Re: Tools presentation in Wilcon

it is hard for tool distributors and manufacturer to think of a big DIY market here (we have to consider that too for their sake), I'll give you an example, Mayon brought in 50 units of the bigboy's router 3612C since the 80's and still some are still available to date, but that is highend you might say. tablesaws, routers, thicknessers and jointers are expensive tools to keep in the warehouse waiting for buyers, hence the prices for these tend to be on the high side compared to other countries. so far the diy community is still small(I have to concede that compared to the US market) but we are growing. this site is a testament to that.
Dewalt dealership or distributorship if I am not mistaken is or has changed hands or considering to, I talked with the 3M distributor 4 months ago and they said they will be handling them soon. I did inquire about their famous DW788 scrollsaw and to date I haven't received an update.
special orders can be considered, but I'm sure they also have to consider support for them and that is a tall order.
we want nice tools and better choices, but let us keep in mind their side as well, we prefer to have them around more for support than closing shop due to mismanaged stocks.
That of course is only my opinion... 🙂
cheers

Re: Tools presentation in Wilcon

I guess i was being greedy hehe 🙂 but what you said is true.

now that you mentioned the 3612C.. the box in mine said shipped 1990ish ... I swore at first its a code of somesort....... And also i read that all 3612C of late have a safety depress button, which mine dont have (thank fully! since its mounted under an RT).

The DIY scene did not pick up as quickly as we wanted because some folks just dont have the background or were never given the opportunity to "experience". i spent my childhood being told to "bantayan mo yung trabahador" coz of that i do most , if not all, of my plumbing fixes, electrical wirings and fixes (which a good knowledge on electrical physics)

DIY guild anyone? Maybe when i grow old i can setup a wood working mini school. for enthusiast and do some pro-bono livlihood training program at the same time.

Re: Tools presentation in Wilcon

Most DIYers will buy DIY tools. High end tools are mostly for PROs and DIY Enthusiast. Pros can afford it since they make a living out of these tools. Enthusiast / semi pro will always make way to get these too.

I'm not sure about this so maybe someone with more in depth knowledge of the local market can chime in.

Re: Tools presentation in Wilcon

Most DIYers will buy DIY tools. High end tools are mostly for PROs and DIY Enthusiast. Pros can afford it since they make a living out of these tools. Enthusiast / semi pro will always make way to get these too.

I'm not sure about this so maybe someone with more in depth knowledge of the local market can chime in.

I agree.

i remember a year ago I was visiting an old dusty hardware store in binondo and while waiting for my turn to order for some old stock tools i saw in their display window, I talked to a contractor who brought in three "john benzen" demolition hammers (the store happens to be one of the service centers of the above brand of tool). I asked him why not buy the Makita, known for its durability. He told me he bought Makitas before and yes they are expensive but letting someone (who may not know how to use it properly) do the job will always make a toll even for these well known brand. He told me, now i am using my brain.."we do mostly quickies, repair here and there and our target time is as quickly as we can.. say half a day or two...the cost of these cheap tool is passed on to the contract and at the end of the day after finising some job then we can say goodbye to these tools".

And i asked, why did you still bring them here for repairs? And he returned back by saying, " these cheap tools usual damaged part is the chuck which is 1/10 of the cost of the entire unit. After repair, we have a customer ready to buy these 2nd hand tools and of course we still make a profit out of it!. Well, i still have the makitas but after the costly repair, no hand touches them except but mine!"

I certainly agree.

Re: Tools presentation in Wilcon

Yesterday I had an enthusiastic couple with their two kids in tow come over to my shop. They've been dreaming about building their own boat so as I always do I invited them to visit to help them along with their dream. One of the things I told them was, "please don't think you need a shop like this. If you have a saw, a block plane and of course a hammer, you are good to go!".

I've more to add but, no offense meant, I'm working on my boat and I'd rather be doing that just now. Later guys.

Re: Tools presentation in Wilcon

My workshop PC needs a new monitor I think ... my first reply was off-topic.

Things have actually improved by leaps and bounds over the past 10 years. Nowadays, there are a lot more tools available now than say 20 or even 15 years ago, and more are now tenable for the hobbyist. For example, the Makita drill I just bought cost P4.5k which is about half the minimum monthly wage. Back then the equivalent drill would have probably cost 2 months of the minimum wage. Another thing are these mall hardware stores. I've always found it discouraging to go to a "regular" hardware or industrial store because you always have to deal through a salesperson and contend with all the real (commericial) customers. I understand their predicament though, why spend so much time taking care of someone who is not really going to be buying a whole lot of stuff or who does not exactly know what he wants. In a mall hardware store, you can browse though some stores now lockup their tools inside glass cases - wrong move I think.

Desite the improved environment, it is not surprising that the local DIY community is growing still slowly. Just remember that there is no $50/hour tradesperson cost pushing the regular folk to do stuff for themselves. Another reason is that stuff that a DIYer would make are pretty darn cheap nowadays too. For example, a coffee table might cost P3k which is equal if not less that what you'd spend if one made it himself. There is no real driving need to DIY. The DIYs that exist are pure motivated by interest and the satisfaction of having done things themselves.

Actually, there are still "schools" where fine craftsmanships are taught. However these cater only to the commercial markets not to the would be enthusiast. Why teach an enthusiast for say P10k when your "school" can make a lot more producing stuff to sell? There are exception though such as the short courses at the Meralco Instituted, or the fiberglass seminar at Polymer Products. Good idea though Bee teaching pro bono. I actually do this for would be boatbuilders as I've mentioned before.

One suggestion I have for the tool distributors is to forget the what-the-market-can-bare mentality.

Re: Tools presentation in Wilcon

Do you think the bulk of Higher End tools sold locally are mostly consumed by Industrial Users?

How about commercial users? They seem to favor DIY tools.

Re: Tools presentation in Wilcon

As far commercial users go, I would group them into three kinds: 1) mom-and-pop; 2) big local market, and 3) big export market. No. 1 will use mostly homebuilt power tools and/or traditional manual tools, maybe a Makita drill and/or grinder. Keep in mind some of these are the finest craftsmen around. No. 2 are split I think: half will buy high end tools though not all of them, half will buy bottom level. No. 3 will buy real industrial tools like CNC carving machines, shapers (not routers), floorstanding table saws and 24" belt sanders.