Importance of brandname?

[TehJefe]

I wish I had someone else to hold my hand through all this starting of a new hobbie anxiety, but you guys are the only experienced woodworkers I know, so Ill put my question to you:
These tools look just like brandname products to me, but theyre considerably cheaper than their lookalikes.  Is this just cause of where they're being bought from (ebay) or should I avoid buying a tool with no name at all?
- http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140030386019&category=20781
- http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?MfcISAPICommand=ViewItem&item=140032480335

[spacies]

I would spend a bit more on the router. Its just something you will use quite a bit for slotting and flush cutting and quality makes for better results.  Those handles on it just look uncomfortable too. 

As for the drill press, looks ok to me. And for that price who cares!?

With cheap power tools, just remember to let the tool do the work. If you are too hard on them they will break.
Trust me, I buy cheap power drills and they only break when I am too hard on them. The one I have now is about 12 months old and still going strong.

Buy a good quality cordless/battery drill too. They have a good balanced feel, tons of grunt and long battery life.

 

[prOk]

At the risk of repeating myself, quality is everything with tools.. for 20 bucks you may get a drill press, but you're only getting 20 bucks worth of a drill press too   Save yourself the added expense of having to go and replace the cheap POS later with something better by buying smart now.

Too many folks say what spacies did.. i've been thru XXX number of this tool because it breaks when i'm too hard on it.. ITS A TOOL!!! it's supposed to take being hard on it, you should expect that!   Add up all the money you spend on  multiple cheapo chinese knockoffs and buy a decent product in the first place

Not knocking you Spacies, just demonstrating an example

/b


The 15.00 router.. well, you gotta be crazy to buy that.  2 horse, most likely very low amp.. good luck carving your name in cheese with that

[spacies]

It s all good.
I agree with what you have said.

When I first purchased all my tools I went straight to the top. Metabo Power drill, jigsaw, angle grinder and recip saw. I also purchased a Hitachi compound sliding saw, rotary orbital sander, router and a Dewalt cordless. I also have a Ryobi router fixed under a table which is set to 9mm for slot cutting.

I was using the power drill with a spade bit and while drilling the hole it sheared all the gears inside. I wasnt hard on it, I never am hard on my tools. Thats just foolish talk to say you can be hard on your tools. That power drill was made to cut concrete as well and had a big ass handle out the side for you to hold onto because it supposedly had so much torque. It cost $475 NZD which is around $300USD. I did get a refund but refused to buy another. Now my $14.95 drill doesn't look flash but after 12 months of use, who cares! I drill 30mm buttons holes every 2nd day and it still going. Although I have been thinking about replacing it, LOL.

Anyway, you cant substitute quality. The expensive tools have a much nicer feel to them and perform much better.
But not everyone can afford, or need, to buy expensive tools. If they are going to buy them for a cabinet build once a year then you dont need the top of the line stuff. No use spending 1000s on tools that gather dust.

Maybe buy a model lower in the range from a well known brand.
Most brand name tools come with good warranties so if they do break you can get a replacement.

Like I said in my 1st post, I would spend more on tools you are going to use the most. You dont use a drill press all that much on a build, control panel only really. Even then you dont need it so maybe put that money towards a good quality power drill instead?

Another thing, when I do use cheap power tools, like at friends or family, I am scared they are going to fly to bits. LOL.
Im serious. They make strange noises and ratles especially when you relases the trigger.
 
 

[TehJefe]

I actually do have a cordless drill. I think it may be on the low end of the quality spectrum though. Having to recharge after every 2/3rds of a button hole is just.. well its pissing me off. Maybe a spade bit is a better choice than a hole saw... maybe thats all Im doing? Its really a frustrating tool for me. Its mostly too much power for screwing things in, but too little to drill buttons. Ugh.
Anyway, I kinda figure that the mini drillpress is about as good of a buy as a new, more powerful cordless drill.
As for the router, thanks for your advice, Ill definately steer clear.

[spacies]

Hi,

No cordless drill is suitable for drilling button holes. You need a mains one for that.

Also, a hole saw is better the a spade bit for button holes IMO.

[NightGod]

Hi,

No cordless drill is suitable for drilling button holes. You need a mains one for that.

Also, a hole saw is better the a spade bit for button holes IMO.

?

I used my 18V Ryobi to drill all my button holes on a 4 player panel, had to swap the battery once, and I had been using it for about a week of building before I started on the CP.

I agree you won't get ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- done with a 9V or probably a 12V cordless, but get an 18V+ with torque control and you should be OK.

[leapinlew]

I agree with needing a corded drill to do button holes. If you can get away drilling all your holes with a cordless great, but I prefer to use a corded drill for any big jobs. I suppose this is a personal preference thing.

As for cheap tools - I try to gauge the tool up against my usage, and some tools don't have much variation from a name brand to a generic (like a jigsaw).

I learned that cheap sandpaper, paint and paint accessories are a waste of money unless you buy the good stuff.

The router I have is a Harbor Freights and I picked it up on ebay for $20 shipped. I've had good luck with it.

My screw drivers are inexpensive Stanley screw drivers - they work fine.

My sanders (2 orbitals and a belt) are all black and decker and are also working fine for me.

If you plan on doing quite a bit of wood working - better/durable tools may be for you. I don't plan on needing the router and sanders too much more. I've built 5 cabinets and I'm close to being done.

[Stingray]

I use a hole saw with a cordless drill all the time.

-S

[ChadTower]

I have as well.  Entirely dependent on what you are cutting.

[NiteWalker]

Hi,

No cordless drill is suitable for drilling button holes. You need a mains one for that.

