cheap and nasty tools, are they ever okay?

[Julian]

cheap and nasty tools, are they ever okay?

Lidl nor aldi are tool shops so why do so many sailors advocate buying tat and rubbish metal from these places. They're fine for a boat, oh they'll go rusty anyway... except if you buy quality metal and oil them regularly.

Maybe it is being an engineery type, maybe it is the need to have a spanner fit the nut exactly, or a Pozidriv that doesn't rip the screw head to pieces.

Whitworth would roll 123.6° in his grave if he saw how his ideas had been bastardised by cheap Chinese junk that is recommended when people ask >>> they're great because they're CHEAP. For gawd's sake, when did the engineering capital of the world become such a shoddy bottom shelf inferior lidl is best bargain bucket. It seems many sailors think the little tool kit you get in a Christmas cracker is quality, it must be good, it's free!

Don't get me wrong, I do not spend silly money, but I do advocate mid range tools at the very least for hobby users.

Could it be because nowadays most people on the water use pens and keyboards as their trade equipment rather than actual man-tools!

[Silkie]

cheap and nasty tools, are they ever okay?

Best kind for dropping overboard.

[Arghiro]

I didn't know there was any other sort.

Cheap disposable junk, I'm happy to lend them, I don't mind losing them - I don't want to pass them on as an heirloom to my kids. It also means I can happily use spanners as hammers, screwdrivers as chisels, etc etc.

Haven't you got any real problems to worry about?

[aquaplane]

In the hands of a mastercraftsman good tools do a good job.

I buy good enough tools for my skills. I may be temped to spend a bit more if I thought the mid range tools were made by craftsmen to higher standards but I suspect they are made in the same Chinese sweatshops as the cheap tat.

[Julian]

Haven't you got any real problems to worry about?

sorry to offend and bore you over here as well. Easily remedied, bye.

[Nick]

.
Julian, come back!

Arghiro, please try to avoid upsetting our more sensitive members - some refugees over here are still suffering from Lounge trauma

I thought the topic was quite an interesting one myself. I have a farmer friend who is constantly tempted by Lidls' tool bargains. Most of them are not up to the rigours of farm life. Their occasional spanner/plier offerings seem to be OK though. I've got a few that seem to be extremely good value for money, but I rarely use them. If I use them once and they do the job then that is probably value for money, but if they break half way through then it was and continues to be a waste of time.

[Arghiro]

Bloomin' 'eck, sorry. No offence intended. How does he cope with Jimi, Sgier et al?

Doesn't Julian realise that criticising his less wealthy colleagues for their parsimonious activities makes us very sensitive about our poverty?

He may well have the resources to pay top whack for Rolls Royce tools to suit his mastercraftsman's skills when working on his wonder boat. I cope as best as I can on my pension, bodging with cheap tools & making do.

[Nick]

Doesn't Julian realise that criticising his less wealthy colleagues for their parsimonious activities makes us very sensitive about our poverty?

To be fair Julian was not advocating the use of Rolls Royce tools:

Don't get me wrong, I do not spend silly money, but I do advocate mid range tools at the very least for hobby users.

I think it depends on how often you use the tools and what standards you set yourself. Some cheap tools - hole saws spring to mind - tend to be a disaster and spending a little more to get a proper job done is less expensive than repairing or bodging the damage caused when it goes pear shaped. Cheap adjustable spanners are another pet hate - once a nut is rounded hours of grief can follow. Even a decent well-balanced hammer - Estwing are the very best - means less time bending nails and more time inserting them as desired. If I have a major job to do and reckon my tools will give less than ideal results then I look at how much the job would cost if a pro did it then I go out and spend a tiny fraction of that on a decent tool. And I am poor for sure by the standards of the average poster here.

Most cheap tools are disappointing. The set of spirit levels from Lidls are not accurate, the drill stand was a disaster. On the other hand I have a fantastic set of big angled pliers that I got there for £3 that are perfect for rescuing nuts etc dropped in obscure places among other things. What is good about fora like this are the odd occasions when decent things turn up at Lidls or Aldis and word goes out.

[Julian]

We should not forget second hand tools either, always worth a rummage at boot sales and the like.

Especially widows clearing out the shed. That sounds awful, but stuff I have bought that way would have made the previous owner proud as I do take care of them.

Saying that, I am currently looking for a new set of spanners for the boat, it is difficult to avoid Chinese metal.

[Old_Glow_In_The_Deep]

My father-in-law had a comprehensive set of quality tools he’d amassed over his lifetime, all stored in a steel case, oiled and wiped down ready for their next job, as he was an engineer for many years.
Unfortunately another member of the family stated he was taking possession, where I can guarantee they are either:
1, Given away.
2, Or are neglected… lying at the back of one of his outbuildings collecting rust.

The way of the world & families…. eh!

I just wish I knew what a good tool looked like, as I love to spend the odd occasion looking around markets etc.
But with the best two on the West Coast you have to be there at 07:00 to get the bargains.

[Alcyone]

cheap and nasty tools, are they ever okay?

Best kind for dropping overboard.

I'm with this viewpoint.

Stupidly owning 2 cars, 2 houses, a motorhome a Rib and a yacht doesn't help. I keep one good set in the garage. In the cars, boats and motorhome, it's cheap junk, to lose, lend and sink.

For those 'splash, oh no' moments.