Picking up Dave "The Medway Handyman" Lang's idea on some form of FAQ
for tool reviews, I thought we could kick off with a possible FAQ entry
giving some guidance notes for what to include...

Feel free rip to shreds / add constructive suggestions as you see fit!




Introduction

some words on writing tool reviews and the anticipated
audience

Tool details:

Make, model
supplier
price
when bought

Background:

Details of the sort of jobs you want it to perform
the level of use you make of it
Your expectations (e.g. "needed something cheap and cheerful to
get a job done")
Details of other similar tools you have experience of
(e.g. "first one I have used", to "used loads of different types
for years")

Review

The main thrust of your review

Conclusions

How you rate it, and any recommendations you would make
value for money
build quality
after sales support
spares / repairs available
warrenty details



--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

John Rumm wrote:
Picking up Dave "The Medway Handyman" Lang's idea on some form of FAQ
for tool reviews, I thought we could kick off with a possible FAQ
entry giving some guidance notes for what to include...

Feel free rip to shreds / add constructive suggestions as you see fit!





Why do you need a too FAQ?

just putting the singular tool item in google comes up with the many
reviews on any tool thats out there ie

drill review, router review, ect

http://www.onlinetoolreviews.com/toolreviewindex.htm

--
Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

Because commercial reviews ae usually aimed at selling tools. They
rarely go in for strong criticism. They're often carried out by
professionals (journalists) with the tool on loan from the
manufacturer. Reviews of older machinery is also rare. I bought my
drill press (meddings) from an old boy winding up his workshop - I
happen to know that model having used it years ago - vastly better
than the far eastern stuff - but you woldn't find a review anywhere.
Similarly my bandsaw, bought an old startrite based on knowledge of
them (and there's a lot on the secondhand market as schools are selling
them off) - and whilst it has lots of clout and will last forever, the
adjustment on modern similar machines is rather better. You're going to
be hard pressed to find reviews of older kit though.

I find there's the shiny new tool phase of ownership, followed by (with
a good tool) learning its a full potential and whether it degrades
gently or rapidly (batteries, chuck wear, rust, bits that unscrew/fall
off) - again professional reviewers concentrate on the shiny new phase
only. How can you know chisels are really any good until you've had to
resharpen them a few times? Is your scaffolding any good until all the
bits have had a few whacks and you find out if the joints will go
together/come apart? Socket sets are good when you've owned them for a
year and not managed to break any. My cheapie sliding square has gone
in the bin as the diecast clamp-bolt snapped when the square hit the
floor, now using my dads old Chesterman - vastly better (but where can
I get a metric rule to fit it?). Cheapy mallable iron g-clamps from
screwfix - tiptop. Cheapie sash cramps from Mackays in Cambridge -
rubbish.

It's long-term, real-world use that tells the true story - particularly
where other users can add comments/corrections.

Sooner or later I will move up to a classic, full-size cabinet makers)
saw bench (probably secondhand, a Sedgwick or the like) - I don't know
the models very well. Not the kind of thing you get the chance to try
out much. Not the kind of thing you see reviewed. But there's lots of
secondhand/reconditioned machinery dealers out there selling
outstandingly good kit.

John Rumm wrote:
Picking up Dave "The Medway Handyman" Lang's idea on some form of FAQ
for tool reviews, I thought we could kick off with a possible FAQ entry
giving some guidance notes for what to include...

You could pick up some information at "www.reviewcentre.com"
or one of the many other places where "users" can post reviews
of tools they've bought, e.g.:

http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews-all-13107.html
http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/household-pr...ll-kit/239200/
http://www.ciao.co.uk/Bosch_12v_PSR_120__Review_5045162