This is topic Expensive Tools in forum Letterhead/Pinstriper Talk at The Letterville BullBoard.


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Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
 
OK, so I must admit, I am guilty of the same thing I have bitched and complained about my own customers doing or potential customers doing over the years.

I cheaped out on a tool and now it has cost me more than the cost of a good one.

A while back I needed a small hand held grinder. I remember not wanting to spend a hundred bucks for one, I don't have the need for one all that much so I figured a lesser expensive one would be fine for the amount that I use that tool. So I purchased a Ryobi 4" grinder from Home Depot for around 40 bucks. Used it twice I believe, then it sat in the nice case it came in until the other day. I took out the grinder, plugged it in and within 5 minutes the power decreased until it stopped working. This tool has spent more time in the case then in my hands.

3 times I actually used this device. So I call Ryobi, they say it might be able to be repaired for free under warranty, but the closest repair center is over a half hour away. I politely tell the nice man, sorry but I learned my lesson and I'm going to buy a nice Bosch. Over the past 3 years I have slowly been replacing all my electric hand tools with Bosch, their price tag might be higher but they cost less to own.

SO in actuality this so called "cheap" Ryobi was VERY expensive, for I had to send this job to a friend to be finished, time lost, and add in the additional cost of buying the tool that I should have in the first place.

John Ruskin...your words ring true.

"When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do."
 

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Posted by William DeBekker (Member # 3848) on :
 
Sad Thing Bob,
Ryobi usually had fairly Decent Tools.

My 10" Chop saw is over 12 years old and still works great.
 

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Posted by Dale Feicke (Member # 767) on :
 
You're right Bill....Ryobi USED to make decent tools....but then, so did Black and Decker and Skil. Even some of Craftsman's stuff is crap now.

Not much decent priced quality stuff anymore.

I've been buying more and more Bosch tools too. They seem pretty tough. I've got a 14 volt cordless drill that has been seriously abused, dropped many times, overheated, and still will rip your arm off....after 3 years.

There are some cordless tools that I refuse to buy, as I don't think they were ever meant to be cordless....like hammer drills, circular saws, and impact wrenches...but they're still out there.

I've still got some DeWalt stuff; haven't had much trouble out of them. But going more to Bosch, Porter Cable, and Milwaukee.
 

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Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
 
I am the most expensive tool although I go a little haywire once in a while. Most other electric tools I have are DeWalt, Bosch and older craftsman HD series which have never let me down in 20 or so years. Hate to say it this way but I never skimp on whatever it is that I need or want as I cannot afford to pay the price down the road
 

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Posted by Jim Moser (Member # 6526) on :
 
I have a forty year old Black & Decker drill that has been used and abused for all those years and still works.... you can't go wrong with Milwaukee though.... my first choice in tools these days.
 

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Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
 
I remember my first Chain Saw, a Stihl 028, I bought it 30 years ago, I paid at the time $500.00... people thought I was nuts to pay that much. I built 8 handcrafted log homes with it, that's the Real Scandinavian full scribed log homes, I did demolition work with it once as well, cutting through half in thick bolts, did'nt mean to all the same. I must have cut 100 cords of wood with it .. it has been completely submerged in water due to floods, twice, for days at a time.... I still have it, and it works perfect.. I say 500 bux well spent.
 

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Posted by John Arnott (Member # 215) on :
 
I paid $19 for my 4" grinder at harbor freight....still works great.
 

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Posted by David Wright (Member # 111) on :
 
Tee hee, Joey called himself a tool.
 

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Posted by Jerry Starpoli (Member # 1559) on :
 
I have had good luck with all the Hitachi tools I have purchased over the last 5 years. They are reasonably priced and seem to be very well made.
 

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Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
 
It could'e been just a bad grinder, but at 40 bucks replacement cost it's not worth my time to fix it.
 

