I'm a newcomer to the group. Used to do a lot of woodworking, but for
one reason and another dropped out almost twenty years ago. Now I'm
trying to rebuild my shop and buying new tools is confusing.
I stick to name brands: Craftsman, Milwaukee, DeWalt, etc., but wonder
whether off brands are good products as well.
For instance, someone on another thread mentioned the Ridgid has a
good reputation here, so I'll expand my search to that brand.
Is there a summary anywhere of the group's opinions on the relative
merits of various brands?
If not, is there a simple list of good, bad, and indifferent brands?
"Greg O" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> "a few dollars more than Craftsman, and get a better tool outa the deal."
>
> What part is tough to understand?
> Craftsman generally not top of the line stuff. Your money is better spent
> with the other brands I mentioned.
> Greg
>
Most of the time that is correct. Once in a while though, you find
something with the Sears, Kenmore, Craftsman name so on it that is the exact
item as the "brand" name, but Sears sells it for less or on sale at a
bargain price.
On May 23, 10:04=A0am, Richard Evans <[email protected]> wrote:
> Robatoy <[email protected]> wrote:
> >On May 23, 9:21=A0am, Richard Evans <[email protected]> wrote:
> >> I'm a newcomer to the group. Used to do a lot of woodworking, but for
> >> one reason and another dropped out almost twenty years ago. Now I'm
> >> trying to rebuild my shop and buying new tools is confusing.
>
> >> I stick to name brands: Craftsman, Milwaukee, DeWalt, etc., but wonder
> >> whether off brands are good products as well.
>
> >> For instance, someone on another thread mentioned the Ridgid has a
> >> good reputation here, so I'll expand my search to that brand.
>
> >> Is there a summary anywhere of the group's opinions on the =A0relative
> >> merits of various brands?
>
> >> If not, is there a simple list of good, bad, and indifferent brands?
>
> >No brand has/does it all.
> >Any particular tool in mind?
>
> I have my original Craftsman table saw, vintage 1975, Craftsman radial
> saw, vintage 1969, and a DeWalt 12" chop saw with kick stand. I have
> an assortment of power hand tools, both corded and cordless.
>
> At one point, when I thought I'd never get back into woodworking, I
> sold a Delta drill press (no big loss, it's replaceable) and I also
> sold a Craftsman lathe of uncertain vintage, but it was 30 years old
> when I bought it circa 1975. Solid cast iron, cast iron pedestal, 3"
> solid oak bench top, every accessory Craftsman made for it. That was
> one of a kind. Also sold a Craftsman shaper, also cast iron with a
> 1.5hp motor.
>
> I've recently bought a Craftsman belt sander and Craftsman pad sander,
> a Milwaukee circular saw, a DeWalt biscuit cutter, a Milwaukee half
> inch router, a cheap delta shaper, a bunch of new hand tools -
> screwdrivers, pliers, etc.
>
> My next tool purchase will probably be a drill press, a bench model,
> as I don't foresee a need for the depth of a floor model.
>
> There =A0is a Woodcraft store near me:
>
> =A0http://www.woodcraft.com/stores/store.aspx?id=3D532
>
> They sell a line called Jet.
I have a Ridgid drill press. Floor model. It did well in a FWW
comparison, and is a good deal. I don't use it enough to be too
concerned about longevity..... it's really accurate.
> Not to start a Craftsman bashing thread, but the old Craftsman stuff is
> generally pretty good, 30-40 years old. The new stuff I try to avoid,
> although there are a few keepers in the bunch, you just need to be careful.
> IMO you can buy DeWalt, Milwaukee, Bosch, and a few others for the same or a
> few dollars more than Craftsman, and get a better tool outa the deal.
> Greg
Why do you think that is?
Lou
Richard Evans <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> I'm a newcomer to the group. Used to do a lot of woodworking, but for
> one reason and another dropped out almost twenty years ago. Now I'm
> trying to rebuild my shop and buying new tools is confusing.
