WeldfabNeil

I got a 50 dollar Home Depot gift card from work. Also got some other stuff as well from work.

I know I am probably over analyzing something but I can't help it.

Yeh. I am sure it meets a homeowners needs. I just can't help but wonder how is it on the inside. I mean do they have poor fitting an finished parts there to?

Usually dont go to lowes but was there today. I noticed a kobalt miter saw with poor castings. Look at the top of the photo. I know its a poor photo but its the best i got. Also not pictured is a poor fitting baseplate. Anyone else notice this or is it a bad apple. Never really cared for kobalt myself. Maybe it runs better then it looks but I dought it.

I haven't specifically heard of electrical tool manufactures doing discounts. I haven't really paid attention to it so I don't know for sure. Perhaps check with local independent dealers as well as manufactures. When I lived in the Chicagoland area I went to berlands house of tools(local supply). I asked about a discount even thoe I was buying stuff either way. The cashier said no but called over the manager. The manager looked st me asked were an what classes. He didn't say anything but typed something in register an total went down 15.00 bucks. I have a feeling that's not policy but I wasn't gonna complain. I know airgas does a discount with student discount, but they don't have electrical tools.

The only tools I got this year is for the kid Ime helping with the lathe. It was all odds an ends picked up here an there. Didn't realize everything I got him till it came time to wrap it all.

I don't get extremely picky on sawzall blades. If there decent name brands with decent price ile buy em for future use. If I absolutely had to pick a specific brand it would be Millwakee or diablo.

I must add that I am getting pretty excited myself. I know it's not mine but it's great to be able to help.

Thanks for all the help. I am sure I will have more questions to come. His grandma let him have it early. Today we had enough time to put together a new kobalt workbench an unbox the lathe. By time we even turned it on we had to call it a night. Next time we are gonna go online an order some pen stuff. His grandma ordered some wood that should be here soon. Hopefully we will start with that. Like anything we do progress will be slow. Whenever I can it's great to help him. Our schedules just don't match up all the time.

Early this morning I did a welding repair using a Lincoln vantage 500 engine drive welder. It was truly one of the worst engine drives I've ever welded with. In all fairness I must say I love the vantage series. There great welders but there not bullet proof. Like any tool they have a lifespan even with proper maintence. The owner even commented it's seen better days. They have a good engine drive but it was two small for specific job. Used a whole bunch of other tools as well. I really hate using other people's tools but this was just a sidejob helping out a friend.

Looks like a nice little guy. Perfect for light duty work an reasonably priced. Be safe an let us know how you like it

I am no farm boy but I could see how farmers/ranchers have to do things sometimes. I truly admire the profession an lifestyle. It was a jaylor model 5850hd trm. He told all about it. It was all new to me so it was pretty cool. It was learning as you go I guess. You could probably tell me more about it then I know.

Thanks. It's true they were just trying to get by for now. Ime not sure why I just hate it so much. I just have to tell myself it's temporary.

Don't feel bad... Except for welding machines grinders are my most used tools. When I first started work I would grind the entire 11 hour shift. I only stopped for a new disk or lunch. I have moved up but still run grinders whenever needed. When you primarily do welding/fabrication it makes sense to have multiple grinders. I have all sorts of wheels for my grinders each ready to go. If I see a grinder cheap I pick it up. I am always replacing grinders. I have burnt through all sorts of name brand electric angle grinders.

Am I the only one here who hates doing poor repair jobs? Today I went against my own principles an did a crappy repair job. I know there are times you gotta do what you gotta do but man I hate it. I hate it even more when your doing it for someone else. Long story short a friend called in need of a favor. His dad runs a smaller ranch an had a equipment issue. There feed wagon offload conveyer(think that's what it's called) got sheared off. 2 of the normal employees who can repair things had a family emergency. The few other employees all did what they could but were lacking welding skills. I got a call an went over. I took one look and was heisitant to do it. I don't mind helping a friend out but I just don't want to do poor work. I knew I didn't have the proper tools, materials, parts and time. I made that very clear I can't do it properly. All they really needed was a short term solution for there cattle feed. I was able to make the conveyer stationary an work. It was surely a makeshift repair. The feed got mixed an cattle fed for now. A proper repair can be done later. So who else has had to do poor quality short term repairs?

I was just looking at HD online an saw this deal. I really don't think it's bad at all. Like I said earlier Ridgid an Porter cable are great starter brands. They are pretty good products with very broad lines. Of all the brands Ridgid is really good for the money. http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Hammer-Drill-Driver-and-Impact-Driver-Combo-Kit-R9624/206349868 Another thing you might want to consider is how bad you need a hammer option. Its a nice convience but I rarely use mine in hammer mode. Once again it just depends on your needs. If you don't need hammer option you'll save money an usually size/weight.

I have only heard negative things about triton. I have no first hand expierence to back people's neigitve views up. I am sure someone here can speak first hand thoe. If you can afford another 50 or so bucks Home Depot an Lowes both have good deals. Most cheap sale kits at the stores will be brushed versions. If you dont need a top of the line powerhouse they should do fine. Ridgid an Porter cable are good starter price brands an will do most jobs. You can even find good deals on a few Millwakee an Dewalts along with Bosch.

Not saying I support it but those are some sneaky smart scumbags. I could see people falling for it. I usually meet at a gas station just up the road.

Thank you I was quikly looking at woodcrafts pen selection online.I noticed there not cheap. I mean quality isn't cheap thoe. I know myself I mess up a lot of stuff when learning. I was thinking maybe buy cheaper ones an as we learn move onto the more expensive types. I am not trying to sound cheap, just don't wana throw money away. Pen state industries just came up in a google search for pen supplies. If you have recomendtions for other stores I would love to hear.

Thats what she got him. There easy wood tools with the replaceable tips. A rougher, finisher, an detailer. I Think there a little short but I don't really know exactly what I am talking about.

Thanks for the advice guys. Proper saftey is a must, I figured glasses for sure. Wasn't innitially thinking full face shield but on second thought not a bad idea. We both have face shields so that's not a issue. I know he wants to make pens an small bowls. Something about pepper/salt shakers as well. I have been watching a lot of YouTube videos and friction polish is mentioned. Any tips on finishing.

Man that's so last years model. You really gotta get with the times an go big

I probably sound stupid but springs can really make me nervous. I was doing some hardface welding on a shaker deck when some other guys were lifting a new plate up with a excavator. Somehow one spring got knocked out throwing the others off balance. Whole deck dropped two feet one side an about 8 feet on the other side. I flew to the back side of the deck. I was literally lying on my back welding on second an the next I slid several feet an rolled on my over. Except for a car accident it was the worst accident I've been in. Luckily we all walked away. Springs are great when there under proper control but if things go wrong I don't want to be there.

Some of you may remember a while back I mentioned helping out a neighbor kid with woodworking. I love helping him out with what I can. Sadly my fine woodworking skills aren't the best. Welding/Metalworking is more my thing. Only wood lathe experience for me is messing messing around with my grandpas years ago. Lately YouTube videos as well. His grandmother bought him a small lathe for Christmas. The lathe itself is a Jet 1221vs. They also sold her a set of 3 replaceable tip turning tools an a nova brand chuck. Hopefully thats enough to get started. Any tips you guys have would help.

Love the Millwakee drills, corded or cordless. Corded drills still have a need in my book,