A Simple Pleasure

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Before swapping over to using my mind, I worked in Parks & Gardens doing Hard Landscaping. We had a well appointed workshop and good kits in our vehicles. When I left the tools, I had to leave the ability to access all those tools behind. Over the years I have "made do" with around the home projects. While honestly knowing that I could have done a better job with my old work kit.

Today, I started off using a hacksaw to cut through 50 mm galvanised water pipe. I then stepped up to using an angle grinder. The end result looked like a dog had been chewing the ends. It was not very satisfying to look at all. So with a sense of frustration and dissatisfaction, I came up stairs and checked what a cut-off or drop saw cost. I did a quick online check of a couple of tool places. The price for a saw did not seem poisonously expensive. I went to a number of real stores and found one that had more watts than their competitors for the same sized blade. At not too much of a difference in price.

I bought the saw. I came home and after setting the saw up the first cut I made was to remove the dog-breakfast cut. It is such a simple pleasure to be able to perform a task safely - efficiently and have things cut to square. Then you look at the finished product and actually feel like you have achieved something.

Sorry for the in-depth description of cutting some lengths of galvanised pipe - it is just after years of "making do" - and falling short of your own expectations; it is great just being able to do such a simple task and to do it well.

Kind regards
Lionel

[AK83]

Good to hear.
Assuming that you got a grinding type, not saw type(blade).

I got a metal cut off saw a year ago.
Cheapo brand(low funds at the time) as I had to stay within a budget, but also be sure I got the right tool for the jobs at the time .. so large(maybe 350mm) had to be a priority.

Cost in the low, maybe mid hundred, and the next model up was maybe too.
Not really happy with what I got but only the clamp set up on it. Really loosey goosey and tedious to set up precisely. Once locked down was ok, just hard to setup a specific cut size accurately and if angle was needed, again made hard by the slackness in the clamping method.

But knowing it was a cheapo Chinese, I did want the cheapo cut off disk, so spent the $20 or so on a better quality(Euro brand of some kind can't recall).
After a few cuts, reasonably happy, but not entirely so I ended up forking out for an all purpose metal saw for it. Cost as much as the saw itself, but the cuts were hundred times better .. an actual cut, not grind!
Always wanted a band saw, but $ vs actual usage .. the metal saw blade for the cheapo drop saw does a good enough job of it.

I will end up modding the cheapo saw for now, make a better clamp, and look for a variable speed controller for it to slow it down for the multi purpose blade too.

[Toxic_Avenger]

This is the excuse I use for the missus when she says "you've got alot of tools just sitting there".
She doesn't complain when I get assigned a task and it is done well, in good time, and to a decent level of workmanship.
I have not yet played the "why does one woman need 4 sewing machines?" card yet. When that day comes, please avenge me.

Good tools pay for themselves and can make a chore an enjoyable task.

[Tombie]

The right gear always makes it fun.

Cordless band saws are fantastic [emoji41]

[Lionelgee]

Good to hear.
Assuming that you got a grinding type, not saw type(blade).

I got a metal cut off saw a year ago.
Cheapo brand(low funds at the time) as I had to stay within a budget, but also be sure I got the right tool for the jobs at the time .. so large(maybe 350mm) had to be a priority.

Cost in the low, maybe mid hundred, and the next model up was maybe too.
Not really happy with what I got but only the clamp set up on it. Really loosey goosey and tedious to set up precisely. Once locked down was ok, just hard to setup a specific cut size accurately and if angle was needed, again made hard by the slackness in the clamping method.

But knowing it was a cheapo Chinese, I did want the cheapo cut off disk, so spent the $20 or so on a better quality(Euro brand of some kind can't recall).
After a few cuts, reasonably happy, but not entirely so I ended up forking out for an all purpose metal saw for it. Cost as much as the saw itself, but the cuts were hundred times better .. an actual cut, not grind!
Always wanted a band saw, but $ vs actual usage .. the metal saw blade for the cheapo drop saw does a good enough job of it.

I will end up modding the cheapo saw for now, make a better clamp, and look for a variable speed controller for it to slow it down for the multi purpose blade too.


Hello Arthur,

I got one of these jiggers - AEG 2300W 355mm Metal Cut Off Saw. I had a look at the portable band saws and the reciprocating hack saw. However, they were too expensive for the amount of use they would get. Nice ... but too expensive.

Just being able to use a mitre table and cut angles that are square and not chewed up. I am streets ahead of what I used before.

The link to the saw from the AEG site so I am not favouring any hardware store of another is ... Access 16th April 2020 from
2300W 355mm Metal Cut Off Saw | AEG Powertools (https://www.aegpowertools.com.au/products/details/2300w-355mm-metal-cut-off-saw-smt355-1)

The hardware stores are selling it cheaper too.

Kind regards
Lionel

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

I should also mention the first tasks the saw is being used for. Cutting off the galvanised pipe that has been bent to form two strainers for the end posts on our new dog's compound. Where he can be put in a small yard with access to his shelter and bed when Leeann and I go out.

A new front fence for the "house" yard. I am getting concrete posts. It will also have pipe top and bottom with chain wire secured in-between the rails. The pipe will need to be cut down from the 6 metre length. Once finished the fence will have vines growing over it.

