first off, big thank you to my niece…
what would you guys get? i could easily go in there and spend my whole paycheck on junk but, i was
leaning towards this: http://www.harborfreight.com/1-4-quarter-inch-trim-router-44914.html
for doing Probox and leash plug installs so i don’t have to muscle the plunge router…
something else?
I have that tool....The on/off switch sucks...the tool spins at 10 million RPMs.....It works fine for ProBox installs..........I would spend $25 on that tool any day....watch for the adds....9 dollar spray guns and boxes of 2" chip brushes for next to nothing......Keep in mind where the stuff comes from.......................
Just sprayed a board yesterday with one of the HF gravity-fed sprayguns…for the price they can’t be beat, for the backyarder at least.
I also use the HF variable speed polisher/sander, have used it for sanding eight boards, mulitiple fins and ding repairs, as well as the buffing of a 21’ sailboat, and for $35 it can’t be beat. Now if I were to use a good-quality Milwaukee or the like, I would immediately realize the difference, but the HF has worked fine for me.
Also, those little white canvas bags made in India that they sell are excellent. They are lightweight, durable, and fashionable. I use one for work (I’m a carpenter) and for the small size they fit a surprisingly large number of tools. They’re $7.99 and after two years on the job daily I finally had to replace mine a week ago.
That router seems like it would be nice, but I got a Ryobi TR45K with I think three or four bits and a case on eBay, only used for one project, for about $40 including shipping. Here’s a link to one that ends in a couple days:
When tools are that close in price to HF, I usually go with the better brand. But I owe a lot to Harbor Freight, without them I wouldn’t be able to afford a lot of the tools I use for surfboard construction.
Chris
chip brushes and sandpaper
I have the gravity HVLP spray gun and it works fine. Most of their tools are junk, but OTOH, I have a variable speed sander that is still going strong after 5 years. I'd probably buy another. And that one would last 20 minutes. ha.
Sale prices only seems to be the way to go at HF. A few times I've bought the low quality stuff at regular pricing only to be bothered by the "not that great a deal" feeling.
I agree with the reply about brushes - stock up on the 1" & 4" boxes of chip brushes and other small cheap disposables that get gunked up with resin after a while, like $1.99 pick/awl/tweezers sets, single edge razors by the box etc
Hey Chrisp…
Look for special deals on paint brushes, ,Go Jo hand cleaner used to clean epoxy tools, sand paper, and air tool filters and connectors, small parts, measuring tools , and such…
Their routers and electronic tools lack amperage power and quality, When it comes to important tools, the saying “you only get what you pay for” rings so true…The switches, motor’s and bearings on these cheaper tools are suspect…
For example, My finbox/ foot strap router is a high powered unit…
http://www.ryobitools.com/catalog/power_tools/corded/RE180PL
Not the “absolute best” but pretty damn good for a router in the $90 to $140 price range…If you’ve never experienced “soft start” power up of a router, it’s a wonderful, calming trait… The router smoothly ramps up it’s speed and power…Giving you plenty of time to get your bearings…
I have that router,I have set about 50 proboxes and a few 10.5" FU boxes and still works fine.
I have had great luck with everything except their cheep sandpaper. Don't I repeat Don't use their wet dry sandpaper!!!!!
The $35 polisher with $11 wool pad is awesome!!!!! Also they have an awesome selection of measuring devises and squares.
Because Harbor Freight ships to Hawaii only by UPS , $25 wouldn't even cover shipping charges.! It's a real downer when one must pay more for shipping than the cost of the tool.!!
Howzit Wood_Ogre, The first time I read their catalog and sa the shipping prices I couldn't believe it and they clculat the cost buy how much the item cost not how much it weighs which is strange. I don't buy cheap tools so I doubt I will ever go into one of their stores. Aloha,Kokua
I do 80/90% of my non-food non-clothing purchases on the internet.
If I lived in Hawaii, fugghett about it!
HF Trim Router = great until the switch goes out. I’ve had several do this after using only for routing FCS Fusion in foam and small stringers. They replace them but it’s inconvenient and I don’t want to spend all my time driving to their store.
Sander -Polisher = same as above. Cheap switches. Tool works pretty well but you will not get long life out of this unless you do a couple boards per year.
Chip brushes = a good buy in 1, 2, 3 or 4"… a box is the best way to go.
Scissors = the $2 real long shears work great for cutting glass. They cut for a lot longer than I ever imagined, and I sharpen them or just pull out another pair if I’m feeling lazy.
Sandpaper = I’ve had some decent and some complete crap. When it comes to abrasives, I don’t go cheap, you save more by getting quality sandpaper to begin with.
Razor blades = a box is cheaper than anywhere else I’ve seen incl. Home Depot or Ace.
Tape = the tape I tried was useless crap.
Gloves = you can get a gr8 price for boxes of latex or nitrile gloves.
Planes = they are cheap but the smoothing planes work fine for a novice. About $9.
Bottom line is to be discriminating even if it is ‘the cheap place’. Someone mentioned the touchup guns and gravity feed sprayers… they work and you can get a lot of life out of them.
Just like the rest of life, there are gems and lemons to be had.
Hope this helps, happy new year.
hmm, $25 at harbor freight with no regrets, kid in a candy store? maybe...
definatley dont buy their sand paper, but most of their tools are ok, if you know how to deal with them
thanks for the input guys… i picked up the router today. Stingray’s response sealed the deal for me. also, i’ve got all the other stuff that was mentioned. i’ll do my best to make the router last. i’ve got a 4" angle grinder that’s about 10 years old. i picked it up for like $15 telling myself if it goes out, i’ll just get another one… it’s still working strong and i’ve abused that thing. hopefully the same will happen with the router, minus the abuse…
…I really want one of those mini routers but nobody sell them here…
-cheap brushes are a no no for gloss coats
-cheap sandpaper is a no no to polish fine
-cheap masking tape is a no no to almost everything (except to hold fins or like that) on surfboards
-cheap measuring tapes have a non exactly ruler on them
-cheap angular sander dont have the right weight to polish.