>
> I stick to name brands: Craftsman, Milwaukee, DeWalt, etc., but wonder
> whether off brands are good products as well.
>
> For instance, someone on another thread mentioned the Ridgid has a
> good reputation here, so I'll expand my search to that brand.
>
> Is there a summary anywhere of the group's opinions on the relative
> merits of various brands?
>
> If not, is there a simple list of good, bad, and indifferent brands?
Name brands are deceptive. You have to examine the tool yourself to find
out if you're getting a good tool. Many people have gotten decent
results by narrowing down the field of tools they want to say, 3 tools,
and asking about them here.
When it comes to hand tools, the ones that are heavy for their size, have
no noticable blemishes, and beefed up areas where the tool will encounter
the most force, are going to be the best. (This doesn't always hold
true, however.)
Right now, Lowes is attempting to establish the Kobalt brand. Most of
their tools seem to be good tools, at lower prices.
Puckdropper
--
If you're quiet, your teeth never touch your ankles.
To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm
Greg O wrote:
> "Richard Evans" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I'm a newcomer to the group. Used to do a lot of woodworking, but for
> > one reason and another dropped out almost twenty years ago. Now I'm
> > trying to rebuild my shop and buying new tools is confusing.
> >
> > I stick to name brands: Craftsman, Milwaukee, DeWalt, etc., but wonder
> > whether off brands are good products as well.
> >
> > For instance, someone on another thread mentioned the Ridgid has a
> > good reputation here, so I'll expand my search to that brand.
> >
> > Is there a summary anywhere of the group's opinions on the relative
> > merits of various brands?
> >
> > If not, is there a simple list of good, bad, and indifferent brands?
>
> Not to start a Craftsman bashing thread, but the old Craftsman stuff is
> generally pretty good, 30-40 years old. The new stuff I try to avoid,
> although there are a few keepers in the bunch, you just need to be careful.
> IMO you can buy DeWalt, Milwaukee, Bosch, and a few others for the same or a
> few dollars more than Craftsman, and get a better tool outa the deal.
> Greg
With tools these days you are likely to get less than you could with brand
loyalty. What you need to do is decide on the tool and what features it needs
and how much you are willing to spend. Then look at individual tools that fit
your criteria for what is well made. I hapen to think DeWalt is overpriced tor
what you get, a few years back Milwaukee was bought by somebody and I don't know
of their current quality, Bosch, Makita and hitachi are generally good but may
not be the best value for the money. As for Craftsman, they built really good
tools for a while and had a good reputation. Then for a coulpe of decades
starting late 70's or early 80's they started cutting costs and the quality went
down. Recently they started building a "professional" line (don't remember if
they call it professional or contractor or what) that is well built. They are
not the only company today with a "homeowner/hobbiest" line and a
"professional/contractor" line. The hobbiest lines are suitable for occasional
use but that is a few times a year.
There are some lesser known brands like Jet and Grizzly that sometimes give
decent quality without the brand name cost.
So to sum up, don't worry so much about brand and learning what to look for in a
well built tool and then hunt for those.
ron
On May 23, 10:04 am, Richard Evans <[email protected]> wrote:
> Robatoy <[email protected]> wrote:
> >On May 23, 9:21 am, Richard Evans <[email protected]> wrote:
> >> I'm a newcomer to the group. Used to do a lot of woodworking, but for
> >> one reason and another dropped out almost twenty years ago. Now I'm
> >> trying to rebuild my shop and buying new tools is confusing.
>
> >> I stick to name brands: Craftsman, Milwaukee, DeWalt, etc., but wonder
> >> whether off brands are good products as well.
>
> >> For instance, someone on another thread mentioned the Ridgid has a
> >> good reputation here, so I'll expand my search to that brand.
>
> >> Is there a summary anywhere of the group's opinions on the relative
> >> merits of various brands?
>
> >> If not, is there a simple list of good, bad, and indifferent brands?
