Thread: my new tool purchasing strategy

I tend to buy cheap for rare or one-off jobs, but if its a regularly used tool then I go for the best I can afford.

In terms of justifying the cost, I find myself dividing the price by the number of years the tool will last. With that strategy I can pretty much convince myself about the rightness of any purchase!

Here is what typically happens to me.
Initially I start out by deciding to make "A", then I realise to do that it would be easier if I had tool or gizmo "B" so I go the hardware store and when I find out what "B" costs I might decide, I reckon I can make that. Start making "B" but to make that I need a "C" and before I know it I have completely forgotten what I set out to make in the first place. Every now and then SWMBO reminds me of what I promised - Drat!

Ultimately it is your own responsibility to buy what's going to work for you. Do your research,ask around and from your own personal choice taste and budget go buy what you want. No sin in buying the wrong tool,sell it and buy what you should have bought. What might be right for others may not mean they are right for you ,learn to trust your own gut this will help in the future.




Frank.

I have found universally, for me, that buying cheaply has led to bitter disappointment. Its quality is rubbish, it lasts 2 jobs, never aligns, can't get parts or performance is so bad it becomes a false economy.

Everything needed comes in time, so my most valued buying tip is "time". I take a lot of time to imagine my way through a job, mainly because there is as much joy in making as there is in finishing. This savouring experience lets me make slow and therefor good decisions (this is my own warped perception anyway).

Ultimately though, my biggest tip is second hand. Major buys second hand are unsurpassed bargains. It helps to have a mechanical mind though. If things have to work right out of the box then this will lead to anger, but if you don't mind pulling a thing apart and fettling it back into perfection (rust removal, welding, flattening, paint, new bearings, etc), then you will get great satisfaction from both buying a bargain plus the knowledge of exactly how the tool works.

While not for everyone, learning HOW the tool really works, on a deep level, allows you to use it exactly and to its full potential.

I've also found that if I re-sell a second hand machine, when I upgrade, I get the same and sometimes more than I bought it for. This lessens any pain of a miss-buy (though I do believe in karma, so the bad ones go to the recyclers and I'll only pass on the good stuff).

I think most of us have a limitation on the amount that we spend. At least I have. And it is self imposed.

When I was very young the only concept that I was aware of, was new tools from the hardware store and it was the very large hardware stores. These days my options have increased as my knowledge has increased on tools but I still have a long way to go.

So in order to increase ones knowledge you have to do some research and the best place to do research is via the library called the internet. The limitation come from not being able to hold the tool, test the tool, having to depend on peoples comments based on their experiences with the tool.

So whether that is second hand or new tool, information gathering is the first step in my strategy.

First thing I usually look for is versatility of the tool.. I am not great woodworker.. well I can't even say I am a good one... but I get things done..
So when there was a need to get a pedestal drill.. I've decided to get radial arm drill press... well it is not the best one.. it is average.. but gives me most versatility...

Table saw was one of the cheaper 10A contractor saws... but hey... for under $900 I've got a table saw that can take dado blades.. plus two low noise blades ... (was on a special) brand new..


End result...
Well they are not excellent tools (but neither is my work) but they do get job done...

As I'm renting at the moment I'm quite limited with power and workshop size.. so at the moment I'm getting stuff that is fairly portable, does job and not overly expensive...
Later on when I get my own place I might upgrade to better tools (15Amp table saw etc)..