Low Quality VS. High Quality Tools. Have We All Been Tricked?
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- čas přidán 10. 07. 2024
- Is it okay to buy higher quality, and usually higher cost tools to do the job of lower quality, lower cost tools? In this video that's exactly what I debate and I give a few perfectly good examples of why you may or may not want to take the plunge.
ALL MY HAND TOOLS, POWER TOOLS, CAMERA GEAR AND MORE:
www.amazon.com/shop/inspirewo...
TOOLS SPECIFIC TO THIS VIDEO:
LOW END KIT:
PENCIL- amzn.to/2uGNPBJ
CLAMPS- www.harborfreight.com/hand-to...
CHISELS-www.homedepot.com/p/Buck-Bros...
TRY SQUARE- www.homedepot.com/p/Empire-Tr...
COMBINATION SQUARE- www.homedepot.com/p/Empire-12...
UPGRADED KIT:
PENCIL- amzn.to/2TpGbUD
CLAMPS- www.homedepot.com/p/BESSEY-Cl... (This is how I bought them - as a 4-pack)
CHISELS- amzn.to/2wjou0R
TRY SQUARE- amzn.to/3cVu7TW
4-PC COMBINATION SQUARE- amzn.to/2QeVdf5
BLEMISHED 2-PC COMBINATION SQUARE- lddy.no/m661
BLEMISHED 4-PC COMBINATION SQUARE- lddy.no/m662
Looking for BLEMISHED PEC COMBINATION SQUARES, DOUBLE SIDED TAPE and overall great savings ALL THE TIME? Shop where I shop! lddy.no/go67
YOU CAN SAVE 10% ON STARBOND CA GLUES AND ACCELERATOR!
Use the code “INSPIRE10” at checkout! www.starbond.com
SAVE 10% ON OLIGHT FLASHLIGHTS, TACTICAL LIGHTS AND HEADLAMPS!
Use the code "INSPIRE10" at checkout! olight.idevaffiliate.com/idev...
BANGGOOD WOODWORKING TOOLS: www.banggood.com/marketing-Wo...
MY HAND TOOLS, POWER TOOLS, CAMERA GEAR AND MORE:
www.amazon.com/shop/inspirewo...
VISIT THE INSPIRE WOODCRAFT SHOP: inspirewoodcraft.com/product-...
Adjustable Box Joint Jig Plan: inspirewoodcraft.com/product/...
Multipurpose Shooting Board Plan: inspirewoodcraft.com/product/...
All Purpose Tapering Jig Plan: inspirewoodcraft.com/product/...
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I had no idea that a lot of you would be interested in the tools that I compared, but I have now added links to where all the items can be found. Look in the video description for those links if you're interested. And a huge thank you to everyone who has shared their "two cents" on the matter. There's some really great points and knowledge being shared!
I really enjoyed the video... I'm a DIYer and I have done most of my projects with low-end tools. I have learned that the answer to the question you were trying to answer in the video (at least for me), is not so much about low end/high end but as to the tool itself... For instance, clamps, I own low quality, but I don't demand precision, I'm realistic and don't expect precision if I didn't spend the money. I would love to see a similar video about power tools. Keep up the good work. I really appreciate the content of your channel.
I have the empire square and have checked it and have no problem with it.
@george george my sediments likewise though I have been self taught way before youtube
P
Hey Thanks for the video. I framed a gate for a fence. I used a combination square. I am not a pro, but a do it yourself guy. But the 45 degree cut was a bad cut. I thought the frame was not square. I went through several possible mistakes. My measurement was good. I couldn't find my mistake. It was the angle, or the ruler on the combo square. Next time I need to use a square, I will have to purchase a newer combo square. Long story short; I made the cross brace fit. I do prefer doing things right. However in this case, the fence gate is strong, just looks unprofessional. Thanks again for the video.
Quality is remembered long after price is forgotten is what my grandfather taught me.
Kerry Holgate I got something similar from my dad, something like buy good buy once.
That's a great phrase
Legendary wisdom
Your bank account always remembers 😉
Buy once cry once 😂
I look at it this way: You can curse once when you pay for it or you can curse it every time you use it!
i feel that way about the van i bought
Haha absolutely spot on!!!
@@davehole643 What brand Van Dave?. I purchased a Jeep Wrangler ..same deal. I had to buy a Nissan Frontier which gives no problems compared to the frikken Jeep.
@@conmanumber1 Count your many blessings bro, I have advanced MS and a seizure disorder so no driving for me. I woodwork for fun.
Followed a motto of "Buy once cry once" most all my life. There are caveats to that... but for the most part a more expensive, well reviewed tool will most the time perform better and easier than the cheapest ones.
1345/74D/Corrections
My dad taught me many hard lessons many decades ago. He always said "Quality and price are two different things. Low price doesn't always mean low quality, and high price doesn't mean your getting the best tool. Pick what one you want and be happy with what you got".
I miss you dad, but I'm happy I can share some of your knowledge with the world.
Love it
Well said
My grandfather taught me; “Buy nice or buy twice.” I’ve found that to be good advice.
"Buy once, cry once" was my favorite growing up...
And rhyme thrice! :D
@@DavidLindes As a non-native speaker, I must confess that I admire the capacity english speakers (especially in the US) have to make such rythmed and chiseled sayings.
@@etiennebordes4008 :)
Question: do you mean chiseled? I'm not familiar with "ciseled" as a word... [and yes, I tried looking it up, because who knows what word I might just not know!]
@@DavidLindes yes, you're right, I meant chiseled, my bad. I edited.
I’m a cabinet maker with 52 years experience, almost all of which was self employed. When I was starting in the trade an old timer said to me, “buy the best tools that you can afford, and then learn how to make them work for you”. I’ve followed that advice my whole life. No matter what tool you buy or even make for yourself, you need to learn all the characteristics of that tool and make it work in ways that get you to the finish quality you desire in your project. Fear not, something better will always come along that works better, faster, smoother, etc. Be selective in what you buy and don’t get into the habit of automatically buying the next new thing. Rely on your skill and experience to tell you when it’s time to upgrade. But, when you upgrade buy the best tools that you can afford!
Timeless advice. Thank you for the insight.
Great advice.
So true! I have inherited tools from my father and his father! Nice to hold something that has been passed down because it just works!
Just what my dad said to me 50 years ago.
It is often just special to hold a tool you father and grandfather held.
There is something to be said about learning with cheap/budget tools, because then you can truly appreciate the finer tools later on. This applies to just about any trade.
very good point
Goes for women also
Also ask yourself: is the tool needed for a one time repair, occasional hobby use, or using the tool every day to make a living. Sometimes it's worth going with the cheap tool because you simply don't know if you will use it enough to justify the good one.
