Bought a tool last year because it was cheap and it got me started. It served its purpose well. But now about 8 months later, it has some problems. Sure it has a three year warranty, but do I really want to go through this again with a lower quality tool?

I answered “No”

So now I have a better tool in terms of quality because I know:

a) I will use it, and

b) HOW I will use it.

I now have experience with what things were annoying or lacking in the cheaper quality tool so I could make a better decision.

It was important that I start with that other tool though so that I knew it’s limitations first hand, not based on what I’d read/heard.

Most importantly, I needed to get started. Had I not gone for that cheaper tool, I wouldn’t have started at all.

This is all about woodworking tools, but I think the lessons likely extend to all kinds of tools and even software.

See also from last year:

https://twitter.com/feather/status/1178022058061701120?s=21 https://twitter.com/feather/status/1178022058061701120