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I picked up a Porter Cable 14.4 Cordless Drill. I was 50 miles from home when I realized that I had used my other at home and it was still there. Maybe it was just the excuss I needed to pick up another drill.
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Love those good excuses. Burned out my compressor a couple of weeks ago (again) just before beginning trim on a project, the repair shop said a week and with them that means two weeks...so I finally got a Paslode Impulse Finish gun (the new angled one). A gift certificate from X-mas eased the pain. Awesome tool, should have bought one a long time ago--so nice to not have to drag hoses and a compressor around, the nails hold like crazy. Smells bad and is loud, but then that could also describe me....
*Finally got a rotary hammer,hitachi 38Y,gold color contractors edition,5 year warranty and a bit and chisel set for same.NOW watch out....:)jw
*ive been eye balling a new dove tail jig, either the 24" PC or the Leigh. Still trying to talk myself into the expense.
*There's a PC 690 router calling my name from somewhere, and I need to make some shelves, and ooooohhhh I want a router...AND it's my birthday today! 30! Yipe! I need a new tool to make me feel better...did
*Been rewiring lt. fixtures, changing out ballasts, etc. lately. Got tired of using my 2nd set of nail bags for elec. work- tools, esp. screwdrivers, end up lying on their sides piled up at the bottom of the pouches.........Went to lumber yard and picked up electrician's bag- lots of slots to keep 'em all upright and accessible. Bought MTM brand, MY FAVORITE, which is what I have for my main carp. bags........Have looked at the Dewalt bags a few times and they appear to be pretty good units. The only thing is, I'm getting tired of all this yellow stuff, have enough of it already. It's like, at some point you'll be able to be totally Dewalt designer coordinated- call it DeGucci!
*Did- It's so true what you say! It not just women like has always been said about shopping to feel better. Instead of shoes or clothing, men like to got out and buy tools, electronics, gadgets..........I think the primal thing for tools is that men can get that new router and bring home the meat with it. Why, chuck in a straight bit and dress that puppy out!
*Ron- I've been reading your posts for awhile here, getting a picture of what kind of guy you are........You're powerless, aren't you? LOL :o)Ken
*Bought a new ratcheting tap handle today. I still keep my fingers in the engineering a little bit and build control panels for a local shop. now I should be able to breeze through that backpanel. (I've tried chucking the tap into a drill but after the first few holes it just spins out, dangit!)
*ken not powerless.. married with children, Im the al bundy of the tav :)"There's a PC 690 router calling my name from somewhere, and I need to make some shelves, and ooooohhhh I want a router... AND it's my birthday today! 30! Yipe! I need a new tool to make me feel better... did "Some Kids....:)
*Some Kids....:) , Ya Ron. I can't say a router would have been what it took to make me say yippie when I was 30. Now I am happy if the batteries in the remote work, lol.
*Yesterday bought a Robo laser level. I don't know how I would have done this job without it........... But I tell you the picture I hung is about a level as it gets..
*Gee Dale, how primitive can you get? We usually call surveyors to hang pictures, you have to account for the curvature of the earth.
*Hey dale How long did it take you to jack the house up to get the picture level. Ive got it down to about 4 hours :)
*Oh you guys...............Looks like Im gona need way more tools for this job......"HUNNY, CAN I HAVE THE CREDIT CARD AND THE CAR KEYS."Lets see a couple 20 ton jacks lots a cribbing a few o' these a couple those........Now as for the whole curvature thing.....Wait a minute....Maybe Stan could help with that one. I'll hafta ask..Note to self: Renew subscription to "Fine Picture Hanging"
*Had to cut a multitude of 12 inch by ten foot strips of formica for an inlay job. Was already anticipating the pain when a buddy mentioned the Virutex slitter. Wow. Buy this tool if you do any laminate work !
*Rod- How the heck were you doing strips before? I can understand your elation! Slitter is the way to go. -Ken
*Ken, If you live in Seattle, going in to Hardwicks on pay day is what leaves you powerless...... Sam
*Jeez, you guys, didn't buy a tool today, just ballasts and misc electrical parts..........day's not over yet, though! ...........Did stop at Harbor Freight on way to elec. supply house. Don't even know why I even went in there. Got disgusted with all the crappy stuff and walked out...........Sam- Tell me about Hardwicks. I'm in Olympia. Website? -Ken
*Humm, let see, lawn seed, fertilizer, ahh there we go, tools. Humm, brad point bits... yeah... Self Centering bits...Wow.. Wallet check.... hummmm... lawn seed, fertilizer... checkout counter.. bummer.True story.
