GMC Tools

[Noklin]

Does anyone know any thing about tools made by the Global Machinery Company out of Victoria, Australia? As in most tools these days, at least in the states, these are actually made in China.

I saw this brand today in the local Lowes store. I was looking at a DeWalt power planer that had a 5.2 amp motor, no load speed of 15,000 rpm, two cutting blades and a maximum cut of 3/32 inch. The GMC planer had a 6.5 amp motor, no load speed of 16,000 rpm, three cutting blades and a maximum cut of 1/8 inch for less than half the price.

I normally believe in buying the best tool I can afford, but that applies to tools that I expect to use often. The power planer was for scrafing plywood panels and I do not expect to have much use for it once the CS 20 is completed.

[Guest]

Well I spent a grand total of 29 bucks on a skilsaw carrying that label. Now being left handed, the stupid switch was impossible to operate without first starting it with two hands, one to hold it, and one to hit the switch, since the switch was mounted on the handle and way in from the housing. The weight and balance of it is great, and power was not that bad in comparision to other good brands. I did need to change the blade, even though it came with a carbide blade, but this was an impossible task. The foot on it did not allow for enough clearance to remove the blade from the shaft after removing the bolt that hold it on the motor. I am in the process of taking it back and listening to the song and dance from Lowes. I did purchase it on a whim, and when I was in a bind and needed a quick fix for a saw, and thats the reason for aquiring it. Any other tool I have not experiemented with that brand.

[Rob Blackburn]

It is amazing how quickly they as a company have dominated the market here... both physically by looking at the number of boxes at our local hardware store and psychologically by lowering the implied value of power tools. I read somewhere I think that it was a group of engineers from "Black and Decker" who set the company up and they have powered.

Tools are cheap with a replacement warranty. Even the batteries on the cordless drill are part of the swap if it breaks deal.

You would have to question the quality but if it breaks in 2 yrs, they give you another.

What you don't get though in my opinion is that feeling of "wow... this thing is brilliant" but one of "$89 and it is still going.."

R