POLL: If you had to choose just one brand of woodworking power tools . . .

[Charles Lent]

I don't stick to one brand at all. When buying a power tool of any size I look at all that I believe might be good candidates for the application in my shop and then pick the one that seems to be the best fit for the need and most likely to be easy to get replacement parts and service for. A great high dollar tool that you can't get parts and service for is not a good deal at any price.

When buying smaller hand held power tools I do similar, but look for reputable brand names and then compare features and ease of use. As a result I have many different brands of hand held power tools. One brand may be best for their drills, but not so great with their routers, etc. so I buy based on who makes the best that also fits my needs best. With these, if you can get 5 or so years of use out of them, it doesn't matter so much if replacement parts become un-available. There are likely better designs available by then, so I just replace with the best available when the old one is no longer serviceable, sometimes staying with the same brand, but sometimes switching brands. For me, it always depends on who of the better brands is making the tool that best fits my needs and is the most reliable. I don't ever buy the most expensive, unless it offers something that is so much better that the others that makes it worth buying. I have Leigh Dovetail and FMT jigs for this reason, but I don't own any "Green Kool-Aid".

Others may not agree with me and that's OK with me, but this is how I do my woodworking. Please don't try to change me.

Charley

[Brian Henderson]

There are all the problems that others have mentioned, plus I don't think it's even possible to buy all tools from the same manufacturer because most manufacturers don't make all the tools I would want to buy. I couldn't do it if I wanted to.

[Tom Dworzanski]

Felder

Felder

Martin

Thanks guys! I've never heard much about these European brands (granted I'm fairly new to woodworking). Thanks for pointing them out!

When buying smaller hand held power tools . . . if you can get 5 or so years of use out of them, it doesn't matter so much if replacement parts become un-available. There are likely better designs available by then, so I just replace with the best available when the old one is no longer serviceable, sometimes staying with the same brand, but sometimes switching brands.

That sounds like a smart approach.

Maybe a better question is which Asian factory do you prefer?

Haha, well said.

General machinery is no longer being made unfortunately. General International is still in business . . . You left out all the high end manufacturers.

I meant General International. I didn't realize it was different than the old General. Thanks for pointing that out. Thanks for also pointing out these high-end manufacturers. I hadn't really heard of them before since I'm still pretty new to woodworking.

First post too, welcome!

Thank you!

[Larry Edgerton]

None of the above.............

[Bill Dindner]

I answered Powermatic, because it was on the list, but If money was no object is would be Felder

[Marc Jeske]

Tom - If the intent of this poll is to gather info to help you choose equipment for a new shop, you would be best served to address - individually - separate tools in separate threads.. giving a budget, AND - VERY important - What you need it to do for YOUR needs.

We are more than glad to help you.

Explain YOUR situation, YOUR needs and ideas.

One of's ""Handmade"Artisanal" pieces,one a month, or production of large volumes, etc.

For example - You may ask...."The best Tablesaw?"

There is NO possible way to answer that w/o further info.

We need to know if your main use is sheetgoods, and, if so, what type of face veneer, and maybe some idea of max final piece size.

Unless you tell us, we have NO Idea if you will be cutting 8' high Armoire carcasses, or tiny music boxes.

It TOTALLY matters, different equip and procedures.

Or, is it solid hardwood, and maximum thickness and crosscut needed?

Together w that... quantities.. or "one of".

Or, if you don't know yet, then tell us that.

Years ago, I purchased an old but nice Northfield #4 saw w rolling table and sold it to a 70 yr in business custom door and window shop, my price was $600 at an auction, they paid me $3200 for it... to use for a specific dedicated purpose of some sort of mitering.

If they cut sheet goods, it would be WAY the wrong choice.

And we haven't even considered yet ... If you need mass production, than different levels of CNC equip may be best.

So, the answer to that is totally totally different machine types.

AND - This is my main point ----- Sure, some mfg's are better overall blanket than others, BUT...Different Manufacturers excell at DIFFERENT tools.

The ONLY thing it seems to me that we know, is you want NEW, not "Old Iron", ...

So, that generally speaking, means a higher budget needed.

If you need to focus on immediate production, new, supported equipment, is probably the way to go.

Most Old Iron needs some ( VERY varying depending on the individual machine) level of Love and time and effort to bring back to it's Glory Days.

But after that, w normal maintenance, may last for Generations after you are gone.

In some cases, WAY longer than much "New" equipment.

Many of us find it VERY worth our effort, YOU may not.

Fine. You have related that is your choice, so we got that.

You are in the right place for this, best and largest collection of pro and serious hobbyist Woodworking forum in the USA.

