American Made Tools ?

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A friend of mine told me about this web site, and I'm impressed with the members and technical content of the web site! I probably fall into the category of an ole fart! I’m tired of shopping at the local stores as they don’t have anyone to answer questions, and only carry the low grade junk! When I purchase tools, I normally purchase tools that will last. The problem I have is trying to find tools that are made in the USA. (With that said, I do have a few items that I have gotten from HF, but they were purchased for a single use application)Last fall, I went up to Wisconsin to help a friend install some oak flooring. When I went to my truck, I didn’t have my hammer. No problem, there was a small hardware store down the road. They had over 25 hammers; none were made in the USA. However, one was made in Canada so I purchased it! Great balance and I haven’t lost it yet!The question I have, am I the only one that wants to purchase tools made in the USA? Does anyone know if there is a list of MFG’s that make there tools in the USA?
Reply:Don't know about a website. Cooper still makes Channel Lock pliers in the US. Recently bought a pair of of channel lock pliers and needle nose pliers made by them. Can't think of a single power tool that has "made in USA" on it anymore.
Reply:Good luck, I used to always try to buy American but most times I find out "They don't make it here anymore". I was going to buy a Milwaukee grinder the other day, but then I saw made in Mexico. Black and Decker is made in China.Maybe Snap-On has some American Made stuff. I won't deal with Snap-On I have some Snap-On stuff that has been broken over 20 years and I can't get a S/O man to stop around on any kind of a regular basis to replace it.It seems unless you have a garage full of guys who buy into the Snap-On myth and owe him money, They have no reason to stop and service what has already been sold.Joewww.CummingsHauling.com
Reply:I would go to old store looking for old stock from USA... equipment I mean and buy for my home hobby shop... My fabshop have some good tools and my garage... a mix.I love American and european equipment...Unit in my fab shop dept:my good hand and team that trust me...A lone welder make art... a village full of welder make Miracles...
Reply:I feel exactly the same way, Higgins.  Oh, by the way, welcome to the forums:!!.  I am so tired of China tools I could scream, but like was mentioned before sometimes even when you HAVE the money to spend, you still cannot find anything made here. If I can help it I will buy the American made product every time, even if it is RIGHT next to a cheaper, China made pile of junk.  In fact, especially if it is!  I too will frequent Harbor Freight if I need something real quick and do not REALLY care if that tool busts or not after the current job.  Ace Hardware is just up the road and is a great place to go as far as convenience, but not necessarily for top quality American products.Maybe someday I will make the kind of money it takes to scoff at the "affordable" tools and go straight to the top, but for now I'm afraid I have to buy what I can get. .Excellent points though, and thank you for supporting America, very few do anymore!Have a Jeep Cherokee?  Click Here!
Reply:Hecho in china??
Reply:I always check, but most of the actual Craftsman wrenches, sockets and ratches are still made in Georgia, USA,  too bad that Sears is getting to be such a PITA to deal with.Jack
Reply:Hello to all.  New member here.  Here is a web site that may be of interest.It may come as a surprise to some but Milwaukee Power Tools was bought out by Techtronics Industries of HONG KONG!!  You will find more info like this for all the major brands.http://www.professional-power-tool-g...Tool-Guide.htmGlurg
Reply:I spend ALOT of time trying to find US made tools and products.BTW the only USA made tngstens for tigs are Sylvania. Only one I buy
Reply:now, just to be the devil's advocate here,without international trade having been started hundreds of years ago, where would america, or even the rest of the world be today?i, too buy quality over quantity, but without that technology having been traded, noone would have been able to build what they have. not china, not japan, not canada, not even america. the latter two which were completely built and developed on trade.my thoughts...
Reply:You would probably be surprised how many of the tools we think are made by different manufactures are really made by one company, on the same machinery, to the same specs. I know I work for Stanley and they make screwdrivers for several companies, only the handles are different.So much of the operation in making tools is automatic, with little human interaction, I wonder just how much difference it makes where it is made anymore. Not only are the Chinese and the Mexicans taking our jobs, the machines are taking them too.