@@jumper233 True that!
So long as you don't pick up bad habits, or get use to inaccurate measurements.
A tip i lived for long by myself, and i was very happy to hear it endorsed by Adam savage: When you buy a new tool, get the cheapest one you can get. If you realise that you can really use that tool, buy the best one you can afford, or suits your need. If you dont, you havent wasted any money.
That should work well for most people, whether professional or amateur. I was given that advice when buying my first router, so I bought a box of 50 router bits for $50. The ones I use frequently were soon replaced by Freuds, others I have never used at all. I now do the same thing every time I need a new tool.
Interesting thought, but on the other hand how many people end up not using a supper useful tool just because they only tried useless version of it ?
An exemple ? Untunable bench plane.
I just watched this : czcams.com/video/dgIdcIzHG38/video.html about supper crappy amazon basics n°4 plane. This "tool shaped object" is just pointless, if the first time i had used a benchplane it has been that one there's chances i would have concluded handplanes are pointless things of the past.
The interesting thing here is the handplane i use the most theses days is a small Japanese one that i paid about half the price of that one, so ...
@@lolaa2200 i would say the solution ist to not literally buy the crappiest you can get, but do a little research to (even in the low budget range) have a little basis on what to buy.
i mean it should be easy to find out if a cheap tool ist jsut not working at all.
I would also like to add that "cheap" may be misleading.....in german we have two different words for cheap. One is billig (cheap and crappy) and günstig (low priced). The latter is ofcourse the favourable one.
I find a lot of my stuff was buy cheap what will get me through this project without thinking about future. Since I am not a professional and don't do it as often as I like, I sometimes do end up wishing I had thought it out a little more when I end up using that tool more than planned. You talking Mythbusters Adam? I never heard that quote, but I always loved "I reject your reality and substitute my own".
@@lespaul36 Yes Mythbusters Adam. CHeck out his Channel TEsted. over the lastst year he did a lot od one day builds and Q&As and stuff.
Best 20 minutes I’ve spent in a long time. Maybe the only 20-minute CZcams clip I’ve seen without skipping forward. Thanks for your intelligence, perspicacity, advice, and efficient communication. Super helpful and super well done!
You watched 6 minutes about a pencil?
In general, for all CZcamsrs, the "discussion" videos are much more informative and useful than the "watch me make something" videos.
When I was in school for mechanical engineering my friends and I developed a saying: "Measure with a micrometer, mark with chalk, cut with an ax." This came about because we realized that we had great measuring tools available to us but poor marking and cutting tools. Any discussion on measurement or marking needs to refer back to the question how accurately can you cut. No matter how accurate your measurement or marking tools are it is meaningless if you don't have the ability to accurately cut to those marks. I'm new to your channel so I haven't had a chance to dig into everything yet perhaps you cover that in another video. Overall I liked the video and will be digging into other stuff you have made. Thanks.
something to consider might be that your work can only be as precise as your measuring/layout. When you start marking with spraypaint, from a few feet, your cut will still be "somewhat less exact'' than roughly chopping along your chalk line
My axe cuts very sharp and accurate lines 😂 but it also goes in this discussion because it is a hand forged bearded carving axe (that was a total gift to myself - the rest of my spoon carving kit was $20)
I agree, but I tend to start as accurate as I can and then work at the tolerances needed for the job at hand.
The Essential Craftsman has some good talk about that - he refers to what level of precision, what tolerances are acceptable for the job. Sometimes cutting to one side of the line or the other is important.
Other times, if it's within 1/4" then it's "good enough". Knowing your acceptable tolerances is pretty important.
@@WayneWerner I absolutely love that video and I internalized it to the point I ask myself at the start of every job "what is my acceptable tolerance"
Scott Wadsworth knows how to teach wisdom and it is a gift.
Hobbyist woodworker but I'm an injection mold builder for 35 years. I've always lived by "buy the best you can afford at the time." If you can only afford the less expensive then do your research and get the best bang for the buck. Some of my co-workers like to buy cheap and that's good for them. I like to buy quality and never regretted it.
"It brings me more joy to use"
That right there is enough justification to get a better tool. Carry on.
he should spank the monkey with some Vicks and see how much joy that brings him.
Who let the 10 year old have internet access?
I absolutely agree. Many of my daily use tools are what I enjoy using and makes my work day more enjoyable. In spite of people trashing me for some of my premium tools.
It’s like the Marie Kondo approach for simplifying your life and reducing clutter. “Does this bring me joy?” If it does, keep it and if it doesn’t, get rid
@@spoonieAB3 some of us live in more than just the present moment. While an artifact may not bring me joy immediately I can well see a day where it could. Yesterday a drawer in my kitchen broke and I was quite happy that I had some HDPE stock on hand to make a new bracket for it. Otherwise I'd have been taking a trip to the home center to buy new crap. Which never thrills me. Let's see the bracket I milled break. It is much stouter than the garbage that did.
if only pieces of wood knew that after you had machined them flat and square that they were supposed to stay flat and square.
Oh, they know. They just don't give a rat's rump.
Ya gotta let em dance before use.....
That is part of the art of woodworking, learning to work with and around how wood is always moving. So under appreciated by everyone else who doesn’t have to think that hard.
That's why I only build fine furniture out of MDF and Masonite. /s
@Jestivius Jovial_Emperor but even properly seasoned wood that has dried for years and years will move/expand/contract with seasonal swings or relocation to different climates. And twist, warp, bow, and cup is as often that as it is the grain direction and defects in the wood.
Boy are you a great teacher! I stumbled across your videos and have started to watch. I’m a 71 year old girl who is a Furnuture painter. I have become more interested in the wood working side, but of course at a very basic level. From someone who has little knowledge of most tools, I understand everything you say. Thank you for teaching.
I came from a poor family, so we were forced to buy as cheaply as possible, and what I still do today is buy an inexpensive tool to do the job, and upgrade if it doesn't do the job right. It's amazing what you discover about what some inexpensive tools can do, and what tools are and are not worth cheaping out on
I started my woodworking journey with whatever i could get my hands on at a "cheap" price, yard sales, estate sales, harbor freight, etc. Now with trying to build my resume in finer woodworking I am fully committed to the higher quality for most of the reasons you explained. It like any other business, reinvest into yourself and business as you can. Thanks for the information, this was very helpful in making me not second guess my decision to spend the extra money.
When you start to amass duplicate tools, you will rarely reach for the crappy cheap tool.
43 years as a custom cabinetmaker and fine woodworker here, and at 5:42 you told me all I needed to know when you said "... it brings me more joy..." about a $12 mechanical pencil. The fact is, most tools are only as good as the person using them.
