Ok, it's time to buy a new tool. You don't want to be stuck with a lemon, so you search the oracles of the Internet (your search engine of choice) for guidance. Sooner or later, you'll be presented with sites claiming to list the top three or whatever number of options, in the tool type you're looking for. Despite claiming expertise, you might get something that screams incompetence like....

The first and foremost issue that bothers me, is that sites like this are expressing an opinion, just like any review, but because they're reviewing multiple models, they seem like they're really in-depth and well thought out. Unfortunately, they simply aren't.

Yet, when people type in "Best <insert tool here>" into their search engine of choice, lots of people will be presented with often-conflicting information from these sites.

Consider your own experiences, and see if this seems familiar...

One site will say one model is "the best" while another site may not even have that model on a list of the top 100!

So how is it possible that the best on one site isn't even mentioned on another? Well there are a lot of reasons. Some of them include:

• Not all brands are sold in all countries. In Australia, American brands like Harbor Freight, Grizzly, Rigid, Porter Cable, etc simply aren't sold here.
• Even if the brands are sold in most (if not all) countries, different models are sold to different places because of differences in power systems/plugs, greater or lesser safety standards, international trade agreements/limits, etc. It makes no sense to sell tools that run on 110V (like the US/Japan) in countries that run 240V (Australia, NZ, Europe). So a direct "like for like" comparison is often impossible.
• It might shock the "tool brand loyalists" out there, that many competing brands are in fact, owned by the same parent company. Sometimes these sub-companies are intentionally marketed to different countries around the world, and there's actually little difference between similarly priced brands. (yes I know some people will have a fit about that, but it's nonetheless true).
• Ok, so let's assume that there are three Australian review sites, and they have access to the same tools. Hang on, maybe they don't!
  • One site orders tools from Mitre10, another goes to Sydney Tools, and the third goes to their local Bunnings store. Each of these three chains can sell differing brands.
    • Mitre10/Magnet Mart/Home Hardware sell Stanley, Black and Decker, and the usual overlapping brands.
    • Bunnings sells more Ryobi and Ozito with the usual overlapping brands... possibly their entry level models.
    • While Sydney Tools sells more DeWalt, Milwaukee, and Festool, with overlapping brands.
  • These stores are aimed at differing customer bases. As such, their brands and models will differ from one another.
    • Bunnings is definitely aimed more at the DIYer, with lower priced options, and smaller tools designed for intermittent/lighter use.
    • Mitre 10/Magnet Mart is similarly aimed, but is often located in more regional areas, so they have some options for the local pros as well as DIYers.
    • Sydney Tools, just does tools and tool accessories. No timber, or building materials. They don't do cheap-end stuff like Ozito or Ryobi. They're geared to supply pros the gear they need to make a living.
• Ok, so let's assume all three sites test the same models.. but the rankings are completely different from one site to the next, how is that possible?
  • One reviewer is a weekend warrior (a DIYer) who places low cost, ease of use, and light-weight as major benefits. They're not concerned about it not lasting very long, or is very slow to use on larger projects, and the fact it vibrates a bit... especially if you're only using it for short periods of time.
  • Another reviewer is a serious hobbyist, who works on more heavy duty materials, is a bigger/stronger guy, but doesn't have the cash for pro gear. They'll place motor power, versatility, build quality and value for money as a priority for their review. Things like weight is a sign of better quality rather than a problem, and it doesn't vibrate as much so it's easier to use for longer periods. The better motor saves time, and allows work on a wider variety of projects.
  • The third reviewer is a professional, working in a heavy duty production environment. You need the tool to work well, fast, and on pretty much anything you can think of. Saving $1000 on the up-front cost is false economy if you lose $200 an hour using something that's half-speed. Or if you damage an $18,000 corinthian marble bench top as you cut it to size because the tool was "less than ideal". Spending the extra $600 on diamond encrusted blades as consumables, and many thousands on precision industrial tools is expected if your turnover is six (or more) figures annually.
• Then there's the darker side of these sites.
  • Certain sites may get paid to promote brands, rather than do a legitimate review. There's no way to know which ones do this. Even if they denied it... How would you know? There's the simple fact that "conflicts of interest" exist, and everyone has to make a living. Whether that's done questionably, or not is always question that should be asked on a case-by-case basis.
  • Some sites simply don't question the material they're given from the manufacturers. I have had direct and costly experiences with brands marketing their products as more than they are, then had to fork out an additional 60% for accessories to make it work as advertised.. then it blew up two days out of warranty. If the "accessories usually sold separately" are included and sent to the reviewers, but not to the typical customer, how would the reviewer, (and consequently, you) know?

A morality tale, really?

Being skeptical, asking questions, and verifying everything is a lot more practical to approach this than simply resorting to cynicism, or blind faith. Of course, the attraction of both extremes lies in the benefit of freeing you from the effort required by such careful thought and consideration.

So what are the benefits of these sites?

I don't want you to think I'm on some sort of war of ideals. These sites do have several advantages that can be quite handy.

• They allow you to quickly see pictures of a variety of models, even if they've listed them as "machine washable". <insert chuckles here>
  
• For quick and dirty comparisons of basic features (wattage, torque, and superficial specifications) they're a huge help.
• See enough of these sites, and you'll start to see which models of tools are generally in the top 20. Which is a handy general guide.
• They can often show you what they don't like in the lower ranked models.. which can also be enlightening. So don't just focus on the top of the list.
• They help you to "short list" models for you to research further. Which is probably the best use for thes sites.

I hope this helps you, dear reader. I know I stated the obvious to some, but a gentle call for careful re-examination never hurt, right?

All the best in your tool research!

 Ham.