I’ve had the opportunity to use the homeowners tools from time to time, be it a ladder, saw or other as I’m sure many of you have. Many times it’s an old rusty Craftsman table saw or radial arm saw that doesn’t cut square.
On my last job, a kitchen and small bathroom upgrade consisting of new ceramic tile floors and replacing the trim I was able to use the homeowners son’s Delta Unisaw.
I’m now off to a room addition and interior overhaul that gives me access to a Powermatic 66 cabinet saw.
Both owners of these saws had worked for me several years ago and were more than happy to let me use their saws.
I’ll be sick once I have to go back to using my Craftsman and Delta contractor saws.
RU
Replies
As HO, I once lent my Bosch hammer drill to the contractor. He returned it with a burnt out motor.
Problem was, the contractor was my brother-in-law. I now use this as an excuse whenever I buy new tools: I get the best stuff (I replaced the drill with a much beefier model from Milwaukee), "It's got to be good enough to stand up to your brother's abuse".
If your BIL can ruin a Bosch, he can do the same to a MIlwaukee.
Some folk have the ability to destroy anything.
Joe H
I dunno...I had the $149 bosch and burnbed it out in a year. I've had the $189 milwaukee for years now and used it harder. I am a bosch fan, but the low end in some tools is still the low end
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Piff, I have a Bosch bulldog that's probably 20 years old. I'm sure I could ruin it, but I know guys who could destroy it and your Milwaukee in one morning.
If my Unisaw ever wears out I'll be long gone. It's got a motor that weighs about 100 pounds I think.....big old round ender from the late 40's.
Joe H
At least it came back. I've got a finish nailer and about $50.00 worth of nails loaned out on a rental basis. The guy claims he put it back in my truck one night at a local sit n sip. Even if he did there is still the daily usage fee and nail reimbursement that he must have tossed into the bed of my truck also, I'm not done with him yet, I figure $200.00 worth of equipment and materials looks better in my pocket than his. Maybe I'll catch him at one of those sit n sip's late one evening when my judgment is in a reduced capacity.
RU
$50.00 worth of nails loaned out on a rental basis
How much do you rent nails for? This sounds like an excellent business. I have extra nails laying around that I might try to rent..........................Hey Mister Sushi, you forgot to cook my fish.
"Am I dead or alive? What's this? Linoleum? I must be in hell." -The Salton Sea
Consider three or four boxes of various size finish nails that never got returned = $50.00
It's not much of a business when nothing comes back!
I'll get even someday even if I have to walk onto his jobsite and remove a tool of choice. I've done it before with a three way air hose coupling manifold that had my constrruction company name ingraved into it.
RU
$50.00 worth of nails loaned out on a rental basis
How much do you rent nails for? This sounds like an excellent business. I have extra nails laying around that I might try to rent..........................
I rented a box once. I just buy them now, too much trouble to return them.
How long you want them 2x4's?
Pa says we want 'em a long time 'cause we'll be buildin' a garage.
We always get it right!!!
the third time....
<!----><!---->
"Almost certain death, small chance of success.... What are we waiting for???"
Hammer drills are easy to burn out. 3/8 in. and 1/2 in. drills can`t bore that many 1/2 inch holes but alot of people think they can. I never borrow tools from a homeowner but I might be tempted by some of the tablesaws that some of these old retired guys have.
I hate to admit but both these guys are younger than I. As a matter of fact the Unisaw owner is 23 and the Powermatic owner is around 30.
Both of them are make furniture with their saws.
The Powermatic owner went to cabinet makers school around Olney, IL and has a 24' x 40' shop full of woodworking tools.
The Unisaw owner has me buying up his old table saws so he could step up to a cabinet saw.
I mowed through a 16' - 2" x 10" on the Powermatic a few days ago, it's a whole different duck than using a contractor grade table saw.
RU
Put a full 5 HP (24A, 240 V) motor and Shielded roller chain drive on an old Crafstsman cast iron table saw and it is a whole 'nuther duck too <G>
The old cast iron Craftsman, quite the pleasure to pack from job to job. A guy I worked for years ago had one mounted atop a plywood box with wheels on it to help with portability. We had to block the wheels when we used it, most the time we pushed saw and all across the room if much pressure was needed to make your cut.
I also recall that the table was only maybe 16" wide by about 2' long, maybe it was bigger but it sure seemed small.
The Unisaw owner says that he can stand a nickel on edge on the table when he has it tuned, I don't recall if that was from startup or while running.
I use one of those orange twist lock belts on my Craftsman table saw, smooths it out quite a bit compared to the belt that came with it.
RU
musta been a really low end Bosch...
gaurd the Milwaukee..
I'll help you for free as long as you "don't know what happened to the Model 66".
We always get it right!!!
the third time....
"Almost certain death, small chance of success.... What are we waiting for???"
I know what you mean, the thought has crossed my mind too.
RU
Unisaws aren't real portable, better keep the contractor saw.
Joe H
We were all set to use the HO's table saw Friday--cleared away all the stuff we'd put around it (it's in the garage and we'd unloaded the cabinets we're installing there). Boss grabs the fence--the part that attaches the front of the fence to the rail is broken--cheap pot metal and no way to repair. Other than that. the saw was nice--looked brand new (and probably was). (A Riobi saw, in case any of you need to hear one saw to avoid.) So he had to take the parts home to saw in his workshop.
I stay away from anything with Ryobi on it. I don't recall ever using anything Ryobi, just looks to be homeowner quality IMO.
I did stand a nickel on edge while the Powermatic was running, then tried it at start up but it fell. I need to try this on the Craftsman that I bought off the Unisaw owner, he did have it tuned rather well.
It is somewhat puzzling what you will run across from job to job. On the job I'm doing now I have full access to a fully equiped wood shop.
Derda commercial radial arm saw
Powermatic table saw
Jet band saw
Jet drill press
planer
jointer
Porter Cable Speedmatic router
Porter Cable dovetail jig 24"
it's all there and nice not to have to load the truck full of tools, I don't have to get them out and put them away at days end saves me time which saves him money.
I think we are going to make our own drywall butt splicers to get rid of the hump. I've never used them before but it will be nice to mud. We have a 24' x 25' room and a 24' x 35' room so they should also save some time and mud tapering joints.
RU