>
> >No brand has/does it all.
> >Any particular tool in mind?
>
> I have my original Craftsman table saw, vintage 1975, Craftsman radial
> saw, vintage 1969, and a DeWalt 12" chop saw with kick stand. I have
> an assortment of power hand tools, both corded and cordless.
>
> At one point, when I thought I'd never get back into woodworking, I
> sold a Delta drill press (no big loss, it's replaceable) and I also
> sold a Craftsman lathe of uncertain vintage, but it was 30 years old
> when I bought it circa 1975. Solid cast iron, cast iron pedestal, 3"
> solid oak bench top, every accessory Craftsman made for it. That was
> one of a kind. Also sold a Craftsman shaper, also cast iron with a
> 1.5hp motor.
>
> I've recently bought a Craftsman belt sander and Craftsman pad sander,
> a Milwaukee circular saw, a DeWalt biscuit cutter, a Milwaukee half
> inch router, a cheap delta shaper, a bunch of new hand tools -
> screwdrivers, pliers, etc.
>
> My next tool purchase will probably be a drill press, a bench model,
> as I don't foresee a need for the depth of a floor model.
>
> There is a Woodcraft store near me:
>
> http://www.woodcraft.com/stores/store.aspx?id=532
>
> They sell a line called Jet.
Woodcraft also charges super premium prices. I have one of the new 17"
Delta drill presses, designed specifically for woodworking. It ain't
lovable (too damned heavy to assemble for a fat old man; in fact, two
of us had to use an engine crane hoist to get the head onto the tube),
but it is good, with features no found on a machinist's DP. I'm not
enamored of the laser all that much, but, hey, it's on there and it
can be useful.
"Lou" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:1903370a-8318-451e-acde-1773b31eef24@f63g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>> Not to start a Craftsman bashing thread, but the old Craftsman stuff is
>> generally pretty good, 30-40 years old. The new stuff I try to avoid,
>> although there are a few keepers in the bunch, you just need to be
>> careful.
>> IMO you can buy DeWalt, Milwaukee, Bosch, and a few others for the same
>> or a
>> few dollars more than Craftsman, and get a better tool outa the deal.
>> Greg
>
>
> Why do you think that is?
> Lou
Craftsman is a well recognized name and has been in the spot light for
decades. Sears is relying on the name to generate the sales and not
necessarily the quality of the power tools.
On May 23, 10:54=A0pm, Puckdropper <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com> wrote:
> Richard Evans <[email protected]> wrote innews:9lgd34t5nhl4bqk0jtutv5=
[email protected]:
>
> Right now, Lowes is attempting to establish the Kobalt brand. =A0Most of
> their tools seem to be good tools, at lower prices.
>
> Puckdropper
> --
I'm really impressed with the Kobalt toolboxes. Much stronger that
the old craftsman mainstay. Kobalt boxes have better slides and
thicker gauge metal with a much better price. I'm not sure I'd buy
anything else labeled Kobalt though. I've been happy with my Dewalt
Routers and Plate Joiner. I've been eyeing their new line of 200psi
compressors but haven't picked one up yet. Craftsman still makes some
good socket and wrench sets IME.
"Richard Evans" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm a newcomer to the group. Used to do a lot of woodworking, but for
> one reason and another dropped out almost twenty years ago. Now I'm
> trying to rebuild my shop and buying new tools is confusing.
>
> I stick to name brands: Craftsman, Milwaukee, DeWalt, etc., but wonder
> whether off brands are good products as well.
>
> For instance, someone on another thread mentioned the Ridgid has a
> good reputation here, so I'll expand my search to that brand.
>
> Is there a summary anywhere of the group's opinions on the relative
> merits of various brands?
>
> If not, is there a simple list of good, bad, and indifferent brands?
Not to start a Craftsman bashing thread, but the old Craftsman stuff is
generally pretty good, 30-40 years old. The new stuff I try to avoid,
although there are a few keepers in the bunch, you just need to be careful.
