[Eddy Smiles]

Everythings made in China and everything's made cheap. Back when I was a kid my folks use to shy away from anything made in Japan. The world has come full circle and now it's China but the only difference is that you can't get away from buying Chinese because American corporations have all moved offshore and built their factories in or sub-contracted out the work to the Chinese. When we go to war and can't get an F-16 off the ground for lack of a $0.15 plastic part made in Bejing, China, we'll have no one to blame but ourselves.... greed will do us in!

[brianh]

For anyone that wants to keep their old tool up and running tool parts direct has parts for most, I have rebuilt several of my older woodworking tools with parts from them.

http://www.toolpartsdirect.com/

[Dull Knife]

Originally Posted by brianh

For anyone that wants to keep their old tool up and running tool parts direct has parts for most, I have rebuilt several of my older woodworking tools with parts from them.

http://www.toolpartsdirect.com/

BUT!!!!!!! they don't handle Dremel.

[Doug Ridley]

I just repaired a 20+ yr. old Dremel 375 and ordered the parts direct from Dremel. Good service.

[Eddy Smiles]

Brain...Doug.... Good info! Thanks

[blanchard65]

my way of thinking is if you are going to use the tool everyday BUY GOOD
If you want to try something and don't have alot of money buy cheap and KEEP AN OPEN MIND.
I have some expensive tools that I thought I really needed, ( mortising tool for one), I could have got away with a good chisel and my drill press for one project. I sleep well knowing i have it but I could have spent my money on something more important.

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[blanchard65]

When buying tools I always try to go for the best I can afford, but I don't have deep pockets. Then I try to think of how often I will use this tool. If I think I'm going to use it a lot I will try to wait and save. Some things I might not use a couple times a year and I will go with cheaper. But I spend more time try to true fences and get accurate cuts. Well sometimes I have more time than money so I work with it. but I have tools that I bought expensive and have used twice, I could have bought a different, better tool and would be better off in the long run. Moral of story buy the best you can afford and adapt.

[shinkjohn]

My experience has been similar to yours. I have given away more craftsman tools than I care to think about. I am ready to throw out my craftsman drillpress and get a better one. But since I mostly use it for sanding I can't justify it yet. My next big investment will probably be a micro motor-thinking about the NSK but that is very expensive-over a thousand dollars. I am new to this forum and this is my first response.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I bought a really cheap set of carving chisels at wallyworld...not to use, but to practice my sharpening skills on.......this was when I was just starting into sharpening...........it worked great and saved me messing up the good stuff!! And actually, thats all they were good for in my humble opinion!

[mikeGinSC]

As an old sage on another woodworking forum once said..." Buy the best and only cry once"

I'm a carpenter by trade, at least for the last 28 years or so. For circular saws and chop saws, I swear by Hitachi. I still have the first hitachi I bought over 20 years ago. It was dropped a couple of times and the shoe got bent, but I put a diamond blade on it and still use it when I need to cut brick or block. My chop saw is also about 20 years old and still cuts like a new one. Some of the guys I work around swear by Makita saws and some by Dewalt or Milwaukee brands. I guess it depends on your preference.

Opinions on power tools and hand tools are as varied as the number of manufacturers that make them.

Mike G. in SC