Recent content by firebox40dash5

I've long had the bad habit of trying to "save time" by doing things in ways that end up taking a lot more time. I can't see what OP's working on, but this sounds an awful lot like that. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe once it's apart (hours of painstakingly working around obstacles later) you find out...

I broke down and got a used Mitutoyo off ebay. Do your homework and look at the signs of a fake if you go that route (or a new one from almost anywhere for that matter)... I did, and got a real one in great shape fpr like $60. I dunno if it's off calibration, but 0 is 0 and 1" is 1", and I get...

Like most, I'd rather have a wide toolbox with a top that functions as a workbench, rather than a "wall" of drawers in a narrower & taller box, and space next to it for an inadequate workbench. My 1st "real" box was a 44" combo, and the top sat over on a welding table full of ****. Only used it...

I paid half of retail for mine brand new. Less than half for the side box I bought used, which my dealer wouldn't budge more than about $200 on. Although there are those who pay retail... and it makes my head spin, too. One of my buddies has a KRL triple bank, and when I asked what he paid, he...

I have some GW from 5 or so years ago that came on rails like your "counterfeits". Almost the same as the ones Matco sells, bit with a rounded top profile instead of angled.

I'm not even in a rural area, and I mostly liked my old Matco guy (he understood a discount for cash, while the Snappy guy thought I should pay full boat, including the rolled-in financing and associated risk costs) but even then, it was hard to buy from him when I had an option. He'd come by on...

I've been buying the "gallon" jugs (actually 110oz) of Trufuel at work for $12-14. I buy straight, and mix them 40:1 with oil of my choice. Only exception these days is if I had a whole day of sawing and would be using 2+ gallons, I'll mix up some plain gas then... but that hasn't come up in a...

I'd add another vote for a Pro-line Stihl. Not because I dislike Husky (or Dolmar, or any other pro brand), but I have little experience and knowledge of the rest... Stihl has never given me a reason to. I have an MS260 Pro that I bought new 15 years ago. Still runs great... and my dad (who is...

There's a HUGE performance difference in them. I used my impact driver, impact gun, drill, sawzall amd grinder daily in a shop for several years. The M12 impact driver would go a day or two on a single compact 2ah battery. Ditto the M18 3/8 gun. I came from Makita LXT... that grinder was the...

Chain brake engaged should only matter if the centrifugal clutch were engaged. Which is shouldn't be when shut off/starting. Or if the clutch shoes rusted to the drum while it was sitting. Which is a prettier answer than a locked up piston. But I wouldn't try to fix it by kicking off the brake...

My CH/Speedaire called for SAE30, non-detergent, synthetic oil. I bought the RP oil after failing to find much of anything else that checked all 3 boxes. Definitely want ND since it's splash-lubed and unfiltered. And synthetic for heat stability, and I imagine it varnishes less. And it's ISO100...

Re: Milwaukee make in China? Add to that, government regulations. From EPA to healthcare. The common thread is all of it makes production here more expensive/less competitive. Of course not all of any of this is necessarily bad, but China is willing to do anything to win the race to the...

They'll make things as good as you're willing to pay for, and as ****** as you ask for/let them get away with.

I picked up a 30 gallon C-H/Speedaire from Zoro about 3 years ago. Wasn't expecting it to be great for ~$300, but it's an oiled pump, and as little as I use it will probably last a loooong time. I did replace pretty much all the plumbing on it. Dumped the unloader valve for one of those combo...

I have the bigger one. Only complaint is runtime is dismal, and I always forget and leave a battery in it, so it never gets charged until I need it again. And I guess if I'm being real nitpicky, the hose is a bit short (even considering its mobility) and the ends come undone kinda easy... but...