cheap tool alert

Dargo · Sep 29, 2006

Dargo said:
Hey, speaking of cheap tools, has anyone used the 18 volt grease gun from Rural King? It is normally 89.99 but is not on sale for $59.99. Is it worth it?

I knew it, I knew it, I knew it! What a POS!! First, it does not pump any grease. Second, the 18 volt batteries last almost 3 minutes each. Third, the charger for the batteries does not work at all! This hunk of crap is going back and I will definitley NOT exchange it. I guess I'll get me a Lincoln battery powered grease gun or none at all. Dang, I should have known better than waste my time and money on a JUNK power tool.

Time and time again I see that, for the most part, you get what you pay for when it comes to tools; especially power tools.

Just in case any of you guys who are fans of the cheap 4 1/2" grinders are interested, Rural King took a page out of Hardly Freight's play book. They have those cheap 4 1/2" grinders on sale for around $7. I'll pass. Even if they work for one use, they wouldn't be worth the aggravation factor for me!

MossRoad · Sep 29, 2006

Dargo said:
I knew it, I knew it, I knew it! What a POS!! First, it does not pump any grease. Second, the 18 volt batteries last almost 3 minutes each. Third, the charger for the batteries does not work at all! This hunk of crap is going back and I will definitley NOT exchange it. I guess I'll get me a Lincoln battery powered grease gun or none at all. Dang, I should have known better than waste my time and money on a JUNK power tool. Time and time again I see that, for the most part, you get what you pay for when it comes to tools; especially power tools.

Just in case any of you guys who are fans of the cheap 4 1/2" grinders are interested, Rural King took a page out of Hardly Freight's play book. They have those cheap 4 1/2" grinders on sale for around $7. I'll pass. Even if they work for one use, they wouldn't be worth the aggravation factor for me!

So what don't you like about it?

kossetx · Sep 29, 2006

Dargo, That is why I ask about a tool first and post if I like something.

I bought one of those 7.00 angle grinder from homier and figured if I used it once it would be worth it. It caught fire on the first time. I mean on fire, flames and all. I unplugged it and had to hose it down. It wasn't worth 7.00.

I still have my 20 year old B&D angle grinder, and 2 new dewalts.

Soundguy · Sep 30, 2006

Wow... bad luck with angle grinders. In 16 ys I've only had 1 fail... and it had well paid for itself. my oldes chinese one is still kicking.

As for the grease gun.. I don't like the electric ones. , save for the air operated ones.. and I'm too lazy to drag my compressor out just to get around pumping the gun a few times. We had a 'brand' name electric one at work, exchanged it 2x times, then got a different brand.. all wer junk.. A manual gun was able to grease moderately stuck zerks that the abttery jobs wouldn't touch.

Soundguy

Farmwithjunk · Sep 30, 2006

Soundguy said:
Wow... bad luck with angle grinders. In 16 ys I've only had 1 fail... and it had well paid for itself. my oldes chinese one is still kicking.

As for the grease gun.. I don't like the electric ones. , save for the air operated ones.. and I'm too lazy to drag my compressor out just to get around pumping the gun a few times. We had a 'brand' name electric one at work, exchanged it 2x times, then got a different brand.. all wer junk.. A manual gun was able to grease moderately stuck zerks that the abttery jobs wouldn't touch.

Soundguy

AMEN! My son bought an air powered grease gun for fathers day about 10 years ago. I keep it hanging on the wall in the shop.-----even when I'm greasing something. I've never had a problem with the old fashioned pump guns. You get a "feel" for how the zerk is taking grease. No need for air compressors, battery chargers, or electric outlets. Add to the growing list of reasons why I prefer the old standard? Every grease gun I've ever bought seems to get stolen or lost. I just buy "cheap-o's" and don't sweat it when they wear out or get lost.

Soundguy · Oct 1, 2006

I have a lever pump one with a flexible tube, and I also have a hand grip pump one with a fixed shaft. Both for standard size tubes.

I had a mini- hand grip pump one.. buyt got tired of constantly refilling the darn thing...

Seems like a gun lasts about ? 7 ys or so before i have lost or damaged it. My lever gun has the air bleed screw on top.. the hand grip one's instructions just tell you to unthread it a bit, under spring pressure... I always wonder if I'm gonna get a face full of grease doing that one day..

Soundguy

DieselPower · Oct 1, 2006

For years I would wear out one air operated grease gun a year. They were cheap and didn't mind buying a new one every year. Then about 4 years ago I bought a Snap On cordless 18 volt grease gun. Been using it ever since and I love the thing. I run a mobile service truck and it sure beats having to fire up the air compressor to use the air operated one. Best thing is I got a 12 volt cig lighter charger for it so the spare battery stay's pluged in all the time so I alway's have a fully charged spare. I would estimate I get about 4 to 4 1/2 tubes of grease out of a fully charged pack. Was it expensive, your darn right it was, it's a Snap On. Was it worth it, yep, every penny and more. I wouldn't give this thing up for the life of me. Liked it so much I even bought a second one to use at the shop.

Dargo · Oct 8, 2006

I thought I'd add a bit here about a good "cheap" tool. I needed to put down about 100 tubes of caulk in all the expansion joints of my concrete. I started by putting on some knee pads and crawling around squeezing away. The PL concrete crack and joint sealant is some thick stuff! After a few tubes my arms were pumped and tired. So, I decided I'd buy one of those electric caulk guns.

To make a long story short, my choices ended up limited to Milwaukee, Ridgid, or Ryobi. Then Milwaukee was out because nobody seemed to stock it. I'd heard good things about Ridgid, so I thought I'd try it. Wrong. The caulk gun itself is $120, and that doesn't come with a battery. The battery is another $75 and then the charger is another $95 over that. By the time I'd add tax in, I'd have almost $350 in a caulk gun! So, I bought the "cheapo" Ryobi. The caulk gun, two 18 volt batteries and a double 18 volt battery charger came in under a hundred bucks. So far I used 17 tubes last night with one charge on one battery and the operation is smooth and easily controlled. I can't see where spending a couple hundred more would have been better.

jwstewar · Oct 8, 2006

Hey Dargo,

I'm worried about you.

You have given quite a few compliments to HF here lately and now one to Ryobi. We may have to start re-labeling you a cheap tool guy.

Dargo · Oct 8, 2006

jwstewar said:
Hey Dargo,

I'm worried about you. You have given quite a few compliments to HF here lately and now one to Ryobi. We may have to start re-labeling you a cheap tool guy.

Gees, isn't that the truth!

Oh, but my 14.4 volt Lincoln grease gun came in and it's the cat's meow!

I'm greasing everything now just for the fun of it! Heck, if my my dog lingers next to me too long he just may get greased as well.