Own Brand Tools!

[Izack MaddParticipant @izackmadd89335]

Hi,

Your friendly neighbourhood nutter here again. But this time I'm hopping to give some thing back. So don't laugh too much please

As some of you will know I'm a very raw recruit. In fact im more of a fifth columnist. As I usually stick to destroying wood.

But we all have one thing in common. When we first start out. We have lots to beg, borrow or if we must buy. And as such first purchases are own branded. Cheap, yes. Quality doubtful. Repairable… This is were I can give a little back. I'm sorry if this is in the wrong place or if you all already know. But here goes.

As I'm sure you all know own brand machines come from dear old China. Now one thing China does do well is cheap. Why? Because they all make the same thing then sell it to us. Now I've been looking around for a big part for my disc/belt sander. The side adjustable table. First of all if you like Sealy I apologise but the truth is indeed out there. They also get their machines from China. This means that their parts are interchangeable, IMO. But Sealy have one big issue ££££. They love to get your money. They quoted me £75 for the table assembly. The disc/belt sander only cost £45. So no brainier.

then out of desperation I lpstart looking out for spares or repairs. Even emailed screw fix. Mine a Titan. They admitted they don't do "ANY" spares.

So resigned to having to pay more money and get a second machine, it's still cheaper than Sealy. I started looking around at what there is.

This is when a good memory works well. I'm on Axminster tools. And notice ther "hobby" range of sanders comes from. Yes China. Same design different coat. But hang on they don't do spares as there are none on there web site. WRONG they do complete spare parts but only over the phone.

Anyway finally I'll get to the point Axminster sell generic spares, you may be lucky as I was. And the price, for the same assembly £27. Which considering the number of parts ain't bad. So if desperate try them they can only say no. But use your eyes and compare models as the Chinese stuff is in more places than you think.

[Izack MaddParticipant @izackmadd89335]

Having trouble finding parts for cheap Chinese tools? This may be able to help

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

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I have read your post several times. – I have come to the conclusion. (although I am not medically qualified) that you have taken consumption of illegal pharmaceuticals.

Something about China, spares and £'s …………. I think.????

Nick

[Izack MaddParticipant @izackmadd89335]

Hi, no it's when I miss the meds it gets really weird. Simply Axminster tools sell spares for their own brand machines. And as with everyone else ther machines come from China so parts for there machines may well fit other own brands. And at a fair price.

And that's before the nurse comes around with the meds

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

Izack,

It probably takes one wood murderer to understand another, as I read your post and understood it perfectly. You are quite right about Sealey.

Machine Mart also sell spares for the Chinese machines they sell, which may also fit other brands – this has helped me out once or twice.

Phil

[JonParticipant @jon]

Izack if you want the disc sander shelf I have one some where, might have two or three spare. Same as these ones but B&Q brand

Self explanatory to me buy cheap Chinese products, cant get the parts or if you can they are half the price of complete machine. Said this for years.

Went through 4 of them things within 12 months with no use not even diy, total 12 month use 12 mins with all four. 5th packed up just out of 12 month guarantee. always the switch that goes.

[alan frostParticipant @alanfrost17805]

Don't worry Izaak. We all understood your post except Nick who will be re-brained or medicated.

A lot of us knew this and incidentally the usually horrendously priced accessories for Emcomat 7.8.10 sizes (if I've got them right ) can also be avoided by buying Chinese (and very adequate) copies as many of the F.E. machines used Emco as their pattern. For instance £30 (roughly) steadies from a host of suppliers fit the Emco VIO whereas a s/h original Emco part may go for £2-300 on ebay. No or minimal modification is required.

For those who did nt know you have performed a service appreciated no doubt by the sane , a club to which I have never claimed to belong although I would like to think I have some manners.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Possibly a silly comment, (accepting what we all think about F.E. kit and the need to reset/rebuild before and during use, and non availability of spares)

Since we are all claim to be at least amateur, if not professional engineers, either in our workshops, or in those of friends, aquaintences and fellow club members, there should be enough material, equipment and expertise to make a replacement.

AND, being aware of the shortcomings of the original, the end product ought to be better in many respects than the original.

Example 1: My bandsaw fed its very thin steel tube bearing separator through the bottom bearing and oilseal. As part of the repair, the replacement separator was a thick walled brass item.

Example 2: My son in law bought a F.E. bandsaw for wood. The gear for the raise/lower of the upper blade guide soon exploded. (A sloppy fitting sinter on a bolt with a flatted shaft) Also the adjusters for the guide rollers had been made, somehow, with the OD eccentric and misaligned with the central tapping.

