There's an old saying that goes, "Never trust a used car salesman". The same can probably be said about anybody who sells anything that has been previously owned. Let's face it, most owners don't really take care of their toys and if they've given them up or chucked them in the trash then most likely they know they haven't. That's why if you're thinking of buying a saw used, there are some things you better look out for. Hopefully what follows will arm you for the war ahead.
Old saws are actually a very common item at most flea markets and many garage sales. Also, you can usually get a very good deal on a used saw at any used tool dealer. Your safest bet, however, is to try to get your old saw from an antique tool dealer. If you tell the dealer that you are looking for a user grade saw, meaning one that only needs some cleaning and sharpening, he will be able to find something for you that you'll be pleased with. If you resort to the flea market or garage sale variety, you run the risk of picking up a saw with enough flaws to make it difficult to restore to working condition. So while the prices at the antique dealer will be higher, in the long run it will be worth it.
Power Hand Tools
When checking out the saw you intend to buy, there are a number of things that you should look out for.
The first thing to check is the handle. The handle should be in sound condition and in one piece. If there are small cracks, that's okay as long as they are able to be glued. Try to avoid saws with cracks in the grip part of the handle. Also, check the area around the saw nuts as there are usually cracks there. If the handle has small pieces above or below the horn part of the handle missing that's okay. This won't affect the usefulness of the saw. Also, make sure the handle feels comfortable in your hand. It should be large enough to hold securely. There is usually a hole in the grip for your finger to rest in. Make sure your finger fits comfortably in the hole and isn't too tight.
Next is the blade. Make sure you check the blade for stress cracks at the teeth. Usually these are very hard to detect without some kind of visual help like a magnifying glass. But if you apply pressure with your finger behind the teeth, the crack will become visible enough for you to see it. Check all the teeth of the saw to see if any of the teeth are missing. If there are teeth missing, this could be the indication of a brittle blade.
Next you want to check for rust. Some light rust on the surface of old saws is pretty much unavoidable, especially if they have been in storage for years. But if a saw is badly rusted, then it is to be totally avoided. Most likely this saw won't last very long.
Finally, you want to check the blade to make sure it is straight. It should have no kinks or bends. If the blade is kinked then the saw will be unusable. Once a blade is bent, it is very hard to get straight.
By following the above tips, you are sure to bring home and old saw that will be useful and last you for many years.
Black Friday Denali 115-Piece Home Repair Tool Kit 2011 Deals
Nov 11, 2011 23:41:26
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Black Friday Denali 115-Piece Home Repair Tool Kit Feature
- Broad assortment of hand tools and accessories makes this a great general purpose kit for the home or shop
- Quality hand tools with professional features meeting ANSI standards
- Bit sets allow for drilling into metal, wood and concrete
- Packed in large durable nylon bag for easy and flexible storage
- Perfect for the home, shop, apartment, condo or RV
Black Friday Denali 115-Piece Home Repair Tool Kit Overview
Every home needs a good set of basic tools, and kits are a great way to get them at a considerable savings. Three things make Denali’s 115-piece kit stand out—the price, an exceptional selection of screwdriver bits, and last but not least, the bag. In fact, it’s hard to find a set of tools as extensive as this for anywhere near this price. If purchased separately, these items would cost 0.00This kit includes all of the tools you need for just about any household chore, from hanging pictures to fixing a leaky faucet. They are of good quality and should handle all of your household chores and repairs for many years to come. Going through this kit, I really appreciated little touches rarely seen in basic tool sets, like the soft-grip rubber cover on the tape measure that makes it easy and comfortable to hold, and the dizzying array of bits that come with the ratcheting screwdriver handle.
But what’s really brilliant is that all of these tools come in a heavy-duty nylon bag. Most tool sets come in big, flat blow-molded cases that can be awkward to store and carry. Plus, some tools invariably fall out when you open the case. That’s why most professionals, after buying a tool set, will throw away the case it came in and go out and buy a separate tool bag or chest to store their tools. The Denali kit’s bag fits easily under a sink cabinet (it actually is the size of a breadbox), and has both a shoulder strap and hand-straps that Velcro together, making it easy to carry around. The mouth of the bag has metal stabilizing rods in the zipper, so it opens wide and stays open, meaning you can set it down, and easily get to any of the tools inside while you are working. There are a ton of pockets lining the inside and outside of the bag to carry little things like nails, screws, tape, picture hangers—all of the little things that seem to crowd your kitchen drawers.
