[whizco]

Yep it's true! Swmbo and I went over today to pick up a few things for the garden, and I decided to check out the tool area as I recalled a fellow VMFer making reference to buying a spot-weld remover or bit at Home Depot. I need one, so I asked the lady that was working in tools, and after explaining what it is, and what it does, she looked at me as if I was speaking in a foreign language. I asked if anyone else was there that might be able to help me, and she became offended as if I was saying she didn't know what the %#@# she was doing! I finally went over and asked a couple of distributors from Bosch who were stocking shelves, and they didn't know what I was talking about either, Hmmm? Then the sales lady comes back over and asked who said I could get this tool here, and I mentioned some friends whom have already done so (which was mentioned in another post, and Home Depot was given as a source), and she proceeds to tell me, and I quote, "Your friends are LIARS!" end quote. /forums/images/icons/shocked.gif I kind of got riled up, and said, excuse me! and the whole Isle got quite, including the distributors who were right there. She tried to talk her way out of it, but she kept digging herself a deeper hole. I finally told her to leave, I didn't need her assistance. I looked around for the manager, but he was busy taking care of another problem, so she got away with this one. /forums/images/icons/mad.gif

Anyway, I think LOWES will be getting most of my business from now on!

On another note, What the heck AM I looking for? Since I have not used or seen one before, I had no way to explain to her or the distributors of exactly what a spot weld remover or bit is, or what it looks like, except it's a bit? I would like to buy one locally, as I would like to tackle the spot welds that need taken out by the weekend. Any suggestion on where I can pick one up tomorrow, and what I am actually looking for? this would be a big help.

BTW, sorry for the rant, but I can't stand people who think they know me or my friends after speaking with me for 2 minutes, and feel they can blame their lack of knowledge off on someone they don't even know.

 

[kdrop]

just take a trip down to your local N.A.P.A. store and ask
for a Balkamp # 770-3841 for the spotweld cutter and if you need replacement blades the # is 770-3842. Remember also the key to making the blades last is drill "SLOW". Also make sure to get some good 1/8" bits to drill the pilot holes.

 

[whizco]

Thanks,

I will do that tomorrow! Just hope they have them in stock. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[autoxsteve]

Ceveat Emptor!!!!

All I have to say is....
That sales clerk was awefully lucky that Goddess wan't with you....../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[Billgear]

They have them at Eastwood item number# 19068

http://www.eastwoodcompany.com/

 

[whizco]

thanks Bill,

That gave a good picture of what it looks like! Wish I would have seen that before I went to Home Depot. To bad I don't have an Eastwoods in my neck of the woods, unfortunately not enough time to order one since I need it asap.

I know..... Procrastination will get you everytime! /forums/images/icons/crazy.gif

 

[RTM]

When you know what your looking for go back to the stroe and see if they have it. Make sure the lady is there to see what you are buying.

 

[Damageln]

Home Depot is a bad bad place...

I was shopping there with my father and we grabbed a cart which was sitting empty in an isle. So we took it and some guy came running from the next isle over yelling at us about a stupid cart... Anyway my Dad gave it back to him and said something to the fact about "Its just a cart" and as we turned around he assaulted my father, so he defended himself. And after management got involved and the whole 9 yards. HomeDepot proceeded to place blame on my Dad. NOW WTF IS THAT!?

As Whizco said Lowes gets all of our business!

PRAISE LOWES!

 

[mtbon]

Wow, even if you are wrong about what you were talking about (not that you were), there is no excuse to be treated like that. Unfortunately, these big stores don't care if you take your business elsewhere. I had a similar experience at Target. They just don't care.

 

[redden68]

The sad thing is that Home Depot and Lowe's are squeezing the little hardware stores out of business. You know the place where you can walk in with a part from a 30 year old gas range and they reach beneath the counter to hand you a new part. HD and Lowe's try to sell you a new range.

 

[67Wedge]

I like Home Depot. But they would definitely not know what a spot weld cutter is nor would they stock one. About 90% of the staff there is not very knowledgable about what they are doing, that's how they keep the prices down. I go there because I know what they offer and I like their prices. End of story.

