Festool because...

[Doctor Drivel]

Matt means he will justify it whether he needs it or not.

[Andy Hall]

There's only one person who can determine need, and that's the purchaser.

Do you purchase things that you don't need - I don't.

[Thomas Prufer]

Have a google for "Hilti TPS"!

RFID keys for Hilti tools, so that they won't work if stolen. Also so that only one person or group of persons can use a tool -- no more "nobody used it, it just broke on its own"...

Thomas Prufer

[Rod]

One of things I have detested about jigsaws is the awful blade retention mechanism. I have seen that Bosch's SDS system is pretty good - how does Makita compare?

(Previous heap of junk was a given-to-me Wickes cheapie - won't even hold a blade when not cutting! Previous was a sort-of-inherited B&D made if bendy metal and assembled with out-of-position screws.)

[Rod]

Thanks - difficult choices lie ahead.... :-)

[John Rumm]

It uses the SDS system as well. There is a sturdy translucent plastic lever just below the body of the machine. You push the tab on it forward against a spring - thus rotating the blade clamp mechanism 90 degrees. The blade then drops into place, and you just release the lever to clamp it. Once in place it stays put until you remove it. Simple as that.

Sounds like my B&D jigsaw ;-) Needless to say there is no comparison between them. The Makita is amazingly smooth and vibration free in comparison.

[Doctor Drivel]

Matt, you do.

[Andy Hall]

Are you my bank manager? Do you have visibility of my statements?

It seems unlikely that you are the bank manager I had lunch with a few weeks back....

[The Medway Handyman]

Yup. Agree with John. Blade change is 100% positive, never had a blade even think about coming out. Quick & 100% reliable.

[The Medway Handyman]

Was using mine today to cut out apertures for sinks & hobs in 38mm worktop.

Bloke I know was outside sorting the garden, saw the Makita JS in action & wanted to try it out on a worktop offcut. He was simply stunned by how well it works. He might hold out for a few weeks before he buys one :-)

[The Medway Handyman]

But why on earth would you ever need a tolerance of 0.05mm? A light sanding would remove more than 0.05mm.

Surely the entire point of a biscuit joiner is flexibility?

Are you sure Andy :-) Come on now, tell the truth :-)

[Frank Erskine]

On Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:09:24 +0000, Andy Hall had this to say:

I used to love Penguin bars when I was a youngster.

That was in the days before they were hermetically sealed - the wrapper was greaseproof-paper -backed foil, which you could peel apart in a few non-sociable moments at the table.

I'm sure the green-wrapped ones were the best.

[Frank Erskine]

On Thu, 27 Mar 2008 22:43:17 +0000, Rod had this to say:

Listen - if she wants a job done properly, you need a proper tool to do it with.

[Andy Hall]

Repeatability and precise vertical alignment.

Ah well......

The question really is, who determines need? What are the criteria? Is it an absolute set of things or is it the opinion of the purchaser? If I know about what I am potentially buying because I have used something of the same type or researched it, then I am reasonably qualified to judge and make decisions, especially if I am paying.

So for example, when I use a drill/driver, having precise control and ergnomics is a critical factor. I can do this pretty well with a Makita product and wouldn't entertain having anything of poor standard such as DIY store own brands. I bought a Festool C12 a year and a bit back. It isn't an inexpensive product. However, the clutch control is much more precise and repeatable than the Makita and it's quite light and superbly balanced. I can rattle off work quite a bit quicker. Similarly, I have a Festool sheet sander and it is also well balanced and low in vibration. Same thing with a Metabo random orbit sander. I need to use time efficiently and so tools such as these that I can use all day if needed are a natural choice.

OTOH, I had the misfortune of coming through Terminal 5 earlier this evening. All that you have seen on the news is true. It's a shambles

- more like a department store with aeroplanes as incidentals. A lot of the equipment wasn't working; quite a bit was missing (e.g. none of the little cabinets that I saw that house defibrillators had one in them). The car park was free because the pay machines weren't working etc.

Several people were heard to remark on the way out that they needed a drink. I was happy just to go home.

Several other people *need* to be fired over the fiasco, but I expect that they will just hire a different firm of management consultants instead.

[Rod]

Thanks for the answers folks.

Why did you both go for the 4350 rather than the same-priced 4351? ("The Makita 4351FCT has the body grip design preferred by many professionals.")

[Jim Alexander]

I agree its translucent plastic but I will never agree that type of translucent plastic is sturdy.

My Erbauer has a nice metal locking ring. OK its doesn't cut straight....

Jim A

[Man at B&Q]

ROTFLMFAO!

Try upstairs in the High Wycombe branch. I will NEVER EVER attempt to share any of my money with them again after waiting patiently at the counter and being TOTALLY ignored. I could see he was busy, but not even a "with you in a moment sir" or similar. They need a serious staff training programme put in place.

MBQ

[The Medway Handyman]

I have the 4341 which is the previous model to the 4351. I just prefer barrel grip jigsaws, I think they give greater control.

[Andy Hall]

If it's a good one it doesn't matter a lot. I recently tried out two of Festool's models (each style) and had good results with both.

[Andy Hall]

You went to the retail hardware shop?

I'm referring to the trade counter that sells specialised fitments.