36 years as a cadibet maker/ finisher. I agree with you 100%.
CTR WoodCraft wasted to much time on a stupid pencil
However it is easier to be a good woodworker with good tools. Takes at least one variable out of the equation. I am always learning to use my tools because they are mostly better than me. I can live with that. I can learn.
If better tools make one a better craftsman, please explain furniture that was biult 200 years ago thats still in one piece today. Because clearly tools are much better than they were in 1820.
Better tools do NOT make a better craftsman but if he or she is patient and practises they will most likely improve their craft. I am pretty sure that better tools ALLOW a tradesperson to become a better craftsman. Fighting cheap tools makes it hard to become good. Metals in the 1800s were nowhere near as good as they are now but all that means is that a craftsman would have to sharpen more often. They were journeymen for years so they were all taught the trades in great detail. Sadly a lot of that these days is done with machinery.
Your videos are dead on for valuable information! I'm also impressed with your information delivery. You can very accurately deliver the information for a very long segment without any stuttering or interruptions. You know your craft and your topic so well that you don't need much video editing.
Great article !!!... and thanks for taking this time. I'm a user of various quality tools and equipment - an aspect of differing uses, requirements and budgets along the way and have regularly upgraded after failures in the shop or reviews such as this. I'm a full time/hobby woodworker (retired last year) and I regularly go down the youtube 'rabbit hole' with these types of clips and I find that they continuously inspire me to get better. I've often bought tools after watching reviews like this and so I find them to be the life blood of my hobby. Obviously, we can take or leave some of the opinions and comments but, in general, they are very useful. I always learn something !! Again, thanks and well done!! Keep going!
Two quotes I've learned to live by: "Buy your last tool first." and "Buy the best and you'll only cry once." It was a hard lesson to learn.
Paul Engel I do this as a hobby. I am a chef by trade of 30 years. My cheep knives are just that cheep. My quality knives I can carve food and creat precise cuts to make something very difficult to make look so simple. I have some knives for 25 years now. Buy once and kill anyone that touches your knife haha
Does this include tools for your helpers?
ha!!! i like that. paying the bill only hurts for a minute
You’ll cry every time you have to pay the Snap On man.
The way I learned it is 'buy the first of a kind of tool cheap. If you break it, buy a quality replacement, because you've proven you use it enough to have broken it and the replacement is worthwhile.' I don't have a lot of tools, but I've broken a couple, and when I replaced them, I went with a quality brand.
I've had that $10 pencil on my watch list for a year. Both you and James Hamilton (Stumpy Nubs) recommend it highly. This is how my spending gets out of control.......$10 here, $1000 there.
Until you learn to buy your$1000 tools on Craigslist’s, pawn shops, etc for $200 while the similar Chi Comm tool is $300. Of your wise your $1000 tools can be bid down to under $100.
Case in point $250 makita SDS drive grinder Made in Japan was bought for $25 dollars at pawn shop. Sounds like 10 cents on the dollar.
Wrong, wrong, wrong. If it were Craigslist I wouldn’t pay 9 1/2% sales tax and the Pawn shop negotiated the $25 and included sales tax.
Also with my wife and I working, my marginal rates are at 50%. Over 30% Federal, 7% State, almost 10% FICA/Medicare combined, 2% Union, extra 2% NJ taxes although I’m not a resident (BS).
Moral of story, if you think about it costing near $2000 to buy that $1000 tool or $150,000 to buy that $75,000 Euro trash car you just won’t
Hi Jody, As a DIYer getting back into woodworking after a 20 year break, I can agree with everything you said at every level you mentioned, from low quality tools to get you started to errors in the tools that make you think it's your error, to high quality tools. One value about money that was instilled in me as a child is this: everything usually has different levels of quality, go for what you can afford but if the next level up isn't a far stretch and you can wait, then do so, otherwise get what you need at that moment. This has never failed me and I especially apply it to tools. This is even easier with the help of research from the internet and CZcams videos like this one. Starting out, I picked up some HFT blue clamps like the one you showed, even back then I wanted better quality, but for what I needed they worked. I must have hit the store after a clamp sale and they were cleaned out and I needed some clamps so I wound up with odd size clamps 18" & 30". Recently I was working on a project for my kid that was 30" wide and I thought, great i have some clamps for this. When I attempted to use my blue clamps, low and behold they didn't fit. I took out my tape measure to find that one was 29 3/4 & the other was 29 5/8. The 2 18s were exact though. Luckily I had some other longer clamps that worked. I thought the blemished tool was a great way to get a higher end tool for less and I wish other manufacturers would go with this. I am actually looking for a square and have been looking at a woodpeckers, but am trying find 2nd best at the moment as I would like the 2 pc set, but maybe just go with the 8" square as you showed.. One thing I would like to see more from CZcamsrs is when highlighting tools that you got for free, be transparent and say so or say you bought it with your own money. Thanks for your videos and keep up the great work!
This seemed like a very honest, well thought out review, where you were being as objective as possible. Thanks for that.
I like how you actually go over the features and explain which features make the tool better or worse. The key is to look for the features that make the tool better and not just assume that it's better because it's more expensive.
"I'm tired of fighting with low quality tools"...absolutely. As I mature in this hobby and become more skilled I have come to appreciate better tools for what they deliver. You covered this aspect very well. Great video.
I REALLY like the way you explain your points, and the way you edit your videos. Informative, to the point, and thorough. Keep it up!
Great video--thank you. I'm in the "buy once, use for life" camp now, but I wasn't always that way and didn't always have the money to do what I wanted to do. Giving people a way to think about it is a real contribution!
To paraphrase Roy Underhill (of PBS The Woodwright’s Shop fame), “life is both too long and too short to use dull [or otherwise bad] tools”.
DIY woodworker here: I have a vast variety of tools that I have acquired over many years. I have found that most of my tools work to the level that I find to be acceptable for me: as you say; they "bring me joy to use." Some are from my father & grandfather, some are flea market purchases, some are big box purchases, (I even use a Shopsmith, I bought new, as my table saw). If a tool is not able to perform as I need, I feel no regret replacing it with a better model.
Being new to woodworking Ive bought low end miter saw and have already outgrown it this is an excellent and extremely well presented video. As my grandfather always said “ you buy cheap you buy again”
Hey young man, I like your style of instruction. This is my first time watching your video and I subscribed before you were finished.
My story, ...... don’t read if you have paint to watch dry. I started upping my prepping in January 2020. I am all bugged out ready, but because of COV-19, well, I needed a garden this year.
Needed cheap wood for garden beds, so I gathered some used wood pallets. But I have nothing but a hammer.
So, I got a 12” crow bar and borrowed a small throw sledgehammer from my neighbour.
