Hello fellow nailbenders. I’m just seeing how this place works. Here’s some pertinent, or at least irrelevant, information on me:
I’m not a professional tradesman. I’ve built a couple of decks and assisted my brother-in-law in some remodeling projects. My tool collection is LAME: a DeWalt 18V cordless driver/drill, Hitachi sliding compound miter saw, Bosch barrel grip jigsaw. They’re all nice tools, but of course I want more. I worked in lumberyards for 10 years, so I have some perspective “from the other side of the counter”. I’d rather buy wood at a local lumberyard than the “big box”.
I’m here to learn, and will chime in on threads I feel I can contribute to.
Bob
Replies
Where are you?
Welcome. Glad to see new people.
Perhaps you can enlighten us, from the sales perspective, about specials, value, illogical tool name preferences and how to get the most from the local lumber or hardware store. Anything you can add, from whatever perspective you choose to take, will be most welcomed by myself and, I assume, most other forum denizens.
Have fun.
Come on in and take yer shoes off, set awhile.
Welcome to Breaktime
Dave
Welcome -- and I don't think the Hitachi is lame -- it was a toss-up for me whether I bought that or my Ryobi, I'd had really good reports on both.
Lame would be Craftsman, B&D, Ryobi, or Chicago tools.
You've got the right stuff. The DW is bordrline but we'll let you in with it.
;>)
Welcome aboard.
Excellence is its own reward!
Skil falls into the lame category (except for the model 77).
You know, I was thinking the other day that we haven't ever had anyone who worked at a lumberyard drop in on us here - Unless I've just missed something, which is entirely possible.
Always glad to have another geek around........
Coffee, Welcome, I too am pretty new here. All the folks seem pretty cool! Very helpful, sometimes mischievous ( wouldn't have it any other way, right?) always informative! Concerning the tool quality and experience; most of us started out with nothing and still have most of it left. It takes time and desire. The rest will come along eventually. Again, Welcome! Come on in the waters fine.
Miami Sammi
I am about as newbie as newbie can be. In the last 72 hours I spent a dang near $1K in tools and haven't plugged them in for the first time, yet! Picked up the following:
DeWalt DW708 Sliding Compound Miter
DeWalt DW369 Circular Saw
Ryobi RJ160VK Reciprocating Saw
Bostitch N80SB Framing Nailer
RoboToolz RQ01001 Laser Level.
I bought these to finish my basement, which includes creating a room out of two via removing a wall. All poured concrete walls are being framed in, too. That 708 scares me, but I know I'm more man than it (its a tool, remember, not a man). :)
Kartman,
Did you get your saw to unlock? I have the 708 and can't think of any reason why it wouldn't unlock. It is a sweet tool, but heavy. I suggest the portable stand to go with it. Mine is on site in Wyoming or I would go see if I could figure out how to unlock it. Good luck.
ColeCole Dean
Dean Contracting
Yes, Mad Dog on another thread got me up and working. It would seem the black trigger/handle assembly paints a different picture for anyone not use to the 708s right out of the box. When I squeezed the handle the 'trigger' stayed in place and the handle travelled downward. Mad Dog instructed me to snap the 'trigger' (in the upwards direction). I had a little resistance but it did move upwards and this solved my little mystery. WooHoo, let the teeth start spinning (and my fingers and limbs stay clear of them!)!!
Kart- A while back I decided to get reciprocating saw. It was a toss-up between pc's Tigersaw and the Milwaukee. The tool dealer wanted to know what my main uses would be and I replied I wanted something strong that would stand the test of time and be multi functional. He recommended the Milwaukee seeing the Tigersaw with it's added orbital action which is helpful for cutting wood also has something like 6 additional moving parts inside compared to the Milwaukee. This means an increased opportunity for something to go wrong. Seemed sensible to me and I've been a happy camper ever since. It's really a durable machine and the wrenchless blade change feature is a real time saver.
Kartman,
As they say: "all dressed up and no place to go"! Well this won't apply to you for long! Word of advice...Respect the Blades!!!! There are a whole lot of didgetless ( sp?) folks who just simply forgot where thier fingers were in relation to that ever hungry spinning blade. Like working w/electricity...Don't have to fear it, but you had better respect it! You prob know this but like Helen told me,"never hurts to think safety" (loose quote). Before long you'll be building w/ the best of them.I really like the Robo laser level. Makes for a nice finished product! Keep me posted on the project, ok?