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Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Joey Madden:
I am the most expensive tool although I go a little haywire once in a while. Most other electric tools I have are DeWalt, Bosch and older craftsman HD series which have never let me down in 20 or so years. Hate to say it this way but I never skimp on whatever it is that I need or want as I cannot afford to pay the price down the road

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ELECTROCHEMICAL JOEY TOOL

Disclaimings:
Our arrangement in content to the user's manual is overall and easily understood in the English. We thinking it is reliable that it is correct that the information was offered in the manual and trying much to avoid the artificial fault, but the mistake that will unavoidably be found in printing, if causes some careless mistakes, please forgive more! Printings and tool Made in China


Safely Instructings
#1. The ELECTROCHEMICAL JOEY TOOL keepings the work area WELL LIT. No needings to accomplish these proceeedings. Only needing to keep work area freedom from the obstructings.

#2 Do not take the medicatings. When takings the medicatings, the dangerous can be much more the increasing reasoning the ELECTROCHEMICAL JOEY TOOL is being already medicating.

#3 Keepings the children and small the animals far proximity from the ELECTROCHEMICAL JOEY TOOL being for much the dangerous during operatings.

4. Keepings the ELECTROCHEMICAL JOEY TOOL far proximity away of waters as it may be drowning ELECTROCHEMICAL JOEY TOOL and voiding the warranty.

#5 If the ELECTROCHEMICAL JOEY TOOL operating the much eratic, stutting down the tool and welcoming to cool for 8 hours, changing the oilings and filterings then proceeding with the much carefulness.

#6 The ELECTROCHEMICAL JOEY TOOL cannot keeping the sharpness for long times. Frequent the sharpenings for safely operations with much the frequentness for reason of medicatings.

#7 Do not operating the ELECTROCHEMICAL JOEY TOOL ajacent proximity near the pantry of the food being that it will voracious consuming all the snackings.

[ April 19, 2010, 03:18 PM: Message edited by: Wayne Webb ]
 

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Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
 
If we do not see ourselves as being the main tool then who accomplishes the mission of our businesses?
 

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Posted by Kevin W. Betz (Member # 4133) on :
 
Here is something I came across years ago. I thought this would be a good place to show it.


Thank You Barb for helping me to display this.

[ April 19, 2010, 08:21 PM: Message edited by: Barb. Shortreed ]
 

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Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
 
The sad thing is Kevin I have that on my own counter. lol

Well the old grinder is out of my shop and my new Bosch is on the way.
 

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Posted by Bob Sauls (Member # 11321) on :
 
Bought a Harbor Freight too knowing it would be a cheapo and not last long. It is working great. $20.
 

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Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
 
I hate it when a product doesn't last!

Last week I was making some pancake batter and the hand mixer gave up the ghost 1/2 way through the job ... bought it right after we got married (50 years ago) ... and had to making waffles because the batter is thinner. Finish making the batter by using a hand whisk.


 

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Posted by Lori Wilcox (Member # 8042) on :
 
HoW'affle Si!
 

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Posted by Bob Moroney (Member # 9498) on :
 
Check the warranty card Si.
 

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Posted by Donald Miner (Member # 6472) on :
 
I once heard someone say that the simplest and best cared for tools always last the longest. In 1964, I bought an all metal Black&Decker 1/4" drill. Still going strong today. Just another topic for the good old days.
 

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Posted by Jake Lyman (Member # 3280) on :
 
I have been slowly replacing everything with Hitachi and the reason is that the rental store in town here sells Hitachi and repairs everything. He has had Hitachi tools for rent for years and not fixed them. This is the kind of guy you can call when you need to buy something and he will spend a half hour going over it with you so you get the best product, even if its something he doesn't sell like an air nailer. I do pay a bit more for tools from him but I know if something goes wrong he will let me use another one while that one is being fixed if need be.

He also repaired the router head on my old CNC router for me when I was in a bind for it by piecing to dead ones together and got me through for a few weeks till I could have a new one ordered, which I got from him cheaper than online, He did it over night and charged me $40.
 

