Date: Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:26:15 -0700
Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Harbor Freight 3/4" drive breaker bar?
In-Reply-To: <76D59142-001D-4C1C-ADC5-D395FBD708AC@shaw.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Actually, I plan on picking up that HF breaker bar, now that I hear
other's have removed the axle nut using one, the next time I go into
Portland, which is the nearest size able city to me and where I go about
once per month to source other things that aren't available in my nearby
town of (estimating) about 30k population..
They wanted $40 tor 1/2 day to rent an adequate impact wrench from the local
rent center and $20 for a 3/4 breaker bar for the day.. I've always made a
guide line about tools...If I have to borrow a tool more than once....I save
up and buy it, because I obviously need it.
For my trade, I use the best available tools...Many of my hand tools are
35+yrs old and have withstood very hard usage. Many of my power tools were
made in USA...but when a Makita drill is better, I buy that..if a Bosch saw
is better, that is what I have...and in the past, I always put aside a
portion of my weekly paycheck to purchase good tools, tools I have had to
borrow from fellow workers, for my job..
Not so, nowadays....No job, no market for carpenters. Wages have dropped
significantly on the building few jobs out there...Besides, the houses being
sold today, for the most part, are 'assembled' not crafted...and much of the
assembly is done using imported labor...The majority of potential new home
buyers now are finding themselves in trailers, double wide mobiles and
'manufactured homes' that come on two trucks. these are about all they can
afford...Or they'll 'scarf-up' some derelict McMansion that has been left to
the bank due to an upside down mortgage balance...
Since it is Friday...
I'd guess American business ought to maybe wake up. When you've outsourced
all the labor for what your company produces, the workers who used to buy
that product...they have no jobs to earn money to buy that product...so
where's the profit? I think the whole 'cut labor costs=make more profit'
mentality is coming home now to haunt some of these businesses.....
Another of my pet peeves is "Extended Warranty plans" that they sell,
extra, to get away with making shoddy goods....What a scam that is....yet we
all 'buy into it'...
Don Hanson
On Fri, Jul 22, 2011 at 1:44 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
> Don,
>
> I understand, and this is more of an academic discussion rather than
> practical.
>
> If you only use the tool once or twice a year there is the option of
> renting, and then keeping an eye open for a good used one?
>
> alistair
>
>
> On 2011-07-22, at 1:06 PM, Don Hanson wrote:
>
> > On Fri, Jul 22, 2011 at 12:13 PM, Mike S <mikes@flatsurface.com> wrote:
> >
> >> At 02:20 PM 7/22/2011, Alistair Bell wrote...
> >>
> >> Heaven forfend that one would take the time to go look for a USA made
> >>> tool :) After all, the price is what matters, not quality.
> >>>
> >>
> >> Interesting comment on a discussion list for German vehicles.
> >>
> >
> > Good one!
> >
>
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