Ok,
My Makita LS 1220 is getting a little long in the tooth. I’ve been thinking about a new saw for a while but since I no longer use it every day have been struggeling with actually buying one.
10-12″ non-sliding compound mitre. One that has provisions for Crown Clamps. It would be nice if the store actually had the clamps in stock.
I was at lowes and didn’t really find one I liked. most had no provisions for clamps and the store didn’t ahve clamps for the ones that did.
I’ve bought a few new tools recently but most of my stuff is old Dewalt, Porter Cable, Bosch and a few odd Makita or Hitachi tools mixed in.
Do you guys find yourselves buying stuff that isn’t exactly what you wanted because all the tools stores are gone and HD and Lowes have such a limited selection?
Replies
.......funny that you mention that, I was there just yestiday and was thinking the same thing... it seems that more of the handtools are turning Kobalt ¯ blue...
Maybe the big names are getting tired of paying rent in all those stores,
...or maybe its all Bushs fault...
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'Wer ist jetzt der Idiot?'
I got mine through the internet. Found exactly what I wanted and the shipper dropped it at the door. Piece o' cake. Some shippers pay for shipping too! (I.E. Tool Crib of the North) But its your call. Good luck!
"Do you guys find yourselves buying stuff that isn't exactly what you wanted because all the tools stores are gone and HD and Lowes have such a limited selection?"
I do precisely the opposite, and generally buy tools and other stuff from local folks, though it may not be quite what I was after and certainly costs more, at least in simple monetary terms. For example, my favorite snow shovel (and I do realize how thin the audience able to appreciate application of such an adjective to that particular noun), was made by a neighbor, using only materials from our shared mountain. Had I paid for it in cash, rather than work, it might have cost (in simple monetary terms) four times the big-box price of one that may work better.
Granted, there's only one Big Box within a hundred miles, but I've seen how Wal-Mart has devastated the formerly more-or-less self-sufficient economy of our valley. Where once we were a vibrant cultural and economic community of hardware, food, and clothing stores; now we just run precious little mountain town art shops and build second mansions for folks who had just as soon never meet us.
}}}}
Ted, where are you? Your personal profile doesn't have any info.
"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
Ted, could you fill out your profile a bit so we can all have an idea what area you are mentioning? Thanks
half of good living is staying out of bad situations
Rez, Len Barker's perfect game on STO now. History from 81.A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Really something to be showing the whole game like that.
be wouldn't it be something to see the Cavs tie it tommorrow?
half of good living is staying out of bad situations
What a great game.
And tomorrow's another day.
A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Do you guys find yourselves buying stuff that isn't exactly what you wanted because all the tools stores are gone and HD and Lowes have such a limited selection?
Only when I'm in a pinch. I try to find what I want on the internet. Most of the tool shops around here cater to big business, and I just don't get the service I need.
BTW, thanks for the tip about Opie & Anthony. They are pretty funny, and much better than the other options locally.
Hate me today, hate me tomorrow, hate me for all the things I didn't do.
Edited 5/14/2006 5:08 pm ET by dustinf
BTW, thanks for the tip about Opie & Anthony. They are pretty funny, and much better than the other options locally.
FOr whatever reason, Patrice O'Neal hasn't been on lately. Wait till he shows up.
My wife and I saw Rich Vos on Friday night. He killed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you get a chance to see him do it.
I have been blessed with having the same tool supplier since starting out 34 years ago. We have quite a relationship.
http://www.electrictool.com/
I have never been w/o a working power too and I owe that to them. If they can't repair on the spot, they give me something to get me through the day. These guys are the best.A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
I've been fortunate in that their has always been several tool stores carrying a very wide variety of tools.
But the internet has givin me the oportunity to check out all of them and even purchase one if I couldnt find it locally.
I very seldom buy a major tool from a big box. Cant even remember the last time that I did.
Doug
For power tools, if I need it "today" 9 out of 10 I buy it at a big box. If I can plan ahead (getting much better at that) I buy off the net.
For whatever reason (probly undercut by big box, and the roving mfgr sales trucks -- Dewalt seems pretty strong around here), not many local places carry a full range of tools so as long as you want what they have, great. Else, big box, net or SOL.