IMO you can buy DeWalt, Milwaukee, Bosch, and a few others for the same or a
few dollars more than Craftsman, and get a better tool outa the deal.
Greg
"Charlie Self" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:6ce68a1b-65f2-45e5-8142-d0ef6a866f85@y38g2000hsy.googlegroups.com...
> On May 23, 10:04 am, Richard Evans <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> Woodcraft also charges super premium prices. I have one of the new 17"
> Delta drill presses, designed specifically for woodworking. It ain't
> lovable (too damned heavy to assemble for a fat old man; in fact, two
> of us had to use an engine crane hoist to get the head onto the tube),
> but it is good, with features no found on a machinist's DP. I'm not
> enamored of the laser all that much, but, hey, it's on there and it
> can be useful.
Charlie,
Congrats on your new role as President of National Association of Home &
Workshop Writers.
John
"Edwin Pawlowski" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:%[email protected]...
>
> "Greg O" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> "a few dollars more than Craftsman, and get a better tool outa the deal."
>>
>> What part is tough to understand?
>> Craftsman generally not top of the line stuff. Your money is better spent
>> with the other brands I mentioned.
>> Greg
>>
>
> Most of the time that is correct. Once in a while though, you find
> something with the Sears, Kenmore, Craftsman name so on it that is the
> exact item as the "brand" name, but Sears sells it for less or on sale at
> a bargain price.
>
Agreed. I said in my previous post hat Craftsman has some winners too, but
odds are you would be better spending your money elsewhere.
Greg
"Charlie Self" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On May 23, 2:28 pm, "John Grossbohlin"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>> "Charlie Self" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> Charlie,
>>
>> Congrats on your new role as President of National Association of Home &
>> Workshop Writers.
>>
>> John
>
> Thanks, John. Just what I needed at this time, but they couldn't find
> another sucker...not true, but I'm up past my ears for the next two
> months, yet I have to start wheeling and dealing to gather more
> members, and some more sponsors, as well as straight company members.
> Mostly, we're aiming at writing members. A lot of the new kids on the
> block don't belong; they should. It can be handy.
Well, I'm sure that Doug left you in a good place to start from... I'm also
sure it will take effort to sustain and grow. The next 5-10 years will
probably see a new generation come into it's own as the "old" guys retire.
Hopefully the new guys don't run out of material and see the merit of
NAHWW...
John
"Richard Evans" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm a newcomer to the group. Used to do a lot of woodworking, but for
> one reason and another dropped out almost twenty years ago. Now I'm
> trying to rebuild my shop and buying new tools is confusing.
>
> I stick to name brands: Craftsman, Milwaukee, DeWalt, etc., but wonder
> whether off brands are good products as well.
>
> For instance, someone on another thread mentioned the Ridgid has a
> good reputation here, so I'll expand my search to that brand.
I have a Ridgid table saw, the TS3650 that I'm very happy with. Also have a
Ridgid thickness planer and shop vac, also very happy with these. Ridgid
tools are carried by Home Depot.
A couple of months ago I picked up a Hitachi 18volt drill with Lithium-Ion
batteries that is powerful and the charge lasts a looonnng time.
A Dewalt DW788 scroll saw is the latest addition to my stable.
Other brands/tools: Freud plunge router and biscuit joiner; Porter-Cable
D-handle router; Bosch jigsaw; Craftsman radial arm saw (70s vintage);
Dewalt deck screwdriver (screwgun); also tools by Ramset, B&D, Ryobi, and
even a Chicago Electic chainsaw sharpener.
I see no reason to be a slave to any one manufacturer, unless maybe if you
get some fantastic package deal.
On May 23, 9:21=A0am, Richard Evans <[email protected]> wrote:
> I'm a newcomer to the group. Used to do a lot of woodworking, but for
> one reason and another dropped out almost twenty years ago. Now I'm
> trying to rebuild my shop and buying new tools is confusing.
