So, I want to learn to lead. Thought I'd buy a lead kit to start out with so I know I have all I need. Now I don't mean to turn this into a rant here, but....... I order a kit from TP Tools and a week later they call me and say that they are out of stock...so they give me a refund and I drive out to Eastwood and buy their kit. I predrilled the holes for the screws to put the file together and one of the screws broke in two and the other side cracked the wood. Now the file holder is useless. I also bought a new "flexible" file for my old Heller Brothers adj. file. Well........apparently its not really all that "flexible" because it broke in 3 pieces. To Eastwood's credit, they are sending me out a new file to replace the broken one, but I am left wondering.... Has anyone else bought these kits and had similar problems? Do they just not make stuff like they use to and pretty much all the kits are the same?
I hear ya! It seems everything these days is disposable junk, and we're just supposed to keep buying it.
Yeah, I've been having alot of problems with trying to get good quality tools that my last their moneys worth. Doesn't say where its made. The wooden file holder just says eastwood on it. It's definitely made of maple, so I am surprised it is such poor quality. I even pre drilled the holes before putting the screws in. When I called they said that they get a couple of files a year that break because they are "over hardened and end up being brittle". Makes you wonder though where they are getting this stuff from. I took a look at the eastwood brand adj. file holder while I was there..definitely NOT made as well as my vintage one. This is really the only time I've had problems with their products though, but I wonder if TP sells the same thing...
Hey, The issue with the maple file holder cracking sounds like your pilot hole was too small to begin with. The consept of an adjustable file holder has always seemed like a bad idea to me! Enough flex in a file to create an arch is a bad idea for any file, old one or new! I've always liked the wooden handle with a penny wedged between the file & the handle to create alittle bow in the blade, but NEVER more of a bow than the thickness of a penny. I answered a post about Vixen files, here on the HAMB awhyle back, and someone who use to work for Nicklson said the files were now made in South America or some other sources. " Humpty Dumpty was pushed "
i had the same bull **** with my files screws broke. I thyrew the **** out. One of my customers dad died who used to be a body man so i have some files that are the real deal!!!