Pete,
Everybody is right! My Dad is a carpenter/cabinet maker with about 50 years experience and I have worked with him on projects and building renovations for about 20 years. The primary qualification for a tool is "does this feel comfortable in my hand or to use?"
For you purists, I'm going to geneeralize a little bit here so don't go wild!
There is basically two classes of tools, the ones that tend to last forever, i.e Milwaukee, Porter Cable, Delta, etc.
And the ones that last 1 to 5 years, Skil, Black and Decker, Makita.
In General, you want to buy the most expensive tool you can afford if it is to receive heave use, cheaper if it will receive intermittent use. Also the as noted by GreenMtnMan the more expensive and typically heavier tools will provide better precision cuts and finishes
I'll give you some examples of tools we use: For table saws
I have a 1-1/2 HP 10" Delta Contractors saw, very strong with cast iron table, makes great cuts
My dad has an old (50yrs?) 8" Craftsman saw that is finally losing its ability to make good cuts and a new 10" Rigid saw w/wheeled base that is an excellent tool. These are all saws you want to keep more or less stationary. They all weigh 250 plus lbs. If you can place one at a single work location
If you get any of the $450 to $600 range table saws, you should do OK, three things --- Get a 10" saw w minimum 1-1/2 HP continuous (not peak rated motor), w/cast Iron table, and if you plan to do a lot of finish work, get a Bessemeyer fence. Good Table Saw = good fence - you definitely need a table saw.
For cabinet making you definitely need a router and table. Any of the tables work. Good = heavy and/or bolted to a heavy base or table w/-----A good rigid fence!
For routers I suggest Porter Cable or Milwaukee. I own a Milwaukee body grip type that takes 1/4 and 1/2" shank bits.
For corded drills, go with Milwaukee, For the price you can't beat em. I have only seen one fail in my entire life and that's because we used it to drill old mill timbers with a 6" hole saw. I have seen a host of others ground into the dirt. Unless you plan to have a stationary workshop, I don't believe you need a drill press, get a good 3/8" and use a jig setup if you really need one to drill straight, they sell them a most woodworking stores.
For cordless, Porter Cable and Dewalt are good. However, I use a 14.4v Firestorm most of the time and have built decks with it as well as cabinets. I like it because its well balanced and light --- A key feature when holding up kitchen cabinets and drilling or working overhead. However, one fine day it will go kaput. One note on cordless, If you don't use them a lot and/or keep the batteries on a trickle charger, they go dead $$$$$ Oh yea, always get two batteries!
I just built a built in window seat bench in my house for the boss window and used the following tools: table saw 9planer blade and Dado), router, palm sander, cordless drill, coping saw, hammer, quick clamps, screwdrivers.
I could go on for ever on this issue /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif but I think I've spouted enough to digest for one post!
