PDA

View Full Version : Tool and machinery review...



dingobass
22-02-2016, 11:46 AM
Thought this would be a pertinent thread to have......
I will start it off by reveiwing the Hafco t330 thicknesser.

WHAT A PIECE OF S#IT!!!

Just had the gearbox blow out on the second one of these hunks of junk....
Only had an hours use, and I only ever cut a maxmum of 1/4mm at a time.........

So, if you are in the market for a thicknesser, do yourself a massive favour and don't buy one of these useless pieces of rubbish.

tonyw
22-02-2016, 11:50 AM
Thats good to know, a thicknesser is on my list of to buys.

wokkaboy
22-02-2016, 11:54 AM
DB is this a new thicknesser or the one you already have ?

one hour of use and a broken gearbox, was it built with lego ?

so the advice is reverse Molly, do yourself a favour and don't buy it hahah

dingobass
22-02-2016, 12:05 PM
Woks, this is the replacement for the first one I bought, which lived for about three hours use before it blew the gearbox.....

Still to p*ssed to ring Hare Forbes to "discuss" this with them.....

Wonderful timing, I only have half a dozen orders for custom necks... FML.....

dingobass
22-02-2016, 12:06 PM
Tony, I would have a look at Jet.
Their machines have great reviews and the ones I have seen up close and personal look tough and perform really well.

wokkaboy
22-02-2016, 12:09 PM
wow what a piece of junk. Can you use your old thicknesser ?

Would hate to be the bloke on the other end of the phone at Harey Forbes !

pablopepper
22-02-2016, 12:44 PM
How about some positivity. The Makita N3701 hand trimmer. My all time favourite router.

http://i.imgur.com/fkCoSfL.jpg

I have 5 of these and they rule, best hand trimmer ever made. They stopped making them about 8 years ago and replaced them with plastic bodied, made in China pieces of crap. The Japanese ones are harder to find these days, but they are still around and totally worth the extra money. Out of the 5, which are used daily over the past 10 to 20 years, only one has ever needed a rewind. Plenty of grunt, reliable as hell.

wokkaboy
22-02-2016, 12:47 PM
wow thats a reliable hand trimmer Pabs, 10 to 20 years is heaps of use if they are used daily.

Did you make the clear base plate ?

great idea you can see what is going to be turned into wood chips !

pablopepper
22-02-2016, 12:50 PM
Yeah man, clear base plate on a router is a must.

dingobass
22-02-2016, 01:37 PM
+1 for the Makita.
I have a newer version and it is a little ripper!
Hardly ever use the Bosch plunge router these days, the Mak is perfect size with more grunt than you need.
I use it for pup, neck pocket and cavity routs and it has never let me down.

wokkaboy
22-02-2016, 01:40 PM
so Makita just slightly better than Hafco DB ?

dingobass
22-02-2016, 02:01 PM
its only the Hafco thicknesser I have an issue with.
I have a Hafco drum sander and it is a really good machine.....

pablopepper
22-02-2016, 02:05 PM
I have 2 Hafco bandsaws that are brilliant. I was under the impression Hare and Forbes generally made quality gear.

tonyw
22-02-2016, 02:21 PM
I am looking at a Makita 700 watt trimmer and router, but it doesnt have a clear plate.

wokkaboy
22-02-2016, 02:26 PM
Tony, Pablo cut his own clear base plate for the router

sure for a few bucks he may be able to cut you one

dingobass
22-02-2016, 02:39 PM
I have 2 Hafco bandsaws that are brilliant. I was under the impression Hare and Forbes generally made quality gear.

Well, they dropped the ball with the thicknesser.....

tonyw
22-02-2016, 02:41 PM
Hare and Forbes is only 15mins away, i might take a drive tomorrow see what they got.

wokkaboy
22-02-2016, 02:45 PM
leave your credit card at home Tony, you will want to buy too much machinery !

tonyw
22-02-2016, 02:52 PM
leave your credit card at home Tony, you will want to buy too much machinery !

I have blown the budget Wok, just go and have a drool.

wokkaboy
22-02-2016, 02:53 PM
fair enough Tony, with any luck there will be a Dan Murphys next door !

tonyw
22-02-2016, 03:05 PM
I am surrounded by Dan Murphys. blokes got no hope.

heres a map from Hafco to Dans
8903

wokkaboy
22-02-2016, 03:09 PM
haha I see Tony, 8 mins to drive 1.2km I can run faster than that !

tonyw
22-02-2016, 03:17 PM
haha I see Tony, 8 mins to drive 1.2km I can run faster than that !

