Responsible tool design

[Groggy]

I've been thinking about the current trend for throw away tools and thought I'd comment. It seems to me (and to a few others I've recently spoken with) that we will go down as the most wasteful and self-indulgent generation in the history of mankind.

Tools contain a number of valuable and scarce resources such as copper, titanium, petroleum based products, and a number of environmentally unfriendly items as well.

Personally I would like to see a minimum standard applied to tools to begin to arrest the total waste that is going on at the moment. I don't think it is unreasonable to mandate a minimum life expectancy for most tools. If people only want to drill ten holes - then hire one, and return it the next time you go to the store.

I have been as guilty as most I guess but today I looked at a huge shelf of 10 hour life tools that will become landfill before the end of the year. When this is duplicated dozens of times in stores across the city and hundreds of stores country-wide it gets scary. The international wastage is downright frightening.

With no recycling of these items the wastage is truly staggering, what will our kids use?

(steps off soap box)

[David L]

2tsup:

I quite agree especially with all these cheep cordless tools the battery lasts 12 months then then we are expected to buy a new tool even the old one is basically still good. and there seems to be no scheme in place to collect old batteries for recycling.

[watson]

I agree totally with you Groggy....all those 7.5 V/12V/18V/24V upgrades of the same tool.
My only problem is....apart from the battery packs, they all still work....and I've never thrown one away.....I even have a 3V cordless screwdriver that must be 15 years old.
One day I'll find a use for all those good electric motors/planetery gear boxes/ chucks etc.
Got to admit, they are a bit of a problem to store, but the bower bird gene just won't let me chuck them.
Regards,
Noel

[bitingmidge]

I have THREE ryobi 7v drills, and will fork out the $60 for new batteries when the last one dies.

I am fond of reminding everyone that it's consumers that drive the manufacture, not vice versa. If in the case of battery tools, people started replacing the batteries instead of replacing the cheap tool, then the waste would cease with the current batch of manufacture!

On the other hand, cheap "throw away" chisels, brushes hammers etc etc, often last their less than handy owners a lifetime.

How many power drills worth of materials go into one "throw away" car?

While we are at it, let's also mandate driving 1970 Peugeots, and outlaw Kia's.

Oh, and television sets, and iPods and cameras and every other thing in this stupid disposable society in which we live.

Don't join them, beat them!

Cheers,

P

[echnidna]

There is not a plain simple answer to your concerns.

Eventually the world must come to the return of things made to last.

The economic well being of the global community will be affected so that will force it to happen.

But it might be a foolish manufacturer who first starts the process.

As their prices must be far higher than their mainstream competition.

Just imagine if Ozito built to Festool quality - the ozito price would have to increase significantly but their target market might not accept the prices so they would just go buy GMC instead.

[Groggy]

Although I used tools as the example, it really applies to almost everything, particularly cars (why do people have to have a 4wd people mover in the city?).

I reckon the best solution is going to come from government introducing legislation to make us more efficient with resource use (yeah, yeah, government control is bad - but let's face it, no-one is going to start this on their own).

Back to the original post though, I guess I just don't like manufacturers deliberately wasting resources because they have a sales/MTBF equation that gives them profit margin.

You're right Bob, there is no simple solution to this one, but it frustrates me to see thousands of these things on the shelves.

[watson]

All too true Bob,
Being on a restricted income, unfortunately GMC rules in my workshop, as they are affordable whilst I learn what each tool is capable of. In the last 5 years I have returned two faulty items to GMC and a third (small bandsaw) I never turned on and returned it un-used the same day. Most of the GMC saws have had good blades added immediately, and lots of set-up and tuning...and safari so goody.
Do you reckon I wouldn't love a high-end table saw / woodlathe / thicknesser / drill press / etc etc.
But I've got 'em....use 'em everyday....and work around their problems.
My workshop is " JIG CITY" to get them to do things that they groan at, but as per my previous post, I don't chuck them away.
Maybe in my next life I'll have good kit to start with...but I'm having an absolute ball with the cruddy stuff I can afford.
Not a whinge, but GMC are doing OK by me.
And if I can't afford something that they don't make...I build it myself....and don't even throw the prototypes of home built stuff out........need more space!!

