Funny how it broke......just now!

[Odie]

....after I just got through praising my old 2500rpm Sioux angle sander for how long it's lasted me!

I've had this Sioux for very close to twenty years and it's always been a faithful tool for disc sanding of bowls. The reversing switch is what finally did it in! I took it apart and examined the internals.....the switch is broken, and it's a specially manufactured part. This particular part was discontinued many years ago.

I decided that changing the brushes, replacing the switch (if they still have one), factory overhaul, and two-way shipping would probably be a minimum of $100..........................................so......

I decided to contact Packard Woodworks and get another......with shipping it was around $200.

Still got the old Sioux, and it still runs......I've got the switch jury-rigged to work, but probably won't work that way forever.......it'll be a good spare.

Sometimes, you just gotta do what you gotta do, and I've been so happy with the old Sioux, that I just couldn't do with anything else! 😀

ooc

The old black Sioux is my 2500rpm, and the newer grey Sioux is 1300rpm. I could probably do with just the 1300rpm, but the better overall do-all choice is the 2500rpm. After all, sanding doesn't require much torque, and the drill does have variable speed.......!

 

[Joe Greiner]

Switches seem to be the weak links in some electrical equipment, almost as if they were included as afterthoughts. If you think the new machine might last "only" 20 years, and if it's locally repairable, this might be a good time to get a replacement switch and brushes. And save the boxes for both the new machine and the parts together. DAMHIKT.

 

[Ed_McDonnell]

odie - wonder if the new Sioux will be anywhere near the quality of your 20 year old Sioux. I would be surprised if it was.

Ed

 

[Odie]

Switches seem to be the weak links in some electrical equipment, almost as if they were included as afterthoughts. If you think the new machine might last "only" 20 years, and if it's locally repairable, this might be a good time to get a replacement switch and brushes. And save the boxes for both the new machine and the parts together. DAMHIKT.

Hi Joe......

Yeah, I'll be saving this old Sioux. The brushes can be replaced, but the one's that are in it seem to be working ok. The switch......well, I did do a little repair on the broken housing which I don't expect will last. I can see why the old style switch was replaced with the new style......this one was bound to break sooner or later, just by the way it was poorly designed. After my "jury-rig" fix, it's working, as is, right now, but I'll put it away and keep it as a spare.

odie - wonder if the new Sioux will be anywhere near the quality of your 20 year old Sioux. I would be surprised if it was.

Ed

Howdy Ed.......

Who knows? I've had the newer model grey 1300rpm Sioux for several years now, and it seems to be as good as the old one......but, I've never taken it apart and compared the old and new Sioux drills internally. It looks to me that the newer style of switch on the newer Sioux can't be anything but better than the old one....that was just a bad design from the git-go!

One thing about it......the Sioux isn't made for the hobbyist, it's a true "industrial grade" tool......that's where their market has been.....and if the price you pay for one of these is any indication, it would seem to say this isn't a tool for the casual user. My old black Sioux has had heavy use, the kind of use, and abuse, cheapie tools just couldn't stand up to!

At this point, whether the newer Sioux drills are as good as the older ones remains to be seen, but I'd be willing to bet they are.....! 😀

If this one lasts 20+ years, that'll probably be good enough for me, because the law of averages say I probably don't have that many years of productive life left in this old body of mine! 😱

ooc

 

[gallianp]

Your use of the term "jury-rigged" got my mind working (hard to do sometimes) did a google search and compared "jury to jerry" -- interesting stuff... thanks. 🙂 😉

http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/9245

 

[Odie]

Your use of the term "jury-rigged" got my mind working (hard to do sometimes) did a google search and compared "jury to jerry" -- interesting stuff... thanks. 🙂 😉

http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/9245

Howdy gallianp.......

Yeah, interesting! I couldn't have told you the difference between the two terms......so, I learned something new, as well! :cool2:

I probably used the term "jury-rigged" correctly, since I was well aware that the fix would likely be temporary. The "jury-rig" fix comprised of squeezing too broken mechanical switch parts together with a wire-tie.....you'd have to see it to understand that it's some sort of miracle that it worked at all! Matter of fact, it's still working, and I'm very surprised it hasn't failed by now! 😱.....keeping my fingers crossed. I've sanded a couple of bowls with it......since it's early demise!

Thanks for giving us that little tidbit!

ooc

BTW: The new Sioux angle drill has arrived, as of yesterday.......have not had the opportunity to give it a "work-out" yet......but, it's not going to be "babied"! That rascal is either going to live up to it's well earned reputation......or not!




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