Lots of people say that we live in a disposable society with everything designed to be thrown away and replaced and probably sooner rather than later. But I just can’t reconcile myself to that kind of thinking.

All day long I deal with companies that are making products they hope will actually last. They don’t want those products to be viewed as disposable. In furniture, there’s a term for pieces that are “heirloom quality.” In other words, they are so well made and durable that they are intended to be handed down from one generation to the next. 

Cabinets and closets are not often described the same way, but they still are built to last. In Europe, people call kitchen cabinets “kitchen furniture,” and they DO take it with them when they move to another house. Who said those frameless Euro-boxes won’t hold up?

But what about technology and electric tools and appliances? We’ve got so inured to updates in technology that we replace our expensive phones and computers every couple of years. Software we used to own, now we rent. Nobody thinks twice about throwing an old toaster in the trash and picking up a new one for less than most wage earners make in a couple hours.

Of course, not everything is on the quick-replace cycle. Cars and trucks tend to last longer than they used to and require less maintenance along the way. Once upon a time, it was an achievement to get a car that would last to 100,000 miles. Now lots of well-made cars and trucks can do two or three times that with just a little care and feeding.

In the shop, the tools we use to make wood products have also gone through changes. Even traditional stationary machines like table saws and jointers are built to last longer. And lots of shops continue to get their start by picking up older, still serviceable machinery at affordable prices while still expecting those machines to pull their own weight for years to come.

When people ask for recommendations on tools and machinery, I often hear the advice, “Buy once, cry once.” The suggestion is to spend a bit more for quality and get something that lasts. Still, that reasoning seems to go out the window when it comes to portable power tools like drill drivers and small routers. These are treated as consumables. Hardly anyone even tries to repair them. Just buy another. Companies like Festool have found there is a market for portable power tools intended to last, but the price tag is a tough sell for some.

I’ve bought cheap tools, and I’ve bought expensive tools. Sometimes it takes buying a cheap tool and replacing it several times to see the value in something better made that also carries a higher price tag. But when you are in the business of making things to last, you probably ought to be using tools meant to last as well. I’ve always considered buying tools as more of an investment, rather than an expense. After all, I’m in it for the long haul.