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Oh, I know that sight! My friend has everything in the yellow color scheme as well. Most of my gear is by Makita (What would you call their color? Teal?). I even have the t-shirt!
Looks like that planner is on a Bosch 4000 table saw stand. Wonder what happened to the saw?
I think when it comes to power tools the one-brand-fits-all mentality is not always best, though some do stand out above the rest. Depending the particular tool, different brands offer better products, also dependent on how the tool will be used. For instance, a guy who will use a drill for hanging pictures and shelves, and occasionnally pull it out to build a small woodworking project, really doesn't need a $300-$400 Dewalt drill, a Black & Decker will do just fine.
That having been said, in my opinion, for professional use every day, DeWalt & Porter Cable are the best tools available today. I also think Rigid is doing a great job of proving themselves to be just as durable and capable, at a fraction of the cost. I would rank DeWalt as prevailing in Cordless Drills, Bench Top Saws, & cordless Saws. Porter Cable takes it though, with Sanders, Recip Saw (Variety of different innovative designs w/ impressive power & ability), routers, & most other Finish & Cabinitry tools. Bostich makes great, reliable pneumatic nailers, Skil has long had the best circular saws, and for a table saw, Bosch is a good choice. That's just my opinion though.
"DeWalt & Porter Cable are the best tools available today. "I like PC for the things they do well, and DW is usable, but not good enough to count amoung the best, by a long shot - but like you said, that's jst one man's opinion. Bosch and Milwaukeee get higher brownie poiunts than DW in my book
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I remember when I was starting to accumulate my own tools...there was just something about that bright yellow that caused me to lean that way...must be something in the paint that sends a signal to my brain and makes it seem so attractive...
I used to be brand loyal..untill I purchased the DW recip saw...and had it serviced 3 times in the first year. after the 3rd time, I finally did some research and bought the milwaukee heavy duty...and since then, I use a lot of different resources to see what is the best tool as far as the "professionals" go. then I go out and try and use it before I buy it...
that being said, I was going out of my mind with the poor battery life in my dw cordless tools. I use them daily...impact, drill, and saw...and was frustrated with always having to replace the battery after only a short time...so I researched, read articles, and always asked to use someone else's tool for a "test run" when possible...and ended up buying 4 of the "new" batteries on e-bay for my DW stuff...
for me, I all came down to feel and comfort...almost all my pnumatic nailers and staplers are Hitachi, my pnumatic trimmers are Senco, I have the framing, 16g angled and 18g chordless brad nailers from Paslode...I have 2 dw skillsaws, 1 pc sawboss, 1 bosch wormie, 3...yes 3 DW 14.4v drills, one 12v impact dw...my router and sanders are all PC...bosch table saw, DW 12" SCMS, and 2 Quickdrive Senco screwguns...and yesterday I just bought the DW thickness planer...
...I work alone...and am looking for more stuff....
"knowledge without experience is just information." Mark Twain
Uh, Charlie, maybe it's time for an intervention?
Are you a 'toolaholic'?
:)you probably look like your DadI look like heck
NO!!! WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY???? I CAN STOP BUYING TOOLS ANYTIME I WANT!!! I DON'T HAVE A NEED FOR ANYMORE TOOLS!! IT'S ALL E-BAY'S FAULT..THEY JUST SELL THEM SOOO CHEAP...AND.......UH....AND......
....yeah...maybe you're right...."knowledge without experience is just information." Mark Twain
Amen, on the bosch & Milwaukee, and those funny teal thingies...
I also have a mix, although heavily weighted toward Bosch. My buddy and I kid around with how crappy Dewalt is (his color of choice) and how crappy Bosch is (mine), but I do like my Dewalt Router setup and the 14" multi cutter, miter stand and the laser level I have from Dewalt.I'll give them high marks on having the widest range of professional tools available, but there are better choices in quite a few categories.Love my Bosch 4000 table saw. (on a ridgid stand...)The Ridgid new tools may look and feel cool (if you like orange), but I've heard too many service center horror stories to by into a made in China new cordless system; plus their all very heavy.Very happy with the Ridgid BS, planer, and oscillating sander I have for the price.JT
I like to think I don't base a purchase on brand name. All of the major tool makers have a decent reputation. I usually base my purchase on weight, functionality, availability, and lastly price. I try not to let the color, or name on the side impact my decision.
