…yep I’m done….
I have tried to keep a positive attitude about this company over the past few years, as I have purchased a lot of their tools for my self , but not for any kind of heavy use. My tools are used primarily in my hobby so they are ” light duty ” !
I have had some small problems with their switches on a sander and a router. Plus, a brush problem I found by accident.
Also their cords are just crappy , as far as drying out and cracking … on everyone of the tools
I bought an18V 3 speed hammer drill two years ago, it has about 4hours of use, and I used the hammer setting for two 1/4′ holes about six mos. ago.
well, for the first time, I took it to a small job were I used it to fasten some pipe to plywood using Gal.deck screws 11/2″ long ,I had it speed set on 2, and the problems started.
First , the chuck dis-engaged,and would not re-engage !
then I could not move to the 3 setting, eventually , I lost both medium and high settings, with the low starting to act up !
I gave up when the damn thing wouldn’t even START the screw,
I tried everything , it even worked for a short duration if I jogged it in reverse and then forward .
It is now sitting in the truck waiting for CSI to come alng and tell me what it died from.
then I will bury it and start buying Bosch …
….because service is more than 50 miles away , and I am NOT giving Dewalt one more penny
I own ..
12″CMS
plunge router,
belt sander……(ELU knock-off)
RO sanders
biscuit joiner
jig saw
and three voltages of drills…..12V,….14.4V…and this POS 18V
plus some PC things …Sawboss,……and a 690
Replies
While I feel your pain, I don't ever rule out a tool company completely. You just have to research your choices better and pick the right tool for the amount of use it will see and how you will actually be using it.
I own a 10" Dewalt miter saw that has been flawless. It's accurate, durable, reasonably priced, and has all the bells and whistles I could want. I've also had Dewalt cordless drills that were garbage, circular saws that had tables made out of aluminum that felt like tin, and a drill that the motor burnt up on in record time.
In the same line of thinking... I've got Bosch wormdrives that are built like tanks and take a beating but still perform well. I've also got a Bosch hammerdrill that the chuck blew apart on during it's second use. I also have had three Bosch CS20 circular saws that couldn't make it through 6 months of framing.
And I've got Hitachi.....
And Milwaukee....
And PC.....
And Bostich..... you get the point.
Not trying to throw this back on you, but just do a little more homework. The information is out there.... and often right here.
We were typing at the same time. Maybe you type faster than I? Sounds like the same story, although you are obviously a much more heavy tool user than I.
I made the mistake of thinking that an 18 V drill would drive deck screws all day long, My old 12V, which I ended up using to finish this little job, was left out in a storm last year and the damn thing has oulasted the big gun by four years and much more use than four hours of use..I have to re-convince myself that battery tools were not meant as replacements for corded tools, but mere conveniences......Tom"
Brian,
Did you know that DeWalt bought Porter Cable? I was just told that they did so last spring and just got final approval. Very interesting . . . . .
Diesel,
Used to have four of the Dewalt DW 364 saws. My personal one always seemed to last for two years or so but the Helper saws were lucky to go two months without breaking the shoe. You can replace it if there is a Black and Decker service center near by but last time I did it was over $85 just for the shoe becuase it comes with the fromt piece already attached.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: DeWalt can't make a cordless drill to save its arse. I see 7 or 8 of them literally self-destruct every single winter, out of a fleet of 15. Transmissions, chucks, driveshafts, motors, triggers, bad battery packs.... They all die. Pure unadulterated garbage. Those tools have singlehandedly done more damage to DeWalt's reputation than anything else they've ever coloured yellow....
OTOH, I have nothing bad to say about their CMS's, recips, or gyprock guns. All mine are over 10 years old, have not in any way been babied, and function as well now as the day I bought them.
I've got tools from every major manufacturer except Milwaukee (no dealer within a hundred miles, dammit; I like their stuff). But each purchase is made based on the tool itself, not on who makes it.
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
"except Milwaukee (no dealer within a hundred miles, dammit; I like their stuff)"
ya ever hear of the internet?
I unnerstand you can buy tools and stuff that way now <G>
ya ever hear of the internet?
I unnerstand you can buy tools and stuff that way now <G>
I'm old fashioned; when something costs what a good tool does, I like to pick it up and feel the balance in my hand before I lay out my dough....