For hand tools, absolutely other way round. Local places here have what you need for whatever trade they cater to. E.g., need any masonry tool you've ever even heard off, and plenty you haven't -- local masonry supply has a box full of any tool you can name, in every size you could imagine. Bix box -- they've never heard of what it is you need and don't carry it.
"Let's get crack-a-lackin" --- Adam Carolla
Have yet to buy any tool at a big box. Never have bought a single stick of lumber from them either; have bought a couple appliances, nails, screws, wire nuts, flooring at them however.
We havae close to 10% sales tax here, so internet even with shipping is generally lower cost for identical items.
>>"Have yet to buy any tool at a big box.
C'mon now, not a fair test. You got fully equipped machine shop(s). How many tools do you make? ;-)
"Let's get crack-a-lackin" --- Adam Carolla
More and more I'm going to the internet for tools. If the Box stores don't have what I want or I'm not 100% on something they carry, I'm will ing to wait. I'm sick of the crapola they try to foist on you and the name brands have dwindled.
Fortunately there are some stores around here that cater to the pro that carry names like Max, or Ingersoll Rand, or Powermatic.
The best way to think of Home Depot is that it's kinda like a very large never-ending garage sale. Don't expect them to have anything in particular in stock, or if they do, to know where it is, or what it is.
Go ahead and look. If they have something you want at a reasonable price, buy it. If they don't, order it online. If that's too slow, try Fastenal or Grainger.
-- J.S.
"10-12" non-sliding compound mitre. One that has provisions for Crown Clamps. It would be nice if the store actually had the clamps in stock. "
as to that Q ... do they still make the Dewalt 705?
the 12" chop. Mine has the hole for the crown stop.
even thought I bought mine many years ago reconditioned thru the original Tool Crib ... I did indeed buy the crown stop ay home depot.
and no ... why would I even limit my tool purchases to what HD or Lowes decides to carry? That Q is almost insulting!
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Husky, Irwin, Kobalt, Rigid....Absorbing all the others when they can. I bought a chalk line to replace a worn out one and now strait line is Irwin?
Don't get me started on my Levelution levels !!!!! Friggin best level on the planet. Bought out by Irwin. PO'd man. I hate that blue/yellow, sad, real sad.
The same thing is happening here with a big green box
Limited choice few quality tools and a lot of chinese rubbish for the home handyman,in the states your lucky to have the mail order capability over the net,I have bought hand tools over the internet from Lee Valley and Gareth Wade no problem be more creative in your tool hunt .Stay with the good Stuff.
Melbourne Australia.
I TRY to plan far enough ahead that I can get it off the net. Saving 7.25% sales tax will pay a good chunk of shipping charges, and some places have free shipping.
jt8
"The difference between greatness and mediocrity is often how an individual views a mistake..."-- Nelson Boswell
I think 95% of my tools are from my local tool supplier (small Dad and Son ) or from Western Tool and a lot of them from the web Tool Crib/Amazon. I have bought some small items from HD when it was closer to go there. I think ten or fifteen years ago packages from the ToolCrib were arriving weekly to my house. (Sweet)!
Just recently bought the Bosch tablesaw from Amazon pretty good deal got the saw, outfeeds, stand and extra Freud blade for $330.
Oh by the way I hate Wallyworld we have 3 of those junk boxes in our "what was a small community" area.
Jeff
My local Lowes has all the CM saw accesorries for the DeWalt brand. I was in there yesterday. I was looking at benchdog featherboards and right next to it was the crown clamps, laser attachment, hold down clamps, dust bags, and table extensions.
Find the featherboards and you will find the crown clamps. The employees won't know they are there but they are!
Don't know where you are located, but in the Chicago area there is a store called "Berland's House of Tools" in Lombard, Ill. (also in Palatine & Joliet), that is the old fashioned tool store on steroids. They cater to contractors, so they have all the quality tools - from ALL the manufacturers. Everything from power & hand tools to ladders - imagine going into HD or Lowes where the tool section would take up 1/3rd of the store, instead of a couple of small isles. Their prices are comparable to the big box stores, but do get beat out with the big sale deals of the big boxes. But usually the difference is no more than a few bucks anyway. Plus, the store clerks actually know about the tools they sell!
I know it sounds like I'm the store owner, but not so - just a woodworker who goes there more often than my wife would like.
If you ever get to Chi town, take a trip there...