Conference 7.286::home_work

    I've compared prices I've paid for tools against some of those
    advertisements and found that the "good deals" vary from tool to
    tool.  Spag's comes out ahead on some, they come out ahead on others.
    I think whoever happens to be running a special on a particular
    tool is the winner.  For instance, I bought a Makita LS1000 10"
    miter at Spag's for $199 (they even had them on sale once for $179!)
    but haven't seen many of those ads beat that price.  If Spag's has
    a tool on sale, I've found that it's as low a price as you're likely
    to find.
    
    Phil
    

re: .1

    The current price at Seven Corners for the Makita LS1000 is
    $193.
    
    You are right, if you get a sale at Spag's it is possible to do
    better than the outlets. The thing to remember is that Spag's 
    everyday prices can be beat on tools. Sometimes you can't wait 
    for their sales. You may not be able to wait a week for deleivery 
    from the outlets either, but the incentive is there.
    
    sd

      I agree about the prices at Seven Corners.  I believe they were
    the only ones that had the same price for the Milwaukee drill that
    I bought on sale at Spag's.  I just ordered a Freud 40 tooth carbide 
    blade from them yesterday.  I never ordered from them before but the 
    guy that took the order was very pleasant and verified that he had 
    the blade in stock before taking my order.  I did not find any Freud
    7 1/4 circular saw blades at Spag's but the price at Seven Corners is
    $20.50! 
    
    -Jim

    I use these guys a lot.  No sales tax usually gets them in below
    Spags.  Shipping is fast - always within a week. Nice people to
    work with (they actually know something about tools).  Plus you
    don't put up with the biggest human zoo on earth. 

    How do these mail order places handle returns?  Do they pay for
    shipping too?
    
    RE: Human zoo
    You must only go one Saturday's!  5-6 pm during the week the animals
    are eating!!

    
    
    I've been thinking of getting a Hammer drill for
    my needs.  Any thoughts on a 3/4" vs 1/2" to which most
    take a max. 3/4" bit anyhow.  Who has a good selection?
    
    
    JD

I've had a Makita 3/4 inch hammer drill for about 10 years....It works great,
has never had to be repaired. It's a 2 speed model with hammer/no hammer
selection on the chuckmount I've used it in my electrical business full time for
5 yrs and part time for another 5 years. Mostly to anchor electrical tubing to
concrete walls but it's also seen some use drilling lines of holes through
concrete walls to allow me to break out a large hole for conduit runs. Might
sound abusive for a small drill but it has never balked at it. It has certainly
seen more use than a typical homeowner will ever use it. I'd buy another one if
I were in the market for that size range drill. If you need something bigger
go with HILTI. Not cheap but they are one of the best.

If you need the model number let me know and I'll check it and get back to you.

    
    I was looking at a DeWalt 3/4 hammer, VSR with chisel option
    for 2 bills.  Most of the 1/2'er say they will do 3/4".  Its
    only about $40 more for the 3/4 But the question is do I need
    the 3/4 or will the 1/2 do.  I"ll get some decent use right now
    out of it.
    
    I think the larger one you talking about is close to $400.  Nice
    but somewhat out of my price range.  I was looking in the Granger
    book the other day .......
    
    JD 

    Have you looked at what Milwaukee has to offer? I haven't checked
    out their hammer drills, but I'm really impressed by the Milwaukee
    1/2" drill I got about 6 months ago.

I have the Milwaukee 1/2" Magnum hammer drill (VSR with 2 gear ranges) and have found
it more than adequate for the stuff I do.  (Mostly 1/4" through 1" holes in concrete.)

I let a friend of mine, a licensed electrician, borrow it a couple of times for some
work he was doing.  He has since said it will be the next tool on his list.


All in all, I'm real pleased with it.

- Mark

    I live in the NW and from what I have Read Spags has very good prices.
    Does anyone know if they have a tool free number and if not what is
    their number.  I am looking to buy either the 10"Jet Table saw or the
    Delta..
    
    Thanks Russ

    See 255.*, esp. 255.97
    
    				Steve

>    Does anyone know if they have a tool free number and if not what is
				       ^

Don't you mean the free tool number?

   G