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
Well, Journeyman suggested it ,so I shot an e-mail off to Dewalt a little while ago, I hope they can tell how really,really angry I am......LOLI wouldn't care if I had worked the hell out of it, and it broke down the POS is not up to the task I bought it for......makes you wonder what an acceptable number of failures is to Dewalt !!......or any one for that matter"
I hope you'll get as lucky with their customer service as I did a few years back. I had a setscrew work its way out and the axel it held in place come loose as a result. (The axel in question was the pivot for the sawhead on my chop, so the results were a bit spectacular.)
It was a simple fix, and no damage got done (either to me or the saw), but I called DeWalt to give them a heads up anyway. Figured they might wanna know about that. The guy I got on the phone just about twisted my arm into a hammerlock to get me to accept a brand new 12" framing blade as a gift from them, 'just in case your blade got knocked out of balance when that happened....' They also sent me a couple of spare set screws and a brand new tube of Loctite.
Can't beat that with a dead horse....
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
I, too, have a DeWalt story to tell. I have an ancient 705 that keeps on ticking despite heavy use, and a 708 in my shop that I like a lot. Like someone else said, you gotta love those high fences. Their biscuit joiner was the best deal in that market segment when I got mine. (Back then, only a Lamello was better, and very $$$.) It is a decent tool, but not really precision oriented.I also have two drywall guns, 0-2500, that have performed flawlessly. My two corded drills by DeWalt feel weak compared to drills from Bosch and Milwaukee, but they are still running. Lastly, I own a pair of RO sanders. They are okay, but the friction ring wears out too fast for my tastes.I count myself lucky that I never went for their cordless line. Fully half the reports I have heard say their batteries are inferior. I always thought their drills were too heavy, so I used Bosch, then switched to Panasonic, and never looked back.Maybe I have been lucky, and maybe the careful research paid off, but for the stuff I own of theirs, DeWalt has been pretty good to me. Even the switches (knock on wood!)Bill
Another reason not to eat the yellow snow! :)
Those DWs are used to drill holes in snow and ice for ski hill bamboo aren't they? Not your typical jobsite task.http://www.costofwar.com/
Quite true, mon ami. We use them on trail checks to drill holes for planting bamboos, warning signs, and so forth. The bits are special 1¼"x18" ice bits, well over $100 a pop, completely useless for drilling wood or anything else.
We used to have the old Kodiak B&D 12v jobs; they stood up much better to the abuse. After that we tried the 14.4v pistol-grip models, which weren't as tough but still loads better than the 18v T-handles we've got now. Last year, the boss got so disgusted he started buying Mastercrap $69 specials on the theory that if they were gonna break anyway, they might as well be so cheap as to be considered disposable. My suggestion he take a look at Bosch fell upon deaf ears....
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
This only the third post read but I agree with you.
Ive been notivceing the cracked cords in record time also. Had a triggure defucnt. Depends on the tool as you say. Ive got 70 percent of every thing dewalt makes Im thinking. I had a brand new 18 volt battery go bad in DW but Ive also had a a couple lemon Bochs. High dollar orbital of theirs and the service center totally scewed it up after keeping it over 6 months and still charged me. It would have been really easy to say no more Bocsh! I know better. There are tools that Dewalt makes thats hard to beat and if out of arguement they are certainly a bunch of them in the top three to five. Ive never had a Makita SMS but The Dewalt is a sweet machine along with all their chop saws. Hard to beat the high back fence of a Dewalt. The trigger lock on the smcs has got to be the best out there unless someone copied it . Clamp it any where you want it and its locked with out falling in and out of stupid notches that are common on chop saws.
I wouldnt want to leave that bridge my self although I will also start switching brands . Not the smcs though. That baby is gonna stay.
Tim
I have about that number of DW tools including the 3 different drills and haven't had the problems you describe. Two of the drills are dead but after 8 to 12 years of heavy use I feel I got my money's worth. When you are driving a whole deck worth of deck screws and it starts getting hot and you keep going - well, what do you expect? Starting a few years ago, mine are not used daily anymore, more like weekly. As far as the dw 18v hammer drill somebody stole mine like 2 weeks after I got it. Maybe I got lucky :-) I can't stand it when a new tool dies... let me tell you about the only Bosch tool I ever owned.... Sometimes I guess it's just the luck of the draw.
For me, different manufacturers shine with different products. PC sidewinder saws, DW miter saws, Senco & Hitachi nailers, Mil corded drills, etc.
