Just in wal mart looking at tools...

[hairtrigger]

Sorry for making a thread that spiraled so far out of control. Wasn't my intent. I tend to pick taboo subjects, but it's totally inconsequential. Besides, it ends up being cool because I have something to keep my mind busy and talk to other people that like tools.

But on the subject (that we've gotten on) I don't think wal mart is doing as much damage as Obama to the US economy and manufacturing. Nobody wants to hire full time because of that stupid universal healthcare BS. So everybody's working part time for peanuts. And why are all these companies going to want to pay these super huge taxes and deal with the union ordeals when they can go overseas and, not only avoid those, but also pay their employees less. Our unions are always demanding, demanding, demanding. They're lucky they even have jobs (sorry if I hurt your feelings with that, but it's true).

Believe me, I would love to buy all USA made expensive quality tools, but I'm terminally ill, and I have lots of kids to feed. I like tools because they enable me to do what I love, which is messing with cars. I love cars. Any tool that I can afford, I will leverage what is "quality" for the price paid. As long as it is decent quality and a decent price, I'm good.

I've gotten bitten in the *** before buying precision measurement tools from northern tool, which were VERY cheap and I immediately threw them in the garbage. But stanley tools are starting to look usable and actually quality that is worthwhile to a hobbyist like myself.

 

[hairtrigger]

In response to an older post (which has now been removed for some reason) as to not needing a 1/2'' deep socket set, I love them. I always opt for the 1/2'' drive wherever it will fit, even for small fasteners like 10mm. I only use the smaller ratchets when the 1/2'' drive won't fit. Usually with a stud or recess (requiring a deep socket) you can 99% of the time use a 1/2'' drive ratchet easily.

 

[BajaBound]

To the OP, I have Stanley sae and mm 1/2 shallow sets and they are the primary sockets for my off road bag they have not only proven to be good performers they have saved my *** a time or two, they have been beaten on with impacts and breaker bars and are still all good. The only failure has been the 21mm and that failure is my fault for loosing it and was replaced with a cman 21mm. I am a fan.

 

[WRX/Z28]

I agree, wranglers aren't for "every" shape, (round in his case)...Im done with him also

So they don't fit you either?

Good to know though... thanks asspipe...

 

[kapster]

My first screwdriver set was stanley from wal mart. They're not super tough but much better then the usa craftsman I got next. I got a set of metric hex bit socket drivers. Totally amazing, I ended up getting an sae set for home and work. They don't twist like the other sets we have at work. I compared them on hardness tester and they're significantly harder the the others we have (snap on, craftsman, proto and sk). So they might snap someday but I've leaned on them pretty good and they've held up. I still like USA tools better though, these just happened to be a little better

 

[buffalobill]

Sorry for making a thread that spiraled so far out of control. Wasn't my intent. I tend to pick taboo subjects, but it's totally inconsequential. Besides, it ends up being cool because I have something to keep my mind busy and talk to other people that like tools.

But on the subject (that we've gotten on) I don't think wal mart is doing as much damage as Obama to the US economy and manufacturing. Nobody wants to hire full time because of that stupid universal healthcare BS. So everybody's working part time for peanuts. And why are all these companies going to want to pay these super huge taxes and deal with the union ordeals when they can go overseas and, not only avoid those, but also pay their employees less. Our unions are always demanding, demanding, demanding. They're lucky they even have jobs (sorry if I hurt your feelings with that, but it's true).
I have to call you on this one, you have to keep your politics out of this forum. Maybe let your opinions fly over in Free Parking, maybe, but this forum is strictly for tools.
Besides that, coming on here and telling everyone that they should be buying cheaper tools, since YOU cannot afford them, is ****. SK, craftsman, wright, armstrong, are well within reach of anyone with a decent job. if you do not have the means of obtaining them, its your problem,not everyone elses. There is no reason that average, middle class guys should not be able to step onto a tool truck once in a while and come out with some nice stuff, as well. its no different than buying a gun, a quality tool should last you a lifetime, why not buy the best you can?

Believe me, I would love to buy all USA made expensive quality tools, but I'm terminally ill, and I have lots of kids to feed. I like tools because they enable me to do what I love, which is messing with cars. I love cars. Any tool that I can afford, I will leverage what is "quality" for the price paid. As long as it is decent quality and a decent price, I'm good.
this is exactly my point above, you are in a tight monetary situation. No one has crapped on what you buy, but you seem to be on a pretty high horse about how everyone else doesn't need to own anything other than what you have. Sorry about your illness, but if you were not, you might be in a different boat, don't you think?
I've gotten bitten in the *** before buying precision measurement tools from northern tool, which were VERY cheap and I immediately threw them in the garbage. But stanley tools are starting to look usable and actually quality that is worthwhile to a hobbyist like myself.