2 mins without traffic mate haha

wokkaboy
22-02-2016, 03:52 PM
I know Tony, sometimes Google maps estimate of time is way out

wazkelly
22-02-2016, 07:43 PM
I know Tony, sometimes Google maps estimate of time is way out

Nah, reckon they had already factored in the drunken staggering time required to traverse the 1.2Km distance on foot.

tonyw
22-02-2016, 11:44 PM
Nah, reckon they had already factored in the drunken staggering time required to traverse the 1.2Km distance on foot.

haha lucky i dont drink during the week..

Muzza
23-02-2016, 04:57 AM
Tony, I would have a look at Jet.
Their machines have great reviews and the ones I have seen up close and personal look tough and perform really well.
Yep. I've got one. Can't fault it.

tonyw
23-02-2016, 06:42 AM
Tony, I would have a look at Jet.
Their machines have great reviews and the ones I have seen up close and personal look tough and perform really well.

Will do

sold some parts on the bay this morning so cashed up again :rolleyes:

tonyw
23-02-2016, 06:49 AM
Just noticed they are at Carba tec, just up the road :cool:

dingobass
23-02-2016, 08:31 AM
Just spoke to my dude at Hare and Forbes.
Even though the machine is out of warranty, and they no longer carry this particular model they will do me an extra good deal on the next model up.
This one has a spiral cutting head and overall is a much better built machine.
Cant complain about that now, can we? :)

wokkaboy
23-02-2016, 08:43 AM
how long was the warranty DB only 12 months ? So the thicknesser doesn't get much use if you only logged a few hours on it

presume that model was discontinued as it was a load of garbage

pablopepper
23-02-2016, 09:01 AM
Good on them.

FrankenWashie
01-03-2016, 10:14 AM
I have 2 Hafco bandsaws that are brilliant. I was under the impression Hare and Forbes generally made quality gear.

Pabs, what model/Capacity are yours? I have been contemplating such a machine, would be good to get opinion from someone who is actively using one.

pablopepper
01-03-2016, 10:33 AM
I have the BP-14a and the BP-16a. 14" and 16" wide throat.

http://images.machineryhouse.com.au/products/W403/700/Main.jpg
http://images.machineryhouse.com.au/products/W430/700/Main.jpg

The only issue I've had with these machines is the switches are rubbish, but an easy swap out. And the placement of the switch on the 16" is poorly thought out. Had to jimmy up a guard so we didn't bump it off regularly.

FrankenWashie
01-03-2016, 11:44 AM
I have the BP-14a and the BP-16a. 14" and 16" wide throat.

http://images.machineryhouse.com.au/products/W403/700/Main.jpg
http://images.machineryhouse.com.au/products/W430/700/Main.jpg

The only issue I've had with these machines is the switches are rubbish, but an easy swap out. And the placement of the switch on the 16" is poorly thought out. Had to jimmy up a guard so we didn't bump it off regularly.

Nice. Don't know if the budget will stretch that far! (Or I could hold onto my budget until it will I guess!)

Dedman
04-03-2016, 07:18 AM
Much of the machinery coming into Aus is from the same makers in China, re-branded for the importer. I worked for (now out of business) Glenfords for a few years and that Hafco band saw is the same as the Glenfords "Rexon" brand, our main competitor in Qld sold the same stuff in a different colour as their own brand. A tip...always check the wiring on these Chinese tools before switching them on. I've seen too many dodgy factory soldering jobs, like making a bridge of solder because the wire was too short! or no solder at all, just wires twisted together!

dingobass
12-03-2016, 09:02 AM
And for todays Tool Porn...

First tool chest is the famous Studley tool chest, every woodies dream..
For those of us 'on the level', see if you can spot the hidden and not so hidden symbols of the craft ;)

Second tool cest is by an unknown maker, sometime in the early 1900's.
Anyone got a spare $150,000?
If so, it could be yours......

Dedman
12-03-2016, 10:49 AM
Not only would I love the tools, but also the knowledge and skill to use them all correctly!

WeirdBits
12-03-2016, 12:31 PM
We do (http://youtu.be/dSpOjj4YD8c)n't see any hidden symbols.

Dedman
12-03-2016, 12:33 PM
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh

FrankenWashie
12-03-2016, 03:28 PM
"who robs cave fish of their sight, who rigs every Oscar night? WE DO! WE DO!" etc, etc,

FrankenWashie
14-03-2016, 05:02 PM
Made the Fatal Mistake(To my wallet) today of visiting Carbatec. Man they have some nice gear!

