Cheap Power Tools
Submitted: Saturday, Aug 27, 2005 at 22:19
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Jimbo
How times have changed.
You can buy various power
tools for as little as $13 from the likes of Bunnings and Supercheap. Doing some mods to my camper today I whipped out the "
well known" brand KK2 jigsaw which I got from S/C for $13.
It did a great job again and will go away until I next need it. It will sit next to the Angle Grinder and Sander of similar origin. They are "occassional use" tools and serve me
well. I don't expect too much from them and for the odd use they get, they represent excellent value.
My Makita Circular Saw (20 years old) and Bosch Hammer Drill have had the bejesus belted out of them and are still going strong. For the use these get I wouldn't bother with a cheapie.
There's some good stuff out there to suit your needs at a given price. In times gone by the average handy man couldn't afford a decent range of power tools.
How times have changed.
Reply By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Saturday, Aug 27, 2005 at 22:34
Saturday, Aug 27, 2005 at 22:34
Hi Jimbo, My father built his own house in the mid 50's with only a 2 speed hand breast drill, a brace and bit, 3 panel saws, a tenon saw and 2 wood planes. It took him 2 years to build it on weekends, imagine owning a complete set of applicable power
tools for about the cost of half a weeks pay back then.. He never owned a power tool in his life, i couldn't do without them.. Michael
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Jimbo - Saturday, Aug 27, 2005 at 23:07
Saturday, Aug 27, 2005 at 23:07
Mike,
My Grandparents arrived in Australia in 1956 with 400 quid to their name. Bought a block of land in Clayton and built a 10' by 20' shed and lived in that with my mother and uncle whilst they built a house by hand.
It still stands to this day. A tribute to a hard working Pommie migrant family. Working 8 to 8 in a book factory and building a house in their "spare time".
I lived until I was 6 in that bungalow (the shed was enlarged to 20' by 20'). My Mum and Dad have now been married 45 years and my Nanna is 92. Grandad died about 7 years ago.
I have nothing but the fondest memories.
Still, I love my tools. Just wish I had the skill to use them like Grandad could have.
Cheers,
Jim.
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Follow Up By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Saturday, Aug 27, 2005 at 23:43
Saturday, Aug 27, 2005 at 23:43
Yeah Jim, amazing what people put up with in times past. My dad did the same, built the single garage first, live in it till the third child, 'me' was 1yo. We sometimes dont know how good we have it until we look back a few years! Michael .
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Reply By: G-wizz - Saturday, Aug 27, 2005 at 22:39
Saturday, Aug 27, 2005 at 22:39
Amazing isn't it. Power
tools now cost less than a feed at a decent restaurant. Thanks Mr. Howard.
"Meat prices have shown an upward trend in
Canberra between 1994 and 2004, with much of this price rise occurring in the last five years. The largest price increases since 1999 were recorded for lamb loin chops (up 89%), lamb fore-quarter chops (up 71%) and T-bone steak (up 60%). The smallest increases were recorded for frozen chicken (up 5%), legs of pork (up 9%), and sausages (up 14%)."
ABS
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Follow Up By: Patrolman Pat - Sunday, Aug 28, 2005 at 10:37
Sunday, Aug 28, 2005 at 10:37
"Power
tools now cost less than a feed at a decent restaurant. Thanks Mr. Howard."
He's doing a great job isn't he, bringing many prices down. Nice to see you giving him praise where it's due. ; )
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Follow Up By: Jimbo - Sunday, Aug 28, 2005 at 22:47
Sunday, Aug 28, 2005 at 22:47
Oh, he's a great man.
More tax relief for the rich.
He's the quintessential Liberal.
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Reply By: Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) - Saturday, Aug 27, 2005 at 22:54
Saturday, Aug 27, 2005 at 22:54
I was moving my carport and my cheap drill crapped itself (haydon) wasnt to upset coz I had put up a fence with it so I went to bunnings and bought an xu1 drill for bugger all. After the first hole through patio tubing it was ratteling and 1/2 way through the 2nd it died in a cloud of smoke. Within half an hour of buying it I had it back at Bunnings and paid the extra for a bosch
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Follow Up By: Jimbo - Saturday, Aug 27, 2005 at 23:09
Saturday, Aug 27, 2005 at 23:09
Davoe,
Like I said, if you're going to flog them, buy quality.
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Follow Up By: S&N - Saturday, Aug 27, 2005 at 23:46
Saturday, Aug 27, 2005 at 23:46
not always jimbo. i sometimes think that if you are going to use them only a few times a year, buy good quality, as they will last the years and probably be good enough to give to the kids when they get older. if you are going to flog them, get something from bunnings, because they will probably sheet themselves WITHIN the warranty period. a storeman at bunnings told me "wipe the
tools down before you come in, be nice about it, and we will swap the tool on
the spot! hence the warranty period starts again!!!!" you keep doing this and you can get a new drill every year, for only the initial $20-$50.