I'm not a carp,
and the old Milw, favorites ..a right angle drill and /or a Hole Hawg are all I ever needed to run conduit....I would dread having to use the Hole Hawg though.....LOLIt is a shame ..that 18 was brand new ... not reconditioned....
just a piece of junk"
But they have that nice yellow color!
.....WHAT???......how do you get the font so small????"
o.k. maddog3 I know the the type is too large, but I've posted on the forum to find out what the problem is, got one reply that didn't work. On Breaktime only, paragraph won't work, font won't work, size will get super small or too large, and color dosen't work I'm not much on a computer, if you have any ideas that will help I'll be in your debt.
Shacko,
I have no idea why your fonts turn out like that, someone who uses Windows can probably help you though !!!I was just havng fun with ya before ......on my computer your message is about a 1/16 " tall ,maybe an 1/8 "....yellow 's my favorite color gotta go now ,
I have to throw my "Sh!t" around a little more , maybe the drill will work again"
Still too big, thanks for the reply. May the force be with you.
Shacko...Stop setting any font size at all.It's as simple as that. Just don't set a font size. Let it go to the default font size.
"Other than telling us how to live, think, marry, pray, vote, invest, educate our children and now, die, I think the Republicans have done a fine job of getting government out of our personal lives" -Craig Carter.
setting nothing this iis what I get, If I set size at 1, this is what I get not touching anything else, it seems that the type remains the same size no matter what I do with font. I hope that you have more ideas for me; I need them. Thanks.
It DOES change for other people. Here is a screen shot of your post, on my screen... (See attachment.)If you leave the font size alone, then whatever font size everyone has chosen, is what will show up on their screen. People choose a font size for a reason. Even if they choose to leave it at the default.If you set a larger or smaller font size then you force their font to go larger or smaller. For older eyes like mine, when you set that font smaller, it becomes hard to read.If you set the font size larger, it is like you are shouting. And that size can also make a post hard to read. Just leave the font size alone. Do not change it.If you want to change the font size on your own screen, then scroll down to the bottom of this page. You'll find a handy little tool down there to set the font size at anything you want it to be. And you won't be fooling with anyone else's screen.If you can't see the font size tool down there, then you need to change to "advanced view".
"Other than telling us how to live, think, marry, pray, vote, invest, educate our children and now, die, I think the Republicans have done a fine job of getting government out of our personal lives" -Craig Carter.
Thanks for that reminder about the text size setting; I'd completely forgotten about it after all this time, LOL....
Your text is coming out in a different font than I see; is that due to your local settings, or the browser you use? This is what I see:
View Image
That's 100% size from the screen shot. The font showing there is the default font I see (Verdana).
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
Edited 11/4/2005 7:55 pm ET by Dinosaur
It's probably all due to a combination of things.The font face itself is probably due to the browser, as you suspect.The font size is due to my own settings, and my resoultion size.I have my resolution set to 1024 by 768.The font size that I prefer here is 12.No matter what, your font size and screen size is all eventually determined by you, and is based on first of all, your resolution, and then on what the default font size here looks like to you on your screen.IOW: At 1024 by 768, the default font size here is just a bit too small for my old eyes. So I set it to 12. (I think it was originally 9.) But lets say that you have a screen size of 800 by 600. The default font size here at breaktime may be just right for you, or it may even be a bit large.You use the font size tool at the bottom of this page, to set the font to a size that is more suitable to your own preferences.Then the forum software will always show you the forum and the posts in that font size. But... it shows you the correct font size.... based on the "default" font size settings here. When someone comes along and sets a different font size, the forum software dutifully shows the post in that particular font size.. NOT the size you have selected to see the forum in. If that font size is too small for you to read, or is so large it is abusive to the eyes... Then you have a choice of changing the -entire page- font size, or ignoring the post. Most just ignore the post...That is why it is best to just leave the font size settings alone when making a post. That way, everyone sees the post in what is to them, the most readable type.Do not change the font size when making a post unless you want to either piss people off, or you want them to start ignoring your post.The caveat to that rule would be this... It is ok to go one size larger or one size smaller.To do that, you do not pick a numerical font size. ie, 1 or 3, 9 or 10 or 12, or whatever. You use html in your post and type the following... For one size smaller, type " <font size=-1> (your text here) </font> "For one size larger, type " <font size=+1> (your text here) </font> "(Without the parenthesis, of course.) Of course, once you click the button for html in your post, you have to use the correct html to build the rest of the post correctly as well. Probably just best if the newbys just stick with not doing anything whatever to the font size...The rule of thumb... Just leave it alone...
