Need a set of "killer" tools [Archive]

rsosborn

February 27th, 2008, 01:27 PM

I'm thirty something. It's time I built an adult tool set. I scratched (gave away) the odds and ends that had been lying around and weren't useful. I own a condo not a house. All I will ever need is whatever will fix my bike, and my toilet. I'm keeping life simple.

I bought the Performance deluxe toolset for bikes. Not the best in the world, but it's nice. It fixes my bike and was real cheap. ;) It looks like I need a drill.

I'd rather not get a masonry hammer drill like I've had before. I didn't need it. I don't want to store it. I just need something to drill out a stripped bolt.

Any ideas on a kick-ass item that will work well for this, and other bike-only fixes???

jabberwocky

February 27th, 2008, 01:41 PM

For a drill, I would just get a corded Ryobi drill from the Home Depot. They cost around 30 dollars, aren't terribly large and will work for all drilling tasks. I bought one to replace an aging Dewault cordless (rather than buy new batteries for it) and have been relatively happy with it.

For other tools, Sears Craftsman are probably the best reasonably priced option out there. They are generally well made and carry an excellent warranty.

allencb

February 27th, 2008, 01:46 PM

What jabber said. However, keep in mind that the Craftsman warranty doesn't cover electric tools, just hand tools.

If you don't have one, a Dremel tool is useful. I use mine with a cutoff wheel to trim cables and housings. I think it works better than the dedicated tools for those tasks. I also use it for a lot of other jobs as well. It's one of my most used tools.

Chris

jfoley

February 27th, 2008, 01:47 PM

avoid any bargain cordless tools... i've got a nice 18v (non-hammer) dewalt cordless that does the job for just about everything around the house.

for the really big jobs a corded hammer drill is the way to go (made drilling into brick to hang new windowboxes & shutters feel like cutting butter with a hot knife)

I'm thirty something. It's time I built an adult tool set. I scratched (gave away) the odds and ends that had been lying around and weren't useful. I own a condo not a house. All I will ever need is whatever will fix my bike, and my toilet. I'm keeping life simple.

I bought the Performance deluxe toolset for bikes. Not the best in the world, but it's nice. It fixes my bike and was real cheap. ;) It looks like I need a drill.

I'd rather not get a masonry hammer drill like I've had before. I didn't need it. I don't want to store it. I just need something to drill out a stripped bolt.

Any ideas on a kick-ass item that will work well for this, and other bike-only fixes???

crack monkey

February 27th, 2008, 01:53 PM

Wait for Sears to have a "Bag" sale. Everything you can carry is usually like 10% off.

Get one of the medium sized multi-piece sets (wrenches, screwdrivers, ratchets, etc) and a tool box to hold them.

I prefer cordless drills - easier to carry around. Batteries keep getting smaller and more powerful. Any of the common brands will do. I have a Porter-Cable that has lasted for years. I also have a small, new Bosch that's very light. And a Snap-On cordless impact wrench.

I hate Dremels. Never found a use for them, at least not anything I couldn't do faster/easier with a pneumatic angle-grider. Of course, that requires an air-comperssor.

Dirt

February 27th, 2008, 02:29 PM

Sears sales are great. I've had the best luck with the Craftsman hand tools. I've got a few of their electric tools too and they've performed well. My wife has two hand sanders, a router and a few other things that have been great for her.

I too have had bad luck with cheap cordless tools, although the Ryobi 18V kit that I was given have worked perfectly.

There are a bunch of companies that make different variations on a spin saw. Think of it like an electric drill where the drill bit works like a saw blade. I've actually found that I use it all the time. It is easier to use than a jig saw and very helpful around the house. I recently used it to help a friend repair the hole in his ceiling after his upstairs neighbor discharged his shotgun through the floor into the kids bedroom. (No-one was injured.) Ceiling looks great now too.

Pete

sourceofdenial

February 27th, 2008, 02:45 PM

I've burned out Ryobi drills, so I would stay away from them. Have an ancient black and decker that works great after about 30 years, and a new craftsman corded that is very nice, so far.

jvanbrecht

February 27th, 2008, 02:50 PM

What Joe said, do not buy budget tools, you will just end up spending more over a longer period of time. All craftsman power tools are actually Black and Decker, and while 20 years ago that would have been a great name, most Black and Decker power tools (not designed for the heavy industries) are cheap plastic and crappy.

