good reliable reviews on power tools

[Ken]

Where should I look for good and reliable, not just ads, reviews on power tools for woodworking?

I´m interested in affordable quality tools for home workshops, anything from planers to circular saws to sanders to drill presses. Power tools that can be serviced and not thrown away because there is no spare blades to be bought or other spares, for example. Power tools with guides that actually can be accurately adjusted. Drill presses that unlike my dear taiwanese Rexxon doesn´t wander around 1-2 mm making it hell to get accurate holes. Quality may cost a little more than the cheapest "machines" out there on the market, but should be affordable too. So where should I look for reviews on power tools?

I wish all readers of rec.woodworking a very nice summer!

Sincerely, Ken Finland

[Swingman]

Best place is from folks who use the tools ... a group of woodworkers here, or on other on-line forums.

Since you're in Europe you'll find a different market than most of the woodworkers who post here, but there are on-line forums in Europe, so try to narrow your search.

Woodworking magazines are about your only other source or easily obtainable reviews, and many of them should be taken with a bit of skepticism.

[DanG]

As has been noted, the European market may have different suppliers and vendors.

This publication is worth reading:

articles are written by contractors who use the tools. ______________________________ Keep the whole world singing . . . . DanG (remove the sevens) [e-mail]

[mjmwallace]

I think the advice you got to talk to other woodworkers is good, but keep in mind that your working habits, type of woodworking, etc. could be different and that might mean their tool choice would not work for you.

Since we don't have an independant tool evaluation guide like Consumer's Research ( a non-profit organization for consumer information and testing) that covers tools, magazines can and do help. They often give you choices you may not be aware of. And they are fair, in my mind.

The biggest question is will the tool hold up? That can't be tested in a lab so easily. That's where talking to others helps. Also price is a real product differential. Low cost USUALLY means cheaply made. In your neck of the woods - FesTools are probably extremely expensive (they are here!) but they appear to be well made. They probably will hold up for 15 or 20 years.

Bottom line - start reading and asking around.

Best of luck!

MJ Wallace