 

[68CVert]

It was also suggested to me to use Black & Decker Bullet bits. They look about the same as the spot weld bit, same type of flat area. However after looking closer at them (3/8 and 1/2 size), the "point" looked too big and too long, as though it would go right through the back metal. This might not be a problem, and they're good bits for other work. Much cheaper too. These can be purchased at HD in sets for less than a spot weld bit.

My problem with the spot weld cutters (more like a hole saw) is that you have to grind the "hole" left behind afterwards. Just my thoughts. BTW, I bought the 3/8 and 1/2 from Eastwoods. Will hopefully start using them this weekend.

Gregg

 

[dlindem]

The Home Depot in our neck of the woods (Dearborn MI) sucks too. The "hired help" are mostly a bunch of slack jawed yokels with NO useful help or advise to offer, trained monkeys is about all that they are. I have started doing business with a hardware store that is not a national chain, in fact they have only one store, and they value the people that come it to buy. The prices are somewhat high, but you know sometimes money isn't everything (unless you have none). I only buy from the Depot when I know exactly what I want to purchase and I don't have to talk to those A##h&73 sales people.

The funny thing to me is that with all of the companies going out of business, you'd think the jerks would at least want to treat anyone there to buy as an asset, maybe they want to go the way of Home Quarters and Builders Square.

 

[Guest]

I've noticed the quality of help at Home Depot has gone down too. They advertise that they have experts working there but it seems to me that the experts are only around when a store is new to build up the customer base and then disappear only to be replaced by the not-so-hot to downright awful types.

 

[Ponderosamustang]

Hello,
Go get a black and decker or another brand of the ''bullit bit''in 5/8 size.This comes with a pilot bit built into the bit.As you go into your top layer of metal you will notice a change of color from the old rusted to new shiney metal.When you get to the shiney shavings start slowing down so you wont go thru the second piece of metal and wipe out your spot weld base.You will notice when you get to dull metal after the shiney metal that this is where you want to stop and run a chisel or screw driver to seperate the 2 halves.The bullit bits are alot better and very common to buy.The spotweld cutter is hard to get your hands on if you are in a pinch. Matt

 

[Guest]

Take a look at what the stock price has done over the past few months at Home Depot.....tanked. I generally don't ask for help in any of these stores since it is usually a waste of time and I like wandering around checking stuff out. I do ask for help when I want to get an item marked down. Recently I bought a $599 discontinued all stainless steel grill at Home Depot at a very good price. I told the manager I would give him $250 for it and he took my offer.

 

[nightmist]

Whiz, track down the Snap-On guy and buy theirs. It will last forever, does not walk out of the weld when drilling, and doesn't require centerpunching. Eastwoods cutter is a piece of junk! It gets dull quickly, wears out after a few sharpenings, and spins out of the weld cutting gouges in the outlying sheetmetal. I've used both cutters and there is NO comparison.

 

[dickson]

I don't think Home Depot sucks - it is what it is - a warehouse / discount store.

If you want kind, intelligent, knowledgeable help - go to a neighborhood hardward store or specialty shop. I know I do.......But for saving on bulk/commodity items like lumber, basic tools, etc where I need no help I go to Home Depot.

I'd still report that person to the manager.... Dickson

 

[wayne50f1]

Sounds like our WalMart store here
pay minimum wages keep the hours so they cant qualify for enuff hours to be eligible for health insurance, and see who will work for you. Why should the employee give a . Would you care if you worked there ,and why?
At the same time they drive out the small business men who try to pay a decent wage and benefits to thier people. Gee i wonder why the big boys have such good prices?
dont get me started.......
Oh, and they bring in so many jobs to the community?
yep, 3 low paying jobs for every 2 good paying jobs that are lost..............but, we get low prices?
How many of us here can support our family working at HomeDepo or WalMart ?
I SAID DONT GET ME STARTED AGAIN.....

 

[my69mach]

As a FYI I've used the Eastwood spot weld cutters and regular drill bits but now I'm buying them from NAPA or NPD. The NPD ones are $7.95 and have a 2 headed reversible cutter unlike the eastwood type. Twice the cutting and less money.
I would check out the 5/8" bullit one and make a comparison. Could be another good source.

I just called Napa and the cutters are 11.29 and a box of 10 replacement cutters are 21.29. A great price for replacement blades.