Why do hobbyist woodworkers feel the need to own the same caliber tools
as the professionals? Is there really anything wrong with Craftsman or
Black and Decker products? Probably not. Insecurity motivates too many
woodworkers to waste hard earned cash on tools they have absolutely no
use for. Why do they feel such a need to show off, when nobody really
cares what they own? .... when nobody really cares about their
projects? .... when anyone could go out and buy the same desk, futon,
or humidor for half of what is costs to build one?

I've owned enough Black and Decker power tools to never buy another one.
They don't last, even under hobby use. (I won't buy any more Craftsman
power tools, either, because they always seem to have non-standard sized
accessories.) I'm going to try it the other way for awhile and see how it
goes. So far my Porter Cable and DeWalt tools are doing the job, but it's
too early to pass judgement on them.

I think it's ignorance, not insecurity that drives me to buy tools I don't
have a use for. I start out thinking I'll use them, find out that they
don't do the job I'd hope they'd do, and then they languish.

As for the projects, I make what I can't buy (i.e. custom jobs), or can't
afford to buy. Even after paying for the tools and wood, for large scale
items it's definitely cheaper to make than to buy (factoring out the time
cost, of course). What I make fits, and I can service it myself if it needs
fixing or changing.

- Owen -


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.775 / Virus Database: 522 - Release Date: 10/8/2004