Does everybody have to hate Ozito???

[Black Ned]

Ozito and Bunnings seem to be the bad guys according to the many opinions expressed in this forum. Surely Ozito would not be in business if they only produced poor quality tools? Does anybody have good experiences?
The reason for my asking is because I would like to buy an inexpensive thicknesser and have seen an Ozito planner/thicknesser for sale at Bunnings for $349.00 and I am concerned about the quality. It has a 3 year guarantee. I would only use this type of machine occasionaly.

[dazzler]

hi Linden

IMO its not just that brand but all the cheap garbage throwaway stuff that is sold all over the place.

We are selling out quality for convenience and the must have it now mentality. I dont blame Ozito, its short sighted people like us who are happy to buy something cheap, then complain when it lasts and performs cheaply until we throw it in landfill. If we cant afford quality we should IMO save until we can.

These companies make money because we are in love with consuming....gimme gimme gimme.....forgetting that just like stuffing ourselves at the all you can eat buffet, later there is pain.

[rat52]

Go for it. Just be aware that you do get what you pay for.

I bought my wife an ozito at least 8 or more yrs ago and although I use it more than she does it is still going. The chuck and shaft are worn and the variable speed is now one speed but it still works.

My metabo on the other hand is 20yrs old, has done a heck of a lot more work and is still fine in all respects

I find planers and thicknessers are the most used machines in my shed as I use them to machine a lot of 2nd hand timber into useable sizes so I went middle price and got Leda

[Cliff Rogers]

The Ozito Rotary Hammer Drill is damned good value at the $69 I paid for mine.
Several people on here have one now.

I got the $300 Ryobi thicknesser from Bunnies.
I sufferes from snipe 'cos the top flexes as the timber goes through so I need to pull the lid off it & do the mod that Jake came up with.

[pharmaboy2]

I dont blame Ozito, its short sighted people like us who are happy to buy something cheap, then complain when it lasts and performs cheaply until we throw it in landfill. If we cant afford quality we should IMO save until we can.

why short sighted? If you arent going to use a tool very much then why the hell buy the US made brand, when the chinese one will suffice. I've got a classic example in my shed - a chinese airless spray gun - cost just under $500 compared to the graco equivalent of $2500. Now obviously its not as good, and wont last as long, but for the cost of hiring one for a few days, i have one for good.

For most people it has almost nothing to do with should I buy the quality unit or the el cheapo - its about am i prepared to pay $300 for the convenience of having a thicknesser available when I need it occasionaly, or not have one at all.

the extra $1000 could be spent on a nice weekend, a new TV, added to super, a gaming console - anything - so its not about what we can and cant afford, its more to do with our priorities with money we have. the wealthiest person i know has all GMC tools - when the battery dies he buys a new one - its not false economy when a replacement panasonic battery costs as much as a new drill for instance.

cheap has its place, expensive has its place - on the up side there is way more DIY projects been done these days because of the avaialability in tools.

[Wood Borer]

I have no problems whatsoever with people buying cheap tools/machines.

I do have problems with these people when they think they are really smart having found a bargain machine with the same performance and reliability of more expensive machines.

Of course marketing/advertising doesn't really help. The ads don't point out that these machines are at the lower end of the range and that their performance and reliability have been compromised in order to keep the price low.

If you buy a cheaper tool/machine and you are aware of why it is cheap then you won't be disappointed. They are good value for money for what they are and for what they do.

If you think a $300 machine is equivalent to an $8000 machine and that those who purchased the $8000 machine aren't all that bright, I suggest that you take a long hard look at the fool who appears in your bathroom mirror every morning.

[Black Ned]

thanks for the replies so far!
If i bought only the best of everything then I would need to take up bank robbery as a profession. I cannot justify the need for an $8,000 machine for occasional use. I am not a tradesman and only need tools and equipment for hobbies and make my own furniture / projects. Surely with a three year guarantee the Ozito must be reliable otherwise the manufacturer would go broke replacing or honouring guarantees. Please do not take this as having a go at anyone. I do like to get others opinions before I purchase.

[seafurymike]

I have an Ozito router which i use on my CNC machine.
So far it works fine and it does what i want from it.

