Buy Australia Tools for Use in US Market?

[DavidCBaker]

I live in the US and am on a book speaking tour in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane. Been here a lot--it's my third biggest market. Anyway, I was thinking of getting an electric tool that's not sold in the US. My shop has 220v, and of course I can swap out any plugs. I'm not interested in the ethics/legal issues--will a tool work?  [tongue]

Thank you, mates. (See how quickly I'm assimilating the culture?)

 

[Svar]

Yes, it will work. There have been several threads on FOG discussing this topic.

 

[jjowen]

Just be warned that motors from the southern hemisphere are going to rotate in the other direction.

 

[Svar]

Just be warned that motors from the southern hemisphere are going to rotate in the other direction.

Yep, get left spiral drill bits for your Aussie drill.

 

[peter halle]

Not addressing legal or ethical issues - BUT warranties in case of trouble will be most likely be a problem for an Aussie tool here in the US.

Peter

 

[lwoirhaye]

I have a Festool saw from the UK - 50hz.  Works fine on USA power but I'm sure I voided the warranty by changing the plug.

Apparently using 60hz tools on 50hz is not such a good idea though.

 

[JeromeM]

I have a Festool saw from the UK - 50hz.  Works fine on USA power but I'm sure I voided the warranty by changing the plug.

Apparently using 60hz tools on 50hz is not such a good idea though.

Not an issue as the tools are rated for both
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[DeformedTree]

Just be warned that motors from the southern hemisphere are going to rotate in the other direction.

Just flip the blade, the real issue is the reverse corollas effect is going to pull the dust from the vacuum and reform into a board as you go.

 

[Bohdan]

I'm not interested in the ethics/legal issues--will a tool work?  [tongue]

Thank you, mates. (See how quickly I'm assimilating the culture?)

Yes it will work without any problems but check our local prices as it may not be a good idea. It may be cheaper to try and get it from the EU.

BTW: Which tool?

 

[JeromeM]

Just be warned that motors from the southern hemisphere are going to rotate in the other direction.

Just flip the blade, the real issue is the reverse corollas effect is going to pull the dust from the vacuum and reform into a board as you go.

So when you keep cutting it will really get longer  [eek]

 

[Grakat]

Hi there,

Unless the tool is NAINA or rare as rocking horse poop I wouldn't buy it in Australia. You will definitely pay too much because of what we call Australia Tax. The Festool agent has a price fixing deal here too so there are no bargains to be had.

Looks like it will work though according to the posts above. Good luck.

 

[Stephen B]

Hi there,

Unless the tool is NAINA or rare as rocking horse poop I wouldn't buy it in Australia. You will definitely pay too much because of what we call Australia Tax. The Festool agent has a price fixing deal here too so there are no bargains to be had.

Looks like it will work though according to the posts above. Good luck.

Whilst all this is sadly true for us who live here; the current US/Aust. $ exchange rate may make for an excellent opportunity for those with US $s in their wallet.  I would probably seek out NAINA items such as  the excellent 65mm plane.
https://www.festool.com.au/products/tools/planing/planers/planers/ehl-65/ehl-65-eq-plus_574559

If buying in Melbourne try Just Tools in Sth Melbourne which are at the city fringe.
https://www.justtools.com.au/brands/festool/

————

Another NAINA is the belt sander -
https://www.justtools.com.au/brands/festool-shop/festool-belt-sanders/

 

[JeromeM]

Hi there,

Unless the tool is NAINA or rare as rocking horse poop I wouldn't buy it in Australia. You will definitely pay too much because of what we call Australia Tax. The Festool agent has a price fixing deal here too so there are no bargains to be had.

Looks like it will work though according to the posts above. Good luck.

Don't forget that a visitor will be able to reclaim GST on purchases so the price could be about 10% lower.
https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/ente/tour

 

[DavidCBaker]

I'm not interested in the ethics/legal issues--will a tool work?  [tongue]

Thank you, mates. (See how quickly I'm assimilating the culture?)

Yes it will work without any problems but check our local prices as it may not be a good idea. It may be cheaper to try and get it from the EU.

BTW: Which tool?

I ended up not getting anything, but I was particularly interested in the smaller of the two belt sanders.