>
> I stick to name brands: Craftsman, Milwaukee, DeWalt, etc., but wonder
> whether off brands are good products as well.
>
> For instance, someone on another thread mentioned the Ridgid has a
> good reputation here, so I'll expand my search to that brand.
>
> Is there a summary anywhere of the group's opinions on the =A0relative
> merits of various brands?
>
> If not, is there a simple list of good, bad, and indifferent brands?
No brand has/does it all.
Any particular tool in mind?
On May 23, 2:28 pm, "John Grossbohlin"
<[email protected]> wrote:
> "Charlie Self" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> news:6ce68a1b-65f2-45e5-8142-d0ef6a866f85@y38g2000hsy.googlegroups.com...
>
> > On May 23, 10:04 am, Richard Evans <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Woodcraft also charges super premium prices. I have one of the new 17"
> > Delta drill presses, designed specifically for woodworking. It ain't
> > lovable (too damned heavy to assemble for a fat old man; in fact, two
> > of us had to use an engine crane hoist to get the head onto the tube),
> > but it is good, with features no found on a machinist's DP. I'm not
> > enamored of the laser all that much, but, hey, it's on there and it
> > can be useful.
>
> Charlie,
>
> Congrats on your new role as President of National Association of Home &
> Workshop Writers.
>
> John
Thanks, John. Just what I needed at this time, but they couldn't find
another sucker...not true, but I'm up past my ears for the next two
months, yet I have to start wheeling and dealing to gather more
members, and some more sponsors, as well as straight company members.
Mostly, we're aiming at writing members. A lot of the new kids on the
block don't belong; they should. It can be handy.
On May 23, 11:19 am, "Leon" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Richard Evans" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> news:[email protected]...
>
> > Robatoy <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > My next tool purchase will probably be a drill press, a bench model,
> > as I don't foresee a need for the depth of a floor model.
>
> You typically can get a lot of bang for your buck with a DP.. "Tools of the
> Trade" compared the Powermatic 2800 and the Delta 17-959L. The Delta is 1/2
> the price of the Powermatic and won the toss.
>
> > There is a Woodcraft store near me:
>
> >http://www.woodcraft.com/stores/store.aspx?id=532
>
> > They sell a line called Jet.
>
> Jet has been arount for quite a few years, IIRC 20 or so. Good stuff. Jet
> & Powermatic are owned by the same company.
Good tools. But all are now made offshore--that holds true for
virtually every major power tool made, and most minor ones, these
days. The model 66 Powermatic used to be made in the USA, but that was
several years ago.
Check out Steel City Tools, too. I have their 16" bandsaw, and, except
for being a bit short to the table, it's a wonderful tool.
Robatoy <[email protected]> wrote:
>On May 23, 9:21 am, Richard Evans <[email protected]> wrote:
>> I'm a newcomer to the group. Used to do a lot of woodworking, but for
>> one reason and another dropped out almost twenty years ago. Now I'm
>> trying to rebuild my shop and buying new tools is confusing.
>>
>> I stick to name brands: Craftsman, Milwaukee, DeWalt, etc., but wonder
>> whether off brands are good products as well.
>>
>> For instance, someone on another thread mentioned the Ridgid has a
>> good reputation here, so I'll expand my search to that brand.
>>
>> Is there a summary anywhere of the group's opinions on the relative
>> merits of various brands?
>>
>> If not, is there a simple list of good, bad, and indifferent brands?
>
>No brand has/does it all.
>Any particular tool in mind?
I have my original Craftsman table saw, vintage 1975, Craftsman radial
saw, vintage 1969, and a DeWalt 12" chop saw with kick stand. I have
an assortment of power hand tools, both corded and cordless.