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Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) - Sunday, Aug 28, 2005 at 00:24
Sunday, Aug 28, 2005 at 00:24
Hardly flogging them although I got my moniies worth from the haydon. I also have an Haydon angle grinder which I am happy with. One thing that is NOT worth getting unless you are drilling wood is those cheap drill bits - they are lucky to drill one hole with many not even managing that
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Follow Up By: Patrolman Pat - Sunday, Aug 28, 2005 at 10:36
Sunday, Aug 28, 2005 at 10:36
"hence the warranty period starts again!!!!" you keep doing this and you can get a new drill every year, for only the initial $20-$50."
Doesn't work that way AFAIK. When a tool (or any item) is replaced under warranty the replacement gets the balsnace of the original warranty. You don't get a full warranty on the replacementas a rule. Some companies may do so as a goodwill gesture.
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Follow Up By: crewser - Sunday, Aug 28, 2005 at 18:13
Sunday, Aug 28, 2005 at 18:13
supercheap give a 2 year replacment warranty on some of there power tools. when they pack it in they replace it and you DO get another 2 years of warranty. I brought an angle grinder for $35 5 years ago from supercheap I stoped counting at 8 but I must have gone through about 13 angle grinders by now. yet to have one last 2 years (I do give them a floging). only ever spent $35 on first grinder. best one I had lasted 20 mths (packed it in last week) the worst 3 seconds. If you want something reliable buy a good brand. I don`t live that far from supercheap so it`s no hassel to return it.
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Reply By: Moggs - Saturday, Aug 27, 2005 at 23:44
Saturday, Aug 27, 2005 at 23:44
I agree, for occassional use the cheapies do the job. However I have found the cheapie chuckless drills a bit crap. They will not tighten sufficiently to hold the drill bit. I have a cheap planner (Ozito brand I think) and a cheap grinder. Both still going strong after a fair bit of use. I chucked the Ozito 18volt chuckless drill in the bin though and bought a Makita.
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Follow Up By: Member - Brian (Gold Coast) - Monday, Aug 29, 2005 at 07:16
Monday, Aug 29, 2005 at 07:16
The planer is ok??? I was thinking of buying one of those planers and perhaps the (I think) GMC mitre saw?? They're both pretty cheap but I would only use them "around the house"....
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Reply By: Utemad - Sunday, Aug 28, 2005 at 09:08
Sunday, Aug 28, 2005 at 09:08
I have a few 'Ozito' tools from Bunnings. They have a 3 year replacement warranty. Don't lose the receipt and your set.
I also have a DeWalt 12v drill with keyless chuck that has had years of flogging however it doesn't hold the drill bits tight enough anymore either and the batteries only last for a few holes each. A new battery was over $200 I think. Not worth it.
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Reply By: Alloy c/t - Sunday, Aug 28, 2005 at 09:28
Sunday, Aug 28, 2005 at 09:28
Todays paper ,Kmart fathers day special ,5 different power
tools at $9.99 ea ;impact drill, angle grinder, sander,jigsaw,cordless drill ,all 5 for less than $50.00 ,cheaper to buy than to hire.
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Reply By: Mike DiD - Sunday, Aug 28, 2005 at 10:49
Sunday, Aug 28, 2005 at 10:49
I bought a GMC 18volt kit for $99 - drill, circular saw, reciprocating saw, torch and 2 batteries.
On opening it the drill switch didn't work so back to Bunnings - sorry, don't have replacement drill. I'll have to replace it with this dual-speed 18 volt hammer drill - woohoo.
The Reciprocating saw is incredibly powerful - I'm doing a bathroom rebuild it is being worked hard and holding up perfectly.
The drill has amazing torque.
Also bought a Powercraft 18volt drill with 1hr charger from Aldi - a great tool.
Ozito Planer seems to be good quality.
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Reply By: joc45 - Sunday, Aug 28, 2005 at 11:51
Sunday, Aug 28, 2005 at 11:51
Bit of deja vu here;
Japan was this way in the 50's and 60's.
In the '70's when Taiwan was just up and going with industrial stuff, their
tools were incredibly cheap. Their way of getting into the market was to undercut everyone, then the price gradually increased, so that today, they're not much different than items from other countries.
Korean cars going the same way. China next?
Cash in while the going's good, it won't last forever.
Happy shopping,
Gerry
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Follow Up By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Sunday, Aug 28, 2005 at 22:26
Sunday, Aug 28, 2005 at 22:26
Just look at the 100$ generators, we couldnt make and paint the fuel tank for that here in OZ.. it cant last.. They just revalued their money a few weeks ago, will make good out of there more expensive, A USA money guy said its just the beginning of many upward revaluations to come.. get em while their HOT!!!!
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