Tool Reviews

Recently got a Milwaukee M12 Right Angle Die Grinder: https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/2485-20 Nice deal from eBay at $137.95
(MSRP $199.00) with free shipping. It's a little beast so far. I like it. I've been using it with 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 batteries which I have anyway. I did round out the outfit with a variety of attachments as seen below in a nice organized package (which is uncharacteristic of me). Flap discs, sanding discs, flap wheels, wire wheels and cut off discs, collets and arbors. I'll report my findings once we get to know one another.

 

Interesting tool there. I've been thinking about getting one of those small handheld belt sanders myself. I've been wanting a way to get a nice sharp angle on a fixed surface. (For example, I was working on a bumper for my truck, I needed to grind down a weld where two pieces of metal met at roughly a 45* angle, and couldn't get a good, professional-looking angle on it with the angle grinder.) This seems like it would do the job as well or better, and I already have a M12 battery ratchet. Not to mention you can do a lot more with this. I'm going to keep this in mind for future use...

 

Cool, sounds like the right angle grinder would work for you. It's really compact. I'd loan it to you if you were closer.

Funny you mention the M12 ratchet (3/8"). I just picked that up myself a few weeks ago and I REALLY like it. The adjustable torque is slick. I also bought the shallow and deep Milwaukee 3/8" impact sets along with it which were on sale at HD. I like good deals. I do need to find 3/8" impact extensions and a swivel to round out the assembly. Kicking my self for not making this move a year ago before my current project: http://www.earlycj5.com/xf_cj5/index.php?threads/157805/

 

Harbor Funk Hot Knife------garbage. I'm on my second one. I've been getting about 1.5 - 2 hours total run time.....maybe....before they just die. I'm cutting 3" thick foam board to insulate the garage. Lost the receipt for the first one so I didn't try to return it. Picked up a second one and it died a bit further along than the first one did. Hoping I can through the end of the job with #3.

 

I have had the second generation Milwaukee 3/8 Fuel impact for about 5 years. Finally had to get new batteries at the beginning of the year and replace the friction ring as well, still going strong. Best tool I've ever bought (next to my Snapon 36 inch 1/2 drive breaker bar).

I have had the second generation 1/2 Fuel high torque impact for 3 years, mainly used for tire rotations and chassis work, needed a new battery after 2 years but still an incredible tool. Being able to take that in the toolkit in the armchair wheeler is serious peace of mind if anything goes south. I imagine thats how OBA guys who carry air tools feel?

 

I’ve been waiting to give a review of this unit until I had some hours on it.

Since I’m the only guy in the (school district) maintenance department who knows how to weld, I’ve been taking on all the welding duties along side all my regular carpenter duties. We have a Miller 252 MIG and Miller TIG back at the shop, but for field welds, the little old converter-style Lincoln 140 MIG wasn’t cutting it. The only way it had enough power on 115v was to use flux core, and that’s less than ideal.

I got the go-ahead to purchase a new 115v machine. I’m a huge fan of ESAB welders, and went with the Rogue EM 140. The price was around $680 locally at A-L Compresed Gas. It comes with the power unit, gun and leads, regulator, and a spool of .030” solid wire.



It took a slight rebuild of my cart to make it fit, as its footprint is a hair bigger, but its weight is way lighter at only 28 lbs. (without wire). I’m running it with a small CO2 tank.



This machine is awesome. I can’t believe the power it has on standard household current, and the Tweco gun is epic. I was MIG welding 1/4” plate outside yesterday off of a 100’ extension cord, and it was perfect. I’ll still keep a roll of flux core wire in the van for heavy duty applications, but for 95% of the jobs I have in the field, this is more than enough machine.

Some test welds on 1/8” at about 70% power output with .023” wire as I was getting the settings dialed in…

 

I like the way that is set up on the dolly!

 

Update: I’ll be going after hot knife number 4 when the store gets them back in stock. These things are total garbage. I have 3 more pieces of foam board to cut and then I’ll never pick up a HF hot knife again. I basically cut 30 pieces of foam board lengthwise into 3 pieces and am on my 4th knife.