Then I got several used equipment - mitre saw, circular saw, jig saw, one hand router, then a two hand router, (I upgraded to a pry bar) sander and got a 50 year old table saw. The motor’s great and I plan on making a refreshed mobile table.
Maybe spent $300 bucks on these and some measuring tools and bang, all of a sudden my CZcams videos switched from politics to 90% woodworking and gardening channels.
I am a retired teacher and haven’t had a course on wood working since the 1970’s. Thanks 👍👍
after 35+ years as a professional handyman I often wished I would have had youtube as a mentor for many reasons. I used tools that I either inherited, found, or that I just purchased by necessity. My horror $$ stories are many. I really appreciate those who now share the wisdom of their learning curve. I also would have passed on more of this to my children. For the reputation of my business I redid many jobs. I thank you and others who pass on their lessons learned.
Thanks for the video. I’m actually been looking to upgrade some of the tools which you actually talked about. I’m a hobbyist and DYI er for decades. My squares all came from the box stores over years. I’ve finally come to the realization that a much better quality square and chisel can drastically improve my end results. Wood working is a real joy and type of therapy to me. Many thanks for the great info. I’ll keep watching for sure.
Woodworking is a form of therapy for me as well.
I really appreciate your perspective and honest comparisons. I used to be a full time locksmith and I tell you I had 4-5 buck brother style chisels and 1 Marples 3/4 chisel. Buck chisels were not afraid of nails or concrete but the Marples only used on wood for mortises and such. I am now a professional electronics systems specialist and though less expensive tools such as screwdrivers and pliers and meters work, I value the better quality tools and tend to be very particular with them. As you stated in your video, tools that help you produce the end result you put your name on are what matters to each of us. Very impressive video young man!
Wow Jody. You hit the nail on the head. I'm a DIYer. I handy work for home and family. I really appreciate your video. I know that a learning curve is important, but I've found over the years that bad habits can be hard to break and I don't want to have a bad habit or waste more time than I need to by using inferior tools and products. This video gave me a green light to a thought that had been in the yellow for a while; so thank you.
Mechanical engineer here, with a masters in automotive engineering in Sweden and a PhD from Germany. I've been fortunate enough to work in F1, aeronautics and motorcycle racing (well over 200 hp in 300 lb bikes).
Your video, Sir, is 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴, probably the best I've seen about the selection and use of tools. Thank you very much for putting it up, and congratulations for the level of understanding you have achieved about this extremely important aspect of simply making stuff.
The bitter taste of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten.
Amen
Preach on brother! 💯
very true
george george - My father believed and lived that proverb. He offered a lifetime warranty on his work.
Is that a Ben Franklin quote?
Inspire woodcraft, thank you for an informative, honest and unbiased discussion; you talk a lot of sense!
At 18:30, you're absolutely right about that. "Craftsmanship" is as much about learning how to work around margins of error and the imperfections and traits of materials (especially wood) as it is about design, building, assembly and finishing. An Amish woodworker using nothing but rough hewn hand tools is still able to turn out some amazing carpentery - because they understand everything about all aspects of their materials and tools, and they know how to work around the weaknesses and imperfections of each in order to turn out an amazing piece of furniture, or carriage, or house, .... etc. In our era, I think folks are in a hurry to turn out quality work - and tools help us do that. For production shops, that's really important. For individuals under no time pressure and with enough interest to master a craft, any tool will nearly do. Good video - thanks for doing it!
I am a total noob to woodworking but I have always wanted to do it. I love this video. I learned so much about some of the tools I already have. Most of my tools came from Harbor Freight because I'm just starting out. I have a few more simple projects in mind to do and am so excited to get started. Please keep the videos coming.
When I was12 years old, I learned two truths about tools.
A, You need to be rich to buy cheap tools.
B, If you were to purchase the correct tool to do the job, then it paid for itself.
I love new projects for two reasons. 1) the challenge of figuring out how to complete with the tools I have (creative side) 2) seeing the limits of my current tools and getting the Right Tool for the Task and completing it effortlessly!
@@rogersaller7461 that is correct. I was stating that there are times when the correct tool is the one that will do the job without risk of damage and/or injury. The rule might more correctly apply to mechanical repair above creative wood working.
Agreed big time. Pretty much all of my hand tools are now paid for several times over. Now they have become my "cheap" tools and I expect most of them will outlive me.
That's a bit like being poor in general: only being able to afford the cheap thing ends up costing you mulitples, because you need to re-buy a new one far more often than if you bought the high-end version that you couldn't afford at the time.
@@dj1NM3 I spent a fair amount of time at Mr. O'Tools, the local used tool store. I also shop at garage sales. Two purchases that quickly come to mind are the following. I purchased a Snap-On® set of open/box end wrenches. List price was $770. Mr. O'Tools had them for $195. I one day purchased a Wilton under bench mount double jaw vise, wood and metal, for $10 at a garage sale.
Good tools that are used and not abused are just as good as new. Sometimes used good tools must be cleaned up and repaired. They will still perform better than cheap tools. I found a Starrett® 30 cm rule that had fallen underneath a machine. The machine shop machined cast iron castings to make drilling machines. The rule was caked with rust from the cast iron. With much cleaning, it is to this day as good as new.
Have a blessed day and be a blessing to all that you meet.
"Buy once, buy right. Get the right tool to do the job"
I'm just starting out with woodworking and have a mix of inherited tools and ones Ive bought.
Of the ones I bought about 40% are cheap ones just to get the job done.
Generally they make harder work of things that should be simple.
Thank you for your videos.
The integrity and honesty in your work is inspiring me to keep learning.
Hey man what a great channel you have here. I'm new to carpentry as a hobbyists and you're videos are great help. I actually have a whole playlist of your videos 👍
This was a great watch, I had that new guy cheap tool struggle and wish I would have watched this going in. Thanks for the wisdom!
A great comparison that backs up the saying "You get what you pay for". I agree with you 100%. At 70, I don't have a lot of time left to waste on fighting poor quality tools. There are times that money isn't there to always buy the best. So, depending on the tool & how often it gets used, it might warrant having the tool than going without.
great video and lots of great discussion - this is relevant for me since i bought most of my tools at a time when the big box price was appealing for two reasons: 1) price 2) i did not know how much i would use them. now i am going through the process of upgrading skills and tools with a little bigger wallet in hand. it is really hard to break free from the hate to spend a fortune on one tool mentality so the upgrade process is slow. There is a lot more confidence going into a purchase when you know what you hate about a tool you have been using.
thanks for the great video - and thanks for all the civil comments.
