fm2176

In the military we have a saying: "slow is smooth and smooth is fast". I see it all of the time as new trainees try racing each other in disassembling and reassembling machineguns and other weapons. The faster you try to go the more prone to mistakes you are until you gain experience and muscle memory. I learned early on to establish a rhythm and flow to work faster without rushing through things. Everything from tire mounting and balancing back in the day to weapon assembly/disassembly to office work benefits from this.

As a followup to the above, I received notification that action was required for the registration of my belt sander in February and finally got around to submitting the receipt earlier today, only three days before the deadline. The process was easy: simply scan in the receipt and submit it online. I'll have to see how it works out from here...hopefully all is good to go now.

Well, the CEO recently announced his departure, and if his replacement is good this thread could prove premature. I've said it before but Lowe's, despite being the smaller chain, has small town markets locked down here in Georgia and the Southeast. While HD tends to stick to larger cities and mid-sized ones near interstates, Lowe's has a presence in well-known and decently populated places like Statesboro (Allman Brothers' song "Statesboro Blues", Waycross ("Miller's Cave", a song by Hank Snow and also recorded by Bobby Bare), and Vidalia (think onions). 😀

I wanted a bandsaw, until yesterday. Found a one-off Ryobi 2.5A 9" saw for 25% off yesterday. Got it and a 3-pack of Bosch blades for $115 out the door. Now I really need to find a place with some workspace in a few months.

Rant on (I'm on duty and it's been a while since I've done much more than browsed the forums): I've been steadily buying tools and materials for four years now, with Lowe's formerly my favorite place to shop before it was supplanted by Home Depot. One thing I've noticed is that Lowe's switches products on a whim, with tool brands coming and going, while Home Depot seems to keep the same brands, with a few exceptions (such as the fairly recent switch from Johnson to Empire levels). Unlike their orange competition, Lowe's offers little in the way of tools and accessories which are made in Europe and North America nowadays, making a majority of their product offerings of Chinese origin. I know I always bring this up, and I will be the first to admit that COO means little in today's global market, but if I am spending my hard-earned money on something I want (as opposed to need), I'll gladly spend a little more for something made in the US if such an option is locally available. This in turn translates to me driving to Home Depot for Klein hand tools or Diablo blades instead of opting for Lowe's offerings (though Southwire is making some of their tools in the US now). Lowe's is just a bland store. I still enjoy searching for deals, but as I stated in the thread linked below, the color scheme does not grab one's attention. The brightest thing in a Lowe's tool department is DeWalt. Everything else is a darker or drabber color, from Kobalt to Hitachi to Porter Cable. Maybe it's just the fact that I've been to dozens of Lowe's stores hundreds of times, but I don't really feel as though I'd be comfortable looking for a particular item if I were not familiar with the common layouts. Even with knowledge of where most things are, I couldn't find backer board in the Americus Lowe's a couple of weeks ago. I looked all over the tile and flooring section (where it's kept at other stores), and through plumbing to no avail, finally driving to the Home Depot in Cordele where I knew exactly where it was. Home Depot seems to have more aisle space, a more intuitive layout, and easier to navigate tool sections with plenty of color to keep shoppers' interest. Here in Columbus, GA, we have two Home Depots (one in Phenix City, AL) and a single Lowe's. I try to avoid the Lowe's any time after around 9am, though, as the lines are always horrendous. Home Depot seems less busy and easier to check out in, but the number of shoppers are probably about the same. Home Depot has one pro checkout open with another ready to open on a whim, four self-checkout kiosks, and usually a regular register open as well; Lowe's has one pro checkout, is hit or miss on self-checkout being open at all, and might have a couple of slow registers open. One thing that Lowe's has improved immensely is their military discount program. By linking it to MyLowes it can be used for online purchases and more importantly, it streamlines the checkout experience. It was annoying watching a line build up behind me as I waited for a manager to approve a discount, and I'd often not even ask for a discount on smaller purchases. Anyway, I've got to bring the dog in, and I think I'll try to catch a little more sleep than normal on this shift. For a similar thread, check this one out:

Bought an M18 Radius light for $135 today. Also, Arrow T-59 insulated staplers are in clearance for $8. I picked one up along with a box each of 1/4" and 5/16" staples for it.

I too picked up a Rocket light; $196 and change out the door. Both it and the other tower light (paid full price but got two free 5.0 Ah batteries and a charger last year) are going to see some use tonight.

Rust Belt

I don't have a right angle drill as of yet, using my DeWalt attachment when the need arises. While I haven't used it with drill bits, I see no reason it shouldn't work with hex shank bits.

The Craftsman brand will have a hard time becoming as popular as it once was, in my opinion. While Craftsman hand tools are ubiquitous, Sears' plight coupled with the decision to move away from the "Made in USA" quality the brand was formerly known for has stigmatized it in the eyes of many people. Most of us old enough to remember when we could walk into a Sears and swap out a domestically made ratchet for a brand new one (before they started repairing them in store and way before they shifted to offshore manufacturers) already have more tools than we need. However, if Craftsman brings production back here I could see myself buying their tools for gifts. I don't think it is too late for Craftsman to renew itself, but I do think that the tool market has changed quite a bit from Craftsman's heyday. When I turned wrenches in the 90's, Sears was the go-to place for decent quality tools with a lifetime warranty. Now there are a multitude of okay brands with similar warranties, making Kobalt, Husky, or even Pittsburgh as likely to be seen in a young mechanic's tool box as newer Craftsman hand tools.

