So I needed a replacement for my cheapo Dremel that was even smaller and more maneuverable. The options were a flex shaft or an pencil air grinder.
I've bought some Harbor Freight "Earthquake" air tools and have been very happy with them. I normally buy Chicago Pneumatic or IR. But Earthquake, while not quite CP or iR, were pretty good.
I bought a 1/8" Micro air grinder that was $29.99, on sale for $24.99 and I had a 25% off coupon...so it cost the same as pocket lint.
First: As soon as I aired up, it de-hosed by blowing off the direct connected line to the tool. The lines were attached with plastic ferrules...not metal. Both the ferrule at the tool and the one at the fitting were split.
I took it back and..no problem. They are terrific at customer service. However, every one I checked had one or both ferrules split...right out of the box. So I took a chance and took one that was "least broken", got some hoes clamps and got it running,
It had no power unless you cranked it to a zillion RPM The sleeve that turns it on and off sometimes wouldn't turn it off. Well, nice try, back to HF for a refund of my 12 cents.
I then saw that that Enco had a sale, free shipping and 20% off. I needed some stuff so I added a Chicago Pneumatic 9104Q 1/8" pencil grinder. Amazon had it for $136 but Enco had it one sale and with the 20% off it ended up at $71. So I ordered it.
While waiting the approximately 5 minutes before they shipped it to me, I started looking at pictures of it and the HF I took back. I even downloaded some exploded views. Man! They looked almost identical. Yikes! Had I just paid $71 for a 12 cent tool! Man, they look soooo similar.
Well...they ain't. I got the CP and it LOOKS like the HF but that is all....tool is quality, crimped on hose; metal Ferrules; on off doesn't swivel endlessly; will grind your face of at low RPM if let loose...not at all the same. Same color, same looks...that's where it ends. The HF is made in China. The CP is made in Taiwan...
Crisis averted...
I've bought some Harbor Freight "Earthquake" air tools and have been very happy with them. I normally buy Chicago Pneumatic or IR. But Earthquake, while not quite CP or iR, were pretty good.
I bought a 1/8" Micro air grinder that was $29.99, on sale for $24.99 and I had a 25% off coupon...so it cost the same as pocket lint.
First: As soon as I aired up, it de-hosed by blowing off the direct connected line to the tool. The lines were attached with plastic ferrules...not metal. Both the ferrule at the tool and the one at the fitting were split.
I took it back and..no problem. They are terrific at customer service. However, every one I checked had one or both ferrules split...right out of the box. So I took a chance and took one that was "least broken", got some hoes clamps and got it running,
It had no power unless you cranked it to a zillion RPM The sleeve that turns it on and off sometimes wouldn't turn it off. Well, nice try, back to HF for a refund of my 12 cents.
I then saw that that Enco had a sale, free shipping and 20% off. I needed some stuff so I added a Chicago Pneumatic 9104Q 1/8" pencil grinder. Amazon had it for $136 but Enco had it one sale and with the 20% off it ended up at $71. So I ordered it.
While waiting the approximately 5 minutes before they shipped it to me, I started looking at pictures of it and the HF I took back. I even downloaded some exploded views. Man! They looked almost identical. Yikes! Had I just paid $71 for a 12 cent tool! Man, they look soooo similar.
Well...they ain't. I got the CP and it LOOKS like the HF but that is all....tool is quality, crimped on hose; metal Ferrules; on off doesn't swivel endlessly; will grind your face of at low RPM if let loose...not at all the same. Same color, same looks...that's where it ends. The HF is made in China. The CP is made in Taiwan...
Crisis averted...