If you want good quality cordless products, the Ryobi lithium line (not cheap, but not expensive either) are okay, but I have killed 2 cordless ryobi drills already, and I have destroyed an unknown number of craftsman tools (power tools, their hand tools have a lifetime warranty and are not half bad)

The best options are Dewalt and Ridgid at home depot, and Bosch at Lowes. Personally I would go with Ridgid, it is cheaper (only just) then the Dewalt stuff, but ther offer a lifetime warranty on many of their hand powertools, including the batteries. I currently have the cordless Jigsaw and Drill, and have no issues, and they share the same battery pack. They have quite a few different tools in their cordless range, including circular saw, recipricating saw, and power hand planer (granted most of those are beyond the needs for bike maint and fixing a toilet.. but they do make great home improvement tools heh..)

Then again, why buy when you can borrow from someone, or rent from home depot.

Home depot has some reasonable prices on larger more purpose driven tools, the smaller ones though can be over priced.

jfoley

February 27th, 2008, 02:58 PM

sounds like we have similar taste in tools... so far i've been all dewalt (cordless drill and sawzall, corder circ. saw) and rigid (hammer drill, miter saw) -- well, except for the compressor & nail guns which are porter cable. table saw is up next.

dewalt is a balto. based company, btw... though i'm sure they don't do much manufacturing in charm city these days.

What Joe said, do not buy budget tools, you will just end up spending more over a longer period of time. All craftsman power tools are actually Black and Decker, and while 20 years ago that would have been a great name, most Black and Decker power tools (not designed for the heavy industries) are cheap plastic and crappy.

If you want good quality cordless products, the Ryobi lithium line (not cheap, but not expensive either) are okay, but I have killed 2 cordless ryobi drills already, and I have destroyed an unknown number of craftsman tools (power tools, their hand tools have a lifetime warranty and are not half bad)

The best options are Dewalt and Ridgid at home depot, and Bosch at Lowes. Personally I would go with Ridgid, it is cheaper (only just) then the Dewalt stuff, but ther offer a lifetime warranty on many of their hand powertools, including the batteries. I currently have the cordless Jigsaw and Drill, and have no issues, and they share the same battery pack. They have quite a few different tools in their cordless range, including circular saw, recipricating saw, and power hand planer (granted most of those are beyond the needs for bike maint and fixing a toilet.. but they do make great home improvement tools heh..)

Then again, why buy when you can borrow from someone, or rent from home depot.

Home depot has some reasonable prices on larger more purpose driven tools, the smaller ones though can be over priced.

Dirt

February 27th, 2008, 03:03 PM

If you want good quality cordless products, the Ryobi lithium line (not cheap, but not expensive either) are okay, but I have killed 2 cordless ryobi drills already, and I have destroyed an unknown number of craftsman tools (power tools, their hand tools have a lifetime warranty and are not half bad).

The Ryobi Lithium line are the same as the old ones except they have an updated battery. You can actually buy the battery and charger to bring your old ryobi tools up to the current spec.

While my Ryobi stuff hasn't blown up yet, I really would not have gone out and purchased them on my own. I've had them 18 months now and they are still working great.

Like so many others have said, spend a little more and get something nice from Dewalt if you're getting cordless. Jabberwocky's comment about getting a reasonably priced corded drill is a good one. I know he uses the heck out of his tools and they hold up for him. My 20 year old Skill saw and drill are still perfect. I'm guessing I won't be saying that about my Ryobi stuff.

Cordless is a convenience as long as the stuff actually works. If you've got to change batteries every 20 minutes, it kinda sucks.

A lot has to do with duty cycle too. If you're running tools through many battery packs in a day, you're using them in a way that the reasonably priced tools are not designed. Duty cycle is important for compressors, generators, welders, etc. I have to be careful with my compressor, because it isn't made to run as hard as I sometimes want to push it. It gives me an excuse to take a beer break.

Pete

Pete

g_barr

February 27th, 2008, 03:07 PM

http://www.milwaukeeconnect.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_27_40028_-1_684258_192159_192137

allencb

February 27th, 2008, 03:09 PM

Milwaukee is good. I've had good luck with my Porter Cable Tiger Saw too. I've used it to cut down trees as large as 8" in diameter, then cut those trees into manageable pieces. I used up a couple blades, but the saw did just fine.

