Hmm, $83.45 for me.
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Product Band file
- Thread starter CWret
- Start date
Product
jgimp69
Super User
Where did you find that on sale? I could use one
jgimp69
Super User
Dynamic pricing lol
Home Depot. The M12 batteries are on sale too, for $28 I think, as mentioned earlier. Flashlight takes M18, also on sale
Mine is to arrive tomorrow, bottom line (taxes in) is $$83.61
Thanks for the comments above about battery sensors in Dewalt tool not the battery.
Just received mine. Seems well made. Basically a cordless grinder with the belt attachment (even has the handle and the spindle lock still for the angle grinder).
The user manual makes no mention of low battery protection, so I'll assume it has none until I can test it - all my batteries are fully charged.
I didn't even read how the variable speed worked before I bought it. Simple enough and not a bad implementation. One button. Press it and it cycles up then down, then up, etc. through the speeds, with the main switch for On/Off.
Should work well for me.
The user manual makes no mention of low battery protection, so I'll assume it has none until I can test it - all my batteries are fully charged.
I didn't even read how the variable speed worked before I bought it. Simple enough and not a bad implementation. One button. Press it and it cycles up then down, then up, etc. through the speeds, with the main switch for On/Off.
Should work well for me.
Great. Thanks @Mike R for sharing. Looks like what I expect to receive tomorrow.
You said it looks to have a grinder backbone but I think their approach makes it longer/thinner and more maneuverable. Please give it a work out and share your experience. 🙂
Edit - Your first impressions of quality?
CW
You said it looks to have a grinder backbone but I think their approach makes it longer/thinner and more maneuverable. Please give it a work out and share your experience. 🙂
Edit - Your first impressions of quality?
CW
Last edited:
First impressions are good, I haven't had a chance to use it yet (as in sand something). The gearbox warmed up a bit when I first had it running for a few minutes, but seems to have cooled down and not heating as much. A bit of break-in I guess for the gears.
BTW - when I say it looks like a grinder, well - they make the exact same body as a grinder too:
https://www.amazon.ca/Brushless-Var...g-Polishing/dp/B0G6DJZKZR/ref=sr_1_10?sr=8-10
BTW - when I say it looks like a grinder, well - they make the exact same body as a grinder too:
https://www.amazon.ca/Brushless-Var...g-Polishing/dp/B0G6DJZKZR/ref=sr_1_10?sr=8-10
ARRIVED!
First thought - it looks pretty darn good.
Quite solid feel, not much plastic & it looks like it’s made to last. Fit, finish and overall feel is good but not as nice as a Milwaukee or Dewalt (price gap justification when comparing overall quality to a name brand).
Would i recommend it. - YES as long as you accept its minor shortcomings and don’t mind others seeing that you have a no-name tool in your shop. Long term- who knows but i saw this as a good experiment with little investment. I would absolutely prefer the M12 but i decided to try the knockoff at 25% the cost. Hard to resist and if it doesn’t make me happy i can chuck it and splurge for the M12😎
So - how did it do?
Great in my initial test. Good power, smooth transition from low to high speed and lots of power when pushed hard. Also nicely balanced & easy to control. I like that it is narrow and long rather than short and wide.
Here’s a few pics of it in action
Note: it cuts in both direction by just flipping it over.
As seen above - I did a bevel and then a notch on a piece of 5/8” of flat bar. This was a lot of grinding (sanding). It was easy to control and had good consistent power. Here a is close look at results:
I was being agressive and pushing hard in the highest speed. It used up 2 out of 3 bars on the 20V 4Ah DeWalt battery. Also - the tools comes with 80 to 180 grit belts. I did the above with a 40 grit belt and it bits in hard and really tests the tool.
The head (grinding arm) easily rotates for getting into a confined area.
I was concerned that this tool did not have a reverse feature like the Milwaukee but then I realized it is easy to just flip it over to grind/sand in the opposite direction (as I mentioned above but this is a big plus IMO for the Milwaukee). Reverse is nice to be able to reduce a burr as well as directing sparks away from the user. My new band file (and the Dewalt version) have a belt guide (rubbing surface) that allows you to apply pressure on either side of the belt arm. This allows you to cut in the opposite direction by flipping over the tool. Here’s a pic to explain:
Bottom of pic is my old faithful B&D and there is just a rubbing belt guide on the bottom but on the new band file there is a rubbing support surface on both top and bottom. Therefore the belt is supported when using in reverse and pressing on the other side. From looking at web photos- i believe that Dewalts band file has this feature but Milwaukee’s band file does not. So you can flip a Dewalt over to cut in opposite direction but with the Milwaukee you just reverse the belt direction. I like the Milwaukee approach better but with my new band file or Dewalt’s you get twice the life from two wear surfaces.
