Why would a forum that is so diametrically opposed to the purchase and production of cheap, soul-less, imported chinese boards have so many recommendations to the cheap soul-less imported chinese tools at Harbor-Freight?
surfboard = soul
sander = power tool
…it’s a matter of “depth”
Your missing the point. The good ol’ USofA used to have lotsa craftsmen that made lotsa tools and such right here at home in small town factory’s. But now they are all being cheaply produced overseas. Seems kinda hypocritical that we who condemn what some are doing in the surfboard industry ignore what was done to our fathers and grandfathers generation.
I’m confused.
Is it cheap = soul-less or is it Chinese = soul-less?
Because I think the Chinese people actually do have quite a bit of soul. As well, things that cost a lot don’t necessarily have soul.
Hmmmm?
Maybe what you mean is that we should buy products made in the USA. I agree but I don’t confuse that with soul.
I don’t know maybe it’s just an age thing. Maybe you gotta be a little older to see what I am saying. Maybe it’s just my own personal preference and sense of responsibilty. Both my parents worked in small auto supply factories in the midwest in the early 60’s and ended up losing their jobs…However they did move to Calyfornya. Guess I’d be hoosier chattin on a basketball forum if’n they hadn’t.
Still, though, seems kinda hypocritical to me!
I prefer a S.A.W. Belgian built or a Hungarian built AKM over the crappy M-16 anyday.As far as USA built ? Where are the shoes or car you drive built,…NOT the maker,…but where it was BUILT.
…Cheap is what you make it homey.Herb
The only comparison i see to tools and surfboards, is the fact that the harbor freight tools fall apart about as quick as the surfboards from the same origin. Could there be a connection? Naw. 
I’m with you (without the soul thing). Much of my objection to surftech is the use of cheap off-shore labor, in a place that doesn’t play by the safety and environmental standards that we americans (and other 1st world people) have decided are necessary, and so on. I also like to see the money in a product distributed more equally between all the people involved in the production of the item than happens when people offshore their operation.
China is about as bad as it can possible get on this stuff. The labor standards are horrible and everytime you buy their stuff you are proping up that totalitarian regime. You are also further screwing our trade balance.
I try to stick with made in usa products as much as possible.
i think it stems primarily from the ways that surfboards and sanders differ to a surfer and shaper, respectively…and the impact that each tool has on what its user does.
surfing is more than just something we do in our spare time, more than any sport or hobby…it’s a culture that has completely taken control of our lives. when we surf, the board we ride on is more than just a tool…it’s an extension of ourselves…and i’d like to think that all the soul that goes into my boards is reflected in the ways that they’re surfed. a sander, on the other hand, is just a sander…and while a shaper may like to think of his tools as an extension of himself (much in the same way that a surfer views his boards), the simple fact of the matter is that the cheap HF sander does the same job just as well (for the backyard boardbuilder) as the milwaukee sander that costs 10x as much. that cannot be said for a popout surftech…it doesn’t have the flex…the glide…the soul. but on the other hand, as far as the HF sander goes…i can stick some sandpaper to it, and it’ll spin around really fast…and that’s good enough for me.
Quote:
Where are the shoes or car you drive built,…
======================================================================
Up to about 2 years ago it was a 1956 International Harvester, S-120, 4X4, 3/4ton, Now its a Chevy van…
Shoes=Redwings…just kiddin. I usually wear flip flops. Foreign made I am sure, but I can’t wear the Rainbows…Don’t agree with they’re politics. Are they conservative?
I’ll agree with that to a certain extent. The line would be drawn when you cross over from “backyard” guy to production. It’ll be at that point when the differences between a milwaukee sander, and a harbor freight sander become crystal clear. I think the term is “endurance”. You’ll be a bit perplexed when you have this rythm going, what we call “powering”, the music cranking, compound flying,(and a deadline) and you have to stop, and start taking your sander apart because it started smoking and quit. And no, if you rub it real hard a jenie will not pop out a grant you a wish.
