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I've definitely realized this in a couple of markets: Buy cheap, get trash. Buy expensive, get expensive trash with better marketing. Working with power tools f
by muvlon 2mo ago
I've definitely realized this in a couple of markets: Buy cheap, get trash. Buy expensive, get expensive trash with better marketing. Working with power tools from various brands has made me realize they all cheap out in the same ways. Plastic gears where there used to be metal, undersized motor drivers that fry themselves under sustained load, trigger switches that start misbehaving or die completely after a few months.
Also, all of the brands (cheap or expensive) will sometimes mess up the cost-cutting and make something reliable by accident. Buying cheap gives me more chances to get lucky in this way.
- slipperybeluga 2mo agoThis wasn't the case 20 years ago. There was actually a good article on HN a few months ago showing how most of the brands are owned by one company that has ruined them all. Still a few good brands. Need to research https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48147665 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48147665
- pseudohadamard 2mo agoDon't know the HN article but here's my own list: AEG = TTI Black and Decker = Stanley (Stanley Black&Decker, SBD) Bosch = {} Craftsman = Stanley Dewalt = Stanley Hikoki = Hitachi Irwin = Stanley Kango = TTI Klein = {} Lenox = Stanley Makita = {} Metabo = Hitachi Milwaukee = TTI Porter-Cable = Stanley Ryobi = TTI The empty-set ownership symbol {} means not owned by anyone else.
- mixermachine 2mo agoChannels like project farm https://youtube.com/@projectfarm https://youtube.com/@projectfarm or other reviewers that are not sponsored are truly my main source of information in this age. Some direct reviews between 2 and 4 stars are also sometimes useful. Always discard the 5 star ones...
- equake 2mo agoprojectfarm is simply amazing!
- vizzier 2mo agohttps://www.youtube.com/@arduinoversusevil2025 https://www.youtube.com/@arduinoversusevil2025 also great for teardowns of specific tools. Seeing a few really put into perspective how many companies were transitioning to trading on their brand goodwill instead of making good stuff.