Replies

1. 
   Steinmetz | Sep 04, 2004 08:07am | #1

   Having owned and used Milwaukee tools for most of 40 years, I hope and pray the new consortium doesn't follow in the footsteps of B&D, Ridgid etc

    and dumb down their products to fail prematurely and charge you extortionately for replacement parts.

   I still use two Sawzalls and holeshooters I purchased years ago which (except for brushes or switches) still run as good as when new .

   Steinmetz

   
   

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   Edited 9/4/2004 1:09 am ET by steinmetz

1. 
   OrchidGuy | Sep 05, 2004 01:13am | #2

   Hey stein,

    I hope so too, I read this over on Breaktime a few days ago. Everybody posting there were essentially saying the same thing.I've got a Sawzall and 1/2" hole shooter along with the self feed bits and all the spade boring bits. I've been looking at their little 6 1/2" cordless circular.

   Those daring young men in their flying machines!

1. 
   Steinmetz | Sep 05, 2004 02:01am | #3

   F4, I've used my Holeshooter (aka Wristbuster)for many years and many holes in wood ,steel ,angle iron ,you name it.

   Boring large holes in concrete,stone or brickwas a snap.

     It paid for itself over and over.

   One older Sawzall, I cut down and installed it upside down to create a powerful jig/saber saw using steel and aluminum.

   I used to install whole buildings with hollow steel doors and all the hardware

   Also had to cut down hundreds for carpet ,tiles etc

    A real PITA was when the locks were too tight in the strike plates

   necessitating cutting larger openings in the 1/8" stainless steel strikes.

   When faced with one or two, 'twas easy enough, BUT 60 or 80???

   Necessity is the mother of invention  So is Steinmetz  

1. 
   OrchidGuy | Sep 05, 2004 05:26am | #4

   hey stein,

    My hole shooter I've used with Self feed bits and spade bits on 4x4 & 6x6 PT timbers, even used it for removing old window glazing with a tool from Prazi. Never got let down. I give up before it does. As for the Sawzall, it's in the box, haven't had to use it for a few years. I've demoed quite a few kitchens with it. It's a wrecking crew all by itself! I've even used it to cut through cast iron pipe, copper pipe, nails, screws, nuts and bolts. I've even used it on rebar for anchoring PT timbers. It's indestructible, just bring plenty of blades to the job!

   Those daring young men in their flying machines!

1. 
   Steinmetz | Sep 05, 2004 09:36am | #5

   f4, A little trick I learned from an old plumber, was (In an emergency,) you can use pieces of hacksaw blades in the Sawzall by just grinding off the 'Nib' inside the blade clamp.

   When cutting down hollow metal doors, it's very hard to cut all the way through both sides of the door at once.

    Rather than butcher up the door by the blade 'Wandering/snagging/ breaking, I cut one side at a time by cutting short sections from hacksaw blades.

   That trick alone made me a ton of money as well as saved time (Another word for money)   Steinmetz.

2. 
   OrchidGuy | Sep 06, 2004 04:31am | #6

   Hi stein,

    Thanks for that tip! But if I grind off the nib will I still be able to use Sawzall blades if I needed say a wood cuting blade? Isn't there a way of using hack blades without cutting the nib?

   Those daring young men in their flying machines!

3. 
   Steinmetz | Sep 06, 2004 01:35pm | #7

   f4, For severe work like cutting pipe and bolts, I don't recommend doing that

    The blades tend to slip out or hang up in the material being cut.

   If you have a spare (as I have) alter the spare.  I only used the nibless one using short blades.

    Occasionally,I'd use a whole hacksaw blade to cut those bolts that hold down toilet bowls or to flush cut something close to a surface

    Milwaukee makes an offset fixture which fits into the blade clamp and will hold the blade offset so you can make up close flush cuts.

   As to your question on using short hacksaw blades; it's possible if you drill/grind/punch a hole in the right spot.  Carbide mills or burrs in a Dremel tool works fine but takes time.  Steinmetz.

