obital sanders but not their belt sanders.
i like both porter cable and bosch belt sanders and porter cable makes a real nice orbital sander
ONE guys opinion hope it helps

Those are good. I like Dewalt also. Just stay away from Sears and Black and Decker.

[machinedcomp]

Belt/Disk Sander

Try Grainger, I have one of their Dayton 6" x 48" belt sanders with a 10" disk. We have been abusing this sander for 10 years. I don't use it much for wood, mostly for chamfering bar ends, Before they go in the lathes. Belts are readilly available and inexpensive. Delta is another brand that is pretty good but still affordable.

[G Stillwill]

When I had my custom woodworking bussiness before I retired all my big machines were Grizzly. I kept what I wanted when I closed up the bussiness and just kept what I knew I needed to build boats. This is heavy stuff took four people to just move the 20 inch planer which I sold along with the cabnit table saw still have one but didnt need two of them. Sold the 3 hp shaper, 18 inch band saw, 20 inch planer, 3 hp table saw, Still have the 3 hp table saw, 8 inch join planer, and 13 inch planer/moulder and they are at least 20 years old now. Most of the machines ran daily without a problem other then sharpening blades. They also have great service to, one of the table saw motors had a vibration and I called them and had a new motor in two days and no freight charge either way. Yes they are made in twain but they have a good quality control factory. The only thing I have that are Craftsman are my motor wrenches and sockets.

http://www.grizzly.com/

[Bill Huson]

so far . ..

Delta is next on my list seeing as how it is the only other belt/disk sander I can find locally. I agree with kws, Black & Decker hasn't thrilled me with quality lately, nor has Craftsman. For handheld power tools I usually go for Ryobi, Makita, or Dewalt. Gotta be careful though, all of the above build "homeowners" models = cheap and gaurenteed to junk out under the usual boat shop abuse.

Time for pumping iron so I can bulk up enough to try out the Dewalt "portable" 10" table saw. Sorta like a portable TV - if the TV had a handle it was portable, never mind the dang thing weighed 104 pounds.

[Richard K.C. Mo.]

sounds like walmart???

China has a way of duplicating , what is ,is as someone once said, i forgot who tho' , hey Bill did you ever make it to big rock? LOL.
RichardKCMo

[mercguy]

Dewalt saw.......

Delta is next on my list seeing as how it is the only other belt/disk sander I can find locally. I agree with kws, Black & Decker hasn't thrilled me with quality lately, nor has Craftsman. For handheld power tools I usually go for Ryobi, Makita, or Dewalt. Gotta be careful though, all of the above build "homeowners" models = cheap and gaurenteed to junk out under the usual boat shop abuse.

Time for pumping iron so I can bulk up enough to try out the Dewalt "portable" 10" table saw. Sorta like a portable TV - if the TV had a handle it was portable, never mind the dang thing weighed 104 pounds.

Bill, I just recently bought the Dewalt "portable" table saw.............it is AWESOME! I also have a few of the Ryobi power tools (miter saw, router and table, belt/disk sander, etc) and they have worked just fine fo me. The best deal I got recently was the Skil 18V cordless package at Home Depot. It included a drill, skil saw, jig saw and sawzall for around $250. The cordless 18V jig saw is awesome.

PS.............Dan.....you funny guy.................whats dis Jiffy Lube crap???

[mercguy]

Yes!!!

hey bill i like dynabrade
they have everything it all works great

they make the best air sanders!!!! Spendy, but well worth it..........all I use!

[Bill Huson]

No big rock . . .

China has a way of duplicating , what is ,is as someone once said, i forgot who tho' , hey Bill did you ever make it to big rock? LOL.
RichardKCMo

And it's hard to find any size rock here. Sand I have, lots of sand. I was thinking of raking my beach sandy back yard and building a tiki hut bar rather than spend money on sod. Milady has different thoughts on that ...

All that sand and I need a sander? go figure . . .

[WILDONOUACHITA]

Bill - In our shop we like Porta Cable Model 309 3 X 24 Belt Sander. Weighs 19 pounds. It is worm gear drive. Good for thousands of hours of sanding. We have a home made wooden jig that we lay the sander in for disc type applications. This is great for flat angles and curves. Here is a picture of the sander and some nice curves...

curves.jpg

sander.jpg

[Mike 21CE]

What about metal working ? Are the Lathe Mill combo machines any good? Or is it better to get 2 separate machines , space is an issue most of the stuff is off shore , anyone have one ? Mike

[Bill Huson]

Not a fan of "combo" tools . ..

They're like Inboard/Outboard drives, the worst of both worlds. My old Dewalt radial arm saw could be converted to a shaper. Pain in the patoot to set it up, and the spindle turned much slower than a real shaper. Got the job done, but not a lot of fun. Even a belt/disk sander is a combo tool, and may get an additional work table so I don't have to change it from the belt to the disk side all the time.

How much room do you have? My friend had his metal lathe and milling machine in a space about 8' x 6'. Think the lathe was 6" or 8" swing - forgot, but it was one heavy motha. Took the promise of many beers and 4 large college boys to haul it out of the basement.