Expensive Tools Worth That Price?

[Asssiss]

Hello folks...my first time outside my country was 2010...I visited France and England.
First all sightseeing possible and at the end two places that change my mind about price of tools.

First
I started to woork with wood in 2005 and before that I did nothing...my father and uncle had a woodworking professional shop during almost 40 years but I hate work using wood (before 2005).
Second:
During ny first trip the US$ ratio against my money was 1,69 (today is 5,02) and Euro and Pounds are not so far as well.
My first contact at an European store was at Leroy Merlin in Paris neigbourhood.The prices of tools are so cheap in comparsion to Brazil and shocked me.My budget do not permit me buy many things but I choose some manual tools as a personal gift.
Power tools were nice too but all 220V and in my state we use 110V.They are out of my desire (forced).
After my time in France we visit England and at Axminster I saw many things nice but kept my focus and purchased only two rotative rasps and a Hutafors Metric Folding Rule (one model I never saw before in Brazil).

Now the reason of this thread:

In Brazil the prices of tools are expensive (good quality tools).You can find Chinese cheap tools but they can't last long enough (they changed for better now).

I remember my first time in US (Florida) August 2010.Visit Lowes and Home Depot.
(After that when I came back to US I visted Rockler...Woodcraft...Highland...in other American cities)

I almost cried. The tools are cheaper than Europe and the power tools are 110V like Brazil...battery tools are not popular like they are these days.

The other advantage.Flights from Brazil permit you carry two bags 32Kg each included at ticket ( we are three and you can image the damage at pockets)...clothes are cheap in US as well.OMG.

Today the ratio is 5,02 and to me still better buy tools during my trips.
I have tools enough and decline my purchases.
I choose brands I have assistance in Brazil (Bosch...Makita...DeWalt...etc).
Sometimes your models are one or two steps against what I can find here at shelves or online.

One example very intersting:
This Milwaukee Drill Kit cost in USA
Model 2505-22
USA= $ 225
Canada=$ 400 (CA Dolar)
Brazil=$ 525
It is a huge diference.

I love the design and quality of Festool but they are expensive in Europe...US ...Canada...image in Brazil (no way)...I read that patent of Festool Dominos Machine will expire very soon.I loved that Idea and hope other companies can make a similar for less money.

I read that American tools market is changed too and the brands are not fight for a fair competition anymore...the tools are made at same factory in China and just change the label.
You can feel this already?

This model



The Festool

Thanks for attention

 

[Nature Man]

Hello folks...my first time outside my country was 2010...I visited France and England.
First all sightseeing possible and at the end two places that change my mind about price of tools.

First
I started to woork with wood in 2005 and before that I did nothing...my father and uncle had a woodworking professional shop during almost 40 years but I hate work using wood (before 2005).
Second:
During ny first trip the US$ ratio against my money was 1,69 (today is 5,02) and Euro and Pounds are not so far as well.
My first contact at an European store was at Leroy Merlin in Paris neigbourhood.The prices of tools are so cheap in comparsion to Brazil and shocked me.My budget do not permit me buy many things but I choose some manual tools as a personal gift.
Power tools were nice too but all 220V and in my state we use 110V.They are out of my desire (forced).
After my time in France we visit England and at Axminster I saw many things nice but kept my focus and purchased only two rotative rasps and a Hutafors Metric Folding Rule (one model I never saw before in Brazil).

Now the reason of this thread:

In Brazil the prices of tools are expensive (good quality tools).You can find Chinese cheap tools but they can't last long enough (they changed for better now).

I remember my first time in US (Florida) August 2010.Visit Lowes and Home Depot.
(After that when I came back to US I visted Rockler...Woodcraft...Highland...in other American cities)

I almost cried. The tools are cheaper than Europe and the power tools are 110V like Brazil...battery tools are not popular like they are these days.

The other advantage.Flights from Brazil permit you carry two bags 32Kg each included at ticket ( we are three and you can image the damage at pockets)...clothes are cheap in US as well.OMG.

Today the ratio is 5,02 and to me still better buy tools during my trips.
I have tools enough and decline my purchases.
I choose brands I have assistance in Brazil (Bosch...Makita...DeWalt...etc).
Sometimes your models are one or two steps against what I can find here at shelves or online.

