What - non Festool - tool / workshop related gizmo/stuff did you buy today?

[Crispy]

And with the AUD underwater and holding its breath making the exchange rate intolerable against the USD not helping at all. It is a lot of years since I have bought anything from the US because of the exchange rate and the huge freight costs.

I can put up with the exchange rate - it sux a little but it is what it is, some things you just cant get here.
What i cant justify, is that the feight costs as much or double the actual tool cost.

I went to do an order through TSO a while ago for the parrallel guide system and a few bibs and bobs to store it etc, and it was as much for the freight as it was for everything i wanted, so i deleted my cart, and went back to dreaming/you tube

Ive had items delivered to Aus from the US through ebay, and the freight was never even close to that high, i probably wouldnt have done it if was $1k~ freight + item.

 

[Packard]

I wanted to buy a couple of TSO items, i missed out on the ebay items i found with reasonable freight, and went to a link to a 10% off sale through this site.
Needless to say i almost cried and thought this is why i cant have nice things - also probably worked out safer for me than ordering them and my wife finding out.... [big grin]

Then add on the import and international transaction fees we get slugged with!

What about Amazon.au?  I know Amazon carries some Festool stuff, and Rockler is on it too (USA),.  Do they have TSO?

 

[onocoffee]

[member=78392]Crispy[/member] Do you know if there are any companies in the US that do consolidated shipping to AUS?

Some of my friends, when they want to buy products say in Japan, they will use a Japanese company who will receive the shipments they purchased and then forward them to the US. Perhaps there's something similar in the US to AUS?

 

[bertv]

[member=78392]Crispy[/member] Do you know if there are any companies in the US that do consolidated shipping to AUS?

Some of my friends, when they want to buy products say in Japan, they will use a Japanese company who will receive the shipments they purchased and then forward them to the US. Perhaps there's something similar in the US to AUS?

I live in the Netherlands and have used MyUS.com a couple of years ago to forward stuff I bought stuff in the US to me (mostly from Lost Art Press, eg their chore coat). Worked as advertised.

 

[rst]

I watch a guy called Bzeug on You Tube, he started his site importing mostly from Germany, but now mostly from Japan.  Most his deliveries are from forwarding companies and advise for his watchers.

 

[Mini Me]

The sky high freight costs put Clearvue Oz out of business as they went up about 300% during the COVID era and have not AFAIK dropped any substantial amount.

I have used Amazon Prime for a few things but there are a lot of products there that are not available to offshore buyers. As for consolidation companies I have never found them to be any more affordable but others may have more experience than me in using them. I have a quote from Mike Farrington at the moment to supply his new sharpening system but I won't be going any further with it due to the total cost which is not his fault and was only a curiosity buy on my part anyway.

 

[onocoffee]

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Picked this up on FB Marketplace - A Stanley planer. First planer. Don't know much about it but it's a little rusty and I'll clean it up and start using it - or at least start learning on how to use it!

 

[Cheese]

Pretty slick...and more importantly, many thanks to [member=297]Michael Kellough[/member] for giving me a heads up on this item being on sale. I've been looking at this for the last several years but just didn't pull the pin because of the price. Well, at $150 off of the current prices, I couldn't resist.  [smile]

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A nice touch is the small level that is tucked away inside the outside perimeter of the vise. It's a bit cheesy in construction but when I compared it to a small Starret level of the same size, it was just as accurate. So, a plastic to metal comparison, that's a discussion that will never end.  [smile]

Overall a very nice package.

 

[onocoffee]

My local Home Depot got in the Rigid Oscillating Edge/Belt Spindle Sander for $129, so I took it home with me.

 

[festal]

Pretty slick...and more importantly, many thanks to [member=297]Michael Kellough[/member] for giving me a heads up on this item being on sale. I've been looking at this for the last several years but just didn't pull the pin because of the price. Well, at $150 off of the current prices, I couldn't resist.  [smile]

A nice touch is the small level that is tucked away inside the outside perimeter of the vise. It's a bit cheesy in construction but when I compared it to a small Starret level of the same size, it was just as accurate. So, a plastic to metal comparison, that's a discussion that will never end.  [smile]

Overall a very nice package.

Nice buy. I was looking at it but before it was released i made my own version using magswitch and Groz 4" vice.  Does the same but a bit more annoying to use

 

[rst]

One downside to longer driver bits is the lack of magnetism. I bought a Wiha slip on magnetic tool and then bought three Makita E-01346 impact rated magnets.  They are really powerful so now my long Milwaukee screwdriver and Wera bits , including torx and hex can be magnetic.

 

[Packard]

My local Home Depot got in the Rigid Oscillating Edge/Belt Spindle Sander for $129, so I took it home with me.

I have that sander.  I never used the spindles, but the belt sander is a god-send.  But note:  There is a “key” you can take out so that there is no unauthorized use of the sander.  If you lose that key, Home Depot wants nothing to do with finding the replacement. 

I would put a piece of tape over the key if you don’t intend to limit the use to others.

This is one of the safer tools in my shop, and the only one that has that safety key.  Makes no sense to me. 

A good, solid piece.  But don’t lose the key.

 

[Cheese]

One downside to longer driver bits is the lack of magnetism. I bought a Wiha slip on magnetic tool and then bought three Makita E-01346 impact rated magnets.  They are really powerful so now my long Milwaukee screwdriver and Wera bits , including torx and hex can be magnetic.

Thanks for that...good to know...just ordered one.  [smile]

 

[onocoffee]

Thanks [member=74278]Packard[/member] - I appreciate the advice!

 

[rst]

I received my set of Bench Critters non slip pads.  These are Really nice.  Five different height possibilities and quite heavy, helping with the non slip function.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Technically it wasn't today, but a result of a Christmas gift card. Makita cordless angle grinder. It's the one with the clip-on wheels, which is super easy to use, but a bit of a proprietary thing too. To combat that, I got an adaptor to allow the standard type too. It's pretty nice, but sure could benefit from a speed controller. It's much better with a cut-off wheel than the pneumatic one I have had for years.

 

[Cheese]

Technically it wasn't today, but a result of a Christmas gift card. Makita cordless angle grinder. It's the one with the clip-on wheels, which is super easy to use, but a bit of a proprietary thing too. To combat that, I got an adaptor to allow the standard type too. It's pretty nice, but sure could benefit from a speed controller. It's much better with a cut-off wheel than the pneumatic one I have had for years.

Just curious what the clip-on wheels are?

 

[Michael Kellough]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member]  several of the recent Makita grinders use the Bosch X-LOCK fastening system. A lot like Starlock.

 

[Cheese]

Ya, I'm just curious in how Makita holds the sandpaper to the sanding pad...the hook & loop or even the PSA ( [eek]  stink  [eek]) options work well...the clamping method...not so much as it's just abrasives vibrating against thin metal structures.

 

[onocoffee]

My local Woodcraft is having a "Bring in Your Used Router Bit and Get 50% Off Freud Router Bits" special this weekend. But the caveat is that used Freud or Diablo bits are not accepted, and the only old bit I have is a Freud. So off to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore I go, where I got this haul:

- Almost complete box of Festool 225mm Brilliant 2 paper - $10
- Kreg Featherboard - $1
- 36" F Clamp - $5
- Craftsman Router Bit Set - $1

They had a Grizzly Scroll Saw for $50 but I don't know what to use that for. I just needed one bit but bought the set because it was a buck. Took one to the exchange only to discover that the only T-Slot bit they had in stock was a Whiteside one, so no exchange.

But I thought I got a good deal for the gear.

No pic - because we're back to the site not accepting my pics.