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Jronman

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Posts posted by Jronman

  2. How do you find a decent appliance?

    in Around The House

    Posted

    I was wondering how everyone goes about finding a decent appliance? Tonight I was researching countertop microwaves. The one I use is taking longer than it used to. I felt like whether it was Menards, Lowes, Amazon, Home Depot, or maybe others that half the brands listed I have never even heard of. It seems harder and harder to find quality brands of basically anything whether it is an appliance or something else. There are so many price points too. I could buy a countertop microwave for $59 or I could spend nearly $1000 for one. Is there a price point that is too low to consider for an appliance or a price point too high to consider? I doubt I would buy a microwave for $1000 but if it was a larger appliance would $1000 be acceptable? I'm not sure.

  4. Early 2024 Festool Releases

    in Festool

    Posted

    On 1/29/2024 at 1:09 PM, Eric - TIA said:

    Very cool and thanks for sharing.  I am wondering if their Exo 18 exoskeleton is a design they did with Hilti as they offer something similar.  

    possibly but Festool's is battery powered where the one from Hilti doesn't look to be powered by a battery but I could be mistaken.

  6. Early 2024 Festool Releases

    in Festool

    Posted

    I noticed a few new Festool products coming and I thought I would share. In Europe we are getting some new Systainer 3 offerings. To replace the Tloc Combi offerings we are getting a SYS3 Combi M287 and a SYS3 Combi M337. There is also a couple new SYS Sort offerings. The SYS3 SORT/3 M337 is new and replaces the T-loc offering. The SYS3 SORT/2 M337 is completely new. The SORT/2 has one small drawer and one large drawer. There is also a new SYS3-RK/6 M337 Systainer rack. It is designed to store 6 of the mini systainers. There will also be a bunch of new SYS3 Mini systainers coming which are also compatible with the old generation. Another new product in Europe is the ExoActive EXO 18 exoskeleton. This product helps the user work overhead for longer periods of time to help reduce fatigue. There is also a cordless mitre saw SYMMETRICSYMC 70 EB-Basic. It essentially rethinks the miter saw and instead of moving the blade for the miter you move the fence. Looks interesting at the very least. There is also an updated OF1010, a new optional light add on for it and a new accessory kit for it. There is a new Planex M model. Looks to be more like the Planex Easy that we got here. It lacks some features of the higher end model.

    Stateside the list is not as big. I posted awhile back about what was announced at the Festool event that happened. Most if not all of those tools have been released including the TS60 with scoring blade. Some additionals we have gotten is a CT25 dust extractor. It looks to be a slightly larger CT15 which means CT25 is a more budget model. For some reason the TXS 12 is not coming stateside like the CXS 12. Not sure why but I will keep posted. a North America launch of the TXS12 is unlikely since the CXS is already out. I can't confirm they are from the most recent wave of releases but North America has the SYS3 attic systainers in 3 sizes. They are new to me at least. They replaced the T-lock counterparts. I don't recal if Tloc has 3 sizes or not.

     

  8. What tools did you buy today?

    in Power Tools

    Posted

    2 minutes ago, fm2176 said:

    I haven't been on much of a buying spree lately but have gradually gotten some gunsmithing tools.  Nothing fancy... I need to finish the cleanup/downsizing and figure out where I want my gunsmithing and reloading stations to go.  Speaking of which, reloading tools are on the short list.

     

    Oddly enough, I've moved on from the Big Box home improvement stores to Walmart as my tool Mecca.  Not really, but I do wander down the tool aisle now after scoring some deals.  The local Home Depot is close to my work, while the Lowes is across the river.  Walmart is less than four miles away and a regular stop these days.  They have a habit of marking stuff down by 50%, so I got a pick set for cheap that was missing one, and then saw that a lady restocking the clearance aisle had a heavy Hart mechanics tool set on her cart.  The handle had broken off, all tools were present and unblemished, and it was marked down from $130 to $65, so I took it.  About a week later an employee came up to me with a 36" prybar that was missing it's packaging for 50% off.  I guess he recognized me as the local weirdo that buys tool deals?  I don't know...

    I don't know what premium tool brands Walmart carries but I have seen they carry Little Giant ladders which is one of the better ladder brands. Seems like a lot of the tools are more value focused.

    • Like 1

  9. What tools did you buy today?

    in Power Tools

    Posted

    3 minutes ago, fm2176 said:

     

    Sounds nice.  I have no need for EGO's commercial equipment, and the only thing I really use nowadays is the string trimmer.  The Bad Boy mower handles the acre fine, but that trimmer does an excellent job.  To be honest, though, if/when that craps out, I'll look into a professional gas trimmer.  I like the instant start of the EGO, though, so I may consider replacing it.  It should have years more given its relatively light use.