I really appreciate videos like this that are educational and inspire conversation where learning something comes organically. For someone like me who learns woodworking solely through CZcams videos, I need videos like this in addition to all the how-to project videos. Master carpenters sharing their wisdom, expertise, and experience. Thank you! New subscriber here.
Great video! I agree 100%. I'm still upgrading all of my tools and like woodpecker and Lie Neilson a lot. There is no comparison to having a nice tool that just works. I am just done fighting the cheap tools to keep them working somewhat properly. I think nicer tools are worth every penny. But at the end of the day just get what you can afford and upgrade what you need to or use a lot. Keep up the great content!
"If your tools are working for you? You're good to go." Well said.
My Dad gave me buying advice when I was young, "buy the best tool you can afford." This was to limit having buyer's remorse, & having to re-buy tools that break or wear out too soon. He also said that if I found myself using a tool often, then I might want to look around to see if there was a better quality, often more expensive tool that might make more sense -later. "Starting out, you won't grow your skills just by buying fancy tools."
This was a super honest and objective video. I really appreciate that.
I am a DIYer and novice woodworker here and there when I can find time with kids keeping life busy. I started my tool collection a few years back with what I needed for the job at hand. I was always under the impression to by quality so I only have to buy it once. After some time I have come to realize, as this video aptly points out, that is not always needed.
Example in point. I recently built our family a new kitchen table, out of pine, yes that was a mistake but live and learn. It works and looks like but has defects that remind me to keep learning. For that project I needed a router, which I didn't have yet. I went with Ryobi because it was the cheapest and honestly I'd never used a router before. It is a really fun and useful tool, I really enjoy it. The point is I'll use that cheap tool for as long as it lasts and if I find myself using a router a lot more for future projects then I'll upgrade at that time.
Keep on building and creating!
Man you hit the nail on the head... turns out a lot of my struggles had a lot to do with my tools. I learned a ton from my struggles.
Great video
When "retired" three years ago I started building cabinets. My first attempts pretty gruesome. I had a chance to compare one of my first attempts with my current product and was really stunned at how terrible my first attempt at making a cabinet turned out. Since that cabinet multiple changes have occurred in my shop, too many to mention in this post. Upgrading to accurate,repeatable measurements and cuts on the table saw and miter saw greatly improved my finished product.
Just a couple of things that I did that turned my less than perfect cabinets into almost perfect cabinets were:
1) Buying and installing an accurate, repeatable rip fence for my thirty year old Craftsman contractor table saw. Incredible difference in the cuts on that saw!
2) Checking my measuring tape against my combination square against my T square to see if they all measured the same. NOT! So I bit the bullet and started to replace my measuring tools with consistent, accurate, repeatable tools. In my case I had to pay for all my Woodpecker's tools.
I won't say that tools will guarantee that you will become an accurate, skilled woodworker but as stated in your video, it certainly takes the question out of who or what is at fault a mistake is made. Do I wince and whine when I break out my credit card to pay for the Woodpecker's tools? Absolutely!!!! But I know that when something doesn't go together correctly, it isn't the measuring device or fence on my table saw the is the problem. My old eyes and inexperience are far more likely to be the problem.
Proper tools increase the capability of those who are focused on their work. Even a novice can benefit from good tools. It is frustrating to learn with substandard stuff.
William Laird good points
Meh woodworking isn't exactly rocket science. The old timers managed with wooden rules, panel saws and hand planes. What they understood was the working aspect of woodworking though. They knew how to work the wood to fit. What they repeated were the motions they went through.
A great number of my starter tools were my great grandfather's. He was a hell of a wood worker and I regret not absorbing more knowledge from him when I had the chance. I was fortunate enough to have him in my life until my mid 20s. His tools are very used. None of them are junk, but they all need some love. Old tools/cheap tools work just fine for a hobbyist such as myself. I certainly see the value in a more expensive square though. I am getting tired of fighting with squares that are 3-4x older than myself. I also love harbor freight clamps. They do what I need done. However, I am a weekend warrior. I can certainly see the value in something that costs more than a couple of dollars. I only ever buy tools on sale. This includes Harbor Freight tools.
Thank you very much for this video. I find your content to be so very useful. Being a small CZcamsr (Not tiny, but not millions of subs.) You seem more trustworthy than the huge ones with fancy sponsors. Keep up the good work my man.
Your comment sounds as if I wrote it! I too am a woodworker and I do sell products that come out of the shop though. My grandfather was a huge influence on my career choice. From the first time into his shop at 10, he saw my passion for wood. He feed that passion by teaching me all that he knew as a cabinet and fine furniture maker and I am greatly appreciative that he did. I too inherited his tools, some that have been in my family since the mid-1600s when an ancestor came to this country to make a better life for his family. All 4 of my grandparents were in my life until my mid-20s too. Having them in my life was very important. They all had an influence on the person I am now, and I still miss them very much.
Great video!! I've only been woodworking a couple of years and I'm getting to that point where I'm seeing a transition from the very basic tools I started with to something "a little better". You addressed a lot of good points, I think the only thing I didn't hear you say was patience. The lesser quality tool will try you BUT like you said that causes us to learn how to fix errors. I think patience (and confidence) plays a big part in the tool use.
Kudos for going into depth about the pencil. One of the most under-thought-of tools out there, yet something you use every single day. I bought an Alvin Draft-Matic mechanical pencil in 1986 for probably 6 or 8 bucks. I still use that pencil every day, 35 years later. It’s like a hat...there may be others like it, but this one is mine.
Solid video man, great encouragement (towards end of the video) for a beginner like me!! Appreciate it
The problem is that these days just about everything is made in China so some of the cheaper tools( or on sale at the hardware store) are made in the same factory as a more expensive one that has a brand name stamped on it. I am just a home woodworker but I have gotten some really cheap tools that have served me well over the years. (Also a few duds) If you are an amateur, a very expensive tool will not guarantee that your project will look like a Pro did it.
i love how this comment isnt pinned nor loved by the uploaded (but every comments that mentions preferring expensive tools are - clearly hes biased) cuz what you say is perfectly right. we can even go a step further and say that you can actually buy directly from china and get those nice expensive tools for 1/5th of the cost. yep you pay a huge price up for brand name and possibly quality control, thats it. i assume no one over the age of 40, maybe 50 even knows this is doable but i cant tell you the amount of times ive seen a tool that looked decent on the chinese market, then went on to homedepot or such and saw the exact same tool (with the exeption of the brand name stamp ofc) for a 1/5th of the cost. sometimes you might even see 2 extremely similar tool with just a different paint job at widly different prices at homedepot. what happens is compagny A designed it and sells it for high price, China sells the extras/copies becuz china doesnt really have "copyright" laws in the same way we have in the west, compagny B buys those extras/copies, paint them to avoid lawsuits and sells them cheaper than compagny A. sometimes compagny A will do the final assembly in the west adding a few minor parts to look more "premium" / different, is that worth 5x the price?
