As a forward, let me explain that my "workshop" resides in my driveway
and gets put back into my garage at the end of each work session. My
"workbench" consists of a 4'X4' sheet of particle board supported by
two saw horses with chunks of scrap lumber clamped down as "bench
dogs".
Yesterday I was at a store we have in SoCal called Big Lots (formerly
Pic-N-Save), a close out store dealing in all manner of weird
household items from soap to soup. Their "tool" department consists
of mostly of cheap Chinese-made knock offs. I considered their 2 for
$5 bar clamps but decided they were just too frustrating to work
easily when my glue is setting fast. But I did pick up a replica of
the WorkMate, a folding saw horse with a pair of MDF boards mounted on
screw vises and two pair of plastic bench dogs that fit in the
assorted holes. It cost me all of $15.99 plus tax. Assembly took 30
minutes and one beer (probably less if I hadn't been watching the X
Games on ESPN).
Real woodworkers (i.e., most readers of the Wreck) probably have no
need for such a toy. But for any SoCal newbies, rush to your nearest
Big Lots and lay down your $17.
Ian
Sun, Aug 8, 2004, 2:18pm (EDT-3) [email protected] (Ian=A0Dodd)
<snip> a close out store dealing in all manner of weird household items
from soap to soup.
Well, obviously. That's because it's in California. The ones out
here, have normal items.
Their "tool" department consists of mostly of cheap Chinese-made knock
offs.
Not necessarily. You just have to look a bit.
I considered their 2 for $5 bar clamps but decided they were just too
frustrating to work easily when my glue is setting fast. <snip>
If they're like the one I got there, you passed up a great deal.
Their metal quick clamps are great too - but only have 6" capacity.
JOAT
Jesus was a Ford man, that's why he walked everywhere.
GREEN ONIONS
http://www.bluesbrotherscentral.com/download.php?d_id=3D12/green.mid
On Mon, 09 Aug 2004 03:15:36 GMT, "Joe_Stein" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>I found the best thing in the Big Lots tool dept are the C-clamps Kinda hard
>to get C-clamps wrong.
>Joe in Ohio
I've seen cheesy C-clamps fail in two ways, the threaded rod stripping
and the frame shattering under load.
Barry
Neglecting to look at the writing on a tool bought me a Chinese Slip
Lock, not whipped aluminum, that snapped at first attempt to use it.
On Mon, 9 Aug 2004 00:02:20 -0700, "AArDvarK" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>
>> I found the best thing in the Big Lots tool dept are the C-clamps Kinda hard
>> to get C-clamps wrong.
>> Joe in Ohio
>
>
>Heh... I once did buy one, made in china painted red, of drop forged aluminum, and
>yes the frame did snap! POP! I can see the metal is this cheap bubbly (millions of
>micro air pockets) aluminum. I want to frame the damn thing with "China" showing
>just to remind myself... "never again!" for some things.
>
>Alex
>
J sadly
> Sun, Aug 8, 2004, 2:18pm (EDT-3) [email protected] (Ian Dodd)
> <snip> a close out store dealing in all manner of weird household items
> from soap to soup.
>
> Well, obviously. That's because it's in California. The ones out
> here, have normal items.
>
> Their "tool" department consists of mostly of cheap Chinese-made knock
> offs.
>
> Not necessarily. You just have to look a bit.
>
> I considered their 2 for $5 bar clamps but decided they were just too
> frustrating to work easily when my glue is setting fast. <snip>
>
> If they're like the one I got there, you passed up a great deal.
> Their metal quick clamps are great too - but only have 6" capacity.
>
>
>
> JOAT
> Jesus was a Ford man, that's why he walked everywhere.
>
> GREEN ONIONS
> http://www.bluesbrotherscentral.com/download.php?d_id=12/green.mid
I sadly admit I own several of the big lot Bar clamps, they looked like a
good by at the time, they are complete crap, after a few uses they slip
under any pressure, and the bar is so light that it bends and twists, save
your money and wait until HF puts there's on sale again, on another note my
big lots drill press works like a champ (little underpowered, but hay at
least my wife's hart was in the right place and got me something useful
instead of getting me another ugly shirt). Big Lots power tools are just as
good as HF cheep tools but less money.