Chris

rsosborn

February 27th, 2008, 03:23 PM

I've burned out Ryobi drills, so I would stay away from them. Have an ancient black and decker that works great after about 30 years, and a new craftsman corded that is very nice, so far.

thanks guys. after reading through all of these, for a condo dweller like myself i'm getting a super-cheap corded drill. the cord will probably stretch throughout my entire
500sq ft, never run out of charge and always have good power. ;)

jabberwocky

February 27th, 2008, 03:27 PM

What jabber said. However, keep in mind that the Craftsman warranty doesn't cover electric tools, just hand tools.Good point. I should have said I meant hand tools. Their hand tool warranty is excellent. I broke a screwdriver of my dads once that had to be over 10 years old. Took it to the local Sears hardware and they exchanged it for a new one on the spot, no questions asked.

If you don't have one, a Dremel tool is useful. I use mine with a cutoff wheel to trim cables and housings. I think it works better than the dedicated tools for those tasks. I also use it for a lot of other jobs as well. It's one of my most used tools.

I hate Dremels. Never found a use for them, at least not anything I couldn't do faster/easier with a pneumatic angle-grider. Of course, that requires an air-comperssor.Dremels are generally for small work. With a cutoff wheel, they are great for cutting cable housing. I've also used mine to cut slots into stuck bolts to get a flathead screwdriver into them, drill out cable stops, polish hacksawed parts (bars and fork steerers) and similar stuff. I find them to be worth the 60 bucks or whatever they cost.

Like so many others have said, spend a little more and get something nice from Dewalt if you're getting cordless. Jabberwocky's comment about getting a reasonably priced corded drill is a good one. I know he uses the heck out of his tools and they hold up for him. My 20 year old Skill saw and drill are still perfect. I'm guessing I won't be saying that about my Ryobi stuff. I bought the Ryobi because my decade+ old 14.4v Dewalt had two dead batteries and new batteries were 70 bucks each. I wouldn't say the Ryobi is an amazing drill, but I have 2 years of pretty regular use on it and it still works fine. I paid around 30 bucks for it, and for that amount its quite nice.

Dewalt drills are excellent quality (Dewalt is owned by Black and Decker, btw). I used Dewalt exclusively when I worked construction, and they are quite durable. I once dropped one off a second story roof onto a driveway below (about a 20 foot fall to pavement) and aside from some scuffs it worked fine.

I have experience with several other tool brands. My Bosch random orbit sander died after only a few years, so I'm not a fan of them. I have two Craftsman finish sanders (1/4 sheet and 1/2 sheet) that are probably 20 years old and both work fine (although both are ridiculously loud). My dad has a few old Craftsman drills that are around the same age and also still work. I haven't used any of their newer tools, so I can't say if their quality is still good or not. Porter Cable makes excellent routers, but I've not used any of their other tools. Dewalts corded stuff is excellent also (I have a random orbit sander and a 12" miter saw of theirs).

jvanbrecht

February 27th, 2008, 03:38 PM

gunboats

February 27th, 2008, 05:11 PM

I agree on the Dremel. It won't replace a drill or chainsaw or blowtorch or backhoe, but I just used mine a few days ago with a cutting wheel to cut a slot in the top of a stripped disc brake rotor bolt, and was able to get it out successfully after trying several other methods.

gddavid

February 27th, 2008, 05:34 PM

dewalt is a balto. based company, btw... though i'm sure they don't do much manufacturing in charm city these days.

They do most of the R&D in Towson and I know they have one production plant in easton md, they make drill motors and a few other things there if i remember correctly.

I buy a lot of stuff from Harbor Freight, used to just be just mail order but they now have a couple of retail locations nearby which is much nicer. They sell a mixed bag of tools from good stuff to disposable junk. It was hard to tell the difference out of a catalogue but now that I can look at it in person in a store it is really easy to find bargains on useable stuff.

skijim668

February 27th, 2008, 05:48 PM

Borrow a neighbors. Dosent sound like your gonna use it alot. If you lived closer Id loan you one of mine.

Jim

Dirt

February 27th, 2008, 06:07 PM

They do most of the R&D in Towson and I know they have one production plant in easton md, they make drill motors and a few other things there if i remember correctly.
.
They also have a big facility on the Eastern Shore.

nocro

February 27th, 2008, 10:17 PM

What Joe said, do not buy budget tools, you will just end up spending more over a longer period of time.

