Jim Koepke
03-12-2016, 3:20 AM
This is a rambling story about a day of rambling around.
After making a few hat/coat racks my thoughts have turned toward making heavier pegs. Instead of 3/8" a 1/2" end on the peg might be easier to make. For this a new brad point drill bit was wanted. I did acquire 3 brad point bits many years ago and have used them a lot. One of their features is starting spurs similar to those on an auger bit. These score the wood for a clean entry into the wood. This also works well when boring on an angle. Of course this could be done with a brace and auger, but for something I want to do in more of a production mode using the drill press is faster once it is set up.
My first stop was at the local ACE Hardware. Most of the premium bits were from DeWalt. They didn't have brad point bits. They did have pilot point bits but not what I wanted.
I really didn't want to go to Home Depot since they were further across town. However I was determined. Once on a quest it feels like defeat if one ends up coming home empty handed. All the bits at Home Depot were also by DeWalt, but they did have 'brad point' bits. Looking closer it was clear they didn't have the spurs I wanted. They had a lot of different types of bits, but none to suit my purpose.
Finally went into Lowes and surprise of all surprises, they also carry DeWalt and don't have the bits I wanted. So I started thinking about what other reasons are there to warrant a trip to Portland, OR.
We keep lists for our shopping at times so when we are taking a trip to Costco, we also consider what other things we may need near the Costco stores we shop. There are a few in the Portland metropolitan area. One is in Vancouver, WA which is near a Home Depot and a Building Supply with good prices on lumber. There is also one out near Astoria, OR on the coast. Astoria and the surrounding area have many other shopping attractions we enjoy.
There were a few other local places to try, mostly industrial supply houses. The bits they carry are mostly for metal working.
Then I remembered some of the trips Candy, SWMBO, and I have taken on the other side of the river. We always like to look in the shops in some of the towns we drive through. One town is right across the river from Longview. There is even a bridge across the river with access in Longview. It may not seem like much until you consider the next nearest crossing is about 40 miles either way.
Right across the river is Rainier, OR. Some people say what sounds like rain-ear. Others pronounce it sounding of what most likely gave it its name, rainy-er. There is an old hardware store that Candy and I had visited and I recalled being impressed with the stock on hand. Since we needed to go into town anyway and crossing the river is a quick side trip it seemed worth a try.
Besides there is a nice cafe and a garden supply shop we like all within a block of each other. We got about half way toward town when Candy mentioned that she wished we remembered to bring the camera to take pictures of the sea lions on the docks. I mentioned I thought that was in Astoria. She said it was all along the river. Sure enough, when we get into Rainier we can hear the seals barking. I guess as long as the salmon are in the river the seals will follow. We took a short walk along the river to see them. It was a sight to see all those seals out on the dock barking up a storm.
So we go in and sure enough, there are a bunch of DeWalt bit packages. Then I notice a few Irwin bits. Sure enough they have the 1/2" brad point bit I wanted. There was also a tool box Candy wanted. I told her she could get it if it would move some of her tools out of a roll around shop tool box in which she uses two drawers. The box was marked $31.99 with a yellow stick on tags over the original. I asked Candy if she thought I might get a break for this one being shop worn. She looked at me like I was nuts and said, "that ain't shop worn."
We finished looking around and took the tool box, the brad point bit and a Robertson drive hex bit up to the counter. I asked the guy if he had any lee way on this ugly toolbox my wife likes, any coupons or anything. He looks through his binder and fiddles with some pages and then says, "how about $19.99?" Fine by me.
So, it seems some places can bargain or they keep copies of the sales they can work with or whatever it takes.
But if you don't ask, you are not as likely to get. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Besides, now Candy has herself a toolbox she picked out for herself.
333600
Did I mention it is a bit strange for my tastes? Oh, and the total came to less than the original price of the tool box by itself.
jtk
After making a few hat/coat racks my thoughts have turned toward making heavier pegs. Instead of 3/8" a 1/2" end on the peg might be easier to make. For this a new brad point drill bit was wanted. I did acquire 3 brad point bits many years ago and have used them a lot. One of their features is starting spurs similar to those on an auger bit. These score the wood for a clean entry into the wood. This also works well when boring on an angle. Of course this could be done with a brace and auger, but for something I want to do in more of a production mode using the drill press is faster once it is set up.
My first stop was at the local ACE Hardware. Most of the premium bits were from DeWalt. They didn't have brad point bits. They did have pilot point bits but not what I wanted.
I really didn't want to go to Home Depot since they were further across town. However I was determined. Once on a quest it feels like defeat if one ends up coming home empty handed. All the bits at Home Depot were also by DeWalt, but they did have 'brad point' bits. Looking closer it was clear they didn't have the spurs I wanted. They had a lot of different types of bits, but none to suit my purpose.
Finally went into Lowes and surprise of all surprises, they also carry DeWalt and don't have the bits I wanted. So I started thinking about what other reasons are there to warrant a trip to Portland, OR.
We keep lists for our shopping at times so when we are taking a trip to Costco, we also consider what other things we may need near the Costco stores we shop. There are a few in the Portland metropolitan area. One is in Vancouver, WA which is near a Home Depot and a Building Supply with good prices on lumber. There is also one out near Astoria, OR on the coast. Astoria and the surrounding area have many other shopping attractions we enjoy.
There were a few other local places to try, mostly industrial supply houses. The bits they carry are mostly for metal working.
Then I remembered some of the trips Candy, SWMBO, and I have taken on the other side of the river. We always like to look in the shops in some of the towns we drive through. One town is right across the river from Longview. There is even a bridge across the river with access in Longview. It may not seem like much until you consider the next nearest crossing is about 40 miles either way.
Right across the river is Rainier, OR. Some people say what sounds like rain-ear. Others pronounce it sounding of what most likely gave it its name, rainy-er. There is an old hardware store that Candy and I had visited and I recalled being impressed with the stock on hand. Since we needed to go into town anyway and crossing the river is a quick side trip it seemed worth a try.
Besides there is a nice cafe and a garden supply shop we like all within a block of each other. We got about half way toward town when Candy mentioned that she wished we remembered to bring the camera to take pictures of the sea lions on the docks. I mentioned I thought that was in Astoria. She said it was all along the river. Sure enough, when we get into Rainier we can hear the seals barking. I guess as long as the salmon are in the river the seals will follow. We took a short walk along the river to see them. It was a sight to see all those seals out on the dock barking up a storm.
So we go in and sure enough, there are a bunch of DeWalt bit packages. Then I notice a few Irwin bits. Sure enough they have the 1/2" brad point bit I wanted. There was also a tool box Candy wanted. I told her she could get it if it would move some of her tools out of a roll around shop tool box in which she uses two drawers. The box was marked $31.99 with a yellow stick on tags over the original. I asked Candy if she thought I might get a break for this one being shop worn. She looked at me like I was nuts and said, "that ain't shop worn."
We finished looking around and took the tool box, the brad point bit and a Robertson drive hex bit up to the counter. I asked the guy if he had any lee way on this ugly toolbox my wife likes, any coupons or anything. He looks through his binder and fiddles with some pages and then says, "how about $19.99?" Fine by me.
So, it seems some places can bargain or they keep copies of the sales they can work with or whatever it takes.
But if you don't ask, you are not as likely to get. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Besides, now Candy has herself a toolbox she picked out for herself.
333600
Did I mention it is a bit strange for my tastes? Oh, and the total came to less than the original price of the tool box by itself.
jtk