Miami
Believe me when I say I have more than a healthy amount of respect and fear for sharp objects spinning around in close proximity to any part of me. This attitude had allowed me to keep all ten digits on my hands along with the ten digits on my feet!
Gotta agree w/ Joe on taking the Ryobi saw back. Milwky supersawzall is great! Recently I bought a Porter Cable Tigersaw that I like very much also ( have both).One thing that I (personally) like about both is the "keyless" twist-locking Blade changer. No allen wrench to loose and strip, etc. The ryobi just doesn't have the balance or power ( again this is just my opinion).
Miami
Hi, sammi,
I had the Milwaukee sawzall and gave it to a roofer starting out in business who stripped and reshingled my two-storey Victorian with five dormers for $1000 while i was wearing a leg brace. He did a fine job and i justified getting the Tiger Saw, since it cut so much faster. Unfortunately, this was just before they went to tool-free blade change.
I'd also lose the torpedo laser and get the remote control Robolaser.
Kartmann, don't you wish you'd asked us first? ;^)
The Ryobi doesn't have the life expectancy either, but hey, the guy is just doing a few weekend projects, maybe it'll last ten years if he babies it.
But then again, if he bought it at one of those boxes with a satisfaction gaurantee, he can use it and loose it.
Excellence is its own reward!
Re: Milwaukee quick change.
Has anybody looked into switching out the old style (allen wrench) for the nifty quick change system? Cityhix
Take that RYobi sawzall back where you got it & get a Milwaukee. Joe H
Joe,
Thanks for the advice. I bought the Ryobi for a single in-home task, which will require me to cut down a couple of headers and take down one load-bearing wall. If I were going to use this for any other purpose (professionally or otherwise) I'd definately had gone with the real Sawzill. Being that this was going to be a one-time use, I thought this was a decent option to literally renting one for a day. I have every intention of giving/selling it after the basement is done.
Another newbie. I have 20 years experience in the Carpentry/Maintenance business and the same in the Structural Steel business. So far have I have enjoyed all discussions. Will contribute when I can. I'm located in Southern Maine. the steel business is getting slow, so am considering going out on my own in the Carpentry/Maintenance business.
Dana
have you seen (reckOfest)
http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/list.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&ctx=256&cacheTag=x58-28bobl Volo Non Voleo Joe's cheat sheet
Hey Kartman, ya 'jacked my thread :-)
I'm outta the lumber business now, the lumberyard I worked at shut down 4 years ago after being in operation since the 1930's. It wasn't a matter of the "big boxes" putting them out of business; the yard was purchased by a company whose main business was exporting to Japan. When the Asian market hit the skids, they scaled back (WAY BACK), and closed the lumberyard. Really sad.
I didn't say my TOOLS were lame, the lameness is how few I have. The few I have work quite well, though. I started building a workbench over the weekend (laminated 2X4's glued and screwed) and my Hitachi got a new 60 tooth Freud blade, and the DeWalt got a workout driving nearly 100 screws. Hint: don't use "Fastap" brand screws on soft wood. They are "self-countersinking" and will go clear through the wood if you're not paying attention. Not that it happened to me or anything.
Thanks to all for the warm welcome. I'm from Seattle. I don't drink Charbucks coffee; in fact, I roast my own beans. Don't look so amazed. It's simple and the best coffee you'll ever drink.
Bob
Welcome aboard C.Geek. Ill slip a buck out from under my favorite table next to the ladies room and buy ya a drink...Hey jewel set one up for the CoffeeGeek....<G> Darkworksite4: When the job is to small for everyone else, Its just about right for me"
" in fact, I roast my own beans. Don't look so amazed."
Here in Maine, we bake our own beans on saturday night.
For a good drink, we "visit the cellar"
Excellence is its own reward!
Welcome... hope you enjoy yourself here... watch out for a few who care nothing except to be nasty, arrogant, and start fights. Actually there is only one like that... other than that this is a fine bunch of folks here.