"Other than telling us how to live, think, marry, pray, vote, invest, educate our children and now, die, I think the Republicans have done a fine job of getting government out of our personal lives" -Craig Carter.
Hey Shacko, what you typed set at nothing worked fine on my machine...try it, we'll like it<G> "what's in a name?" d'oh!
Luka's screen shot to you is actually showing the text about 20% larger than what I see when you seet the text size. I have to squint and lean way forward to read it. That means I will quit trying after a bit. So quit setting it and let it be,
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Luka's attactment is backwards of the whey I typed it, plus part of the type size is much larger, the start of my post I could not read without a magnifying glass. It seems that everybody gets a differerent view of what I type in? Is this correct? Thanks to all that responded
Your FONT SIZE settings appear to be bass ackwards.
The beginning of your post looks to us all to be fine (approx 12 point text). The rest of it is too small (approx 8 point text).
Trust us.
The way I typed my original post on my screen the start was so small that I couldn't read it without a magnifying glass and the rest was too big, on the posts that responded it was o.k. to them it was the tail end of the post that was too small, [What they receive is bass ackwards]. What I have found is a place to click on at the bottom of Breaktimes' reply screen that says Source, it has changed the type size, the size that I am now viewing looks fine. I'll see what happens when I post. Thanks for the input.
Edited 11/3/2005 5:13 pm ET by Shacko
Shacko, now you got it, doode. Welcome to the club<G> "what's in a name?" d'oh!
Thats great, but I don't have any idea what Im doing. No matter how much tin foil I put on my head the computer aliens are sucking out all of my brain cells!. Have a good one.
Just to let you in on a little secret..........the tin foil thing is a myth. Really.
You need to use a coat hanger wire with ALUMINUM FOIL. Not tin. And without the hangar the the foil loses all form thus eliminating the ability to capture the alien rays and signals. Hope this helps. Really......its no wonder you struggle with your font settings. DanT
And I thought I was paranoid, heading to the store to get the proper foil, Thanks.
You need this....
View Image Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"I don't think it's funny no more" Nick Lowe.
never trust a tin-knocker whose hat isn'teven tarnished yet. Just like diomestore cowboys, they don'tknow which ind of a steer to crank to get started in the morning, ;)
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I'm getting confused, that looks like copper, piffin said that I needed aluminum, I'm up to 25 lb. of metal on my head and I need more!!
I thought copper was a good conductor.
Wouldn't that hat allow those aliens to pick you up even better?
And whats so bad about getting picked up by an alien? I seen some real foxy ones. Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"I don't think it's funny no more" Nick Lowe.
<And whats so bad about getting picked up by an alien? I seen some real foxy ones>Shouldn't you be keeping THAT under yer hat? "what's in a name?" d'oh!
shhhhh...I got copper condoms. Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"I don't think it's funny no more" Nick Lowe.
ouch :-( "what's in a name?" d'oh!
What Brand?ICU?
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Don't tempt me..I almost said copperco#k...trying to get me to swing at strike two eh? LOL Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"I don't think it's funny no more" Nick Lowe.
I thought Andy E would enjoy the pun.While we're on the subject though, copper tubing comes in soft and hard both...
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
LMAO...too funny. Beef barly soup on the monitor now. Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"I don't think it's funny no more" Nick Lowe.
U wanna be straight man tonight?
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
sure , long as we don't go past my bedtime...LOL
Got a BIG DAY tomorrow, insulating the rootceller and crawl space ( oh Joy).
Yes, I have to use FG batts..the framing is too erratic to individually cut foam boards...so 16'x42' of 6" batts in 2x8 bays of floor joists...I am ashamed to admit it. Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"I don't think it's funny no more" Nick Lowe.
You get that new stove ? Get it in ? hows it work ? need info. LOL.
Tim
Norhern tool hosed me by NOT informing me that it was a BO from 9/23 to expected delivery arounf 11/11...butt hole customer service....not Vogelzangs fault, it was Northern tool's fault.
So, NO..no stove yet, I rehooked the old barrel stove for the last cold snap a week er so a go....no burning since, it was 78 yesterday! Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"I don't think it's funny no more" Nick Lowe.
