Cheap air tools

mel hubbard · Post by **mel hubbard** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 12:14 am

Has anyone used, Valley tools?? Based in Paramount Ca. A guy in our local market (UK) is selling pueumatic 3" cut-off tools and 1/4" air die grinders made by Valley tools USA for ?10 each, brand new

Are these tools any good??

why so cheap.

jr_vw2 · Post by **jr_vw2** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 12:26 am

I am in the automotive industry and I have never heard of them. I live for tools, and I am a firm believer in "you get what you pay for" if they are that cheap there is a reason. just my :2cents:

Gene-C · Post by **Gene-C** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 12:57 am

Hey Mel, I haven't heard of that particular brand. However, I think cheap die grinders and cut off tools are ok. Sure they won't have quite the torque of the expensive ones but you really don't need it for that unless you are doing production work. If you are talking about impact wrenches or air ratchets there is a big difference. :2cents:

mel hubbard · Post by **mel hubbard** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 12:58 am

[QUOTE="jr_vw2"]I am in the automotive industry and I have never heard of them. I live for tools, and I am a firm believer in "you get what you pay for" if they are that cheap there is a reason. just my :2cents:[/QUOTE] Thats my way of thinking,,,, But they sure look good. Example UK cut off tool, that looks the same,,,, OVER ?250 . Snides maybe? even so, who is working for nothing? Maybe they came to UK via China

mel hubbard · Post by **mel hubbard** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 1:09 am

[QUOTE="Yellermanx"]Hey Mel, I haven't heard of that particular brand. However, I think cheap die grinders and cut off tools are ok. Sure they won't have quite the torque of the expensive ones but you really don't need it for that unless you are doing production work. If you are talking about impact wrenches or air ratchets there is a big difference. :2cents:[/QUOTE] Hi Chuck, I use tools like these for fiberglass work,,,,,, that stuff is hard on tools,,,,, but its unusual to see USA tools So cheap in UK.

Gene-C · Post by **Gene-C** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 1:45 am

I've had an elcheapo die grinder for years. The bearing is a little rough now, but it still works, probably nothing to do with the water I have run through it.

I think they would be ideal for fiberglass because of the dust. When it goes bad throw it away and get another one. You can brobably buy 10 for the price of one quality one. Buy a couple and have them around the shop. :2cents:

167luckycharm · Post by **167luckycharm** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 3:11 am

There's a place called Usa, Japan. Marketing ploy perhaps? It's pronounced "you-sa". Difference between there and "made in the U.S.A. is that Usa does not separate the 3 letters with periods. And I'm not making this up!

Reverb · Post by **Reverb** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 5:16 am

[QUOTE="167luckycharm"]There's a place called Usa, Japan. Marketing ploy perhaps? It's pronounced "you-sa". Difference between there and "made in the U.S.A. is that Usa does not separate the 3 letters with periods. And I'm not making this up![/QUOTE] Yeah...I heard about that years ago...but, he did say they were made in Paramount, CA.

5150bossman · Post by **5150bossman** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 6:07 pm

I agree with Yeller. I have a Harbor Freight tools a couple of blocks from me. They sell the Chicago brand of power tools which are extremely inexpensive. For the occassional work I do (buggy, etc.), and the amount I use each tool, it does not pay for me to purchase a high end tool. If you break the cheap tool right away, then take it back as defective. If it lasts a while, just get another one. It took me three + years to trash my cheap 3/8" drill that I got for $17.00. Just picked up a replacement 1/2" drill with hammer function for $25.00. At this rate, I'd be dead before the costs equalled out. If you use the tool on a daily basis, or for professional (read - being paid for a job) type work, then go for the professional grade tool. Otherwise, save your money. :drinking: :2cents:

mel hubbard · Post by **mel hubbard** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 7:11 pm

[QUOTE="167luckycharm"]There's a place called Usa, Japan. Marketing ploy perhaps? It's pronounced "you-sa". Difference between there and "made in the U.S.A. is that Usa does not separate the 3 letters with periods. And I'm not making this up![/QUOTE] No,,, on the tools it says Valley Ind Corp, Paramount, Ca 90723, USA,, I went back to the market today and bought one of each,,, not a bad gamble for ?20,,, bought some 3" cutting discs too of the same guy for 60p each,,,,Just under $1 each,, On the discs it says,, Davidson,, 2003 Valley industries corp, Paramount, Ca 90723 USA. Will try em out soon, :rock: Surely someones heard of em

shaihulud · Post by **shaihulud** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 10:05 pm

Here in Oz there is a cheap brand of power tools called GM. They are OK. I have a 9 inch grinder which is getting a bit rattly after not a huge amount of work. In the mining industry they buy them by the pallet load and use them as throw away tools on the sites. It's cheaper than buying very good tools and maintaining them. That said, I still avoid cheap tools. They always let you down.

Reverb · Post by **Reverb** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 2:49 am

In some cases, companies might have seconds, or blems...perhaps a flaw in the casing and such. They don`t want to put their name on imperfect items, and so they sell them in bulk to a wholesaler. Or, defective items which are returned, are sometimes reconditioned and sold the same way. I don`t know if thats the case here, but it`s certainly possible. Could be an Ingersoll Rand, but the label would say John Doe Tools or something.

Gene-C · Post by **Gene-C** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 3:19 am

[QUOTE="shaihulud"]Here in Oz there is a cheap brand of power tools called GM.[/QUOTE] Here in the US we have a cheap brand of cars by that same name. :laugh1: Huh, Flaboyjim? Just kidding, but I had to. OK everybody let me have it.

mel hubbard · Post by **mel hubbard** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 10:55 pm

[QUOTE="Yellermanx"]Here in the US we have a cheap brand of cars by that same name. :laugh1: Huh, Flaboyjim? Just kidding, but I had to. OK everybody let me have it.

[/QUOTE] Yeh,, we had the Delorian

But all i ever wanted was a 73 S/D 455 Trans Am

flaboyjim · Post by **flaboyjim** » Thu Dec 22, 2005 2:42 am

There is a difference in cheap and inexpensive! Some of Harbor Freight's stuff is just cheap #%$#, but if you pick your poison, an inexpensive, semi durable tool can be had. GM - thats another matter. I have found that GMC is stronger than Deere - but that is not JOHN DEERE. But both of the above are EXPENSIVE to repair. O by the way, my stores now carry the Blitz Black in spray cans...