A while back I realized that I had never had buyers remorse over good
tools.
When is it OK to buy cheap tools?
For one, I tend to buy cheap everything in one box for under $60 sets
to carry as "oh shit kits" in my car. If it gets ripped off, I'm not
out any real money. On the other hand, the tools will usually last
long enough to effect a side of the road repair, and I don't have to
worry about whether my cars are in my garage, my MG, my Van ...
Another time that it's OK to buy cheap tools is when Sears is having
a particularly good sale on craftsman. Back in college, I used a
friends snap-on tools and was instantly spoiled by them. Craftsman may
still have the warranty, but their quality went out the window in the
'80s, and I just don't want to have to deal with a busted wrench at
midnight the night before a race.
I actually prefer S-K to snap-on. MAC is also good, but doesn't quite
have the feel I like in Snap-on and S-K.
Another time that it's OK to get cheap tools is when you are only
going to use an expensive tool about once a year (like an engine
hoist) rather than every week. In that case, you can probably get by
with the $200 hoist rather than the $800 hoist. If you are a
professional and use the tool a lot, then invest in one that'll last,
but if you're only going to use it 6 times in the course of owning it,
you'd be better to spend the difference on better tools that you use
every day.
This is why I may give craftsman tools as gifts to non-mechanically
inclined friends, who need a set of wrenches for the occasional job.
lrc
On Thu, Jun 05, 2003 at 05:56:36AM -0400, Chris Thompson wrote:
> My father always told me that you invest in the best tools you can, even if
> it means you have to save up for them. This makes sense, in a way, paying
> for Craftsman over a cheap no name knockoff will usually get you a better
> constructed tool with a lifetime warranty.
>
> This past sunday I went to a Flea Market just north of town. This is one of
> those permanent indoor flea markets with people who rent permanent booths
> and run actual little shops.
>
> One Guy had a stack of 4" Angle Grinders, in a box, but with no discernable
> brand name, for $8. He had one out of the box with a grinding wheel
> attached. The wheel rotated without any discernable wobble. I could detect
> no manufacturing flaws. It felt very much like a Ryobi I had picked up
> recently at the local Home Depot.
>
> I didn't buy it for two reasons. First, the box had, in excruciatingly
> broken english, a list of specs, and listed the arbor as 7/8". Every wheel
> and wire brush I've ever seen was for 5/8". I'm not sure if this was a
> typo, but I was concerned about finding the wire cup brush I wanted to use
> with this to strip my engine bay and frame rails.
>
> Second, I kept hearing my father's voice telling me not to skimp on tools.
>
> I've been thinking back to that all week, and I think I should have gone
> ahead and snagged it. At Eight bucks, the damn thing was disposable.
>
> But it really raises a bigger question that perhaps my father was wrong
> (Don't tell him).
>
> I think the "Buy Quality" is a good idea on certain items. Wrenches and
> sockets where size tolerances are important. Blades and any other cutting
> item. I've personally seen the difference between a cheap $20 blade in my
> table saw and a $90 Forrest Woodworker II.
>
> And anything safety related, of course. Ramps, Jacks, hoists. I realize
> that many things, like jackstands, are usually all manufactured together
> and sold at different price points, but how do you know which is which?
>
> But, am I crazy here? When are cheap tools OK? I could have bought ten of
> these angle grinders and tossed them when they broke before I spent as much
> as the grinder at HD.
>
>
> _______________________________
> Chris Thompson
> 1974 MGB Chrome Bumper Roadster
>
--
I've found something worse than oldies station that play the music I used to
listen to. Oldies stations that play the "new" music I used to complain about.
lrc@red4est.com http://www.red4est.com/lrc
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