LMAO...too funny. Beef barly soup on the monitor now.
Black-bean soup on mine...with sour cream and Tabasco, too, dangit!
I'm Outta here...my bedtime was day before yestidday....
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
Type Looks Greaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!
Welcome aboard.
Good buy on the Mitersaw, I still think DW are the most user friendly CMs on the market, and I have a rear pivot 7¼" circular saw I love. As for the rest of their product line, I ditched them years ago, cept for a 3/8 drill I use for light duty(yard sale).
Tried the RO sander, sucked.
Jig saw, Bosch is better.
Tried Biscut joiner, bought PC.
Never could buy enough batteries for my DW drill$. Took me a long time to wake up and realize I'd been burned repeatedly. Never again.
one of my RO had a sticky switch,
it might on , or it might be off, only the sander knew for sure...I walk away and the stupid thing would start all by itself....fun to watch though"
Diesel said it. I would never own any DW drill, but the miter saws are simply bullet proof and the best.
Jer, I like my saw, it has been trouble-free, along with the old 12V
but as a consumer, I am finished with the rest of their stuff..."
Not so. Given enough use, the bushings and belts wear enough to induce blade wobble and all they are good for is stud cutting. We don't use mine for trim anymore.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Yeah,things with moving parts wear out after a while. I've had my DW705 for over a decade and have rebuilt it once, and it still splits hairs. Adjust , oil and tune.
dw 705 or 706? Just wondering if the drive systems make a difference,
Got my 705 about a year ago, with the "thick" 80 tooth blade, a joy to use. However....I DO NOT use it daily or heavily.
I think it's a 705. haad it since way back when they first came out.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Main diff is the 706 tilts both ways for compounds.
706 has the motor moved to the rear, and drives from a belt or something. Totally different drive system, and 706 is very light in balance compared to the 705.
I got a 705. Don't "tilt right" enough to spend the $100.00 more.
I have a dual 12" Makita slider for those cuts. Monme is a 705, but it has a belt too, you just don't see it.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
My 705 has the drive shaft of the motor so close to the center of the blade that if it is not direct drive, it must be a small gear drive. The 706 seems to have a 12-14" belt???
I have a few Dewalt tools, compressor (Emglo), router, 12" slider miter saw, and cordless drill. The only purchase I regret was the drill (horrible battery life). You gotta buy according to the specific tool, not by the brand name.
Coming to you from beautiful Richmond, Va.
...yeah, but like I said , these were only meant as hobby tools, and as such they get treated better than most of the stuff in the bottom of most gangboxes I have worked out of. :>)I did not expect the newest tool to be such a piece of s---
...after this , I will let my associates know that Dewalt is something to avoid
"
" but not for any kind of heavy use."
Guess mine have been lucky to enjoy life on easy street?
I've got a mix of brands in the van ... but all my cordless are 14.4 DeWalts ...
maybe I'm not pushing them hard enough?
or ... maybe I actualy know how to use my tools?
Gotta be one or the other ...
always have been ... always will be ... tired of the bash DeWalt(or any other brand) tool threads. Take care of yer Sh!t and learn to use yer tools .... I grew up working around sears craftsman and still have all my fingers ... and my stuff still looked nice!
"I'm a home owner and my tools don't hide my faults ... whine whine whine ...."
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
We have 3 18v Dewalt sets on the trucks plus a variety of different add on tools. We also have different brands. I side with Jeff and Diesel on this. Each manufacture has it's strenghts and weaknesses. What works for you is based on a variety of factors such as care, use and general business decisions. For the money we love the 18v sets and usually wear them out every so often, then toss them and buy a replacement with 2 batteries and off we go again. Unless it is a switch we almost never repair one as the tools with 2 batteries are not much more expensive than batteries themselves. DanT
OK ,I wrote that down......take care of my Sh!t and learn how to use my tools........thanks for the good advice...wow"
Boy do I agree. I have been a defender of DeWalt too. I work alone or with my wife so mine are not exposed to neanderthal helpers. The only yellow tool that failed was one of the compact 12v drills, the kind without the black overmold handle. I killed it, it did not die on it's own. I guess it was not designed to drill a 5/8 auger through three very old 2x's and with a low battery at that. Smoked its windings. Stupid me.
