The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Online parts and tools- - - -buyer beware!

Be cautious about falling for popup ads on places like Facebook, and other platforms that cater to the bots who spy on your "social media" searches. A little over two months ago, I fell for a slick video ad on Facebook for a set of spring loaded cable assists for raising and lowering trailer ramps. Since I extended the drive-on ramps on one of my trailers, I've needed a second person to assist me in raising the ramps after loading up a vehicle. An online seller called "Full Parts and Tools" seemed to have just what I needed, so I ordered a set. 6 weeks later- - - -no delivery! I finally found a "customer service" contact, and started rattling cages- - - - -got a bunch of mealy-mouthed excuses. I began a campaign of comments on every ad I could find from the company, accusing them of being scammers, and they would delete each comment within a few hours. "Customer Service" finally blamed one of their vendors, "Car Home Depot" for botching up the order. Two days ago, fully two months after I ordered and paid for the merchandise, it finally arrived. I haven't opened the package to see if it's actually what I ordered (or if it will work "as advertised"), but "Buyer Beware"- - - - -if you happen to see an ad from either company and get tempted to do any business with them!
Jerry

Say, Jerry, what do you think of the metal shears that attach to a drill motor that I am seeing ads on youtube?
I suspect that there is an old, quality version of this tool and that the ads are targeting people like me who are
impressed by the demo video, but that the tool might be pretty shoddy quality.
Looks like a great tool, though!
https://www.peachloft.com/products/electric-drill-metal-shears-cutter-nibbler

It's probably OK for something about the thickness of metal siding or tin roof panels, but don't try it on body metal. Back when I ran a high school body shop we had a drill motor with a scissors-type shear clamped to the front that did a pretty good job on bodywork if the cut was straight or slightly curved, but it was much sturdier-looking than the one in that ad. Getting it manufactured, shipped from China or some other offshore factory, and selling it for less than $25.00 ought to give us a clue about its quality!
Jerry

Beware. I fell for metal shears, they looked like they cut great, they were cutting circles in the steel panels like they were paper. Well they cut circles because you couldn't cut a straight line if your life depended on it. Yep they got me.

If you need a drill mounted shear, the only brand that is worth looking at is Malco.

I also fell for those drill attachment sheers that punch out little crescent moons.It had no problem with 18 gauge sheet metal but I couldn’t follow a line, straight or curved to save my life. Luckily I bought it on Amazon so I could return it.

I have used one of the sheet metal nibbler drill attachments that Phil described with good results. Following a line was a little challenging, but doable if careful. It's double ended, and I haven't even used the second end.

My only complaint with the Nibblers that cut the little crescent moon pieces is that those little sharp pieces go everywhere and are a pain to clean up, to the point I stopped using it. I use electric shears that cut a 1/4" wide piece that rolls itself up as you cut, a cut-off wheel, a Sawzall or hand snips.

Mike B

Yeah, when I used the nibbler, I was always picking the sharp crescents out of my shoes.

I was searching for a narrow belt profile sander. Messages with AI photos were sent to Messenger through Marketplace. A vendor had a slick attachment for converting my chainsaw to a 3/4” profile belt sander.

He wanted 600.00 and change and had an introductory offer for yet another attachment- a grinder attachment on sale for 150.00.

Gheesh. Just what I want, a pull cord exhaust and oil spitting sander on fresh sheet metal - indoors. No worries though - just disassemble and then assemble the grinder attachment to clean up the metal….after I recover from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Ha! 😄

Heard a guy got an amazing deal on a hand held drill
Vendor sent him a picture of drill.

I have picked up a few non-elec/moving parts items from Temu. Prices are good, products were decent

I bought my inflatable paint booth from Vevor. Took about 3 weeks from China, and it’s held up so far. About half the cost. Other than occasional tools from Harbor, it’s the only direct purchase from overseas…but most everything is made/assembled over there.