Tool reviews

the second link is an Australian guy who’s doing a great job and has built himself quite a reputation. I think his reviews are fairly accurate, although recently, a lot of his revenue is from tool manufacturers by way of advertising. A bit like the wood magazines that do the same. Makes you wonder just how unbiased these reviews are.

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.hilsbiblechurch.org/

I have quite a reputation, too, Don. It just isn’t anything I could put in here. HAHAHAHA!!!

And my opinion on company reviews is they are biased, that is why i suggested US Lumberjocks write our own reviews on the tools we have.
For example I WOULD NEVER recommend the Milwaukee router I have because although powerful enough, it lacks versatility. Single speed, no plunge. One step above. P.O.S.

-- http://ye-olde-cabinet-shoppe.com/

www.toolsofthetrade.com has a lot of good reviews as well, although it is aimed more at the contractor market.

Andy

-- Finding satisfaction in creation

If Amazon caries the item they have reviews also.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

Epinions.com has several tool reviews, along with reviews all sorts of others things. Most are from amateur users, but anyone can sign up and write a review there. There are some requirements put on the authors, as well as ratings of the quality of the review from other authors and readers, so the reviews tend to be somewhat more thorough than many amateur reviews.

I’ll caution not to put too much emphasis on any review regardless of how good or poor the quality of a review is. The outcome of most reviews is a matter of opinion of the author….what they “love” or “hate” has little relevance to many of us. Even a well written review from a reputable author is subject to his or her likes and dislikes, what’s important to them may or may not reflect what’s important to each of us. I’ll consider input from reviews in my tool research, but prefer to form my own opinion based on the tool’s suitability for my needs and situation.

Yes Scott, I read a lot off reviews from you on Epinions.com very informative for me.
I find it great to reed alot about something you need or wane buy.
How many are there now 95?
Thanks for all your time and your love for tools.

Henrie.

-- Greetings from the Netherlands.

See knotscott’s eloquently insightful post above.

Keep in mind… the cat may not care how good the canary sings.

All reviews are biased. Whether it be money from sponsors, experience,or the lack of it, or just plain ignorance. if a woodworker can’t figure out what tool to buy based on the requirements he or she has ; based on the price range and based on the feel and heft of the tool…...maybe they might be in the wrong business or hobby. Now with that said, I like to see or hear what other folks might have to say about a tool sometimes. I read a review a few years back on a jet tablesaw. I think the review was on amazon. Anyway this guy i9s slamming into jet tools because he bought a 10 in. tablesaw with sliding table and jet removed the whole left wing of the saw and put this sliding table on and nobody told him about it or called and got permission. They just equipped the saw with a sliding table.!!!! So maybe I’m old fashioned,but I was buying tools long before computers were in everyone’s home and business and still do. I never base my decision on someone else’s opinion. I’m spending my money, not their’s. I have not been a member of this site for very long. I do not wish to offend anyone.But this is a good clean site and should not become another place for tool reviews. The web is full of such sites

Reviews from all sources put together is how I buy my tools. I would have to travel hundreds of miles and go to dozens of stores to choose which one to buy. In the perfect world there would a single store that has every wood working tool known to mankind and have them all fine tuned and ready to test each out to see if thats want I want. It’s not going to happen so I praise the reviews and hope for the best. Thanks to all who have given thier personal reviews and those that suggest where to find information on tools.

-- Never board, always knotty, lots of growth rings