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Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
 
It's becoming increasingly difficult, but I look for American Made tools (and everything else) as a matter of course....and if that fails, I look for a known quality building country (Canada, Germany, etc)...but try to avoid Chinese junk as much as possible.

I have two Bosch tools, which are very well built; A cordless drill made in Switzerland, a jigsaw made in USA, and (unfortunately) a angle capable power screwdriver built in Malaysia (that's China, right?)

I needed a Reciprocating saw (Sawzall) last summer...and naturally figured on buying a Bosch... but people, read the fine print....even Bosch is now having their stuff made in China. This was true of their Sawzall... and I looked at three stores - Lowes, Mennards, and Home Depot where I finally found a reciprocating saw made by Milwaukee. But even it was made in either Canada or Mexico... which, for me is a lot better than Chinese junk.

I went all over town looking for a stinking drill bit that was made in the US.... couldn't find one!
 

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Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
 
At the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference last month, I was visiting with the scientist in charge of the robotic arm of the next generation Mars rover, slated to launch next year. He also operated the rock abrasion tools on the current Mars rovers, one of which wore out its diamond bit rather quickly. He told me the new rover will have a carousel with five carbide bits... from Home Depot! Their off the shelf bits exceeded all specs and are probably a few million dollars cheaper than something custom designed and built for the spacecraft.
 

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Posted by David Wright (Member # 111) on :
 
All I know is Bosch's tools don't throw well, now the base to the sabre saw is cracked.
 

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Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
 
Todd maybe it's the models sold at the outlet stores that have to be made in China for the low price. The Ryobi grinder I purchased was made in China and from the Depot. I checked all my Bosch tools last night and they were all made in Switzerland. Like all brands they do have a lower end and a higher end tool. I now buy my Bosch tools from CPO online.
 

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Posted by Ed Gregorowicz (Member # 1842) on :
 
I'm sure that some of you may have seen this before, but it came up on another forum that I frequent, and it seems appropriate here.. I've forgotten about this for years....

Common Tools Explained

To the unitiated, the workshop can be an intimidating place, full of tools you may not know what to do with. To help, here's a helpful explanation of common tools and their uses.

DRILL PRESS:
A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat metal bar stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the chest and flings your beer across the room, denting the freshly-painted vertical stabilizer which you had carefully set in the corner where nothing could get to it.
WIRE WHEEL:
Cleans paint off bolts and then throws them somewhere under the workbench with the speed of light . Also removes fingerprints and hard-earned cleco calluses from fingers in about the time it takes you to say, "Oh sh*t!"
ELECTRIC HAND DRILL:
Normally used for spinning pop rivets in their holes until you die of old age.
SKILL SAW:
A portable cutting tool used to make studs too short.
PLIERS:
Used to round off bolt heads. Sometimes used in the creation of blood-blisters.
BELT SANDER:
An electric sanding tool commonly used to convert minor touch-up jobs into major refinishing jobs.
HACKSAW:
One of a family of cutting tools built on the Ouija board principle. It transforms human energy into a crooked, unpredictable motion, and the more you attempt to influence its course, the more dismal your future becomes.
VISE-GRIPS:
Generally used after pliers to completely round off bolt heads. If nothing else is available, they can also be used to transfer intense welding heat to the palm of your hand.
WELDING GLOVES:
Heavy duty leather gloves used to prolong the conduction of intense welding heat to the palm of your hand.
OXYACETYLENE TORCH:
Used almost entirely for lighting various flammable objects in your shop on fire. Also handy for igniting the grease inside the wheel hub you want the bearing race out of.
TABLE SAW:
A large stationary power tool commonly used to launch wood projectiles for testing wall integrity.
HYDRAULIC FLOOR JACK:
Used for lowering an automobile to the ground after you have installed your new brake shoes, trapping the jack handle firmly under the bum per.
EIGHT-FOOT LONG YELLOW PINE 2X4:
Used for levering an automobile upward off of a trapped hydraulic jack handle.
E-Z OUT BOLT AND STUD EXTRACTOR:
A tool ten times harder than any known drill bit that snaps neatly off in bolt holes thereby ending any possible future use.
BAND SAW:
A large stationary power saw primarily used by most shops to cut good aluminium sheet into smaller pieces that more easily fit into the trash can after you cut on the inside of the line instead of the outside edge.
TWO-TON ENGINE HOIST:
A tool for testing the maximum tensile strength of everything you forgot to disconnect.
CRAFTSMAN 1/2 x 24-INCH SCREWDRIVER:
A very large pry bar that inexplicably has an accurately machined screwdriver tip on the end opposite the handle.
AVIATION METAL SNIPS:
See hacksaw.
PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER:
Normally used to stab the vacuum seals under lids and for opening old-style paper-and-tin oil cans and splashing oil on your shirt; but can also be used, as the name implies, to strip out Phillips screw heads.
STRAIGHT SCREWDRIVER:
A tool for opening paint cans. Sometimes used to convert common slotted screws into non-removable screws.
PRY BAR:
A tool used to crumple the metal surrounding that clip or bracket you needed to remove in order to replace a 50 cent part.
HOSE CUTTER:
A tool used to make hoses too short.
HAMMER:
Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.
MECHANIC'S KNIFE:
Used to open and slice through the contents of cardboard cartons delivered to your front door; works particularly well on contents such as seats, vinyl records, liquids in plastic bottles, collector magazines, refund checks, and rubber or plastic parts. Especially useful for slicing work clothes, but only while in use.
DAMMIT TOOL:
Any handy tool that you grab and throw across the garage while yelling "DAMMIT" at the top of your lungs. It is also, most often, the next tool that you will need.
 

