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Cheap power tools

I think I am done with cheap power tools. I should know better. I bought a drill press at Harbor Freight and figured for what I need it for it would be fine. ( Drilling tuner holes and fretboard dot inlay holes)

I have used it once and it seems to be a real piece of crap. I should have spent twice the amount and gotten a half decent one like a Skil, Ryobi or Craftsman.

The chuck has so much slop it vibrates the work as you drill, leaving out of round holes and the depth stop is a total joke as the whole piece that is supposed to stop just gives under mild pressure.

I have had great success with the 10 dollar Japanese pull saw I got there for cutting fret slots but will not buy any more power tools from them or other "cheap" tool places.

Maybe it will make a 1/2 decent drum sander.

If you were planning on getting one, don't waste your money.

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Permalink Reply by John Sawyer on May 25, 2015 at 11:20am

Lol, yes... somewhere, may years ago, I built a capacitor based battery zapper... used to demonstrate how to turn small resistors into flashbulbs...

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Permalink Reply by Clarky on May 25, 2015 at 11:01pm

Mostly agree with you, but sometimes expensive isn't any better. You've just got to watch what you buy. Dremels are quite expensive and they aren't always reliable. I always try and get a few reviews of something before I buy now, that's the good thing about the internet. Even if I'm in a shop I check reviews on my phone first.

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Permalink Reply by Pascal on May 29, 2015 at 7:19am

most dremels break cause of pushing the bits to hard into the workpiece so the rpm drop to much. it is a high speed, low torque motor and the bit should do the work, not the muscles in a arm. i use dremel alot and sometimes for long time without turning the thing off. never have problems with them to be honest.

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Permalink Reply by john mackay on May 26, 2015 at 10:57pm

how long do these hold the charge for once the dead battery is revitalize.

no info on the net...

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Permalink Reply by darryl kernaghan on May 27, 2015 at 10:43am

The ones i've done are still re charging after more than a year John

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Permalink Reply by Pascal on May 29, 2015 at 7:16am

i am a guy that rather buys a good brand used than new cheap chinese copies.

bought a old used metal lathe. with all bearings renewed and electrical repair it cost me the same as a new chinese lathe but it is alot better. my drillpress i got out of a mobile militairy repairtruck and that was build just after WW2. for smaller work i do have one of them cheap drillpresses. solved the shaking problem with other pully's and new chuck. them pullys where so off balance it shook the teeth out of yer jaw just looking at it.

im out of a lumber family and when i see them cheap chainsaws out of china for sale they make me shiver. tried starting one and the plastic casing bend so much you could see the sword/chain twisting. brrrrrrrr

(ok i messed up my hands with a stihl but that was user error and not related to the saw)