Does everybody have to hate Ozito???

[Cal]

Just don't buy power tools from the supermarket, I bought a 4" grinder from woollies and used it once, didn't even get through one cut in a bit of rebar and the magic smoke come out of it. I stopped and unplugged it and it erupted into flames. Worst $12.50 I have ever spent


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[richmond68]

I see that in reviving an old thread we've gone from 2012 to 2017. However, one thing that hasn't been mentioned is that Ozito was acquired by the Germany based tool company Einhell AG in 2013. Presumably this was done because Ozito is exclusive to Bunnings and gave them an established brand in the dominant home improvement retailer, but it is changing the products (hopefully for the better).

The biggest change seems to be with Einhell's 18v X change cordless system being sold under the Ozito brand, which is far more comprehensive than the older products. The brushless drills and impact driver in particular look to be reasonably well made, and with a 5 year tool warranty and 3 year on battery, I don't see a reason to hate those. Especially when Aldi also sell Einhell under their Taurus Titanium brand on occasion, another source of cheap batteries is good to have.

[DaveVman]

I see that in reviving an old thread we've gone from 2012 to 2017. However, one thing that hasn't been mentioned is that Ozito was acquired by the Germany based tool company Einhell AG in 2013. Presumably this was done because Ozito is exclusive to Bunnings and gave them an established brand in the dominant home improvement retailer, but it is changing the products (hopefully for the better).

The biggest change seems to be with Einhell's 18v X change cordless system being sold under the Ozito brand, which is far more comprehensive than the older products. The brushless drills and impact driver in particular look to be reasonably well made, and with a 5 year tool warranty and 3 year on battery, I don't see a reason to hate those. Especially when Aldi also sell Einhell under their Taurus Titanium brand on occasion, another source of cheap batteries is good to have.

The thing is that with Ozito, chances are that you are going to need to exercise that warranty. Which means you are going to need that receipt. Not something I'm good at storing properly.
Buying through Bunnings does give me some confidence that the warranty will be honoured without hassles. Otherwise I would have my doubts.

The thing about better brands is not just that they last longer but also their level of service. I dropped my Hatachi 18V impact driver on the concrete floor. The motor stopped working. I found what I thought was the receipt and took it in. The guy said it was the wrong receipt. That I was showing him the receipt for a drill. But he said let's see what Hatachi say. They repaired it no questions asked.

Then there's the question of quality and precision. I'd buy an Ozito bench grinder in a heartbeat. But I wouldn't buy an Ozito router or circular saw.

Having said that, a full 18V system of various skins is a significant cost for someone who uses them 10 times a year. Perhaps it's better to have Ozito and their warranty than to mess around with extension cords. For example I have not yet been able to afford the circular saw skin for my 18V system. So day before yesterday I had to cut some planks offsite with a handsaw in the stinking heat and was dripping sweat everywhere. So that's the drawback of having a more expensive 18V system.

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[richmond68]

The disclaimer they use on those superannuation ads comes to mind, Dave. Past performance is not an indication of future performance. I don't dispute the fact that in general you get what you pay for, but having looked at a tear down video of an Ozito brushless drill, these Einhell/Ozito tools appear a cut above what Ozito's reputation would have you believe. The casing is 30 percent glass fibre, like you get on Milwaukee. Electronics looks well made, switches look the same as Bosch use, the gearbox is metal, the chuck is all metal, the batteries use Samsung cells. I doubt it would handle the duty cycle you could throw at Hitachi, but in non trade use I see no reason to doubt their durability. $159 for a brushless hammer drill with two batteries, fast charger and 5 year replacement warranty is a bargain - I wouldn't hesitate to choose it above Bosch green for the same money. It gets a bit trickier comparing to AEG, when for an extra $40 you get a higher torque brushless drill with a 6ah battery, but as you say the cost of other skins could be a consideration as well.

Thats not to say I'd have the same confidence in all Ozito products, you have to use your brain and judge by the product not the label.

[marphlix]

This is my thought on a lot of tools these days. I am anxious to spend big on supposedly quality big brand name, as i'm not sure that they are as good quality these days.

The old adage "they don't make em like they used to".

I am also anxious to buy second hand power tools, as i don't know how to tell they are in good nick on the inside where it counts (different to hand tools, where one is able to tell a bit easier).

This leaves me in a pickle. How do a get a good quality power tool?

[BobL]

The old adage "they don't make em like they used to".

I am also anxious to buy second hand power tools, as i don't know how to tell they are in good nick on the inside where it counts (different to hand tools, where one is able to tell a bit easier).
This leaves me in a pickle. How do a get a good quality power tool?

I might agree with you in terms of machinery but today's battery power tools leave the older ones for dead.
While it is mainly the battery technology and longevity, and that's the main reason why I would not recommend purchasing any older battery powered power tools, but the brushless motors allow the batteries to last even longer with improved power/torque outputs and less noise.

[Luke Maddux]

Just gonna throw in my opinion here after 8 pages...

I had one Ozito tool. A router. It was so, so, so bad. It eventually just gave up the ghost cutting simple rebates in pine.

So no, I didn't have to hate Ozito... but it gave me no reason not to.

[Spyro]

The thing is that with Ozito, chances are that you are going to need to exercise that warranty. Which means you are going to need that receipt. Not something I'm good at storing properly.