I disagree with this to some degree. I think that there are tools which are disposable.

Hand driven cement mixer, for example. I'd rather have 5 cheaper ones than 1 good one. Because, who cares if it lasts for a long time? It is not that expensive.

Also, hand trucks and dollies I go to Harbor Freight. Most people don't have the hand truck problem that I have, but I move some very heavy stuff, and I own at least 6 hand trucks, and several furniture dollies. Further, I'm moving stuff from MD, to VA, SC, GA, and LA. It often makes sense just to leave the dolly with the object so it can be moved if necessary. More is better than quality in this case. Have you ever looked at what one of those really good aluminum hand trucks costs?

Even in power tools. I buy cheap corded drills, and expensive (Dewalt) battery powered drills. For anything that is going to burn up the drill, I use the corded one.

It is more about what you need it for, than "buy the best tool cause it will last for ever." If it makes sense for it to last forever, then that is a good strategy, if it is going to get chewed to bits, then you're going to be stuck with a chewed up tool for a long time.

nocro

February 27th, 2008, 10:21 PM

I hate Dremels. Never found a use for them, at least not anything I couldn't do faster/easier with a pneumatic angle-grider. Of course, that requires an air-comperssor.

Out of curiosity, have you used your pneumatic angle grinder to polish granite counter top edges?

blacknell

February 27th, 2008, 10:47 PM

Since we're talking tools, anyone want to point me to a torque wrench with a reasonable balance between quality and price? (Talking about bike applications, here. Already spent too much for the one for my car).

CRAIG2

February 28th, 2008, 01:11 AM

I love my Sawz-All. :) Demo'ing the last kitchen was a blast. Also love my DeWalt cordless drill / screwdriver. I have a circular saw, but I'm still not sure why. Oh, and lots of hand tools - mostly Stanley. Why? That's all dad had, and he's pretty smart guy.

tuba_transport

February 28th, 2008, 08:36 AM

I picked up a set of 3/8" drive allen wrenches which fit on my 3/8" ratchet. It makes tasks on the bike go much faster such as saddle adjustments and crankarm removal/installation. I find myself using it almost as often as my standalone allen wrenches.

I also use my cheapo pancake compressor which came in a finish nailer kit often. Things like seating UST tires, cleaning away debris on bike parts with air, airing up kids inflatable toys, etc.

If you have not already invested in a top shelf bike stand like the Ultimate Stand, then do so. It makes wrenching on your bike so much easier. Same goes for an inexpensive wheel truing stand like the Spin Doctor. Wheel truing is not rocket science.

Oh, and a corded drill and cordless drill are two distinct tools with distinct uses IMO. Both required for around the house.

Dirt

February 28th, 2008, 08:57 AM

Don't forget a torque wrench. The fancier bikes get, the more important torque is. Ritchey makes a pretty cool, simple one for use on their products. It is set at 5nm and is not adjustable.

http://ritcheylogic.com/web/Ritchey~Logic/Ritchey~Site/assets/Products/Accessories/acc_torqkey1.jpg

It isn't the answer for everything, but I definitely want one of those in my tool box.

Pete

jvanbrecht

February 28th, 2008, 09:52 AM

Maybe based on the business model you described below, it makes sense to use some cheap items (dollies and what not) and leave them with the product (I am assuming this is a business based on that fact you are delivering to a number of states). That makes it a business expense where you are most likely including the cost in the service.

I on the other hand, and I am sure many others here, would rather just buy something once and have it work. My drill crapped out on me while I was doing the stairs, already over budget, and in the middle of putting up the handrail and needing to drill the holes for the pickets, it breaking midstream was inconvenient.

I hate it when tools break or die in the middle of projects, especially expensive projects. It is also somewhat demotivating too...

As for cement hand mixers.. I am guessing what it looks like, never seen one, never had the need (although with the fence project coming up.. since the bastard dog ran right through the current one.. literally, I am looking at 400 linear feet of fencing with a fence post every 8 feet.... thats a lot of concrete :( ) So, in that case, yeah, I may buy a cheap hand mixer, but odds are I will never use it again, so I do not care, drills, saws, routers (the wood type.. not cisco branded ones :D ) and such I use regularly.. in fact my list of things to do keeps me busy almost every weekend, and I do not want to have to replace things regularly.

