Thread: GMC 10" Slide Compound Miter Saw with REDEYE® Laser Line Generator

Originally Posted by echnidna

At the least GMC represents reasonable value for money.

This is true.
I rarely have a need to use an angle grinder for instance.
I bought a GMC 4" for $39 from the big B and the only time I've used it so far it worked a treat.
It would have cost me that to hire one and I'd of had to have given it back.

As others have pointed out, it really comes down to horses for courses and what you can afford, so there's not really any point in being a snob about it.

Having said that though, when you do work with a quality tool, you notice the difference.

I finally bought my first tool, a right handle GMC drill.The only reason I bought it was its price.Some one mentioned they paid 45 bucks, well Bunning’s where selling them at 29 dollars so how could I resist. Also bought an Ozito (yes I know shock horror to some) mini cordless (18v) chainsaw , again it was at a bargain price of 30 dollars with 2 yr warranty. They also had a cordless GMC drill for 29 dollars but it didn’t have 2 speeds on it, so I didn’t buy it.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>

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Tomorrow I am sending my wife to an auction they are having some Makita Dewalt cordless drills , so if I am lucky they will be a little chaeper so I can afford to own the “best”…<o></o>

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Maybe the forum bloke in here can set up a new forum with upcoming auctions specials that stores are having , might be good for us bargain hunters to pick up some “pro” tools at a GMC price!!!<o></o>

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Thinking of my next tools purchase<o></o>

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Mixo<o></o>

the trick i find is looking at the overall use of the tool. For instance my cordless, beltsander, Jigsaw, laminate trimmer and circular saw get a hammering,thus they are all Makita. Makita make the best in beltsanders IMHO.

Then i have a bosch orbital and hammerdrill. then theres the GMC r1200 router, SCMS, Rotary Hammer Drill and Compressor. At the bottom i have an ozito heat gun. I bought the router as it was double the price of the drill bit i was looking at buying and i ended up borrowing a 20mm routerbit from work. did the job i was after and even supprised me how well it worked. i think a 20mm bit in my trimmer would have been pushing my luck

I have now filled 3 galvanized tool boxes and am now working on a 4th and i love the fact that GMC and some of the others like Ryobi and the Clones are making tool ownership more affordable,thus creating a new generation of tool addicts. You have to admit they all have picked up their act when it comes to quality. i remember the GMC and Ryobi gear a few years back being utter Cr@p. I still would not buy a cheap cordless drill though.

G

Well said Gcp310, I would never even think about woodworking untill i saw the entry price of power tools.My attitude was cheaper to buy it the store(furniture) by the time i bought all the tools to built it myself.Not anymore, I am starting small and working my way up, dont ever know if i will reach the time when I will want to buy the "top" stuff but i hope i will.

Gmc and that ilk of power tools will get me going and I have seen many of my friends and relatives who are my age ( high 30's with kids) that are building stuff for their homes intead of buying it.You can see them so much more confident in themselves and so proud they can build something with their own hands.

Its not about the tools I Dont think in the end, they are just a means to making your life better and maybe make us males live a little longer!!!

mixo

Originally Posted by mixo

Its not about the tools I Dont think in the end,

:eek: :eek: :eek:

Get out while you still can, mate !!!!

Hiya,

The simple fact is that a great many tools are made in red china and in the republic of china. There's nothing for it but get used to it.

I by US made tools when i can, but so few of them are made in the US that there is little choice but to buy tools constructed in other countries. I'm sure that most of you would prefer to buy tools made in Australia, but honest, how many are any more? I'll bet not many, and certainly bet that none of those have any large castings in them. Items like table saws and miter saws, drill presses, joiners, etc...

Originally Posted by craigb

:eek: :eek: :eek:

Get out while you still can, mate !!!!

Mateeeeeeeeeee I just got into it.Maybe I didnt express myself right, And a few people have said it before, doesnt matter if you have the most expesive tools in the world, power or hand tools(and i had a look at some of these and if i though power tools where expensive...), if the end product is crap, doesnt mean its the tools fault...

I am sure the first few projects I am working on now some will turn out to be "crap" in my eyes... maybe in your eyes as well...

mixo

Right on Mixo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sheeesh!!

A bloke has a few days R&R and misses a whole tool snob thread while he wasn't looking!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

Anyone who reckons a good tradesman never blames his tools, has never used PROPER cheapies.

And here I am referring to those classic brands, the ones that didn't produce moving parts or motors but scaled the absolute pinnacle of crappitude.

I am referring to the sorts of companies would make Lee Valley proud to stock GMC stuff!!

I refer of course to ETC and FHP (which I am reliably informed is/was an acronym for Ferkin Hopeless Product).

It is impossible to be a tool snob if you own any products with these brands. (It is also impossible to produce a result, but that is another story).

Are there any other "Classic" dud brands? And no, my "Sturdee" grinder doesn't qualify even though it's probably half as good as a GMC one, it has lasted 25 years.

Cheers,

P

Actually ETC isn't the bottom of the pit.
Compared to UH (United Hardware) its definately in the Mercedes Class

I agree whole hearted. having access to great tools does not mean that you will produce excellent results. Trust me, some of the crap i see the apprentices push out the door. :eek: and half their stuff is cut,edged and drilled for them on italian made Beisse CNC machinery.

Besides , how are you going to know what to look for if your just starting out?
i find its probably better to my midrange gear untill your up to your armpits in it and you find your life incomplete without a daily visit to this site
thatway when you do have the experience and knowledge,spending your hard earned cash on new gear wont be a drama.

i did some work on the house yesterday. i used my GMC compressor,rotary hammer drill, makita cordless, and ozito grinder with a $9.00 diamond blade to cut 7 recesses into the concrete patio. all worked flawlessly. the end result was spot on. better still i looked great in the eyes of my better half as another home project finally finished. This then makes it easier to justify my next tool purchases . see, its a vicious circle.

G

How is "Millers Falls" for a classic dud brand - except that it is anything dud. I paid $20 two years ago at Bunnies for one of their little 4' angle grinders. It came with a squillion blades and brushes etc all of which are complete junk. But the angle grinder itself has been flogged mercilessly and the little bugger keeps coming back for more.
Now "XU1" - also sold at Bunnies is a different story. Absolute junk.

Well, after all this time, I'm still using my GMC SCMS. I haven't had to adjust anything on it and it's still cutting nice and square. I've replaced quite a bit of the trim in my home and used it for hundreds of 2x4 cuts.

I like it a lot. For the money I spent, I'm damned pleased. The only annoyance I have is that the motor interferes can bump the hold down on the RH side.

My local Lowes (a big box home center) has the GMC benchtop drill press on closeout. I think I'm going to get one if there're any left. The benchtop bandsaw looks just a tad bit flimsy, so that's not on. But for the life of me I can drill a straight hole with a hand drill and need the help!

Enjoy the weekend, friends.