Replies

1. 
   TomS | Apr 08, 2005 03:09am | #1

   It's tough to beat Amazon/Tool Crib with their free shipping policy.  I've purchased a jointer, lunchbox planer, and air filter from them.  My DeWalt TS I got locally at Lowe's during a 20% sale, my bandsaw and DC at local outlets.  I don't have much store loyalty but rather look for the best deal for my dollar.

   Tom

2. 
   JohnSprung | Apr 08, 2005 03:44am | #2

   I keep an eye on:

   http://www.oldwwmachines.com/

   Haven't bought through them yet, but the big old stuff is better than what's made today, and for less money.

    

   -- J.S.

    

3. 
   hammer1 | Apr 08, 2005 04:16am | #3

   I agree with Tom. Tool crib has prices that my local suppliers can't touch and there are, generally, no shipping charges. Often there is an added bonus with a purchase, rebate, accessory, etc. I bought a 900 pound planer a couple years ago and had to pay an extra $30 for a lift gate delivery. It was worth the couple of bucks. They also have a much wider selection than any of my local stores. I've purchased at least 20 items from them and they show up quickly and with no problems so far.

   I've found that many of the auctions in my area are not very good sources. You don't know the history of the machine, parts are missing and the prices get ridiculous. The one major industrial machine supplier we have, asks crazy prices for used equipment. They offer peanuts for your used equipment. They have been pretty good with new equipment. I bought a Denray downdraft table and a Crouch edge sander on their recommendations.

   With small standard woodworking equipment and portable power tools, it's hard to beat Tool Crib. For industrial level equipment, I think you're better off with a local supplier. They will deliver, set up and handle any problems or warranty issues. They will also keep an eye out for things you may want, but don't expect bargain prices.

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

1. 
   JeffreyS | Apr 08, 2005 09:31am | #4

   I recently bought a Delta DJ-20 jointer from Amazon. Free delivery and the driver brought it right into my garage/shop behind my house with his pallet jack, no questions asked. It was an excellent experience- good price for the tool and and convenient delivery.

   Jeff

1. 
   hammer1 | Apr 08, 2005 02:51pm | #5

   They've been great for me too. I like the opinions section for many of the tools also. I'm pretty loyal to Delta and PC for many items. They are usually crated very well and you don't have alignment or failing parts problems like you read with many other manufacturers. The slightly higher costs for Delta is like money in the bank.Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

4. 
   HWG | Apr 08, 2005 05:31pm | #6

   Surely you have read the good press that Grizzly has been getting here on the list.  I recently purchased a bandsaw from them and was pleased.  Would have purchased a table saw but finally located an ancient Unisaw locally (my first choice of source, when available).  Grizzly does charge shipping, but it is generally reasonable.  Their customer service is consider excellent by many.

   Woody

    

5. 
   AntzyClancy | Apr 08, 2005 07:28pm | #7

   I bought my Jet TS and Agazzani BS on ebay, Delta drill press from Woodcraft (local, 6 month no interest), dust collector from Penn State, and MiniMax J/P at the wood show. I always buy the best deal.

   Todd

1. 
   KayakGreg | Apr 08, 2005 07:58pm | #8

   "I always buy the best deal."

   Todd

   LOL. Please don't take offense, Todd, but I think somewhere around 98% of the posts around here are about what constitutes the 'best deal'. :-)

   Greg

    

1. 
   AntzyClancy | Apr 08, 2005 08:18pm | #9

   LOL. I am not at all offended. :->I agree, but I think it is less than 98% that look for the "best deal". Some people just want "the best", and some are willing to pay more to support local businesses. Some people don't want to waste time shopping or waiting for the "best deal". I read a lot of opinions of this ilk.Todd

1. 
   Samm90 | Feb 10, 2009 08:28am | #21

   Very good point indeed ! even though this post dated 2005, if you still read this thread.

   Q

6. 
   tailsorpins | Apr 08, 2005 09:39pm | #10

   Develop a working relationship with your local industrial equipment dealers and if they don't have the equipment you want, new or used, get on their used call list.  Contact your local school boards and get on the list for notification of the dispersal sale of their woodshop equipment.  Attend an auction and register once, and you'll be on their mailing list forever.  Select those that regularly have estate liquidation sales.  Register and that'll get you on the mailing list. 

   Good Luck,

   John 

1. 
   CherryDust | Apr 08, 2005 11:41pm | #12

   Don't rely on "ordering is cheaper". Always shop around. I recently bought a bandsaw at my local Rockler for $400. Amazon wanted $550 and Woodcraft wanted $600 for the same saw. I went down there, bought the saw, put it in my truck and an hour later, I was resawing Cherry. Granted, this was a sale, but $150 to $200 cheaper is not chump-change.

7. 
   andyroy1101 | Apr 08, 2005 10:59pm | #11

   I have had two bad experiences with Grizzly.  When I bought my tablesaw they sent the wrong extentions, and it took almost two months and five shipments for them to get it right.  If you check around they are known for poor customer service.

   One great place I know is Redmond and Sons.  Check them out at http://www.redmond-machinery.com/  They sell new and used.  If you are ever in Atlanta visit their showroom.  Its a tool nuts cloud nine.  Rows and rows of new and used machines as far as the eye can see.

   Amazon is great for shipped items though.  a

8. 
   woodensplinter | Apr 09, 2005 05:02am | #13

   I buy my tools where ever I can.  Prefer to shop locally, but...

   Bought my table saw mail order from an outfit 1000 miles away.  Bought my RAS from a pharmacy in town.  The rest I bought somewhere in between those two extremes.

