Sandpaper, Pay More to Save More, 3C vs. 3M

[Tom Wesenberg]

The A frame I built for lifting engines about 15 years ago never had a decent paint job, so I've been sanding the old paint and rust to give it a good paint job. A couple months ago I rode to H/F with my neighbor and had to buy something cheap to get my free flashlight. I got a pack of 3C (Cheap China Crap) sandpaper. It only works for a few seconds, then it kind of polishes the rust and paint. It moves the top layer of rust over to the paint and turns the old paint brown.

After wasting a few hours on just one upright, I finally went to Menards and bought a pack of 3M sandpaper. I did in minutes today what hours couldn't do yesterday.
Don't look for cheap when you want good sandpaper, because you'll be wasting your time and money. The same goes for some other tools, such as drill bits and saw blades, tap and die sets, and screwdrivers. When I built the dog house a couple weeks ago, to store my Model A engine, I used square drive screws, and the drivers I had were another 3C product. Even being square drive, after driving 5 screws they were worn out. I went to Menards and bought a name brand square drive and finished the project with one bit.

[tbirdtbird]

gave up on HF (Horrible Fright) long ago.....

[Dennis]

I've had good luck with HF screwdrivers. I buy the individual ones at the bottom of the shelf that have a black handle with either red or blue.Chasing the Snap-on guy to get warranty has gotten to be a wasted effort around here. And at one time it had to have Snap-on stamped in it or I wouldn't even look at it.

[Big hammer]

The trick with tool trucks is too keep a balance, the tool guy or gal, will keep coming back to get paid !

[Johnnymo]

I want to give the world a heads up about H.F. ha I bought a angle die grinder, fired up my compresser adjusted the air pressure to 90 psi. Had a piece of sheet metal just to try it out pulled the trigger Placed the cutting wheel on the metal and it stopped spinning. I ajusted air air pressure to 40 psi. Got it spinning put it up to the metal again and it stopped again! Well that was a waste of $10. In the garbage can it went.

[Mitch]

as usual you get what you pay for...
HF screw rodgers will turn a screw but when you get that stubborn one they will slip right out and screw you up...!!!no pun intended!!
vs a good snap on quality driver...

and Dave i like that slogan lol

[Tom Wesenberg]

Man, that was a lot more work than I thought it was going to be. Two full days to take it apart, sand the paint and rust, and then prime and paint it. At least it's done now, and it looks so much better. Now I can take a picture of it and add it to my homemade tools posts. I call it an A frame, but it's actually an I frame. I'll reassemble it on Sunday and post a picture.

[Patrick]

Yep, there are times when you have to pay for what you get. Good sandpaper is friggin expensive today. I tend to prefer to blast larger stuff though. I'm sure it'll look good when your done with it.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Yep, there are times when you have to pay for what you get. Good sandpaper is friggin expensive today. I tend to prefer to blast larger stuff though. I'm sure it'll look good when your done with it.

As I was finishing the sanding, I thought the same thing, that I should have sandblasted it.
As my luck goes, it rained on the paint last night, so I now have spots that may not come out.

[cpf240]

I have not tried this, but have heard that you can often buy sandpaper from the local body shop, either out of their stock, or through them from their supplier. Supposed to get better sandpaper at a better deal.

[WMWS]

I was at the Sears store the other day to buy some Craftsman tools for my grandson's graduation present. Although the Craftsman name has been sold to Stanley Black and Decker the Craftsman tools still say they are guaranteed for life. I asked the salesman and he said yes they were. I have used Craftsman tools for years. I think they are good tools and reasonably priced. Any that I broke, very few, were replaced at the store no questions asked. As for sand paper I have used what I think is called drywall tape. Not sure about that but it is sort of a mesh that comes in rolls. It is very tough and abrasive. Maybe others know what it is called. I have been using the same piece for so long I don't remember what it's called.

[Mitch]

I was at the Sears store the other day to buy some Craftsman tools for my grandson's graduation present. Although the Craftsman name has been sold to Stanley Black and Decker the Craftsman tools still say they are guaranteed for life. I asked the salesman and he said yes they were. I have used Craftsman tools for years. I think they are good tools and reasonably priced. Any that I broke, very few, were replaced at the store no questions asked. As for sand paper I have used what I think is called drywall tape. Not sure about that but it is sort of a mesh that comes in rolls. It is very tough and abrasive. Maybe others know what it is called. I have been using the same piece for so long I don't remember what it's called.

good luck getting anything replaced in the store.. years ago they stocked just about all of it, but now your lucky to get the same screwdriver back. i think what happens now is you leave the broken tool and the replacement gets shipped to your house..

[Patrick]

I think we used to buy sandpaper by the ton, but, no more. Retirement does things like that to you.

I've heard of using dry wall mesh as sandpaper but have not tried it. Considering the cost, I'll try about anything if I can remember it.

Scotch brite tends to works well for some things.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Luckily the water spots in the paint disappeared after a day. This morning I bolted the parts back together, and what an improvement over how it used to look.
I like the green, but mostly used this color (Satin Leafy Green) so it doesn't stand out so much when it's out in the yard. It's actually a bit lighter green than it looks in this picture.

Three years ago someone stole the top cross bar, and I wasn't able to find another 2" square tube to slide into the upright posts. All I can find is about .020" too big, so I had to bolt some adaptors to the original ones and buy another 2" cross tube to fit the receiver pockets. The boat trailer winch works great for lifting engines and other heavy loads.

[DaWizard]

Well, I must admit that you have achieved that stealth effect with that paint and background, but what does that look like in the winter when all your plants are no longer green and the snow is upon the verge?

[Patrick]

That looks nice

[Mitch]

That looks nice

Agree with Patrick.. nice job

[Tom Wesenberg]

I just learned something about this site. I've mentioned before that I'm not good with computers, so this might be common knowledge to most of you.
I knew that you click on the thumbnail to enlarge it, but I just discovered if I click once more it will get larger, and another click after that and it gets larger yet.

Since I have so little garage space, I think I will make a rain shield/sun shade for the top of this hoist, then park it over my park bench.

[Mitch]

Or you can just put it in large to begin with... your choice

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