Reply:Originally Posted by joethemechanicI won't deal with Snap-On I have some Snap-On stuff that has been broken over 20 years and I can't get a S/O man to stop around on any kind of a regular basis to replace it.
Reply:everything I buy i look to make sure it was the "USA" logo on it..  if I have to pay a little more for the same thing for it being made in the US then I do.  if its a substantial difference then i shop around and to my best..   ESPECIALLY with tools..thats why i love my kliens..
Reply:Power Tools are next to impossible to find Made IN USA. Even Milwaukee as someone said is now maid in Mexico. Hand tools however are much easier. I still find myself shopping around alot for them. I won't buy a cheap tool. If it isn't an emergency, such as getting a customers car back together on a Sunday. I buy the best. To me there is nothing more frustrating then junk tools. I know the brands that hold up and I buy them, and only them.I would like to add. Does anyone buy Irwin Tools. I think they are US made. However I have been breaking their stuff left and right lately. I am a carpenter/painter also and have been destroying their wood bits and driver bits. Not very impressed. Did they goto Chinese metal or something?Last edited by Patriot Performance; 03-10-2008 at 05:22 PM.Patriot Performance AutoLincoln Power Mig 255CLincoln AC-225 StickVictor Journeyman O/AQuincy QT-5 Compressor
Reply:I prefer to buy American for everything, unfortunately a lot of things are no longer made here so I get stuck with what I can get. I do have to admit to having an HF 9" grinder (had to have one and HF was right there). It looks like an orange Hitachi and sounds like my two old Rockwells. I am beginning to think it is as tough as the Rockwells too. Some things I buy cheap because I know they are going to be destroyed anyway. I have a Rigid chopsaw and it is as good as any I have used and I like it a whole lot better than the Milwaukee predecessor. More user friendly too. If you need channellocks, get channel lock, same with vise grips and crescent wrenches, and I like my Klein tools as well. They can't be beat be they needlenose (mine are 30 years old), sidecutters or linemans, and I don't feel there is a better screwdriver.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:I have the first pair of 9 1/4" offset linemen's pliers I bought in 1960 when I was young and really stupid and made my living building hi-line. I can't guess how many cuts they  made of #4 and #2 ACSR wire for the next seven years. I smartened up a little bit by then and found another way to pay for groceries.
Reply:Originally Posted by Jolly RogerI prefer to buy American for everything, unfortunately a lot of things are no longer made here so I get stuck with what I can get. I do have to admit to having an HF 9" grinder (had to have one and HF was right there). It looks like an orange Hitachi and sounds like my two old Rockwells. I am beginning to think it is as tough as the Rockwells too. Some things I buy cheap because I know they are going to be destroyed anyway. I have a Rigid chopsaw and it is as good as any I have used and I like it a whole lot better than the Milwaukee predecessor. More user friendly too. If you need channellocks, get channel lock, same with vise grips and crescent wrenches, and I like my Klein tools as well. They can't be beat be they needlenose (mine are 30 years old), sidecutters or linemans, and I don't feel there is a better screwdriver.
Reply:I do my best to buy american, but it's just impossible to do it for EVERYTHING these days.  I use primarily Bosch power tools which is German made I believe.  I just do my best to stay away from China or Taiwan made stuff as I've never seen a quality product come from either of those places.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------In HD today, bought a pair of genuine vise grips model 6R, the little ones to add to my collection of some 20 vise grips all genuine. In fairly big print says made in USA, just as expected. I get it home and the adjusting nut looks a little lightly built and has a Allen key slot in the end to adjust it, kinda strange that it is marked MM for the size. So I look closer and in small print under "made in the USA" is "from global sourced parts" WTF
Reply:So how many American citizens here have had manufacturing jobs?City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny