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Writer's pictureoldmanwith

ROI - A word on tool buying and safety, especially power tools

Updated: Dec 11, 2020



Hi everyone.

The main reasoning behind my starting this site is to encourage people. Encourage them to try DIY, encourage them to try YouTube, encourage them to go stand-up paddle boarding, the list goes on.

If we stick with the DIY for a moment, a lot of DIY requires use of tools


So: ROI Usually return on investment - which means setting yourself this question: Is the tool I’m buying going to bring me the value that I’m paying for it. An example of this is the sliding mitre saw I purchased to cut the garden sleepers for my raised planting beds project. It cost me about £400. The sleepers cost about £800. So by the time you add in fasteners etc let’s say a total outlay of £1300. You'd easily think "wow that's a lot of money" and you'd be right but it depends how you compare the overall cost.

I’d guess that for both planters together, having them purpose built would have cost me at least £1800 so I can say that I saved money over having them built. Also I still have the saw and I’ve used it on other projects so it represents value.

If I’d brought the same saw and only cut 1 sleeper I’d have badly overspent. So there you have it, think about your project and the work required, then think about the tool/s you propose to purchase and consider your ROI. Purchase tools for a need when that need exists!


But also: ROI

RISK of INJURY

Which is a very different matter. Most tools pose some kind of risk, even screwdrivers and pliers but power tools, better ones included can do you huge harm if not shown some respect. Some would argue that the tool in the picture (a stock image of a table saw) is the most dangerous tool you can buy. I don't necessarily agree but it's capable of some serious damage to you. There are horrible statistics and gruesome injuries and even fatalities that have occurred through use of power tools.

So as much as I want to encourage people to give things a try, if it means you’ll put yourself at risk of injury then please don’t. Doing it yourself doesn’t mean doing it wrong or doing it unsafely. Doing it yourself should mean doing it the right way with the satisfaction of a job well done at the end.


oldmanwith stern warning concludes.


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