I, like you, cannot afford Festool, so make do with less expensive brands,...

 

Hi
just an update. I have just watched his latest video No31 and glad I did as he explains how spiral bits work and alternate cheaper purchasing. I did not know anything about said bits apart from how expensive they were, nor did I know there are three variations, ie up cut, down cut and compression. Learned a lot this morning.

 

Watched the same show. Even though he shows tools predominantly from one source he's definitely not afraid to call a POS tool a POS tool from the same company.
I've used his advice and purchased a set of rip fences clamps as I wanted a second set to my Rocker set. The set was as good as the Rockler ones. I also bought a couple of SS rules. Their accuracy was right on.

 

I just received over $1000 dollar's worth of Festool vacuum clamping tools and pump. The only problem was that I didn't order them. They came from Amazon form Hartwell tools. When I opened the box, I saw that they were supposed to go to someone else in a different city with a different name. Oh well. I called Hartville and they sent me a UPS label. I had to print it out and then take the boxes to UPS. It ended up costing e money!

 

It ended up costing e money!

You should've told them to come and get it! hahaha

 

HI there Forum members

This is just a short one that I thought might be of some interest.

As you know when UK Sky and US infinity started there was a plethora of woodworking shows to choose from. My favourite at the time was New Yankee Workshop and This Old House. Alas in the UK all that has ceased.

Now it’s bake a cake or change a transmission etc. as for the US it’s these two brothers upgrading houses, god I can’t stand them. They wear all the gear and never will you see a spec of dirt on their designer workwear or a hair out of place, anyway I I diverse.

Luckily U Tube is now available on my TV and I just watch the amazing amount of woodworking shows which are very well edited and in 4K.

Which brings me to the point of this post, well it doesn’t I just got side tracked. As many of you will be aware many tools that we drool over are way way out of a poor retired plumbers reach. Take Festool, how many guys and gals could afford a Domino or track saw, not me. Now I don’t have a cheap scource for these items, but I have just started to watch a U Tube Chanel called Hooked on Wood and he tests out various woodworking tools. But he has a series dedicated to precision marking and cutting instruments called China Tools. I believe he is on episode 30 and the quality is unbelievable and the prices are even more unbelievable. I have included a snapshot of a mitre fence, plus he gives you costings and where to buy said goods.

Well that’s it definitely worth a watch.

Colin somewhere in Scotland Festooless

Being retired also, I can't afford those high dollar tools. My workbench is a knock off/modified/inspired by Ron Paulk with 3/4 inch dog holes and not 20mm. My clamps are cheep from Harbor Freight that me and a buddy modified. But hey, they work and the bench is great. It has been used for a lot of projects.

 

Watched a similar show. Despite the fact that he shows apparatuses transcendently from one source he's most certainly not reluctant to call a POS instrument a POS device from a similar organization.

I've utilized his recommendation and bought a bunch of tear wall clasps as I needed a second set to my Rocker set. The set was on par with the Rockler ones. I likewise purchased two or three SS rules. Their precision was spot on.

 

Tear Wall Clasps?????

 

Welcome to the forum @Epicblue

 

My tools are all over the board. Many of them are big name ones because I made my living using them, so could justify it (dependability, tax breaks, future hobby investment ). Now that I'm tired-over-again, I'm glad I have a well equipped hobby shop.

While many of my tools have top shelf names tied to them, many do not. For example, I have a couple hundred clamps. Other than about ten Bessy's, all of the F clamps are Harbor Freight. I prize them for their performance over the years [and only shed a tiny tear when one does fail].

On the higher end tool thing, I didn't own a Festool until they had their $100.00 promotion. I was one of those who lucked out and got in early. That is, I jumped on the deal, because there is no such thing as a $100.00 Festool, of any kind.

I liked the performance so much I cried AND hit the purchase button on a Rotex. This will be the only Festools I own. Not because I'm unhappy with them, but because they are so expensive.

Meanwhile, I am thankful for reviews that compare tools. For example, what sold me on the Rotex and its less expensive brother was, dust collection and the longevity of the sand disks. Others have posted information about, for example, 3-M Cubitron discs that trump even the Festool disks. Or there is the four hundred dollar cheaper Bosch [than the Rotex] orbital sander said, by some, to have comparable dust collection.

That Bosch dust collection may be even better with the Cubitron discs.

 

I too have many top name tools. I served two apprenticeships, one as a automotive mechanic and one as an automotive body and fender man. I still have my ten drawer Snap-On tool box. Have have many pneumatic tools from great USA companies like Chicago Pneumatic. All my wrenches and sockets are Snap-On. But for the most part they are just gathering dust as they have for the last 40+ years.
New leaf in my manual skills learning curve has caused me to develop a lineup of woodworking tools. Difference now is I'm not making the wages of a Journeyman auto technician of any stripe. So off to the second hand store.

 

Welcome to the forum, @Epicblue