*Steve, Been there, done that, on more than one occasion. Sorta like those commercials "Bag of grass seed eight dollars, Bag of fertilizer fifteen dollars, that new tool you wanted sixty dollars, The look on your face when you realize you don't have enough money............... "
*Today I received my new toolbelt from Elizabeth at Diamond Back USA. Sweet! Loaded it up--very comfortable. Can't wait to break it in. http://www.diamondbackusa.com/--Dave
*Well, who needed grass seed and fertilizer anyway ?
*Ken,Head into Seattle on I-5. Get off in the university district. Head east about one block, to Roosevelt. Turn right, (south), and go a couple blocks until you see Hardwicks on the left.One trip into there, and you'll leave penniless, and dry as a bone from all the drooling. From that time forward, you will find yourself making excuses for going to Seattle on every payday.
*Ken, Luka just gave you the scoop on Hardwicks. The exit you take is the 45th street exit (first exit after the ship canal bridge. It's two blocks to Roosevelt and the rest is history... Both new and used (lots of used stuff) tools, hardware, etc, etc. Good selection of not so common hand tools that you won't find at most places. Where 'bouts in Oly are you located? Grew up there.... Sam
*Sam- Thanks (to Luka, too) for the Hardwicks info, know right where to go since I've spent a few years up there............I live on Oly Eastide (Central St.), about three blocks from Roosevelt Elementary and San Francisco Bakery.............Only above average tool places here are Western Tool Supply, and Coastal Nail. Lumber yards: Hardel, Bayview, Lumbermens, Lincoln Creek, Tanglewilde. There is a flooring supply house that also has laminate tools and supplies.......Yeah, Olympia, kinda out in the boonies but I love it, been here for 29 yrs. -Ken
*I have to ditto the comments on Hardwicks & Sons. I first heard on the place on the forum, I think Crazy Legs mentioned it. I live in So Cal and took a vacation to Seattle. Hardwicks was on the list of must sees. Even the GF was interested. We were redoing her kitchen and need cabinet hardware. She liked stuff at Restoration Hardware and Hardwicks had same stuff much cheaper!! That validated the trip.Peace,Martin
*rezAnother homeowner. One day we will rule the world.So I'm in Lowes today buying supplies and what do I see but a Bosch wormdrive 1677m sitting there with a clearance price of $106.31. I mean I don't have an immediate need right now but I know I will sometime so I buy it and it gets me wondering about whats been happening to bosch lately. The big boys Homedepot and Lowes both dont carry their tools anymore hence their clearouts. Does anyone know the scoop on bosch 'cause I always liked the tools and would like to know if the quality is changing.
*Rez- What's happening to Bosch? You mean those great tools of yesterday? Three words: MADE IN TAIWAN.
*actually its not taiwan, its worse. China.... I wish Bosch were still mainly German, but that trend is faultering.
*so the present drills are decreasing in quality? please dont leave me hanging here. i gotta know if i should go makita or hilti instead. the thumb switch for forward reverse is too akward on the portercable or i'd go there. thanks
*Rez- Ya know, good ole Makita just keeps on keepin' on. There's probably more 9.6v stick-style drills around than anything else, and they're proven to be very durable. A lot of their stuff is made in USA and myself, I'll continue to consider the blue tools. -Ken
*Just picked up a Bosch 3912 12" dual compound miter saw. Got it on E-Bay as new for 278.00. There are 3 left if anyone is interested.
*The best tool that I have bought lately is the BenchDog 250 router table for my Delta contractor saw. This is a great tool, goes on the left side and is solid as a rock. Excellent fence and vac hookup,and the instructions were well written. I have a biesemeyer fence and machined pulleys with a link belt. Also using a blade dampener, this set up is really giving me great results.I have had to buy several K's worth tools this past year after all my where stolen. Hard as hell to replace stuff that is 25years old. Can still get everything but just doesn't feel the same. [email protected]
*Does anybody have a preferred tool supplier in Michigan?--TJM
*I bought a Makita die grinder because they were out of the Milwaukee. Also bought a set of 8 carbide cutting burrs. Spent about $200.00.We're coping some BIG carved crown. The die grinder gets into those little nooks and cranies that the coping saw can't. A dremel is too undersized for this.Works great. Fantastic frustration saver.Ed.
*I just picked up the Kreg pocket jig pro-pack. Pretty sweet.
