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Question Of The Week.... ( 2026 Week 20 )

trc65

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I need a new sander for lathe work. My Harbor Freight angle drill finally quit after a dozen+ years. Tried to replace it but I need something lighter and with a cord. Most are battery now. I’m next to an outlet, don’t need the weight of a battery pack. I’m having trouble finding a good replacement. I have a Sioux angle drill but it’s too heavy and tough to control the speed and where it wants to go. I’m considering an air tool but I’ve never had any and I’m a little gun shy about it.
Go ahead and get the air sander and then let me know how it works! Something I've been thinking about for a while too.

My next tool will probably be a 3/32" beading tool so I can get a few extra rows of beads on small basket illusion pieces. That's contingent on seeing if I can get a 3/32" burning tip made. I'm sure I can, but haven't talked to PJL about it yet. Probably fall before I get to that anyway.
 

ripjack13

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Haven't used that many brain cells yet, but could easily be a shoebox. Prefer 110v as house is 80 years old and only has 3 220 circuits - all in use. But already have a big gas driven pipe welder that has 220v off it if I need it. MIG and TIG minimum. Will likely never do anything over 1\4" thick, and if I do, I've got the big rig. Was looking at some a few years ago that were American made and right up my alley with priicing, but don't remember the name of company. Any suggestions? Not too concerned with duty cycle - it won't be production use.
For the price, I like the hobarts mig welder for household diy stuff. Those are 110v. They are simple dials no technical digital crap. If you're looking for a combo machine mig/tig, than those get pricey...maybe a spoolgun instead of a tig.
I have a miller-matic 252 at work and I love it. It has a spoolgun attachment.
Or get just a tig welder. Then you can do both steel and aluminum with an argon bottle.
 

trc65

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Got your eye on any specific one, Tim? I’m just starting the research.
Not done any research, but it would probably be similar to the PROS mini at Woodturners Wonders. Don't know if that one is good or bad, but it's the size that I think I'd want.

 

Tom Smart

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Not done any research, but it would probably be similar to the PROS mini at Woodturners Wonders. Don't know if that one is good or bad, but it's the size that I think I'd want.

Yep, looked at that one earlier today.
 
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Tom Smart

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From what I've been reading it seems that most people are either using the PROS mini or a GREX. The GREX is a little more $$, but it has the reputation to back it up.
I took a cursory look at the Grex yesterday as well. I don’t yet know enough about how mandrels attach to these and if buying one or the other then locks you into replacements that are not generic, but must be from Grex or WTW. The ones I currently use fit any drill.

There is a Grex package for $215 on most sites but I’ve seen the same package on “lesser known” sites for $50 or below. Kinda makes you scratch your head.
 
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Sprung

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Currently going in the opposite direction. Where I'm currently at in life, I'm downsizing in the shop. Have been selling off some wood, tools, even a couple machines, with more to go. I will eventually have a less equipped shop with less of everything in it, and I'm ok with that.

So, there really is nothing on my list of wants or needs right now when it comes to the shop. The only sorts of tools I've even thought of acquiring or acquired over the last few years have been focused on anything needed to maintain our vehicles or camper.

Well, there is one big item on my list, a lift to make maintaining vehicles easier, but that's very much a pipe dream! :lol2:
 

Mike Hill

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For the price, I like the hobarts mig welder for household diy stuff. Those are 110v. They are simple dials no technical digital crap. If you're looking for a combo machine mig/tig, than those get pricey...maybe a spoolgun instead of a tig.
I have a miller-matic 252 at work and I love it. It has a spoolgun attachment.
Or get just a tig welder. Then you can do both steel and aluminum with an argon bottle.
I like the idea of TIG, but the 2 problems I might have with it are positioning, the things I think I want to do, would likely incorporate odd positioning. Also, will likely use recycled materials and I've heard your materials better be clean. Some things I might do would likely incorporate thin stuff. Also, it seems gentler and probably will be fastening and attaching a number of small parts together - TIG seems like less disturbance. MIG, I think can do aluminum also, but is more complicated to change back and forth.
 

JonathanH

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From what I've been reading it seems that most people are either using the PROS mini or a GREX. The GREX is a little more $$, but it has the reputation to back it up.
I bought a Grex last August at SWAT from one of the vendors. Cost was $129. It works great!

My air compressor has a 60-gallon tank but a small air pump, so slow replenishment rate.

I have found that you need a good supply of air to keep up with air tools. Air tools are air hogs.

The mandrel on this one screws in. I've only used the one that came with it so far but have had no issue with it.

@Tom Smart
@trc65
 

JonathanH

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Currently going in the opposite direction. Where I'm currently at in life, I'm downsizing in the shop. Have been selling off some wood, tools, even a couple machines, with more to go. I will eventually have a less equipped shop with less of everything in it, and I'm ok with that.

So, there really is nothing on my list of wants or needs right now when it comes to the shop. The only sorts of tools I've even thought of acquiring or acquired over the last few years have been focused on anything needed to maintain our vehicles or camper.

Well, there is one big item on my list, a lift to make maintaining vehicles easier, but that's very much a pipe dream! :lol2:
A lift is on the dream list for me as well. A necessary tool for vehicle maintenance as we get older.
 

Sprung

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A lift is on the dream list for me as well. A necessary tool for vehicle maintenance as we get older.

Not owning our own home makes a lift a pipe dream as well. But the BendPak QuickJack would be awfully tempting, if I ever had that much spare cash laying around and could spend it on whatever... Then the challenge becomes vertical space to lift my truck up in the air inside the garage - not so much a problem with my wife's car.
 

JonathanH

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Not owning our own home makes a lift a pipe dream as well. But the BendPak QuickJack would be awfully tempting, if I ever had that much spare cash laying around and could spend it on whatever... Then the challenge becomes vertical space to lift my truck up in the air inside the garage - not so much a problem with my wife's car.
Headspace is the limiting factor here as well. You really need 13 feet above the floor in the bay with the lift to walk under.

We own but it is a townhouse with a small garage, not large enough for even a small lift.

As we near the end of our careers, we intend to move outside the city and find a place with an appropriate shop, or room to build one.
 

Tom Smart

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I bought a Grex last August at SWAT from one of the vendors. Cost was $129. It works great!

My air compressor has a 60-gallon tank but a small air pump, so slow replenishment rate.

I have found that you need a good supply of air to keep up with air tools. Air tools are air hogs.

The mandrel on this one screws in. I've only used the one that came with it so far but have had no issue with it.

@Tom Smart
@trc65
Thanks, Jonathon, that clears up several questions of mine and introduces the other reason I have not yet gone to air tools - my compressor doesn’t have a very large capacity, just 5.3 gallons. I’d hate to invest in a new compressor just to sand.
 
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