At one point, when I thought I'd never get back into woodworking, I
sold a Delta drill press (no big loss, it's replaceable) and I also
sold a Craftsman lathe of uncertain vintage, but it was 30 years old
when I bought it circa 1975. Solid cast iron, cast iron pedestal, 3"
solid oak bench top, every accessory Craftsman made for it. That was
one of a kind. Also sold a Craftsman shaper, also cast iron with a
1.5hp motor.
I've recently bought a Craftsman belt sander and Craftsman pad sander,
a Milwaukee circular saw, a DeWalt biscuit cutter, a Milwaukee half
inch router, a cheap delta shaper, a bunch of new hand tools -
screwdrivers, pliers, etc.
My next tool purchase will probably be a drill press, a bench model,
as I don't foresee a need for the depth of a floor model.
There is a Woodcraft store near me:
http://www.woodcraft.com/stores/store.aspx?id=532
They sell a line called Jet.
"Richard Evans" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm a newcomer to the group. Used to do a lot of woodworking, but for
> one reason and another dropped out almost twenty years ago. Now I'm
> trying to rebuild my shop and buying new tools is confusing.
>
> I stick to name brands: Craftsman, Milwaukee, DeWalt, etc., but wonder
> whether off brands are good products as well.
>
> For instance, someone on another thread mentioned the Ridgid has a
> good reputation here, so I'll expand my search to that brand.
>
> Is there a summary anywhere of the group's opinions on the relative
> merits of various brands?
>
> If not, is there a simple list of good, bad, and indifferent brands?
No one builds the best of everything so brand loyalty only benefits the
manufacturer.
I would not consider Craftsman unless the tool is made by an reputable tool
company like DeWalt, Bosch, etc.
Decent brands include Milwaukee, Bosch, Makita, Festool, Panasonic, Hitachi,
and a few others, in no particular order. Porter Cable used to be much
better but has not got the good repudiation it once had.
You might indicate which particular tools you are interested in and solicit
brands or models from there. For example Bosch and Milwaukee probably make
the best jig saws. Bosch, DeWalt, and Festool probably make the better
routers. Any of the above mentioned for drills.
"Lou" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:1903370a-8318-451e-acde-1773b31eef24@f63g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>> Not to start a Craftsman bashing thread, but the old Craftsman stuff is
>> generally pretty good, 30-40 years old. The new stuff I try to avoid,
>> although there are a few keepers in the bunch, you just need to be
>> careful.
>> IMO you can buy DeWalt, Milwaukee, Bosch, and a few others for the same
>> or >> Greg
>
>
> Why do you think that is?
> Lou
>>
"a few dollars more than Craftsman, and get a better tool outa the deal."
What part is tough to understand?
Craftsman generally not top of the line stuff. Your money is better spent
with the other brands I mentioned.
Greg
"Richard Evans" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> I stick to name brands: Craftsman, Milwaukee, DeWalt, etc., but wonder
> whether off brands are good products as well.
>
> For instance, someone on another thread mentioned the Ridgid has a
> good reputation here, so I'll expand my search to that brand.
>
> Is there a summary anywhere of the group's opinions on the relative
> merits of various brands?
>
> If not, is there a simple list of good, bad, and indifferent brands?
Name brands also include Black & Decker and Skil, but I don't want their
tools. There are many names that are not as well known to the non craftsman
types that make good tools, such as Festool, Kreg, Triton, and more.
Reputable stores such as Rockler, Highland Hardware, Lee Valley only carry
decent brands.
"Richard Evans" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Robatoy <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> My next tool purchase will probably be a drill press, a bench model,
> as I don't foresee a need for the depth of a floor model.
You typically can get a lot of bang for your buck with a DP.. "Tools of the
Trade" compared the Powermatic 2800 and the Delta 17-959L. The Delta is 1/2
the price of the Powermatic and won the toss.
> There is a Woodcraft store near me:
>
> http://www.woodcraft.com/stores/store.aspx?id=532
>
> They sell a line called Jet.
>
Jet has been arount for quite a few years, IIRC 20 or so. Good stuff. Jet
& Powermatic are owned by the same company.