▼EXPAND FOR TOOL LINKS and INFO▼ Watch Next = 5 Tools You've Never Seen Before ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-S1Ui1A2m7ac.html Woodpeckers Paolini Pocket Rule Set - amzn.to/43xHgw7 Fake Pocket Rule Set - amzn.to/3IIZgLL Fake Pocket Rule (blue color) - amzn.to/3MXrJjE Woodpeckers T-Square - amzn.to/42br56g Fake T-Square - amzn.to/3qi0mYw Woodpeckers Saddle T Square - amzn.to/3C02CXe Fake Saddle T-Square - amzn.to/3qdIBd4 Woodpeckers Tiny Square - amzn.to/3MZxAVr Fake Tiny Square - amzn.to/3BZIYug Fake Tiny Square Option 2 - amzn.to/3IMkl8k Woodpeckers Small Carpenters Square (Delve Square) - amzn.to/3otIPfI Fake Small Carpenter Square - amzn.to/437gfj6 DFM Small Carpenter Square - amzn.to/3MZ0SDH Pencil I Use - amzn.to/3OFaeFV TrueWerk Work Clothes - truewerk.pxf.io/GmbJjE Use code WOODWORKS10 to save 10% off your order for a LIMITED TIME ONLY. The full list of tools and supplies I recommend can be found on my website: www.731woodworks.com/recommended-tools Join the TUBAFOUR NATION through Patreon to get access to exclusive member only behind the scenes videos, member only livestreams, exclusive discounts, and other cool member only perks! www.patreon.com/731woodworks Check this video's description for links to all the videos I discussed. If you use one of these Amazon and other affiliate links, I may receive a commission Some other useful links: Daily Tool Deals on my website: www.731woodworks.com/tool-deals Subscribe to our email Newsletter to get new content alerts, sales, and more! mailchi.mp/7e44c16eefdc/731-woodworks-email-newsletter Check out my easy-to-follow woodworking plans: www.731woodworks.com/store Outlaw's Board Butter - So Good it Should be Outlawed: www.731woodworks.com/store/boardbutter
The return policy on Amazon is fantastic. If you don't like something for any reason, they will send you a shipping label and refund your money that day or send you a new one. If something is defective you will find it immediately, not years from now. It's sad to see you so loyally compare products with no objectivity or common sense.
Hi Jack, I’m interested in what the warranty claim was about. Did it fail over time or out of the box? While their warranty service may be great, if something goes wrong with the Amazon version of the pocket rules, I can replace them 5 times over and still be ahead money wise compared to the Woodpeckers brand. Thanks.
Excellent comparison. One point I would make regarding the Woodpeckers lifetime warranty is that it wouldn't cover neglect and with these tools only neglect would make them faulty.
You've got to give credit to Woodpeckers: they've managed to convince an entire generation of woodworkers to pay through the nose for tools delivering accuracy a machinist would envy. The Emperor's New Clothes of the woodworking world! 🤣
Anything less than an eighth of an inch is unmeasurable. Kidding aside, modern woodworkers be getting pretty crazy with their tolerances. It’s not titanium. Your furniture isn’t going to stay where you put it. You don’t need to be thinking in 64ths. It just doesn’t matter that much.
@@CarlYota I think that's going to be where I struggle most when I start making stuff, honestly. I work in a machine shop and have for over a year, so I measure things in thousandths of an inch every single day. Typically down to a 3 or 4 thousandth tolerance... Or about the width of two hairs lol. So when I get to actual woodworking, that's what I'm going to naturally want to measure to and have to remind myself it ain't that deep lol
I just can't justify paying the woodpeckers prices for a piece of aluminum. Are woodpeckers tools good? Yes. Are they way too expensive? Also yes. Same thing with Festool. Cant justify those prices for a plastic tool in a plastic box.
