🚀 go-pugleaf

Joerg wrote:
> ehsjr wrote:
> 
>> krw wrote:
>>
>>> On Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:04:30 GMT, ehsjr <ehsjr@NOSPAMverizon.net>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> krw wrote:
>>>>
>>>> <snip>
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Fein is simply crazy expensive.  I looked at their routers over the
>>>>> weekend.  I wasn't impressed, for 4X what a Bosch or PC costs.  Bosch
>>>>> has a "Multi-Master type tool ("Multi-X", I think) that's a lot
>>>>> cheaper and looks just as good (Li-Ion battery, though).  A little
>>>>> lower down the line, Dremmel has a copy for $100ish.  If you want to
>>>>> go cheap, HarborFreight has one for $40.  The reports are decent,
>>>>> acknowledging that it's a $40 tool.  The only real complaint is that
>>>>> the blades loosen.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Where do you get reports on the Harbor Freight stuff?
>>>> I'd like to be able to see what others think about what
>>>> I might buy - like their 12' sliding compound miter saw.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I have their 10" SLCS.  For $100 it's not bad at all.  I just bought
>>> it to cut 2x4s and it does that very well.  I did some molding with it
>>> in my last house, too.  I'll likely replace it with a better saw in
>>> the next year or so, though.
>>>
>>> As far as discussions of these things, rec.woodworking is likely the
>>> best place.  There are a lot of tool snobs there too, but also a lot
>>> of information.
>>>
>>>
>>>> Sometimes they're good for power tools that will be used
>>>> infrequently.  The stuff I've bought from them for light
>>>> use has never disappointed - but I haven't used it either
>>>> under harsh conditions or extensively.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I don't have too many HF power tools, but a few.  You really have to
>>> be careful.   The above SLCS is fairly good (it's weak on compound
>>> miters).  I've looked at their wet saw and would have bought it if I
>>> knew about it before I bought mine.  OTOH, I have a couple of cordless
>>> drills that are just so bad that I don't even count them.
>>
>>
>> Thanks for the info on the saw.  My use would be like yours,
>> primarily rough carpentry. I have a bunch of decorative
>> "garden ties" to replace, and the 12" saw will handle them.
>>
>> I have a $24 1/2" hammer drill from them - flawless for the
>> few times I've used it.  The cordless 9.6V is pretty much
>> useless, except for maybe drilling a couple of holes in
>> a project box.  I love their cheap $2.99 meters for monitoring
>> stuff, and as a source of LCD displays for projects. ...
> 
> 
> 
> How do you wire up the LCD? Just the bare glass or did you find a trick 
> to get into their blob chip?
> 
> [...]
> 

I wish I could get into the blob, just as a matter of
interest.  I doubt it would be work the effort, though.
Displays don't cost that much to make it worthwhile.
The simple hack is to just use the thing on the meter
PC board - you can saw away what you don't need.
The last one I hacked used the whole meter, minus the
switching, just to monitor a supply voltage. There was plenty
of room inside the supply cabinet so I just soldered leads
to the input and did a little surgery on the front panel
so yo could see the LCD.  I had a little DC-DC converter
that provided the 9V for the meter. The supply ramps the
voltage up slowly between set points over time, and the built
in meter provides a way to watch the progress without
needing to connect an external meter each time.

Ed