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Why did I buy that tool?

5K views 95 replies 52 participants last post by  Rick Dennington 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hey guys: Have you ever bought something you wish you hadn't of? I think we all have experienced this before, and don't fib. I have one tool in my shop that after buying, gettin it set up, and using it a couple of times, regret ever thinkin I needed it for the shop. It's about 1 year old, practically fresh out of the box, has all the essential things to get it going, but I found I really don't have a use for it.
I thought when I bought it, I would use it pretty often, but that hasn't been the case. So now I have a tool that just sits and collects dust!! I spent good money on something I could of spent the money on to get another tool I wanted, but passed it up to get this sucker. I used one one time I borrowed from a ww friend to do a job for a customer and thought then"I better get me one" just in case- bad idea! What tool am I talking about----- the DeWalt DW788 scroll saw and stand. I found out I'm not a scroller, and don't even like it. It's too slow and time-comsuming for me. I can put a 3/16" blade on my bandsaw and get the job I need done quick. I realize it not scroll work, but I've had no call for it. There are a lot of really good scrollers out there, but I'm not one. I would like to get some feedback on this topic-pro and con, on your thoughts.
By the way-- it's for sale if you're ever in my neck of the woods!!!!!!!!!
 
#2 ·
Hi Rick
Been there done that and bought the t-shirt. I have a router, make that 2 routers, Scrapers, miter saw, small band saw that I just had to have, clamps up the ying yang, and many more, but i think they will all be used before it's all over, I know the feeling. My wife does too. Hang in there, you will use it. My old scroll saw is a Beaver, about 1955 vintage, when not scrolling I put a fairly stiff piece of sand paper in it for intricate sanding jobs.
Jack
 
#3 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have a dremel scroller that keeps collecting dust in my shop…I got it for one project thinking the same as you - that I would have all kinds of uses for it….Instead I do most of my fine work on the band saw….and don't really use the scroller that often…maybe we could make a package deal for someone that needs a slew of these saws??? I also have some tools that I was given that need to find new homes (Mostly Craftsman and Black and Decker stuff…)....I was going to put a list up as soon as I can get that organzed….
 
#5 ·
#6 ·
i make alot of kids puzzles and there is no way i could do it without my scrollsaw. bandsaws are great don't get me wrong i love mine, but you cannot do a pierced cut with one.As for that one tool that just sits there collecting dust i can honestly say i don't have a big enough budget to have any of those. hey reggie drop me a pm if want to get those blades out of your shop.
 
#7 ·
I've got a few that I dont use. The porter cable(I think?) profile sander, and a craftsman 1/3 sheet sander. They are both not really worth the electricity since it's just as easy to use a block sander/ card scraper or a folded piece of sandpaper.
 
#8 ·
Not because I don't use its type of tool, but because this particular one was soooo bad…

Black and Decker Firestorm FS1200RP Plunge Router… This crunkmuffin has got to be, without a doubt the poorest excuse for power tool quality control I have ever experienced. Stuff simply falls off of it. It's DANGEROUS, so it sits in the bag…

I have an MLCS router collet extension that I have only had a reason to use once. It came as I recall as a freebie along with some bearing lube with my 66pc bit set. And I use those all the time…
 
#9 ·
Most people will think I'm nuts, but my Albatross is my Ridgid 14" band saw. Old gray model I bought in 2001. Used my little 9" Ryobi a lot and thought I might need a bigger saw. I have used it a few times, but not very many. It just takes up space in my shop. I use my TS, Router table, Lathes, and drill press all the time, but rarely use a band saw and most of the time I use the little one still. Rick, I don't use it very often, but I'll never part with my scroll saw, I love that thing. Mine is a Delta 16" that uses both blade types and is variable speed.
 
#13 ·
I bought a black and decker power hand planer the belt pops every five mintes of use for no reason it's designed to snap I am sure.I also have an elu and it works works works without the slightest hesitation .Therefore now I have an as new black and decker planer thats sitting on the shelf without a belt .I am sure they designed it this way as many others have had this problem too the belts are expensive too about $10 each.Alistair
 
#14 ·
I look at it this way. Usually when I get a tool it's because something came up that I needed it or even if I didn't have it I would have had to juryrig something or do a lot more work to get the results I wanted.
So, I get the tool. Now, I really needed it at the time but might not use it again for awhile. Sometimes quite awhile. But, I figure I needed it then and I might need it again. When that time comes, without it I will have to busy myself figuring out how I'll get around it. So, some tools are used all the time, some tools are rarely used, but when I do need it, little else suffices.
I too recently purchased a scroll saw. First time I needed it. I could cut it with a bandsaw but didn't look forward to cutting lots of inside edges of oak with a coping saw.
 