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Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
 
I've found my Ryobi 18v tools to outlast and out perform my Makita's. My purchase was not based on price. I like them far better than the Dewalt's also.
 

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Posted by David Fisher (Member # 107) on :
 
I've got a 19 year old Bosch hammer drill that works beautifully. All indications are that it will keep doing so.
I also have 3 year old kitchen with Bosch appliances.
The oven door does not seal and hasn't since it was just out of warranty, the dials for the stove made it just through warranty before crapping out (note to self, replace pliers with aftermarket knobs) the piezoelectric lighters may or may not work depending on the position of your tongue.
The markings on the cooktop and oven could not be read within a couple of months because they had worn off.
The dishwasher works OK provided you put the spring for the detergent dispenser back in the right place and close the lid with a careful application of pressure to the leading edges of the cap.
Needless to say I won't be buying Bosch again
 

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Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
 
David, I bought a Bosch tankless water heater for $1200. Trouble from the get go. Wonderful techies in Vermont kept sending me parts and I kept taking it apart and fixing it. Last go round I needed to hire a guy with a gas license to come out and read some pressures and it was moisture in the valve. The machine is useless and in my pile for the next dump run. I find hand tools more dependable and perhaps that defines the boundaries of their competence.
 

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Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
 
Just received my new grinder...made in Germany....simply a MUCH better tool than the predecesor.

Can't imagine GM would make a good dishwasher either, or if BMW made blenders.

Some companies should just stick with what they are good with.
 

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Posted by Darcy Baker (Member # 8262) on :
 
My worm drive skill saw was great in the 70's.lasted 25 years hard use then just needed brushes.Went to replace it and Skill was crap so I bought a Bosch which I Stihl use.I just bought a new laser lens for my PS2 and it was crap.I'm going back to true tried and tested bored games like scrabble.wood tiles made in the USA.
 

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Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
 

quote:

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Todd maybe it's the models sold at the outlet stores that have to be made in China for the low price. The Ryobi grinder I purchased was made in China and from the Depot. I checked all my Bosch tools last night and they were all made in Switzerland. Like all brands they do have a lower end and a higher end tool. I now buy my Bosch tools from CPO online.

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