Purchase some of each of this brand's products use them for a year and then tell me the price isn't justifiable. I'm by no means wealthy but I've bought the Rotex 125($659 I believe) and the Festool finish sander ($229) And three different woodpeckers products (delve square , stainless steel combination square set, 12" T-square) but I can attest they are DEFINITELY worth the money. The Rotex obliterates the sanding time of the my Dewalt sander and time is money ESPECIALLY where woodworking is concerned. And the accuracy required for fine woodworking is something woodpecker GUARANTEES and to me both of those are important. Not saying you're wrong for feeling like you do I'm just saying that after a year of use of these you wouldn't be able to truthfully claim that. I say all this respectfully.
@@vampirejesus8170 I agree about the one time tool aspect I am not a big fan of that, also I guess I'm just not advanced enough yet to the point I can make do with whatever I have to work with I'll get there eventually I have pretty good Mentors to talk to when I encounter an issue that is beyond my comprehension
This is amazing! I have the Woodpeckers 12” edge rule and really wanted a 24” T square but the cost was unreasonable compared to the edge rule. I was too scared to buy the knock off bc I wanted consistent measurements. You just save me so much money!
I really like Adam Savage's advice about buying new tools. He says to buy the cheapest version of a new tool you can find. If you end up using that tool to the point of breaking it, buy a better quality version. You could also add, if you're missing a feature that a more expensive version of the tool has, then you know it'll be worth it to you to pay the higher price. Great video Matt! Really enjoyed it.
I think this is good advice for hand tools, but not for power tools. If you know you’re going to use something, going too cheap can result in diminished quality and create an inaccurate perspective.
There is definitely some validity to that statement but I'll give you an example where it doesn't apply. I've had a cheap hand plane for many years. It was always a pain in the a$$ to use and never really worked properly. Recently I decided to buy a top of the line hand plane. Wow!!! what a difference. Same thing with a set of chisels. But I suppose a big part is also knowing how to properly use the tool as well.
I am a Woodpecker fan for sure. You get what you pay for and part of that price is R&D. You can always find a Chinese knockoff of anything that is stolen and made cheaper. Customer service is a very big part of a company for me. I had a Woodpecker router bit that broke during my first use. I called customer service, they said let me look into it and get back to you. Within an hour, the President of Woodpeckers called me. He personally apologized and overnighted me not 1 but 2 new router bits. Not to mention Made in the USA!! I am happy to support a company like that.
it's very interesting. but, you've used the Woodpecker stuff as reference. how about using something like starret or optical stuff.?? what makes Woodpecker the standard??
On today's episode, we learned that: 1. Spending zero dollars on any sort of research and development; 2. Wholesale copying of someone else's design; 3. Completely ripping off another brand's identity down to the font and logo placement that they use; 4. Paying slave wages in a third-world country; ...enables this Chinese company to make their product for cheaper. Oh, you THINK? A staggering work of heartbreaking genius.
13:00 That hole is not "self-centering" it's just a hole. You have proven beyond a doubt that American made means overpriced. Made in China does not mean lower quality. iPhone, Rolex, Cartier, Omega, Mercedes Benz, BMW and hundreds of American brands are made in China.
They're made in China because Chinese manufacturers do not pay a living wage and the government provides significant subsidies and trade protections to its industries. If the US were to levy a tax on foreign goods based on wage comparability, the price differences would disappear.
MATT! I appreciate all your content but I especially like this video and would love to see more content comparing/contrasting top tier hand tools against the generic stuff from Amazon. Hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend!
@@T0tenkampf as a matter of fact it does matter a considerable amount. For example if you are making hand carved dove tail joints, or mortice and tenon joints. You aren't going to be getting the precision you need with a ruler and pencil.
I do have the Amazon Chinese rules. I think the major difference between them is that the graduation markings are a surface coat/transfer, whereas according to the woodpeckers site, their markings are laser etched.
