Feature Article

WHEN QUALITY TOOLS ARE WORTH THEIR MONEY

The Perceived Value of Tools-

How can customers recognize the quality of a tool?

This issue is covered in the series "The Perceived Value of Tools" published by the machine tools working group of the woodworking machinery association within the VDMA. High quality tools are technically demanding. The difference to would-be cost-effective "no name" tools becomes apparent as soon as you look at a tool in more detail. The quality of the materials, the technology used and the quality of finishing determine whether a tool will be up to the task of delivering high-quality results even after extended use. Renowned authors from the worlds major independent tool companies offer advice on how to spot the quality of a woodworking tool at a glance. LEUCO is one of the initiators of the series and sticks by the quality criterions.

The numbers of tools sold by low-cost suppliers show that the price of a tool is often the only basis on which a purchase decision is made. By contrast, important aspects like product quality and safety often only play a subordinate role. However, anyone who makes a choice on price alone always ends up paying over the odds further down the line with increased post production labour costs if a perfect finish cannot be achieved directly from the machine process. Particulary when we consider that the tool costs only account for between one and three percent of the overall costs of a machine investment, but that the tool plays a critical role in terms of the quality of the produced workpiece, then the decision to buy a high-quality tool should be an obvious one.

In order to save readers from nasty surprises later on, the series written by the machine tools working group covers the most important aspects that should always be taken into account when choosing a tool.

The first installment in the series is about the quality criterions of circular saw blades, shank type cutters, cutters with bore, clamping systems and jointing cutters with bore.

To read click on this link www.leuco.com/Dateien/Wertigkeit-von-Werkzeugen-E.pdf