Same story here; there are some diamonds in the rough. Items I have experience with:
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Large spring clamps are as good as any and half the cost of most
(the 2" spring clamps I get at HD for a buck).
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hand screws are as good as most and go on sale dirt-cheap several times a year.
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f-clamps often have poor faces and many are unusable in a WWing shop but, choose carefully and they aren't
that bad.
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angle clamps have worked fine for me.
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acid brushes are fine as disposable glue applicators.
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bench brushes are better than ones I've paid much more for and often go on sale for a buck or so.
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small brush sets are great for cutter cleaning and go on sale dirt cheap.
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parts bins have worked out surprisingly well and go on sale for about $6 a set.
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heat gun goes on sale for $10 now and again and refuses to die.
- thier hard rubber 1/4 sheet sanding blocks work better than more expensive ones I've tried and go on sale for about a buck.
- their
disposable gloves are worthless to me, they tear too easily to really amount to any savings over Costco's better quality gloves.
I avoid most of their measuring devices as none have proved reliable except
these which I use in places I don't want my good ones lying around (go on sale for under a buck all the time).
I avoid most of their motorized tools although their cheap-o sawzall and right angle drill I bought to get me through one job have yet to die. They run rough and jerk around like they are going to explode any moment but they keep on running. I figure I have gotten so much more use out of them than I paid for that when they finally die I will feel a grudging respect for the crummy beasts.
I avoid any of their cutters (drills, router bits saw blades) or abrasives; absolute cheap-niz. You can watch them wear out without even using them.
I am sure there is more and I had no idea there was this much till I started listing it ;-) A great place for that cheap tool you need once or don't want to bend over to pick up if you drop it. There are diamonds in the rough however that are quite the bargain.