princess auto tools that dont suck

[deereman75]

Some chargers will not charge a very low battery. Did you try it on a good battery. Sorry to belabor this point.

I still dont see how the battery would read lower when hooked up to a charger.

 

[BobRip]

I still dont see how the battery would read lower when hooked up to a charger.

I am guessing at this point. The charger will sense battery voltage and apply a small load prior to charging. This could load a very discharged battery down and bring the voltage lower. Sometimes chargers are too smart. I have had to use a dumb charger to get a battery charged enough to use a smart charger.

 

[deereman75]

I am guessing at this point. The charger will sense battery voltage and apply a small load prior to charging. This could load a very discharged battery down and bring the voltage lower. Sometimes chargers are too smart. I have had to use a dumb charger to get a battery charged enough to use a smart charger.

I wouldnt have thought of a $19 special item charger from princess auto as too smart. This was one of those things they get a load of, and sell them until they run out.

 

[Machold]

This could be handy, if you have one. I need a carry-all.

Next time I go in I will see if I can get a copy of that book and if so I will scan it and if anyone wants I can post or send them a copy cause it has ordering numbers so princess auto can directly type it into their system.

 

[BobRip]

I wouldnt have thought of a $19 special item charger from princess auto as too smart. This was one of those things they get a load of, and sell them until they run out.

Smarts are pretty cheap today. I am speaking from too much guess work here having not seen or studied the charger.

 

[deereman75]

Smarts are pretty cheap today. I am speaking from too much guess work here having not seen or studied the charger.

I also bought this thing around 4 years ago, and it has spent most of its time on the shelf, so I really have no idea. When I get back home, I will take another look at it.

 

[Mike476]

1000 pound swivel jack with foot, $19.99, regular $49.99. Wish they had more than one left, got there too late unfortunately, they sold a bin full in the first 30 minutes this morning. Substantial enough to use to stow a couple of my implements to make taking them off / putting them on a little easier.

 

[tjcarguy]

Dug this up from the groove yard.
I buy a lot of stuff at Princess, shop careful , read through the flyers. Last week die grinders $ 8.50. I keep about 6 die grinders set up at a time easier than changing bits. Some are better than others, if it doesn't last 2 months I'll ask for another one or my money back. I've taken stuff back , never a hassle. ---Trevor

 

[tjcarguy]

Dug this up from the groove yard.
I buy a lot of stuff at Princess, shop careful , read through the flyers. Last week die grinders $ 8.50. I keep about 6 die grinders set up at a time easier than changing bits. Some are better than others, if it doesn't last 2 months I'll ask for another one or my money back. I've taken stuff back , never a hassle. ---Trevor

 

[rockinmywaypa]

I like them well enough and have picked up some good deals but I don't live close to them and have to have them ship the items which sometimes can double the price. Looking forward to having a store built closer that I can drive to without spending a half day to do it.

 

[PILOON]

I also have obtained some great deals from Princess.
Am subscribed so I get heads up.

 

[Scooby074]

PA is now selling a Tig welder that from the discussions on Welding Web is basically the well liked Thermal Arc 186 minus the footpetal. The TA sells regularly for $2599 up here https://www.kmstools.com/thermal-arc-186-ac-dc-tig-welder-19958 The PA was selling for about $1000 on sale!!

Apparently its possible to convert the PA to be able to run with a pedal for not that much money or work, lets say $100. Plus you need a flow meter, $50-100 So PA is selling a $2600 welder for $1150ish. That leaves a lot of money on the table to update the torch etc.

The risk of course is that PA could drop this model, but if its internally the same as the TA, any weld repair shop that was familiar with the TA could likely get parts for the PA.

Id still wait for some performance reviews before buying however. There is basically nothing out there about this exact welder other than the thread above that I can find.

 

[Big Barn]

PA is now selling a Tig welder that from the discussions on Welding Web is basically the well liked Thermal Arc 186 minus the footpetal. The TA sells regularly for $2599 up here https://www.kmstools.com/thermal-arc-186-ac-dc-tig-welder-19958 The PA was selling for about $1000 on sale!! Apparently its possible to convert the PA to be able to run with a pedal for not that much money or work, lets say $100. Plus you need a flow meter, $50-100 So PA is selling a $2600 welder for $1150ish. That leaves a lot of money on the table to update the torch etc. The risk of course is that PA could drop this model, but if its internally the same as the TA, any weld repair shop that was familiar with the TA could likely get parts for the PA. Id still wait for some performance reviews before buying however. There is basically nothing out there about this exact welder other than the thread above that I can find.