One example very intersting:
This Milwaukee Drill Kit cost in USA
Model 2505-22
USA= $ 225
Canada=$ 400 (CN Dolar)
Brazil=$ 525
It is a huge diference.

I love the design and quality of Festool but they are expensive in Europe...US ...Canada...image in Brazil (no way)...I read that patent of Festool Dominos Machine will expire very soon.I loved that Idea and hope other companies can make a similar for less money.

I read that American tools market is changed too and the brands are not fight for a fair competition anymore...the tools are made at same factory in China and just change the label.
You can feel this already?

This model

View attachment 288554

The Festool
View attachment 288555
Thanks for attention

Think I would have to say it depends. Expensive tools for a professional woodworker are probably a must, although expensive does not always equate to the best quality. For the hobbyist woodworker, the target tool price is not usually at the expensive end of the spectrum. Of course, there are exceptions, including such things as folks who do repetitive things where higher quality can be more easily justified. Another real factor is one's financial ability, with the vast majority of us probably not peers with Elon Musk. My philosophy is to try to buy better quality tools, but not top of the line. Buying used has also helped bring the price down, especially on floor model equipment. For hand-held equipment I most often buy them new. I've been doing woodworking for about 14 years now, and it has taken that many years to assemble a reasonably good inventory. So, for me, time has really helped me accumulate the tools I need to tackle most of the woodworking projects on my horizon. Chuck

 

[daniscool]

I’m a buy once cry once guy. I don’t have many cheap tools. I also don’t really have so many tools anymore.

 

[2feathers Creative Making]

The views already stated are my views as well. Cheap tools often cost more by the time you buy your 3rd replacement tool. And the used market helps here in the USA. Many older, retirement community yard sales are treasure boxes for lightly used higher quality tools at a discount. In areas with less extra money, that process is more difficult.

 

[Asssiss]

Just for eliminate any misunderstanding...
I always try to buy the best tool possible (Festool is out of my limit).
Cheap here means in Brazil tools cost much more than Europe and US and with the ratio at 5 I still paying less if I purchase in person over there.

 

[daniscool]

Just for eliminate any misunderstanding...
I always try to buy the best tool possible (Festool is out of my limit).
Cheap here means in Brazil tools cost much more than Europe and US and with the ratio at 5 I still paying less if I purchase in person over there.

Festool is a bit much for hobbyists. I have used a few of their tools (not owned) and while they were better than their cheaper counterpart, they weren't worth the extra bucks unless you do woodworking for a living and even then not all of their tools.

 

[Mike1950]

Good tools are cheap compared to cheap tools.
I felt same on Festool, but ended up with ROS and vacuum. In a large purchase. The sander vacuum has made other ROS I have useless.

 

[JonathanH]

Good tools are worth the cost in many cases. Good isn't always expensive. Good tools can be moderately priced.

I came of age when good tools were still Made in the USA. Many of these are still available on the used market here at a fairly low cost. Even industrial tools which I prefer. They often require some elbow grease & maintenance when you bring them home but they will still last my lifetime & then some.

 

[daniscool]

Good tools are worth the cost in many cases. Good isn't always expensive. Good tools can be moderately priced.

I came of age when good tools were still Made in the USA. Many of these are still available on the used market here at a fairly low cost. Even industrial tools which I prefer. They often require some elbow grease & maintenance when you bring them home but they will still last my lifetime & then some.

Some still are made in the US like DMT diamond plates for sharpening. Good quality though I now use the Atoma because they are somewhat cheaper this side of the pond.

I always try to buy tools that are made in Europe or the US. Japan is fine too. Those are usually good quality. Vintage makes them affordable too. Also, you can sometimes find some real big monsters left over from pre WW2. I once came across an old German mechanical press with 160 tons! For reference, most mechanical forging presses are between 1000-20000 kg so anywhere from 160-8 times as powerful. It wasn’t very power efficient though and was easily over 10 tons in weight. Solid cast iron construction from 1922.

 

[Mike1950]

Good tools are worth the cost in many cases. Good isn't always expensive. Good tools can be moderately priced.

