retDAC
Well-known member
First a brief intro. Am an occasional DIYer who is mainly a bookworm. 
Or information junkie if you prefer.
Do truly appreciate and enjoy tools and history. THANKS for this board and the majority of its members. The tips, reviews, techniques, experiences, and other knowledge shown here are impressive, even amazing sometimes.
Been reading lots of threads & related in this forum. It's addictive, as perhaps many of you have discovered. Am up to page 1055 in the General Tool Discussion. Not reading every thread; just those I find interesting.
Although I'm just another name on the list, I feel I know some of you through your writing. While my experience is slight, I hope to occasionally post info which some of you find useful/interesting.
So many revelations of now readily available much better tools at what, adjusted for inflation, are low prices. Compared to the '50s - '80s anyway. Have seen similar changes in cars/pickups and firearms.
Before anybody gets his ******* in a wad, you can bet your sweet bippy some things were better then. A few even much better.
Some things are better now. Again, a few even much better.
What I have discovered is mainly things were better for most of us because we were young; our parents were still alive and not elderly; and we still had the best part of our lives in front of us. In most cases, whatever difficulties/disappointments we faced then we would eventually overcome. Failing all else, with the passage of time.
There are so many posts bashing tools made outside the US (although those made in Europe don't really seem to be counted.) Of course some of these foreign made tools are seriously inferior and especially, old US brands on those are fraudulent!
The main "official" concern however seems to be the loss of US jobs in tool manufacturing as well as other areas. All too valid a concern. Unfortunately it's not due merely to "slave wages in other countries". Neither would it be truly fixed through "Buy American Only and let's use the Federal gov't to enforce it through tariffs, quotas, bans, etc."
If one truly cared to know, he would have to spend a lot of hours studying the various factors and players in this. If he performed his research honestly and thoroughly, much of what he would discover would be quite painful for him. BTDT - Been There; Done That. Or enough of it anyway.
If that appears an unwelcome rant, please forgive me. After reading so many posts, felt I needed to express those points.
Back to cheeriness!
You people have caused me to spend an embarassing amount of $ on new tools due to members' reports of how enjoyable certain tools are in use (chiefly ratchets)!
Barring a miracle, I'll never be able to recoup my investment!
Actually I know and admit it isn't really your fault. Nobody forced or tricked me into doing that.
Even if I don't use them enough to make it worth the $, I truly enjoy having fine tools!
Or information junkie if you prefer.
Do truly appreciate and enjoy tools and history. THANKS for this board and the majority of its members. The tips, reviews, techniques, experiences, and other knowledge shown here are impressive, even amazing sometimes.
Been reading lots of threads & related in this forum.
It's addictive, as perhaps many of you have discovered. Am up to page 1055 in the General Tool Discussion. Not reading every thread; just those I find interesting.Although I'm just another name on the list, I feel I know some of you through your writing. While my experience is slight, I hope to occasionally post info which some of you find useful/interesting.
So many revelations of now readily available much better tools at what, adjusted for inflation, are low prices. Compared to the '50s - '80s anyway. Have seen similar changes in cars/pickups and firearms.
Before anybody gets his ******* in a wad, you can bet your sweet bippy some things were better then. A few even much better.
Some things are better now. Again, a few even much better.
What I have discovered is mainly things were better for most of us because we were young; our parents were still alive and not elderly; and we still had the best part of our lives in front of us. In most cases, whatever difficulties/disappointments we faced then we would eventually overcome. Failing all else, with the passage of time.
There are so many posts bashing tools made outside the US (although those made in Europe don't really seem to be counted.) Of course some of these foreign made tools are seriously inferior and especially, old US brands on those are fraudulent!
The main "official" concern however seems to be the loss of US jobs in tool manufacturing as well as other areas. All too valid a concern. Unfortunately it's not due merely to "slave wages in other countries". Neither would it be truly fixed through "Buy American Only and let's use the Federal gov't to enforce it through tariffs, quotas, bans, etc."
If one truly cared to know, he would have to spend a lot of hours studying the various factors and players in this. If he performed his research honestly and thoroughly, much of what he would discover would be quite painful for him. BTDT - Been There; Done That. Or enough of it anyway.
If that appears an unwelcome rant, please forgive me. After reading so many posts, felt I needed to express those points.
Back to cheeriness!
You people have caused me to spend an embarassing amount of $ on new tools due to members' reports of how enjoyable certain tools are in use (chiefly ratchets)!
Barring a miracle, I'll never be able to recoup my investment!
Actually I know and admit it isn't really your fault. Nobody forced or tricked me into doing that.
Even if I don't use them enough to make it worth the $, I truly enjoy having fine tools!
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