I think i got off cheaply with only a couple of japanese backsaws and a lovely length of Merbau.
Has anyone used this type of saw before? I've been playing with them this afternoon, and my word, i don't believe i've ever felt so in control of a saw cut as with these things.
https://www.carbatec.com.au/handtools-and-handplanes/japanese-saws/saws/kataba-saw-fine-blade
https://www.carbatec.com.au/handtools-and-handplanes/japanese-saws/japanese-wood-saws/fine-tooth-rip-saw-h-250-blade-no-z-15010

I had had some dramas with my traditional saws cutting the Maple i used to build up the neck heel on my EXA-1 Project, these things went through it like lasers. Dead straight, pencil thin rip cuts and nice tidy controlled crosscuts, easy as pie.

Has anyone else used them?

Dedman
14-03-2016, 05:07 PM
Yup. The ones I have cut on the pull stroke rather than the push. They didn't build all those temples with out nails without knowing a thing or two :D

dingobass
14-03-2016, 05:33 PM
Love my pull saws..
I use one for fretting (yes, I do fretting... Only bcause Guitarists seem to need them so they know where to put their fingers)
And then the flexible flush cut saw, my fave for plugs etc
Not to mention the Dozuki saw... That puppy can take a finger off and cauterise the wound it is so sharp!

Dedman
14-03-2016, 05:53 PM
These are both interesting doco's on Japanese carpentry/cabinet making
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udCByvNBegA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8vJ11cXLs4

FrankenWashie
14-03-2016, 07:43 PM
Love my pull saws..
I use one for fretting (yes, I do fretting... Only bcause Guitarists seem to need them so they know where to put their fingers)
And then the flexible flush cut saw, my fave for plugs etc
Not to mention the Dozuki saw... That puppy can take a finger off and cauterise the wound it is so sharp!

Im going to do some practice and then see how long a rip cut I can hold straight. I am building a test laminate neck (pine and stained pine!) for another project, I don't have access to a good table saw or band saw so we'll see how we go with the back saw.

Muzza
17-03-2016, 09:12 PM
Success story #1
I have a Triton TRB001 router which I keep setup as a table router and the other day it just refused to work. So I took it down to my local reputable, reliable power tool repair man and found that he's closed up shop 18 months ago.

I phoned around and I'm informed that nobody imports Triton parts any more. (I thought they were an Australian product?) Two options... bin it, or download the parts list and work out how to dismantle the motor.

Took the second option - I found the brushes were jammed and not making a connection. Freed them up, filed out the brush guides carefully, put it back together and she's running like a charm. The whole exercise also gave me a much better understanding of how it works.

I've had this router for I don't know how many years and this is the first time I've used it in probably 6 years. Despite this small hiccup, I highly recommend this router, and in my search for a repairer, I found that they will soon be available in Australia again. (CarbaTec and/or United Tools)

9515

Success story #2
While I was beavering away on the Triton, I looked up and noticed my forlorn old broken down DeWalt 1/4" plunge router. It had been on the top shelf of my 'to-maybe-repair-one-day' cupboard for many many years - the electronic speed controller had gone belly up and the replacement controller cost more than a new router.

I was feeling pretty chuffed after my success with the Triton, and as the missus has gone to watch Madonna tonight, I thought I'd have a crack at bypassing the speed controller and getting this puppy up and running again.

When I got it down, I realised there was a lot more work to do as sitting on a shelf in a garage 2 kilometres from the beach is not the ideal waiting room.

Anyway, long story short... I got it working and I'm STOKED. This is not just the best router I've ever owned, I would say it's my favourite power tool of all time - and I own a few.

HIGHLY recommended - although I'm not sure if the current stock of DeWalt tools are up to the quality of this one. I got it just after DeWalt bought out Elu, probably about 20 years ago.

Here she is. Working beautifully but without speed control, which I don't think I ever used anyway... (faulty speed controller on the bench in front)
9516

Pretty successful evening's work, and saved myself a few hundred bucks in repair bills. (So the Madonna concert is basically free....)

Yes, I'm quite chuffed!

Dedman
17-03-2016, 09:52 PM
:D Gotta be happy with that.
Here's a Dewalt story. At one of the green sheds a bloke walked into the store wearing a Dewalt shirt, introduced himself as the Service Manager and said there was recall on all 18V Lithium power tools and he was there to collect them. Loaded them ALL into a wagon with the help of Shed staff and drove off into the sunset. *as told to me by one of the Qld Dewalt reps*

Swanny
17-03-2016, 09:56 PM
:D Gotta be happy with that.
Here's a Dewalt story. At one of the green sheds a bloke walked into the store wearing a Dewalt shirt, introduced himself as the Service Manager and said there was recall on all 18V Lithium power tools and he was there to collect them. Loaded them ALL into a wagon with the help of Shed staff and drove off into the sunset. *as told to me by one of the Qld Dewalt reps*

That is a classic case of, "If only they used their powers for good, instead of evil!"