You didn't return the cheap tools to northern? you could have probably picked up some quality used stuff with the money you got back.

PS, i dunno where you are at, but there is a big shortage of labor around buffalo. no one with a skill is working "part time for peanuts", because of health insurance. I guess you don't keep up on labor stats either, there are only about 7% of the workforce belonging to a union. You might look at how many stanley tools you would be able to afford on a chinese budget. Ronald Regan even said "greed is good", so what else would you expect? How is it not good for me if I get more money every year to try and keep up with inflation, because its in my contract??

Manufacturing is dead because the population is stupid and cheap. everyone votes with their wallet, and the vote is in. everyone wants a good job, yet want to pay nothing for quality. So, with the push for cheap, everything has moved to where it can be made cheap. Just one problem with that, it ends a lot of decent jobs. So then people complain about it anyway.

People can't have it both ways.

 

[cundifc]

Back to the op. I was at wal Mart the other day looking at tools and I was surprised to see channel lock made on the us. I thought that was good to see. I personally don't have any Stanley tools but the quality looks to be getting better.

 

[Al Bundy]

My local Walmart is filled with nothing but tools. And 350lb greasy women.

 

[hairtrigger]

You didn't return the cheap tools to northern? you could have probably picked up some quality used stuff with the money you got back.

PS, i dunno where you are at, but there is a big shortage of labor around buffalo. no one with a skill is working "part time for peanuts", because of health insurance. I guess you don't keep up on labor stats either, there are only about 7% of the workforce belonging to a union. You might look at how many stanley tools you would be able to afford on a chinese budget. Ronald Regan even said "greed is good", so what else would you expect? How is it not good for me if I get more money every year to try and keep up with inflation, because its in my contract??

Manufacturing is dead because the population is stupid and cheap. everyone votes with their wallet, and the vote is in. everyone wants a good job, yet want to pay nothing for quality. So, with the push for cheap, everything has moved to where it can be made cheap. Just one problem with that, it ends a lot of decent jobs. So then people complain about it anyway.

People can't have it both ways.

When did I say you should buy them? Or that I was better for using them. That's ridiculous. It's amazing how some people can misinterpret the simplest things. Actually, notice across the board, anyone who mentions anything not USA made, instantly, "oh, that's made in xxxxx, so it's ****" But turn it around on me, on YOUR high horse. Again, ain't got a lot of money, so if you got some you wanna give me, I'll take it.

 

[Kevin54]

Unfortunately shopping at Wal Mart means supporting the weekly china run from this bad boy...

The Maersk is a European shipping company. Those could be European goods. They don't support American workers either.

OUCH!!!!

 

[hairtrigger]

You know, I get tired of cocky USA-made-whores, not saying that some of you are, but you act like only USA will do, and if you don't buy it, you're insufficient and you have no idea what you're doing. Just like the last fat stupid redneck I sold my lot of kobalt tools for. About $1200 dollars worth of tools that he wanted to pay me $50 bucks for because it was "taiwanese ****, and I ain't runnin no retail store" So I've just come to the conclusion, I'm gonna start buying all foreign just to purposefully stab at cocky USA whores. Might not be worth much, but at least I'm doing my part to be the little insignificant ******* that I am according to everyone else.

 

[lowbucktruck]

Getting back to the original topic that hairtrigger brought up... Walmart does seem to be carrying more of a tool selection these days. I've noticed Channellock on the shelves there. And yes, I buy Wrangler jeans and dog food from Walmart (when they are on sale)... or at Boot Barn. Wrangler jeans fit my narrow cowboy ****.
Of course, out where I live, not alot of options for local retail shopping... other than Tractor Supply and the local feed store.

Not all Stanley tools are made overseas, it seems... the tape measures are still USA-made or USA-assembled. And the Stanley wrenches are made in Taiwan, not China. Just sayin. Not exactly pro-grade tools though. Those Stanley screwdrivers really ****; I keep them on a pegboard for the wife to use or the neighbor to borrow.

 

[buffalobill]

You know, I get tired of cocky USA-made-whores, not saying that some of you are, but you act like only USA will do, and if you don't buy it, you're insufficient and you have no idea what you're doing. Just like the last fat stupid redneck I sold my lot of kobalt tools for. About $1200 dollars worth of tools that he wanted to pay me $50 bucks for because it was "taiwanese ****, and I ain't runnin no retail store" So I've just come to the conclusion, I'm gonna start buying all foreign just to purposefully stab at cocky USA whores. Might not be worth much, but at least I'm doing my part to be the little insignificant ******* that I am according to everyone else.

most of the time when you sell used, you take a loss. its nothing new, and you are not being picked on. And if you are so jealous and angry about people buying domestically made tools, why not go buy some QUALITY foreign tools, like Hazet or Stawhille or Facom?funny how you are only sticking up for cheap asian ****. Did all of these guys who buy american tools put you in your current economic state? if they didn't, why the chip on your shoulder. No one knocked stanley tools. you did knock american tools, citing their costs as being way out of line. I think a lot of people around here disagree about that. You have never heard of "you get what you pay for?"

