When is a power tool too expensive?

[fdmsiv]

The other day I got an email from some store advertising the new Festool Chop saw. The ad stated the low low price of $1300.00. THIRTEEN HUNDRED! For a 10" chop saw?

Don't get me wrong, I know that higher expense = higher quality, but at what point does this no longer really work. I am not picking on Festool, but I am really curious about these power tools. Having a quick search I have found most of their tools and the prices are astronomical.

$600 - Circular Saw (with guide rail)
$350 - $500 Cordless dril

It just keeps going

What is it about these tools that make them so great? I would be afraid to get an $800 domino jointer dirty.

I have found, especially with respect to boats, that some people will go out and buy the most expensive stuff just to let everyone else know "Hey I have soo much money I can buy a $$$$$$ boat with $$$$$ accessories, etc". Is this the case with these tools? Is the Festool $300 jigsaw twice as good as my Bosch $150 jigsaw, or is it just to say "I am better than you since I have this tool"

I watch quite a bit of "This Old House" and "New Yankee Workshop" but its a little disheartening when the idea behind the show is "here is stuff that you can do" but then Norm uses a $$$$ table saw and $$$$$ 15" planer and so on. Or when Tommy the carpenter reaches for his Festool saw and router. I realize that there is quite a bit of sponsorship involved, but why not do a show using B&D tools, or at least tools that the average person won't have to mortgage their house to buy.

Sorry, the last little bit is sort of a rant, but in the end, is a Festool tool worth the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$?

 

[angus63]

Re: When is a power tool too expensive?

A timex and a rolex both keep good time and last. Is a rolex worth the money??? Only one who can answer that is the person who buys and uses the product. Price and "value" are often not synonymous...

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: When is a power tool too expensive?

Never herd of Festool..........................but it seems like the Snapon vs. Craftsman argument all over again. I've got several sets of Snapon tool and the Craftsman counter parts, a set of 1/2" drive deep sockets for example. Are the Snapon sockets worth 4+ times the Craftsman? Do the make the job 75% easier to do? Will they last 4 times as long? Probably not, but there is a difference. If I have to deal with a partially rounded or badly rusted nut or bolt head I reach for the Snapon knowing I have a better chance of removing it.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: When is a power tool too expensive?

havin been in the construction business for the better part of my life. it depends on the situation. job site tools were B & D, skil, craftmans. shop tools were the better quality. Norm uses the better quailty, because they are setup, and never moved. extentions,rollers, so one man can do the job of 2 on a job site. the cost of the better tools, is countered by the cost of labor. in the professional business. some of the offers are for people who have more money than common sense. they both do the same job. i use Ryobi battery tools instead of Dewalt. the Dewalt battery may last longer, but Ryobi batteries and chargers are cheap, just have more charged batteries.

 

[i386]

Re: When is a power tool too expensive?

Sometimes you really do get what you pay for. Sometimes you buy a name or image. Most of the time it's somewhere in the middle. For example, the Snap-on, Mac, Craftsman discussion posted eariler.

I've read about their tools and some of the engineering and specs look pretty impressive. I'm sure they're nicer than anything I've used.

I know we've got a few serious woodworkers here with well-equipped shops. I'd be interested to know what they think about Festool.

BTW, my Delta 12" twin laser chop saw is awesome. I've loaned it to friends on occasion and they've all raved about it. That Festool saw is probably nicer though if it's as good as the sales literature makes it look. I rekon anything will do if you're just chopping 2x4's.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: When is a power tool too expensive?

any one remember the SHOP SMITH. all in one, just put the attachments on.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: When is a power tool too expensive?

One of my friends owns a cabinet shop and and while doing some work for him I received the $1 the grand tour of what's new. He has some Festool's and when I heard the price I almost dropped. He said while expensive, they were worth the money for his shop, but he also has a $250K cnc machine...

 

[i386]

Re: When is a power tool too expensive?

any one remember the SHOP SMITH. all in one, just put the attachments on.

Yea... My uncle bought one (Shop Smith Mark V) in the 70's and still has it. He's used it over the years to make smallish projects in his garage-sized shop. He told me you really have to learn to be efficient and plan things out or you would waste a lot of time setting up the machine for different operations. He still uses it today and never replaced it with individual tools.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: When is a power tool too expensive?

To my recollection Festool is the tool division of Festo corporation...a German air/pneumatics/controls company.
I have used their pneumatics products for years (valves, actuatuors, cylinders, air service units, etc)....beautiful stuff. I'm not sure about their tools...never tried them.
Personally I'd stick with Dewalt or Makita for better value vs. usage vs. cost.
My two bits.
BP

 

[KnottyBuoyz]

Re: When is a power tool too expensive?

