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Now in the past I've heard these have some runout issues but not all of them. So have any of you bought one of these and tried it out. Everytime I go in there and see it for $22 I just wonder if it's worth giving it a try. I'd just be using it to do some binding. So what do you all know about them?

I have one, and I know several people who have bought them. I got lucky, mine was surprisingly good. As far as I can tell, about one in five has runout issues. The thing is, you can return anything to HF, no questions asked. If you get a bad one, take it back. They usually have dozens in their inventory. A friend of mine bought a few and just left each one set up with a bit or jig. They are so cheap, it was just easier to have each one set be dedicated to a particular bit. He got unlucky a couple of times, but just swapped them out at the store.

That's my intent to setup my binding machine with them and maybe future bridge making jig. How's the motor and bearings holding up?

Another issue is brush wear. They send spare brushes with them. The sleeve/guide for the brushes are very loose tolerance, this causes the brush not not be very stable at start up and leads to rapid ware. Also check the injection molded plastic base. Most are not true flat. They tend to have a small rise in the center. last but not least they are dificult to fine adjust. When you loosen the colar to make an adjust ment the motor tends to slip about .02" before a single adjustment is made. this is impart due to the design of the adjustment and the loose tolerance of the rack and gear mesh.

I can not recommend them to someone that plans on build more than a few guitars. For $20 bucks they can work as a get by but spend $80-$100 and get 20 times the use and reliablility. I had one do three guitars just fine back when I first stated building, then destroy a top and side set on the fourth. So that $20 cost $300.

Thanks Micheal that's the info I'm looking for. I was looking at the single speed colts for another choice. I don't know if the varible speed soft start colt is worth the extra cost.

I had one of these some time ago on a binding cutter. It spit out the bit in the midst of routing bindings. It was the only time I've ever smashed a tool against a concrete wall.

This lam trimmer is CRAP! Step away from the website and put your credit card on the floor! !

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Soft start can help save you some chip outs down the road. But you can do the same thing with a router speed control for $15-$20.

Back to the inexpensive tool question in general.

If you ask yourself these two questions when buying a tool you will save yourself much grief.

“Do I want to use a $20 power tool on a $600 dollar body?"
"How much can this tool realistically potentially cost me?"

Ever notice you never hear an experienced wood worker ever say skimp on tool quality in order to save money? There is a reason for that. Sooner or later it cost more to do so.

Router speed control for $5 at HF.

I had one drop a bit while I was overhead routing a truss rod channel. It did it gradually, so by the time I noticed, I had a sloped channel that was almost a full 1/4 too deep at the nut end! I was able to use the neck still, but it was a lot thicker than I wanted it to be.

Maybe they're alright in dedicated, bottom routing applications, but I'd rather spend more for a tool that can do more.

I used one for my martin style binding routing station....no problems (except with the user!)

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http://www.PeakeGuitars.com

When was the last time you griped about a tool that worked? Avoid them with a passon. I had them throw a bit . I used to use them on the binding machines but stopped. They are too much of a gamble. I understand economy but sometimes saving a few pennies cost you dollars. Ryobi TR series is economical and alot more reliable. I personally use a Porter Cable 7310. I have 5 or 6 of them and they all work perfectly.
It isn't the cost , its the value
john hall
blues creek guitars

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Thanks for all the reports guys. I'll be going for the Bosch Colt PR10E. I might be trading one of my new PC 310's and $40 for the 3 Colts.

Hey Chris,
I just noticed this PR10E is going for $69.10 w/shipping from Amazon right now.
Let us know how you like it when you get yours, I might spend my leftover B'day money on one for myself so I can get my binding machine working. ( i know that sounds weird, leftover money, but I find myself more and more hanging on to a few dollars here and there these days just for this lutherie addiction I have developed).
Thanks!

Normally I stay out of the fray when it comes to opinions on tools. I purchased one of those laminate timmers... thinking like you that it was sooooo cheap that I could buy 5 and just make jigs and leave them installed.

First one I set it up in was a binding machine... It really ran rough but seemed to cut ok. I cut the binding groove in the guitar and went about my business. It was not until later I observed that the runout was so bad it left little dents all along the side of the guitar where the bearing rode. That tell-tale line is still visible in the curly maple sides just below the binding.

Needless to say... the trimmer hit the can and I bought a Bosch...

I used to use them, and even got some through John at Bluescreek. I thougt heck I can just replace it and if get few guitars out of them a good deal (at the time less than $20.00) I didn't have any problems, for a long time. I just decided that if I were to mess up a body big time or a neck, it would cost more than 5 or 6 of these. I use PC, but going to get a couple of the Bosch Colts as I have heard good things about them. I just try and get one often, and then dedicate it to a certain things. I am now on a big router kick and bits for those on a dedicated purpose, as I am now trying to move into some electrics and commissions I got on 4 of those and an acoustic for a major group. What I found different as they a grammy winners or nominees Never heard of them before manager called me, they actually want to pay for them. I am doing a huge discount though. I am keeping name low key for now for various reasons, as they wish and I don't have a website so nothing to post as far as players anyway.

I got a laminate trimmer for about 40 dollars and while I can't say it's as good as a PC it was pretty decent, no runout or loose bit issue. I had more issue regarding loose bit (especially with 1/2" to 1/4" adapter collet) with my big router which I don't even use much of it just because it's too big for guitar use (I got it for cabinetry work). In fact I use the laminate trimmer a lot more than the big router... it can do anything on a guitar provided I take light cut (I always take light cut as a precaution anyways regardless of router strength) I could use the big router for truss rods and etc but I decided that the laminate trimmer is much easier on the hands. One of these days I will probably dedicate the big router for table use...

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

Tai,

I am not sure if you picked up on it or not but the jest of the topic was in direct reference to Harbor Freights $20 laminate trimmer specifically produced by Chicago Pneumatics not in reference to laminate trimmers in general. Laminate trimmers as a class of tool are great tools for many tasks.

You mentioned the one you bought cost $40 but you did not mention the manufacture.

I have to say some have had decent luck with the HF Chicago Pneumatic trimmer but far many more have had issue as described. To a lesser degree the same thing can be said about most inexpensive tools. The odds are the issue will bite you sooner or later.

You have to consider how the product is produced inexpensively enough to retail at $20. It all leads back to what makes a good tool. Engineering, quality components assembled to proper tolerances and a labor force concerned in the quality of the product produced. To be major time inexpensive some or more often all of the above mentioned attributes are discounted.