I have wanted a set of Poalini Pocket Rules for a long time but couldn’t justify the price. I’m just a amateur woodcrafter. I don’t make my living doing woodworking. Thanks for the comparison review. That knock off is affordable and good enough for me. I wanted a rack to mount them on the wall over my workbench. I made a rack out of scrap wood.
Wait a minute. Obviously, you like the Woodpecker brand, but we're looking at a price difference of $352 US between the products you mentioned. Yes, we can get into pencil-like differences when it comes to microscopic line measurements, but then you have to take into account how sharp your pencils are, and how close you actually cut. As far as warranty, I suggest you read through the fine print, factor in the return cost and don't forget the $350 price.
I hate to be "that guy" but Greg's last name is Paolini, not Paloni. He pronounces it 'Pow lini.' I've had this ruler since 2013 and there's not a project I make that I don't use it on. Aside from the pronunciation, great video.
I purchased the pocket rule set after seeing a video about them, in black last year. For checking the depth/width settings. Checked it against the only real square I have (Starrett) and they were all dead on. Thank you for sharing your review of the fakes. Well done. Everyone stay warm, safe, happy and healthy. From Henrico County Virginia
As has been mentioned. We can’t let a company spend three months to design, test, perfect a tool, only to them complain that the Chinese are ready to steal that work and undercut them. Paying for a woodpecker tool and supporting their skilled workers will not change your life one bit. Don’t feed the thieves.
Couple thoughts. While it's a feel good thing, the measures being exactly the same only matter if you are swapping from one tool to another mid operation. Further the continuity doesn't necessarily translate to accuracy. Lastly when testing square, what you really did was compared two unknowns. To test each (without a confirmed square) draw a line, flip the tool and draw another line. If the two are parallel you have a square tool.
If he has used the flip method to verify his check square then his method is perfectly valid. Furthermore, you can’t just flip the t-square to test t so using another verified square is a reasonable way to check it. You are not wrong, just giving another perspective.
@@rifleman1873 But...he DIDN'T use the flip method. All he did was compare two unknowns. IF the test square was VERIFIED sure. But two drawn lines means nothing. He may know that, but the viewers might not. One needs to decide whether the video's intent is educational or simply promotional content. Either is fine. But be clear.
Only valid it the edge of the test piece is straight. So you need to test this first. Two straight edges will do- it they both show it straight, and they also show each other straight, then it is straight.
I think there are products that justify the costs for Woodpeckers. There are those times, like on the saddle square, that the features define the product. For me, it’s a matter of accuracy and convenience. I have limited pockets. I need to make sure whatever is in those pockets is accurate and can do what I need. Weirdly, the Amazon small square delivers some features the Woodpeckers doesn’t. I feel like the combination of Delve square and the Amazon small square might be justified. Or the DMT and the Woodpeckers…*sigh*. I’d much prefer to purchase USA made. Some of the cost of Woodpeckers is to enable the factory workers to make a living wage. I get it. And I am all for that! Woodpeckers folks make great products with high precision. Then they go out to dinner in their local neighborhood and add to the economy. I think that is something I can pay a little extra for.
Once again, the minor differences prove that woodpecker is on an ego trip, and are expending too much monies on their engineers, which are ramping up the cost far more than they should be. Given the economy, I’m happy to save tons of money for these minor discrepancies. The fact remains that anything woodpecker makes, has a sister copy from many companies, even outside of Chinese companies that offer products that create the same result at 3 times cheaper or better. Woodpecker needs to knock the chip off their shoulder and stop gouging customers with their overblown prices, or face being put out of business due to their competitors. With technology ever growing and getting better, woodpecker will just be a name in the past unless they wise up with their pricing. While very detailed precision matters in some cases, money is also a factor that can’t be overlooked for something that is almost identical. With the government destroying the middle class (intentionally), and the value of the dollar falling, many of us will find other alternatives to stretch out our spending. Thanks for the video Matt! Very informative 😊
I COMPLETELY AGREE with you. Aside from the fact I'm on disability and can't spend the money on quality name brand tools, I've learned there are tools out there that can do the job as well as the name brand. THESE ARE NO DIFFERENT!!
