Cheap tools aren't always the best option

Cheap tools aren't always the best option. But when you are starting out learning to build and you need so many tools.
Had an Aldis brochure poked through the door. They are just starting to get them in WA. Not known for the quality of tools.
But maybe a couple of things may be good for people starting out.
Router table $69.99
1250 watt router $59.99
1500w Combination Planer Thicknesser $299.00
Router bit set $19.99

I guess one benefit of the cheaper tools is you can buy more kits to work on.

The electric tools come with 3 years warranty.

Yea I saw that. As someone who used to work for a specialist tool store I can point to me as one of the people Aldi and their like have put out of work. What people don't realise is that eventually you have no choice but to buy junk because all your options went bust. This applies to everything from food, to clothes to tools.

*not having a go at you personally Kimball

It's all good Dedman No offence taken. And you're right, and know what you're saying. When you hold a nice tool, be it a chisel with the best steel, the way it cuts feels. It was more to help the guys getting into building guitars, that needed so many different tools to start off with. And instead of paying $299.99 $799.00 for a router they can get this one for $69.99 and buy other tools too. Are they the best no, will they last forever no. But when you're starting out, the beginner just like myself at the time, wouldn't know the difference between a cheap router and something well made for pro use. I think it's sad that not only Australia but most of the world rely on supply now from China. The Chinese tools are getting better, but there is so much rubbish flooded into the market. I think we have brought it upon ourselves by over charging for, be it tools, instruments etc by very greedy importers. Why am I able to purchase instruments, equipment, tools, far cheaper abroad have it shipped here and still have change left over to buy other equipment. It's a sad situation. The importers have artificially kept prices high. It's not until you start to travel around the world and see what's happening with prices that you realise how expensive things have become. Now with the internet everyone can check the world's prices at the push of a button. I think like everyone here we check 3-4 sources for a part, to see how much you can save. Would I prefer to go to a local store and talk to some one who's knowledgeable helpful, of course. But not at three times the cost. Thanks for the message Dedman. Much appreciated. The one good thing about Aldi it's already starting to make Coles here and Woolworths, start to offer food at realistic prices. For years Supermarkets have kept food prices artificially high. It's an illegal practice. This has been done in many countries around the world. Supermarkets here have paid the suppliers very little and jacked the prices up. It's good that Aldi has come in and woken Coles and woolworths up. It shows in Coles and Woolworths are now reducing some of their product prices. I think farmers and producers here are tired of seeing what they are paid by the big supermarkets and what they go on to be sold for.

Jeez I think I need to be getting on with finishing guitars Dedman lol. Have a great day.

P.s I'll edit this when I get home ref checking grammar spelling. It is impossible on my phone. So much for new glasses

I hear you on the greedy importers, in my biz I retail one particular item that I import for the same price the local importer wholesales it. By the time it ends up in a shop its nearly 3 times what I sell it for. For some reason the big guys haven't twigged that people know the real price of things these days, instead they just con the Gov into removing the Duty Free limit .

Exactly right Dedman. I remember wanting to buy some KRK monitors here. Checked every supplier I could. The options, buy one monitor here for the same price of 2 in the states even though shipping was $100 dollars it was still cheaper than a single monitor here. It's good to see finally the likes of Kozmic and other music shops realising that customers don't want to pay 3 times more than other places in the world. And now you have the Internet at your finger tips music shops have to be more competitive.

Shipping, currency conversion, customs, distribution government tax and (More than all the others combined) the obligatory "Australia Tax". It's telling when purchased, download software costs more here after currency conversion than in the states when there are no actual cost difference to the retailer.

Sorry to necro a thread, just a pet peeve of mine

Soviet, I had one software company wanting not only twice what I could buy it for over seas but also an EXTRA $800 for the printed manuals! (admittedly they were 6 considerable sized books but $800 for the instructions?) My ex had a friend buy it overseas and send it to her...they refused to register it because it had a US serial number, even though she had the receipt. Took months with the BBB in the US before she won and could use her $2.5k software package. And then they wonder why people just get a bootleg copy.

I'm sorry, but I cannot bring myself to buy cheap tools, never again - I've snapped the jaws off cheap spanners and had the ring end turn on a rusted bolt head... had cheap powertools combust or be incapable of doing what they say on the box!

Most of my handtools are all old, hand-me downs from my father with names like Britool or Stahlwillie and have Made in England, Germany or US on them! My old, old socket set is an Australian-made Sidchrome set which has never let me down with it's 12 point sockets!

I was bought a cheap car polisher as a gift and the bloody thing is dire - absolute rubbish; appalling build quality and not fit for purpose.

Yes, I know one of the arguments is that with the Consumer Guarantees act, the thing is normally warranted for a year so if it goes belly up in that year then you get a new one, free! But if you spent the extra and get a good one from a reputable dealer, then you'll never have an issue with it again - I still use a Desoutter drill which has a 16mm chuck and I've never had that that old thing with decent bits ever fail to drill a hole in anything, be it hardwood or hardened steel!

And why the hell would you buy tools from Aldi?! Go to a tool supplier and get some advice before buying and ask tradies what they use - yes, I realise that you probably don't NEED Milwaukee gear for the occasional foray into guitar building, but there is a sensible middle ground between cheap and nasty, and tradesman quality!!

I say haunt Tradetools and take it from there!! :-)

Contrary to the thread title, cheap tools are NEVER the best option.

For some people, cheap tools may be the only option, but never the BEST option.

I'm with Corsair and I'm one of those tradies of which you speak. Apart from good tools lasting longer, they also do a better, more accurate job and just feel better in the hand.

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Originally Posted by Muzza

For some people, cheap tools may be the only option, but never the BEST option.

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I think this says it all. I know there have been times when I've gone the cheap option simply because I haven't had the available funds to invest in the quality option, but if the function that tool performs becomes an integral part of my kit then I'll always upgrade as soon as I can.

Yup, it comes down to frequency of use. I just bought a cheap mig welder because I need one about 3 times a year and investing $500 or more would be silly, but stuff I use all the time like drills and saws it's Dewalt and Makita all the way. I still have the Sidchrome socket set I bought in 1977 when I got my first car, it's done a LOT of work.... keeps working :) Still have all my Dads hand saws and even some of his other tools which I'm guessing he'd had all his life. I prefer to spend $ on tools rather than gadgets like phones and Ipads

I started out with cheapy tools, which were fine for the occasional bit of work I wanted to do and were, to be fair commensurate with my level of skill and ambition. Moving forward a wee way, the tools got upgraded as my skill level increased and the attention to detail and finish grew.

Nowadays I'd much rather outlay the money for a decent tool, than compromise on a cheap and cheerful. That said I do not want to pay through the nose for it, if I can get a workable result with one of my old crappy tools all good. If the quality of the tool prevents my from achieving an acceptable result, he gets handed off to a mate or relative that can make use of it and I will upgrade with something better.

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Originally Posted by Dedman

I prefer to spend $ on tools rather than gadgets like phones and Ipads

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A rule for life, methinks!! ;)

A good place to find good tools at a reasonable price is your local swap meet.
Quite often there will be an old timer there with a collection of vintage tools for sale.
I have picked up some rippers over the years, they looked like hell when I bought them but with some tlc they came up trumps.

Chisels and planes especially DB, all they need is a clean and sharpen most times.

I know an old guy who spent his who life in the tool trade. Now he goes around the council kerbside collections and finds heaps of tools. The good ones he cleans up and the B****gs ones he converts into artworks.

Bunnings ones???

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Originally Posted by Muzza

Bunnings ones???

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Yep, he worked there for a little while when he was semi-retired and would agree with all of DB's statements re Bunnings.