The only thing i suppose is the bushes on the collet shaft will not last, but thats what you get for $50.

/M

[Wood Borer]

No offence taken whatsoever, this is a great discussion.

Just be aware though, that if you have never used a particular type of machine previously, you will probably find more uses than initially anticipated for it once you get it home and start playing/experimenting.

It is these additional uses where you might find the economy model lacking.

Bearing that in mind, go for the best that you can afford. As you say, the companies making the cheaper machines would no longer be in business if their machines didn't work.

[Groggy]

I strongly agree with Dazzler, I do not like tools designed to be tossed after a few hours use, it is a massive waste of resources. However, I do own an Ozito hammer drill that has done well (like Cliff said).

If any company is offering a 3yr warranty on an item that continually breaks, and a lot of their stuff does, then it usually means their profit margins are higher than we think (to absorb the losses) or the warranty is not what we expect.

[Wongo]

Dazzler, you are the man.

Go buy 10 router and you might get a usable one.

We are living in a disposable society and it is very sad. I reckon buyers and sellers are both guilty.

[petersemple]

I have an Ozito random orbit sander. I think I paid about $50 for it. It broke after 12 months (the motor would start at low revs when it was plugged in with no pressure on the trigger) It had a 3 year warranty, so I took it back and got a new one. The second one I have had for about 3 or 4 years and it is on the way out. Still goes OK, and sands well, but it used to be quite quiet, and now the motor really screams when it is in use. Not sure what that means, But I know that I paid about $10 per year for a sander, which got a medium level of use. I'm OK with that, and would probably buy another one when this one finally dies. Of course, I would pay double for one that I could guarantee would last me for 10 years, but I don't know of anyone that would guarantee me that.

Peter

[autogenous]

If it makes you feel better I have 5 Ozito angler grinders 4+5 inch for minimal use ready fitted with different diamond blades cutting stone and cleaning steel.
An Ozito welder but had to modify it as the vibration was so much I couldn't hear when it was turned on. Another screw settled the vibration.
Ozito hammer drill. Hammer worn out already.
A Ryobi concrete cutting circular saw where the RCD didn't work but the sparky that used it ripped it off and replaced with an inline so I didn't put a burn whole in my heart.
A GMC cut off saw.(First one stopped on second cut). second one noisy but does the job for home use.
2 GMC cordless drills. Batteries go flat overnight.
GMC drill press which does the job.
A Makita 9 inch that works well but it doesn't have the brake the old Dewalt one had which was better and nearly chopped knee cap off.
Old one lasted all day use for 4 years on 5 man team.
All Bunnings!
Arlec intruder hammer drill. Brilliant
The rest of electrical tools purchased elsewhere. Makita circulars, sander, Router, Planer, hammer drills
Bosch Jigsaw

Edit: Had Ozito metal cut off saw, blew up second cut, changed to GMC, loud rattley but works, does the job.

Ozito angle grinders spew metal and sparks occasionally but still good. Use them lots

GMC air compressior, good enough, love it.

[Groggy]

Edit: Had Ozito metal cut off saw, blew up second cut, changed to GMC, loud rattley but works, does the job.

I had one of those, mine blew on the third cut and spewed plastic gears and bearings in my face. Luckily I wear glasses! Bunnings just said "oh, another one?"

[autogenous]

I had one of those, mine blew on the third cut and spewed plastic gears and bearings in my face. Luckily I wear glasses! Bunnings just said "oh, another one?"

Same, Same but different. Freaks you out a bit. Major sparkage. Big light show in a dark shed.
No they handed me a GMC which is good for home use.
Both the cheaper end products have served well. The 5 Ozito angle grinders have been fine.

I know of tradesmen who instead of driving home to get tools go and buy an Ozito product to save the time/money then use them as back ups.
Some have Ozito because they don't worry about having the tools knocked off out of the van. If they're stolen. Doesn't matter.

Went into Bunnings the other day to buy (Dewalt 2 x 18v cordless drill, Recipcro saw, large hammer drill) kit for the new job. No kit, No stock.
No deal, walk out.

Bunnings large part target market is now home handyman