The build of "Wh4t3v3rs"

[Wh4t3v3rs]

I bought my tubing notcher at Steve's Wholesale, a local chain comparable to Harbor Freight. It looks identical to the HF model. The notches are usually about 1/16" to 1/8" off-center. I really need to shim it back to center, but it's been a while since I built a cage. To me, having a perfect tubing notcher doesn't matter so much because you end up doing so much trial and error until the pieces fit. Cut everything long and trim it all to fit. Instead of spending the money on a high-end tubing notcher, buy a cheap one and spend the extra money on a second and third grinder and a 4' plug strip. Put a cutting wheel on one, a flap wheel on the second, and a grinding wheel on the third. You'll be using them all, and having them all plugged in at hand along with your chop saw and tubing notcher is gold. Also plan on burning through some hole saws.

Edit: That Woodward Fab looks identical to the Harbor Freight. If they don't say it was made in the USA, and you can't even tell that it wasn't made in the same factory, why pay twice as much?

I appreciate your insight and input! I don't need the best of something, but if a tool will make my job better, easier, and more efficient then I don't mind spending some money. I just didn't know to what extent I needed to go, so i decided to ask the guy that knows more!!! Thank you again @Erik the Awful !!

 

[MrPink]

I bought my tubing notcher at Steve's Wholesale, a local chain comparable to Harbor Freight. It looks identical to the HF model. The notches are usually about 1/16" to 1/8" off-center. I really need to shim it back to center, but it's been a while since I built a cage. To me, having a perfect tubing notcher doesn't matter so much because you end up doing so much trial and error until the pieces fit. Cut everything long and trim it all to fit. Instead of spending the money on a high-end tubing notcher, buy a cheap one and spend the extra money on a second and third grinder and a 4' plug strip. Put a cutting wheel on one, a flap wheel on the second, and a grinding wheel on the third. You'll be using them all, and having them all plugged in at hand along with your chop saw and tubing notcher is gold. Also plan on burning through some hole saws.

Edit: That Woodward Fab looks identical to the Harbor Freight. If they don't say it was made in the USA, and you can't even tell that it wasn't made in the same factory, why pay twice as much?

I went through 6 Harbor freight grinders while building spec miata's lol. And the woodward fab stuff is made here in the USA just south of me actually in the little town of Heartland Mi.

 

[Erik the Awful]

Yeah, I love the size and weight of the cheapo HF grinders, but I won't buy them any more. I also won't buy Black and Decker. I have a few of HF's Bauer grinders, and they're working like champs, but they're noticeably heavier if you're at the workbench more than an hour.

If the Woodward Fab stuff is actually made in the US, great. I just didn't see any claim as such on their website. If it means something to you, call and ask before you order. I'm fairly capitalist; I'll pay a 20% premium if it's made in the US, but at twice the price my cheapskate nature takes over.

 

[MrPink]

I've currently only got a Dewalt grinder myself i've had it now for 8yrs and it still going strong. And I understand the made in USA thing completely. I do that with my tools too mostly. But the notcher I have is def made in the USA and is about 15yrs old too lol so their practices may have changed since I bought mine.

 

[Erik the Awful]

I have two Bauers in the garage with the welder and one surviving "Drillmaster" in the shop. If I'm doing anything serious, they all end up in the same place with different wheels. Not having to change wheels makes a huge difference in productivity. Ideally I'd get a fourth, dedicated to a wire wheel.

 

[Wh4t3v3rs]

See..... now I have to go buy more grinders!!! haha I was cool with 2, but I still change wheels alot.

 

[Clutchdropsnrodknock]

I like the idea of having 4 all plugged in at once. I bet you could get away with the using the cheaper grinders for the wire wheel, as I would think cutting and grinding would produce more of a load.

 

[thegawd]

I have a 20V dewalt grinder, it's small and lightweight. I use it all the time but I'm not a welder or fabricator so I have not put it through its paces but I have put a brass wire wheel in it more than once and used it for 4-5 hours consecutively while redoing trailer roofs down to bare metal so they can be restored. a 5amp 20v battery will last a bit over an hour when used constantly. I have about a dozen dewalt batteries.

I also have an older 120v dewalt grinder that takes a bigger disk works amazing and I also have a 20 year old black and decker grinder. its reddish orange... I also have 2 of those drills. one locked up on me once but somehow was fine a year later (maybe because I threw it!) that black and decker grinder was my first grinder and I'm not a fabricator but thankfully it still works.

some days I look at these old tools with cords that I havent used in years and wonder why I still keep them around.... oh well. lmao!

 

[MrPink]

I have a 20V dewalt grinder, it's small and lightweight. I use it all the time but I'm not a welder or fabricator so I have not put it through its paces but Inhave put a wire wheel in it more than once and used it for 4-5 hours consecutively while redoing trailer roofs down to bare metal so they can be cleaned.

I also have an older 120v dewalt grinder that takes a bigger disk works amazing and I also have a 20 year old black and decker. its reddish orange... I also have 2 of those drills. one locked up on me once but somehow was fine a year later. that black and decker grinder was my first grinder and I'm not a fabricator but thankfully it still works.

some days I look at these old tools with cords that I havent used in years and wonder why I still keep them around.... oh well. lmao!

I have a Milwaukee right angle hammer drill that I have use 2x since I had recvd it from my Grandfather, he bought it new in the late 70's iirc.

 

[thegawd]

HAHA now that's a specialized tool! I have a cordless dewalt right angle drill but it's not a hammer drill. it does have almost to much power though. more than once I dropped the screw down inside a wall or what not and just grabbed another screw.

Ya your right when it comes to old tools that still work, we might need them one day, I just need to find a better place to put them!