Thread: what is the most overpriced tool?

Gidday:eek:

Once again for me its anything Festool. Unless I was doing heaps of joinery on a daily basis and continual production runs all Festool products are way way overpriced.

Anyone that owns Festrool gear know what I'm talking about when I mention "The Sting" of a Festool purchase and almost everyone buying in the market at some stage mentions the struggle of justifying the outlay for a festool purchase.

The jurys still out on this one with some considering Festool products their best purchase and well worth the initial outlay n others conceeding that their units dont considerbly outshine products that can be purchased for nearly half the price.

I want Festool gear n would love to have a few of their sanders drill drivers and jigsaws in my woodworking arsenel BUT the type of woodworking I do simply cant justify that initial "Sting" of the forced love affair Festool demands.

In my woodworking fantasy world Festool dominates the tool market and makes a handsome profit by providing their range at a cost more affordable in the open market to a broader range of woodworking needs. In the meantime I'll keep dreaming about owning my first Festool 'piece' and the Lotto win I'll need to 'kit up' on Festool gear.

REgards Lou

I know Ozito cope a bit of flack, but they did have 2 levels, the blue "disposable" and the red and yellow. I bought a plane, small detail sander and angle grinder. The plane is abused trimming painted bearers/joists and taking edges of sleeperes, some coated in dirt. Can't complain.

The detail sander has a small 2" triangle pad that I needed for one job and haven't used since.

The angle grinder suprised me most of all, I bought it to cut a lot of concrete and expected the bearings to choke on the dust. The first use had the gearbox red hot. After it cooled down it has been fine since, obivously had run-in iteslf and taken off the rough edges.

You get what you pay for, and depends on what you want to use it for. When I buy a tool I try and put of a "value" on its use and then figure how long it will take to recoup the outlay. Using that formula I could never justify any of the more expensive tools, no matter how good. I have quite a variety of cheaper ones and that's much better than only one good tool as I had spent all my budget.

in naswer to the original quesiton - anything my family buys for PC's then expects me to support.....

Felder is also overpriced - but jeez its nice stuff innit ?

At least this topic excludes the Domino.

If a tool is so unique and no other exists in the world to make a comparison then its pointless and futile to even suggest its overpriced

I've been thinking about this, and in two minds...no tool is overpriced if the quality is there and you have the folding stuff. (as Festools fans insist!) Generally you get what you pay for...except if the thing has a legend attached and they are hard to get, like a Norris plane. Then I think reputation outweighs utility (because tool=use).
I was originally going to post "Snap On" (mechanics) tools, which are exhorbitantly priced, but matched by the quality of build. I have some, and used a lot on aircraft: they are superb tools, possibly the best, with no excess material, finished beautifully and will last a lifetime. And I think there's the rub, if the tool is built well... that means quality materials and quality machining, plus more time in finishing, none of which come cheap....then it represents value for money. Case in point, Leatherman Supertool, now $180-ish. I've had mine on my belt for over 10yrs, with no failures...so that works out at under $18/yr, a fine investment!
I think of the GMC drills I've bought (so as having them stolen isn't a concern), which last about 2 recharges then couldn't put a hole through firm custard, are overpriced. They should be given away, and then be put straight in the bin, IMHO . I don't see the point of having one poop itself when needed (ie Sunday, 30kms from nearest shop) with the assurance you can get another. Wasted money.
I just rang a large unnamed hardware chainstore, to confirm the price on a new Stanley #4....I was pleasantly surprised at $72.85, that is untill you actually go to use one! Recently bought one for work, and its just plain horrid. I think a secondhand one from the markets would be better value, so in that respect the plane is overpriced, because despite its cheap cost, doesn't perform to expectations.

Just my thoughts, Cheers!

Originally Posted by Zed

Felder is also overpriced - but jeez its nice stuff innit ?

Overpriced or expensive? I could get real defensive-like, here.....

Originally Posted by Lignum

At least this topic excludes the Domino. If a tool is so unique and no other exists in the world to make a comparison then its pointless and futile to even suggest its overpriced

I don't agree that it's overpriced as it fits a niche market for people who haven't the skill to make up a pattern and a jig and simply use a router - overcoming the old problem that money cannot by skill (Although if anyone can name a sander that is comparable to the rotex I will crawl back under my rock)...

My most useless overpriced thing was a met@bo cordless drill - although it also had one of the most usefull features of any tool that I've ever seen, the impact screw extractor thingy - but other than that it was a waste of money

My most expensive tool, because any money spent to acquire it would be wasted, would be a steel rule that was:

• bowed in two directions
• out in its measurements by >5%

I was just lucky that I saw it in a pile of junk on a nature strip for a Council cleanup, picked it up, took it home, was about to use it but tried it for straightness and threw it out (so I didn't even waste any good material by using it to mark up). Before turfing it I bent it over so it was obviously unusable.

Lesson - if the thing really doesn't work - before putting it out for collection, mangle it so no poor bunny wastes his time with it!!!

Originally Posted by Eastie

(Although if anyone can name a sander that is comparable to the rotex I will crawl back under my rock)...

To easy The Fein 8" variable speed ROS is a better sander hands down.... now where is that rock

poor bugger lost his rock (technically the Fein Exzenterschleifer comes under the classification of a Oberflächenbearbeitung so there.... If you're talking about the Rotationsschleifer then that's another story.... )

Hmmm most expensive tool... J Howard or A Downer!

Just jokin, but seriously I think Starret tools should be about 1/4 of their price, its not a case YGWYPF in this instance there are other brands that are just as accuriate and as durable and about a 5th of the price.

Disagree about the festool and Felder(and most quality machine brands), they spend big on r&d and quality materials, thats really what your paying for.

I have been helping a mate build a deck behind his house this month as time permits. He is now reliant on me and my too expensive tools to finish the job. He started with a sliding mitre saw, a chop saw, an angle grinder, a hammer drill, a power stapler, a battery drill and a laser level. All were just out of warranty, all had been used just once before. They were all of the common Bunnings brand, much loved by people who think a two year warranty somehow equates to quality.

Within three days, ALL of these tools failed, all beyond repair. (No parts you see, and not worth the time).

So we watched as about $500.00 worth of bargain tools demonstrated that value cannot be determined by price alone.

It seems like drunken sailor spending when you buy your first "Fe..." tool (Felder/Festool/Festo/Fein). After a while it seems like silliness not to. They are lifetime tools.

Back when I used to play with aeroplanes and fast cars I quickly learned the frustration of a failed tool at 5:30 on a Saturday afternoon. Life is too short to put up with crap like that.

By the way...one of the chop saw's flaws was a blade guide that wouldn't reliably guard the blade. My mate came thiiiiis close to losing a chunk of his hand. That tool could have cost him an airline pilot career. Normal price tags don't have room for that many zeroes.

Best,

Greg

Snap On is the most overpriced stuff IMO.

And who'd pay $450 for a hand plane which I tried out at a www show that seemed to be no better than an old record I bought for $40.
Very disappointed with an $80 "Garlick" saw I purchased too which immediately needed resetting. $80 piece of crap couldn't even cut 2x1" pine.
Festo are expensive, but their stuff is great to use, it's pretty good gear.
I have a number of festo tools, my festo sanders have done hundreds of hrs of work (probably thousands even) and they're still going strong, I've only replaced brushes and a switch. Festo jig saw is still acurate and smooth, it's been to hell and back.

Anything by Festool (and that includes the Domino).