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HELP!: What does Harbor Frieght call that switch for multiple speed control?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by banjorear, Jan 15, 2009.

  1. banjorear
    Joined: Jul 30, 2004
    Posts: 4,832

    banjorear
    Member

    Like the ***le states: I've tried numerous search words to find that switch Marbor Frieght sells to give your single speed tool mutiple speed?

    It was talked about in a previous thread and I didn't have any luck finding it that way either.

    Thanks.


    Well- A big thanks to USERNAME for giving my the tip on how to make my own speed control and over the weekend I did just that. For $15.00 and 75% of US-made parts I was able to make my own control.

    Works great and I was able to avoid Harbor Freight.

    Thanks all!
     
    Last edited: Jan 19, 2009
  2. Dakota
    Joined: Jan 21, 2004
    Posts: 1,535

    Dakota
    Member
    from Beulah, ND

    potentiometer?

    Variable speed control?
     
  3. Mazooma1
    Joined: Jun 5, 2007
    Posts: 13,545

    Mazooma1
    Member

  4. Pir8Darryl
    Joined: Jan 9, 2008
    Posts: 2,487

    Pir8Darryl
    Member

    I dont know/care what HF calls it, I call it cheap chinese junk!
     
  5. KJSR
    Joined: Mar 7, 2008
    Posts: 2,497

    KJSR
    Member
    from Utah

    Beat me to it:D
     
  6. Pir8Darryl
    Joined: Jan 9, 2008
    Posts: 2,487

    Pir8Darryl
    Member

    I think now, more than ever, we need to boycot things made in 3rd world countries.

    I'm really sorry to hijack the thread like that, but,,, well, BUY AMERICAN damnit! :mad:
     
  7. Ichoptop
    Joined: Mar 5, 2001
    Posts: 721

    Ichoptop
    Member

    a guy asks a question why can't you just have an answer instead of a smart *** coment. Trying to get your post count up or make up for something else thats lacking?
     
  8. Pir8Darryl
    Joined: Jan 9, 2008
    Posts: 2,487

    Pir8Darryl
    Member

    Because if I didn't make a smart *** comment, how could I call myself a hoodlum :confused:

    And if I wasn't a hoodlum, I'd just be another dumb-*** white boy driving a Volvo.

    I mean seriously, he asked a question about HF on the HAMB, what did you think was going to happen? He may as well have said "Rat Rod".
     
  9. username
    Joined: May 8, 2001
    Posts: 149

    username
    Member

    I made one of these for my floor fan.
    Buy (at HD):

    shortest-cheapest extension cord (usually orange)
    light switch box (blue plastic)
    cheapest dimmer switch (usually round)

    Cut the extension cord in half and install the dimmer switch inline. After that I plugged in my fan and dialed it down. Total cost is less than $10.

    I am not sure if this is what you need, but it worked for me.

    Good luck.

    username
     
  10. And I'll bet you've got a house full of Chinese made ****. Check your shoes. Tools? Shoes? What's the difference?
     
  11. oldandkrusty
    Joined: Oct 8, 2002
    Posts: 2,141

    oldandkrusty
    Member

    Absolutely a very inexpensive yet very effective way to control the speed of your power tools. Can't beat this easy method to build something yourself and avoid HF, if that bothers you s much as it seems to bother others.
     
  12. BrandonB
    Joined: Feb 24, 2006
    Posts: 3,572

    BrandonB
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from nor cal

    I think it's called a variable resistor=dimmer switch.
     
  13. +1. I used a foot pedal from a sewing machine shop. I don't know if that will work on all motors, however.
     
  14. JoesGarage
    Joined: Dec 13, 2008
    Posts: 26

    JoesGarage
    Member
    from Murland

    This will work, but check the wattage on the dimmer compared to what you will control with it. Most are only a few hundred watts which is only a couple of amps. A power tool will pull more than that and burn up the dimmer. But I agree - build it!
     
  15. 29nash
    Joined: Nov 6, 2008
    Posts: 4,542

    29nash
    BANNED
    from colorado

  16. A friend had one for his router, kept burning them up.... 'nuf said.
     
  17. I have used a SCr (Aka Dimmer switch control.) You are better with a cielling fancntri ol but not much. You can go to a farm store and buy a barn fan speed comtrol which is much more HD or you can use a Variac. Varianble transformer which works well. In Fact very very well. i use one on my lathe. Also Busy bee machine has a speed control for woodworking tools which will work well.
    Don
     
  18. banjorear
    Joined: Jul 30, 2004
    Posts: 4,832

    banjorear
    Member

  19. banjorear
    Joined: Jul 30, 2004
    Posts: 4,832

    banjorear
    Member

    Thanks all. I didn't mean to start a **** storm. Just need some way to control the speed of my electric grinder for it spins too fast and is ruining the CHA abrasives/stones.
     
  20. grits
    Joined: Mar 9, 2006
    Posts: 3,180

    grits
    Member

  21. RichG
    Joined: Dec 8, 2008
    Posts: 3,919

    RichG
    Member

    not for long...varying the voltage this way to AC motors is a sure way to let the smoke out, and take it from me, it's really, really hard to get that smoke back in once it gets out.:D
     
  22. 39cent
    Joined: Apr 4, 2006
    Posts: 1,569

    39cent
    Member
    from socal

    you have a VOLVO?
     
  23. 29nash
    Joined: Nov 6, 2008
    Posts: 4,542

    29nash
    BANNED
    from colorado

    That's okay man. Some days when you ask a simple question, you get ...............instead..................

    I have that same problem and have found that I have better luck with an air driven die-grinder, easiner to adjust, but needs a big volume compressor for continued use.
     
  24. K13
    Joined: May 29, 2006
    Posts: 9,741

    K13
    Member

    And it is getting just as old as all the whining everytime some uses the rat rod term.
     
  25. yblock292
    Joined: Oct 10, 2006
    Posts: 2,937

    yblock292
    Member

    would it handle a 1/3 hp motor, i want to put one on my bead roller or a sewing machine foot control would probably be better.
     
  26. propwash
    Joined: Jul 25, 2005
    Posts: 3,857

    propwash
    Member
    from Las Vegas

    Harbor Freight might sell good tools - but if they do, they're kept in a back room I've never been in. I wouldn't use anything that they sell, except to use as a loaner tool for that no-good, lowdown, s*******ing, monoecious, mucopurulent, hermaphroditic brother-in-law of mine. On second thought, he'd probably sue me if it broke.

    dj
     
  27. banjorear
    Joined: Jul 30, 2004
    Posts: 4,832

    banjorear
    Member


    Cool. That is kinda of the problem. My compressor will need to run pretty much non-stop in order to keep up with the job. I was hoping to avoid that for the grinder + compressor + porting a cast iron block= too much noise to handle in a small garage for long periods of time.
     
  28. Von Rigg Fink
    Joined: Jun 11, 2007
    Posts: 13,401

    Von Rigg Fink
    Member
    from Garage

    HELP!: What does Harbor Frieght call that switch for multiple speed control?



    Junk
     
  29. Wrong, they call it a quality tool; I call it junk, and it may just burn up the tool you plug it into.
     

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