Shop Tool Brand Questions...

[jaymar_]

Looking for opinions on the quality of these brands only. Turns out I can get a deal through a friend on these brands, so whatever's better than these doesn't matter. Choice comes down to these brands only. Thanks for any help!

BENCH GRINDER...
Baileigh
Palmgren
Jet

BELT GRINDER...
Jet
Baileigh
Palmgren
Woodward Fab

DRILL PRESS...
Baileigh
Palmgren
Jet
Powermatic
Woodward Fab

BENCH VICE...
Wilton
Woodward
Palmgren
Titan Tools
Panavise (specialty)

 

[RoninB4]

The following comments are not for specific products but about the companies themselves based upon the products I've seen/used. What must be considered is the individual product itself that almost has to be held/used for proper evaluation. Castings for the vise will likely not be the same as the bench grinder. Asian machinery often has multiple suppliers so a company selling a decently made drill press may have a poorly made belt sander in the catalog. Older American/European/Japanese machinery used to have a level of quality that was fairly consistent with all the products that company would offer. Chi-Wan tooling/machinery/electric motors are often inconsistent and, generally, of lower quality although Taiwan does produce some good machinery from reports I've read but not used any of them. All of my opinions/experience is also based upon using older, industrial grade tooling/machinery for decades. Hobby grade stuff may be good enough for what you expect out of it but only you can decided that.

Baileigh

- Fairly new brand from Chi-Wan(?) I have no experience with but some reservations about build quality

Palmgren

- Production level castings and mediocre machining. Older company that wasn't very well thought of back then, maybe ok for garage shop. Palmgren items were basic fixtures suitable for sloppy production work but could be improved upon if needed through modifications.

Jet

- Only time I've seen anything by Jet in a full time shop was light duty hobby grade stuff. Not very durable for full time use

Woodward Fab

- Never heard of them and have no opinion

Powermatic

-Used to make some decent machines, doubt it's the same after the Outsourcing plague

Wilton

-Well made but now vastly over-priced vises. I briefly worked for them in the early 90's. Would look for used before new.

Titan Tools

- New-to-me company so no opinion.

Panavise (specialty)

-Used to be well thought of for small, specialty vise. May/may not be well made now.

 

[neophyte]

Palmgren power tools seem light duty hobby grade to me, but that was because some of the inexpensive ones used to be rebranded by several companies including Sears Craftsman back when Sears stores were still a thing.
The more expensive tools might actually be “Industrial Quality”, and actually look like some of the units that used to be sold as “Industrial Grade” imported tools by other companies such as Grizzly.
Other of the tools look like Home Center “Hobby Grade” tools.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Jet, powermatic and grizzly are all decent,grizzly has great customer service. If you want new grizzly has been running some sales, look for the free shipping. I have a couple jet vs bench grinders,love em.

 

[RTM]

Jet used to have a high quality industrial line, the rest is now new imports in different colors from the competition selling the same item.

Wilton power tools are just rebranded imports, last I heard pretty average stuff. Vises were great, not sure about now, but some are rebranded in the cheaper trim lines.

Powermatic was king of the old power tools, not sure if current.

 

[BTL-A4]

Jet, Powermatic and Wilton.

 

[J.A.F.E.]

Panavise is a quality product I like a great deal but it's not suitable for heavy work. There are lot's of accessories like different jaw material, bases, circuit board holders and other stuff. I like them - I have three.

 

[Steve_P]

I've got a newer Jet 8" bench grinder. It's a beast, powerful, runs smooth, wheels spin for a long town after shutting off. Only negatives are that the wheels wear quickly, and the optics of the lexan shields are poor. I think this was the model in the Project Farm test and IIRC was the most powerful. And probably the most expensive.

The only Wilton vises I'd consider are the legacy models, regardless of COO: tradesman and machinist lines. Yes, they're expensive, and I'd actually recommend saving $$$ and getting a Yost ADI, but..

Palmgren was a respected brand decades ago and well known. Now they just seem to slap their name on anything. I wouldn't buy anything by them without seeing it first, or seeing some informed reviews of it first.

panavise was also well respected decades ago for small precision vises. No idea about now, but I wouldn't trust their past reputation as most of these older companies exist in name only and just slap their names on whatever. So same as above.

 

[john.k]

Funny thing about 'industrial quality' ...my boss used to buy the cheapest of the cheap,and didnt care if they only lasted one day.........he claimed all tools get broken or stolen ,so might as well buy cheap.

 

[RoninB4]

Funny thing about 'industrial quality' ...my boss used to buy the cheapest of the cheap,and didnt care if they only lasted one day.........he claimed all tools get broken or stolen ,so might as well buy cheap.

- Not a knock on you John but I'm glad I've only had the misfortune to work for someone like that once. That was more than enough.