[TheForge] HF- what works and what doesn't

[Bruce Freeman]

I have the cheapest HF bench grinder with gooseneck lamp that they
sell at <$40.  It's wimpy, but once up to speed it does the job --
which was grinding 1/4" lathe bits.  (I keep it for that and similar
light work so I have two stones in good shape for that job.  Routine
chisel-sharpening, etc., I do on my other grinder/wire brush, which is
belt driven from some fractional HP motor and has a great deal more
power.)

HF 4.5" angle grinders are okay.  I have a few of these and spent <$16
each.   I use these so I don't have to switch wheels.  The wire brush
I keep on my Ryobi, which is a $45 model but at least has a
spring-switch so it doesn't stay on when I release it.  The grinding
wheels also seem fine to me, but I don't have that much experience
with better brands.

I buy HF safety glasses.  These are Z87 rated, so are good enough.  I
buy them on sale and pay <$1 each.  I throw them out when they become
unusable.

I have a HF flux-core welder, 120VAC, 90A, that welds better than I
do.  $90 on sale.  I also have their auto-darkening welding 'helmet',
bought on sale at <$40.  Works well -- I don't see an arc flash ever.
(I think I need to build in a defogger for these cold days though.)
I've heard bad things about their flux-core wire, but I'm still using
my first 2# roll (which tells you how much welding I do) and I've seen
nothing wrong that I could attribute to that.  Nonetheless, I've
already bought a name-brand replacement roll.

I have a throatless bench shear that's okay.  I stupidly chipped one
blade and got replacement blades on sale for $5 or so.  Haven't
installed them yet because the chip isn't that bad.

I have a hot-melt glue gun that I rely on now.  Any plastic repair I
do, I use this.  My chief bitch is HF stopped selling the long glue
sticks shortly after I bought my glue gun.  Fortunately, A.C. Moore
sells them at 35c each or so.  A wimpy glue gun does not cut it.  You
need one that will put out the melt.

I've been buying open-end/box-end wrench sets, screwdriver sets,
flashlights, shop rags, rubber gloves, and am satisfied with all of
this.

I recently broke down and bought a couple things I've had my eye on
for quite some time.  The first is that oscillating multi-tool ($17 on
sale).  I'm disappointed with it as a wood-cutting tool.  I figure its
main claim to fame is being able to get into spaces other tools can't
reach, but so far I haven't had such a job.

The other is the (cheaper) borescope -- gooseneck inspection camera,
<$80 on sale.  This works fairly well.  No megapixel image, but
adequate to see whether you've dropped pieces into your engine
cylinder, checking inside walls, etc.  (You can go cheaper if you can
forgo the hand-held display, etc., and just buy an inspection camera
with USB connector.)  I hasten to say that I bought this because I
wanted it, not because I needed it.

Again, my philosophy is to buy cheap and see whether I need it.  If I
do and cheap works, buy more cheap.  If cheap doesn't work but I like
having the tool, I go more expensive.  I also buy used tools at flea
markets and garage sales -- mostly hammers, chisels, etc., where I can
inspect them and see the quality.  The deals you get at such places
are incredible, but it does take time and effort to pursue them.

-- 
Bruce
NJ