Cheap tools today are very common. Many of these tools are imported from China or India and often have a reputation for being poorly made. If the tool is a hand tool and it is only going to be used occassionally, then the tool may peform adequately enough for you to finish the job that you have bought it for, but do not expect it to last.
One of the reasons that people fail at DIY or find it difficult is because they purchase cheap ( often inferior ) Tools. Some of these tools are repackaged and look as though they are made by reputable Companies either in the USA or In Europe.
Some companies that import and repackage cheap tools even offer a lifetime guarantee, so in theory if the tool breaks you can have it replaced for free. I doubt they would replace the tool though if it was just found to be "unfit for purpose", which many cheap tools are!
The price difference between a cheap tool and a quality tool can be considerable and so you have to weigh up the advantages and the viability of purchasing a more expensive- well known brand. For example it is not viable to purchase a premium brand tool when you know that you will only use it once, in these types of circumstances buying one of the cheap brands of tool makes perfect sense.
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Take for example this basin wrench made by Monument tools, this would cost approximately £15 |
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This cheaper version is sold by silverline tools for approximately £5 |
Some cheap tools should not even be on sale in the first place as they are totally unfit for purpose. I would steer well clear of any cheap tools that could cause injury if they fail, such as chisels and especially consumables for powertools which operate at a high RPM's such as Angle grinders.
The choice is clear, you can either buy a decent brand of tool and use it for years or you can purchase a cheap tool which may not even be fit for purpose and may only last a few weeks.
It is often a good idea to think of tools as an investment, before purchasing the tools you should consider the following -
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How many times will the tool be used ?
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Is the tool an expensive item ?
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Can you borrow the tool from a friend ?
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Is it cheaper to hire ?
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Can you purchase a second hand quality tool?