Woodpeckers are extremely expensive. That said, the cheaper knock-offs exist because there is something to copy. Until those copycat companies create original designs, we need some form of Woodpeckers, Incra, etc.
Your accuracy comparisons assumed the woodpecker’s measurements were correct. I bought sets of the pocket rules a few years back as Christmas presents and found them acceptable, but not necessarily accurate, being about a line width different.
When manufacturers put metric and inch measurements on both faces of a rule they don't do it in the optimum way. If the inches are on the edge nearest to you on one face, they do the same on the other face. It would be more useful if the inches were nearest on one face and metric was nearest to you when you flip it over. I think it would be even better if one face was all inches, (both edges), and flip it over to get all metric! Deluxe would would read L to R on the edge nearest you and R to L on the far edge. What do you think? Good video, thanks.
Thanks for the detailed review. Had not seen these; will probably buy a few of them. One thing I would have liked to see is testing the durability of the metal. Like many of us, my "shop" is my garage and often times that may actually mean the driveway in front of the garage, with smallish tables or horses. I love some of the things I can do with a speed square, but the soft aluminum in the budget square I found in the big box store dents and burs up like crazy when you drop it. Which means everytime it drops i have to get out my file and try to knock off the burs without affecting accuracy. I work hard to protect these things but it happens. The difference in sent-to-china stuff is sometimes the lack of environmental regulations and cheaper labor, but sometimes its the unseen things like metalurgy. It would be nice to see a "drop test" or hardness test (or maybe just poke each of them with a sharp object) to compare these two and see if the American made Woodpecker stuff is tougher in daily use. Follow up: So 731 gave me a "like" on the original version of this comment which probably motivated me to do more (honey vs vinegar, etc.). It turns out "Vickers" hardness is a good measure for dents in metals and dent resistance in aluminum is highly variable by alloy. In fact it varies by a factor of 15x ! Here's a link: Overview of materials for Aluminum Alloy www.matweb.com/search/DataSheet.aspx?MatGUID=ab8aeb2d293041c4a844e397b5cfbd4e BTW: The type of alloy doesnt seem to have much affect on thermal expansion. To me it would be worth it to get tougher stuff, but tougher stuff is harder to drill so it will, of course, cost more. I wonder if the Woodpecker tools are made of tougher stuff? I think I may actually get that WP t-square, which is definitely a step up from drawing lines with my framing square. I'll see if I can test the WP dentability with a nail or something in some obscure location. Thanks again for the review.
I have a few woodpecker tools. One of the, is the Saddle T-6 and I wish that the square edge was a little shorter than 3/4”. When scribing on 3/4” plywood (which is really 23/32”) I have to lift the board up so I can slide the saddle left/right when scribing. Very annoying.
Thank you! This was a truly helpful and honest video. Question though... is the knock-off saddle square's shorter overhang made 1/2" or 3/8" ("by design" like the offset on the cabinet square), or is it just random?
I try to follow what Matt Moreman of Obsessed Garage espouses, “Honor the source”, if it is something innovative that supports the industry and makes our lives / jobs / hobbies better or easier, but as a hobby wood worker, I can’t justify the price difference.
Thank you for factoring in the research, development, and design that Woodpecker did when making these products. It’s not just the manufacturing costs: of course the Chinese copies are going to be cheaper since they were able to skip all those steps.
@@ehisey Sawstop is a truly innovative design, but you don't have to innovate to put a lot of time / money into design. Iterating and improving existing designs still has costs involved, and those who copy those designs inherently have to spend less to produce a similar product. I imagine that Woodpeckers also spends a lot of time and money on their manufacturing process, acquiring & testing quality materials, etc., and it is unlikely that the Chinese manufacturers do so to the same level. This is evidenced by things like Matt (731, not OG) has shown in the past, such as 3 rules from the same company all having different measurements.