Just take a photo of it with your phone, that's what Bunnings told me to do.

[woodPixel]

I hate Ozito.

It is a crime. The whole brand is a fraud. Every single thing I've ever bought was absolute junk and needed returning after a single use.

Only yesterday I was at a friends who, earlier in the week, had an Ozito angle grinder LITERALLY COMPLETELY explode and send chunks into his jewels. Not bloody funny. The thing looked like parts of a grenade.

It is a blatant fraud, a scam and a deliberately designed ripoff to consumers who can't be bothered returning dead items.

[DomAU]

Yes.

[44Ronin]

I would never trust a cheap angle grinder, it is seriously absolutely NOT the tool to cheap out on, given the physics involved.

The tool is literally UNDER HIGH LOAD its entire working life

people who buy cheap ones are foolish.

[Bushmiller]

I am amused by how many times the subject of the cheaper tools arises. There has been at least one other thread on Ozito tools. Firstly we have to remember that this is the bottom end of the market. Forget about the supermarket angle grinder for $12.50. That is less than a hacksaw. What do we expect ? That is the sort of tool I expect in the expensive end of Xmas crackers.

So back to Ozito. This is for the very occasional user for most of the time. Having said that the tools should still be fit for purpose. In other words you might reasonably expect to use it, say, twenty five times over a period of two or three years. If it blows up the first time it is used, it is not fit for purpose and you are entitled to get your money back and indeed at any time during the guarantee period whatever that might be.

I have quite a wide range of power tools in terms of quality and have over the years purchased three Ozito tools:

The first was a simple electric drill that I bought for a community project in which I was involved. I did not want to leave my good drills with them and bought the Ozito to leave there. It sounded a bit rough in it's operation, but worked well enough and I made a mental note to retrieve it when the project was finished. That never happened as it disappeared!

The second experience was a router. It performed very smoothly for about twenty minutes and then smoke escaped from the motor. I returned it to Bunnings where the sales person said he would like to test it which he did. As he became enveloped in a cloud of acrid smoke he conceded it was not performing as could be expected and immediately issued a refund. I bought another brand (can't remember what, although it was probably a GMC as they were still in existence here in Oz at the time.)

My third Ozito experience is one of those reciprocating saws. It has performed flawlessly. I have used it about six times over the same number of years. It is absolutely suited to my requirements although the ease of blade changing is not good.

I have heard in the past and has been recorded on these Forums that the Ozito jackhammer is excellent value but I have no personal experience of this.

Horses for courses.

Regards
Paul

[Bohdan]

My neighbour bought an angle grinder and as he was cutting some 5 mm weld mesh he said "This tool is quite good for the price". He then started cutting a 12 mm bolt and the magic smoke appeared. He pulled it apart and the plastic gears had melted and seized.

I asked him if he thought that it was still good for the price but I didn't catch what he muttered.

[Handyjack]

What I like is the little tag that says "For DIY use only".
So that each trade person who picks up an Ozito tool only uses it themself.
Perhaps the tag is a reflection of the quality. A home user might use a tool all day, where as a trade person (some one paid to do the job) only picks it up for a couple of minutes. If it fails for the home user that's OK but not in the hands of a trade person. Some thing is not right.

[Spyro]

I have to admit, sometimes I buy expensive tools (when I can) simply because I like them.
I mean, I try to convince myself at the time that my skills and needs justify it, and occasionally they do, but for the most part it's just me B.S.ing myself. Truth is I like the way good tools look and feel in the hand, I appreciate the quality of the materials, the machining, the innovation or refinement over many years as the case may be, and the precise results I get from them (even if the rest of my work is not nearly as precise, and even if I am the only one noticing them).

I think it's natural for someone who likes to make things to appreciate well made things, and I'm happy to admit it.

But then I see someone producing much better work than me with cheaper tools than mine and it's a humbling experience. It makes me feel wasteful and a little bit dumb to be honest. So, I try to keep my tools budget under control to salvage a little bit of my self respect (and my bank account )

Ozito have been great for me. I have a little pump for the water tanks that we use 3-4 times a year and it does the job just fine. Also when I bought my first jig saw and angle grinder I wasnt sure I would have much use for them, so I thought ok lets start cheap with Ozito and when they blow out I might upgrade to something better. 5 years later I'm still waiting. I have a couple more Ozitos, I don't use them too much but when I do they just work. I'm sure there's duds every now and then, I just haven't had one yet.

The thing is, it's not that hard to make decent powertools these days. Very little is actually new, manufacturers have been making that stuff for decades and they've learned a lot about tolerances and materials and streamlining processes to save costs. Sure they might use a plastic gear here and there but that's because they've been using it for years and years and it wasn't the thing that failed. Cheap triggers usually fail first, well, I keep it in mind and I go a little easy on my trigger. Cheap power cables are not suitable for jobsites where people step on them and drop stuff on them. But I don't go to job sites, my cables don't get stepped on. Cheap tools don't have much in terms of weather sealing, so keep it out of the rain. Cheap plastics are not great for dropping your tool from the top of a ladder, so I try to avoid that as well (not always successfully )

You can see where I'm going with this. It's easy to make a cheap tool look cheap and useless, but give it a fair chance and use it to its specs and it might surprise you.