# What IS it with men and power tools? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 12, 2006, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498 "2006-05-12T13:48:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/41 "2006-05-12T19:43:33Z")
> [@KP](#): > > BTW, Amazon has the brand you were looking at form under $200, in a variety of colors and free shipping. Oohh, Amazon! Much cheaper! (Let’s go see what’s at [half.com](http://half.com)…) ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/42 "2006-05-12T19:44:34Z")
Apparently just books and video games. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Wombats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Wombats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Wombats)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2006, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/43 "2006-05-13T03:46:41Z")
Well, more power is obviously better, but anything at home above 600 watts is absurd 😉 And in regards to shopping for kitchen tools in general I highly recommend Alton Brown’s Gear for your Kitchen[URL=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000B5RXK4/sr=8-3/qid=1147491834/ref=pd\_bbs\_3/104-5293395-3112725?%5Fencoding=UTF8] (I hope I got the link right?) I’ve been living in the kitchen since I was 9 years old and still find this a rather valuable resource. Even if you just browse through it at the store, it can be a helpful guide for those kitchen purchases and yes, there is a section on stand mixers! Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2006, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/44 "2006-05-13T19:41:28Z")
I don’t know what it is exactly, but I very much enjoyed [this](http://blog.warmbrain.com/media/satisfaction.mov) (probably work-safe, but maaaybe not) and I’m gay. FWIW. Yeah, powertools. Tools of power. Watts and watts of _power_. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/45 "2006-05-13T21:54:26Z")
> [@TJdude825](#): > > I don’t know what it is exactly, but I very much enjoyed [this](http://blog.warmbrain.com/media/satisfaction.mov) (probably work-safe, but maaaybe not) and I’m gay. FWIW. > > Yeah, powertools. Tools of power. Watts and watts of _power_. Dude. That may be a video of oiled, scantilly clad women with wedgies running power tools…but it _is_ gay. SO gay. I really am not sure how that can be. Sexual irony? ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2006, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/46 "2006-05-14T01:19:36Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > The problem is 1)I am the tightwad, and I hate spending money. And Ivylad wants the big shiny one with the maximum wattage you can legally get. 2)I think if I were to get the perfectly adequate one at the lesser power, he’d be hurt. So, basically, I’m going to be 3)spending money (which I hate) on something more powerful than we will ever need. Which leads to 4)I am perfectly happy with our $10 hand mixer we bought at Target. > > The things we do for love. 😃 You ever think of getting the adequate one , and simply applying a 1k wattage sticker ? Declan ---
**Author:** ![BoringDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@BoringDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoringDad)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2006, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/47 "2006-05-14T01:50:43Z")
As a power tool lovin’ guy, I would second the vote that the search for more power is also a search for higher quality and longevity. Plus higher power usually means heavier and shinier. While **casdave** has a point about the dangers of jumping to things claiming to be “industrial” to get the higher power, if you stick within a known name brand (like Kitchenaid) and move up the scale, you move up in quaility (metal gears vs plastic as previously mentioned.) In tools, a cheap miter saw works OK, but the swing is a little sticky, the blade brake a little iffy, the adjustments a little awkward. Go up a few grades to the better saws and the swing is smooth as glass, the blade brake silent and instant, and the adjustments positive and easy. Takes it from something that will do the job for you reasonably well to something that will last the rest of your life and be a joy to use. A Kitchenaid will last you a looong time. Get one that your hubby can be proud to use! (But be prepared for the mixing paddle that is covered in white plastic to eventually develop a hole and peel back at the bottom where it contacts the bowl. Stupid paddle.) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2006, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/48 "2006-05-14T14:16:30Z")
If hubby is REALLY serious about a mixer, I suggest you get one of these: [http://www.admir.com/bread-making-baking-machinery.htm](http://www.admir.com/bread-making-baking-machinery.htm) Definitely a professional-quality tool. 1000 wimpy Watts my ass, this thing has a 25 Horsepower 440 volt motor & weighs 3800+ lbs. It will not only puree vegetables, it’ll puree couches and bicycles and small trees. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/49 "2006-05-15T12:51:41Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > If hubby is REALLY serious about a mixer, I suggest you get one of these: [http://www.admir.com/bread-making-baking-machinery.htm](http://www.admir.com/bread-making-baking-machinery.htm) I don’t think we have the counter space for that. 😉 There are some “refurbished” ones at Amazon. What does refurbish mean, beyond the dictionary definition, of course? I saw one review that said their refurbished mixer was used only in testing. Is that all it is? I have no problem with used. We got our fridge for half price at the Sears outlet store. It was returned because it didn’t fit the space, and except for a scratch on the side (now hidden by out cabinets) it works fine. ---
**Author:** ![Sunrazor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/50 "2006-05-15T17:00:03Z")
I’ve been working in wood for about 30 years, and have, framed and hanging in a prominent spot on a wall in my shop, the adage shared by all woodworkers: “It’s a poor carpenter who blames his tools.” It means that a truly good craftsman can build anything he wants with a hammer, a try-square and a hand saw. In this context, Ivylad should be able to whip up an eight-course meal with a Henckels knife, a wood spoon and an All-Clad mixing bowl. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/51 "2006-05-15T17:07:47Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I know it’s a primal urge, just like it’s a primal urge in women that we can’t pass by a shoe store without stopping in “just for a second.” We can’t? Dammit, I think someone mixed up the blueprints when they made me! You want to keep a man entertained? Give him a tool that can do more than one thing. Wymmin are the ultimate man-entertaining tool because, not only can we do more than one thing - we can do more than one at the same time! ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2006, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498/52 "2006-05-20T23:00:04Z")
We found a 475 watt, 5 quart, 10 speed, all metal components KitchenAid mixer, with the dough hook, flat blade, and wire whisk for $259.84. New. I love Sam’s. Happy Father’s Day, sweetie. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-men-and-power-tools/356498.md?page=2)