I just counted up at least 22 Dealt tools in the crib. I am pleased with all of them. I am getting more impressed with Bosch in some lines. I have the Bull Dog drill and the next bigger one, Love my 1590 that DW got me for Christmas, and although I just got it I think the 12v "Impactor" may be a real keeper. Will not be kicking my DeWalts to the curb.
I am sure Makita makes great stuff but I sold all my light blue stuff to a customer who thought it was neat. I had the 12v impact and full 14.4 kit. Impact and drill were not comfortable in hand and switches on circ and recip were awkward to me.
I think the 14.4's are the best compromise, enough guts and not too much on the weight.
Bob
Guess mine have been lucky to enjoy life on easy street?
Right. Like I believe that.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Jeff
... tired of the bash DeWalt(or any other brand) tool threads.
NO SH!T
I worked in a shop here in Austin that had a lot of Harbor Freight tools, some Ryobi, and I'd dare someone to show me a shop in the Austin, TX area that was putting out better work then we were!
Christ man, when will people realize it aint the tool that makes the nice pieces!
There are some people on here that constantly say "dont buy Ryobi" or "dont buy DeWalt", I have to wonder about their abilities.
Oh, BTW, I have two Dewalt tools, one Ryobi and a whole lotta other shid.
Doug
what? someone would think that only you and Buck know which end of the screw goes in the wall !There are folks here, like you, that didn't just fall off the turnip truck.!! You're tired of the Dewalt / PC / Grizzly bash.......gimme a break. 'cause some of the stupidest crap in theTavern goes on foreverHowever, If I ever need advice regarding building or cabinetry , I gladly defer to everyone here....But I resent your implying that I should don't know Jacksquat about my own damn busted drill nor should I have any reason to bitch about it"
Maddog
But I resent your implying that I should don't know Jacksquat about my own damn busted drill nor should I have any reason to bitch about it
Not implying a damn thing. Some tools are sh!t and some are good, its that simple.
I never said that you dont have a right to bash any tool, by all means have at it. But I have the same right to reply!
My post mainly went to those that think that you cant do a good job with certain brand tools, I disagree and contend that you can, I know, I've seen it.
I dont think Buck and I are making any claim that we are the only ones that know how to do the job. I know that I dont, I'd guess Buck would say the same.
Doug
thank you for the advice about the chuck - I guess you're never to old to learn. Hadn't even crossed my mind and I appreciate it very much.Thank you.
You're welcome.=0)
I was thinkin bout you so while we are on the subject from you or any one else.
I read you talkin about winches from frieght sales I think and you thought they would get you by.
So heres the deal every body;
Are frieght sales tools doable for occasional use? I wouldnt want to try to make a living with some Ive known about such as the chicago tools grinders. At least the one I saw only had half power at best but it did spin and would grind but I know it wouldnt sand.
I know the hype over pawn shops but they do sell those tools and when it was said whats a man to do I wonder. I saw a 1/2 inch craftsman joiner in a pawn shop window and had to stop since I was going to buy a new one as soon as I could get one . I picked up a 500 dollar value for 100 bucks . It had never been used but had a light coat of rust on it . Two set of blades and a manual that all were new.
Ive attended lots of auctions too and things like radial saws sell for nothing like 50 bucks. Had an uncle that liked one better than a table saw. Personally have a dado and knife set love for them. Nothing to me is better for making production drawers and dado shelving . I wouldnt argue over it but a radial saw has a lot of uses especially in a shop or on a framing job. They will make precut lumber all day , day in and out. A miter saw wont for as long. Couldnt do with out one in a door shop set up.
Does anyone else buy from the traders exchange , thrifty nickel or classifieds? Ive bought ladders , walk boards , stilts , and some power tools like compressors from there and indoor flea markets.
I guess my point is that somthing like a sears compressor [new or almost new] will run nail guns a long time on a 100 dollar bill. Leave it on the job site and save labor of moving it in some places or chained to a tree covered with black vesqueen and same with a radial saw bolted to a bench system. But no one would advise buying one . Bull shid. Sometimes somthing like that will return more money less labor and storage every single night.
Tim
Edited 11/1/2005 12:53 pm by Mooney
Well alright then..."
