If it's a tool which i will use a lot, i'll get the very best that i can
afford (Powermatic, Festool, Fein, Porter-Cable, Milwaukee). If it's one
which i won't use much, i'll buy a POS from Harbor Freight, Sears or Ryobi.
I don't want to lose time because of a bad tool.


"Roger Derby" wrote in message
ink.net...
Yes, there are "mistakes" for sale out there. My son bought a bench
grinder. Looks good. Spins up the wheels -- until you put a screwdriver
against the wheel. Then the 0.01 hp motor stalls. But cheap.

I figure it's a gamble every time I buy a super bargain. That said, I've
won more often than not.

Roger

http://home.earthlink.net/~derbyrm

"Pete C" wrote in message
...
On 19 Nov 2005 14:50:05 GMT, (William R.
Watt) wrote:
P.C. Ford ) writes:
When is spending money _not_ wasting money for you?

When you get back more than you spend.
Finding ways to spend as little as possible is just as interesting and
creative as trying to get back as much as possible. They suppliment
each other.

Having a wider range of cheaper tools can be better than having fewer
more expensive tools.

Though sometimes the cheapest tool just can't do a job like a more
expensive tool can.

Eg a cheaper belt sander can do a reasonable job, but the cheapest
palm/orbital sander often isn't a lot of good.

Jim Conlin wrote:
If it's a tool which i will use a lot, i'll get the very best that i can
afford (Powermatic, Festool, Fein, Porter-Cable, Milwaukee). If it's one
which i won't use much, i'll buy a POS from Harbor Freight, Sears or Ryobi.
I don't want to lose time because of a bad tool.


Only a fool would argue with you.

Lew

You have to consider the guarantee too. If I can get a Ryobi or similar
with a 2 year guarantee, from a supplier I expect to honour it, I figure
it's a low risk "investment". Having said that, I love my Fein multi-tool
.....
Hobby use can be harder on power tools than trade use - tell me you haven't
pushed a tool to the limit to get the job done, rather than go out and buy
something more suitable. ( Glen excluded, I blame him for the Fein ... )

Re guarantees
I'm giving my offspring some cheap watches purchased recently in China. The
come with a guarantee in three parts.
1) They are guaranteed to be fake
2) They are guaranteed to have worked when demonstrated
3) The guarantee lasts 60 seconds after payment.

David

If a tool craps out and it's Sunday and you're at the boatyard, a warrantee
is not much comfort.

"David Flew" wrote in message
...
You have to consider the guarantee too. If I can get a Ryobi or similar
with a 2 year guarantee, from a supplier I expect to honour it, I figure
it's a low risk "investment". Having said that, I love my Fein multi-tool
....
Hobby use can be harder on power tools than trade use - tell me you
haven't
pushed a tool to the limit to get the job done, rather than go out and buy
something more suitable. ( Glen excluded, I blame him for the Fein ... )

Re guarantees
I'm giving my offspring some cheap watches purchased recently in China.
The
come with a guarantee in three parts.
1) They are guaranteed to be fake
2) They are guaranteed to have worked when demonstrated
3) The guarantee lasts 60 seconds after payment.

David

I had a bunch of 1/4 inch holes to drill and tap in some mild steel. I had
two battery drills one top of the line Dewalt and one cheapo model. They
both seemed to have the same amount of power but with the cheaper model I
went through bits like crazy. I finally discovered that due to the cheap
bearings in the cheap drill there was vibration in the chuck which
ultimately ate the bits. In this instance the cost of the bits far out
weighed the savings on the cheaper drill.