@@allan5721 Most of the stuf fin this video is just Quality control. It really does not justify the price difference. Woodpecker was not even the first to come up with some of these designs and bought them with the purchase of Blue Spruce Tool Works. QC and design is nice, but not always worth the premium. the poapline as an example is plenty accurate from the knockoff for wood working.
@Brian Monks at this point, Woodpecker has pretty much lost any Dress protection due to lack of enforcement if registerd as TM and being a simple color is going to have trouble getting latham protection.
If you go with the premise that woodworking IS NOT an extact science since the wood (as the rest of the materials) contracts and expands but the difference is that it doesn't do it evenly, what is an exact measure? Does it justify the extra cost?
I bought the fake on amazon. Was little ashamed. Cary in my estimate clip board….they come in handy for sketch ups. Hopefully I add the WP version to the shop wall soon!
Woodpecker stuff is so over priced if you want accurate tools buy a machinest set they are more accurate and so much cheaper. Remember folks we are talking wood work here, it’s organic, what is square today may not be square next week.
Boutique tools are nice, but they don't always offer greater utility. I'll pay a third for the cheap stuff and have more budget for the tools that really matter to me.
A rule being slightly off doesn't matter in the end if that's the only measuring device being used... because all the measurements would be relative to each other and it should work out.
Great comparisons, thank very much. Although I support the USA version, I think these USA shops are abusing our love for them with absurd prices and probably profits.
It's not just USA made; it is that Woodpeckers has spent a lot of time on the design and the knockoffs are ripping them off. Most of the Facebook ads for the fake even use the Woodpecker product videos.
Thoughts on 3d printed tools, example corner clamps, speed square or multitools - they obviously do not compare to quality, although considering the price, for simple uses it could be a great savings for someone starting off?
There is no universe within which I would spend $159 for a set of pocket rulers that I would buy for $28. Woodpeckers is quite simply out of it's mind with regard to pricing. Likewise the T-Square. Spend your money on wood, not 1/128th of an inch difference in measurement. It's woodworking, not neurosurgery.
paolini = pah-oh-lee-nee. It’s Greg’s last name (the famous woodworker who designed the pocket rule with Woodpecker’s). Let’s all show some respect to the man and learn to say his name correctly.
While your assumption that the Woodpeckers are the ones with the correct distance markings (e.g. 9:50) is likely correct, how you came to that conclusion in the video isn't clear. At 9:52 is looks more like the Woodpeckers tool shows the edge of the wood at 1/32nd of an inch. You could/should have used gauge blocks or 1-2-3 blocks to show the accuracy of the tools in a better way.
So, the major difference is the price. I can't afford Woodpecker. If I could, I still wouldn't buy the brand. I've got other things to spend my extra money on.
And just what did you use to make sure the woodpecker brand is dead on correct. I not asking to conflict or anything, just wondering. The woodpecker may be off ever so slightly but which one that is off is not off to mess up any wood working anyone does.
It's a piece of machined aluminum. In this day and age, ANY country can make that to the level of Woodpeckers. Now whether they care to do so... Also the reason the measurement marks were slightly off is because it's painted. Laser etching would guarantee consistent precision.
That’s what I’m thinking. Over time, how does the cheap one hold up? Will the numbers rub off? Even for someone like me who is DIY, I need all the help I can get with quality tools😂
To be honest, that's not what I expected, which was a beat down on the knock-offs. As it is, an Amazon tool was actually recommended over the WP. That's keepin' it real, bro. Nicely done.
Appreciate the honesty of this video. Especially since you readily admit you are a Woodpeckers fan. Most folks wouldn't admit that something cheaper would rival the expensive stuff. Thanks for that!
You gotta love how our system has become so messed up that you have to be rich to afford American made tools. We gotta bring back manufacturing to America and drastically increase tariffs on China. Maybe then I can afford Woodpeckers.
