Power Tools From China

[Nativespec]

I bought a Hitachi SB10Y from Lowes. It's got a 4" belt and 8" disk sander and it looked better than the Delta, also from China, with the 1" belt and they were both $130 (the Hitachi was reduced $20). I have plenty of nice sanders but I got this one for small parts and possibly for sharpening some damage tools (to get them started). I figured I could not go wrong for this price. Turned out it was damaged in shipment-one corner was crushed and a table set bolt was bent. I decided to fix it rather than to take it back since only the display was left and it looked like it was missing parts. Then I tried squaring the table and it took some time to figure out that one of the mounting parts were bent (looked like it came from the factory this way). Not a huge problem, I just smashed it back with my Chinese vise (from Lowes) and beat it with a hammer. The table is now 90 degrees, but it does not have an even margin between the table and sanding disk-I can live with this. Overall, the craftsmanship is pretty bad and the table design lends itself to constant adjustment when moved between the two sanding operations-but the price is OK.

Conclusion: It's kinda of like buying a good hand plane vs. buying a Groz or Stanley in my oppinion. I opt for the better hand tools in this example and the cheap sander will be OK for what I will use it for. The only problem I see is that there appears to be no middle ground when buying certain power tools. You either have to buy something European or from the East.

David

 

[Travis Porter]

Kind of sad there isn't a middle of the road. Top of the line or bottom of the barrel. I haven't bought Craftsman in a lot of years, but I have seen a lot of posts where people have been pretty happy with the stuff. Makes me wonder if they may not have improved their quality control.

 

[mburke911]

I hear you! Sad is the right word for it. I have started looking for where stuff is made before I buy. I used to buy craftsman power tools (way long ago) but now I only buy their hand tools (for the easy replacement option, which I seem to use more and more now a days).

I have made the personal choice that when I buy power tools I am going to shoot for the high end, do it once mentality, and forget the cheap stuff. I am tired of buying tools that I think are good quality and having them fail.

Festool here I come. Shhhh dont' tell the LOML she may not agree :eusa_naug

 

[froglips]

David, I really enjoyed your tale.

These days, and I would venture a guess most days, you get what you pay for.

What I think is different these days, is something I like to call "unrealistic expectations".

So many of us have been lead to believe in a turn key approach to things, which I tend to blame TV for. Ever notice Norm fussing with some misaligned or busted bolt? When is the last time we saw a home improvement show that can do a whole house makeover in over 30 minutes?

Last time I fixed something, it took weeks and repeated trips to the hardware store, a box of bandaids and something I like to call "BLEEP - Explictive".

When is the last time you read something that said "if you take our tool, spend hours and hours getting it properly turned, then master the subtleties of use you might find your project is completed in 59 hours instead of 60."

Nope, we just see "press the button and cut wood all day long!" or "knock down this wall".

I'd love to see more realistic takes on work presented. Something that we could truely learn from. Set expectations to meet reality and let us bring the magic to the end result.

I'd also like a lifetime supply of free donuts.....

Jim

 

[Nativespec]

Jim:

That's what I like about the Woodright. His show is actually real time (taped of course) when compared to Norm's show. That is why the Woodright cannot complete a project during the show. But he does teach technique and how things were done. I have grown tired of Norm's show as I have gotten more into woodworking. I do like the DIY channel's Woodworks and I think he is a much better woodworker-nothing against Norm.

On another, more important note, I am done with PBS. They were starting a new project in New Orleans two Sunday's ago, I go up to watch yesterday and once again it's Thomas the Tank Engine or Curious George or somthing. I have had enough of PBS and their need for donations.

Never, never again.

David

 

[Travis Porter]

There is one show now on DIY that shows behind the scenes. It is "Carter Can" or something where they show the behind the scenes for the actual show on HGTV. Another one that I can't remember the name of is two guys in construction together. They fight, argue, and screw up. More realistic to me.

BTW, PBS is back at it for their now monthly fund drive.

 

[froglips]

Good point, St. Roy is one of the few. It took me a number of years to figure out why I grew increasingly tired of Norm and more interested in Roy.

Yeah, Pledge break time. I don't pledge. Their so called - commercial free - programming is a stretch. With sponsers like Home Depot and GM, I'd wonder how poorly they use their money. I'd honestly pledge if they asked me to pay per view shows. Norm, Roy and This Old House are programs I would pay to see.

