Power Tools, F#@K Yeah!

[Fletch_F_Fletch]

So I've decided to replace my existing power tool set (table saw, drill press, mitre saw, router, jig saw, nail gun, etc....)with all new tools. In y'all's opinion and personal experience what are the best tools you can buy. Money is not really an object.

 

[Born_a_Longhorn]

Uhhh I'm gonna go with Craftsman. Can I have all your old stuff?

 

[suttree]

Porter Cable.

 

[horn4life]

Yeah give away the old stuff to me!

Or better yet donate it to Habitat for Humanity...

 

[BigWill]

Actually, with that kind of stuff, I'm not sure there's a "best".

If you had said drill motor, I'd have said "Milwaukee".

For the nail gun, probably Hitachi or Senco.

But, for shop type tools, I say go to Home Depot/Lowes, and see what looks good.

 

[EEE]

do a search on google groups. thats what i did when i was looking for a good jigsaw. the consensus was that bosch is the best, thats what the pros use, so i bought one. love it. very little vibration, precision tool. go to home depot and check them out, then when you're ready to buy, check out here. great prices and fast shipping. the saw i mentioned is $14 cheaper there than at home despot.

 

[HilltopHorn]

With all the power tool companies merging and buying each other out, its hard to tell what is top end anymore other than Milwaukee and Bosch, but those are the most pricey too. If you are looking for something just below professional grade I would suggest Porter Cable as well, particularly in the circular saw arena. I love the cast sole plate, it doesn't deform like a stamped one will.

I have been using a DeWalt 12V drill/driver for 6 years now, well, actually i had one that lasted 3 and bought a second one. The drill didn't die, the batteries did, and the first drill motor I dropped and bent the shaft. So from experience there, I would go with DeWalt again. Remember that the higher the voltage on the battery, the more heat it builds up in charging and discharging, and heat is the battery's enemy. That and sometimes the size and weight of the larger batteries make repetitive jobs overhead almost unbearable.

Sears still makes a good table saw, but the accessories like rip fence, etc will play a major part, and it makes a big difference in choice if you are looking for something portable or more fixed. I would stay away from direct drive tho, since binding one up will stall the motor and you have to reset it, whereby a belt drive will save the motor longer.

Just stay away from the lower end stuff, like Skil and Firestorm or whatever that lame BD line is. Sears is now shipping everything off to distant repair centers, where you can't even talk to a technician, so I am not going to be buying anymore sears eqpt.

I think I am gonna take a leap into the world of Hitachi next, with a new belt sander, they look pretty decent and l like the way they fit and feel.

That meandered, I apologize. Look for some reviews on tools in magazines or websites like Popular Mechanix, or Woodworker mags.

 

[BigWill]

In reply to:

---

---

 

[TennesseeHorn]

Milwaukee was just bought by a Chinese company in June 04. They were one of the last US companies that make tools. Now everything will probably move to China. Good tools.

 

[gecko]

In reply to:

---

---