When does it make sense to buy a
new tool? Some purchasing decisions
are simple, either because the need
for the tool is self-evident, as when buying
hammers, circular saws, or extension
cords, or because the purchase falls
into the category of wishful thinking, as
with the Rheinhart (the $12,000 Swiss
table saw) I have often thought would
make a handsome addition to my shop.
Between these two extremes, however,
is a thorny gray area. The key question
is whether the tool can earn its keep,
and the answer depends on the buyer's
particular needs. This is increasingly
true as tools become more dedicated to
specific tasks.
A fine example of this is Panasonic's
Predator EY6780 — a