     

    It's hard to believe it's been nearly six years since I got my EGO tools.  At least one of the 5Ah batteries is on its last legs--it started showing signs a few years back.  I have no hedges, rarely use the backpack blower, and the push mower sees use once or twice a year in the little enclosed area I have for my dogs.  So, the cost of replacement batteries may do in my little experiment with battery powered OPE.  It was great in Northern Virginia, with relatively close neighbors and a smallish 1/4-acre lot.  South Louisiana is much less friendly.  Using the trimmer in the sun mid-summer, the battery heats up like crazy.  

     

    Bass Pro Shops/Cabelas now carries a couple of EGO saws: Search Results (basspro.com).  Employees get 15% off of national brands, with 25% off a few times throughout the year, so if I need a fresh battery, I may go that route despite them being only 2.5Ah.  It makes sense, I guess, to offer hunters a relatively quick and quiet way to clear out a shooting lane or do some pre-season cleanup.  The stores I've checked all show "Limited Stock", meaning one available, and I know the ones we have are in the overhead in the back, so you may have to order online, but if anyone has BPS/Cabelas gift cards they have no use for and needs a chainsaw and/or pole saw, there you go!

    Yeah batteries don't last in the heat. I am probably 50-50 on useable and unuseable/faulty batteries now. I got something like 14 batteries from Ego (rough guesstimate). The commercial backpack battery is by far the best in the heat and cold (or seems like it) but it was purpose built for commercial. I think the batteries with the old fuel display last longer but that is only a theory.

    • Like 1

  10. What tools did you buy today?

    in Power Tools

    Posted

    I ordered some empty inserts for the new attic systainer from ToolsToday. I have never bought from them before. I have plans to create a custom bit setup. Many kits include too many duplicates or bits you don't need/want all the time. Of the 3 I ordered only one arrived. I never got any emails regarding anything. I sent a support message to them but I will call on Monday when they open if I don't hear back from them in my emails. I also ordered the new Festool CXS 18 from Tool Pros (used to be called Festool Products; a sister site to Tool Nut). This comes with the CXS 18, attic systainer SYS3 DF M187, the new compact right angle chuck, Centrotec chuck, 3/8 keyless chuck, 2 High Power 4 ah batteries, a Centrotec magnetic bit holder, and a charger. I also Ordered a set of 7 Centrotec brad point bits, a Centrotec locking bit holder (essentially the Wera locking bit holder but with a Centrotec shank), and the eccentric chuck. This will be my first Festool drill/driver. I don't know if it will replace my m12 installation driver but we will see I guess.

    • Like 1

  11. What tools did you buy today?

    in Power Tools

    Posted

    Winter 2024 Tool Crate arrived. We got a Klein 7-in-1 socket driver, a set of Stealth Mounts Tube Mounts, a pair of Unilite electricians shears, a Unilite right angle USB rechargeable light, a Troll Co Clothing hat and sticker set, a Gerikt'n Margin Marker, and one Tool Crate sticker.

    • Like 1

  12. What tools did you buy today?

    in Power Tools

    Posted

    I retired some snow shovels two weeks ago. I intended to buy one from the local hardware but they ran out of stock. I decided to order one. The replacement I ordered arrived this week. I got a Snowcaster 24 inch snow pusher. Turns out snow pushers don't work very well as a scoop. As a result I checked my hardware store today and they restocked the snow shovels and I bought one. I don't recall the brand but I was told by the lady who runs our local hardware that her son has one and it is still going after 10 years. She said he did snow removal at one time. Snow removal is hard on stuff. I don't know how long ago her son quit snow removal, but it sounds promising that it is still in working condition.

    • Like 1

  14. Am I doing it wrong?

    in Milwaukee

    Posted

    I don't really used my heated jacket as a heated jacket much. I did not find it to work very well for my size. It has to sit tight against your back. Stuff just isn't made for tall and thin. I about need a small in width and a medium to large in length. Pockets work well enough for what they are.

  17. Small Parts Routing Help

    in Woodworking

    Posted

    I am making some epoxy boards for serving trays or display. Final dimensions are roughly 18" x 10" x 1-1/2". I have made one before and included a picture of the final result. What I will be discussing today is the "river edges" (the wood that shares and edge with the green epoxy. I decided to try a new method to try and optimize labor time but I ran into a snag. In the new method I need to be able to flush trim odd shaped parts without cutting my fingers off or having a board flying through the wall. The parts have at least one curved side and are 1-1/2" thick. You can see how wide and narrow the curve could potentially get in the picture. Some of my boards now are even more narrow. 

    I have seen small parts holders for the router table but can they do 1-1/2" thick wood? Also I saw they are setup more to clamp the ends of square stock which is not going to work since my pieces are curved on one or more sides. Coping sleds might do the trick if they had 18 inches of capacity but most are only setup for maybe 4-6 inches at most from what I saw. I will probably cleanup the jigsaw marks with a spindle sander this time if one of my friends has one and figure out something for future batches of boards.