Got my set of foxtrott chinese version today and measured accuracy of scale vs 6" Incra T Rule. It was spot on all the way out to 6" on all three rulers (test carefully and be aware of removing parallax error before yiu come to conclusion)
Doesn't the DFM come with 2 pins so can use it as a center finding/marking as well or am I thinking the DFM small square? I got a DFM blemish set for a great price so that's an option to save a few coins as well.
I have the Paolini and like it. But honestly, I use it mostly to ensure I’m cutting the same length of a board - top and bottom on a tracksaw. I could use the Kreg product for that. I have other tools to measure square, blades, bits. So despite my spendthrift habit of buying Woodpecker, one can go with the fake red on this tool.
Very good comparison video. I also use the Delve square more often compared to my other WP tools. The Amazon mini-square is an interesting buy for the price
@@731Woodworks I will be more specific in my question. T Square fits in a pocket as well depending on the length. Until you get to maybe 12 inches I wouldn't think that you would typically walk around with a twelve inch Paolini or T Square in your pocket but you could hang both of them from a tool belt. Once the Paolini or T Square is out of a pocket or not hanging on your tool belt, what can the Paolini do that you cannot do with the T Square again besides stand up the T Square? Trying to understand the value of having the Paolini if it seems you can do the same with a T square.
@@robertknowles3677 I think the Paolini Pocket Rule is more suited for smaller stock/work. The T Square is better on bigger stock / sheet goods, etc. It's much easier to scribe parallel lines with the t-square vs the pocket rule. But the pocket rule has the sliding stop so you can use that to repeat measurements, depths, etc. like setting the placement of door knobs, etc. Or marking the placement of say the apron on a table from the bottom of the legs.
With the way you stand with Christ without fail in your videos and your blatant honesty about products I know you have given us all real unbiased reviews. Thank you! Without your consistent faithful modeling it is hard to find honest opinions out there. Just wanted you to know your hard work is so appreciated and valuable🙏🏼.
Matt... just wanted to say THANK YOU for the content, the knowledge you share and the faith you have. Please keep doing what you're doing. Working up the courage to start with some projects. I already bought some plans... Thanks again and GOD Bless!!
This was a video I was searching/hoping for. Nicely done. I appreciate your candor in your what you prefer yet you acknowledge that the chinese tools are good for the money. I took away from this video that The Woodpecker tools are the quality choice yet people like me, ( retired, disabled, vet) can get a good tool for a reasonable price. I appreciate you . Thank you.
I’ve given up on buying these cheap tools. Sure they might come square or accurate right out of the box, but for some reason, they don’t stay that way over time (might be due to improper annealing or tempering, resulting in residual stresses that deform the tool with time). Trust me, it’s gonna suck when you trust the tool for a couple of months and just when you’re about to finish that $5000 commissioned piece of work, you realise the right angle you’ve been using for the whole piece was off by a degree. Buy once, cry once. Buy cheap, cry heaps.
I'm not American so it seems to me Woodpeckers used the Snap-On and Harley Davidson marketing strategy of 'your not a real American' if you don't buy Made In America'. (although HD at one time could only say 'Assembled in USA' as they made less than 50% of finished motorcycle here) The Woodpeckers stuff IS very nice but your paying way over the top just in case they have to replace it plus, material cost are probably a bit higher (Labour isn't really an issue with CNC machining)
@@1pcfred we have our days to remember too and i’m sure the world is grateful for all those who sacrificed from EVERY country in the world for our freedom. however i am not compelled to buy American because of the war. i would buy British (my origins) and New Zealand first. sorry we all got to look after our own economies
I for one after spending 1000's of hours (no joke) squaring up saw blades to tops, can tell you this - you get what you pay for. Woodpeckers and Festool are stupid with pricing, but I'd go that route IF you are a production shop, you are making money and it's saving time. For the knock offs - Identify what you are using it for. #1 for me is do the rules match within 12"? If yes, I'd go for the knock off. The holes being wider is a no no for me, I don't appreciate that. I can see the t square, I'd use that for marking lines, but not measuring. See? If you KNOW what the limits are, you can PLAN around them. If you can save money, do it - but do it knowing what you are walking into. Just like any woodworking person wouldn't use two different tape measures (if you feel called out, good, stop it now!) from two different mfg - ie, using a Fastcap (just throw away ALL your other tape measures and only use them!) with a stanley or a lufkin, etc. You'll want to punch yourself in the face later. They are always off a bit, I'm talking like 1/32" or so, but cuts made over 6 or 12 foot you will notice. If you spent any time doing this and being frustrated beyond measure (no pun intended, ok maybe a little) then you will know. Take all tap measures in your shop that aren't fastcap, and toss them. Thank me later.