9. 
   kstyer | Apr 09, 2005 05:41am | #14

   I bought my Delta unisaw from Amazon for a pretty good price. Bought my Minimax MM16 bandsaw from Minimax at the Minneapolis woodworking show. Price was reasonable but the shipping from Texas to Wisconsin was a bit much.

   Ken

10. 
    GRW | Apr 09, 2005 11:49am | #15

    Mad Dog,

    I've used Amazon, and Tool Crib too. They're both good. Before I buy on line I  take the on line price to my local Western Tool Supply (was Woodworkers Warehouse in my town) If they sell the same product, they have always matched or beat the price even with my local 6% sales tax, and they pay the shipping. This way I get local service. Since I've shared my $$ with them for a few years, they now share information about tool quality, and what tools are often being returned, or break frequently.

1. 
   ScottMatson | Apr 09, 2005 03:39pm | #16

   Woody: yes, I have read here about how happy posters are with Grizzly.Others: thanks for the tips. A lot of support for Amazon/tool crib, which kind of surprises me. I'm not all that wild about them for a lot of different reasons, one of which is that because of them, maybe, is why there is not a really capable local dealer. They are sort of Walmarting the small guys out. Another is that I bought a tool from them, and when I got it I realized I had ordered slightly wrong and it was not what I wanted. Yes they took it back, but slapped me up for about 60 bucks worth of penalty (my bad, I know) but if I had a chance to see it at a local dealer I would either not have made the mistake, or they would have just exchanged it (which was how I wanted to do it with Amazon but that didn't happen.)I've never shopped their large tools online. Do they carry more than what is in the catalog?We do have a Woodcraft store here but not a Rockler. They've got jet and delta. I didn't think Delta made any good shop tools anymore but I could be wrong. Is at least the Unisaw still a well made machine? Love the old old stuff.

1. 
   BarryO | Apr 09, 2005 10:10pm | #17

   yea, one of the downsides of mail-order is that you need to know exactly what you want.  But prices and selection of often hard to beat.  I once tried to buy the Jet benchtop chisel mortiser locally; I tried 3 local places and they were all out of stock on them, so I gave up and ordered online.

   I got my Unisaw from Amazon; showed up in a couple days on a Fed-Ex Freight truck; no problems (except for the driver getting real lost and callng for directions).

   I'm not worried about "Walmarting"; it always seems that whether is HD/Lowes, or Wal-Mart, or whatever,  the mediocre local businesses get killed off, but the good ones (that offer things the big boxes can't) flourish.  That's the way the system's supposed to work.

   I've gotten mid-size stuff (portable planers, etc.) from http://www.northwestpowertools.com  and have been happy.

   And I've gotten tools from Grizzly: a combination of buying them from a friend moving across the country, to picking them up at the warehouse, to having them shipped.

1. 
   ScottMatson | Apr 10, 2005 02:17am | #18

   Thanks. You're probably right, and I hope so!

2. 
   wrudiger | Apr 10, 2005 09:07am | #19

   I too buy from a variety of sources.  My TS is 30+ yrs old; my newest stationary tool is a Grizzly (customer service great; quality variable though still amazing for the cost).  For the smaller stuff I've shifted from Amazon/Tool Crib to Coastal Tool.  You can get someone on the phone who actually knows what he is talking about and service is great.  Prices often beat Amazon.  I learned about them here or on Breaktime from satisified customers.

2. 
   hammer1 | Apr 10, 2005 09:17pm | #20

   All you have to do is hang out here for a while and you will see ten posts to one looking for solutions to Grizzly and Powermatic problems vs Delta. So far, in my experience, the newer Delta tools are better than the old ones. I can't comment on their customer service because I've never needed it. I make my living doing woodwork. All my Delta machines have been purchased new since 1970 until now. My most recent purchase was a 15" planer that replaced a Powermatic #100. The PM was a brand new industrial model and it was a wrestling match with every other board. You needed half a tool box just to remove the dust hood and change the blades. Everything about the guts was poorly laid out and difficult to work on. The Delta performs as well if not better than my old 24" Oliver. I will go to my local suppliers to look at models I'm interested in and offer them the opportunity to match Tool Crib prices. Woodworkers Warehouse would match but they seldom had what I wanted in stock. Even if they did, I would still have to load and unload from a pickup. Most of my friends and neighbors have back or other physical problems. I don't have to ask for favors with Tool Crib and risk someone or something getting hurt. Dealing with mail order can be a problem if you aren't careful about what you order. In some cases it's the only way to get special items if you live in the boondocks. If you only use your equipment once in a while, many brands will be fine. If you run them all day everyday, you better get the best at the least expensive price. For me, that's Delta and Tool Crib.Beat it to fit Paint it to match

11. 
    Knotscott | Feb 10, 2009 04:03pm | #22

    Even though this thread is older, the info is still useful and pertinent. I tend to go where the value is, which varies....local, mail order, used, refurbed. Several of my hand power tools are refurburbished. I've also purchased used in the past...some from Ebay and CL, but nothing from my current lineup.

    - Shop Fox TS was mailed ordered from Utterguys with free S/H
    - Grizzly DC was picked up at the showroom in Muncy, PA
    - Grizzly 6" jointer was mailed ordered
    - Delta 13" planer was picked up locally at Lowes
    - Central Machinery 13" DP was picked up locally at HF
    - Central Machinery mortiser was picked up locally at HF
    - Ridgid OSS was picked up locally at HD
    - Ridgid shop vac was picked up locally at HD
    - Craftsman 12" BS was ordered on line and picked up locally
    - 3hp Milwaukee router was mailed ordered from Heavy Duty Tools
    - 2hp Freud router was mailed ordered from Amazon
    - 2hp Hitachi router was mailed ordered from Recon Sales, Inc.

    
    

    ---

    Edited 2/10/2009 8:04 am ET by Knotscott