*Hey, Guys- ATTENTION ALL MONEYSAVERS - Acting on advice from over at FWW (you DO go there, don't you?), picked up some Bessey 40" K-Body clamps for $26 each at Home depot (regular price $39). Did the HD price matching plus 10% off thing. Go to http://www.sears.com and print out sale price of $29. Take that to the HD checkout with your clamps- go home with Bessey 40" K-Bodies for only $26 each. Sweeeeeeet! -Ken
*Just bought a DW920 HD Cordless Screwdriver. It can articulate to a 45 degree, pretty powerful for screws, not enough rpm's for drilling, light enough too.$99 at HD. cc
*Bought me one of them fancy new pencil sharpeners for them square carp pencils. Okay, I didn't but it. Guy at the lumber yard gave it to me to try. Used it once, threw it somewhere on the dash of my van. People actually pay for these?
*Hi, Mike- Good thing you didn't pay anything for it, it's a useless gimcrack. Kinda defeats the whole reason the carp. pencil is the way it is. Cheers, Ken.
*Just picked up a nice set of stair gages at Hardwicks (this is why you need to check this place out, Ken!) by Starrett: http://www.starrett.com/catalog/catalog/groupf.asp?groupid=222Never have liked the little buttons, these things are the cat's meow. Sam
*Just pick up a nice set of stair gages at Hardwicks (this is why you need to check this place out, Ken!) by Starrett: http://www.starrett.com/catalog/catalog/groupf.asp?groupid=222Never have like the little buttons, these things are the cat's meow. Sam
*Dang it, ebay got me again. Picked up a Bostitch brad nailer and compressor kit for 195.00. I gotta get rid of this Tim Taylor thing. I didn't even need it. Steve
*Sam- Could you repeat that again, please?.....Just kiddin'.....Yeah, I got me some nice brass stair buttons and they work OK and.....Holy crap! Just look at those damn things! Starrett Stair Friggin' Gages! And of course they're so much better than trad. gages, how could a guy resist? What, about 20-25 bucks, Sam? -Ken
*Ken, $20 and well worth it (I think!). Every time I used the little button style, it always seemed like they were inaccurate due to the minimal contact with the stock you were working with. Sort of an extravagance, I know, but what the hell! :-) Steve, don't even get me started on that Ebay thing. My wife is threatening to put some sort of lock on our computer at home........
*Got a 16 pc. set of Forstener bits @ WWWH for 40$made in china but they wont see heavy use so the first time I need one they will have paid for themselves.Now I'm in need of a jig saw, my PC crapped the bed,good riddance!I was looking at the Bosch but now I'm leaning toward The Metabo. Any one out there have any guidance?ThanxMr. Tliving from tool purchase to tool purchase.
*Bosch. They're great.
*bosch crown angel finder, sweet for the urethane(sp?) crown i have to install next week, make the miters easier on this old victorian.
*Got paid today, so I can use my b-day money. I stopped at Lowe's on the way home to check out their price for the PC 690 - $159, about average. BUT, sitting next to it was a flash of red: the new Milwaukee Body-Grip, for $169. It's about 3 pounds heavier, much better switch in a much better location (right at your right thumb when using the body grip, better depth adjustment, and the ability to adjust depth from above when mounted in a table. So the decision is made, unless someone here can contradict me within 22 hours. I don't feel a great need for a plunge router, which was the only advantage the 690 had, and I wasn't going to get the kit anyway. Now, I'm just going to do a bit of price research, and probably pick it up on the way home tomorrow. Happy happy,did
*did- Do a search here and at FWW and you'll be up to speed. I think there were reports about the BodyGrip, perhaps even by Mr. Router Pat Warner. -Ken
*Let us know how you like the Milwaukee, did. Went through the same choice ......wound up with the 693 kit $179
*Yesterday- Friday- Picked up the Bosch 1275 3x21 VS belt sander, may eventually get the sanding frame. Also got the DMT fine diamond bench stone. My usual supplier here in Olympia is Western Tool Supply. Will ONLY go to HD for tools if there's no other choice. Besides, Western does price matching. -Ken
*Couldn't find my nail set so when we were in Lowe's to pick up some narrow crown staples I also picked up a new set. I went with Stanley's color coded three set with the rubber grips. Also picked up some Gorilla Glue to set decorative trim atop kitchen cabinets. First time user of this type of glue, stuff works.
*Richard...gorilla glue is great for staining hands, but works poorly for what it is intended for. It bonds by foam forming, and sometimes pushes the joint apart, either way the foam is the bond, and the joint is only as strong as the foam. I've had them fail plenty, and have thus quit using it. You be the judge.
*Ken...thanks for the heads-up on the clamp deal. I lightened 2 local HD's of 10 clamps each this week using your method, and thus am $500 poorer. But won't need to rush anything out of glue-up for need of clamps for awhile.
*KCDon't be so messy! JKThis is my only experience with GG, it worked on this application. I didn't want to shoot a finish nail through those tiny corner posts and a dowel screw wouldn't work on this project.