In article <[email protected]>, nospam*removethis*@snet.net wrote:
>On Mon, 09 Aug 2004 03:15:36 GMT, "Joe_Stein" <[email protected]>
>wrote:
>
>>I found the best thing in the Big Lots tool dept are the C-clamps Kinda hard
>>to get C-clamps wrong.
>>Joe in Ohio
>
>I've seen cheesy C-clamps fail in two ways, the threaded rod stripping
>and the frame shattering under load.
>
I'll add a third: the frame bending and twisting under load. :-(
--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)
Get a copy of my NEW AND IMPROVED TrollFilter for NewsProxy/Nfilter
by sending email to autoresponder at filterinfo-at-milmac-dot-com
You must use your REAL email address to get a response.
I'll add a fourth: The threaded rod forces its way through the stamped
sheetmetal foot and gouges your project. I got several of these cheep
chineese c clamps a few years ago - now they live in the welding bag. Now I
can weld close to a clamp (if I need to) and not worry about splatter
ruining a decent clamp.
"Doug Miller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>,
nospam*removethis*@snet.net wrote:
> >On Mon, 09 Aug 2004 03:15:36 GMT, "Joe_Stein" <[email protected]>
> >wrote:
> >
> >>I found the best thing in the Big Lots tool dept are the C-clamps Kinda
hard
> >>to get C-clamps wrong.
> >>Joe in Ohio
> >
> >I've seen cheesy C-clamps fail in two ways, the threaded rod stripping
> >and the frame shattering under load.
> >
> I'll add a third: the frame bending and twisting under load. :-(
>
> --
> Regards,
> Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)
>
> Get a copy of my NEW AND IMPROVED TrollFilter for NewsProxy/Nfilter
> by sending email to autoresponder at filterinfo-at-milmac-dot-com
> You must use your REAL email address to get a response.
>
>
> I found the best thing in the Big Lots tool dept are the C-clamps Kinda hard
> to get C-clamps wrong.
> Joe in Ohio
Heh... I once did buy one, made in china painted red, of drop forged aluminum, and
yes the frame did snap! POP! I can see the metal is this cheap bubbly (millions of
micro air pockets) aluminum. I want to frame the damn thing with "China" showing
just to remind myself... "never again!" for some things.
Alex
On Mon, 09 Aug 2004 03:15:36 GMT, "Joe_Stein" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>I found the best thing in the Big Lots tool dept are the C-clamps Kinda hard
>to get C-clamps wrong.
>Joe in Ohio
>
If it says "Made in China" pass it up. "Made in the USA" is 10X
better.
I found the best thing in the Big Lots tool dept are the C-clamps Kinda hard
to get C-clamps wrong.
Joe in Ohio
"Ian Dodd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> As a forward, let me explain that my "workshop" resides in my driveway
> and gets put back into my garage at the end of each work session. My
> "workbench" consists of a 4'X4' sheet of particle board supported by
> two saw horses with chunks of scrap lumber clamped down as "bench
> dogs".
>
> Yesterday I was at a store we have in SoCal called Big Lots (formerly
> Pic-N-Save), a close out store dealing in all manner of weird
> household items from soap to soup. Their "tool" department consists
> of mostly of cheap Chinese-made knock offs. I considered their 2 for
> $5 bar clamps but decided they were just too frustrating to work
> easily when my glue is setting fast. But I did pick up a replica of
> the WorkMate, a folding saw horse with a pair of MDF boards mounted on
> screw vises and two pair of plastic bench dogs that fit in the
> assorted holes. It cost me all of $15.99 plus tax. Assembly took 30
> minutes and one beer (probably less if I hadn't been watching the X
> Games on ESPN).
>
> Real woodworkers (i.e., most readers of the Wreck) probably have no
> need for such a toy. But for any SoCal newbies, rush to your nearest
> Big Lots and lay down your $17.
>
> Ian
I musta got lucky then...no bent or broken frames or stripped
threads....yet.
Knock wood (pun intended)
Joe
"Phisherman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Mon, 09 Aug 2004 03:15:36 GMT, "Joe_Stein" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> >I found the best thing in the Big Lots tool dept are the C-clamps Kinda
hard
> >to get C-clamps wrong.
> >Joe in Ohio
> >
>
> If it says "Made in China" pass it up. "Made in the USA" is 10X
> better.