Wow that's interesting. Hadn't noticed it at P.A. My local LWS quoted me a TA 186 with pedal for $1950 (couple of months ago.).

Terry

 

[Scooby074]

Wow that's interesting. Hadn't noticed it at P.A. My local LWS quoted me a TA 186 with pedal for $1950 (couple of months ago.).

Terry

My PA (Dartmouth) has one, but its in a box, burried under about 5 other boxes in the welding section. It's something that should be out on display open box. Most people have no idea they even carry it. I bet it sits there for months and months until they knock about $300 off and slap a clearance sticker on it..Then Ill swoop in lol.

PA could do alot better in their welding section anyways. It seems to be an afterthought. They really need somebody in Winnipeg who knows welding, they could become a major player. To bring that machine in and not offer a footpedal option shows that they dont know what they are doing. Even the Q+A on the website has mis-information in it. They say its not compatible with a foot pedal, period, but it is, they just dont bring it in with one.

Same as they should sell it complete with a flow meter.

$1950 sounds like a great price for the complete TA considering KMS has it "on sale" for $2399 and Cyberweld has it on for $1752 usd (2192 CAD) but shipping would kill that deal and likely make it as expensive as KMS.

 

[Big Barn]

My PA (Dartmouth) has one, but its in a box, burried under about 5 other boxes in the welding section. It's something that should be out on display open box. Most people have no idea they even carry it. PA could do alot better in their welding section anyways. It seems to be an afterthought. They really need somebody in Winnipeg who knows welding, they could become a major player. To bring that machine in and not offer a footpedal option shows that they dont know what they are doing. Even the Q+A on the website has mis-information in it. They say its not compatible with a foot pedal, period, but it is, they just dont bring it in with one. Same as they should sell it complete with a flow meter. $1950 sounds like a great price for the complete TA considering KMS has it "on sale" for $2399 and Cyberweld has it on for $1752 usd (2192 CAD) but shipping would kill that deal and likely make it as expensive as KMS.

Scooby, three out of the four LWS here provide me with competitive or better than Internet pricing on new machine and consumable quotes. Accessories, well that's a different story.... Terry

BTW. The TA186 quote was from Airgas.

 

[Looking4new]

that maul I have is really starting to look like it just does not want to play anymore

I have a maul here that wants to play with someone other than me. Do you want it?

 

[David Devuono]

PA takes your phone number. Simplifies returns, unless you have bought 2,000 items in the past few years then it takes forever to process. Rare that I have ever had to bring anything back. This week, two 3500 lb axles, 119 a piece. Offroad dump trailer project to start soon. Soon as I finish home renos and my jaw crusher.

 

[kiotiken]

PA takes your phone number. Simplifies returns, unless you have bought 2,000 items in the past few years then it takes forever to process. Rare that I have ever had to bring anything back. This week, two 3500 lb axles, 119 a piece. Offroad dump trailer project to start soon. Soon as I finish home renos and my jaw crusher.

PA uses phone numbers to do a look up to your purchases. It can take for ever to look up your bills, not because of the number of items but because they're still in the digital dark ages. Their "server" is in the Edmonton store and they are using Lotus Notes databases. I was in to return something the other day and they said their computers were down because a plow hit a transformer at the Edmonton store and they had no power and the server was down. Unless you had a receipt, they wouldn't take stuff back.

 

[Dave M7040]

I have a 10 ton shop press that uses a ram and separate pump.
It works OK but the floor around it is a mess and I have to add auto transmission fluid to it when I want to use it as it constantly leaks in spite of replacing all seals.
Have an engine hoist which works well but is used infrequently.
Concrete saw did several jobs before going up in smoke.
Lots of good hydraulic cylinders, hoses and fittings.
All in all I find it a good place to shop.
Dave m7040

 

[tjcarguy]

What you said about used infrequently, I often buy inexpensive tools to see if they will get enough use to require upgrade to expensive stuff. Often you only need something for one job and it's as cheep to buy as it is to rent. Sometimes the Quality is so poor it won't even work. ---Trevor