Pay specifically to see that is. Not have my 2 hours a week held hostage to their entire network.......

Sure, there are only 4 or 5 commercials before and after a program, but whos counting......

Its RANT DAY!

Jim

 

[Glennbear]

The masses keep asking for cheaper, cheaper, cheaper and the suppliers keep getting squeezed from both ends. The only answer is to have it made by forced labor in countries where the wages are a bowl of rice and a place to sleep. Until people are willing to do without the clutter in their lives and pay a fair price for goods that support the local economy we are not going to see any improvement. It may be too late already.

I have heard and seen that same story so many times it hurts.

"I bought (some cheap thing) to get by with and when i got it home it didn't work or fell apart, so I patched it up as best I could and felt cheated".

TAKE IT BACK!
Demand better service and better goods.

I walk into a store looking for something, look at what they have and tell the manager what I need and why I'm not buying it from him.

I always get that deer in the headlights look, but I spend my little bit of available income with stores that I believe in. Small local guys.

I would rather buy used tools and repair them rather than buying new and having to do far more repair work.

I encourage others to do the same every chance I get, it's not much but it makes me feel better about the way I live and the things I do. Sometimes I have to buy against my will, in many cases there is no alternative. I think long and hard about it and try to justify the need outweighing the sin. Yes, I see it as a sin.


Sorry about the rant and if this is too political or religious for you go ahead and delete it. But, it is just a shame where this country was and how it has been allowed to fall.

In a word..............AMEN!!!:eusa_clap

 

[jeff...]

I bought a Hitachi SB10Y from Lowes. It's got a 4" belt and 8" disk sander and it looked better than the Delta, also from China, with the 1" belt and they were both $130 (the Hitachi was reduced $20). I have plenty of nice sanders but I got this one for small parts and possibly for sharpening some damage tools (to get them started). I figured I could not go wrong for this price. Turned out it was damaged in shipment-one corner was crushed and a table set bolt was bent. I decided to fix it rather than to take it back since only the display was left and it looked like it was missing parts. Then I tried squaring the table and it took some time to figure out that one of the mounting parts were bent (looked like it came from the factory this way). Not a huge problem, I just smashed it back with my Chinese vise (from Lowes) and beat it with a hammer. The table is now 90 degrees, but it does not have an even margin between the table and sanding disk-I can live with this. Overall, the craftsmanship is pretty bad and the table design lends itself to constant adjustment when moved between the two sanding operations-but the price is OK.

Conclusion: It's kinda of like buying a good hand plane vs. buying a Groz or Stanley in my oppinion. I opt for the better hand tools in this example and the cheap sander will be OK for what I will use it for. The only problem I see is that there appears to be no middle ground when buying certain power tools. You either have to buy something European or from the East.

David

David yours is an all to familiar tale - The standing line around this house is Made in China - Fixed by American. Seems just about everything we buy requires some type of monkeying with. Case in point Borg purchased ceiling fan - hung it, flipped the switch and smelt burning the circuit breaker popped. Take down ceiling fan open it up only to find factory installed wire nuts fall off at the slightest pull. Run out for new wire nuts because the factory installed ones were 100% cheap plastic and would not tighten up. replace them all with good one with steel threads inside, hang fan and it works.

I called customer service and told them about it, seemed like they really didn't care much or either they did not understand me very well. Even though I was clear in my speaking about how I felt it was a fire hazard and should be recalled. Interesting to note - there was no UL test label on this particular fan - go figure...

The way I figure it, all this cheap _ _ _ _ is like water droplets in a sponge, soon enough the sponge will become full and it will be rendered useless in it's ability to do it's job, that being soaking up more water. When that happens people will think twice about buying cheap _ _ _ _ and a opportunity for a new line of better made products will become available. I tend to look at a lot of things in this way - not just cheap tools - we as a country can only accept so much if you know what I mean, when will the sponge become full?

Anyways good thread and thanks for the opportunity to allow me to post my opinion. Just remember opinions are like arm pits, everyones got one and sometimes they really stink.

Now just don't ask me about how much I cursed reading directions that came with the high chair I put together last week for my grand daughter and we will be ok.

 

[SteveColes]

This is an interesting thread with mostly good information and opinions. I am tempted to enter this with my opinions, but they definetly are very political and probably controversial. So I won't becuase then I would breaking my rules:no:

I also think it may be time to close this thread, before it really starts to go places where good NCWW's don't tread in public.:gar-Bi