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I have been interested in woodworking for a long time and am wanting to take it up as a hobby. I have been reading up on brands of power tools and have consistently heard that Dewalt, Milwaukee, and Makita are the best in the business. However, they are out of my price range. I was wondering if anyone can give me advice on some cheaper brands that work well. Again, I'm doing this as a hobby, not as a career. Thanks to all who help, and Happy Thanksgiving, also.

It comes down to this: You get what you pay for. If you are going to seriously do this as a hobby, and want to do it well, buy the best you can afford. You will end up replacing the cheap stuff in the end. Good luck

This is an age old dilemna and one where I often go against the grain (in part). The best (you can afford) is the best advice for anything. However, (and I'm a ex-HS woodwork teacher and currently operating a parttime retirement woodworking business) I have often bought the cheapest I could find to start with unless I already knew what I really wanted. Until you know what you want and really NEED, there is no sense spending a ton of money on quality goods to have them sit on a shelf or be used only once.

So, I have still haunted the odd garage sale and/or discount store for the opening salvo on something new. I used a $19 skilsaw for years. When I lost it, I then knew what I liked and disliked and went out and bought a top-of-the-line Makita and have never looked back on either with regret. Each lasted 20 years and there is a lot of miles on the latter as well.

Also, until you get working and start to find out what you like to make, it's always easier to buy only what and when you have need. Some buy because they like having the big collection of the best toys. I buy only what I need and invest in quality when the need for the best appears. My $25 3/8" drill is still running wonderfully. By contrast, my chisels are the best as are many other tools.

Chacun a son gout but that's been, and still is, my approach.

I think all the above advice is really good. My first electric saw was a Craftsman Saber scroll saw, (32 years old) that still comes in handy today.

I tend to justify a power tool purchase for each major home improvement that I have tackled. (instead of spending the money paying someone else to have the fun of doing it, I make it easier for me)

Watched for sales and got a Makita compound miter saw (laminate installation) Ryobi table saw and plunge router (kitchen spruceup/pull out shelves in cabinets), (small belt sander and a palm sander for small jobs) and even though these were not the highest quality brands, they seem to work just great for me.

Cordless/battery drill/driver tools, I like to spend a bit more for a good life. I really love my Dewalt!

Figure out which tools are going to offer you the best return on time and effort for what you are doing or working on, in your hobby?
Note: Some of the best deals out there can be widows (or widowers) who now have no use for their spouse's power tools. Check the newspaper or Craig's list for possible used tools in great shape? (If possible, take an experienced friend along to check the tools out first, however) You don't want to bring home a big iron paperweight.

Buy all you tools starting out at Harbor Freight.
Use garage sales if you have the time.
As Conrad suggested, CL is a great place to buy used tools. I'll leave you with this.

It’s not the tool it’s the craftsman.

Mike

You do not want anything made by Bosch,all they make is junk,do not stand behind anything and My father does not trust anything made by Bosch at all.He did buy a Bosch circular saw once and took it back right away getting his money back,no power at all.Bosch screws up anything they buy out.

Before buying a tool go on Amazon.com and look it up, to check price and also go to the bottom of the page and look at the reviews from people that have bought the tool and used it.
PS I own 4 Bosh tools and have never had one fail or be under powered.

quote:

Originally posted by joecaption:
Before buying a tool go on Amazon.com and look it up, to check price and also go to the bottom of the page and look at the reviews from people that have bought the tool and used it.
PS I own 4 Bosh tools and have never had one fail or be under powered.

That was going to be my point also. I have a couple of Bosch that are over 20 years old and you would have to fight me to take them away. I also have some of their newer power tools and they are great also. And no my bosch units are not what I buy just for hobbiest use these were all bought for every day hard work use

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Craig R,

I personally remember buying Black&Decker tools over and over and over again..and for the longest time, I wouldnt listen to my buddy, (who was an exceptional woodworker), to buy 'good' power tools and forget about replacing my junk with more junk!

It finally sunk into my thick skull and only because of an accidental purchase, (I got a 108 dollar jig saw at sears for 28 bucks and since it was the last one, they gave me a huge discount!). So, after that, I began slowly replacing each of my tools with 'good uns' and havent looked back since!

You do not talk anything good about Bosch around my father.He will bad talk about Bosch in front of your face.Bosch screws anything up they get their hands from buyouts.Dewalt makes the best cordless drills which hold up.I have a 7 or 8 year old 18 volt cordless drill that has held up.Milwaukee's cordless drill are not powerful at all,my father had one and gave it to me.Skil makes good circular saws.I have one and I had to replace the cord once,it was my fault.I cut the cord when sawing through scrap wood and luckily I did not get shocked.Ridgid is another power tool maker.

quote:

Buy all you tools starting out at Harbor Freight.
Use garage sales if you have the time.
As Conrad suggested, CL is a great place to buy used tools. I'll leave you with this.

I would not use Harbor Freight Chicago brand. Harbor Freight is good for accessories and lots of other stuff but the power tools for most part are junk.

As you can see from the above, there is a lot of "brand loyalty" out there, so it can be dangerous to recommend a specific make of tool. You can usually get more tool for your money by buying used tools, but you run the risk of getting something that has been abused, neglected or worn out.

Take a look at the following website. People that sell used tools for a living are ususally more reliable than eBay or garage sales.

http://www.woodweb.com/cgi-bin/exchanges/machinery.cgi

I was going to suggest Craftsman as well, but you didn't specify what type of woodworking you are interested in, so that would make a difference as well. But this is probably the best time of year to get a good name brand tool, with all the holiday sales going on. If you shop around and do your homework, I'll bet you can get a better name tool for a good price.

quote:

Originally posted by Roger63:
I was going to suggest Craftsman as well, but you didn't specify what type of woodworking you are interested in, so that would make a difference as well. But this is probably the best time of year to get a good name brand tool, with all the holiday sales going on. If you shop around and do your homework, I'll bet you can get a better name tool for a good price.

I really just want to build things like chairs and bookcases and fun projects. (I really would like to build the poker game table Norm built on NYW) Stuff like that, to answer your question. And thanks again to all of you who gave me advice.

I read bad reviews about Craftsman's power tools through a club I am a life member of,Handyman Club Of America on the forums.Craftsman's power tools do not hold up at all.Craftsman's power tools are made by Ryobi.All Ryobi makes is junk,I have a recon cordless circular saw and it does not rip cut at all.The battries do not hold up at all too.

Any time I buy a power tool, I research that specific tool. No one company makes the best in every type of tool. So I own Bosch, Milwaukee, DeWalt, Elu, Porter Cable, etc. For stationary tools, Delta and Jet.

The one company I won't buy is Craftsman. I've had too many failures to invest another dime in one of theirs.

Dewalt makes the best cordless drills and I have one 18 volt that is about 7 years old still holding up.Milwaukee makes the best recipicating saws over a Dewalt.Dewalt's recipicating saw blades are junk,dull quickly.I own Dewalt,Milwaukee,Black and Decker,Skil and Handyman's Toughest for power tools.You can Handyman's Toughest through Handyman Club of America only which you have to be a member of.I would not trust anything made by Bosch,Bosch screws up anything they buy out and make junk.One person you do not talk about good about Bosch is my father,he bad talks about Bosch and does not trust anything by Bosch.Handyman Club of America did give Bosch some bad reviews on some of their power tools,too heavy and expensive