Larry Frank
03-22-2010, 9:32 PM
I was grocery shopping today and one of the items on the list was grapes. So I looked them over and pulled one out of the bag and tried it. It was very good so I bought the two pound bag. As I was putting it in my cart, I remembered the thread about doing sampling and the comments both right and wrong. I usually just buy apples or oranges and take them home without trying them and sometimes get some bad ones and toss them out.
I reread the thread concerning buying three chisels, trying them out and then returning two of them. I do not want to re-open that thread as pretty much everything that can be said was said.
However, all of this reminded me of problems that I have buying tools, especially expensive tools. How do I pick a tool or brand of tool if I can not try it out. I read the threads here and listen to the pros and cons but unless I have it in my hands and try it, I still do not know. I do not have this problems with most power tools. However, I had shunned Festool until I put my hands on the circular saw and guide and it sold itself.
I think that the thread about the chisels brings up an important issue with many of the expensive hand tools. How do I know that I will like a $55 LN chisel or $300 plane. If I am lucky, I will be able to handle one at a store but that is not always enough. I could go to an LN event if it is close enough...... Or if I know someone close who has one, I could go try it there. But most of the time, I would end up buying without giving it a try.
It all seems to get back to that grape....you have to try it before you buy it and sometimes it is not easy. The grape was cheap but most of the hand tools are anything but cheap and not always easy to be able to put your hands on them. I think that the next time I want to get a new LN plane of Lee Valley plane, I will call them and tell them that I think that I want a certain plane but want to try it out and see what they say.
I reread the thread concerning buying three chisels, trying them out and then returning two of them. I do not want to re-open that thread as pretty much everything that can be said was said.
However, all of this reminded me of problems that I have buying tools, especially expensive tools. How do I pick a tool or brand of tool if I can not try it out. I read the threads here and listen to the pros and cons but unless I have it in my hands and try it, I still do not know. I do not have this problems with most power tools. However, I had shunned Festool until I put my hands on the circular saw and guide and it sold itself.
I think that the thread about the chisels brings up an important issue with many of the expensive hand tools. How do I know that I will like a $55 LN chisel or $300 plane. If I am lucky, I will be able to handle one at a store but that is not always enough. I could go to an LN event if it is close enough...... Or if I know someone close who has one, I could go try it there. But most of the time, I would end up buying without giving it a try.
It all seems to get back to that grape....you have to try it before you buy it and sometimes it is not easy. The grape was cheap but most of the hand tools are anything but cheap and not always easy to be able to put your hands on them. I think that the next time I want to get a new LN plane of Lee Valley plane, I will call them and tell them that I think that I want a certain plane but want to try it out and see what they say.