I think the trick is to spend the extra money necessary to get good performance and not just to waste money to get a better tool when it isn't really necessary. I could afford a nicer table saw than my BT3100 and I think about it occasionally but the BT3100 is far better than any other table saw I've owned and it does not limit me. I wish it had a miter gauge but I can give it one.
I don't know if they're still available but I have "footprint" chisels, an English brand, and they are hugely better than my Craftsman chisels. I use the latter for srapping glue and beating on. I use the good ones when I want to shave a bit of wood off.
I think there are several brands of routers that will do good work but most Craftsman routers are junk as are some Ryobi's. My old R-500 plunge router started sticking but it's motor is still giving me good service in my router table. For hand held work I use my PC690s or Colt.
I usually buy Freud sawblades but I was pleasantly surprised with a CMT router bit and also one of their sawblades. I usually buy MLCS router bits. I don't think MLCS are the best bits but they are good enough and I like the free shipping and good customer service.
The brand I understand the least is Festool. The drinkers of the green Kool Aide say they are far better than other brands and worth the money. I just can't see 2X the price of other good tools as supportable. I might buy a Domino someday but I can't see a Kadex and I am very happy with my DeWalt track saw.
I don't know if they're still available but I have "footprint" chisels, an English brand, and they are hugely better than my Craftsman chisels. I use the latter for srapping glue and beating on. I use the good ones when I want to shave a bit of wood off.
I think there are several brands of routers that will do good work but most Craftsman routers are junk as are some Ryobi's. My old R-500 plunge router started sticking but it's motor is still giving me good service in my router table. For hand held work I use my PC690s or Colt.
I usually buy Freud sawblades but I was pleasantly surprised with a CMT router bit and also one of their sawblades. I usually buy MLCS router bits. I don't think MLCS are the best bits but they are good enough and I like the free shipping and good customer service.
The brand I understand the least is Festool. The drinkers of the green Kool Aide say they are far better than other brands and worth the money. I just can't see 2X the price of other good tools as supportable. I might buy a Domino someday but I can't see a Kadex and I am very happy with my DeWalt track saw.
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