Ok thanks guys. I will check out the Makita.
I know I would still be ahead building the frame myself so it justifies buying the tool, but it still rubs me the wrong way to spend that much money on something that is fairly basic as far as wood power tools are concerned.
I wouldn't mind paying it as much if I new that the mark-up that the retailer was getting was in line with other more common wood power tools. Maybe it is and it's just a volume thing so the retailer is paying more from the manufacturer as well. Just not so sure since there is an association between timber framing and those that can afford to have one built are generally quite well off to say the least and so the expectation is that the cost of tools will just end up being paid by the end customer who has deep pockets. Of course this theory might be all a bunch of nonesense, just postulating. Don't like being bent over is all. I'll have a look at the Makita and see if it's in my range of reasonable or I can just stick with chisels and drills.
Thanks,
Steve.
