your first cordless is probably wort thinking out as youll want ot continue with the same batteries , whatever you choose. I think if you use them on a fairly consistent basis they actually last longer. If you don't then maybe just stick it on the charger now and then , otherwise I think they fail from Non use. you can find info on charging and various types and that might be worth comparing. the places that specialize in batteries like "battery world" might also provide some options.
Yea I forget the story about the buyouts exactly but delta pretty much went out of business that caused a lot of machine replacement as they can't support parts and delta used to make great stuff as did the others , even dewalt was good. the problem with them all is they are made cheaply in china. this has plagued all the brands I know of. Stanley used to make good tools , you should see the homeowner grade planes now. it's laughable except I kinda want to cry when I see people struggling to actually use this kind of junk. If you want a good plane best to look at garage sales. Stanley still makes the higher grade but they are still not great. You'll find an old Stanley cast iron plane for 5 bucks at a garage sale if you look. I be the new blades still fit too. you can get the Veritas planes from lee valley tools and they have a bit of a following among those with cash to spend. we dont' have the option of buying used old stuff with cordless tools but the batteries are great these days.
with chop saws, the dewalt ones are ok for home use, at least the guards dont' usually stick like the sliding makitas. the dewalt ones seem to blow the motor bearings but they are a common bearing and you can replace those if you need to. all the brands use too much plastic. the correc term for a sliding chop saw is a "compound miter saw" and I guess the correct term for a chop saw is a "miter saw"
for tablesaws watch for used stuff, keep in mind that now "saw stop" has the technology to make saws that stop before you cut your finger, places like institutions are switching and that means good machines on the used market come to surface. I'd say any tablesaw that you have trouble moving by yourself probably has a good solid top and good solid trunnions and this makes a world of difference for accuracy if you want to do more demanding work like cabinetmaking. If you want to cart it around the newer ones are probably ok as they are light to move. so far as saw stop yea it's neat technology but I find kickbacks more scary than the idea of putting my finger in the blade, I feel kickbacks are a more likely accident , though maybe not as severe, with a big saw you can really get hurt in a kickback too especially the 3 and 5 HP saws. you won;t see the wood coming or jump away that's for sure. I think it's worth finding out what causes kickbacks as you learn and then once you see the most common causes you know what not to do. As far as the blade goes that's more obvious, dont' put you hand near it and it wont' cut you unless it's something weird like flying saw teeth.
I have a Bosch one here that needs a motor. it is direct drive and cheaply made and I dont think its worth a new motor. I always though of Bosch as good German stuff but even that isn't the case now. I think it takes some time for people to cease to believe in these companies and in that time they reap profits by selling us junk but still under their famous brand names.
If you compare older tools to new prices also notice the quality and dont' trust the brand name. one of the reason I'd rather buy older stuff is that it's almost always just better quality and often repairable so I'd prefer to buy an older machine and fix it's issues. If you can find an older Stanley or Dewalt tool , yes they used to scream quality, and you can find old Dewalt radial arm saws that will last a lifetime for very little money. I have Delta RAS that I paid 50 bucks for and it is an articulating saw , i sold my craftsman 10 inch RAS for 50 bucks and I had fixed everythign and even repainted it , they are cheap !
you can cut pretty much any angle on the thing. I still prefer my tablesaw for most stuff but it's a solid machine and Ill use it if I am doing stuff like trimming boards to length, doing miters, etc. for ripping and for precision work the tablesaw is better. I couldnt' lift the RAS but I wouldn't' part with it easily. I think they are really nice if you have the shop floor space. I like the older Delta stuff, or in Canada it was sometimes branded "beaver" and rockwell international is somehow related I think as well. you'll find older used ones that are still really nice machines and they made lots so I think for the most part you'll get most parts for a while. some places still have inventory. My tablesaw is an old delta unisaw and I like it as much as any of the new saws. there were lots of unisaws so I think a used one is a really great buy , but watch if it is 3 phase or single phase. you can get phase inverters and run 3 phase at home if you want but it's easier if you can find single phase stuff for home use. a lot of the stuff youll see coming out of institutions might be either.
the shopsmith has been going a long time. those are multi use tools so they can be a jointer , saw drill press tennoner , wood lathe,, etc.. the older ones are neat. Ive seen some really old european multi use tools too. If you do have limited space a shopsmith might be fun to have and allow quite a few options without going crazy buying all sorts of machinery. you might have to look a little to find one used.
one thing with the circular saws , the old ones are pretty heavy and now the new plastic ones are actually lighter and that has some merits if you are using it a lot. the lower priced makita ones have really weak saw plates and they drop them and the get bent. as much as I like Makita I think the dewalt ones are sturdier and I thiink youll find the homeowner brands and professional series as well you get what you pay for, kind of.. a battery saw is nice, no cord to worry about! cool !
anyway back to picket fences.. I'm sorry i rambled but I just thought maybe a bit of info on some of the tools Willa might want could be of help. Ive done lots of tool repairs so I get a bit of insight having others break them for me
parts available is a big issue as more gets made in china sometimes that's where the parts you need are and that causes delays. you can get any part for most of the common brands but they know how to price so you throw stuff out if it needs an armature , or something. just try to get a part for your tool from home despair
, good luck, Sears used to be amazing but now they are deserted.