Edit: Now that I look at my post, it seems that i am somewhat angry. I am not, and I am sorry Pager if you take this post in the wrong context. Once again, I apologize if it sounds like I am attacking you. I just want to know why Dewalt is not the best. Thanks.
I've got nothing against Dewalt, or Black & Decker, for that matter. None
of the tools that are made now seem to be of the same quality as days
gone by. I've got a Porter Cable electric handsaw, and it works very well,
but I doubt if it will last like the old ones did.
As far as brands go these days, it doesn't seem to make that much difference
if you are comparing two brands that cost about the same and are made in
China, then perhaps assembled in the Philippines. On the other hand, a $40
drill will probably outlast a $20 one. You usually get what you pay for.
I think people purchase products for different reasons. I own a Dewalt cordless drill and other products that they make. I am not sure what manufacturer has better quality, Dewalt, Ryobi, or Porter Cable.My decision to buy Dewalt was based on the fact that Dewalt has a factory service center in my town. I have had tools break before and the guy at the Dewalt store will go over to the shelf and give me a brand new one free of charge, no questions asked.
On the other hand, I bought a Ryobi bench top drill press because it had the better consumer ratings on the internet and consumer magazines and more of the features that I wanted.
__________________
BayouTitan
4X2 SE Radiant Silver
Popular Package
Big Tow Package
Utility Bed Package
Born on 12/03
I don't think brand makes a whole lot of difference for non-commercial, no-heavy duty home use. I have B&D sanders that i like a lot better than my Makita, but the Makita miter saw is excellent. I don't like my Dewalt cordless, chuck drops bits on floor all the time but I do like their 12 in planer. I've had lousy Porter Cable and great Ryobi tools. I like the Rigid table saw,(Home Depot), and even Central Machinery band saw ,( Harbor freight). Only have recip saw from Milwaukee but it appears to be bullet proof. I haven't had any Craftsman power tools that were very good and all overpriced with little warranty.
Yes I am a tool fanatic, too. The Titan is outside because the garage is the workshop.
There was a small space left in the garage for my wifes Camry so she can b***h about sawdust on her car. If the Camry had the power of the Titan it could blow it off in 1/2 a block but it doesn't and thats what happens when you park in my playroom!
__________________
BORN ON 02/04 LE CC 4X4 OFFROAD White, DVD, Daytime running lights , Ultrasonic parking sensors,
Wade OEM deflector , Weatherflectors, ,Jason Hugger fiberglass toneau, Clear Shield film front paint ,Front window tint match to back, Cobra radar detector (hardwired) PRG 2" lift, Carbotech brakes & SS brake lines, Magnaflow catback dual exhaust, Chrome tailgate trim, Fatmat/Rattle trap sound deadener.
Dewalt's fine line of tools has always been an arm of Black & Decker. It was conceived as a clever marketing plan from the get go. I used to own & operate an electronics/marine repair shop and I was the local repair vendor for DeWalt.
They are outstanding tools indeed. Santa brought me the 18VDC cordless drill & Circular Saw last year and they are excellent. BOSCH is also an excellent brand. If you want a bad-*** drill try HILTI. Their 22 cal nail guns are fun. Used one framing my brothers house.
__________________
Red Brawn LE
Southaven, MS
TITAN's Birth State
I love tools and Titans, so I have to put in my 2-cents.
I'm not a mechanic, so I'm not an expert on those types of tools. My expertise is in woodworking. After I retired from telecommunications in in '96, I got my General Contractor's license and joined my dad, building custom homes, finishing basements, kitchens, etc. As the son of a general contractor, I grew up in the business and have used a WIDE variety of tools. (By the way, my dad is 78, still a GC and still works every day. God bless him.) Here's my opinon on some tools that I have used. Some I own, some are owned by the people we work with.
Drills: I have to agree with many others that Dewalt makes some fine drills. I own 3 of them and they are all terrific. As good as the Dewalt drills are, we've got a few Makita's that have been with us for YEARS and still work like the day they were bought. Very durable and dependable. My Makita offset drill is the best of any I've ever used, with Dewalt running a close second. I have a Panasonic, too. It's a good drill, but it doesn't hold a charge as well as the others. A feature of Dewalt that shouldn't be taken for granted is their yellow color. Easy to find on a cluttered job site.