 

[thesilverone]

You know, I get tired of cocky USA-made-whores, not saying that some of you are, but you act like only USA will do, and if you don't buy it, you're insufficient and you have no idea what you're doing. Just like the last fat stupid redneck I sold my lot of kobalt tools for. About $1200 dollars worth of tools that he wanted to pay me $50 bucks for because it was "taiwanese ****, and I ain't runnin no retail store" So I've just come to the conclusion, I'm gonna start buying all foreign just to purposefully stab at cocky USA whores. Might not be worth much, but at least I'm doing my part to be the little insignificant ******* that I am according to everyone else.

go cry me a freakin river.

this forum is very much PRO MADE IN USA...so you might want to find another forum.

 

[kippieland]

"go cry me a freakin river"

 

[mmack66]

go cry me a freakin river.

this forum is very much PRO MAD IN USA...so you might want to find another forum.

Made or Mad, either one works.

 

[87handmedown]

If we didn't have so many GD unions with lazy *** workers

 

[glenmore]

I am realizing this far too late in life but bottom line:

We would all be better off if we all just buy less ****.

 

[kippieland]

If we didn't have so many GD unions with lazy *** workers

 

[87handmedown]

Who me?

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

wages have dropped to 1977 levels

 

[buffalobill]

lol! i'm off to my union job, to take a coffee break, read the paper, and take a nap! wake me up when its time to make fun of cheap tools again!

 

[lowbucktruck]

I am realizing this far too late in life but bottom line:

We would all be better off if we all just buy less ****.

So true, hurts but so very true...

 

[87handmedown]

wages have dropped to 1977 levels

lol! i'm off to my union job, to take a coffee break, read the paper, and take a nap! wake me up when its time to make fun of cheap tools again!

Cheaply made or cheaply priced? I'd hate to wake you up for the wrong reason.

 

[buffalobill]

either or, i'm always up for cheap tool smackdown! than back to union nap for me! unless someone brought in free doughnuts....

 

[cundifc]

Someone wise once said if its over 3 pages stop Reading it's become a bitching contest.

 

[byoungblood]

Not really. Craftsman and Kobalt prices are almost borderline being too expensive for hobbyists. American made tools are typically four to ten times as expensive.

Really? If you were using SO as your comparison, I could see your point. Craftsman is pretty inexpensive unless you're buying stuff one piece at a time.

I assume you're probably using HF as your price comparison, in which case any quality brand, US made or otherwise, is going to seem expensive to you.

 

[Diesel-Mech]

I am not a "Harley guy". I happen to own a Harley. I would have no problem owning and riding a Honda Gold Wing (which by the way is made in America, or any other of the Japanese or German bikes.

Honda moved Gold Wing production to Japan last year.

 

[87handmedown]

Someone wise once said if its over 3 pages stop Reading it's become a bitching contest.

Nonsense, Poopy-Pants! This thread was a bitching contest back on page one.

 

[Al Bundy]

<a href="http://www.smiley-faces.org"><img src="http://www.smiley-faces.org/smiley-faces/smiley-face-popcorn.gif" alt="Smiley Faces" border="0" /></a>

 

[buffalobill]

Nonsense, Poopy-Pants! This thread was a bitching contest back on page one.

yeah it was! if only all those poor saps at the garages and dealerships knew about walmart, they could save all that money they spend on tools, and spend it all on hospital bills for broken knuckles and deep cuts, lol! who wouldn't want inferior tools?

I didn't know "stupid and cheap" were considered terminal illnesses these days. Sounds like i need to file me some disability paperwork, and get me some free money! then everyone can ***** about it even more!

 

[kc-steve]

Fixed!

Fixed it even better!

 

[emeraldcoupe]

i have a small 3/8 dr set and a set of the non polished wrenches that i bought for my junkyard bag. figure if i lose them or break them,no big deal. they are holding up surprisingly well.

 

[Case]

Not really. Craftsman and Kobalt prices are almost borderline being too expensive for hobbyists. American made tools are typically four to ten times as expensive.

how is 10 bucks (when on sale) for a craftsman 3/8 socket set in metric or sae to expensive ?