Popular Woodworking 2008-04 № 168, страница 12
Out on a Limb BY CHRISTOPHER SCHWARZ, EDITOR TT 7 POPULAR I • Woo i working® Learn How. Discover Why. Build Better. V—' Which Church is The Best Value? Otta ij^u* henever we write about premium tools - such as Festool, Fein and Lie-Nielsen - it's inevitable that I'll get a few phone calls, letters and e-mails from angry readers. Their sentiment goes something like this: Why do we write about tools that are grossly overpriced? And why don't we take these manufacturers to task for their outrageous prices? Fair question. And I'll tell you why. There are indeed tools out there that have outrageous price tags, but they are not on the tools from Festool, Fein, and Lie-Nielsen. Instead, I think the crazy prices are on the tools at the home centers. They are outrageously low. Here's a fact: Most consumer-grade tools today are cheaper than they were in 1987. And not just in terms of inflation-adjusted dollars. Sometimes, the actual prices today are lower than prices charged a few decades ago. To remind me of this truth, I keep a couple tool catalogs that belonged to my grandfather. One of them, from 1980, is for the now-vanished "Fine Tool Shop" in West-port, Conn., where my grandfather bought his hand tools and power tools. The price list is astonishing. My favorite part is to browse the Makita section. At the time, Makita was the Far East importer and the low-price upstart that was competing with the domestic woodworking brands, such as Rockwell and Porter-Cable. A Makita 15" planer was $1,380 in 1980 (adj ust that for inflation and the price is 10 ■ Popular Woodworking April 2008 more like $3,300). Who in their right mind would pay $3,300 for a 15" planer today? A 7VV1 Makita circular saw was $118 in 1980 - I paid $99 for my Makita circular saw a few years ago. Whether you admit it or not, we are spoiled by low-price imported tools. Companies such as Grizzly Industrial, Delta and Jet now manufacture in the Far East where labor costs are far lower. And it's a testament to these companies and their industriousness that the tools they bring back in container ships are - for the most part - well made and well suited for the modern shop. I won't run down the imported tools. I have many of them in my shop at home. So if these imported tools are so good, why do we write about expensive tools? Because not everything is about price. If it were, I'd tell you to buy all your tools at garage sales and auctions. I know people who have equipped an entire shop for less than $1,000 this way. But that's not for me. Aside from my family, my deepest personal relationships are with my tools. They are the extensions of my hands, my imagination, my soul. And just like choosing a spouse, a hobby or a church, there are some things that should have absolutely nothing to do with money. PW PHOTOS FROM THE 1980 FINE TOOL SHOP CATALOGUE Customer Service How can I contact customer service with questions regarding my subscription, including a lost or damaged issue? Visit popularwoodworking.com/ customerservice. Or write to Popular Woodworking, P.O. Box 420235, Palm coast, FL 32142-0235. Or, if you prefer the telephone, call toll-free 877-860-9140 and a customer service representative will be happy to help you. When does my subscription expire? The date of your subscription expiration appears on your magazine mailing label, above your name. The date indicates the last issue in your subscription. Can I get back issues of Popular Woodworking? Back issues are available while supplies last. Visit popularwoodworking.com/backissues. Or if you know the exact month and year of the issue you want, call our customer service department toll-free at 800-258-0929 to order. What if I want more information about the projects and tools I read about in Popular Woodworking? for all editorial questions, please write to Popular Woodworking editorial, 4700 E. galbraith road, cincinnati, OH 45236. Or e-mail popwood@fwpubs.com. Does Popular Woodworking offergroup discounts? group discounts are available by special arrangement with the publisher. for more details, send an e-mail to Debbie Paolello at debbie.paolello@fwpubs.com or call 513-531-2690 x1296. Our Privacy Promise to You We make portions of our customer list available to carefully screened companies that offer products and services we believe you may enjoy. if you do not want to receive offers and/or information, please let us know by contacting us at: list manager, F+W Publications 4700 E. galbraith road cincinnati, OH 45236 Safety Note safety is your responsibility. manufacturers place safety devices on their equipment for a reason. in many photos you see in Popular Woodworking, these have been removed to provide clarity. in some cases we'll use an awkward body position so you can better see what's being demonstrated. Don't copy us. Think about each procedure you're going to perform beforehand. |