That and the tools I am currently buying have lifetime warranties (including the battery), Ridgid tools, so if it breaks, its a pain to be without it, but atleast it will get fixed at no cost to me.

I disagree with this to some degree. I think that there are tools which are disposable.

Hand driven cement mixer, for example. I'd rather have 5 cheaper ones than 1 good one. Because, who cares if it lasts for a long time? It is not that expensive.

Also, hand trucks and dollies I go to Harbor Freight. Most people don't have the hand truck problem that I have, but I move some very heavy stuff, and I own at least 6 hand trucks, and several furniture dollies. Further, I'm moving stuff from MD, to VA, SC, GA, and LA. It often makes sense just to leave the dolly with the object so it can be moved if necessary. More is better than quality in this case. Have you ever looked at what one of those really good aluminum hand trucks costs?

Even in power tools. I buy cheap corded drills, and expensive (Dewalt) battery powered drills. For anything that is going to burn up the drill, I use the corded one.

It is more about what you need it for, than "buy the best tool cause it will last for ever." If it makes sense for it to last forever, then that is a good strategy, if it is going to get chewed to bits, then you're going to be stuck with a chewed up tool for a long time.

crack monkey

February 28th, 2008, 10:03 AM

Out of curiosity, have you used your pneumatic angle grinder to polish granite counter top edges?

Never done it - I imagine I'd use the die grinder for that.

I have a Dremel, but I don't think I've touched it in 5-6 years.

Granted, most of my wrenching is on cars. I can't say I've ever used the Dremel or air tools on the bikes.

jabberwocky

February 28th, 2008, 11:10 AM

For power tools, Petes point earlier in the thread about duty cycles is worth considering. Inexpensive tools will be fine for someone who uses them occasionally. You don't need to go buy the most expensive powersaw/drill/sander/whatever if you are only going to use it once in a while. I would personally stay away from some of the really cheap tools (like those sold at Harbor Freight), but some lower-end stuff (like Ryobi and Craftsman) are quite nice for the money. Just don't expect them to last very long if you are regularly using them for hours at a time.

Contractors, who can use tools for hundreds or thousands of hours a year have much different requirements than your average home user. When I worked construction, I used a Skill saw that was nearly 30 years old (it had a cast aluminum body that predated plastics use in power tools :) ).

I will make a converse point though: some tools (especially saws) are worth not getting the absolute cheapest. You want something with good ergonomics. I've used cheap circular saws that are frankly dangerous (goofy "safety" switches, poor handle design, etc). An inexpensive model from one of the major contractor grade brands (like Dewalt, Makita, Porter Cable, Milwaukee, etc) will work fine.

Oh, and a corded drill and cordless drill are two distinct tools with distinct uses IMO. Both required for around the house.A good point, although I disagree to a certain degree. Most cordless drills function as screwdrivers much better than corded models, because they have 2 speed gearboxes, clutches and a brake that stops the drill when you release the trigger. Never try to drive screws on a bike with a corded drill unless you really know what you are doing.

That said, I use my corded drill to drive screws all the time. I've been doing it for many years though. It definitely requires a light touch.

For making holes in things, both work well.

g_barr

February 28th, 2008, 11:24 AM

...never had the need (although with the fence project coming up.. since the bastard dog ran right through the current one.. literally, I am looking at 400 linear feet of fencing with a fence post every 8 feet.... thats a lot of concrete :( )
Renting is better: http://www.cleform.com/pages/gilsonmodels.html. Hand-operated models are okay but they won't save any time over a concrete hoe and wheelbarrow or mixing pan.

Why mix it all? You can mix key posts (gates, corners, braces, every third or fourth line...) but just pour the dry concrete mix in the other holes and fill them with water. Quickrete is supposed to provide 4,000 psi average compressive strength. Unless you own Cujo or are putting in a tall or windward fence, you shouldn't need 4K in every hole.

A benefit of hand mixing would be the upper body workout. Oh, you would be generating fewer greenhouse gases too.

sourceofdenial

February 28th, 2008, 11:24 AM

This is probably the single most useful tool I've ever used--sailboat work, housework, woodwork, cutting tile, sanding--I've done just about everything with it.