also an interesting sidenote here obviously im young and have experience dealing with chinese market but alot of much older people like Paul Sellers on youtube actually encourages people to buy cheap tools (not from the chinese market - just cheaper variants often sold by compagny B as discussed before) because they teach you 1) what to look for in a tool 2) how to sharpen them 3) how to maintain them. so while fresh out the box they're aweful in a few minutes they go head-to-head with good ol' american "made for life" tools from decades ago, plus they'll last you a life time and you're learning an amazing skill. it seems its mostly people 30-60 that are completly stuck in the "buy expensive or you're lost" mentality.
i jumped the gun a bit there going straight to chinese market lol i forgot to even mention online vs big box stores. imo this is the main reason you can get cheap tools cuz you have other people's reviews to look at! yeah that set of chiesel at homedepot might look nice and it might be on sale and maybe you think they're good because their normal price is quite high but you wont know until you actually try them (and more importantly sharpen them). chances are they'll be cheaper online (big box stores love to mark up just about anything) AND you'll have reviews of other people who already bought them, tried them and hopefully sharpened them.. who knows maybe they were crap. on the other hand those cheap chisels you wouldnt even look at twice in store have reviews of people saying they're hold their edge well and are easy to sharpen.. you just saved money big time and got a chisel set that will last you decades.
since im writing a bunch of text i might aswell add a real example, my tenon saw. i found it on amazon for 12$ so you'd expect it to be shit right? well.. yeah it was, the finish on the handle was blotchy and it had this weird yellow stain underneath and it was so dull it had trouble cutting pine. but i knew all of that buying it and i bought it becuz reviews said it sharpened well and felt solid and honestly thats all i cared about. i spent 5 min sanding the handle to remove the lacquer and horrible yellow stain then another 5 min to sharpen the teeth. i applied 4 coats of shellac and.. thats it. the handle felt nice and smooth (and looked much better) and it cut that pine like butter. more importantly it only took 10 min of work to fix it (okay 30 if you add the shellac coats lol), it is now personal to me (my favourite tone of shellac exactly how i want it) and it probly cut as well as a 80$ premium tenon saw. it also got a bit banged up during shipping so i could've returned it but it was still straight so if anything that just told me that it was indeed solid and will widthstand being dropped or such which will absolutely happen a few time in its lifetime so idk.. bonus? just to say that even a cheap tool will often have decent construction just not decent refining (finish/sharpness/etc)
Nice will be the day when I see Made in USA.
I agree to a point but as someone who is a novice the overall ease and accuracy of high quality tools can definitely be seen. It also depends on the finish your going for. If it's for selling it should be as good as it can be
Very informative stuff, it makes so much sense, when you're a new woodworker & you cant get things together you'ill never think its the tools fault.
I am now subscribed 😂🤣😂🤣
I know it's been a while since this was posted but, I want to reply.
I used to be a roofer/carpenter so, I own a lot of ryobi/dewalt/Milwaukee stuff. Empire is definitely my brand for squares and levels, and harbor freight is fine for basic hand tools(screw drivers/wrenches/ odds and ends). I just started looking at woodworking and realized I am at a disadvantage/advantage. Brands and types of tools that are used amongst woodworking professional humans are awesome and hella precise. I can appreciate that due to the detail work and craftsmanship in the pieces I see. With that said, basic tools for anyone are great. No, they don't produce amazing products with "errorless" results but, if they get the job done, they get the job done. I watch all these videos, read articles, gauge the quality of an item compared to the competition, and really research where the differ and if that will benefit me in the end to save over a more expensive purchase. Festool is a great example for this. Their products are top tier and amazing. if I could bring myself to Shell out the cash, I would.....but, a festool mitersaw will do what a dewalt will with higher accuracy. As a carpenter, I learned being a little off will not kill your work. Your building will survive the being of 1/8 on a board or two. When making furniture, your not hiding a stud bay, your showing it to the world. This requires a more accurate application of tool work. Like I said, I'm getting into woodworking but, I would never dream of leaving all of my older tools to the dirt. They all have a use like he said, but maybe an upgrade is good when you need to upgrade.
Minus clamps. I seriously can't have enough. Always running out.
Great video I spent a lot of my life in a factory that furnished our tools we got a new purchaser that thought he’d save the company money on cheaper tools man was he ever wrong it cost more in rework an scrap than he could have ever saved
I've owned the 4 piece PEC combination square set since the late 1990s and it's amazing. Best purchase I ever made.
Excellent video even though I am three years late watching it. I am a DIYer and you made some excellent points. I think that anyone interested in learning woodwork would really enjoy working with you.
Good video and well said. I am a professional for 40+ years. Good tools are simply good tools, not necessarily pricey. Mistakes are pricey. Buy quality tools and you'll never be sorry with the end result of your work. However, be cautious of the latest gottahavit do-all tool.
My Bosch laser measuring tool was something everyone thought was an expensive gimmick. Turns out it saves an enormous amount of time and very awkward gymnastics and is more accurate than I will ever need in my line of work.
My grandmother always said "You'll never be sorry buying the best!". To me, in the beginning, the best was what I could afford LOL. You did a great job presenting the subtle (and important) differences between discount & serious tools. I have found that by the time you buy 2-3 of the cheap ones, you could have spent a net less buying one good one. Enjoyed the video!
I appreciate you mentioning that there ARE benefits to owning cheap tools. I hadn't thought of it that way. But I've certainly learned a lot of those lessons. Now I mostly base the quality of tool purchase on the frequency of use. Recently I bought some tools to rehab a small run down house. I know that when we're done we won't be using a framing nailer or roofing nailer so I bought cheap versions. But when I bought a table saw and miter saw I got a nice middle of the road ones that would serve me well for years to come. I certainly have my eye on some more precision measuring tools too.
As a fellow woodworker I value your input. After all how else can you improve on your skills but by reading watching and listening. Thanks an old army ranger just trying to find peace.
I am a weekend warrior and playing at making. I usually buy cheap tools to start. If I end up using it alot I will then up grade to a better quality tool. Some times I buy cheap combi sets of say chesils or router bits find the ones I use most and up grade those individual ones. Though I totally agree that the cheap combination squares have issues.