Ridgid is well established as Home Depot's premier exclusive brand (Milwaukee being sold elsewhere), with battery compatibility going back a few generations at least. Kobalt 24v Max replaced the interchangeable 18v/20v Max and has yet to really stand the test of time. As others have stated, this comparison does little for Home Depot. In my opinion, Harbor Freight's DeWalt comparisons are valuable to them because they may attract dedicated HF shoppers who want to feel like they are getting a professional quality tool without spending (admittedly not much) more for DeWalt. This Ridgid to Kobalt comparison only serves to make HD shoppers aware of Kobalt's new line, with the two brands being similar in nature to each other (both store exclusives, both mid-tier with some encroachment on professional specs and quality, both offering latest generation brushless technology and advances previous incarnations did not, etc.). Ridgid's offerings speak for themselves. They have a myriad of lighting solutions Kobalt cannot match and were among the first manufacturers to offer cordless sanders, routers, and other tools. Kobalt 24v Max is still playing catch up with tools long offered by the likes of Ridgid, Porter Cable, and especially Ryobi.

When I travel with tools I'm especially paranoid if I have to keep any in my truck bed. They usually reside is ToughSystem or Ridgid boxes and are not only locked but secured with two cable locks. I also being them inside if staying overnight. It sucks that we can't stop for even a few minuted without risking tool theft. To think that only a few decades ago, people in my area drove around with visible gun racks in their trucks and felt safe keeping their vehicles unlocked around town.

Maybe SBD is doing the same thing that some think TTI did--releasing certain tools under a brand other than their premier one to test the waters first. This would explain why brands like Ridgid or Ryobi (and in this case, Stanley Fatmax) get sanders and routers before Milwaukee and DeWalt.

I saw them yesterday as well. They look nice, albeit a bit too specialized for my wants (let's face it, I'm past the point of needing any power tool ). It also drives home the point that DeWalt's 20v Max platform is here to stay for the foreseeable future. I recall some discontent a few years ago as they weren't keeping pace with Milwaukee for new releases, not to mention the fact that 12v max seems all but dead in the water.

Bowl haircut

Picked up a Ryobi tile saw for $50 earlier. Reviews are mostly positive and before I use it I'll probably get a better blade and a pump. Like most of my tools it will get little use for now, but I do have some tile projects planned for the future.

Tractor Supply has PC chargers and lights for as low as $8 and the 4Ah battery for $18. I found one of the batteries earlier but passed on it, though other stores I've visited were already sold out. It might be worth a look if you have PC tools.

Welcome! My unsolicited advice is to listen to the customer even as you learn about tools. Know your products and try to avoid becoming too biased toward any one brand. Also, keep the future needs of your customers in mind. I'm not saying to talk someone out of buying a particular tool system, but if a customer is trying to decide between, say DeWalt 18v ni-cad and 20v Max, for their first cordless drill, the latter will serve them much better for the foreseeable future. Also, use the knowledge you gain here and elsewhere to your advantage. Most customers not only know their needs but are also able to conduct basic research, so trying to upsell them or talk about something you aren't familiar with will likely just annoy them.

True, mine was comfortable enough but still a little small for my 5'11" height. The military knows how to make even the largest vehicles uncomfortably small, though. Armored HMMWV variants are cramped for someone even my size, especially when you add body armor and battlefield tracking systems.

House salad

Sorry, but my '06 Sierra is going strong with only 245k on the odometer. I like renting a newer vehicle on occasion but the prices of trucks are ridiculous, not to even mention the anxiety that comes with every little nick and scratch put on a new vehicle. I'm better off planning to eventually replace my drivetrain than committing to another vehicle loan, though I plan to eventually pay cash for a newer truck (around 5 years old and under 150k). That said, new trucks have a lot of bells and whistles that were unheard of when mine came off the assembly line in 2005. My '06 SLT has everything except the rear tv screens and DVD player, being the top of the line GMC besides the Denali at the time. Our government owned 2015 Silverado is a basic work truck but has the LCD radio display, while higher trim levels have things that make mine seem archaic.

One key application is lugnuts. A lot of wheels lack the clearance for thich wall impact sockets. I used to have to use regular chromed sockets on some rims.

Those look nice! I may go industrial for my next home decor; until a few months ago my kitchen table was shelving clamped between two JawHorses with a work platform as a bench seat. I could see using those DeWalt seats with a shelf unit next. I have to find creative uses for my stuff until I retire and can set my shop up, plus furniture is expensive and flimsy by comparison.

Field hockey

Picked up six 4" Bessey QuickTight c-clamps earlier, as well as two DeWalt 28" rolling tool boxes. I'm hoping my wood working tools fit in the 28" box better than the Ridgid box they are currently in.