I’ve learned to research tools carefully, but, sometimes I don’t have the time. A tool breaks in the middle of the job or the job requires a special tool, etc…
Time is money, but so is the tool. Without research time what brands do you depend on?
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Replies
Milwaukee...
Senco...
Bosch...
Rol Air...
Metabo...
Klien..
Rigid.. (the real Rigid)
Lenox...
Norton..
Sait...
US Saw...
Greenlee...
CMT...
LeeValley...
PC...
Robert Saw...
there are a few others but the thing is the service by these companies to back this equipment is outstanding..
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Edited 2/15/2007 10:50 pm by IMERC
Seems like maybe the Senco reccomendation might be from the olden days - most of the Senco stuff I see nowadays seems a step up from Ryobi.I feel the same way as the others about Makita - some of the Makita tools I have are going strong after years and years of use.My Fein Multi-master is one tool I've beaten up on a regular basis and I don't think I could kill it.JT
you may be right about some of their line but they still offer some good tools that work......
their CS department is top notch and that makes a difference when yur having a bad day and need right now help...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Edited 2/16/2007 1:01 am by IMERC
"Seems like maybe the Senco reccomendation might be from the olden days - most of the Senco stuff I see nowadays seems a step up from Ryobi."Senco often has two lines of tools. One is cheap and the other is dependable and a lot more expensive.
I know alot of people rag on Dewalt, but I get a lot longer life from my DW stuff than my Lenox stuff.
I like the U.S. made portion with the all over it just about bullet proof customer support I get from Lenox...
the customer service for all the other products I listed matters more than a lot... can't help but feel that they want my business and aren't just a bunch of bottom line feeders..
also they react in short order to an engineering problem... they all seem to try really hard to make and keep things right..
DW sorely lacks in this department as does Hitachie, Ryobie and Makita...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"...they all seem to try really hard to make and keep things right..DW sorely lacks in this department..."You made me stop and wonder if you had a dear Wife again there, LOLIn spite of the complainst andlack of quality I've had from DeWalt, their service was actualy top flight, tho I had to know how to weasel my way to the top of their food chain to be talking to the right person who could help me. The first two or three you get are just phone answerers.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Dear Wife.... again.... whew...
nooooooooo!!!!!!
I did pretty well with service from the companies I use without having to weasel up the food chain...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Makita generally make reliable tools.
Gotta second the Makita durability (and repairabliity). I still have all the Makita tools I've ever bought, most 18 years ago. Did wear out the bearings in a Hyphoid saw, once. Use it for demo work.
Milwaukee
PC
Bosch
Bostich
Forrest
Hilti
Milwaukee
Klein
Forrest
Victoria's Secret (Hey, it is the day after Valentine's Day!)
I see Milwaukee listed by a few of you guys. I was just wondering if they're still as good as they were since Techtronic Industries (AKA Ryobi) bought them out a couple of years ago.
Techtronic Industries brands web page:
http://www.ttigroup.com/business/brands.php?PHPSESSID=d20ee8edc0d7c0406f2338daac3f9105
Also, Emerson outsources the manufacture of their RIGID power tools line to Techtronic.
I'm not brand loyal to any one tool company because I feel that they all have their strengths and weaknesses. I know when I need a new corded drill I go to Milwaukee. Hammer drill... Bosch or Hilti. Pneumatic nailers... Hitachi. Miter saw... Dewalt (gasp!). Sliding compound mitersaw... Makita. Recip... Makita or Hilti. Compressor... Rol-Air. And on it goes.
I believe that, for the most part, pro tool users buy tools based on reliability and availability first and foremost. Maybe I'm dead wrong, and some shop price first, but I really don't think so. That being said.... if one particular color of tool did it all right, all the time..... there wouldn't be much competition. We'd all be buying blue, or yellow, or red, or orange, etc.
I like Panasonic drill/drivers
DeWalt
Porter cable
Fein
CMT
Milwaukee
Makita
Bosch
Senco
Lee Valley
Klein
Johnson Level
Lie Nielson
Stanley
Like DieselPig said they all have their strong points. Day to day between the rough stuff and the fine, I have to say the most dependable are the Milwaukee or the Makita.
Listed in no special order reflective of quality, I see...LOL
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
"Listed in no special order reflective of quality, I see"Absolutely right. if that were the case Lie Nielson and Lee Valley would be right at the top beating them all by a mile.
I have different brand favorites for different tools.
Corded drill----- Milwaukee--- hole shooter & hole hawg
Cordless drill------ Dewalt 12v, 14.4v & 18v
Impact driver--- Makita
Reciprocating saw---- overall Milwaukee, Dewalt comes in second, I have co-workers that swear by Porter Cable
Roto Hammer---- Dewalt for the smaller ones & Hilti for the bigger ones.
Worm Drive---- Skill, although I went the cheaper route & bought a dewalt non worm drive wormdrive ;-)
SCMS---- 12" Dewalt--- 10" Bosch---- yes I own both.
Drill press--- JET, but I bought a Central machinery--- rated #3 best buy by wood magazine, it was really cheap & has worked well for me.
Table saw---- Delta, haven't got the bucks or the room for the big bad boy yet so I have skill elcheapo--- can't seam to break that thing & I have a Ryobi with a craftsman tag on it, decent quality for a contractors saw.
Jigsaw--- Bosch
Portaband--- Milwaukee--- Greenlee is a bit awkward.
Jointer--- I have a craftsman that works wonders, made by ???????????
Biscuit jointer--- Porter Cable
Welders, plasma------ MILLER
All my pipe threading stuff---- RIGID or nothing else.
"The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government program." - Ronald Reagan
Another nod to Makita. Those are some goooooood, reliable tools. I just wish they'd get it together with the latches on the boxes. To the best of my knowledge, they were the first Japanese tool company to make serious inroads with building professionals here in the States. All the rest of those Far East companies owe them a big thank you if you ask me.
I'm sorry to read about people being unhappy with their Senco guns. I still have the same trim guns I bought in the early 80s and use them regularly. Great guns. I have never even put an o-ring in one.
Milwaukee? Hole Hawg and Sawzall. You can keep the rest of their junk.
Remodeling contractor who once visited the Glass City.
what is a non worm drive wormdrive ????Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
LOL
My Dewalt DW378G as I was told in http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=85425.15
"The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government program." - Ronald Reagan
I see...
It's all in how the tech writers keep things in the gray area....Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
IMERC,Re Plumbbill's saw, "what is a non worm drive wormdrive ????"To me, that is just an easy way to refer to any saw whose motor spindle is perpendicular to the arbor, but the power is transmitted in some way other than by a worm gear. Bill's DeWalt and the Makita hypoid saw are two common examples.Other Bill
I tend to try to put a lot of time researching my tool purchases, because like others, I can't afford to keep replacing them, and I get really frustrated when they break on the job. I do think various companies seem to have their niche markets, and a lot of the good contractors seem to have figured that out, so you can see what they have and figure it might be a safe bet.
My tools are spread out a bit: Milwaukee, Makita, Bosch, PorterCable, a couple of ancient Blackened Peckers from my grandfather's generation...All depends on the reputation of the tool, past experiences, and what I see people I respect using.