The way you approached this was perfect....are these high end tools right for me great video
I see and watch so many guys create beautiful master pieces with lower end stuff, and maybe even more so then those with the high end tools. And vise verse. You really laid this out wonderfully! This is a hobby I truly enjoy. Over time I have started to slowly move to some high end tools, just like you. I’ve never had a router table and was going to make my own as an extension to my laguna table saw. I read & read & read & read some more... Eventually I settled on the lift I really wanted and couldn’t find a bad review on, the Jessem Mast-R-Lift II that lead to well this needs to go into a cast iron router table. So I recently ordered the Harvey cast iron router table & fence combo, now this all sets me back about 1350 with the Bosh 1617 router. For me I saw no reason to go to a 3hp router, for me. Now I say all this to make a point not to brag at all about what I have or am getting!! Once I chose to step up from a Dewalt table saw to the laguna I got off Craigslist “Holy Cow” it was night and day! And for me the silliest thing I get so excited about is making a cut and right afterwards I can kill it, hit the stop with my left thigh! Boom, that is so satisfying for me. I can keep my concentration on what’s at hand on top of the table saw with out reaching back or under to hit the kill/stop button. This was clearly an upgrade big time for me & I saw significant enjoyment & results for this huge upgrade. Now I got a killer dealer on this table saw and made an incredible friend as well, I paid 700 bucks which is in my option a smart buy verse a 4/5 hundred dollar brand new purchase for a bench top table saw. Now this worked for my garage and “my” situation. And my budget. Now this upgrade created such a wonderful enjoyment of a higher end machine that it is the reason I went with such an extreme upgrade in the router table category. This is discussion that has so many angles to it, cause like you so wonderfully put it it’s obliviously what your doing, budget, needs and what you honestly will put to use.
Great vidio and correct on your few. After 35 years of professional woodworking, this is a lesson some people take too long to learn.
im 18 and just got a contracting job, ive been buying brands like dewalt, milwaukee, bosch, knipex, and its been a great moove to "cry once"
One of the problems these days is that some low-cost tools have often come off the same production lines (often but not always Chinese) as the high-end ones, with subsequent quality checks determining label and price.
To illustrate - a few years ago I bought a popular and widely-recommended Chinese-made lathe. It worked ok once I got used to it. Around that time a close friend bought a much more expensive - but visually identical lathe. Twice the price in fact.
Of course we checked both lathes out in detail - and my friend's lathe was indeed superior. Similar specs but a definite difference in quality and tolerances.
Thing is I - eventually - had my lathe fettled to almost the performance of my friend's.
His take - he'd saved a lot of time and effort by paying more.
My take - I'd saved a lot of money with time and effort.
We still don't agree, but it at least illustrates that age old principle - different strokes...
All alone in your shop late at night, as you sweep up the sawdust and turn out the light, I'll bet you wish you had your buddy's lathe. Soon, you will be ready for a bigger lathe. When you are, buy quality, as it may well be the last lathe you need to buy.
Agreed, this is a great discussion. You presented the pros and cons in an articulate way without bashing any particular product, I appreciate the discussion.
I enjoyed this, you not only covered both sides pretty good with pros and cons. You also gave valid reasons for people buying each. My own situation is trying to start a new crafting business with my wife. I enjoy working with wood but on a really tight startup budget. Some of my equipment is new some are inherited. My work space is also limited. However I believe the better craftsmanship is worth more money. I'm thankful to folks like yourself for these videos because they help me make better decisions giving me a better chance of success. Creative minds, sharing ideas usually causes more creative ideas.
"joy of use" is important
I like to say, "It doesn't matter how inexpensive it is. If it doesn't get the job done, it was a waste of money AND time."
I am a tradesman and for me, it depends on the tool. Most of my hand tools are given to me or purchased used. But when it comes to power tools, I stick to the more expensive and reliable name brands.
Great video. Nice job explaining your thought process. I would add that anytime someone has nice things, it stirs up emotions in some people. We often compare ourselves to others based on who they know, what they own, where they live, etc. Whether it's amazing real estate, a brand new Porsche, or top tier tools, some people see that and feel one way or another. Sometimes envy, sometimes jealously, sometimes anger, sometimes admiration, sometimes inspiration. That's normal, but that does not mean it's okay to insult another person because of how you feel.
Every single video I have watched has impressed me.
You have an honest practical way of teaching.
I’m always learning something actually useful from you I build custom staircases for a living. But your wretched ideas have made my side project/jig list longer and longer. 😂
I started out with really good tools, I was lucky enough to come into a large lot deal... therefor I have always known I suck at woodworking. Still fun though
😂
I'm a professional carpenter. My first boss taught me, a poor craftsmen blames his tools. That said, the higher quality stuff IMO is the way to go. They last longer. There's two things you never pitch pennies on. Anything that's sharp and needs to stay that way, and paint.
Also shoes/boots and ur mattress, cuz if youre not in one, then you’re in the other...
For which reason i never willingly buy "sharp" tools made in China.
Hell yeah I’m quoting you on that one. Probably before the day is out. Dig it
I'm a software dev and woodworking and 3d modeling/printing are my hobbies. I switched over to rotring 600 mechanical pencils for everything and will never go back. I use them for writing/drafting/drawing and they're great for it. I'd put the quality far above the pentels for not a lot more. Can usually find them on amazon for around 20-25 bucks. Worth every cent.
Also for clamps, I have basically none. I needed two 18 in clamps for a project, so I picked up the harbor freight ratchet ones(black and grey pistol grip style) and I spent a good 10 minutes going through every one there to find 2 that were straight and moved smoothly. SO many would bind up when you tried to open them. I also picked up 4 of these little corner clamps from menards and they are so handy, I mostly use them when making organizers for modeling supplies and tools from 1/4in ply. They get a little bindy as glue builds up on them but it peels right off and they're nice and smooth again.
www.menards.com/main/tools/hand-tools/clamps-vises/wolfcraft-reg-corner-grips-2-pack/3051404/p-1444439539274-c-9135.htm
Starting to put my shop together and you’ve definitely helped me decide to spend the bigger bucks to make the bigger bucks.
" . . . you don't know if it you or if it the tool." It's me :-)
I'm a woodworker that's how I make a living. My experience is that the cheapest stuff is garbage. I have a combination square that the rule wasn't even flat right out of the box.
The super expensive stuff...Well that is maybe 5 to 10% better than the midrange to high end contractor tools. And a lot is fit and finish. So a Stanley fatmax doesn't feel great in the hands but the steel is great or Irwin clamps will work every time but the handle might not feel as great.
I spend some money on marking gauges. If you are going to fumble around to get a simple line and with cheap ones you might fumble atound for 15 minutes to mark one line when an expensive one will take me 15 sec to get it dialled in. That will pay for itself in no time.
Great video. Loved it I agree. BUY WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD
I just started getting into woodworking but I actually really agree you get what you pay for. All the cheep tools I had for repairs as needed have been replaced as i get more and more involved in woodworking. They make a difference and so far A LOT more consistent.
