Of all the above answers(?), I like the one above about building another barn the best. I am a hoarder of the first degree. Having worked in several professions, each with it's own tool requirements, I have come across any number of tools directly and indirectly. Further, many friends have brought me tools that they had no idea what they did. Or how. And to top it off, I
never throw anything away.
This perspective takes a long time in the telling, but is quite applicable to the situation. There was a time I got a serious shock, 480 volts across the chest. Shortly thereafter I quit my job and went out to build houses. This has actually happened several times. Electricity does mess with your head for some time. When I build a deck, I use a cheap, WalMart grade skil saw. When I'm done with the deck, I give the customer the saw. But the used blades are usually recycled. When they don't cut so well and the carbide teeth have lost a few, they become "rough cut" blades on an older saw on old lumber. One where the shaft bearings have some wobble and cut a wide kerf.
When the blades cut there at about the same speed as an acetylene torch, they are mounted on yet another saw with the blade reversed. Then used to cut sheet metal, like roofing. Yes, it does work
... quite well. But it will reduce the blade to a circle with sort of a wavy edge. At that point, I take a "blue wrench"(acetylene torch) and cut it down to four "prongs". Then mount the result on wife's sidewalk edger. Of course, the concrete sidewalk chews up such a blade pretty fast, a couple of months at best. The old saw blade is then relagated to a nail out in the barn. Ya never know when you might need a 5/8" fender washer. The junk collecter is just out of luck, I guess.
There were times, too, that I was working out of
town state and needed a tool,
right now. I know I have two or three of them, but they're home in the shop. A good 48 hour turnaround. And 50 gallons of diesel, both ways. So, I find yet another "tool" and when done with it, it goes into my toolkit. As a professional, there is no such thing as a cheap tool. And I'm certainly not going to just chuck it on the side of the road where I just used it. When I do get home, it usually goes into a bucket, or on the shelf, or in a drawer, whatever, with the other 2 or 3 or 4 that I already have. That's why I have so many "Kleins" in my posession. And drills. And
... take your choice. In any case, I don't junk
anything. When I buy something, it's for "keeps". And yes, I'm the same way about machines. But, as a "professional", I would have to say the Wen is not a real tool, just an expensive toy, despite all the gee-gaws it may have. BTW, I would pay your price plus shipping for the Atlas bench mounted drill press.
Bill Hudson
