I hate Ebay

[ralphd]

I was bidding on a two inch sprinkler valve when my max bid was over by $1.50. I increased a little during the last few seconds but someone had set a higher max bid. This is when I got competitive and used the "One Click Bid" feature and won. Unfortunately I was over my comfortable max by $3. Total cast with shipping is ~ $24. At first I was going to build a launcher using a diaphragm but changed my mind to a combustion when I received the four inch "T". It's huge.

I know the preferred method is to use the sprinkler valve as a pilot valve for a piston but has anyone who used a sprinkler valve as the main valve and been happy with the results?

[hi]

The trick to bidding on ebay is wait until literally the last 5 seconds to bid. If you bid when there are a few hours left you are giving other people the chance to drive the bid up, but in the last 5 seconds they have no time to make a higher bid.

[c11man]

wait you were going to use a 2inch sprinkler valve to vent a 4inch diaphram valve? talk abou overkill, i went way overkill with a 1.5inch proting piston valve to vent my 4inch piston valve. but that was becuase of my excessive pilot volume and the cost of the valve was... um how to say this, irrelevent?

[Willdebeers]

Trust me, 2" is more than enough porting to provide satisfactory results on it's own. And yes, it is a "supah" overkill for a 4" piston. You should/could use a 1" or less SV to do the same thing.

[jimmy101]

I think folks should avoid buying common stuff on Ebay. There is rarely any advantage.

Ebay is a sellers market, which means the selllers have the basic advantage. It really isn't like a local auction where the buyer often has the advantage.

You can almost always get common stuff from a reputable supplier for about the same price.

The only time Ebay is really worth while is for a uncommon stuff. Like trying to find an old Mattel Vacuum Former.

Sometimes Ebay is OK for used stuff but not always. Usually the price of used stuff will be on the high end as well. Lego Mindstorms sets typically sell on Ebay for about 90% what you can get a brand new set for at Toys-R-Us.

[john bunsenburner]

Well really ebay is useful for common things in a quality worse than the common one.
Bench grinders for 30$ are an example.

If i use ebay the cost difference is so significant that i don't care if I pay 5$ more or less. It comes down to me saving atleast 50$ either way.

The trick is to buy things you can mod, i might put a better motor on my bench grinder so it doesn't stop 24/7...

[ralphd]

I hate the fact that I get caught up in the bidding and then something in my head tells me to get it NOW! I really didn't need a two incher but now I got one. I know it's overkill for a pilot so I'm going to use it as a main valve.

[POLAND_SPUD]

well I use a different site anyway.... allegro.pl
I find that stuff is generally cheaper there... both used and new..

but used is sometimes really really cheap.... especially if the person selling it doesn't have any idea what is he selling and/or didn't put any specs...

normally I don't buy items I need at that moment... I am trying to find good deals so I don't feel the urge to bid more and more

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

normally I don't buy items I need at that moment...

Just as I thought those semi-auto scars were a sign of manliness, you go all female on us!



Personally I only purchase "buy it now" stuff, I usually get quality items much cheaper than I would if I bought them from a store locally, even with postage included.

[POLAND_SPUD]

I though that my experiments with reciprocating machines gave you a clue


no really I just found out that you can get some very good deals from time to time... so you just have to be patient...

if you are want to get an item right now you are more likely to bid more than it's worth...

there are lots of good deals there really... like a set of two or three air cylinders for 1-2$ or good (and normally hard to get & expensive as hell ) valves

[jimmy101]

Well really ebay is useful for common things in a quality worse than the common one.
Bench grinders for 30$ are an example.

If i use ebay the cost difference is so significant that i don't care if I pay 5$ more or less. It comes down to me saving atleast 50$ either way.

The trick is to buy things you can mod, i might put a better motor on my bench grinder so it doesn't stop 24/7...

In the US people just use Harbor Freight. It'll be cheaper than Ebay and if it f's up you can return it.

For a bench grinder I think you'll find, long term, that the motor is the least important part. Get a cheap bench grinder and you get a cheap tool rest. Yes, you save $50 but it'll cost you that much in time and effort to build a useable tool rest.

[TurboSuper]

I love Ebay. I get all kinds of electronics stuff cheap from China. It works great and costs way less than here.

[john bunsenburner]

Well compared to switzerland i saved around 150$...

So im all good.

Nevertheless sooner or later I will get my self a proper bench grinder.