Sliding Compound Miter Saws: I have an 8" Hitachi (excellent) and a 10" Makita that is probably the best SCM that I've ever used. My dad has a Dewalt 12" that is in constant use and has performed flawlessly for several years. My Porter Cable 10" chop saw (laser) is very good, as long as I keep the laser adjusted, it doesn't like to be bounced around too much. One of our finish carpenters swears by his Milwaukee SCM. I've used it and it's a good saw, but it doesn't seem to have the refinement of the Makita.
Table Saws: I have a 10" Delta in my shop, and it's great, but it is definitely NOT portable. So, on-the-job we use a Dewalt 10" table saw. Just about perfect for most applications. We have an old 10" Makita that refuses to die, but it's not up to the standards of the newer Dewalt. One of our carpenters has a new 10" Bosche and it's a beauty. Gives the Dewalt a real run for the money.
Saws-all: What the hell would any of us do without a saws-all?!? We use an OLD Makita, a Milwaukee, a PC and an 18V cordless Dewalt. All of them are good, but the Makita has been beaten to death for 20 years and is still going strong, an amazingly durable tool. The cordless Dewalt is terrific for certain applications. I'm of the opinion that anything cordless is wonderful, but cordless tools still don't pack the power that is sometimes required, particularly the saws. Still, they're getting better and when they can be used, they're great.
Air Nailers: We use SENCO air nailers almost exclusively, with the exception of a couple of Stanley-bostich brad nailers. Both brands are dependable and easy to service. Just got a new Dewalt finish nailer. So far, so good. Think we're gonna like it.
Sorry about the long post. Sometimes I get carried away with this stuff. Tools have always held a special interest in my life. I'm one of those 58-year-old guys who can waste a whole day in a Home Depot or a hardware store without buying anything...and enjoy every minute of it.
Thanks, Dad.
__________________
Colorado
2004 Red Brawn LE KC
Born 12-16-03
O.K., thanks everybody. I just ordered the 6 piece Dewalt 18V set from www.toolking.com in Lakewood, Colorado, which is not far if I have to take something back.
I used to use a HILTI many years ago for shooting fasteners into concrete. I liked to sneak up first thing in the morning behind the guys on the job site that were really hung over.
Dewalt's fine line of tools has always been an arm of Black & Decker. It was conceived as a clever marketing plan from the get go.
Mostly true. Dewalt introduced their line of small power tools in 1992, under
the ownership of B&D. The company got its start when Ray Dewalt invented
the radial arm saw. At one time, the company was even owned by AMF.
It is funny how people have such notions about brands these days. You may
assume you are getting an American made product just because it has one
of the oldest tool names on it, like Brown & Sharpe, or LS Starrett. If you
look further, you see where these companies have become so global that they
also have plants in Puerto Rico and Brazil. You have to look at the small print
on the box to see where it actually came from.
When I was a kid, if we saw something that said "made in Japan" on it, we
thought it was crap because Japan made all their products from recycled
tin cans. I have the perception now if it says that, I expect a quality product.
It may be my own prejudice flaring up, but if I am comparing two major brand
products with similar price and features, and I notice that one was made in
China, and the other was made in say, the USA, Canada, England, Japan, or
Germany, guess which one I would choose. The Chinese tool would have to
have something to really make it stand out, like a special feature, or a much
better warranty, before I would take it home.
I don't want to sound like a tool snob. I've got my share of cheap tools that
I abuse with reckless abandon. Many have provided excellent service considering what I paid for them.
When I worked in Virginia, there was a Black & Decker factory outlet store
close by, and I bought a reconditioned Workmate for $39. They had a special
where I could get a drill powered band saw for an extra $10. I have used both
of these tools for nearly 20 years, and they have never let me down. That
band saw never ceases to amaze me. I don't use it very often, but it works
when it's needed. Still has the original wood band on it. I think I got my $10
worth!