Fein Multimaster: http://www.fein.de/fein-multimaster/us/en/main/

Not cheap, but you can find it on amazon periodically for around 250$ with attachments.

jabberwocky

February 28th, 2008, 11:41 AM

Fein makes some of the best random orbit sanders available, too. My dad has two of their 6" models and one 8" in his shop. They are very expensive though, and somewhat unwieldy for smaller tasks.

jvanbrecht

February 28th, 2008, 12:04 PM

A good point, although I disagree to a certain degree. Most cordless drills function as screwdrivers much better than corded models, because they have 2 speed gearboxes, clutches and a brake that stops the drill when you release the trigger. Never try to drive screws on a bike with a corded drill unless you really know what you are doing.

That said, I use my corded drill to drive screws all the time. I've been doing it for many years though. It definitely requires a light touch.

For making holes in things, both work well.

Actually, when I bought my drill, I was not even thinking about using it as a screwdriver. Although it does have a clutch and a number of different settings, it is a single speed drill, which I found out, even on its lightest setting shreds screws :)

I have my neighbours Dewalt drywall driver, not sure of its exact name, and it does not have a magazin feeder, but it does have a chuck with a depth guage so that once the screw is countersunk a certain distance, the chuck disengages from the scredriver head and it stops spinning, even though you never take your finger off the trigger and the thing keeps spinning, (it does have an adapter for belt fed screws but we do not have it).

It works amazingly well on fences and drywall, although it destroys the screwdriver head very quickly (I plan on switching to square headed screws instead of phillips for the fence)

sourceofdenial

February 28th, 2008, 02:32 PM

Fein makes some of the best random orbit sanders available, too. My dad has two of their 6" models and one 8" in his shop. They are very expensive though, and somewhat unwieldy for smaller tasks.

The amount of jobs they can do and the time they save you makes up for the price in about a week I'd say. I don't think I would ever go near another boat project without one.

jvanbrecht

February 28th, 2008, 02:42 PM

The amount of jobs they can do and the time they save you makes up for the price in about a week I'd say. I don't think I would ever go near another boat project without one.

Build your boats the way the ancestors did it... bow saws, mallets and chisels, with a little tar soaked cotton between the planks and such :)

jabberwocky

February 28th, 2008, 02:52 PM

I have my neighbours Dewalt drywall driver, not sure of its exact name, and it does not have a magazin feeder, but it does have a chuck with a depth guage so that once the screw is countersunk a certain distance, the chuck disengages from the scredriver head and it stops spinning, even though you never take your finger off the trigger and the thing keeps spinning, (it does have an adapter for belt fed screws but we do not have it).

It works amazingly well on fences and drywall, although it destroys the screwdriver head very quickly (I plan on switching to square headed screws instead of phillips for the fence)Screwguns are very specialized tools, designed to shoot screws in a construction environment very rapidly. They are great if you are putting up lots of drywall, screwing down subfloor or using screws for framing. They are really designed for speed rather than fine control though(at least the ones I've used), which greatly limits their usefulness.

Its amazing watching a professional drywall crew install drywall with those things though. They are fast. :)

The amount of jobs they can do and the time they save you makes up for the price in about a week I'd say. I don't think I would ever go near another boat project without one.I can certainly see that for large surfaces (like a boat). In a woodshop they aren't quite as useful. The 6" ones are great for doing large flat surfaces (tabletops, dressers, etc) but I end up using a smaller 5" palm sander for most other tasks simply because its easier to maneuver and a bit less aggressive.

The 8" Fein is the most aggressive random orbit sander I've ever used. Its appetite for wood is almost belt-sander like. Its great for doing huge surfaces. But a thousand dollars is pretty pricey for a random orbit sander. Feins build quality is one of the best I've ever seen though, so I'm sure it can hold up to years of heavy use.

gddavid

February 28th, 2008, 03:31 PM

The amount of jobs they can do and the time they save you makes up for the price in about a week I'd say. I don't think I would ever go near another boat project without one.

I worked in a boatyard doing fiberglass repairs and custom fabrication and we used alot of fein tools, using the cutting attachments for the multimaster is amazing, cuts through fibreglass like butter but doesn't cut skin. Porter cable makes a great 6" random orbit that we used alot, I liked it as well as the fein sander.

I love derailling threads, it's like group ADD

tuba_transport

February 28th, 2008, 05:59 PM

For making holes in things, both work well.

