What is up with Performax?

[Matt Meiser]

Last night I saw a bunch of "Performax" tools at Menards. For example a mini lathe with motor about the size of a coffee mug and many plastic parts, a OSS that looks just like the one at Harbor Freight, a small (make that tiny) belt/disc sander, and a 12-1/2" planer. None of these appeared to be close to quality tools. Then today I tried to look them up and can't find any Performax stuff on WMH Group's web site other than some accessories.

[Kent Fitzgerald]

Performax is still there, although they're not mentioned on the front page:
http://www.wmhtoolgroup.com/Shop/index.cfm?navPage=5&CID=245

[Jim Becker]

WMH is apparently starting to leverage that brand name for a line of low-end tools for the big-box market. Someone posted an inquiry a few weeks ago about one such tool. For some reason, when you go to the "normal" pages for the brand name, this line doesn't come up...which I find interesting in itself. The link that Ken posted is for the sanders that we all know and love...I don't have a record for the other link. You may be able to find it doing a search here at SMC...I'm on the run and can't do it right now.

[Kyle Kraft]

Yes Jim, I think Menards is trying to augment their premium "Tool Shop" line of equipment.

[Tyler Howell]

Yes Jim, I think Menards is trying to augment their premium "Tool Shop" line of equipment.


ROFLOL:D :D

[Matt Meiser]

low-end tools for the big-box market

Based on the lathe they had on display, you are being very generous. :rolleyes:

[Todd Solomon]

Performax has also gotten out of the higher end sander market. They've sold the design and manufacturing rights to "Supermax." Supermax now carries the 25" drum sanders, and larger. Supermax also sells wide-belt sanders, FYI.

http://www.supermaxtools.com/

Todd

[Jim Becker]

Performax has also gotten out of the higher end sander market. They've sold the design and manufacturing rights to "Supermax." Supermax now carries the 25" drum sanders, and larger. Supermax also sells wide-belt sanders, FYI.

http://www.supermaxtools.com/

Todd

I think that the "getting out" happened a few years ago and the SuperMax group got started back up within the past year.

[Matt Meiser]

Here's (http://www.performaxpowertools.com/detail.cfm?id=90233) the lathe I saw. Everything that is red in the picture is plastic. Also notice the 2.3A motor. I returned a bigger drill because it was too weak. :mad:

It looks like this line is to compete with the low end Craftsman and Delta stuff. Also, if you click the "find a retailer" button, it goes straight to Menards, so I would say this is a Menards-only deal.

[Tyler Howell]

"You save big money when you shop Menards"

[Wilbur Pan]

Here's (http://www.performaxpowertools.com/detail.cfm?id=90233) the lathe I saw. Everything that is red in the picture is plastic. Also notice the 2.3A motor.
Plastic aside, 750 RPM for low end speed? Geez.

[Shannon Seelig]

I too was also looking at the performax tools at menards in the Appleton Green Bay WI area and they had a deal on their planer. I did some checking and asked on here as well. If you want some additional info, check out www.performaxpowertools.com. I think that will give you some idea. I looked at the planer a little closer after it was advertised in the flyer and it is made in China and has no similar qualities from the "good" performax tools. Just a little FYI for you all.
Thanks,
Shannon

[Matt Meiser]

"You save big money when you shop Menards"

Or as my daughter says "Spend big money at Menards" :D

[Bob Willing]

I recently purchased a Performax Oscillating Spindle Sander at Menards and what a bargain for $84.00 on sale. What a great machine. It has a cast iron table, five different spindles, and sanding media as well. Very easy to setup and sands like a champ. I was curious as to the quality of this product so I did a search on line and it landed me in Sawmill Creek. I just wanted to let people know what a great product this sander is and how great it performs. I sanded some various types of wood(oak maple, pine and ash) and better than expected. You can also purchase alternate grades of sand paper from Menards.

:)

[Paul Canaris]

How long have you owned the unit, and how much usage has it gotten? It's more the longevity of an item like this that would concern me. I ask because I owned a Ryobi Oscillating Spindle Sander that developed issue's sooner than I would have hoped for.

[Matt Meiser]

The links to Performax Power Tools that were posted back in February no longer work. And WMH has rebanded the drum sanders that used to be Performax to Jet. There is nothing about Performax on the WMH site anymore other than one empty accessories category. Somewhere I read speculation that WMH doesn't even own the name anymore. I'm wondering if the Performax line seen at Menards is already dead?

[John Scherzinger]

As I understand it(I'm in the industry), WMH decided a couple years ago to do some "brand re-assignments". Looks like to they wanted consumers to see the Performax sanders for what they really are, and have been for quite some time- JET. That left the brand Performax unused, so I imagine their marketing dept decided it would go well on their low-end bench-top tools which formerly carried the Wilton brand. As for Supermax Tools, they're the same guys that started Performax then sold to WMH. They're now back in the game with high-end drum sanders. *this is not represented as gospel, just what I see from my perspective*

[David Weaver]

Here's (http://www.performaxpowertools.com/detail.cfm?id=90233) the lathe I saw. Everything that is red in the picture is plastic. Also notice the 2.3A motor. I returned a bigger drill because it was too weak. :mad:

It looks like this line is to compete with the low end Craftsman and Delta stuff. Also, if you click the "find a retailer" button, it goes straight to Menards, so I would say this is a Menards-only deal.

That lathe is all over the place with different brand names on it. Last I could tell, I saw one at Harbor Freight, who is notorious for making machines that you could only reason have serious power issues because they didn't want to spend the money to put more copper in the motor or something. There are boatloads of them on ebay, too - absolute pieces of crap. First I have heard of the performax name being on anything like that, though - we don't have menards around here (in pittsburgh).

I was at rockler a couple of weeks ago after seeing that HF wanted $160 for that thing, and fortunately, Rockler was selling the delta midi lathe for $199, which I think is about 6 amps. I wouldn't want any less power. I couldn't really bear to spend much more because the only thing I want it for is making chisel handles, but I wouldn't want to put a chunk of lignum in the lathe down the road to make a mallet head and have to take whisper thin shavings. HF calls 2.3 amps 1/3rd horsepower :eek:

It's a shame they sell tools like that for people to get and almost guarantee failure with, unless they're only going to turn pens.

[michael tosel]

I have a performax router and table combo and the router plunge lever wont lock the router. When I feed a board thru the router slowly slips down causing the bit to go below the surface of the table. ANyone know how to adjust the lever so it grabs tighter.

[Bob Willing]

I have been using this oscillating sander since Sept 2007. I use it on a production basis to make gun racks and It still performs GREAT. It is now more expensive than when I bought it back then. I would not trade it for any of the other available sanders.:)