I worked as a general builder for many years so have accumulated a vast number of tools and now i am kitting out workshop and woodworking tools are so much more expensive than other trades tools and so many to choose from and it's obvious the junk I have bought in the past, accuracy and longevity is what I look for now, good video
Lots of perfectly capable (wood) tradesmen do their work perfectly well using cheaply produced hand tools. Given more expensive tools - you probably won't see much difference in their work .
Fact is , lots of tradesmen don't think too much about their tools , they probably wouldn't want the extra expense involved in a quality item. There are practical considerations for some : tools (particularly on site) can get damaged and lost . When it comes to high quality v low quality , I guess you could use the Rolls Royce v Hyundai comparison : they will both get you to work , but you know which one will give you the more satisfaction.
Myself , the older I get , the more of a tool connoissuer/geek/snob I become . Quite often I find old = best and here in the UK many good tools can be gotten from second hand dealers at country wood fairs.
Thank you for your video Mr. Inspire Woodcraft
I'm a remodel carpenter and I have seen first hand what you are saying about more expensive tools on the job site.
A lot of people don't think about their tools because their work is never going to be above a certain level of quality, even if they had the best tools.
I think you did a good job of sharing that quality is often objective, but VALUE is SUBJECTIVE. It depends on the person and the situation - there is no right or wrong answer.
I think the line is blurred when people say "is __ BETTER than ___?" Lots of ways that "better" can be interpreted.
my father loves hand tools. taking a few weeks for some kitchen cabinet doors is a labour of love and a conversation in wood. thats his thing. power tools, he'd have the whole lot done in a jiffy and where is the fun in that for him? everyone is different..
I think this is the best opinion on this thread.
I'm 71 and retired from the plumbing trade where I learned the difference between a Rigid pipe wrench and the rest of them. There are times that it just makes sense to spend some extra money and buy quality tools. Now that I'm retired and working in my shop for fun I tend to use higher quality tools. Don't get me wrong, I have a crap ton of HF tools and use them all the time, but it's nice to buy a premium version of things and not have to struggle so much. I agree with pretty much everything you said in this video. Thanks for taking the time to do it.
I’ve just upgraded my old cheap sliding square for a much more expensive one, it’s just a lovely thing that I enjoy using, a good tool can give you much more than just accuracy and efficiency it can make you happy as well.
"I can shave my arms with this chisel": now that's a real man!
For, you know, more speed...
After restoring 100 year old straight razors, I hate when even my pocket knives don't shave LOL.
That's the only thing I shave - random patches on my left arm to check sharpness...
I worked in a few different trades throughout the years and I was always taught starting out to buy the best quality tools the first time and you’ll only have to buy them once. I’ve found this holds true with most things.
Nice rundown man, I'm new at this wood working game and found myself at Harbor Freight more than I should be, I purchased a Pittsburgh Square for a few bucks that was anything but square. About 6 months into woodworking now, i', loving it, but quickly learned that I may need put out a little more upfront and hopefully struggle less. But all and all great information! Thank you
I think the point you made about learning from the mistakes you make when using cheaper tools is a really good one. Gave me quite a bit to think about.
I love the number of quotes about quality tools here.
Another great quote: it's the poor craftsman that blames his tools.
Some craftsman on YT (maybe Matthias Wandel?) was talking about how *all* tools have their vagaries and inconsistencies - sure his table saw was off by some amount, but even if he bought a new one it would also be off by some amount and he'd just have to learn that difference.
My experience with the HF tools is that some of them are perfectly reasonable, and some of them are garbage. You also touched on something that others have also mentioned - a lot of the cheaper tools give you a tool that you have to tune to properly use, where a higher dollar tool may be tuned right out of the box. But if you want some solid proof that tools don't make the craftsman - watch Gotham Garage on Netflix. In season 2 they put a car in a museum.
Guess what kind of tools they used on that car, including the airbrush to spray paint?
So did they use harbor freight tools
I get where your coming from, I’m a home owner/diy type, I’m also getting more into hand tools, I have a cousin that runs a pawn shop, I get the family discount. But I also like to refurbish antique tools, so I guess the fixing and fettling is a good way to learn more about the craft. Appreciate your feedback also, love the channel.
Used tools from sources such as estate sales can be a huge money saver if they are accurate and have good bones. A little refurbishment can often restore the tool to new condition. The older tools, made for the professionals, were made in North America when quality was expected from every manufacturer.
@@chrisgraham2904 Yes, usually the old tools were made to last, hence, of the highest quality practically possible. I had an almost 100 year old sawing machine Singer, well not a tool per se (except for my grandma :-)) but with awesome quality. Regrettably, no longer the case.
@@adamsmith2719 old tools are subject to survivor bias. The real crap was tossed years ago so the only examples that remain are the better ones. Which gives one the false sense that all old tools were good being as the bad ones are no longer around to judge. But if you buy enough old used tools you will run up against some prime examples of junk that have somehow managed to survive too. I got a set of post war Japanese twist drills that can barely put holes into cheese. They are so bad on so many levels. Even if the steel was any good the finish on them is still garbage. You should see the Montgomery Ward drill they came with. Thing is in mint condition. But it's trash too.
@@1pcfred I agree with your argument. My statement was not accurate one. Perhaps you'd agree with my new one - premier old tool companies were producing better tools than current premier companies (for various reasons) :-)
@@adamsmith2719 I don't know about that. There's some pretty high end tool companies around today. But those items are not stocked at regular retail outlets. It is more specialty merchandise. The crap at big box stores is by and large fairly low grade. With exceptions, of course. If anything there's even more amazing tools today than ever before. If I hit the lottery I could easily spend a fortune on new toys. I think I'd have to travel. Go to Germany, Switzerland and Sweden. When Germans want nice tools they talk to the Swedes. Go find out what Lindström tools are. But be sitting down when you find out what they cost. OMG www.mscdirect.com/product/details/88535596 Vulcan himself must have forged those!
Greetings from Ireland... As a DIY'er this video is great. It has made me think more about the kinds of tools I might want to buy. Thank you.
Thanks for the information it was very helpful. Especially for myself and those that are starting building.
The Irwin 6" adjustable square is hands down the best 6" square for a affordable price it is nice, tight and very accurate and the locking screw and knob are very positive.
I bought a Dollar Tree Square Angle and it is crooked! What good is a square that isn't square?
@@tongsllc I'm sure it would make a good toy square for a kid!
Ray Brown I know its luck at times, but finding a decent quality used square wasn’t that difficult. I have an old 1960’s general tools square with the centering head and
Protractor head for $ 30. Really fine tools i use for instrument building .That being said I have a shave used an inexpensive Irwin on job sites for years and they’re great for what they are