Keith,
What is past is simply past tense. Let me illustrate that this way my first computer an IBM IBM cost the original purchaser 5,500 Dollars and me 400.00 years later. Moving forward many years a replacement 70 megabite hard disk replacement cost me 700.00 dollars.
When comparing prices the old adage is apples with apples comparison.
My dearly beloved many years ago got the bug to make things for family needed a scroll saw so I bought a cheap Dremel (you squeezed by hand to release or fit the blade) and two others of Made in China one of them two foot six long. Then in a burst of love and kindness at a WW Show paid 1200 Dollars for a Hegner Scroll Saw. Some couple of years later SWMBO had sated her need to make cats hanging from doorways, intricate painted mini shelves, cats in corners etc and said simply you can have the saws I dont want to pursue this any more.
Now the best saw by far was the Hegner it remains hardly used the Dremel used extensively
(built like a toy) which I stripped and use for a flex drive the motor etc.
Now the moral of the story is horses for courses what suits you at the time. Pay big bucks get on with the task , enjoy, (perhaps profit along the way) when Televisions came out in colour they were dynamite prices, cheap as chips over here in HD and 3D.
Goodness me HSS Disks were standard on very expensive tools once and I predict the costs of Carbide tips (note micro finished ultra fine grain construction) will come down further.
Please dont shoot the messengers who make at some expense carbide tools professionally,
never confuse how much it cost you to make something as an amateur.
Examine how our respective countries got themselves in such a mess with balance of payments etc, well guess what you and I contributed to this by buying goods from elsewhere, making cheaper imitations ourselves, showing others how to then complaining the parts etc are not available at the store any more.
Now I am a do it yourself person as a tradesman I bear my share of responsibility, when I built my house age 20 yrs I dug the foundations with a spade and a mattock removing 12 up to large gum trees grubbed out beforehand, painted the weatherboards, helped stand the frames, wired the house as an apprenticed Electrician, lived with wife then one daughter in a 12 foot square shed on the block with a pan system in a small shed for a toilet, cold water and a small sink for ablutions. What I am saying how far are we prepared to go to get by. Is it necessary or clever. This a personal question.
I try to give credit where credit is due to manufacturers in this case real nice members on the forum trying to help us at neat prices who carry stock and material, Yes I dont have to buy from them or anyone for that matter anywhere in the world.
One time a guy came to fix my reticulated hot water hydronic system it took him 5 minutes to fix, cost me arond a hundred fifty dollars, my query why so much his answer 10 dollars for materials and the rest for knowing how including a fee to come.
The direction things are going re kits, components etc nothing new here in my life experiences.
Trust we all can enjoy our hobby or business in company of our friends and as we copy those who went before us in anything refrain from expecting them to give away their livelyhood, and respect.
Wow have a nice day everyone. This week a mate of mine died at age 71, he returned home on his bike (his hobby forever competitive cycling) sat in his chair and passed on thus
at his funeral and several years older than him lots of seemingly important things have become of minor importance in my life. The glass is always half full.
Kind regards Peter.
