2017 - The Original "What Did You Buy Today?" Mega Thread

[BGHansen]

Bruce, what do you think about the stuff from CDCO? Their pricing is attractive.

Hi Alan,

I have had no issues for the most part from stuff from CDCOtools.com. The only iffy purchase was a set of 6" caliper jaw extenders. The set screws were really weak, stripped out the hex the first time they were used. Extenders were fine with new set screws. Not a great set of instructions with them either. The instructions were for extenders that are 1/2" diameter rods, but mine are 3/8". The instructions say to zero out the dial with the jaws closed, which is fine if they were 0.500", but they're actually 0.375" between center so the instructions are wrong.

I've been a very good customer of theirs for collets and QCTP tool holders (see attached lathe photos). Must have 75 of the BXA holders which cost $12 or $13 each. Someone did a nice measurement review of the CDCO vs. Aloris vs. Dorian vs. Shars, etc. and didn't see much difference in anything dimensionally. Some guys have reported getting tool holders with bad set screws or all angle holes, but mine have all been fine.

I have their 5-C collets by 1/64" on my Grizzly lathe and 1/32" on the Clausing. No issues with any of those. The Clausing has one of their 5-C plain back chucks on it also.

I've also purchased parallels, angle gauge blocks, protractor, etc. with no issues. I hate to say it, but the Chinese have come a long way in making very good products for a great price. Would love to have Aloris tool holders on my lathes, but at ~$65 a piece, there's no way I could justify that in my hobby shop.

By the way, I've bought a fair amount of stuff from Shars and CME Tools out of Madison Heights, MI with no issues either.

Bruce

 

[Alan H.]

Thanks Bruce for the feedback. I bought a set of their 5C's and they were a little rough. I use them often and they seem to work okay and the price was right to say the least.

 

[Firestopper]

Thanks Bruce for the feedback. I bought a set of their 5C's and they were a little rough. I use them often and they seem to work okay and the price was right to say the least.

I got a set from them a couple of years ago and they where very nice. They ran about $200 for the larger set. I inspected each one and was pleased with the fit/finish and accuracy on the 5C scroll chuck. I guess it could be hit and miss though.

This set goes down as one of my best buys for the money.

Could not detect any appreciable runout.

I use this chuck system way more than I ever thought I would. Another good recommendation from mksj.
I'm sure my time will come when I purchase with disappointment.

 

[dlane]

A while back I loaned out my pressure washer , when it came back it was squirting water out the pump seal gasket so I ordered a new gasket , went thru the pump with new o rings and the gasket
Putting it back together and the 4 bolts holding it together were stripped in the housing .
Guess they figured it wouldn't leek if they tightened the cr***p out of the bolts
So I ordered this pump to replace it. No more loaning out expensive breakable objects for me.

Not sure where it was made but it wasn't china

 

[Firestopper]

Years back I loaned out my Graco airless spryer with detailed instructions on cleaning and "pickling". Well the next time I need the sprayer, it was DIW! Fixed it for $300 and now when I loan it out it comes with an operator...

Thats a nice looking pump 2700 or 3000 psi? I recently replaced my PW pump as well, I had to add a water inlet filter as well. Turns out after doing a failure analysis during teardown, I found small sand rubies caused excessive ware. Must be our well water. I bet the person you loaned it to allowed it to over idle resulting in heat build up.

 

[richl]

These arrived yesterday, I decided to fit the shop up with an assortment of mics and calipers, instead of constantly walking around from machine to machine trying to figure out where I left them. Also picked up an igaging 0-1" mic, I have a 1"-2" already, I'm not sold on them yet, they appear to be very accurate, though I just assumed I would be able to lock it in when I hit my measurement, not sure if I am missing something...
Always looking to add USA endmills to the collection, .75" 6 flute cobalt..

 

[woodchucker]

A while back I loaned out my pressure washer , when it came back it was squirting water out the pump seal gasket so I ordered a new gasket , went thru the pump with new o rings and the gasket
Putting it back together and the 4 bolts holding it together were stripped in the housing .
Guess they figured it wouldn't leek if they tightened the cr***p out of the bolts
So I ordered this pump to replace it. No more loaning out expensive breakable objects for me.
View attachment 242260
Not sure where it was made but it wasn't china

Same here I leant out my makita 4.5 grinder. it came back with the aluminum head cracked, the lock broken and the thing covered in black goo.
My friend then went and bought a new one for himself, and returned mine in shreds.

I didn't get that. He thought nothing of it. He kinda got upset when I went WTF.

I bought a HF unit because I was unemployed at the time. Seems to work good. I miss the makita though. Might go for a Makita 7" .. I always return it in good shape, or I buy them a new one, and keep the old. I just don't get people who think it's my job to clean it, or replace it.

 

[richl]

Its a problem, loaning tools, i find it hard to excuse someone breaking yours, buying a new one for themselves, and returning yours broken.
My dad, God rest his soul, would lend me something, and 100% of the time it would break, I would either end up fixing it or buying him a new one. I got to the point where I would go thru 50 questions with him before borrowing anything lol
I rarely lend stuff out anymore, why have the hassle, bring it by, or the part and I'll, weld, grind, mill, tap or whatever...

Rich

 

[Groundhog]

I rarely loan tools. However, I have a couple of friends that I can loan something to and know that it will be returned in a reasonable time frame and that it will come back in as good (or better) condition as it was in when they borrowed it. I don't mind loaning something to individuals like that.

 

[Alan H.]

I rarely loan tools. However, I have a couple of friends that I can loan something to and know that it will be returned in a reasonable time frame and that it will come back in as good (or better) condition as it was in when they borrowed it. I don't mind loaning something to individuals like that.

Keep those friends, they are rare.