| Author | Message | ||
     Phatkidwit1eye |
I have been slowly building up my tool collection and I have really nice hand tools. Now I'm at the point where I'm going to start purchasing the expensive stuff. A lot of these things I wont use on a daily basis such as an air compressor,air tools,mig welder,drill press and all the other fun tools. I spent a lot of time looking at different places and it seems I'm having a hard time finding a middle ground on whats junk and whats not. I looked at places like harbor freight and the prices are nice but would I be buying a new one in a few years? Then I looked at some expensive tools but there would be no way I could afford the type of tool I would want and would have to go with a lesser model. What do you all think? Go cheap and cross your fingers or bite the bullet and buy the expensive stuff? | ||
| Stealthxb |
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/32777/62140.html | ||
| Darthane |
Phat - if you can at all afford it, always buy good tools. You'll never regret buying a good tool, but a poor one can and often will break at the most inopportune time. Most good ones come with a decent warranty in the unlikely event that they DO break. As always, you get what you pay for. I'm still building mine, and I've bought a mix - but when I buy cheap stuff it's things like dead blow hammers and magnets and prybars. For any kind of true 'tool' I buy the good stuff. I'll be moving into the same area as you soon (air tools, bench grinders, and the like) and plan on applying the same philosophy to those. | ||
| Crusty |
Don't be afraid of used tools, if you're looking at big ticket items like drill presses, welders, lathes. When my last company started downsizing, I got a full size stand alone drill press for free. All I had to do was haul it away. They were going to scrap it. Check out used machinery shops; they have some good stuff for cheap. | ||
| Phatkidwit1eye |
All my hand tools are Craftsman. I have just about all the sockets and wrenches I will probly ever need. I was looking at craftsman air compressors and such. The impression I have is that they don't have a life time warranty on those items. Would I be correct in saying that? | ||
| Henrik |
AFAIK only lifetime warranty on hand tools etc. It does include impact sockets and such though. I think Craftsman *used to* have long warranty on certain power tools (I think someone here mentioned power drills), but no more. I'm looking at compressors as well. So far I've decided to look for oil lubed compressors. Supposedly less noise and longer life. Can't go full size as I need to move it around for building projects etc. so either stacked tank or pancake. Some of those make up to 150 PSI, which should make for decent usage with 4 gallon tank for say finish nailing and such. Henrik | ||
| Phatkidwit1eye |
Thats where I'm getting confused as to what size I will need. I will be doing alot of restoration work on my new rig. So I will need something that will be able to run a medium sized sand blaster and also a paint sprayer. It's starting to get a bit pricy b/c if I buy something that runs on 220 I will have to get an electrician to run a 220 out to my garage. I would really like to do this b/c I would be able to get the mig welder that I really want. What really gets me mad is my uncle. Guys been selling mac tools for a looong time. No matter how many times I ask him. He still won't give me a deal. He has so many cool tools and he never uses them. Hell,His tool box is taller than I am and I'm 6'2. | ||
| Phatkidwit1eye |
Crusty.. Do you know any of the industrial names that make such tools. I always look though the for sale section of the news paper. I always seem to find decent deals but I have never heard of some of the brand names. | ||
| Lgpch |
I have a 2000 M2 and the tools that come into use the most are the standard stuff you would have in any complete tool box. This is a partial list of tools that get quite a bit of use in my garage in regards to the bike, but might not be as common. - Mill/Drill: With the exception of a lathe this baby will manufacture quite a few parts. - bench grinder - handheld grinder - bike stands front and rear: got to have em. - Dead blow hammer - Mig welder With the exception of the dead blow, you can find these tools at unreal deals if you just stay on the look-out. | ||
| Lgpch |
I read my post and I think I made it read like a dead blow hammer can't be found at an unreal deal. Basically you can get a dead blow for like five bucks. | ||
| New12r |
I am an auto mechanic by trade and you will never substitute a good tool for a cheap one. good tool will rarely fail and have better warrantys. As far as power tools go it is the same thing. Warrantys on power tools are always limited, as these tools are expensive to repair and have shorter life spans than you typical hand tool. | ||
| Captainkirk |
I am a professional aircraft mechanic and agree with new12r. Craftsman and equivalent is fine for *home use* which means, not on a daily basis. I've had Craftsman wrenches spread under heavy torque and lay my knuckles open. I've had brand new screwdrivers round off the screw head and tear up the bit at the same time. I've had hex (Allen) sockets twist up like a barber pole. Think about the use before you buy. A $40.00 Harbor Freight bench grinder will probably grind as well as the $200.00 Mac one. Ratchets and impact sockets are a different story. As for compressors, buy one large enough (read;industrial) to provide 80 psi WORKING PRESSURE for impact tools. Try Grainger (www.grainger.com). As for Sears, having worked for them at one time I know their policy is lifetime warranty on HAND TOOLS ONLY. And it's up to the store manager's discretion as to whether or not the tool was "abused". The long and short of it is: If you want tools to "get you by" then shop for bargains. If you want tools to last a lifetime, then spring for the name brand.I just bought two MAC impact sockets for my primary drive that set me back fifty bucks. The good news is, unless stolen or lost, I'll never have to buy them again.  |
