Cheap Tools.

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  • dbhost
    Slow and steady
    • Apr 2008
    • 9509
    • League City, Texas
    • Ryobi BT3100

    #16
    Originally posted by drumpriest
    ...

    Bad:...

    -ryobi 1/4 sheet sander - why do they even make these??
    Keith,

    Was it the S652DK?

    I have that particular sander, and it has worked flawlessly for me... I know a couple of guys that had the prior model S651D that seems to be universally hated...


    Just wanting to make sure... Like I said, mine has been a totally sweet sander. The earlier model had a known problem with it spitting paper at the drop of a hat...
    Please like and subscribe to my YouTube channel. Please check out and subscribe to my Workshop Blog.

    Comment

    • drumpriest
      Veteran Member
      • Feb 2004
      • 3338
      • Pittsburgh, Pa, USA.
      • Powermatic PM 2000

      #17
      Yeah, mine was the old model, for sure, the issue for me though wasn't just the paper problem (though it is unfortunately difficult to load paper onto), but rather the effectiveness. I can hand sand at least as effectively with the prep'n weapon. This sander just doesn't save me time like it should.
      Keith Z. Leonard
      Go Steelers!

      Comment

      • Wood_workur
        Veteran Member
        • Aug 2005
        • 1914
        • Ohio
        • Ryobi bt3100-1

        #18
        Most of my tools are the $100 budget kind.

        I got the BT3100 for about $100
        I got a delta drill press for $100
        I got my Hitachi bandsaw for $100
        I got my router for $100

        I'd recommend all of them. Only the drillpress and router were not on sale. For the other ones, I think that finding a good tool and waiting for a sale is the most important thing you can do.

        Oh, and I've also got a dozen clamps from harbor freight that are pretty good. Not K-bodies, but if I've got 4 of those that serve that purpose.
        Alex

        Comment

        • SARGE..g-47

          #19
          Excellent...
          Ryobi spindle sander $99
          Ryobi 3 x 21 belt sander... sold my Bosch 4 x 21 and kept this one
          Ryobi 10" benchtop drill press.. but to small for my needs so replaced with floor model

          Bad...
          Ryobi 16" scroll-saw.. marginally OK but.. once you get a real scroll saw
          Every jig-saw I ever owned before purchasing a Bosch barrel grip regardless of price
          Delta $99 miter saw.. OK but the trigger always stuck the day after the warranty ran out
          Delta 10" benchtop DP.. terrible run-out and the chuck would not stay in so I returned it to get the Ryobi before upgrading to a floor

          Bad that weren't so cheap...
          I won't got there...

          Comment

          • dbhost
            Slow and steady
            • Apr 2008
            • 9509
            • League City, Texas
            • Ryobi BT3100

            #20
            I am noticing a trend here... And I am wishing I had picked a different title for this thread. Inexpensive tools instead of cheap tools...

            I think we have all had tools from both low end brand names and high end brand names that have been absolute gems, and total junk.

            Not sure if there was only one mention of the Ryobi drill press here, or if there were others, but I have noticed a LOT of people really like the Ryobi drill presses, and even the Harbor Freight DPs. (Only seen one person have a problem with a HF DP). My Northern Tool DP that I bought used ($75.00) is the same DP as the 16 speed floor model HF and I love the DP. Hard working tool. But I digress... Had I not come across that Northern Tool the day I did, I would be a Ryobi 12" Benchtop DP owner. And in some ways I think I would be happier with it as I could use it in my up and coming swappable benchtop system.

            Keep the info coming. I am hoping to compile this into a sort of final list of what works and what doesn't so newbies have a better chance of knowing what to get, and what to avoid...

            Including model names / numbers helps a LOT too...
            Please like and subscribe to my YouTube channel. Please check out and subscribe to my Workshop Blog.

            Comment

            • Bill in Buena Park
              Veteran Member
              • Nov 2007
              • 1867
              • Buena Park, CA
              • CM 21829

              #21
              I tend toward the inexpensive (including clearance, half-off, etc.) that have acceptable quality - I check pretty closely before buying.