I don't wana be annonymous. I consistantly say not to buy Ryobi.proudly sobut not because it affects any quality of work I do. it is because I hate to see anybody waste good money on a bad tool that wil let them down. Certainly Ryobi puts out a few usable tools. But overall their track record is so poor that they are nothing more thana handyman tool. A pro needs to be able to count on what he uses to perform consistantly and regtularly in order for him to make money.friends don't let friends buy RyobiDW I rate fine for the money, good enough but not top of the line. I own some and have gotten my money's worth out of them, but I have seen enough of their poorer qualities to want to avoid any future invoilvement with them, except on fvery good recommendations.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Piffin
but not because it affects any quality of work I do. it is because I hate to see anybody waste good money on a bad tool that wil let them down
Maybe that's all that they can afford at the time.
I don't know that you can make the claim that the tool will let them down anymore then someone can make the claim that eventually my Milwaukee drills will let me down.
The shop that I worked at paid me very well while I was there, but that wasn't so with everybody there. A guy I'll call Ed (because that's his name) was a single parent, 4 kids, probably making $14 an hour. No way in hell is he going out and buying a Milwaukee impact at the tune of $200 plus when he can get the Ryobi impact, a regular drill, and some of the accessories that he desperately needs for the same $200.
Maybe it wont last as long, maybe it will, but he needs it now or he cant do the work. What's he supposed to do? Save up until he has the money to buy a more expensive brand? What's he do in the mean time?
I understand what your saying but its not always an "either or" situation.
Doug
With open forums like this, at least he can make an informed decision
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
"I worked in a shop here in Austin ..."
I agree w/ you. Care and consideration for tools are overlooked often. All my tools and toys (kayaks, outdoor equipt etc) are cleaned, and tucked away safely after use. These are habits that were formed living and working in third world countries where there is no 800 # call for parts / repairs. You break it, you do without it for a month or two.
I remember shooting the ____ w/ old timers in the caribbean after work as they sat and spent an hour or so cleaning, sharpening, and oiling their ancient jack plane, 2 chisels, hand saw and a wooden handled hammer. Then they carefully wrapped the tools in oily rags, and put them into a wooden "brief-case" that they made, and then WALKED home. These guys built houses w/ just those few tools. Some lucky ones had a bit brace w/ a bit or two. Still amazed.
Just wondering.....Don't you think that tools last longer (break less) in a shop, compared to ones that gets hauled around (loaded and unpoaded into buckets, trucks etc.) all the time?
Pik
Just wondering.....Don't you think that tools last longer (break less) in a shop, compared to ones that gets hauled around (loaded and unpoaded into buckets, trucks etc.) all the time?
Yea, I'd have to agree. I take care of my tools but they take a beating riding around in the back of my truck all the time. Everything is in its case but the vibration and shifting back and forth takes its toll.
Doug
One of the ways I find a quick tool review is to take a trip to the local flea market or pawnshops. The majority of the tools for sale at these places are there because they are junk and the owners dumped them. I see a lot of Yellow tools. I own a few too. Most tool companies seem to sell a warranty these days and challenge the tool buyer to use it. This philosophy in tool manufacturing has produced many tools that qualify for “Murphy’s Law” of tools.
“The best tool they make is barely good enough”
“Barely” is not what it used too be, and does not apply to all tools by specific companies. I like the old PC tools best.
I bought a dewalt sawzall in 1995 and it's still working just fine, although I have had a lot of problems with the chuck that holds the blade.I loosen the chuck with the allen wrench and cannot remove the blade.
It's "stuck" in the chuck. I've cleaned the chuck, sprayed it with WD-40, etc. all to no avail.For that reasone I would not buy a Dewalt sawzall (unless they have improved the chuck).
Take the "chuck" apart.Use a small file or some emery cloth, whatever, and some brake cleaner, to clean it up, and deburr it. Coat it thoroughly inside, and on every part that moves against another, with silicone grease. I'm betting that takes care of it.If blades begin to stick again, coat them with silicone grease before inserting them.
"Other than telling us how to live, think, marry, pray, vote, invest, educate our children and now, die, I think the Republicans have done a fine job of getting government out of our personal lives" -Craig Carter.
I found this is in some troubleshooting tips"Keep all factory tests as short as possible. If there isn't a dirt cheap solution to any problems found, don't test for them. "that pretty much sums it up for just about everything huh?...And this one...."When the prototype has been built and working correctly, start removing components until it fails to work properly. Then manufacture it with the minimum parts required to make it work. In mid production run, change selected over designed components to their border line equivalents. ""
Being in the trades, it's entertaining to hear the numerous stories of why someone will never, or always, use this tool or that. That's too simplistic for the complexities of tool design, just like the Ford vs. Chevy arguments.