(I wish my sander didn’t just take a sh!t)
Exactly…Do I need to gp spend upwards of $250 for a top of the line sander if I’m going to make 5-10 boards a year, just for myself? NO, especially when I have mouths to feed and bills to pay. I could DEFINTELY see spending that if I was doing tons of boards for people. But I’m not, and more than likely, won’t…
lokbox…tenover…PRECISELY! if i was puttin’ out boards like that slut down the street is poppin’ out children, i’d surely spend the extra cash and snag a milwaukee or some other high-end sander. but until then, i’m gonna do like she does and buy the cheap diapers…they may not be the most stylish, but so long as they keep the shit off my couch i’ll be happy.
Hey Brandon- Is that you in your avatar? Looks like Josh Baxter…
Matt Armstrong (he’s pretty slick, eh?!)
i’ve had that one for awhile, tho…it may be getting to be time for a change. hmmmm…it says next to my name that i’m an “addict”…how 'bout this avatar:
Dang! A '56 Harvester. That’s pure hardcore american iron. The problem is when you need to buy something new. It can be pretty confusing these days. Should I buy a GM with parts made in Mexico or should I buy a Honda built in the heartland of Tennesse?
I am a proud American. I wouldn’t live anywhere else. Where I can, I buy American. That’s not always clear, practical, or even possible. Try to buy a digital camera made in the USA.
Americans are guilty of a lot of the problems we have today. You know who taught the Japanese to manufacture so efficiently? Americans. After the war we appointed and they hired American efficiency experts to rebuild the infrastructure and manufacturing. Why weren’t they’re ideas applied here first? A lack of vision, corporate greed and union squabbles kept the auto and other industries bound to old ways. Nobody wanted to compromise. They all wanted every slice of the pie and wouldn’t work together. It wasn’t until our ideas applied to Japan industry seriously threatened us that our industry caught on to how to do things efficiently. Anybody remember how lousy American cars were from the mid 70’s to the 90’s. No wonder Japan gained a foothold. And if not Americans were buy the imports, the plants would’ve just kept pumping out junk. I remember GM was re-opening a plant that had been shut down for years. They were going to do it under a new more efficient way of manufacturing. Some called it the Japanese style. Again, what they learned from us. The first thing the UAW did was strike the plant and keep it shut down. Why? GM was asking the people to think and be flexible. No way. Not the UAW. All the jobs and responsibilities had to be the way they say. It was stupid. It was months before those people could get back to work.
HF versus what, Milwaukee? I guess. Is that even made here? Is there any other made here? Even if it’s not made here, I suppose I prefer the profit to go into a US company but for me the Milwaukee just doesnt’ fit. I’m a novice. I repair mine and my freinds boards. A Milwaukee costs too much and is too heavy for my needs. It’s not like we’re talking the difference between $50 and $90. We’re talking $60 (I got the more expensive one) and $280.
I buy American where I can within reason. In this case, I went for the cheapy.
Well said, Ryan
I find it kinda ironic that surfers would be grousing about where boards are made, considering that so many tend to pick the third world when it comes time to go on a surf trip.
Life’s a funny old thing, isn’t it…
doc…
Hey Soulstice…you got the phone number for the"slut down the
street?" Oh yea…my biggest objection to Surftechs are the way they are
marketed.
little story happened a few hours ago …
my 9 year old son got a build your own skateboard kit …all the parts and you assemble yourself , with some extra wheels …
he comes out and shows me the packet , hes all stoked , raids my tool box and disappears …
comes out about an hour later , all teary , he says "dad its no good " i say "you having trouble putting it together " he says back " no you dont understand its no good , the threads have stripped , the holes dont line up , and the wheels dont even spin , i put all that effort in for nothing " …
i said "no it wasnt for nothing , you still would have learnt something from it " …
just then he bursts into tears and walks away saying " yea i learnt not to buy cheap chinese garbage" …
i actually started laughing …
i was stoked he learnt the lesson early in life …
a cheap deal isnt always a good deal …
regards
BERT