[TheForge] 1/2" electric hand drill

[Michael]

Hi Ries,
You are right of course; I am dating myself, but had given up on Makita as a
practical brand before I started playing on the Net. By that time
"industrial" concerns no longer applied. My assessment is the same as yours;
they are good but just not up to industrial use.
Sorry to have missed the tail-gate party; it would have been a pleasure to
meet you. But the next time I spend a fortune in gas to go see Owen Walker
or pick up used equipment from the university in Bellingham, a side trip to
visit your shop is definitely on the agenda.

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Ries Niemi
Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2006 11:58 AM
To: Sponsored by ABANA; artgawk at thegrid.net
Subject: Re: [TheForge] 1/2" electric hand drill


>
> Michael wrote:
>> I have had Makita grinders and saws. Their quality is generally high, 
>> but
>> both their brushes and trigger assemblies (on the grinders at least) 
>> proved
>> to be a weak spot. This would not have been a big deal if I had been 
>> able to
>> buy replacement parts. In my area (Seattle) there was only one 
>> dealer, and
>> he insisted on replacing the parts, not selling them. After paying 
>> over
>> fifty bucks for trigger replacement twice, I gave the tools away to 
>> someone
>> who wouldn't use them enough to fall into the trap.
>> Mikey


Mikey- you are dating yourself- and I am dating myself by understanding 
you- back when Makita tools first became available, in the late 70's, 
there was indeed only one dealer in Seattle, old Commercial Carbide on 
First Avenue South, across from Sears- hows that for ancient history?
Now, of course, there are probably 50 places that sell Makita in the 
Seattle area. including, ironically enough, Sears.
And there are tons of places that will sell you a new switch, online, 
and have it delivered to your door tomorrow.

But I have always considered Makita to be one step below real 
industrial tools- there are some quality Makita woodworking tools, but 
for metalworking, they just arent built as tough as Milwaukee, Bosch, 
Metabo, or Fein.

You drop em off the ladder a few times, or bounce em out the back of 
the pickup at 30mph, and the damn things stop working.
Wheras some of my Bosch grinders are barely recognizable as tools 
anymore, but they keep on ticking.

Ries Niemi
Industrial Artist

http://www.RiesNiemi.com


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