Popular Woodworking 2000-02 № 113, страница 28
k ws Know the difference between a tool built for occasional use and a tool built for a daily workout. ost woodworkers know you should have the right tool for the job. But choosing the right power hand tool can sometimes be conf using when the different tools you are considering are made by the same manuf acturer but have wildly dif f erent price tags. For example, you can buy a $3 9 j igsaw or a $ 160 j igsaw from the same manufacturer. Both will cut wood, but will the $ 160 jigsaw cut wood four times better than the $39 tool? Probably not. So to decide which power tool is right for you it's good to understand the difference between inexpensive tools and expensive ones. In a broad sense manufacturers make tools for two types of users. On one hand are the "occasional users." These are homeowners, do-it-yourselfers and part-time hobbyists who use power tools occasionally. On the other end of the scale are "professional users," carpenters or commercial woodworkers who use their tools every day and demand the most from them. If it were that black and white, tool designing would be simple. However, many occasional users are demanding shoppers, and have the money to purchase better tools than they might need. The two-tier scenario also doesn't take into consideration the advanced home woodworker who wants pro tools or the professional who needs a chop saw once a month. In some cases, manufacturers do not clearly identify the two different design groups. Some use the same tool color across their line, and they use the same selling or marketing terminology in ads and catalogs. Other companies produce tools under two different brand names: one for the home user and one for the professional. For example, Black & Decker and DeWalt are part of the same company, but DeWalt tools are built and marketed for the professional market. Bosch builds tools for the professional user, but its sister company markets a line of home tools under the Skil nameplate. Recognizing the difference between the pro and home tools isn't easy in the store. One good indicator used to be the features on the tool, but even the less expensive tools now offer more features. So the place to start is with the price tag. A $39 drill is built dif- by Randy Caillier Randy Caillier is a regional service manager for Makita and has been involved in the power tool and equipment industry since 1978. The opinions expressed in this article are his own and not those of Makita. |