Ya better duck when Imerc sees you talkin' that way about DW tools.
BTW, I think DW was good when they first came out, but P-C, Bosch, and Milwaukee have them beat right now.
But I also think ya gotta use whatever works best for you.
Dylan,
If I am right ( ask my wife first) I believe that Black and Decker now owns;
1. DeWalt
2. The tool group that owns porter cable and delta.
Gus
There is something Teal colored on top of the Yellow table saw...your brand loyalty may be called into question. <g>
Personally, I run an odd array of colors.
Gray: PC sanders (especially like the belt sander), sidewinder, recip saw (the "quick change" blade requires vise grips), laminate trimmer, 18ga trim nailer, 23 ga micropinner and Piffin screw gun.
Red: Milwaukee heavy duty right angle drill (plan your escape route).
Dark Blue: Bosch table saw, hammer drill, combo router kit, portable power planer, and compact cordless drill (really like it).
Green: Hitachi 10" sliding compound miter saw (dead on for 10 years now) and roofing nailer.
Mustard yellow: Bostich framing nailer and narrow crown stapler (no troubles).
Orange: Paslode cordless framer, and old black 16ga cordless trim nailer, pneumatic 16ga trim nailer.
Black/Red: Freud jigsaw and like the Diablo blades.
I was brand loyal until I tried DW's cordless jigsaw. It cuts perfect circles......but only if you place it against a straightedge.:( I've been buying Bosch lately but I think it depends on what tool it is. PC has my sander business, and when I finally replace my corded recip saw it will be a Milwaukee.
I have had a lot of DW stuff, and the only two tools I can say anything good about are their trim gun and the 12" CMS. Circ saws, drill, recips, cordless--not junk, but not the longest lasting either. On the subject of recips, I've got a PC Tiger Saw with orbital action that I got on clearance for 99 bucks. The thing is a hoss but the orbital works great. My old Red Sawsall works good too for most things and cuts smoothly. I've used a friend's Milwaukee Hatchet (corded) and it works great as a backup/confined space saw, and it cuts as fast or faster than my Sawsall.
It's the poor carpenter who "blames" his tools.
Jeff
I rate some of DW's tools as the best in the range; others are wuthless B&D clones with a yellow dye job and a sticker transplant....
The original 12" compound mitre saw is probably their best tool to date. Also their gyprock screw gun is tough, fast, and strong. I have nothing bad to say about the corded recip either; that's been through HellNback and still cuts what it needs to cut without arguing....
On the other hand, their cordless drills are sh!t. Busted triggers, busted battery tabs, batteries failing after short usage, busted gearboxes, busted drive shafts, you name it. Average life of one of those things is not much longer than that of a $69 'disposable' Mastercrap from Canadian Tire....
The circ is an old Makita brakeless 7½"; I ran it over with the truck one time and busted the sole plate so I had to take it in to get fixed. Bought a PC to use while I was waiting. Went back to the Makita as soon as I could. Nice balance; lots of balls; very accurate.
PC jigsaw has more nuts than any I've ever owned; great speed control and multi-blade mounting head; orbital/non-orbital switch; and a blower port you can close or open depending if ya want the sawdust on the cutting line or blown into yer face....
Also like Senco and Paslode framers; PC 16-ga. finishing gun; Bosch Bulldog for the heavy hole punching; believe it or not a B&D Plus plunge rounter beats all the others I've tried; Delta router-shaper is a sweet little portable millshop with a lotta guts; and a house-branded Hitachi portable table saw sold by CT that's been dropped, rained on, and stood on and still rips soaking-wet 4x in a nice straight line without stalling.
The shame of my collection is the CH compressor I can't seem to kill; I say shame only because I have learned to hate that company for their lousy customer service. The machine itself is amazing. I've got a bunch of their air tools, too, but when they die they will be replaced by another brand. Screw me once, shame on you; screw me twice shame on me....
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.