I came of age when good tools were still Made in the USA. Many of these are still available on the used market here at a fairly low cost. Even industrial tools which I prefer. They often require some elbow grease & maintenance when you bring them home but they will still last my lifetime & then some.

I am fond of older tools- Had delta for a while, but once Delta stopped making parts for their older stuff, I got rid of all but one. I decided I would rather have servicable equipment. I personally would rather use than work on them. also modern equipment ,if you buy quality is very durarble. I have makita drills that are 20+ years old- professionally used daily for 5 or 6 years- used since that still work perfect. The Dewalt big cordless with old style battery- 30 years old- still work. and a couple porter cable cordless that still work. plus many corded tools from same era. 3Hp Jet TS- going out of Biz sale-2000-$999- that I have never done anything to. Old planers are beasts, 1000 lbs plus. Made to run all day, which is great but probaly 3-4 times the costs. Not really suited for hobbiest. Find an old-50 yr old DC=shovel and a broom. really do not see hobbiest sizes.
I look at the advances and price drops- how many hobbiest could afford 20" bandsaw in 1950- the % is very small IMO. Embrace the new but admire the old. sorta my way of thinking, I do have many old tools. I use them, my boys will not wear them out. probably 50 clamps from cabinet shop. enough steel there to build a car...

 

[Asssiss]

See this...until few months ago I never heard about Hilti.

 

[Nature Man]

See this...until few months ago I never heard about Hilti.

Quite revealing!

 

[Mike1950]

Hilti started out with guns powder powered nail guns. I think in late 50s or early 60s. Demoed on locust trees at parents house. Thoughts then, what will you use this for.....

 

[Asssiss]

About vintage tools with quality this example below says for itself.

The relationship between Brazilian woodworkers and carpentary hammers were always with Stanley brand.
We used to have a model sold here as Stanley Ferradura (a horseshoe logo)...best seller for decades.
My father had few.
At the pictures below I have two very old models but I don't know the brand.They are older than me.
One I add a new handle and the other one still have that handle since I was a child.

My mother gifted me before it comes to trash (many years ago).I hate the handle (rough at all with rasp marks) .Because it was part of my personal history and I don't want do change the handle until I need just for cosmetic.
I found in 2021 this Craftsman hammer (38071- M-USA) and it was paintend in blue...maybe an accidental coat.In this case the hammer was part of another personal history but not mine.So I cleaned the paint and applied a new varnish coat.

Some of my hammers

They are older than me.In Brazil this curved hammers are most popular

We need this part a lot and good quality one has this acute part very "closed"

Rough handle



Craftsman model

Very bad blue



I thought this is better now

 

[Nature Man]

About vintage tools with quality this example below says for itself.

The relationship between Brazilian woodworkers and carpentary hammers were always with Stanley brand.
We used to have a model sold here as Stanley Ferradura (a horseshoe logo)...best seller for decades.
My father had few.
At the pictures below I have two very old models but I don't know the brand.They are older than me.
One I add a new handle and the other one still have that handle since I was a child.

My mother gifted me before it comes to trash (many years ago).I hate the handle (rough at all with rasp marks) .Because it was part of my personal history and I don't want do change the handle until I need just for cosmetic.
I found in 2021 this Craftsman hammer (38071- M-USA) and it was paintend in blue...maybe an accidental coat.In this case the hammer was part of another personal history but not mine.So I cleaned the paint and applied a new varnish coat.

Some of my hammers
View attachment 288586
They are older than me.In Brazil this curved hammers are most popular
View attachment 288588
We need this part a lot and good quality one has this acute part very "closed"
View attachment 288589
Rough handle
View attachment 288590

View attachment 288591
Craftsman model
View attachment 288593
Very bad blue
View attachment 288598

View attachment 288599
I thought this is better now
View attachment 288600

View attachment 288601

In the 1st picture, I'm pretty confident the hammer on the far right is an Estwing. Chuck

 

[Asssiss]

In the 1st picture, I'm pretty confident the hammer on the far right is an Estwing. Chuck

You are correct...but It was a purchase of mine from recent years and not a heritage of my father's shop.He never saw that hammer.