731 Matt, I really appreciate you doing these comparisons. You do bring up I’d rather interesting point. And while the Amazon products being from China is problematic on many levels, it isn’t the main issue. I think a higher importance is something you point out a lot of these tools are nearly identical. And the question you ask is why are not trademark infringement‘s being enforced. I think part of the answer is China’s own unique trademark system. As well as our own unique patent system. And I believe the reason they’re able to get around them is because of the slight imperfections that you point out. And these imperfections may seem slight, but as you say, in the aggregate, they could prove to be Gamechangers. He also cannot put a price on a lifetime warranty. Craftsman used to be known for that. Then again, they used to be known for making a Tools so there’s that. But that is priceless. The real issue is that Amazon actively Corded and contracted with Chinese companies to make these tools in the image and likeness of woodpecker‘s tools. So the real Monster here is Amazon. Not the customer. In no way is it the customer. Is there some culpability at some level that’s up to the individual consumer themselves to live with their moral conscience. I am in no position to judge anyone. Thank you again for your seller Contant ‼️‼️‼️✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼
15:09 I'm sorry, but "Lifetime (free from defects)" is a marketing deception. Just call it "guaranteed defect free". There's no warranty involved. It's barely a step up from "like new/slightly used/as is". Craftsman had a Lifetime Warranty.
I got the knockoff set of 3 pocket rules after a different video of yours showing the tool. great value, really nice to have a few of them handy to "save" small measurements during a project. I like them way more than trying to use a combo square when measuring in from edges. thanks for that recommend!
Hi Matt, good work with the video and very glad you made it, hoping you continue to show alternatives to the more expensive name brands. In my own experience some of the "fake" tools can be very useful while in your woodworking journey. In many ways I see the near complete knockoffs (along with the much lower price) as a means of "discovering" if the tools is useful in your given situation learning how to use the tool, often the initial acquisition of a knockoff acting as a "transition" tool, one you purchase to find the utility before eventually taking the larger plunge. In your woodworking career I am sure you can point to a number of tools that were very good for the purpose, and served you very well, but when introduced to the next level of quality, consistency, ease, and precision tools (plus having the means and experience) you were then able to understand (and I would say both appreciate AND utilize) the value of next level tools. My point is that I have found a number of the China tools (as long as they not a complete waste - not straight, square, whatever) allowed me to evaluate and "discover" the utility of the tool without breaking the bank, while allowing me to target tools that really work for me, while not too distant in the future purchasing the clearly better (though sometimes in a subtle way) when I was ready and able to appreciate/utilize it, all while getting utility out of the "lesser" tool continuing my woodworking journey. So, in this sense I see the knockoff tools are discovery and transition tools those suggesting that advocate the buy America thing need not worry, as those that advance in their woodworking journey we get there eventually, and those that don't see the need will get the utility.
This is a great video Matt! I watch your videos and learn things all the time. I greatly appreciate American made products since I was a young man which was decades ago. I grew up in a steelworker family but Woodpeckers prices are outrageous. I greatly appreciate videos like this one very much and also like the open-minded opinion you have on tool purchase. Keep up the good work!