Of course, what are most important are the tools themselves. Again, this is a well-appointed set of quality tools that should outfit you for just about any household need. Here is a complete tally:
What’s In The Bag
Hammer
This 16-ounce ripping hammer with heavy duty fiberglass handle is a medium-weight hammer that will handle most household jobs, with claws for pulling nails.
Torpedo level
A good sturdy level is a must for hanging or straightening pictures, checking tabletop alignment, or mounting towel bars and curtain rods. This 9-inch, aluminum model is accurate, lightweight and easy to handle.
Tape measure
The 3/4-inch wide by 16-foot long tape measure has a thumb lock, metric and English markings, marks for placing studs every 16-inches, a belt clip, and a soft-grip rubber shell that makes it easy to grip and comfortable to hold.
Heavy-duty zinc utility knife with rubber grip
Wrenches
- 16-piece hex key set
These are also called Allen wrenches. The kit comes with 8 in metric and 8 in English measurements. - 6-piece combination wrench set with steel clip
- 8-inch needle- nose pliers with wire-cutting blades, useful for getting into small spaces and gripping small nails, screws, nuts, etc. (meets or exceeds ANSI standards)
- 8-inch diagonal pliers (meets or exceeds ANSI standards)
- 8-inch groove-joint pliers(meets or exceeds ANSI standards)
- 7-inch nickel-coated locking pliers are essential for getting a good, solid grip, especially when working in small spaces that don’t allow you to grip with your full strength.
- wire cutters
Wow, you’d never imagine needing a star-drive screwdriver, until you buy that fancy new European dishwasher. Denali’s kit includes a ratcheting handle with a selection of interchangeable bits to provide an exceptional array of screwdrivers in all sizes and head shapes. The ratcheting handle is a nice feature, making it a lot easier to drive screws that are upside down or in tough to see places, where you really don’t want release pressure on the screwdriver handle to keep turning it.
- 14 flat head: 4, 5, 6, and 7 mm and 3/32-, 1/8-, 5/32-, 3/16- (x3), 7/32-, and 1/4- (x3) inch
- 9 Phillips head: 1x2, 2x5, and 3x2
- 3 square head: S1, S2, and S3
- 10 star head: T6, T7, T8, T10, T15, T20, T25, T27, T30, and T40
- 10 hex: 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 mm and 1/8-, 5/32-, 3/16-, 7/32-, and 1/4-inch
- 4 Pozidriv: PZ0, PZ1, PZ2, and PZ3
Poszidriv screws are similar to Phillips head screws, but are less prone to slippage at high torque and so provide better performance when working with air and power tools. Note that Pozidriv screwdrivers are likely to slip or tear out the screw head when used in Phillips screws. - 14 nut drivers
This is interesting, since the kit doesn’t come with a drill. The manufacturers apparently assume that either you have a cordless drill and will appreciate a couple of good bit sets, or that if you don’t have one, you should get one. They’re right. If you don’t have a good, basic, cordless drill, you’ll appreciate it when you do. Check out Amazon's selection of cordless drills.
- 13-piece titanium-coated high-speed steel with steel case: 1/4-, 15/64-, 7/32-, 13/64-, 3/16-, 11/64-, 5/32-, 9/64-, 1/8-, 7/64-, 3/32-, 5/64-, and 1/16-inch
- 50-piece chrome vanadium steel 1-inch screwdriver bit set can be used with either a cordless drill or the ratcheting screwdriver included in this kit.
- 5-piece masonry bit set with steel case: 5/32-, 3/16-, 1/4-, 5/16-, and 3/8-inch
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Limited Offer Today!! Denali 115-Piece Home Repair Tool Kit Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2011 Deals
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