Also, a hole saw is better the a spade bit for button holes IMO.

With newer technology available, a cordless drill can get the job done. The extra expense over a corded isn't worth it though. I'll take corded any day.

I don't believe a holesaw is better for drilling button holes IMHO. I use irwin spade bits with spurs and the cut beautifully through MDF or whatever I put em through. Hole saws are nice, but burn when cutting MDF. Less dust with a spade bit as well.

To answer the original poster's question, in a sense brand is an indicator of the quality of the tool. More important though, is the particular tool's reputation. Check the woodnet.net forums for hands on user feedback of tools in question. And avoid the tools in the links you provided. They're just asking for trouble...

[ChadTower]

I have a ---smurfy--- $50 cordless with a built in battery and still have had no problems cutting with hole saws.  Just takes longer.  Quite a bit longer.

[spacies]

Hi,

No cordless drill is suitable for drilling button holes. You need a mains one for that.

Also, a hole saw is better the a spade bit for button holes IMO.

 I use irwin spade bits with spurs and the cut beautifully through MDF or whatever I put em through. Hole saws are nice, but burn when cutting MDF. Less dust with a spade bit as well.

Hey, can you post a pic of that bit please? I would be keen to look out for one at the hardware store.

I forget you guys are weekend warriors where as I use my tools everyday. Sometimes I drill 4-5 panels in a row so no cordless could handle that. I argree they could cut holes through ply without problems, but you drill 50 holes through 18mm MDF and get back to me. It would go flatter than Paris Hilton very quickly! LOL

[NiteWalker]

Here you go:
Spade Bits
You don't have to get the set; they sell them seperately. In my experience, they work great on MDF and also plastics (as long as you get the kind with spurs) and over here they're only about $5 each. Sometimes cheaper.

4 or 5 panels in a row? Do you make em as a side business? How about some pics of your work 

[Wade]

The problem with tools nowadays is a lot of the Chinese cheap stuff has improved in quality a LOT in the past couple of decades, and even expensive brand name tools are often cheaply made Chinese stuff, just with a higher tag.  I've had mixed results from Harbor Freight cheapo tools, and from brand names, though I have never bought a super high-dollar tool.

Example, $300 Sears Craftsman 30 gallon air compressor, broke after maybe 100 hours of use.  My dad bought a $99 one from Harbor Freight and has been using it a lot, I even borrow it sometimes because it works so much better than mine. (Mine trips the breaker routinely even though my circuit is oversized for the compressor!)

I have a brand name cordless drill that blows, it is okay for putting some small screws in or drilling tiny holes for about 15 minutes.  My dad has one also (different brand/model) and his is quite good.

I have a blue plastic 120V drill (brand name... though it is slipping my mind right now).  Had it about 10 years or more, the case is partly split open from me dropping it, I have used it to mix mortar which eventually caused it to stop working at all and SMOKE big-time, but that drill STILL works like a champ!!  After it cooled down it started working again.  I use this drill all the time, I put sanding discs on it and sand cabinets, etc!

I tend to think it's a crapshoot...  No way I'm spending $300 for a drill when the $30 has done so well.

Wade

[leapinlew]

Here you go:
Spade Bits
You don't have to get the set; they sell them seperately. In my experience, they work great on MDF and also plastics (as long as you get the kind with spurs) and over here they're only about $5 each. Sometimes cheaper.

4 or 5 panels in a row? Do you make em as a side business? How about some pics of your work 

Hey Nite -

Check out Spacies profile. He's very skilled and helpful. He made a splash into BYOAC by messing with all of us.

[spacies]

4 or 5 panels in a row? Do you make em as a side business? How about some pics of your work 

Thanks Nitewalker.
I will go buy one today. I dont build them as a side business/project. I do it full time. I am not sure if I am allowed to advertise my own personal website where I sell my machines, so I just uploaded some pics and added a link to a photo gallery in my signature.

Hey Nite -

Check out Spacies profile. He's very skilled and helpful. He made a splash into BYOAC by messing with all of us.
[/quote]

Thanks leapinlew. I did make a bit of a splash huh!? LOL
Only because I was talking from the dark side!    And the dreaded topic of how MAME is been exploited. Anyway, enuf of that before it rears its ugly head again.  Thanks again 

[spacies]

PS, I also worked with a group of guys and all day long we would play practical jokes on each other, so I guess my sense of humour hasn't left since I stopped working with them. 

Like welding someones brand new steel cap boots to the workbench, or filling the insides of someones overalls (coveralls, what ever you call them) with grease. Writing a message by the work phone and pretending it was from a workmates girlfriend saying she wont be home tonite and he goes out and gets drunk and turns up at home and she is fuming    The lsit goes on!

[Crax]

Here you go:
Spade Bits
You don't have to get the set; they sell them seperately. In my experience, they work great on MDF and also plastics (as long as you get the kind with spurs) and over here they're only about $5 each. Sometimes cheaper.

4 or 5 panels in a row? Do you make em as a side business? How about some pics of your work 

Would you use those instead of a Forstner bit?

[NiteWalker]

In my experience with forstner bits, they cut very clean holes but you must go slower with them. If you do want to use them, they are best in a drill press. Also, get high speed steel (HSS) rather than carbon steel. It won't break down at high temperatures.

@Spacies:
Checkin out your stuff now

[kelemvor]

If it hasn't already been stated, a great place to get tools is estate sales and things like that.  Many times you can get older equipment that still works great and can get a great deal.

[ChadTower]

Be careful with that.  If you don't already know a given tool well, buying a used one from a third party like that is no guarantee it's not going to rip your arm off when you start it up.  Novices need beware used tools.