One thing I do to determine which tool I should buy is ask a pro. Don't just ask which brand is better, ask why that particular brand is better. I remember 30 years ago when I was a carpenter's helper, I noticed that every framing carpenter had the same Skill brand circular saw. My curiosity finally got the best of me and I asked why. A carpenter threw down a scrap piece of wood and cross cut one time with the Skill and one time with the Black and Decker. He showed me how the fan motor on the Skill was designed to blow the sawdust off of your cut line. The B&D dumped sawdust right on your cut line where you couldn't see it. I would not have known that just by looking at the specs on each saw. Now B&D has that problem solved which is another point I would like to make. Manufacturers change their leadership and design teams all the time. What once was a poorly designed tool five years ago might be the best today. Don't be prejudiced about past history-buy what's best today. There is a circular saw made today that has ruler stamped on the base. How cool is that! If you are measuring something to cut that is only a few inches, you can use your circular saw that is already resting on the board rather than letting loose of the saw and grabbing a tape measure. I have had pros give me good advice on other tools as well.
O.K., thanks everybody. I just ordered the 6 piece Dewalt 18V set from www.toolking.com in Lakewood, Colorado, which is not far if I have to take something back.
I used to use a HILTI many years ago for shooting fasteners into concrete. I liked to sneak up first thing in the morning behind the guys on the job site that were really hung over.
Hang on to that 18 volt drill tight. It has enough torque to dislocate your elbow. Use the clutch or you will feel it the next day.
One thing I do to determine which tool I should buy is ask a pro. Don't just ask which brand is better, ask why that particular brand is better.
I know what you mean, Bayou! When I was looking for a new gas trimmer,
it seemed like I saw the same identical brand hanging on a lot of commercial
landscaper's trailers. It was Shindawa. One of my neighbors owns a lawn
maintenance company, and he said to get an Echo. I went to the shop where
I have bought most of my yard tools, and the owner sold all the major brands,
including those two. He told me that both were excellent, but he had never
had a warranty claim on the Shindawa. I bought on of those and love it.
I am very inexperienced as a carpenter, and had some trouble cutting square
ends on 2x4's even though I tried to follow the pencil line as best I could.
One of my neighbors showed me how to hold a Swanson Speed Square on the
board as a guide for the edge of the circular saw. My cuts instantly became
better. Handy little tool, and cheap too!
I know what you mean, Bayou! When I was looking for a new gas trimmer,
it seemed like I saw the same identical brand hanging on a lot of commercial
landscaper's trailers. It was Shindawa. One of my neighbors owns a lawn
maintenance company, and he said to get an Echo. I went to the shop where
I have bought most of my yard tools, and the owner sold all the major brands,
including those two. He told me that both were excellent, but he had never
had a warranty claim on the Shindawa. I bought on of those and love it.
I am very inexperienced as a carpenter, and had some trouble cutting square
ends on 2x4's even though I tried to follow the pencil line as best I could.
One of my neighbors showed me how to hold a Swanson Speed Square on the
board as a guide for the edge of the circular saw. My cuts instantly became
better. Handy little tool, and cheap too!
Steve
You and I must have had a mind meld. I did the same thing with when I purchased a string trimmer. I looked on yard maintenance trailers and then asked the pros. They said choose between a Shindawa, Sthil, Husqvarna, Echo pro, and Robin and you will be happy. If you dig for information you will find that these trimmers are a lot more powerful and have three times the rated engine service life than "home owners" brands sold at dept stores. My father-in-law bought a cheap one and it is already "toast" after just two seasons. Now he will have to buy another one. It, of course, would have been cheaper for him to buy a commercial grade trimmer from the get go.
I had a pro show me that same trick with the speed square. When I built my deck I used this method and every board butts up to the other like it was cut on a table saw. Whenever I hire work to be done at my house or at work, I watch closely what the pro is doing. By doing this I have learned a lot.
Hang on to that 18 volt drill tight. It has enough torque to dislocate your elbow. Use the clutch or you will feel it the next day.
Yes, I know! I was used to my puny (but very reliable and long lived) little old Mikatas. My friend's 18V Ryobi was quite a surprise the first time I used it. I drove a screw almost clear through the board on my first inept attempt.
I read somewhere that there was a skinny, pointed, cloth buffer to use with your cordless drill along with soap and water to clean your rims without useing elbow grease. Has anyone seen or heard about this?
I read somewhere that there was a skinny, pointed, cloth buffer to use with your cordless drill along with soap and water to clean your rims without useing elbow grease. Has anyone seen or heard about this?
07-21-2004, 08:53 PM
Linear Mode