The Creek community is more than glad to help. and appreciate you, but Please, we need more info to help you intelligently. Marc

[Bill Dufour]

I am 6'2" tall so I find many cheaper hand power tools are too small for my hands. My wife does not have that issue and she finds some too heavy. Pretty much all my stationary tools are raised by six inches or more to a comfortable height. If I was doing more with full sheets of plywood I would not have raised them so much.
i was surprised several years ago to find a chevy impala was too small for me while a Kia had good legroom and headroom. All the cars and trucks I have owned I have wrapped the steering wheel with a leather cover so it is bigger diameter. This makes it easier for me to grip with longer fingers.

[Rick Fisher]

I thought it was a perfectly good question .. its a bit of a trick question because you have to make sure the supplier has everything you need..

On the best table saw .. I would say that is answerable.. but its a close contest.. The T-75 from Martin or the F45 Elmo from Altendorf.. Go to the AWFS and see for yourself.. If you choose either, you can't have a band-saw, dust collector etc.. because they're small manufacturers ..

Felder is a logical choice for a one branded shop .. even SCM can't fill all your needs.. I would rather a Martin or Altendorf than a Felder slider, but its a trick question.. I would rather a felder slider than no dust collection .. because sliders without dust collection aren't fun ..

The OP hadn't heard of these brands .. now he has .. That makes this a good post .. its what its all about ..

[Peter Kuhlman]

There are so many things to consider when starting out. One of the best pieces of advice I received was to purchase tools slowly as I found a project need for them. It is really easy to get sucked into the newest gadget.
Shop work area space dimensions will have a major impact on what tools you can use. Need power tools on wheels? Can you set up some tools in permanent locations? Can you use bench top tools like planers and have the physical strength to move them if needed?
For some a jointer is critical but not for me, for some a morticing machine is needed but not for me, etc.
I highly recommend a cyclone dust chip collector like the Oneida - not the dust bag filter systems like the Jet. You will enjoy shop time much more, certain tools like planers and bandsaws really require it, definite health benefits. I got lucky and purchased a WoodSucker which was a start-up from a woodworker here but stopped making them. I also use Festool vacuums for portable tool dust collection.
I could write a book on my experiences!

[Rod Sheridan]

There are all the problems that others have mentioned, plus I don't think it's even possible to buy all tools from the same manufacturer because most manufacturers don't make all the tools I would want to buy. I couldn't do it if I wanted to.

Brian, if I picked Felder I could get the saw/shaper/jointer/planer/morticer/bandsaw/dust extractor. That only leaves the drill press for me.......Rod.

[Marc Jeske]

Why in the world would he need a Martin or Altendorf or Et Al if he going to make little music boxes, or Guitar components, or cheese cutting boards, or ?? ? ? ? ? ?

I may have missed something, but seems to me, We have NOOO idea what his needs are.

NO such thing as a blanket best manufacturer for ALL machines, generally anyway.

For all we know, he needs a Wood - Mizer, and just doesn't know about the brand yet.

Or for that matter, maybe he works in Marketing from one of his listed option Companies, and is conducting an informal poll from home.

He may even need to Google "What direction to install a circular saw blade" for all we know so far.

NOOO idea yet.

Marc

[Rick Fisher]

Why in the world would he need a Martin or Altendorf or Et Al if he going to make little music boxes, or Guitars, or cheese cutting boards, or ?? ? ? ? ? ?

I may have missed something, but seems to me, We have NOOO idea what his needs are.

For all we know, he needs a Wood - Mizer, and just doesn't know about the brand yet.

Marc

He didn't ask us to determine his needs.. He didn't ask for financial planning or anything other than which brand we would pick .. He didn't know about these Euro brands which so many of us on this site use.. I think he got answers that are really interesting to him, and he's probably more than capable of making his own decisions.

[Keith Hankins]

First off you need context on your poll. No one brand is best in all. I do love me some Powermatic, but overall best tool brand is FestooL IMO. Years ago it would have been Porter Cable but they went down hill. 2nd I would throw milwaukee tools. If it's tooling then whiteside. Sawblades, Forrest.

So you need to be a tad more specfic. TS brands, I go Sawstop (well now its festool too)

[Earl Rumans]

Felder for machines and Festool for power hand tools.

[Brian Henderson]

Brian, if I picked Felder I could get the saw/shaper/jointer/planer/morticer/bandsaw/dust extractor. That only leaves the drill press for me.......Rod.

But of course that doesn't include all the other tools that get used in the shop either. This wasn't specifically big stationary tools, but *ALL* tools. It just can't be done.