#15 ·
I don't have a band saw yet so my scroll saw does stuff I can't do otherwise. I use it to cut holes and curves sometimes. I can end up with a nice vertical surface as compared to what I get with my jig saw sometimes. I used it to notch out PVC pipe to shrink the diameter of it (think bender board). It's my only Craftsman tool purchase and I got it at Sears Hardware 50% off. Speaking of tools you only use a few times. I have a BD Firestorm hammer drill that does the job when I need it (although I would never typically buy a tool of that quality). One big regret is thinking the tool I'm buying will be the end-all and finding out later I want to upgrade…but usually that's price related.
 
#16 ·
I knew there were a lot of us out there that have bought tools we thought we needed, and maybe we did at the time, or like Craftsman said, will in the future, but not right now!!!
Got some good feedback on this subject, but come on guys, I know there are a lot more of you out there.
So come on in, join the conversation, and "fess up".
No matter what the tool, WE ALL WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THEM!!!!! Out of 12,000 plus members, let's hear it.
 
#20 ·
in 45 years ,
if bought more tools than i can remember .
some just broke quickly ,
others wore out .
i now own a $900.00 hilti roto-hammer ,
i got to use it to drill 12 , 1" holes in concrete .
my buddy needed it to chip cement ,
and bought a chisel-point for it and gave it to me !
it has a lifetime guaranty on it , just like me !
i have started throwing things away ,
that aren't even worth giving away .
when i need it , i buy it .
sometimes im lucky , sometimes it's just garbage .
if it get's me through a project ,
i figure it payed for itself .
 
#21 ·
Not too long ago I would have said my lathe was the one I bought but shouldn't have since I didn't use it. I bought the lathe but didn't buy any turning tools until almost three years later. Now I'm starting to use it so I guess it doesn't count anymore, but for those first few years, man, talk about a big waste of space.
 
#22 ·
One of my very first "power tools" was a $99 ryobi scroll saw. I bought it to help my son with a cub scout pine car derby car. It wasn't much help and was underpowered for my needs. Heck, I didn't know what I was doing. I ended up buying a coping saw and a dremel tool, which worked great. I actually forgot I still had the scroll saw until the other day when I opened an old cabinet and there it sat. There it still sits. Not worth the hassle of trying to sell it on ebay or CL. There are some scroll user clubs in the area. They are true enthusiasts. Not that there is anything wrong with scroll saw work. Just not my thing. So my first dust gatherer is a scroll saw.

My dowel max has been gathering dust, but I shall not part with it. I still like the dowel look in furniture and boxes.

For whatever reason I've collected too many 18ga brad guns. So at least two are gathering dust. The 1/4 sheet sander I've owned for 20 years, actually my very first "power" tool, I have not used in a few years.

I have been lusting for a BS but just can't seem to pull the trigger. I don't cut many curves that my jigsaw can't handle, but would like to buy 8/4 lumber to resaw. Much cheaper than 4/4 or borg wood. Unless I run onto a really good deal, my urge for a BS has faded, and replaced for lusting after a RAS and a stationary mortiser, haha

I will say that my TS, jigsaw, planer, jointer, router (especially the router here lately) compound miter saw and floor drill press get the most use. Those and with a few hand tools and you can build just about anything worth building.

Now please, please, please talk me out of buying a used craftsman or dewalt RAS. But it may be too late!
 
#23 · (Edited by Moderator)
The first router I bought was a Sears Craftsman, plain and simple junk. I had to find out the hard way when I tried using it with an Incra Ultra Jig (this is also over a couple hundred bucks collecting dust) I couldn't get the dovetails to fit. I found that the bit was flexing when any pressure was applied. I don't mind so much when I think of buying junk tools when I started woodworking, it was all part of the learning experience and most of the time tools of less quality are usually pretty cheap. I would hope to think I'm a little wiser these days. If you have a scroll saw your not using you might try your hand at marquetry, I get by with a old two speed Delta and I get fairly decent results, not that I wouldn't love to have that DeWalt DW788, that is one tool I wouldn't look back on with regret.
 
#24 ·
ok …just for the sake of support…its the scroll saw hands down…..when i first stockes my shop i went into the local delta dealer and loaded up…i just knew i was going to need the scroll saw….wish i would have used the money and gotten a band saw…...im just not the type to sit and make all these finite cuts…and now with a bad back , i cant sit even if i wanted to…....so its a great 18 inch delta variable speed scroll saw….mostly the dust collecter of the shop…..so if your ever in central alabama, and want a good deal on one..pm me…...please…..if nothing else i can stock up on some of those new cookies…....
 
#25 ·
grizzman-I'm with you on the scroll saw. Like I said at the beginning, I have no use for one. And like grizzman, I too have a bad back(after two back operations) and it's still no good, and never will be. So I cannot sit on a stool and do that crap-- so there again I will ElPaso on the s.s.

Keep 'em coming, guys. This is gettin' good. I like it, and like the fact I'm not the only d.a. that's did it!!!!!
 
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