In each tool category there are designs that are good for various purposes and it shouldn't come as a surprise that not all good designs come from one manufacturer. Choosing tools based on color is a sure sign that not enough effort is going into tool selection.
usually on jobs I don't get much choice as to what brand , flavor or color I would like to have. For the most part I don't even care what the shop sends out....it is their money .
they want to send out worn out benders, or 85' fish tapes, or a Greenlee 555 with Enfield shoes.
I ask for GRC and they buy IMC...good for them What I buy for my personal use is something else.....this crap happens to be Dewalt, but I would bitch if it was someone else's junk just as easily."
I couldn't believe what I was reading. I have the same DeWalt 18V, 3 speed hammer drill. I did a job where I installed flashing on 100 decks. The deck material was flexicord cantelivered out past the exterior wall. On that job I drilled just over 1,340 1/4" holes approximately 2- 3" deep. ( I actually calculated the amount of holes because I was so impressed with the tools performance) I went through a lot of mason bits but with two batteries and always having one on the charger I had no problems whatsoever. I get the same performance from my DeWalt 12" compound miter saw. I could use it to cut framing lumber one day and crown the next and still get excellent results. Did you contact the company? I've never had to.
No , I did not, as the drill is about 2 years old,
I would not be so ticked off if there was any indication that it was going bad... and not just fail in about ten minutes"
Been workin with Dewalt, Milwaulkee and PC cordless for a decade. All seem decent, none are perfect, sounds like a bum tool(made on a Friday?). I've thrashed them all, 14 and 18 volt, and haven't noticed a consistent weakness in any brand. Some are stronger than others in certain situations but often the pluses mitigate the minuses. If one hammer could do everything then there'd only be one type of hammer. Plus tradesmen who can do "everything" rarely do one thing to excellence, myself included. Instead of bashing a brand, find out which does what a bit better. My colleagues and I have found Dewalt a good medium, offering versatility and compatibilty in their cordless line. Yet in extreme situations we will still grab the Bosch Bulldog hammer drill, Skill Holehawg, Skill wormdrive, Hitachi comp.mtr. saw, Dewalt tablesaw or whatever does the job.
I don't know if anyone else said this, but lots of manufacturers that were really great years ago have been bought out and now their products are produced as cheaply as posible in China or Singapore and so you don't have nearly the quality you learned to associate with the brand. For instance, Sunbeam used to make good products, then someone else bought them out and put the Sunbeam name on junk. (Don't know if that's changed recently--haven't really seen any Sunbeam products out there.)
the same thing happened to Elu...... IIRC the B&D service store was dumping Elu routers and sanders while they had the new Dewalt copies right next to them."
Feels like "Deja Vou" all over again.
About a year ago, Bought a replacement 14.4v DW XRP driver/drill to replace my 4 year old one. After 3 months in closet, first time out of the box same problems you are describing.
Free spinning w/ no engagement. Can't switch from 2-3 speed etc. Speed switch all locked up. Called the Co, and had to take it to repair ctr in Fairless Hills, PA.
About 2 wks later, it came back via brown truck, no probs since. Actually Started a thread here about it, and was not the only guy w/ these probs.
Otherwise...all my other yellow tools work fine (even that old 14.4)
14.4 impact driver, 12" compound miter, 1/2" corder impact driver (for cars etc), sanders, 5 3/8" cordless saw, "Rotozip type tool", angle grinder, and oh yea, the 14.4 flashlight.
yup.....I am replying to their short answer right now !!!My other things have been just fine ....except the crappy cords.....
"
As long as we're piling on Dewalt, I bought their jigsaw a few years ago. I never liked the blade clamp (the one mounted on top of the machine directly above the blade). After three years of (very) light use the stupid blade mechanism wouldn't release the blade; it just made a big "click" when I turned it. I took it apart and it's sort of a castle-ated (sp?) plastic nut that prevents you from applying too much torque in either direction. Unfortunately I had overtightened it and the design of the nut prevented me from applying enough torque to loosen it again. There wasn't even a way to turn it manually; the actual mechanism was at the bottom of a metal tube. (Not that I didn't try.)
I replaced it with the new Bosch jigsaw with the blade ejection lever on the front. It's 1,000,000x better.
whicn Bosch?"
The 1590EVS.
......thanks"