Auto-Clamp - what were they thinking?

[niki]

As one that does not live in the USA (but have been there many times), I think that the Americans became a little bit "spoiled", not anymore the times that people were making there gadgets and jigs themselves, everything is "you can buy", and it works, it's a fact.

The TV is "shouting" at you in the "Crazy addy" (is he still there) stile, "buy now" and people are buying probably, so why not also this "electric clamps".

I posted the "screw clamps" in other forum and the first reply was (it sounded to me like he is saying it in this deep voice of the "good morning ladies and gentleman, this is your captain speaking") - "You can buy them here" with the link.

Same when I posted the "Checking diagonals", the reply was "I'm using this" with a link to LV, I clicked on the link and said to myself, "my God, $15 for two pieces of plastic with a screw" and "bars are not included".

I apologize in advance if somebody is offended, it's not my intention, but that's how I see it from this side of the pond.

Best regards
niki

[TheRic]

To get gift ideas - my wife tends to pay attention to what I look at in the tool section, or tools that I see in use on television.........

My wife does the same, made the mistake early in the marriage, I stopped and looked at some new fangled thing for a few seconds, more curious of what it was then wanting it, chuckled to myself about it and walked on. Found it under the Christmas tree that year. When she is with me, I have to be careful if I look at something for more than a split second. If I do I make sure I tell her why I don't want it.

I'm more afraid to let my eyes wander and look at a tool I don't want/need then I am to look at some women or girls.

[scorrpio]

Indeed, I would not buy a 'motorized B&D tape measure'. I would only smirk and move on. But guess what I found among Xmas gifts last year? Mm-hmm.

Niki - there is a fundamental difference of lifestye. Between work, family, home and friends, the time available for a hobby is in short supply. Money's cheap - time is expensive. I know that is not the case in Russia - not sure about Poland. I will spend time making a jig that will save me a lot of time on an upcoming project. Especially if it is some clever jig that one won't find on a store shelf. But spending time to build a tool that can be easily bought.... no way.

[cabinetman]

It's a great color.



YOU HAVEN'T FAILED, YOU JUST HAVEN'T FINISHED

[Thalermade]

On reflection, I think the people who buy it are DIYers' wives and kids.
They know the old man loves clamps, they think they're doing him a favor.

Been there, still got some things that I just couldn't return. Haven't been willing to sell....... yet.....

[niki]

Hi Scorrpio

You are correct, it's two different ways of life.
Yes, we do have more free time in EU but we are paying for it dearly (the Hitachi M12V router costs more than $500 in EU comparing to $120 in US).

If you are talking about professionals, you are correct, "time is money".

I'm taking about hobby and in my eyes, hobby is something that you enjoy in your free time, without the pressure to finish a project for the "delivery date" and I don't care if it will take me longer.

Of course, I can buy all the machines, tools, jigs and fixtures that are in the market to shorten the time for a project, but then, in my opinion, it looses the sense of "hobby".
For me, part of the hobby is the challenge to make some jig in very low cost or to get around a problem in a different or alternate way.

Don't get me wrong, yes, I have to buy some basic machines and tools, but instead of spending money on things that I can make myself or get around without them, I prefer to invest this money in better quality TS and router.

I have the "Elektra Beckum" TS (Metabo group) Made in Germany that cost me twice the price of Bosch-4000 (the Bosch cost $1000 in EU) but it's also 2 times better, accurate and comes with sliding table for 39" before the blade. The money came just from not buying many other tools that I can manage without or make myself.

Regards
niki

[JTimmons]

I apologize in advance if somebody is offended, it's not my intention, but that's how I see it from this side of the pond.

Best regards
niki

Not the slightest bit offended. Reminds me of a conversation I had with my wife a couple of months ago after moving into our new house. We had two 26 ft Uhauls filled to the brim when we moved. Father-in-law and I loaded both and unloaded one. It's a different story loading from a ranch style house to unloading to a two story house.

Anyway, got the one unloaded down to last piece of furniture which was solid cherry dresser, which stands about 4 feet tall and all of 7 feet wide. We played he77 trying to get it into the house just up the steps into the front door, much less up to the second floor.

We dedcided we'd leave it there and get it at first light tomorrow. I noticed the guy accross the street was getting a delivery of appliances from a contractor for Best Buy. It was a pretty amazing sight, the guys were lifting a fridge straight off the truck and into the house without a dolly !

I went over to ask them if they'd consider moving the dresser and how much they'd charge. One of them answered in a heavy Russian accent, how much I wanted to pay them. I took them over and showed them where I wanted it and told them $20. Best $20 I have ever spent, as they had it up the stairs in seconds without a single scratch on the walls. They used a regular old tow strap that went around their torso one on both sides and looped under the dresser.

At this point a little light went off in my head and I asked how much to unload the other truck. This one was all my shop equipment and misc stuff from the garage that needed to go down to the basement. Three of them, so I offered them $100 each, they looked into the truck and said deal, they'd have it done in an hour. Took them 3 hours actually, but everything made it in without any damage to the house or the items being moved, the entire time they smilled.

Feeling bad about 2 hours into it I TRIED to help. No go, I was told they'd get it, they made a deal and were sticking to it. I even tried offering them more money afterward and they refused.

Your analogy that Americans are spoiled is dead on, I have noticed it in other cases too as well as the moving situtation. Other nationalities seem to have a do or die mentality.

I have noticed it in your jigs and shop applications, it's an eye opener for me to say the least. Just like my Russian friends tow strap you come up with the most basic ideas to get it done.

Americans: We want it bigger, faster, more powerful and want to buy it rather than make it (at least the majority), yes sir, we are spoiled!

[LCHIEN]

I think to each his own. Some people love to invent and tinker and do things on the cheap so if they can make all their jigs and stuff out of scrap and have it look great or downright kludgy, more power to them.

And if you would rather spend money and buy toys, if that's what you enjoy, go buy the prettiest, fanciest, most esoteric and/or useless gadgets to your hearts content and spend your evenings arranging them neatly in the shop.

Live and let live!

[JTimmons]

I think to each his own. Some people love to invent and tinker and do things on the cheap so if they can make all their jigs and stuff out of scrap and have it look great or downright kludgy, more power to them.

And if you would rather spend money and buy toys, if that's what you enjoy, go buy the prettiest, fanciest, most esoteric and/or useless gadgets to your hearts content and spend your evenings arranging them neatly in the shop.

Live and let live!

Hey I am spoiled and will admit it! Could have done it with my 10" Ryobi Drill Press, but I wanted the 15" Ridgid. Could have done it with the BT3, but had to have the Griz.
To each his own, your right, but I have to agree with him as Americans we are spoiled in general not just in the shop.

[niki]

LCHIEN
I was just trying to reply to your original question "What they were thinking"
What I was trying to say is that the American manufacturers know their people and are sure that the product will sell.
Of course everybody can spend his money at the way that he wants and if it make one to feel good about it, so, as we are saying in Hebrew, "Labriut" (to your health).

JTimmons
What you did, I would not call "spoiled" but "wise".
When you buy better machine, you get better accuracy, less maintenance, longer life time and you enjoy working with it, as they say "I'm too poor to buy cheap"
For the basic machines I would do the same (and I did), buy the best that you can afford.

Regards
niki

[jerrye]

Other nationalities seem to have a do or die mentality.

We used to. Pity we don't anymore. My dad, a WWII vet, saw it coming and it saddened him. Methinks we think too much about AND of ourselves individually, and not enough about and of others.