Perhaps you have a kickass cordless. I have a Ryobi cordless which serves as a great tool to drive screws. I can even drill some easy holes like into wood when needed. Anything more and battery life goes to pot too fast to finish jobs of any length and not nearly enough power to safely drill large holes.

But when it comes time to drill into metal or to drill larger holes such as needed to wire a house, my corded drill wins hands down. But to drive screws the corded drill is way too much torque and has little feedback telling me when to stop.

That is why I see mine as two distinct tools, both necessary.

skijim668

February 28th, 2008, 06:23 PM

The amount of jobs they can do and the time they save you makes up for the price in about a week I'd say. I don't think I would ever go near another boat project without one.

The Fein tool is used as a cast cutter. It wont cut the skin with the round blades.The object your cutting has to be stationary and skin moves. Very nice. The Germans make some nice tools. Festool makes some primo stuff also.

nocro

February 28th, 2008, 06:29 PM

Maybe based on the business model you described below,

No, not a business model. It is officially classified as a hobby. But it should help to bring retirement on early enough that I can still bike a lot and enjoy it.

Perhaps it would be classified as a sickness by people. But, Y'all understand me :D -- you too would go out for a ride in 20 degree weather in the snow. Or continue to bike after fracturing body parts, and suffering extensive bruising.

g_barr

February 28th, 2008, 08:21 PM

I love derailling threads, it's like group ADD
What are you talking about? My favorite German tools are made by Liebherr (http://www.liebherr.com/lh/en/default_lh.asp)! Isn't that what we were typing about?

sourceofdenial

February 28th, 2008, 08:23 PM

I worked in a boatyard doing fiberglass repairs and custom fabrication and we used alot of fein tools, using the cutting attachments for the multimaster is amazing, cuts through fibreglass like butter but doesn't cut skin. Porter cable makes a great 6" random orbit that we used alot, I liked it as well as the fein sander.

I love derailling threads, it's like group ADD

Lets just make this a boat thread and fein thread.

What yard did you work in?

g_barr

February 28th, 2008, 10:06 PM

What yard did you work in?
Greenport, NY - replacing the deck on a 56-foot dragger that was hit by a 600-foot container ship in open waters east of LI.

I've also worked in barn yards, inventory yards, junk yards, stock yards, and too-many-to-count home yards in FL, MA, ME, MI, NC, NJ, NY, PA, SC, TX, VA, and BIH.

smdubovsky

February 29th, 2008, 07:14 PM

Sorry, Im late to the party.

Dewalt drills are excellent quality (Dewalt is owned by Black and Decker, btw). I used Dewalt exclusively when I worked construction, and they are quite durable.

Just because dewalts are durable in construction doesn't mean they're "excellent quality". So is a 16oz framing hammer, but you wouldn't use it for anything other than building a house! Or like saying McDonalds is excellent quality because its everywhere ;) They're everywhere because of marketing - it used to be just about the only thing home depot sold (which is why I got suckered into the one I own)...

FWIW, Every dewalt drill I've put my hands on (incl the 18V one I've owned for >10yrs) has a bad front bearing design. Dewalt won't get it though their thick skull that 40-50 thou of front bearing slop breaks small drill bits when the chuck decides to wobble at high speed. The gear box is also easy to strip the plastic gears when changing speeds. I also dislike dewalt since they are really black & decker. B&D quality had degraded to the point that harbor freight junk is nicer. The last B&D tool I bought because I'd "only need it once" was so inadequate I vowed to never give them another cent. No one should be allowed to sell crap that bad to the unsuspecting public.

FWIW, Makita (and just about everyone else too) make FAR better power tools than dewalt for less money usually.

I'll state that Im somewhat of a tool snob but I own HF tools as well as SK. I have 3 large tool chests and several power tools that require an engine crane to move. I own more than my fair share.

Dewalt still sucks.

SMD

jabberwocky

February 29th, 2008, 08:46 PM

Dewalt still sucks.Well, I used a pair of cordless drills for a while working construction, and my dad has a half dozen Dewalt drills of various ages that have never had any issues aside from batteries wearing out. My experience is that they hold up to heavy use fine. I've never had any bearing or balancing issues with the chuck.

I'll admit that I don't have much experience with anything they have manufactured recently. Perhaps their quality has gone down, I don't know. FWIW, I'm an architect and work with a lot of builders, and I still see a whole lot of Dewalt tools at jobsites. In my experience, contractors don't keep tools around if they break a lot.