Cheap Tools...

Arghhhh!

Went to bend a length of pipe this morning. Yes I said pipe. Building a set of sliders...

And...the Central Pneumatics (Poomatics) hydraulic bender blew apart on me. Welds blew apart completely - lack of penetration. Ha. Penetration, get it?

Was lucky, it was not an exciting mechanical failure...more of an "oh wow, the welds just cracked"...was lucky in that regard.

Anyways, bender belongs to the owner of the boat - he's on vacation and I'm working in his shop. Ordered a new bender off Amazon, should be here Thursday. Which is awesome, because they gave me expedited shipping for free. Figured it was the right thing to do - I'd expect the same if someone broke one of my tools.

Might take the broken one and try to repair it...that's the problem with shitty Chinese tools - its more cost effective to just be new when it breaks. Being that a bender sees such occasional use, it's justifiable to go with harbor freight.

Oh well, spent the rest of the day gabbing up an IFS skid - will post some pics when it's done.

End rant.

 

This time is no "wow factor" next time you have 12 tons on a press when the welds blow apart..no thanks, i wont use cheap tools..even my screwdrivers are at least craftsman..

 

Harbor freight is very hit and miss. THey have some good knock off tools and others are pure shit. Have to do your research. I have an angle grinder, sawsall, wood lathe and HVLP spray gun from there. The grinder and sawsall were so cheap and i don't use them much. They have more than paid for them selves. The other 2 i researched a lot and found they were a gem in the rough.

 

Like I said...given the forces involved this could have had a much different outcome.

I agree that certain tools are not worth the risk of going with Chi-crap.

Rest of the shop is chock full o' Snap On, Milwaukee and DeWalt.

Oh, get to play with a Miller XMT with suitcase MIG, Miller 250 and a Thermal Dynamics Plasma...!