Regards,
Noel
Regards,
Noel

[Gra]

why do people have to have a 4wd people mover in the city?).

Guilty of a people mover and it travels into the CBD almost daily. I have two kids and a big dog (Had two, will get another soon). Wife and I work in CBD, child care also in CBD. What other option do we have??

If you have more than one child, have you tried to fit them in most of the cars smaller than a falcodore. Try and get a 4 cylinder under 30K that will fit 2 baby seats all their crap and the shopping as well as two adults comfortably. now add a dog, your people mover becomes quite an inteligent option, I would prefer more people movers like ours on the road than big falcodore wagons

4WD in the CBD we have a question there, but even they can have their excuses. some people can only afford one car, and it needs to do multiple things, though the number of 4WD's out there doesn't really match the requirements

Ok rant off

[Glenn_M]

.... What other option do we have??.......

I think midge hit the nail when he said "it's consumers that drive the manufacture, not vice versa."

Therefore for Graham there should be an option if people want it. But here's the rub. Many (most?) items are produced by companies wanting to make money. So they make whats sells. Here is the bad bit - WE WANT CHEAP CRAP!

There I said it......We want GMC and Ozito coz in terms of volume, that's where the money is. I think by virtue of us being in this forum we all appreciate good tools, even if me can;t afford them. Yes, I'd love my shed to be filled with high end gear to pass down to my boy. But alasi its got quite a few GMC tools inside.

However, the vast majority of hardware shop tool purchasers are not like us in that respect. Fuelled with the latest ideas from Burkes Garden Outdoor Blitz DIY program they flock to Bunnies to buy cheap tools to do a job - not kit out a shed or a hobby.

Don't get me wrong, I agree wholeheartedly with Groggy and confess my guilt. Yes we should all think about the future more before the resources run out.

But I also think the the selfish generation of consumers that we are all taught to be by society and the mentality that everything must be got cheaper is too ingrained to changed.

Maybe the hope for the next generation is that one day our generation will all be dead. Lets hope for your kids and mine it's not too late.

Cheery bugger aren't I? Sorry, went back to work today.........

Glenn

[Groggy]

Gra, if you have a reason other than "I don't feel intimidated by traffic anymore" or "I like to see over the top of other cars" then I really don't mind.

Need 4wd for towing? Great.
Need the space for big family? Sure.
Going on a round the country trip? Seems like a sensible choice.
Constantly going on muddy blocks (builders)? Ayup.
Any of a dozen other sensible reasons I have no problem with at all.

As you said, the amount of 4WDs out there doesn't really match the requirements. I do query those who need to feed their image, thinking they are "cool" or will get 'respect' on the road or whatever. May as well drive a semi .

[Clinton1]

I would prefer more people movers like ours on the road than big falcodore wagons

Why? Just curious as to your thinking.

[Gra]

Why? Just curious as to your thinking.

2ltr 4 v 4 ltr 6, you do the fuel usage math. gotta be better for the environment doesn't it

[Gumby]

What ? Make things last a lifetime and throw all those tip workers out of a job ?

Not me, I'm happy to keep them in employment.

[Master Splinter]

What I would like to know is the actual difference in the manufacturing cost between making, say, your $29 Ozito random orbit sander and your $159 DeWalt sander or your $229 Metabo sander.

I find it very hard to believe that higher spec wire, plastic, bearings and control circuitry can add $100 or more on the final price.

Yes, I'll allow some money for reseach and product design (assuming the cheapies are just copies of someone elses tool and not original design work, which may sometimes be the case), but the major costs - tooling, setup, assembly and shipping/distribution - would be about the same.

[Gumby]

I find it very hard to believe that higher spec wire, plastic, bearings and control circuitry can add $100 or more on the final price.

Answer is in the quantity sold, not the process. More sales, less margin, still good profit.