Take care of your tools

When I first started buying tools for myself, I would look for the best possible price and terms I could get. While that makes sense most of the time, tools are somewhat different and need to be looked at in a different way than just saving money for the short term. There are many good brands of tools available today, and price ranges will vary as you look at them. Some tools have established a good name as a power tool, while others have made their name as an air actuated tool. I can only speak from my experience and of course someone else may have an entirely different experience than I have.

I have learned that what makes a great tool is not necessarily how durable it is. Now wait a minute you are saying, how can that be, if it's durable it has to be good. Well, no that's not necessarily true, just because a tool is durable does not make it the best tool for the job. For example, what if the tool your trying to use is just to heavy to reach above your head to use? Or, after using the tool for a couple of hours your arms start to feel like they might fall off. That really durable tool begins to make a different impression on your mind. You must consider multiple things before purchasing a tool and then do some homework before you make your selection.
I know carpenters that swear by a particular brand and would not consider buying anything else. I have never taken that approach to purchasing tools. What works best for me after over 30 years of working with tools, is to first consider what I plan to use the tool I want to purchase to do. With all the specialty tools available today, you can bet there is tool that is made just for the purpose you have in mind. Next, is this tool only going to be used one time and then maybe never touched again? If that is the case it might be cheaper to rent a tool than to own one. The only way that might not make sense is if you are a collector of tools, in which case the more the better. I am speaking from the position that I purchase a tool to make a living with, not to show off to my next door neighbor.

I am not going to blast a particular brand of tool here, professional tools are much more expensive than homeowner brands, usually you will get what you pay for. That does not mean the cheaper tools will not do the job. It does mean, if you plan to use a tool on a regular basis and you don't want to spend time repairing tools, you might want to consider the professional grade.