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+-- Thread: Your Biggest Tool Purchase Mistakes? (/showthread.php?tid=7355186)
RE: Your Biggest Tool Purchase Mistakes? - Bob Vaughan - 05-11-2020
A Makita 3 HP plunge router. I got it in hopes of replacing my Porter Cable 514 2-1/2 HP router that I had to hand plunge into 3/4 birch plywood and cut out a pattern. The Makita cut about 1/8 of a circle and stalled. It might suck up 3 HP worth of juice but it doesn't put it down where the bit meets the wood. To boot, it was flimsy and deflected under load. Lesson learned.
RE: Your Biggest Tool Purchase Mistakes? - EdL - 05-11-2020
Shaper here also...it doesn't get used for what I build. Got a heck of a deal on it, the space it takes up is no big deal. Still has my footprints on the table from adjusting the clock above it.
Ed
RE: Your Biggest Tool Purchase Mistakes? - cputnam - 05-12-2020
All things made by Black & Decker
RE: Your Biggest Tool Purchase Mistakes? - KLaz - 05-12-2020
(05-11-2020, 08:24 PM)Aram Wrote: Delta X-5 Unisaw. I've told this story too many times here. Death by normal use.Really? Why?
Had mine for close to 20 years. Mine was a made in the USA model, but haven't had a lick of trouble with it.
RE: Your Biggest Tool Purchase Mistakes? - KLaz - 05-12-2020
(05-12-2020, 02:37 AM)cputnam Wrote: All things made by Black & Decker
You must not have purchased anything from B&D in the 90's. Still have my Saw Cat, 3/8 drill and drywall gun and all three are going strong to this day.
RE: Your Biggest Tool Purchase Mistakes? - gMike - 05-12-2020
Jointer which sits in the corner and gathers dust. I just never use it. Good thing I bought it used so I don't have a ton of money in it.
RE: Your Biggest Tool Purchase Mistakes? - Aram - 05-12-2020
(05-12-2020, 06:58 AM)KLaz Wrote: Really? Why?
Had mine for close to 20 years. Mine was a made in the USA model, but haven't had a lick of trouble with it.
Why? First, Delta. Second, the saw.
I bought the saw new in 2004 (? 2005?). One day, I stripped the arbor threads -- probably my fault -- but by that time, Delta (in whatever incarnation it was in at the time) didn't stock any parts. A friend with a machine shop turned new threads for me. A few years later, I could barely raise the blade. Disassembly showed that the lift rack teeth were trashed. I took care of the saw, ran DC from a cyclone, kept it clean. No replacement was available, and my top-of-the-line recent-model saw was a giant paperweight.
It was ridiculous. It was a great saw when it ran.
I've been running a mid 80s Powermatic PM66 ever since. Not one problem ever, even though dust removal is worthless, and one might expect more wear on parts.
RE: Your Biggest Tool Purchase Mistakes? - Admiral - 05-12-2020
(05-11-2020, 08:16 PM)Gary G™ Wrote: Grizzly wet sander. What a POS!
Good thing it was very inexpensive but still a pile!
HA! I think I bought two or three different wet wheel sharpeners, all were a POS; finally broke down and bought a Tormek which 15 years later is still as good as the day I bought it.
RE: Your Biggest Tool Purchase Mistakes? - fredhargis - 05-12-2020
I've a list of small hand (power) tools I shouldn't have bought...maybe even a few accessories. But for big tools, I'd have to say the dumbest thing I did was spending the money to go with 5HP on my Sawstop as opposed to 3 HP. I bought the 5 because I could....which turns out to be a very dumb reason.
RE: Your Biggest Tool Purchase Mistakes? - KLaz - 05-12-2020
(05-12-2020, 08:15 AM)Aram Wrote: Why? First, Delta. Second, the saw.Sucks you had bad luck with the Unisaw. I'm sure that PM66 is a terrific saw though!
I bought the saw new in 2004 (? 2005?). One day, I stripped the arbor threads -- probably my fault -- but by that time, Delta (in whatever incarnation it was in at the time) didn't stock any parts. A friend with a machine shop turned new threads for me. A few years later, I could barely raise the blade. Disassembly showed that the lift rack teeth were trashed. I took care of the saw, ran DC from a cyclone, kept it clean. No replacement was available, and my top-of-the-line recent-model saw was a giant paperweight.
It was ridiculous. It was a great saw when it ran.
I've been running a mid 80s Powermatic PM66 ever since. Not one problem ever, even though dust removal is worthless, and one might expect more wear on parts.