Replacing 2 machines, but don't want Chinese

[dudders]

The 2-wheel bench grinder is underpowered and I want to use one of the modern tool-sharpening jigs, for which it's not appropriate. The safety shield on the mitre saw gave up years ago, and is stupidly dangerous to go on using without it. I can't replace the part, however, because of course it's now obsolete. Usual story - broken bit = throw away entire machine and buy a new one.

I make my life difficult by trying not to buy cheap Chinese tools - from hard experience. I don't want to be chucking it out just after the warranty expires, even if it does only cost £20 from Aldi.

Last piece of kit I got was a Bosch pillar drill - their stuff's always made in Germany. Made in China.

Can anyone point me towards machines they're pleased with that are also made in UK, USA or Europe? I don't mind paying more - it's cheaper in the end.

 

[Nearly]

Buy old stuff.
It's the future.

 

[David.]

Look for firms that do factory clearance.

 

[B R C]

Bidspotter is your friend, lots of grinding gear comes up.

Samand EG.62/168 twin wheel tipped tool grinder

Bid Live on Lot 40 in the Important Sale of Gear Cutting & Hobbing Machinery, CNC Turning & Milling Machinery, Gap & Centre Bed Lathes, Drilling Equipment etc. Auction from Eddisons CJM.

www.bidspotter.co.uk

 

[Dave W]

The 2-wheel bench grinder is underpowered and I want to use one of the modern tool-sharpening jigs, for which it's not appropriate. The safety shield on the mitre saw gave up years ago, and is stupidly dangerous to go on using without it. I can't replace the part, however, because of course it's now obsolete. Usual story - broken bit = throw away entire machine and buy a new one.

I make my life difficult by trying not to buy cheap Chinese tools - from hard experience. I don't want to be chucking it out just after the warranty expires, even if it does only cost £20 from Aldi.

Last piece of kit I got was a Bosch pillar drill - their stuff's always made in Germany. Made in China.

Can anyone point me towards machines they're pleased with that are also made in UK, USA or Europe? I don't mind paying more - it's cheaper in the end.

there is such a thing as quality Chinese stuff you know

 

[Warp Land Farmer]

there is such a thing as quality Chinese stuff you know

Lamb Kung Po?!

 

[Paddington]

The snag with Chinese stuff is I wouldn't know what is quality stuff and what isn't. We have kitchen appliances and workshop stuff, all bought on line, usually because they have recognisable British names, Russel Hobbs, Swan etc which were actually made in PRC. If I had seen these in a shop I wouldn't have bought them as they look barely adequate for the job.
Generally if the description of the item includes the words; pro, super pro, turbo, heavy duty, chef quality, 4x4 and comes in a bright yellow colour at a price which seems very good value, I assume they are shonky knock offs.

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

Last piece of kit I got was a Bosch pillar drill - their stuff's always made in Germany. Made in China.

If it really an issue to you, then you need to check the label on the back/bottom of the tool in store. Bosch do make a lot of stuff in PRC (as do Milwaukee and all the rest) but I do have stuff from them that’s made in Germany and Switzerland too.

 

[dudders]

Done it. Thanks for the replies, and I took Nearly's advice in the end - bought old. Got both replacements, both a make I'd never heard of (Elu) dating from the eighties, both made in West Germany. Beautiful tools, quiet, heavy and powerful. The mitre saw is also a flipover - a minute of twiddling turns it into a table saw. Brilliant. Elu got taken over by Black and Decker and just became a badge on some cheap machines, so their later tools won't be up to much, but I can recommend this vintage.

The last two China-made machines I bought, both new, were the Bosch pillar drill, which moves off-centre as soon as you start to move it down, and a vehicle lift (http://www.sjrgarageequipment.co.uk/scissor-car-lifts/) that only operates if I stick my finger in the control box to hold one of the elements in position... Two years of chasing the supplier has got me nowhere. There might be good Chinese stuff out there, but so far it's kept clear of me.

 

[Shovelhands]

My go-to powertool brand is now Makita, used to be Bosch, the popularity of battery powered tools has led to me going with Makita and sticking with them. I think the quality is there, they are good value imo and they are one of the only tool manufacturers that is still family owned and not part of some group that runs multiple brands out of China. Having said that, some of the Makita gear is indeed manufactured in China, I was pretty narked off when I realised a few bits I had weren’t made in Japan, or Belgium where I think the European HQ is? But to be honest I don’t think I’ve noticed any difference in operation or performance, and it’s all been very reliable. Got a new angle drill out of the box the other day though, and was very pleased to see it was made in good old Japan!

I have Makita chop saws and mitre saws too, these are super bits of kit imo, and 99% of the spares can be bought for them, even nuts and bolts can be purchased separately. So they are worth a premium I think, unless one of those machines gets literally destroyed, then I know I can repair it if something fails or gets broken. When I burnt the field winding out of one of the metal chops saws, it wasn’t thrown away, a new part was available and put back into service. You just can’t do that with the pure Chinese stuff.

I also don’t think the Chinese kit is as well thought out, in its ergonomics, some of it may be reliable, may do the job, but is it comfortable and pleasant to use? In my experience, no.....

 

[David.]

Done it. Thanks for the replies, and I took Nearly's advice in the end - bought old. Got both replacements, both a make I'd never heard of (Elu) dating from the eighties, both made in West Germany. Beautiful tools, quiet, heavy and powerful. The mitre saw is also a flipover - a minute of twiddling turns it into a table saw. Brilliant. Elu got taken over by Black and Decker and just became a badge on some cheap machines, so their later tools won't be up to much, but I can recommend this vintage.

The last two China-made machines I bought, both new, were the Bosch pillar drill, which moves off-centre as soon as you start to move it down, and a vehicle lift (http://www.sjrgarageequipment.co.uk/scissor-car-lifts/) that only operates if I stick my finger in the control box to hold one of the elements in position... Two years of chasing the supplier has got me nowhere. There might be good Chinese stuff out there, but so far it's kept clear of me.

Where did you buy the Elu gear?

 

[Deutzdx3]

Done it. Thanks for the replies, and I took Nearly's advice in the end - bought old. Got both replacements, both a make I'd never heard of (Elu) dating from the eighties, both made in West Germany. Beautiful tools, quiet, heavy and powerful. The mitre saw is also a flipover - a minute of twiddling turns it into a table saw. Brilliant. Elu got taken over by Black and Decker and just became a badge on some cheap machines, so their later tools won't be up to much, but I can recommend this vintage.

The last two China-made machines I bought, both new, were the Bosch pillar drill, which moves off-centre as soon as you start to move it down, and a vehicle lift (http://www.sjrgarageequipment.co.uk/scissor-car-lifts/) that only operates if I stick my finger in the control box to hold one of the elements in position... Two years of chasing the supplier has got me nowhere. There might be good Chinese stuff out there, but so far it's kept clear of me.

Just change out the part on the scissor lift. Guessing it's a micro switch. I find the trouble with some old items is if you need to change a motor to many things are different to modern motors which renders it obsolete some times. Catch 22.

 

[dudders]

Where did you buy the Elu gear?

Both off ebay. This is the mitre saw: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ELU-TGS-...jDDcWwhZSY%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc
It was dearer than most, but in vgc and with a spare blade. There are 2 on there now, but the idiot sellers won't put up a proper set of photos, so you can't see what you're buying until you collect.

A website forum called UKworkshop.co.uk has background info on any tool you care to mention. Seems like the quality Elu gear was manufactured up until the early 90's, after which the B&D bean-counters got started on quality-reduction.

I can't get used to how quiet these machines are. They just hum. The previous saw made such a racket, the difference is really startling.