Buy Quality Tools | Star Independent Newspaper

Star Independent Newspaper Column | 3-15-2009

Long ago, when I started my remodeling business, I told my self that I would not compromise when it came to my tools. I would buy the best I could possibly afford and if I had to, I would wait till I could afford the best.

I can say now, some 15 years later, that I am very glad I took this approach. I recently took a few tools in to KC Tool Supply for repairs. I also ordered in a few parts myself on-line to fix a couple “non-internal” damages.

One of the tools handed over to the repair guy was a Bosch Hammer Drill. This was one of the tools Bosch provided me with for the TV show I used to be a part of on Idaho Public Television. Over the years, I have beaten this thing beyond whatever the engineer that designed it ever thought of. I heated it up so bad a couple of times that you could not even hold on to it. Then finally, blue smoke came out and the magic was gone. Repair Guy said to buy another one. “It’s beyond realistic repair”.

OK. I can live with that. It served me well. We did many, many jobs together. I gathered the bag of pieces of what used to be a hammer drill off the repair counter and left the shop sad, yet excited, that I could now search for it’s replacement.

My Bosch Router is a different story. I have probably routed several miles of edges and window cut outs with this tool. It has no intention of giving up just quite yet. However I have tried to kill it off twice. My tool trailer has bins for all my tools. On a big bump in the road, the router jumped out of the bin and hit the trailer floor hard enough to break the metal base plate and the hard plastic skid disc. I ordered the parts on line as I can handle this repair, and put them on. Good as new. Except that last week it jumped out and did the same thing! Yes, I fixed the bin and ordered the parts. Again.

Taking a quick scan of my tool inventory, I counted about a third of the tools I have are still original, have been used hard, and have never had to be fixed. Another third have been repaired, some a couple of times. The final third are those tools that have such special uses that I doubt I will ever wear them out or have to make any repairs to them. They just don’t get used enough, but are sure nice to have when the job calls for it.

In my garage workshop is a Dewalt Radial Arm Saw that my Dad bought new in 1958. My dad never threw anything away and I have the receipt, owner’s manual, and even a set of plans he sent in for with a coupon when he bought the saw so you could build a workbench around it. He really took good care of this tool an it did a lot of work.

A Radial Arm Saw should however be called a “Remove Your Arm” Saw. It is so versatile, it is tempting to try and hurt yourself with it. Fun tool though. The point is that quality lasts. Quality is worth repairing. And nobody ever complains that they bought too good of a tool.

As summer projects get near, if you need new tools, DON”T BUY CHEAP JUNK. Invest in quality and it won’t let you down. That, and the fact that people get hurt trying to us an inferior tool for more than what it was designed for.

Joe and Vicki Prin own Joe Prin Remodeling LLC, Idaho Registered Contractor #RCE-23530, and can be contacted at 573-1082 or by email- joe@joeprin.com. Listen to the HomeFix Radio show hosted by Joe, Saturdays, 8-10 AM on 580 KIDO