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-   -   tools or fools (https://britishexpats.com/forum/maple-leaf-98/tools-fools-771113/)

Driscoll Family Sep 9th 2012 10:45 pm

tools or fools
 
Hi there , could any builder/carpenter out there in Canada tell me if its worth taking power tools out there (ie will they work etc) i have a fair amount of good quality saws & routers etc and dont really want to get rid if i can use them out there, some are 110v and some are 240v.
Cheers Carl

Oakvillian Sep 10th 2012 3:11 am

Re: tools or fools
 

Originally Posted by Driscoll Family (Post 10272959)
Hi there , could any builder/carpenter out there in Canada tell me if its worth taking power tools out there (ie will they work etc) i have a fair amount of good quality saws & routers etc and dont really want to get rid if i can use them out there, some are 110v and some are 240v.
Cheers Carl

I'm not a builder or carpenter, so absolutely no expert on this stuff, but as this subject has been raised a number of times on here before, it'll be worth your while doing a forum search to bring up previous threads. From memory, the consensus advice was roughly:
- tools for the trade you intend to practice professionally in Canada are not duty-exempt for the purposes of immigration (goods-to-follow lists etc). Either you have to be prepared to persuade customs officials that they are for personal/hobby use only, or you have to be prepared to pay duty on them.
- some employers/site supervisors will be reluctant to let you use non-CSA approved power tools on site. The whole issue of insurance liability has been argued to death on here, and it seems fairly unequivocal that for domestic use there's nothing stopping you plugging in whatever you want, but on a job site the site foreman's decision is what matters.
- as a general rule, portable tools are all 120v; some bench tools run 240v. Most shops (and, indeed, most houses) have 240v service available but the live-neutral and earth-neutral voltage relationships are different from a 240v ring-main in the UK. Be prepared to have to learn about that!
- if you want a decently-equipped home workshop it's worth bringing everything, as you won't get what they're worth if you sell on. But you should expect to have to buy new kit for work here.

jerseytocanada Sep 10th 2012 9:23 am

Re: tools or fools
 

Originally Posted by Oakvillian (Post 10273405)
I'm not a builder or carpenter, so absolutely no expert on this stuff, but as this subject has been raised a number of times on here before, it'll be worth your while doing a forum search to bring up previous threads. From memory, the consensus advice was roughly:
- tools for the trade you intend to practice professionally in Canada are not duty-exempt for the purposes of immigration (goods-to-follow lists etc). Either you have to be prepared to persuade customs officials that they are for personal/hobby use only, or you have to be prepared to pay duty on them.
- some employers/site supervisors will be reluctant to let you use non-CSA approved power tools on site. The whole issue of insurance liability has been argued to death on here, and it seems fairly unequivocal that for domestic use there's nothing stopping you plugging in whatever you want, but on a job site the site foreman's decision is what matters.
- as a general rule, portable tools are all 120v; some bench tools run 240v. Most shops (and, indeed, most houses) have 240v service available but the live-neutral and earth-neutral voltage relationships are different from a 240v ring-main in the UK. Be prepared to have to learn about that!
- if you want a decently-equipped home workshop it's worth bringing everything, as you won't get what they're worth if you sell on. But you should expect to have to buy new kit for work here.

Sell them at home or on eBay and buy new once you get here. I have brought a few hand tools to get me going and was pleasantly surprised at how reasonable the price of power tools was. As the previous poster said you are meant to pay tax on tools your bringing in to the country. They let me through with £500 worth of electricians hand tools but i think it would be different if it was £5000 of power tools.

Driscoll Family Sep 11th 2012 7:02 am

Re: tools or fools
 
Nice 1, Thanks for the info! will probaly sell most and buy there then? if we are accepted .


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