Re: tools questions
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: tools questions
- From: Bill Parker <hemirr@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2012 12:17:33 -0400
My rules of thumb for tools are: if it needs to be precision or advanced, I go with Snap On, Mac, or for some stuff Craftsman. If it doesn't need to be precision or advanced, I may go with Harbor Freight, we have one in Indy now about 50 miles away so I don't have to pay big bucks for shipping big stuff.
Specific suggestions: You can put a metal cut off wheel on your miter saw (I'm assuming you are talking about a power chop box), I've used both the abrasive type, bigger version of the 3" ones, and for sheet metal the steel metal-cutting style with the slots around the circumference. They also make 7 1/4 versions of that style which works great for building pole barns.
The big deal on tubing benders seems to be the desirability of making mandrel bends which I understand takes the much more expensive versions.
I bought a good ol' Craftsman drill press used off a guy, I typically use it at its slowest speed, which is adjustable by changing the belt to a different set of pulleys in the stacks.
I'm less satisfied with the Craftsman hydraulic press I bought new. It is a big one but they left out the set of plates, and those seem to be impossible to find for sale separately. I finally bought a piece of 1" plate at the local metal dealer and was able to make my own which work fairly well. Seems like I constantly need to add fluid even though I can see no leaks. I suppose that over the 10 years I've had it, it has gradually worked out air as I use it. Also it was supposed to come with a set of mandrels which fit into the head of the ram and those were also missing. When I tried to get this stuff they said the model was discontinued and no parts were available even though I had just bought it, I probably should have just taken it back apart and returned the whole thing but as long as I keep it topped up it does work fine now. I like that the handle is down at comfortable arm level rather than up on a converted bottle jack like the Harbor Freight ones.
For my own wish list, I lust after a plasma cutter and a TIG welder, or at least a spool gun for my MIG so I can weld on aluminum.
Bill & Kathi Parker, South Central Indiana, harboring of bunch of old and newer Mopars
--
--
--
Please address private email -- email of interest to only one person -- directly to that person. That is, email your parts/car transactions and negotiations, as well as other personal messages, only to the intended recipient. Do not just press "reply" and send your email to everyone using the general '62-'65 Clubhouse public email address. This practice will protect your privacy, reduce the total volume of mail and fine-tune the content signal to Mopar topic. Thanks!
1962 to 1965 Mopar Clubhouse Discussion Guidelines:
http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.org/mletiq.html and http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.com/general_disclaimer.html.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The 1962 to 1965 Mopar Mail List Clubhouse" group.
http://groups.google.com/group/1962to1965mopars?hl=en.
Back to the Home of the Forward Look Network