but I have not seen any selling router guides like this?
I can go into at least 4 sheds local and not see these items,I might see the odd one or two singular sizes but not a set. So why is the UK sh**e when it comes to selling all manner of accessories for tools?
there several times a year and often pop into Sears to buy anything I can stuff into my suitcase. Just don't get me started on power tools, e.g (reasonable quality for the DIYer) lathes at practically "disposable" prices.
wanted to hit you for the big value item and not bother with the hassle of keeping small value x,y,z in stock. But these days the there's lots of money in the x,y,z so I guess it's just the typical 'slow to respond' that's put paid to British superiority in business. Then again maybe that's all s*1t?
universal base if you need it.
They are not as nice as the brass ones.
However, all the ones I have seen in the U.S. are in imperial and not metric sizes.
I don't like trend prices MrHall. :-)
Anyway I've bought a box of those in the URL.
I take it this is a buisness trip to the US? In which case I'm green with envy. :-P
The message from "Rob Hamadi" contains these words:
Seen the prices of radial arm saws? Makes you weep.
Mass import from China, no import taxes, no VAT.
Bound to be half the price.
Needs to be since the other half has to go into healthcare insurance.
And a colt 45 to wave at burglars.
...Or maybe they most of their tools are made in the good old USA and no need to import.
Don't forget Yanks are loyal to their country and that is proved by the car industry,more US cars are bought than any other car import.
ROFL
You're about 50 years out of date.
The car thing is true, but that's pure economics. Almost everything else sold in the USA is made in China.
Sorry to pop your bubble, but no.
There are some good quality tools made in north America - Leigh jigs, Veritas, Lie-Nielsen spring to mind but you can buy those here. Better prices in the U.S., however, on most.
There are a few small manufacturers around, but much of the main popular branded stuff such as Porter Cable and Delta is private labelled and of Chinese manufacture.
There are some apparently U.S. quality brands that have switched to other off-shore sourcing. For example, most of the quality band saws originate from Italy as they do here - same products with slightly different fitments to meet local fashion and regulation.
One can certainly buy U.S. 110v versions of many of the quality power tools such as Bosch, Makita and DeWalt quite a bit less expensively than in Europe. Even some European made products such as Festool cost less in the U.S. than here in Europe in some cases.
After that, there is the same kind of cheap Chinese junk that we have here. It's just painted a different colour.
If you do want to take advantage of U.S. pricing in a comprehensive way, it is worth taking a short trip and visiting some large tool stores. I've done that during business trips, but it could be cost effective to make a long weekend break and do it.
The equation is this:
- Order from a U.S. supplier and let them ship. Make sure you have your own shipper account and don't use theirs - then you have control of pricing and level of service. The supplier will not charge the local sales tax (6-9% typically, but zero in some states such as Delaware, IIRC). You will possibly pay UK duty of 1.7-2.7% and certainly VAT on anything other than small items.
- Make a visit with airline costs (maybe £300 if you look around) plus expenses. Treat it as a short holiday. Visit stores and shop accordingly. You will pay local sales tax and it is virtually impossible not to have to do that - I've managed to get a store to agree to do it only three times in 25 years.
It can sometimes be worth going to the major DIY home centres - Home Depot (you will think you are in B&Q) and Lowes, but generally they don't have a lot that is different to their counterparts here except that prices are usually lower. Generally, I prefer to go to the specialist tool places because they have a wider range and stock. You can also email and call them beforehand and place an order for collection.
You won't have shipment costs but do need to keep inside baggage weight allowances which are quite strictly enforced at present and probably going forward. On arrival in the UK you have an allowance of £145 before duty and VAT are charged. Generally customs people are quite reasonable and if you are honest will usually ignore the duty element if it applies, mainly because duties vary even among tool types and they would have to look them up - not worth their while for the amount involved. I usually list out the receipts on a separate piece of paper and split apart the VATable and non VATable items - for example books don't carry VAT. The duty and VAT is reckoned on the gross price paid in the U.S. including sales tax. On the last trip I made, I added up the dollar amounts, converted to sterling at the spot rate, deducted £145, calculated 17.5% VAT and handed the lady the piece of paper. She had been pretty busy and was happy to accept it even though the rate was a couple of points to my advantage compared with the HMRC official rate and duty was ignored.
Exchange rate is important either way. At present at around $1.90, it is the best for many years so now is a good time. If you are going to buy a few £hundred of stuff and treat the trip to the U.S. as a break (or go on business), then this is certainly worthwhile. At less than about $1.40 it probably isn't.
Shop around. Don't look at their list prices. At the autumn tool shows, their stuff can usually be had at a discount equivalent to the VAT.
I am sure they are fine. I just wanted to highlight that you can sometimes get situations where things won't fit or do what you want. One to watch out for is anything involving a threaded component and certain dimensioned items. For example, spindle moulder tooling.
Although it is surprising how many Good ol' boys there think that U.S. brands are still made there. Most don't have passports. Good thing really.
A few things from Mexico occasionally, but even that is not attractive for off shore manufacturing.
Yes these will be fine,I've made a flat plate to suit the router base but won't drill the center hole as of yet till I aquire those guides.
You are joking..?
yeah... thats why Ford and General Motors are teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, whilst Toyota is doing very well. Anyone can sell cars below cost price.
The message from "The3rd Earl Of Derby" contains these words:
And 95% of the population has never left the country. IIRC, that includes the army!
Against that there's the fact that it's a big enough country that you don't actually need to leave it to do a lot of stuff (skiing, sunny holidays, etc).
cheers, clive
and if they try to, the SUV sinks a few feet off shore...
The message from "Clive George" contains these words:
Oh, I fully understand that, but it dunnarf make 'em parochial.
And they don't get much holiday leave anyway.
I put that down to inbreeding, religion, never having fought a proper war, and commercial television.
Owain
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