    In my first board I set mt Shaper Origin cnc router to the inside setting of the two curved edges and worked my way, a shallow pass at a time, until I was through the entire 1-1/2" thickness of the board. It worked but was very slow. It took maybe half a dozen or more passes. 

    In my current boards I tried a new method hoping to save some time. The goal is to get the labor down so I don't have a ridiculously expensive board if I ever get around to selling them. My thinking was I could route a shallow pass with the Origin, use the shallow pass as a guide with my Carvex jigsaw, and flush trim to cleanup after the Carvex. Every board I make has a different "river" design and some of the parts can get quite small. I was having issues where the router table was wanting to throw the pieces esspecially on the starting end of the board. I was getting concerned that things were getting too dangerous.

    Does anyone have any ideas on how to cut out the river portion safely without taking the amount of time it took to Shaper Origin the entire thing? Would it be safer to forego the jigsaw and do effectively the equivalent of a through dado? I am currently using a 1/2 inch diameter Woodpeckers ultra shear flush trim bit in my old porter cable 7538 setup in my Benchdog cast iron router table. I am using MicroJig Grip Blocks when I can. I would be open to a completely new method of cutting out the river too if it saved time and was safer.

    serving tray.jpg

  18. Makita DUX60 with EGO tools?

    in Power Tools

    Posted

    From what I understand the attachments are not interchangeable. Some brands are interchangeable between platforms within the same brand but that is about the best compatibility you will see. Maybe some of the more dedicated ope brands like Sthil, Echo, Husqvarna, etc. have compatibility between brands but I could be wrong.

  19. Safety Boots

    in Accessories

    Posted

    On 12/5/2023 at 4:08 AM, sawihel said:

    At work I need to wear safety boots,  all properly rated to recognised standard. Years of cheap ones made for people with exceptionally wide feet made me shop around. I saw a company called Grisport made a really widely used safety boot (coca cola in Europe and car manufacturers) that was getting good reviews. Plus Grisport is an Italian hiking boot manufacturer I first heard of for hiking boots. I got them,  own money because work only buy £25 boots the tight wads! Initially they felt great but over the last 6+ months I've been getting worse sore instep under the foot and an increasingly painful outer toes on left foot. Length and width feels good but this pain is like when you first stub your bare foot hard! Since the boot has plenty of room I thought it was my out of work time outdoor trainers, salomon x ultra 3, third pair of x ultra. I bought new shoes with a roomier toe area. However since I took a few days off a month or so ago during which my painful toes got better I now know it's my worm boots. Are they salvageable? If not anybody know a good safety boot that's as conformable and hiking boot like as possible? My foot size/shape is narrow heel, average instep width and high arches.

    I have been using Keen the past few years. Comfortable day one if you get the right size. They are well over the £25 price you mentioned. I usually pay over $100 usd for my saftey shoes that I use for the warm months and around $200 usd for the safety boots I wear for cold months. Keen has all sorts of options with a wide range of feature sets. You should be able to find one that will fit your needs.

  22. Ego 2nd Gen Commercial String Trimmer Compared to the 1st Gen

    in Outdoor Power Equipment

    Posted

    Runtime for sure lower since it is intended to be used with the regular batteries. I haven’t used it with the backpack battery. On paper the power is less but I haven’t exactly any tough jobs yet. Also the power rating for the gen one isn’t listed in official product listings from ego. I basically had to get numbers elsewhere which may not be accurate. I haven’t seen any noticeable power difference with the small amount I have used it. I should have a better idea next spring on the performance. If you got the batteries and are willing to spend the money on one, I think the 17.5 inch commercial string trimmer is the best ego makes. It also doesn’t have power load to go wrong or line iq to waste line. 

  24. Ego 2nd Gen Commercial String Trimmer Compared to the 1st Gen

    in Outdoor Power Equipment

    Posted

    Here is a close up of the new speed controls of the 2nd gen string trimmer (other tools part of the recent wave of commercial tools have these controls too) The 3 bars on the top indicate the speed the tool is in. They can also flash and change colors to indicate information regarding  the tool like overheating and overloading. The bottom left light indicates battery status. It also is able to flash and change colors. The bottom right light indicates bluetooth connection. Supposedly you can connect the tool to your mobile device. I don't know specifics on what the bluetooth features are used for. I heard you might be able to check charge cycles of batteries and get notified when a battery needs replaced.

    IMG_2996.png

    The button selects the speed. the 3 bars lit up on top indicate speed 3 or max speed (trigger is also variable speed too). The lit up battery light indicates the battery is if I remember right 20%-100% charge left and not defective.

    IMG_3004.png

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