Cure: Make a gear from the solid, ignoring the fact that the gear was cut using a theoretically incorrect technique. At least tit now works and continues to do so. make new adjusters for the guide rollers with central tapping concentric and in line with the O.D.

"C'est brusque, mais sa travail" as someone said of the unsynchronised gearbox in a car.

If the original design is faulty because of parsimony/poor design/ choice of material, collectively, we should have the skill and means to make a durable, functioning replacement.

After all, if you do obtain a "genuine" replacement, it's going to fail/wear out in the same way again sooner than we would like; so why repeat the error? (Masochists are excused from the last sentence)

Howard

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

Hear Hear

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

always the switch that goes.

Probably just a bit of sawdust in the contacts. Happens to my British built wood lathe switch. Not rocket science to fix.

I thought this thread was going to be about making your own tools and stamping your name on them like an OEM.

[Bodgit Fixit and RunParticipant @bodgitfixitandrun]

I needed a replacement drive screw for a clarke 4 jaw chuck. Thedy would only sell me a complete chuck and refused to let me know who the supplier was so I could not order direct. I ended up making one well actually two or three after modifying my cl500m lathe for left hand screw cutting. it's not hardened but it works a treat.

[IanTParticipant @iant]

None the less – a useful thing to point out Izack – so thank you.

And whilst I agree with Howard about making your own 'Brand' (sometimes simply because sometimes you cannot find what you really need) I do buy a lot of small tooling of FE origin. Most of this stuff is quite good enough for my needs (which I will admit are not always that demanding) but if not – they can usually be improved with a bit of effort.

Indeed, I've been thinking about 'improving' the larger of my two compound drill vices recently (as I'm not confident the ways are actually 'square' to each other – and I use it a lot). However, when I think about what it cost me, I got some fairly hefty lumps of (pre-machined) cast iron, with most of the heavy work already done and there is potentially a more accurate tool hiding in there somewhere if I need it. So this can be a kind of half-way house to completely scratch building.

I have a belt sander similar to Izack's – and the table on mine is somewhat 'flexible' in use. I think it's probably much easier to make a stronger support arm than to build a completely new table. But it's another thing to do and mostly I can live with it, so maybe it won't get done for a while…..

So many jobs – so little time (heavy sigh) !

Regards,

IanT

[Izack MaddParticipant @izackmadd89335]

Hi,

In answer to Howard. Yes a scratch built replacement would be far better. But… And these to me are big buts. I'm a wood butcher by trade and hobby. So any thing I made would by necessity be very clumsy and heavy. Also getting someone with engineering skills to make it for me as the only contact with engineers is here as I am disabled. And my disabilities mean it would be very hard for me to get the accuracy need nowadays. Also with a purpose made kit. I now at least have the main fixings to attach it to the machine, which before I didnt. And even with making one my self there comes a point where the machine and part need to meet up and fit together. Which is usually the main area of difficulty. In my younger days I wouldn't have hesitated. But now it's not possible. But you make a very valid point and I acknowledged that.

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

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If I offended Izack I apologise.

It was just my flippant not to be taken seriously humor.

Nick

[JonParticipant @jon]

always the switch that goes.

Probably just a bit of sawdust in the contacts. Happens to my British built wood lathe switch. Not rocket science to fix.

I thought this thread was going to be about making your own tools and stamping your name on them like an OEM.

Theres not even the remotest chance any debris could find its way in to the sealed magnetic switches with the first 10 secs of use from brand new to find second or third switch on its packed up. No rockets involved its just cheap crap renowned chinese quality.

Its about sorting the op out with his problems of cheap Chinese tools and finding he like many others cant get them or held over a barrel if available and given a stupid price and or 7 to 14 months lead time. Likewise the material to replace the die cast part would cost in region of £40 when machines less than £50 shopping around. Rather like putting a new roof on a house that's to be condemned next week.

Admittedly making your own 'could' turn out better but if nothing else to do than pass time away, go for it.

He is sorted any way.

[Izack MaddParticipant @izackmadd89335]

Just for the record this is my response to Nick.

"Hi, don't worry I realised you were having fun. I even suggested to one of the other commenters perhaps we could just have you rebranded. So no hard feelings. I've had far worse comments that were meant your was just a laugh and a joke. Which I enjoyed."

Regards

Izzy

So if anyone thinks he was out of order I don't and that's all that counts as it was me it was said about. So please don't vilify him. All good fun.

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

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Well I did hazard a guess that anyone who adopted the name 'Izack Madd' was not going to take things too seriously.

Nick

[Izack MaddParticipant @izackmadd89335]

There's just one slight problem my real names IS Izack Mark Madd…

Don't worry no offence taken as I've even had Google question it.

I think I've sort of grown into it now.

Izzy

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