"...until that cheap wrench breaks.." Well, then tends to happen when one uses a 4' piece of pipe as a "cheater bar"...don't it?

 

lol, i love these threads on bashing the chinese parts store, lotta snobs in the world for sure, but hey what ever makes yer boat float, buy or don't buy, don't get the big deal trying to convince others either way, every one has an ugly story about just about any tool, high dollar or cheap, it tools they break ,the dull, and some just don't work, even the big buck ones, having fielded 12 work trucks for a crew of three on each, with basic power tools and some hand tools, figured out what works and what doesn't and in reality, if used regularly they all wear out.
have fun with the argument, fella always needs a case of the giggle.s

rj in az. oh yeah, flame on. hahaha

 

I kind of see tool purchases relative to the individual. Different journey related to skill, financial and priorities to that person. Who am I to judge his skills and what he can or can't afford..

I will add, stay within your means...you'll thank yourself later

 

Every tool, whether cheap or expensive, power or hand operated, has a "price to pay" other than the initial cost. I referring to the time investment to learn how to use and maintain it. If you have a dozen hand planes, they work somewhat the same and sharpening the blade is very similar. But if you're talking about carving tools, they can be quite different. A #7 gouge is not sharpened like a V-tool. A #7 straight gouge is not sharpened like a #7 spoon bent gouge.
On this site we often see questions from newby woodworkers who have invested money in machines and are still investing a lot of their time in learning to use and maintain the machines.

 

I must add, most of the tools used depend on something else to make the difference between good and bad results. If it is a saw, the blade used is a factor in it's performance. If a drill, the drill bit used. If a sander, the quality of the sandpaper used. If a router, the router bit used and so on. They go hand in hand with the tool. A cheap HF saw may make a bad cut with a HF blade, but may make a good cut using a quality blade. In most cases, we must rely on the reputation of the company making the drill bit or saw blade.
I just bought a cutoff wheel from Millner-Haufen for use in an angle grinder. The wheel is 4-1/2" diameter and covered in diamond dust with 40 grit on one side ad 80 grit on the other. It was expensive at $150 so I am anxious to know how well it works. It has a 100% unconditional warranty and made in the U.S. actually I bought it for my son as a Christmas gift. I don't even own an angle grinder. When I hear from him how the thing works, I will report it here.

 

I got my first tools for Xmas when I was 8. My dad made me a tool box out of wood and put a hammer, set of Craftsman wrenches (USA made), couple screwdrivers, etc. Still have the wrenches and the tool box. I broke or lost the rest. How I was raised was that you bought the best tools you could afford and you took care of them and in turn they took care of you. In 1968 there was not the wide choice of tools that there are today so I agree with the cheap tool single use philosophy from HF and even Northern Tool. As a contractor I would never leave my best tools with inexperienced workers. I use to give or sell those tools cheap to a younger guy getting started. BUT once you find out the work you like there is no substitute for good quality tools.

 

I have an old Porter-Cable / Rockwell "597" that I got at an estate auction for $35.

The previous owner probably made some nice stuff with it. The power cord was already replaced with a nice high quality cord and the blade was still sharp... but not carbide. Inside the box was all the original accessories and some extra parts.

I put a good blade on it and it's now my "finish saw". I use a Skil 77 for general stuff, and the 597 is mostly for perfect cuts on plywood (with a sled). It still cuts beautifully.

This saw has mojo. I wish it could talk. I even left the labels on it with the original owner's name, "Frank Bertoldo". Maybe some day I'll meet someone who knew him. I'd like to hear about him...

As best I can find out, I think this saw was made circa '62-'65 or so? I tried to look it up but I can't find anything exactly like it anywhere.

It has a neat little thumb screw system for precise depth-of-cut adjustment. It's not really necessary, but it's cool because it's so unique.

On top of the handle is a button that looks like a trigger safety thing on a newer saw, but it's actually a manual friction brake! Again, not necessary... but cool because it's so weird.

If anyone knows more about the age of this saw, I would love to hear it. I think it's just a little older than me...

 

I bought my first set of "good" woodworking chisels on EBAY. They were used and a bit rough and far from new, but good quality (3 Cherries). The "value" aspect was very good...they are good steel...and I NEVEAR regretted it. Since then I've added other brands and types...but I'm all-in for good tool value. And that doesn't mean the most expensive.

 

In the past when choosing subcontractors, i liked to go to a job site they were on and check them out and the first thing I did was look at the quality of their tools, then the shape the tools were in, and how clean they kept the job site. Now paying almost the same per hour are you going to go with the Harbor freight tool guys or the guys with quality tools?? I never chose the cheap tool guy.

 

Them were the days when Porter Cable, B&D, Skil,etc made tools that would last as evidenced by the tools you are still using. I have several old tools like those that are still working. I have no intention of ever replacing them as long as they work. That was a time when "made in USA" meant something.

 

Another one of the neat little quirks about that "597" saw, is how it says "U.S. of A." on the label.

I have a problem with how China subsidizes many of their industries, often even selling things at a loss just for the sake of putting other countries out of business. It's a long rant and this thread touches on a small part of that whole thing that they're doing. But it goes far beyond just tools. Everything from rebar to motorcycle parts and accessories.... And they way they name those companies to sound American, or German, or Italian, or Japanese, or anything but Chinese, just adds insult to injury.

 

Tools are just that, tools.
While they may vary in quality and price, the real measure of a tool is who's using it and what they can produce with it.
Expensive top of the line tools don't produce good results in the hands of an inexperienced user. While less than premium tools can be used to great effect in the hands of a skilled craftsman.

 

Very true! Same goes for musical instruments. As long as the guitar can be tuned, or the steel can be sharpened, it all comes down to who's using it. In fact, that applies to racing too....

 

I remember that as a child we would say "eeewwwwww made in Japan!!" similar to what we say today about China. (It meant something would be poor quality and not worth buying.) And now, we feel that Japanese products are some of the best out there. How things change...

 

I actually remembered that as an adult. And back then most of the quality machinery and tool products were made in the USA or Europe. Now...not so much.

 

You have to buy what you can afford first, you have to buy what fits your skill second..

 

I agree that there are many cost-effective tool options out there that also provide quality results. One thing that I would love to see from the woodworking community as a whole is the desire to act as if someone has done something wrong if they have bought a brand that we wouldn't or bought a tool that we can't afford. This is supposed to be an enjoyable endeavor, and we should all feel free to make and share our tools purchases without feeling as if we need to say a 200-dollar track saw is as good as a 1000-dollar track saw. Let's just enjoy our tools and make some dust