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