My ole' grandpa, god rest his soul, was a master craftsman, tool & die maker, electrician, plumber, stationary engineer etc. you get the picture, there wasn't anything he couldn't make or fix. He told me two things about tools.

1. Buy the best too you can and you'll have it for life, buy a cheap tool and you'll buy it again and again and again.

2. Don't buy a tool, no matter how much it cost, if it isn't going to make you money!

Naturally for the home workshop or hobbiest point 2 doesn't seem to matter unless you got buckets of money to spend on the fanciest and shineyiest new tools.

 

[Don S]

Re: When is a power tool too expensive?

If you are a professional woodworker, then you may find a need for FESTOOL. Since they are a "time is money type tool", and has accuracy, repeatablility, dust collection, storage, etc, etc, built in, it's not your Black & Decker type DIY tool for cheap. They are and always have been designed for professionals and/or rich tool junkies. If you are a weekend warrior, and never sell your woodworking projects, then you have NO reason to even consider a Festool product. But if you are a professional looking to make a profit, it fits the bill perfectly.

 

[levittownnick]

Re: When is a power tool too expensive?

A good friend tells me that "Some people would be insulted to pay less." I know that he is correct.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: When is a power tool too expensive?

It's horses for courses.
My good power drill has been worked hard for 15yrs...and I mean we have done some terrible things to it.
The 2nd drill has always been a cheapie......and I am on my 5th one.
(I got to get wise to that one..... one day)
My good grider gave out after 18yrs.....errrrr....the worker dropped it off a 4m high building onto the concrete. I have been buying cheapies.....and we wreck one about every 8mths.
The skill saw was a expensive one......never been replaced......bit of the plastic is 'melted'....reckon the worker put the blade in backward and cut iron sheeting with it.
So I reckon you get what you pay for....but buy what you can afford.......and for the handyman I reckon the cheap stuff is just fine....for the little use you give it.
Cheers
Phillip

 

[SgtMaj]

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[i386]

Re: When is a power tool too expensive?

If I were rich I'd definitely be a tool junky. I'd probably have a shop full of those fancy green tools. I'm not though, so I try to balance what I need with what I can afford.

Maybe a little off-topic, but have you seen the SawStop table saw? It has a safety feature that will stop the blade before it can cut you. I hear they are prototyping other types of saws as well.

 

[Benny1963]

Re: When is a power tool too expensive?

when ya have to finance it

 

[fdmsiv]

Re: When is a power tool too expensive?

The saw stop is awesome, it will cut you though, just not take your finger. In the video I have seen they run a board with a hotdog on top. The saw stops, but there definitely a chunk of the dog gone. Videos can be found below

http://www.sawstop.com/

My issue with the saw stop is that it may lead to some being a little less cautious around the tools. I have seen a couple of accidents when people become too friendly with their tools and forget what these things can do. Saw stop won't take your finger off, but it will still kick back, grab your clothing, etc etc. Still this saw looks pretty sweet



A little off subject here, but how do you all make a final decision when it comes to purchasing an expensive tool like table saw, planer, etc?

 

[guruatbol]

Re: When is a power tool too expensive?

OK, I have mostly Craftsman. I have used/owned Snapon in the past. there is a major difference, but craftsman tools do what I need and it is hard to get Snapon where I live.

I have a Dewalt cordless drill, screw gun, and sawsall. Awesome stuff. When I was in construction installing and making cabinets, we used the hole shooter from Milwaukee. They are the best! The units we had were many years old and still kicking. We had one break and took it in and had it rebuilt. When we bought new ones, they were not as good as the old ones. One reason we liked them is they would turn anything and we could drive lag bolts that were very large into anything. You couldn't stop them with your hand.

As far as safety around saws; I think that you should always take your time and never rush around power tools. Always know where your digits are and where the blades or moving stuff is. Always know where your clothing and other stuff is. There is no replacement for watching what you are doing! No safety device can compensate. My Dad almost cut the tip of his finger off when he was using his table saw without the guard. I have never used a saw with a guard and am a bit slow when using them, but have all my digits!

Just my .02...I am new here so forgive me it this is too long!

Mel

 

[mthieme]

Re: When is a power tool too expensive?

Festool is high end.
Harry homeowner doesn't require high end.
I'm in the middle. I'm a hobbyist woodworker.
I have gone through Dewalt tools like water.
I've had to move up to commercial grade machines (low end for commercial - high end for a homeowner).
You get what you pay for.
Norm uses what his sponsors provides. I wish I had someone buying my tools! I've noticed that his array of tools is well beyond even the avid woodworker, much less the average homeowner.