OK - now for my disappointment - the belt tracking is not via a simple knob like the Milwaukee, DeWalt or my old B&D - instead there is an adjustment screw. It is very easy to use and works well but requires a 2mm Allen wrench see pic:
small item but worth mentioning. I used several different belts while testing the tool and didn’t need to adjust tracking- good belts or good machine????
PS1- I experienced no abdominal gear box warming as @Mike R felt initially on his tool.
PS2- It sands wood like crazy.
PS3 - The handle is easy to remove and i prefer using the tool without the cumbersome handle. But for some situations the handle is good and a nice available option.
PS4 - if you don’t have a band file IMO you should!
First thought - it looks pretty darn good.
Quite solid feel, not much plastic & it looks like it’s made to last. Fit, finish and overall feel is good but not as nice as a Milwaukee or Dewalt (price gap justification when comparing overall quality to a name brand).Would i recommend it. - YES as long as you accept its minor shortcomings and don’t mind others seeing that you have a no-name tool in your shop. Long term- who knows but i saw this as a good experiment with little investment. I would absolutely prefer the M12 but i decided to try the knockoff at 25% the cost. Hard to resist and if it doesn’t make me happy i can chuck it and splurge for the M12😎
So - how did it do?
Great in my initial test. Good power, smooth transition from low to high speed and lots of power when pushed hard. Also nicely balanced & easy to control. I like that it is narrow and long rather than short and wide.
Here’s a few pics of it in action
Note: it cuts in both direction by just flipping it over.
As seen above - I did a bevel and then a notch on a piece of 5/8” of flat bar. This was a lot of grinding (sanding). It was easy to control and had good consistent power. Here a is close look at results:
I was being agressive and pushing hard in the highest speed. It used up 2 out of 3 bars on the 20V 4Ah DeWalt battery. Also - the tools comes with 80 to 180 grit belts. I did the above with a 40 grit belt and it bits in hard and really tests the tool.
The head (grinding arm) easily rotates for getting into a confined area.
I was concerned that this tool did not have a reverse feature like the Milwaukee but then I realized it is easy to just flip it over to grind/sand in the opposite direction (as I mentioned above but this is a big plus IMO for the Milwaukee). Reverse is nice to be able to reduce a burr as well as directing sparks away from the user. My new band file (and the Dewalt version) have a belt guide (rubbing surface) that allows you to apply pressure on either side of the belt arm. This allows you to cut in the opposite direction by flipping over the tool. Here’s a pic to explain:
Bottom of pic is my old faithful B&D and there is just a rubbing belt guide on the bottom but on the new band file there is a rubbing support surface on both top and bottom. Therefore the belt is supported when using in reverse and pressing on the other side. From looking at web photos- i believe that Dewalts band file has this feature but Milwaukee’s band file does not. So you can flip a Dewalt over to cut in opposite direction but with the Milwaukee you just reverse the belt direction. I like the Milwaukee approach better but with my new band file or Dewalt’s you get twice the life from two wear surfaces.
OK - now for my disappointment - the belt tracking is not via a simple knob like the Milwaukee, DeWalt or my old B&D - instead there is an adjustment screw. It is very easy to use and works well but requires a 2mm Allen wrench see pic:
small item but worth mentioning. I used several different belts while testing the tool and didn’t need to adjust tracking- good belts or good machine????PS1- I experienced no abdominal gear box warming as @Mike R felt initially on his tool.
PS2- It sands wood like crazy.
PS3 - The handle is easy to remove and i prefer using the tool without the cumbersome handle. But for some situations the handle is good and a nice available option.
PS4 - if you don’t have a band file IMO you should!
You can get bulk sanding belts on Ali quite a bit cheaper than local tool store including the brand name ones which come from China anyways. Convert your width to nominal mm 9which is probably what they are anyway) & you will get more hits than enterung 1/2" or 3/8". I suspect there are better quality ones like 3M or whatever but 3x the price - not sure they last 3x as long.
Also I like these abrasive bands used for milder surface conditioning when you dont want full on sanding. Basically like a power scuff pad.
Also I like these abrasive bands used for milder surface conditioning when you dont want full on sanding. Basically like a power scuff pad.