              Those I've had luck with:

              Sunhill SM-150B Benchtop Jointer
              HF Spindle Sander
              HF 12" Disk Sander
              HF 8" Benchtop Drillpress
              HF 6" Metal Cutoff saw
              HF Tilesaw
              HF 6"Digital Calipers
              HF Bar Clamps
              HF Nail guns - 10g framing, 16g finish, 18g brad, 23g pin, 1/4" staple
              HF Forstner bits
              HF Brad-point drill bits
              HF 1/2" router bits - 24 pc set, panel raisers, cope/stick door sets
              HF Wood Vise
              HF Bench Grinder
              HF Dowel Jig
              HF 1" belt / 5" disk sander
              Craftsman C3 tools - drill/driver, RA drill, recip saw, jig saw, trim saw
              Craftsman corded - 2hp router, recip saw, ROS, biscuit jointer (the Ryobi one)
              Craftsman 21829 TS
              Craftsman 8-1/4" RAS
              Craftsman 10in CMS
              Craftsman Chisels 6pc set
              Craftsman Studfinder
              Craftsman 26g compressor
              Craftsman shop vacs (9 & 16g)
              Delta 28-276 14" BS (Lowe's faux-clearance)
              Skil 1825 dual-base router
              Ryobi BS903 9" BS (did everything I needed before getting Delta 14")
              Ryobi AP1301 (Good cut, just plan around the snipe)
              B&D Palm Sander (now reserved for construction projects)
              B&D ROS (retired)
              B&D 14.4v cordless drill & trim saw (retired)
              CH 2g brad nailer compressor
              Ridgid MSUV (newer model, 1/2 price when introduced)

              Those that were of lesser quality:
              HF Laminate Trimmer (poor plastic base & height adjustment)
              HF non-Goodyear air hose (sticky black rubber, blackens anything it touches)
              HF Scrollsaw (early model, no "foot" for workpiece)
              Ryobi Recip (early model - too much vibration)
              Ryobi Detail Sander (early model - too much vibration)
              B&D 1/3 sheet sander (vibrates, but not much actual sanding)
              B&D Corded jigsaw (too jumpy)
              Skil Belt Sander (tracking problems)
              Craftman HSS Router bits
              Bill in Buena Park

              Comment

              • Len
                Forum Newbie
                • Sep 2007
                • 50
                • Cary, NC
                • BT3000

                #22
                Inexpensive Good:

                B&D WorkMate 400 portable workbench
                Delta 9in Table Top DP
                Used CM Brace w/6 bits
                Wood handle Stanley socket chisel set
                50yr old "Wizard" 1/2in drive socket set from Western Auto
                (Includes 4 sizes of 8-point sockets for square head bolts/nuts, don't see that these days)

                Inexpensive Not So Good:

                1 Speed (ultra-fast) B&D Jigsaw from Monkey Wards (remember them?)
                Plastic handle Stanley chisel set
                Any non-Klein/non-Wiha Phillips tip screw driver

                Len

                Comment

                • rnelson0
                  Established Member
                  • Feb 2008
                  • 424
                  • Midlothian, VA (Richmond)
                  • Firestorm FS2500TS

                  #23
                  Craftsman hand held Belt Sander - Belt Won't track worth sh**
                  I have to agree with this one, especially your comment. Lovely to have a brand new belt ruined because in half a second it slams all the way inside and shreds against the casing.

                  Aside from that, I have no real gauge on cheap tools. With the exception of some precision tools, nearly all of my tools are used. I just bought a $15 cummings drill press. It has a good bit of vibration and I had to replace the plug (bringing the total to a whopping $17.87 or so), but it works much better than trying to hold a handheld steady. My table saw is a defunct Firestorm model with a sloppy miter slot and no ZCTPs available for it, but at $125 it matches the quality of my worksmanship for now.

                  Everything else is the same way - more than adequate for the price I paid. The only one I regret is the Craftsman Belt Sander, which incidentally is one of 2 power tools I paid full price for.

                  Comment

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