Notice they are not Land Rover related projects. "Domestic" jobs - yes they are.

That the same tools could be used for Land Rover related jobs - well that is just an added bonus, isn't it - teehee!

Happy Wife ...

Kind regards
Lionel

[Blknight.aus]

now this is the kind of stuff thats the simple pleasure of a mechanic.

I get this same feeling every single time I crack open my "special" snap on box and know that every last nut bolt and fixing on the vehicles it was setup to work with is now just a case of remembering which selection of extensions, wobbles and adaptors was selected to do the job.

Its the way that the specially bent pair of feeler blade just perfectly snick under the rocker and over the lash cap letting the drag go unimpeded by the blade flexing.

some days its good, the feeling of it going just so.. . when you look at it and give it "yep, that went well" and sometimes the only thing is when you get it all right, everythings on time or ahead and then yovue even had time to clean up, theres no rough, edges, spilt oil missing bolts or washers to search for, tools damaged and you're just looking at it wondering why you dont take this kind of stuff on for a full time living, then its the "thssft" of a beer being opened...


at those moments its impossible to consider anything other than the simple thought of "yes, life is good". Truth be told, its got me through more than a few times in the last half dozen years or so.

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Further to the Simple Pleasures is to:

Get a blowtorch - heat a particular section of a flat bar of metal up while it is held in a vice. Then to change its shape into a special bracket by using a combination of heat and a ball-pein hammer.

Kind regards
Lionel

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Having sorted out the bulk of the chaos associated with decades of inadequate storage space or shelving, I reached a truly satisfying point yesterday. Part of the former storage issue included storing and accessibility of various gardening tools. I set up a series of ply sheets that I tech-screwed to the steel frame walls of my shed. Various speciality hooks meant things like shovels, rakes, mattocks, saws and the brushcutter were hung up.

Yesterday, I filled in some empty spaces between the garden tools with a couple of sets of hardware store el-cheapo peg-board hooks. Now I have my panel beating hammers, slappers, aviation snips, T-squares and similar marking tools all pegged up. Tools that used to get stacked and caught up with each other and needed to be sorted are now fully accessible. Walk up to the shed wall. Have a quick glance. Reach out and what I want is in my hand. The result is just bloody wonderful.

Kind regards
Lionel

[Graeme]

I've found 2 tools in recent years that have made jobs so much easier - ratchet spanners and impact wrenches. Sockets and their ratchet handles can be cumbersome when a simple ratchet spanner can get the job done so much more easily and a cordless impact wrench cuts the time to loosen or run-up nuts/bolts to almost nil, a real benefit when there's lots to loosen/tighten or need to hold a spanner on the other end of the bolt/nut.

[Tins]

The right gear always makes it fun.

Cordless band saws are fantastic [emoji41]

I think my next red box purchase might jus be one of those. I lust after their cordless torque wrench but simply can't justify it. Yet.

[scarry]

The cordless drills,angle grinders,impact wrenches,etc, in my van were all Hitachi hand me downs from the boys vans,the last range,not the latest.

We use these tools all day,everyday.

I wore out the chuck on the last drill,so pulled all the Hitachi gear out of the van, and replaced them all with a 'pack' from Milwaulkee.
The new tools,particularly the Drill,and Hammer drill, are so much better its rediculous,a bit like going from a Series LR, to a Disco 5.

As someone mentioned,ratchet spanners are also fantastic,we didnt have them years ago,they are very handy.

[Tins]

The cordless drills,angle grinders,impact wrenches,etc, in my van were all Hitachi hand me downs from the boys vans,the last range,not the latest.

We use these tools all day,everyday.

I wore out the chuck on the last drill,so pulled all the Hitachi gear out of the van, and replaced them all with a 'pack' from Milwaulkee.
The new tools,particularly the Drill,and Hammer drill, are so much better its rediculous,a bit like going from a Series LR, to a Disco 5.

As someone mentioned,ratchet spanners are also fantastic,we didnt have them years ago,they are very handy.

Love my ratchet spanners and simply adore my Milwaukee collection. Every one of my Milwaukee tools is simply awesome. I bought my first red tool five years ago. I've bought a heap more since. The M18 5 AH battery that came with it died. Milwaukee replaced it, no questions asked.

Recently got one of their new products. It's a fantastic work light. M12, 3 LED brightness options, magnetic base, the arm and head move all over the place to shine where you want, the arm has a magnetic bit to hold nuts, bolts and spanners, and it doubles as a fantastic camping light. It's brilliant. Pun probably intended.
175737

[scarry]

Love my ratchet spanners and simply adore my Milwaukee collection. Every one of my Milwaukee tools is simply awesome. I bought my first red tool five years ago. I've bought a heap more since. The M18 5 AH battery that came with it died. Milwaukee replaced it, no questions asked.

Recently got one of their new products. It's a fantastic work light. M12, 3 LED brightness options, magnetic base, the arm and head move all over the place to shine where you want, the arm has a magnetic bit to hold nuts, bolts and spanners, and it doubles as a fantastic camping light. It's brilliant. Pun probably intended.
175737

Yes,the boys have a heap of Milwaukee gear,work(camping), lights,fans,radios,torches and on it goes.
They are definitely built tuff.