4. 
   OrchidGuy | Sep 07, 2004 10:01pm | #8

   Hi stein,

    Thanks for the tip about the offset fixture. I checked out Milwaukee's website, there's a plumbing supply place on the other side of town that's a Milwaukee dealer. I'll head over there and get one!

   Those daring young men in their flying machines!

   Edited 9/7/2004 3:02 pm ET by f4phanatic

2. 
   EdHarrow | Sep 10, 2004 10:20pm | #10

   For those who don't remember that once upon a time B&D made serious stuff before they got into toaster ovens and the like.    All these deals are done by number crunchers who've figured out how to up the profits by removing quality.  Simply speaking there are more people who will buy junk than will pay for quality. 

   View Image

1. 
   OrchidGuy | Sep 11, 2004 01:52am | #12

   Hey Ed,

    Now that is a drill!

   Those daring young men in their flying machines!

2. 
   Steinmetz | Sep 11, 2004 03:01am | #13

   ED,

    Had one once

   Knew a guy who had the drillpress stand setup on his workbench

   Last time I had used mine was 1970, when I had to snake out a drain pipe leading out to my septic tank

   Since the pipe was 'Elbowed' up into my kitchen wall, and continued through sharp turns, I couldn't work a snake through.

   Had to dig down to reach the pipe and then drill out a 2" 'slug' from the pipe

   to snake through the new 'access' hole

    Every $#&*%# winter had to repeat the same routine.

   'Twas the same bacon grease that now clogs my arteries 

   That big ungrounded machine made quick work of it , but spooked me from further use in wet areas.

   Swapped it to a guy for a compressor pump.  later added tank motor, pressure relief switch and all the piping  Used that till 95.  Steinmetz   (ED)

   Edited 9/10/2004 8:06 pm ET by steinmetz

1. 
   EdHarrow | Sep 11, 2004 05:12am | #14

   That baby gives B&D a whole 'nother meaning, LOL.  Big Bertha don't stop for nothin' PERIOD.  Doing a few holes with that monster leaves one feeling, if not actually, black and blue all over.

   Oh, and another thing for the unitiated, the switch.  CLICK on - CLICK off.  A real wrist breaker, LOL.  Kinda like that old American adage, "There ain't no substitute for cubic inches."

2. 
   BarryO | Sep 10, 2004 08:56pm | #9

   I love my Milwaukee Super Sawzall, 1/2" hole shooter, and 3+ HP fixed-based "router table" router.  Each is absolute best in class.

   'hate the idea of them turning into Ryobi and Homelite, which are mostly low-cost "DIY"-type brands.  But I can see them exploiting the prestige of the Milwaukee brand in the consumer market by relabelling some of the DIY tools and painting them red.

1. 
   OrchidGuy | Sep 11, 2004 01:48am | #11

   Hi BarryO,

    I hate to say it, but you might be right! I hope Techtronic doesn't go that route. Then again they might wind up dumbing down Milwaukee for the DIY market, another thing I hope they don't do. If B&D and Techtronic screws up everything we might end up having to go with European manufacturers like Bosch. I've got their barrel grip jigsaw, wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. I've also used Bosch miter saws and I can't complain!

   Those daring young men in their flying machines!

3. 
   carpenter1tt | Sep 13, 2004 06:30am | #15

   f4

   I have owned a few ryobi tools and there trash.Milwaukee would run for ever.I think we all know what is going to happen to them know.Its a real shame.Better buy them up now while there still real milwaukees.

   takecare

   carpenter1tt

1. 
   OrchidGuy | Sep 14, 2004 09:16pm | #16

   Hi carpenter1,

    I have a feelling that Milwaukee is going to be dumbed down for the unskilled know nothing homeowner market. I can just imagine a Hole Hawg that's been over simplified for the" I think I know everything crowd." Bet a lot of trades are going to be livid!

   Those daring young men in their flying machines!