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The drafting compasses are nice but I find the sharpness of the point to be annoying to carry with me, as I reach in my belt and catch it sometimes. I have seen better quality pencil type compasses in the Lee Valley catalog. Lee Valley even has one with an interesting offset to get you into the tight corners. I am doing okay with my Staedtler set right now though (from my navigation days). Can’t help with the other parts.
Chris
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Replies
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The drafting compasses are nice but I find the sharpness of the point to be annoying to carry with me, as I reach in my belt and catch it sometimes. I have seen better quality pencil type compasses in the Lee Valley catalog. Lee Valley even has one with an interesting offset to get you into the tight corners. I am doing okay with my Staedtler set right now though (from my navigation days). Can't help with the other parts.
Chris
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I have the Delta 12.5" planer & am quite happy w/ it. Don't know about the Dewalt, but I seem to recall it was a bit more expensive. I ordered the Delta from Toll Crib o.t.North, and it included a second set of knives.
*As for the drills, I don't think you will go wrong with either one. I would handle them to decide which one feels better, check the prices, and flip a coin if comes to that.
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I have a 2 yr old 14.4 DeWalt T-handle. I love it, the clutch is very sensitive, but most important the battery lasts a long time. I can install most of a small kitchen worth of cabinets on one charge.
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Dave: If that 12v DeWalt ever finally dies on you, I'd be interested in buying any batteries that still have some life in them. I went with DeWalt's 12v line (drill, saw, flashlight) because then I can charge right off my car (with a high wattage resistor) and use the 12 volt Ni-cads in remote locations (a fishfinder in my sea kayak, cell phone on a long backpacking trip, killer headlights for dog sledding at night). But the 14 and 18-volt system have more torque and battery life. In twenty years time, we'll all be using drills with 20-pound, 120-volt batteries before it occurs to us that the tool would be torquier and a lot lighter if we plugged it into the wall.
Once I used a T-handle, I'm not going back to a pistol grip.
-David
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re:tool questions.
1. I'd stick w the dewalt 14 v. My 12 v still runs too well to justify getting a 14.4 but i'd buy another in a minute. I like the feel better than my 9.6 v Makitas.
2. I don't know where I got them but I have several cheap General compass/scribes. They aren't pretty but they work.
3. I can't get on the portable planer bandwagon. I think a planer has to have mass and a good 2 hp motor at least to really be effective. Keep your eyes trained on the want ads. I bought a used Rockwell/Injecta planer from a retired boatbuilder here in San Diego. It weighs a ton, came with a HTC mobile base with infeed/outfeed roller extension arms, and a 2 hp motor. It is a workhorse and it cost me $700. Those mini planers cost at least $450 don't they? The extra $250 is worth it (the mobile base is worth that much alone).
*RE: DeWalt Drill. Last trip to Home Depot a new disply of Black & Decker battery tools had arrived, all priced a cut below their DeWalt cousins. The drills look quite similar, as do the batteries. If physical abuse like dropping is likely to retire a tool before more 'norma' wear and tear, then a less-expensive (assumably) shorter-life product line might make sense.
*Portable planer: I have the old Delta portable and it works OK. I would not want to plane hundreds of board feet of rough lumber though. Its good for 20 board feet which is already pretty smooth.Drill: No opinion on either brand. I love my older 12v pistol grip Bosch. Get the drill which fits your hand best. This was the Bosch for me. All of their drills fit well. They understand the way drills are held. They don't put fat motors right where you want to hold it. Don't let the drills color or marketing make your decision for you.I can't stand this T handle drill nuttiness. Apparently the people who make T handle drills have never drilled a hole in their life. If you actually use a T handle drill for drilling or driving screws your wrist will suffer very quickly. Ever see a screw gun with a T handle? No. All screw guns have pistol grips because the peoplle who use them are screwing in thousands of screws a day and your wrist could not stand this with a T handle. The pistol grip allows the wrist to be straight and allows you to pust with your arm. No strain on the wrist.
*Dave-Veritas makes a good scribe for around sixty bucks that comes with a level to stay vert. and horizontal on your scribe. I got mine from Bailey's mail order.Hambone
*DaveGo with the DeWalt 14.4v. I have two of them, plenty of power and not too heavy, I replaced my old DeWalt 12v and my old Makita 9.6v and have not been sorry, great battery life!I have a Grizzly Tools portable planer and have been pleased with the tool, keep in mind that it is a small planer and is not a full size shop tool and you will be happy. Regards, John W.
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Dave:
I've been using my 14.4 DeWalt for two or three years and it is a great tool. I am a little anxious for it to die though, so I can move to the 18 volt system. Go DeWalt. No advice on the planer except to say that when I buy one, it'll probably be a DeWalt. I tried one of the pistol grip Frueds once, it felt very wierd.Happy drilling.
Brad
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If you want a really rugged compass make your own
out of a old door hinge. I think I saw this in a
little free publication put out by Taunton. A little hard to describe but imagine one half of the hinge with the hinge pin held tight in a single barrel (pin ground to a point) and the other half (two barrels) holding a standard pencil. Each half of my hinge was cut off at an angle and a hole drilled through each for the pivot bolt w/wingnut. This baby is indestructable, rides around in a pouch all day and can be replaced easily for nothing. I'll try to find the publication. As for DeWalt--I have the 18v drill, saw etc. The 1/2 chuck lets me whip up a 5 gal bucket of mud without blinking. It's heavy but...my son has the 12v and it's much better for overhead work. Now if I could just find that new 18v jig saw!!! Thor
*go with the Dewalt !!! having had five different brands I have gotten the best service out oof them Also the guys can find them easier
*The best portable planer that we have found is the hitachi and it also has a nice jointer as well.It costs more than some of the others but it is well built and very versatile.We have had 3 of the Dewalt 12v drills fail in the last 2 years. They have replaced them at no cost.A PC 12v has run for the last 2 years with no problems. My personal favorite for balance and fit has been the Milwaukee 12v series.The best compass we have found is made by Veritas as supplied by Lee Valley in Canada. It was developed for the log home building industry and is quite substantial.The cost if I remember correctly was about $75.00 Cdn.
*Thor -The DW 18v jig saw is at Home Depot. Fondled it there. Very nice ergonomics on the handle. Better feeling than their 120v jig saw handle. Must be the curve. It's calling my name.
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Hey its Christmas time!! Merry Christmas everyone and heres to a prosperous New Year! Need some tool advice. My Dewalt 12V is reaching the end of its life. One too many drops off the roof..you guys know the deal. Anyway, Ive been looking at the PC battery drills..any experience with them. Dewalt or PC I think Im going to get a 14V this time. Also, Im in the market for a portable planer, 12.5"...suggestions. I can get either a Dewalt or Delta from my local supplier. And lastly, anyone know where I can get a good pair of dividers that can accept a standard pencil for scribing. Ive gone through about a zillion of the "school" types and am looking for something a bit more substantial. Thanks in advance.
Dave
*Find a source for drafting tools, usually an office supplier, and look for a compass made by Steadtler. It has a lead holder instead of a pencil. About ten bucks.
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Thanks everyone!! I got the Dewalt 14.4 and a great compass/scribe from Lee Valley. Everyone have a great year....go out and make some money!!
Dave