I understand that discounted Dewalt branded tools are available on the
internet from the US and that these are often made in Mexico or
somewhere like that. Does anyone have any experience with these? How
does the quality compare with Dewalt tools from Germany? Many thanks.

I bought an 18V top-o'-the-range cordless drill off eBay last year &
have had no problems with it. It's of perfectly solid build.
The biggest headache is with the battery chargers (110V). I was hoping
to be able to adapt the insides to cope with 230V, but it ain't easy
because the internal switchmode expects to start with a 110V rectified
input. So you either need to buy/have a proper UK charger, or get a
cheapo 230-110 stepdown transformer to accompany it. It did save me a
fair few quid at the end of the day.

cj squirms wrote:

> I bought an 18V top-o'-the-range cordless drill off eBay last year &
> have had no problems with it. It's of perfectly solid build.
> The biggest headache is with the battery chargers (110V). I was hoping
> to be able to adapt the insides to cope with 230V, but it ain't easy
> because the internal switchmode expects to start with a 110V rectified
> input. So you either need to buy/have a proper UK charger, or get a
> cheapo 230-110 stepdown transformer to accompany it. It did save me a
> fair few quid at the end of the day.


Fine! but was it made in the US or Germany?

>Fine! but was it made in the US or Germany?

US ... exact wherabouts unknown.

On 14 Sep 2005 04:08:15 -0700, "Barnsey" 
scrawled:


>I understand that discounted Dewalt branded tools are available on the
>internet from the US and that these are often made in Mexico or
>somewhere like that. Does anyone have any experience with these? How
>does the quality compare with Dewalt tools from Germany? Many thanks.


No brainer really, cheap lookalike tools = crap. I use cheap tools,
for some things, but I wouldn't condone buying cheap replicas of
branded makes.
-- 
Stuart @ SJW Electrical

Please Reply to group

Lurch wrote:

> On 14 Sep 2005 04:08:15 -0700, "Barnsey" 
> scrawled:
>
> >I understand that discounted Dewalt branded tools are available on the
> >internet from the US and that these are often made in Mexico or
> >somewhere like that. Does anyone have any experience with these? How
> >does the quality compare with Dewalt tools from Germany? Many thanks.
>
> No brainer really,


Shame you didn't use yours then!


> cheap lookalike tools = crap. I use cheap tools,
> for some things, but I wouldn't condone buying cheap replicas of
> branded makes.


The OP said DeWalt branded tools made in Mexico, not cheap lookalikes.
A quick look at the DeWalt web site shows they do indeed have a
manufacturing plant in Mexico. 

MBQ

On 14 Sep 2005 07:30:56 -0700, manatbandq@hotmail.com scrawled:


>> No brainer really,
>
>Shame you didn't use yours then!
>
Er, oops?

>The OP said DeWalt branded tools made in Mexico, not cheap lookalikes.
>A quick look at the DeWalt web site shows they do indeed have a
>manufacturing plant in Mexico. 
>

I even read the OP several times to make sure I understood what it
said. Forget I said anything then.
-- 
Stuart @ SJW Electrical

Please Reply to group

cj squirms wrote:

>> Fine! but was it made in the US or Germany?
> US ... exact wherabouts unknown.


So how does it compare with the ones made in Germany?

On 14 Sep 2005 04:08:15 -0700, "Barnsey" 
wrote:


>I understand that discounted Dewalt branded tools are available on the
>internet from the US and that these are often made in Mexico or
>somewhere like that. Does anyone have any experience with these? How
>does the quality compare with Dewalt tools from Germany? Many thanks.


I have done this with DW  and for that matter, Makita products on
numerous occasions and the quality has been fine.

However, there are some considerations:

- You will have to pay around 2-3% duty depending on the type of tool
plus 17.5% VAT.    Also, make sure that the supplier can handle
international shipments properly and does not add local sales tax.
This can be another 8% or more and they don't need to add it if they
are selling outside the US.

