$500 Tool List (help)

[diesel research]

These "were" rated to be top quality from consumer reports and a gift. Everything else works great, the drill however does not. I'm going to settle for "less" and go for "better" quality though.

Well, as you should have already found out, consumer reports can be highly misleading.

With a bit more quality a lot more can be accomplished. I built a 15x15 raised platform shelter/shed/break room with a cordless drill/circular saw/reciprocating saw and an estwing hammer. Nothing else.

It took a bit more than the cheapest tool possible to accomplish that.


These guys keep mentioning quality for a reason. We've all been on some type of budget. We've all lost money due to junk tools that didn't have the power/speed/reliability/comfort or whatever else we were looking for. Ended up spending even more to replace it. They are trying to prevent you from the same mistakes they have made.

 

[tfreer85]

I agree diesel. Its a hard habit to break of I can get "x-amount of tools for y-dollars" without thinking of the in a years time I'll be replacing them if they break. Quality of over quantity right? Thanks everyone for the feedback, from my research on here and elsewhere I'll be best off avoiding the majority of the cheapies from HF and getting less but better quality tools and going that route. THanks again EVERYONE for your feedback and input.

 

[BQuicksilver]

I disagree guys. Sure, quality is GREAT to have if you don't have a budget, but I'll take a lower end saw over no saw at all bc I needed to get the best of some other tool.

Get the tools you need to get your projects done. You'll find the vast majority of them are fine starting out. When that $30 drill gives up 2 years down the road, laugh and toss it. Much better than trying to find parts for a 1960's Proto tool you paid extra for at a yard sale. You may be in a position for a nicer drill at that point. You'll also find that for a DIY guy a lot of those "cheap" tools will continue to provide good service.

Read the "HF pass/fail" thread. It will help you understand what is good there. I have replaced most of my HF over the last few years with nicer tools, but mainly for added features...not because they broke. There are some really crappy tools there, but some good ones as well.

 

[Lost Road]

Here is a sample of what you can find at a garage sale or flea market:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44259078@N03/6319500921/in/photostream

The vintage creeper I paid $2 for, I got the impact set for $80 (not stolen) and I got a great deal on the rollaway as well, about the same price as the cheap ones at sears or harbor freight. I am not suggesting buying heavy old power tools from the 50s. I am heavily taking into consideration the OP's location, which is rich with tool finds. I once bought a handmade machinist's box in Bakersfield that had a gold nugget in it. You'll not find anything like that in a retail store.

 

[diesel research]

I disagree guys. Sure, quality is GREAT to have if you don't have a budget, but I'll take a lower end saw over no saw at all bc I needed to get the best of some other tool.

On the flip side, which is better? No drill at all, or a broken one? (he already has a broken one) I will take money in the pocket/bank over the trash can everyday.

Then there is the fact he is DIY with no specific project timeline. If I am $50 short of something of better quality, it might be easy to come up with that extra $50 in a week or 2. What's the rush? Lack of tools are not interfering with his ability to perform an occupation or for immediate safety. A difference between needing a socket to get to work in the morning, needing tools for 1st day of a commission based job, or just having them around for leisure.

Then another example: the miter saw. Sure it might be nice for making fast angled cuts, but there is plenty of things it cannot do. A circular saw also makes those angled cuts. Takes a bit more time to do layout (a few seconds) but again, this is no pro-contracting situation, he is not racing to frame a structure. A miter saw is supposed to have an accuracy advantage, but supposedly this one is not very accurate, so where is the advantage? How about price? It has a regular price of $100. A circular saw? The price runs the entire spectrum, but many are within this same price from local home improvement store. They certainly won't be top of the line, but bet $1 that the $99 makita is built to a higher quality for the same price. Added bonus? It will rip OSB/MDF/plywood or other sheet material. Try that with a miter saw.

The air compressor and/or paint gun kind of go w/o saying. Never met someone who was happy to purchase an oiless garage compressor. Instead their complaints are "it's loud and slow" or as in my case "m'fer burnt up plastic piston rings twice in 6 months" (that was not a HF one)

Serving a short stint in a scrap processing yard, I saw way too many oiless compressors in the heap. People would always dig them out, think they could fix them, find a seized pump or burnt motor, and back into the pile they went.

The benefit of the waiting period is it allows you time to research. You might find a "better" alternative, or you might find you simply do not need a certain device altogether...

 

[BQuicksilver]

I hear ya Diesel, but you are *assuming* it will break. Any time in the pass/fail thread shows a majority of HF tools with positive reviews here, and frankly they are moving in the better quality direction, though their prices are climbing as well.

I'm not sure if he gave a timeline, so he may need to do work now rather than *hope an investment grows (I know mine have done well to break even lately). IMO this guy is a perfect HF buyer with a short budget and many jobs ahead. If that $30 drill from HF gives up his budget isn't wasted, just out $30. It isn't hard to burn $300 on a higher end drill.

I agree circular saw before miter saw, but both isn't bad. Almost any trim job involves more cuts than you'd want to deal with on a circular saw, and good luck shaving off that last 1/3 of a blade with any accuracy. That miter saw is fine, I've used it. It is accurate as well, just a bit noisy. I can't say the same for my 12" Hitachi. We have several hours of work into machining the fence as it was a solid 2 degrees off new. The display in Lowes had the exact same issue!

I'd rather do my research hands-on. i started off with cheap tools and slowly replaced the ones I liked least first. The good part is I was renovating rather than surfing tool forums during that time...becasue I had tools.