Low Quality VS. High Quality Tools. Have We All Been Tricked?

Is it okay to buy higher quality, and usually higher cost tools to do the job of lower quality, lower cost tools? In this video that's exactly what I debate and I give a few perfectly good examples of why you may or may not want to take the plunge.

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[InspireWoodcraft]

I had no idea that a lot of you would be interested in the tools that I compared, but I have now added links to where all the items can be found. Look in the video description for those links if you're interested. And a huge thank you to everyone who has shared their "two cents" on the matter. There's some really great points and knowledge being shared!

[kerryholgate]

Quality is remembered long after price is forgotten is what my grandfather taught me.

[davidjames]

I look at it this way: You can curse once when you pay for it or you can curse it every time you use it!

[bobcade]

I’m a cabinet maker with 52 years experience, almost all of which was self employed. When I was starting in the trade an old timer said to me, “buy the best tools that you can afford, and then learn how to make them work for you”. I’ve followed that advice my whole life. No matter what tool you buy or even make for yourself, you need to learn all the characteristics of that tool and make it work in ways that get you to the finish quality you desire in your project. Fear not, something better will always come along that works better, faster, smoother, etc. Be selective in what you buy and don’t get into the habit of automatically buying the next new thing. Rely on your skill and experience to tell you when it’s time to upgrade. But, when you upgrade buy the best tools that you can afford!

[johnkingsley]

1345/74D/Corrections
My dad taught me many hard lessons many decades ago. He always said "Quality and price are two different things. Low price doesn't always mean low quality, and high price doesn't mean your getting the best tool. Pick what one you want and be happy with what you got".
I miss you dad, but I'm happy I can share some of your knowledge with the world.

[AndyVandy]

My grandfather taught me; “Buy nice or buy twice.” I’ve found that to be good advice.

[atfsgeoff]

There is something to be said about learning with cheap/budget tools, because then you can truly appreciate the finer tools later on. This applies to just about any trade.

[deviles]

A tip i lived for long by myself, and i was very happy to hear it endorsed by Adam savage: When you buy a new tool, get the cheapest one you can get. If you realise that you can really use that tool, buy the best one you can afford, or suits your need. If you dont, you havent wasted any money.

[TokenRing]

In general, for all YouTubers, the "discussion" videos are much more informative and useful than the "watch me make something" videos.

[RobertFallon]

Best 20 minutes I’ve spent in a long time. Maybe the only 20-minute YouTube clip I’ve seen without skipping forward. Thanks for your intelligence, perspicacity, advice, and efficient communication. Super helpful and super well done!

[marchebert]

Hobbyist woodworker but I'm an injection mold builder for 35 years. I've always lived by "buy the best you can afford at the time." If you can only afford the less expensive then do your research and get the best bang for the buck. Some of my co-workers like to buy cheap and that's good for them. I like to buy quality and never regretted it.

[fat_head_Carl]

"It brings me more joy to use"
That right there is enough justification to get a better tool. Carry on.

[TheDavemarz]

When I was in school for mechanical engineering my friends and I developed a saying: "Measure with a micrometer, mark with chalk, cut with an ax." This came about because we realized that we had great measuring tools available to us but poor marking and cutting tools. Any discussion on measurement or marking needs to refer back to the question how accurately can you cut. No matter how accurate your measurement or marking tools are it is meaningless if you don't have the ability to accurately cut to those marks. I'm new to your channel so I haven't had a chance to dig into everything yet perhaps you cover that in another video. Overall I liked the video and will be digging into other stuff you have made. Thanks.

[lapisredux]

if only pieces of wood knew that after you had machined them flat and square that they were supposed to stay flat and square.

[CoachTMAC]

Hey young man, I like your style of instruction. This is my first time watching your video and I subscribed before you were finished.
My story, don’t read if you have paint to watch dry. I started upping my prepping in January 2020. I am all bugged out ready, but because of COV-19, well, I needed a garden this year.
Needed cheap wood for garden beds, so I gathered some used wood pallets. But I have nothing but a hammer.
So, I got a 12” crow bar and borrowed a small throw sledgehammer from my neighbour.
Then I got several used equipment - mitre saw, circular saw, jig saw, one hand router, then a two hand router, (I upgraded to a pry bar) sander and got a 50 year old table saw. The motor’s great and I plan on making a refreshed mobile table.
Maybe spent $300 bucks on these and some measuring tools and bang, all of a sudden my YouTube videos switched from politics to 90% woodworking and gardening channels.
I am a retired teacher and haven’t had a course on wood working since the 1970’s. Thanks 👍👍

[ctrwoodcraft]

43 years as a custom cabinetmaker and fine woodworker here, and at 5:42 you told me all I needed to know when you said "... it brings me more joy..." about a $12 mechanical pencil. The fact is, most tools are only as good as the person using them.

[Jackson-T]

I've had that $10 pencil on my watch list for a year. Both you and James Hamilton (Stumpy Nubs) recommend it highly. This is how my spending gets out of here, $1000 there.

[PatriotWoodworx]

I started my woodworking journey with whatever i could get my hands on at a "cheap" price, yard sales, estate sales, harbor freight, etc. Now with trying to build my resume in finer woodworking I am fully committed to the higher quality for most of the reasons you explained. It like any other business, reinvest into yourself and business as you can. Thanks for the information, this was very helpful in making me not second guess my decision to spend the extra money.

[shockbomb]

I am now subscribed 😂🤣😂🤣

I know it's been a while since this was posted but, I want to reply.

I used to be a roofer/carpenter so, I own a lot of ryobi/dewalt/Milwaukee stuff. Empire is definitely my brand for squares and levels, and harbor freight is fine for basic hand tools(screw drivers/wrenches/ odds and ends). I just started looking at woodworking and realized I am at a disadvantage/advantage. Brands and types of tools that are used amongst woodworking professional humans are awesome and hella precise. I can appreciate that due to the detail work and craftsmanship in the pieces I see. With that said, basic tools for anyone are great. No, they don't produce amazing products with "errorless" results but, if they get the job done, they get the job done. I watch all these videos, read articles, gauge the quality of an item compared to the competition, and really research where the differ and if that will benefit me in the end to save over a more expensive purchase. Festool is a great example for this. Their products are top tier and amazing. if I could bring myself to Shell out the cash, I a festool mitersaw will do what a dewalt will with higher accuracy. As a carpenter, I learned being a little off will not kill your work. Your building will survive the being of 1/8 on a board or two. When making furniture, your not hiding a stud bay, your showing it to the world. This requires a more accurate application of tool work. Like I said, I'm getting into woodworking but, I would never dream of leaving all of my older tools to the dirt. They all have a use like he said, but maybe an upgrade is good when you need to upgrade.

Minus clamps. I seriously can't have enough. Always running out.

[GrantOakes]

Your videos are dead on for valuable information! I'm also impressed with your information delivery. You can very accurately deliver the information for a very long segment without any stuttering or interruptions. You know your craft and your topic so well that you don't need much video editing.