- Take a look at shipment costs and timescales.   I would never trust
postal services unless there is an insurance mechanism.   Some
suppliers will offer DHL or Fedex shipments but in some cases mark up
their costs considerably.    It is worth getting a Fedex or DHL
account and then simply insisting to the supplier that they use your
account number and tick the boxes on the airwaybill to forward charges
to you.   You will then receive a request for VAT payment when the
goods arrive in the UK.   After a shipment or two, they will invoice
you and you can pay normally in 14 or 28 days.
In any case, shipment costs are such that it is often not worth
shipping low value or heavy items unless you can buy several items at
once.

- U.S. power tools are 110v.   Those with universal brushed motors
will run OK from a suitable yellow site transformer of adequate
capacity.  There is another 30-50 of cost there.   Be careful with
tools with induction motors.  Some are only suitable for their
specified frequency, whereas others will run OK on 50 or 60Hz.   Even
so, a 60Hz tool will run slower.   Check whether this is an issue.

- Battery chargers are less of an issue and some actually autorange in
terms of voltage.  Otherwise a transformer is needed.

- Some tools and tool types have certain components localised for
their market.   For example, power switches on U.S. tools may be just
a rocker or paddle type, whereas in Europe they may be a
no-volt-release type.   There may well be associated mechanical
mounting components for them.    THe point is that if spares are
needed for some of these, they will also have to be imported and
although cheap enough, import cost is high because of shipping.
However www.grainger.com is a good spares supplier.

Generally cordless tools are a good and safe bet.   You need to be
careful with some types of hand held tools.

Another option to consider is to take a cheap weekend flight to the
U.S.     That way, you can buy (say) 20kg or possibly more of stuff
and put it in checkin luggage or boxes.   A point to note is that the
Transportation Security Agency (TSA) will open luggage and boxes at
the departure airport and inspect it.   They do leave a nice calling
card, though.    The cost of shipping is saved and you get a 140 duty
and VAT free allowance on return to the UK, so in effect can save much
of the cost of the trip.  Of course it does mean having to go to the
U.S. ........     Note that Customs may not allow the 140 allowance
against a single item costing > 140; however generally I've found
them flexible.











-- 

..andy

To email, substitute .nospam with .gl

Very helpful guys. Thanks.

On Thu, 15 Sep 2005 08:52:58 +0100, Cordless Crazy
 wrote:



>
>The build quality is identical and I sold over 1000 items to satisfied
>customers in the building trade. Not one complained that the tools
>failed or were sub-standard. Mine are still going strong.
>
>The only thing to consider though is that as they are not 'CE' marked,
>you are not covered by the Dewalt servicing centres in the UK. 


It's also illegal to resell them in the UK because of this, but not to
import for your own use.





-- 

..andy

To email, substitute .nospam with .gl

On 14 Sep 2005 04:08:15 -0700, "Barnsey" 
wrote:


>I understand that discounted Dewalt branded tools are available on the
>internet from the US and that these are often made in Mexico or
>somewhere like that. Does anyone have any experience with these? How
>does the quality compare with Dewalt tools from Germany? Many thanks.


I dot one from nepine, took 6 weeks to deliver all the bits, and I was
billed customes, which they refunded.

I am very pleased with my tool, and have no idea how it compares with
the same tool purchased in the UK. My 18v Drill Driver drilles 1000
10mm holes, put in 1000 7 inch by 9mm coach screws, and 5000 50mm
screws in one week, and I naver had a "no charged battery" situation. 

And all for less than half the UK price.

Rick

On 14 Sep 2005 07:30:56 -0700, manatbandq@hotmail.com wrote:


>
>Lurch wrote:
>> On 14 Sep 2005 04:08:15 -0700, "Barnsey" 
>> scrawled:
>>
>> >I understand that discounted Dewalt branded tools are available on the
>> >internet from the US and that these are often made in Mexico or
>> >somewhere like that. Does anyone have any experience with these? How
>> >does the quality compare with Dewalt tools from Germany? Many thanks.
>>
>> No brainer really,
>
>Shame you didn't use yours then!
>
>> cheap lookalike tools = crap. I use cheap tools,
>> for some things, but I wouldn't condone buying cheap replicas of
>> branded makes.
>
>The OP said DeWalt branded tools made in Mexico, not cheap lookalikes.
>A quick look at the DeWalt web site shows they do indeed have a
>manufacturing plant in Mexico. 
>
>MBQ


So why should quality be worse in mexico than in germany ?


Rick