Dedman
18-03-2016, 05:28 PM
O.O

I'm sure it is......

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/Dedman/10583794_10204673250338167_1685196739270410328_n_z psmecdxoe4.jpg

FrankenWashie
09-05-2016, 06:19 PM
O.O

I'm sure it is......

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/Dedman/10583794_10204673250338167_1685196739270410328_n_z psmecdxoe4.jpg

Mmmm, You have to have the GLNUNIE stuff, the Ilmitation Hilkory is tluly arful.

Dedman
23-01-2017, 08:01 PM
I was ordering a few CD's from CD Japan last week and noticed they sold modelling supplies as well (as well as a heap of other cool stuff) so I got a few rolls of narrow masking tape for a couple of bucks a roll (as opposed to a small fortune at th elocal panel beaters supply), a pair of reverse tweezers (they clamp closed) some sponge sanding blocks 800 grit a little vice (perfect for holding pots while you solder and it sticks to the bench top like a champ with the suction lever) and some skewers with crocodile clips on the ends, I can see these being handy for holding / painting small things. The vice was $10 the other things were all a couple of bucks each and added next to nothing to the shipping cost. Now all I need is the humidity to drop so I can get in the shed and back to working on guitars!
16620

wazkelly
24-01-2017, 06:49 PM
Hi Dedman, top score with the vice. Looks really handy and easy to 'instal'.

FrankenWashie
31-05-2017, 07:34 PM
19783 19784

Mess with me now Raw Rock Maple, I dare you...

Dedman
01-06-2017, 01:55 PM
hmmm, jealous..

Andy40
01-06-2017, 05:04 PM
Dude....respect

andrewdosborne
01-06-2017, 07:27 PM
Carbatec goodness nice one FW

stan
02-06-2017, 03:28 PM
Go here.
Buy everything... Japanese tool goodness

https://www.japanesetools.com.au/

FrankenWashie
02-06-2017, 04:05 PM
Go here.
Buy everything... Japanese tool goodness

https://www.japanesetools.com.au/

mmm Yes, I have bought Gyokucho saws from them and a smoothing plane. Great communication and very prompt service.

stan
02-06-2017, 04:07 PM
Oh, that is dangerous and nice to know.... i think I'm about to blow a few bucks....

FrankenWashie
02-11-2017, 07:31 PM
Has anyone experience with body contouring using finger planes/violin makers planes? Does anyone own any and have any tips on brands, sizes etc?

FrankenWashie
14-12-2019, 03:24 PM
Oh Santa you mad man....what have you done....

mwa ha ha ha ha HA HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHA!

Igor: Oh exthellent Marthter, that will make quick work of bodieth and neckth. Might be handy for guitarth ath well!

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191214/bfd99409a16d8eadaa86ed77f6a134d6.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191214/bd2c94eeb9b9ec1d3961440e0fb1d189.jpg


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

Simon Barden
14-12-2019, 06:01 PM
Nice.

A big flat stop button so you can press it with your bloody stump, and red so the blood won't show.

FrankenWashie
14-12-2019, 08:08 PM
Nice.

A big flat stop button so you can press it with your bloody stump, and red so the blood won't show.

ther are some fences, guards and push sticks in my future.

Simon Barden
14-12-2019, 08:12 PM
You are lucky in having an Igor. At least any dismemberments won't be permanent.

Simon Barden
14-12-2019, 08:14 PM
I see it's on a crate for now. Is it supposed to be bench mounted? Or do you just need a taller floor?

Sonic Mountain
15-12-2019, 04:21 AM
Nice ones that’s a serious bit of kit.

Andy40
15-12-2019, 06:42 AM
Oh my........:cool:

FrankenWashie
15-12-2019, 06:47 AM
I see it's on a crate for now. Is it supposed to be bench mounted? Or do you just need a taller floor?
Due to the restricted overhead room, I’m getting a custom stand for it

Adamc
23-02-2020, 09:03 AM
What size is the bandsaw Frankenwashie?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

FrankenWashie
23-02-2020, 01:25 PM
What size is the bandsaw Frankenwashie?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

its 14 inch AdamC, big enough to get a full size body cut.

Adamc
24-02-2020, 03:25 PM
Thanks mate. I was offered a good deal on a 12” but it looked too small to me


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk