what US tool companies make low quality?

[WHT]

No, what I've got going is a list and the basis of it is pro-US made tools. Apex, stanley/B and D, kmart craftsman are all going to basically get **** talked about them. Along with the big boxes and how they do business, forcing US manufacturing overseas -----please no arguments on this, as my website=my point of view---just sayin'.

Also there will be full acknowledgement that other countries make awesome tools too.

What I'm not sure on though, is who makes crappy US made tools, and if i should include them, ignore them, etc etc. 1 thing i won't do is act as though every single tool with USA stamped on it is good, and every company that manufactures in the US is good. We all know that is not true.

And you are qualified to rate tools as $hit because? Why don't you tell us more about yourself and your expert knowledge of tools?

It's amazing the people who can't wait to tear down this country and its manufacturing base. And, no, I am not saying everything we produce is the highest quality. I AM saying what kind of person has to dig up as much **** as possible and post it when they don't apparently know very much. If you did, you wouldn't need to be asking.

 

[scylla]

With today's competitive pressures I'm surprised that the quality of most everything made in the U.S. is still fairly high.
U.S. companies are hit from all sides these days, from overseas countries without environmental and labor standards, one sided "free trade" agreements, tax issues, you name it.
Even your average consumer doesn't help. Most consumers wouldn't know tool quality if beat upside the head with it. Low price is probably the #1 consideration when a non-professional buys tools.
I can only see the U.S. made tool quality decline even further, without a bit of the same trade protection other countries employ. Like China has, and even, yes, those vaunted German tool makers.

 

[plinker]

I've got what I'm certain is a new produstion S-K socket. It's a 3/8 drive deep 15/16. I bought it at tooltopia a couple weeks ago along with a couple other sockets.

The chrome is as good as any other S-K socket I've seen. The inside has the frosted chrome paint(?). I'm not saying it's good bad or ugly as I have not used it yet. I think it it a very nice looking socket. I do expect it to have surface rust develop on the inside at some point due to the nature of living up here (plus lack of heated shop). This doesnt bother me though.




The thing I find with tool brands is every brand makes a "Poor", "bad" or "hard to use not thought out well tool", as in not all mfg's make the perfect everything. Even then sometimes quality on the good one's slip's, like the 36 tooth Armstrong ratchets for example.

There is a reason I buy from a lot of different companies. That reason is I buy the best item(s) they make and if some tools from them are iffy, I'll buy them from someone else. I dont like keeping all my egg's in one basket as it were anyway. Sometime even lower end stuff is "good enough".
It all depends on what the end user is trying to acomplish.

 

[4x4gearhead]

I feel to be honest that a lot of armstrong's wrenches are very sub par for the price. I do have an adjustable that is really tight that I like but other than that all of the armstrong/matco/craftsman pro combinations I have are pretty weak on the open end for how meaty and expensive they are. I use the **** out of the open end so I plainly just wont have it. A lot of the actual industrial tools they make like spud/open end wrenches I like, including the martin style water pump wrenches I have a few and they have a little better QC on them I think.

I agree also that a lot of Lisle specialty tools dont seem to last, I find that they are better to buy if you only have to use it once, not every day.

 

[bobcatdan]

If you ask me, anything Danher has their hands in. What was left of USA made craftsman made by them was boardline junk. Cresent adjust havn't been worth a damn for 10 years. Most armstrong sockets are the same junk as craftsman. Matco that hasn't been offshored still seems pretty good. Pratt reed screwdrivers are nothing great. I'm on the fence about wilde, the stuff they make for craftsman is not impressive, but I would try their private lable stuff to see if it is any better. I don't know if they are still made here, but vermont american tap and dies are ****.

 

[Davefr]

Are there any that are generally accepted as low overall quality....like who?

Black and Decker

 

[eljefino]

USA-made 2010 era Kobalt 3/8" socket wrench was uninspiring and rough. Taiwan replacement much better.

This thread is like catching a falling knife; we don't know something's junk right off and by the time we do, they seem to have packed up and split.

 

[trboxman]

Black and Decker

True. In my opinion, 90+% of everything with a B&D label on it is junk...but how much, if any, is made in the US? Can they really be considered a US mfg?

 

[1982fxr]

And you are qualified to rate tools as $hit because? Why don't you tell us more about yourself and your expert knowledge of tools?

It's amazing the people who can't wait to tear down this country and its manufacturing base. And, no, I am not saying everything we produce is the highest quality. I AM saying what kind of person has to dig up as much **** as possible and post it when they don't apparently know very much. If you did, you wouldn't need to be asking.

think whatever you want.

I rather like American manufacturing, and I used to be employed by it. So far I've had only a few shirts designed and printed, and they are American made even though I could have spent about 1/5 and had imports. The ink was also American made. Next run I will be paying a little extra again, this time to have shirts that were made in a Union shop in the US. There are 2 kinds of American made in the textile industry...American made by Americans, and American made by illegals.

I'm also hoping to have some American made motorcycle tools/parts produced if things work out. American made steel with the labor and design done here as well.

Also want to have some patches made, but can't find a suitable US sourced material for what I want, so they are on hold. And maybe talk to a leather worker and see about some custom wristbands, but only if it's all USA made material. The business cards will be printed on recycled paper in a Union shop here in the US. Small stuff sometimes, but I believe it matters.

So there it is, the profile of someone who can't wait to teardown American manufacturing.

 

[1982fxr]

USA-made 2010 era Kobalt 3/8" socket wrench was uninspiring and rough. Taiwan replacement much better.

This thread is like catching a falling knife; we don't know something's junk right off and by the time we do, they seem to have packed up and split.

no I was just at school.

 

[1982fxr]

And you are qualified to rate tools as $hit because? Why don't you tell us more about yourself and your expert knowledge of tools?

It's amazing the people who can't wait to tear down this country and its manufacturing base. And, no, I am not saying everything we produce is the highest quality. I AM saying what kind of person has to dig up as much **** as possible and post it when they don't apparently know very much. If you did, you wouldn't need to be asking.

I don't understand why you highlighted those companies? Are you saying apex, stanley/B and D, and k mart corp all represent American manufacturing to you?

 

[1982fxr]

Tell that to the steel makers who are forced to shut down their plants, because they can't afford the ridiculous 'upgrades' required by the EPA...and yes they are ridiculous. No one likes breathing polluted air, however if you put into perspective where pollution levels were, at the turn of the century, to where they are now, you will see how greatly air quality has improved...and how much progress we have made, to the point where we could relax our standards a bit if we wanted to. You are not going to rid the atmosphere of carbon. In an industrialized country, thats not going to happen. So with that knowledge then, do we really need enviro-police running around bullying manufacturers out of exisitience?? I don't think so.

Sadly the public, including the person I am replying to, are horribly naieve about how much power the EPA has and how many lives they have destroyed. It's one thing to want clean air and water, it's another thing to blindly trust some government agency to provide it for you, without knowing the science and the data (along with a little historical perspective) and then based on that, try to make an informed decision.

Newsflash folks! Compared to China, our air and water pollution is virtually non-existient...yet where are all the American protesters in China??? There no where to be found! Where are all the politicians denouncing Chinas manufacturing processes?? There no where to be found! Its easy to push around American companies, but where are all the GREEN police in China where the REAL pollution is happening?? That right there tells me that the whole 'green movement' is one big scam.

EPA is nothing more than a bully who has grown overweight and bloated by stealing from others and there day is coming sooner than most people think.

so who are they?

and for the record I HATE the epa more than you could know.

Just re-read that. So because I stated that I have not been able to find specific examples of tool companies not setting up shop here, that means I blindly trust the government? Amazing.

I hate the epa and the government. If you want to throw some specific examples that you are referring to in here, I am all ears. Until then, the post you made is exactly what i'm talking about. All I can find is that it's an excuse to outsource. So I'm asking you, what are some specific examples of the epa policies shutting manufacturing down?

 

[RangerDaleXp]

I would say all US companies make some items that are junk one way or the other. Black & Decker comes to mind in a big way.

 

[lbgradwell]

Two more famous examples of bad US-made tools came to mind today:

• Robo-Grip pliers
  
• Gator-Grip Universal Socket

Both truly awful.

 

[Even Steven]

USA made Kobalt from Danaher flat out sucked. I have some long hex bit sockets that are pressed in crooked, and don't fit the fastener well. If you want pictures, I can get them. The China made Danaher Thru Socket set has great bit sockets in it, all fit well and are pressed in straight.

Doesn't Danaher make NAPA hand tools too?

 

[trboxman]

Doesn't Danaher make NAPA hand tools too?

yes, yes they do.

 

[RangerDaleXp]

Doesn't Danaher make NAPA hand tools too?

I think it is a hit and miss with the Kobalt Danaher stuff. I have some that has worked well for me.

 

[1982fxr]

danaher makes the napa 'house' brand? I was there a couple months ago and couldn't believe how crappy their house brand line was, can't think of what it was called

 

[rlitman]

. . . I don't know if they are still made here, but vermont american tap and dies are ****.

I'm pretty sure they're made somewhere between Pittsburgh and Chicago Electric, if you get my drift.

 

[yasha32]

The female torx (E35) socket I bought from napa was horrible. They chamfered the edge of the socket so bad that the amount of actual grab you got on the fastener was super minimal. Some people think I'm nuts, but you cant chamfer a socket where it is supposed to mate with a fastener; it just wrecks them.

 

[expfcwintergreen]

I will never buy anything else made by Great Neck after having used a Torx 50 that tore all to hell trying to loosen a seat belt fastener. I bought a Craftsman Torx 50 that worked just like it was supposed to. I later used another Great Neck Torx socket that a friend had to take out a Torx fastener on his door. SSDD.

I stopped by a place that sells tools last night for its grand opening. At least 75% of their tools were Great Neck. Too bad; the store was a mile and a half from my home.

 

[kythri]

danaher makes the napa 'house' brand? I was there a couple months ago and couldn't believe how crappy their house brand line was, can't think of what it was called

I don't know if "Silverline" is still around, but "Evercraft" is the import stuff, and "NAPA Hand Tools" is the "better" line. Some stuff is outsourced (German screwdrivers, for one), but the "hardline" like ratchets/sockets are US-made Danaher.

 

[puttsy]

To the OP:

Stanley Made in USA "With global materials" stuff isn't too great

And Vermont American? No, that's not a harbor freight brand...not even close. But I am not sure if they are still made in USA or not. I have a couple old NIP cutoff wheels that state they are made here but, they are fairly old so it may have changed.

Craftsman quality across the board is slipping. The sockets are still okay but a lot of the other stuff is mediocre.

Kobalt shouldn't count. They change OEM's too often to really consider as an 'investment' tool.

Husky has some USA stuff but, it's usually not too amazing either. Maybe slightly lesser than Craftsman but, for the most part the USA is the same stuff.

Pratt-Read seems to be a dice-roll. I've heard of LOADS of QC issues come from their own products.

Klein screwdrivers seem to be a touchy subject. A LOT of professionals I've spoken with don't use them anymore because of the bad tips. (Some switched to Pratt-Read and have been satisfied)

Great Neck Saw: Some of their stuff states USA, some of it not. Regardless, most any Great Neck stuff is pretty junky from what I've seen. Supposedly they make decent saws but I've heard Stanley ones are still better.

Channellock is sneaky, their pliers are still great and USA made BUT, pretty much all their other tools are China made so I'm on the fence about that practice. (Floating on the name)

I think that's all I've got for now. If I think of anything else I'll head back. BTW, what site is this for? A lot of people are arguing because we don't want you claiming ownership of what we post on your avenue.

 

[rodm1]

Allen and Kobalt are hit or mice with me.

 

[1982fxr]

To the OP:

Stanley Made in USA "With global materials" stuff isn't too great

And Vermont American? No, that's not a harbor freight brand...not even close. But I am not sure if they are still made in USA or not. I have a couple old NIP cutoff wheels that state they are made here but, they are fairly old so it may have changed.

Craftsman quality across the board is slipping. The sockets are still okay but a lot of the other stuff is mediocre.

Kobalt shouldn't count. They change OEM's too often to really consider as an 'investment' tool.

Husky has some USA stuff but, it's usually not too amazing either. Maybe slightly lesser than Craftsman but, for the most part the USA is the same stuff.

Pratt-Read seems to be a dice-roll. I've heard of LOADS of QC issues come from their own products.

Klein screwdrivers seem to be a touchy subject. A LOT of professionals I've spoken with don't use them anymore because of the bad tips. (Some switched to Pratt-Read and have been satisfied)

Great Neck Saw: Some of their stuff states USA, some of it not. Regardless, most any Great Neck stuff is pretty junky from what I've seen. Supposedly they make decent saws but I've heard Stanley ones are still better.

Channellock is sneaky, their pliers are still great and USA made BUT, pretty much all their other tools are China made so I'm on the fence about that practice. (Floating on the name)

I think that's all I've got for now. If I think of anything else I'll head back. BTW, what site is this for? A lot of people are arguing because we don't want you claiming ownership of what we post on your avenue.

thanks. On the Channellock I emailed them and they were very forthright on the fact that screwdrivers/nutdrivers are chinese and adjustable wrenches come from Spain. I think they may have shrunk the product line recently, and that may include other chinese stuff you speak of? I don't know, but they came right out and spoke the truth about having chinese and other imported tools in their line.

I would never claim ownership of anything or do anything along those lines. I asked because there is no possible way for me to buy some of every tool and find out for myself. I wish there was, but not gonna happen.

The website will be a motorcycle/American products website that will include a list/rating of tool companies that produce in the US, and also the brands that we see on store shelves. Anti-nafta/free trade, anti-big box store bullies that essentially drive manufacturing overseas. I want to do interviews with industry people (motorcycle, manufacturing, tools, etc).

Originally started with the idea that if you go to a harley dealer to buy a t-shirt, you're gonna pay about $30 plus tax for a paper thin shirt coming from somewhere like china, pakistan, or maybe mexico. And good 'ol Harley is only too happy to put an American flag theme on there and patriotic slogans.

I found that unacceptable. Everyone else in the industry does basically the same thing, but for around $15-25. I can offer shirts made in Union shops here in America, printed with American sourced ink, designed and printed locally for the $25-35 range. Once you start looking into making things yourself it is really amazing how much we're being gouged.

Of course there will be car and bike show coverage/features on the site as well.

and I love my harley shovelhead, but don't care for the company so much

 

[Pro-Painter]

Armstrong, Most of their tools are good quality, but the new quasi-chrome that they're using leaves a lot to be desired IMO. Also, their USA made ratcheting wrenches seem to have some of the worst overall QC in the industry. Numerous complaints about sticky action, self reversing, jamming, etc. The broaching on the open end generally is not impressive from what I've seen, either.

Ive got to completely disagree with you. The Armstrong ratcheting wrenches and socket set I got a few weeks ago are outstanding in every way possible. True they have the darker, nickel chrome but it looks thick and is near flawless. IMO the darker chrome has more depth and makes the tools look better. Like looking at sterling silver vs chrome.
The Armstrong ratcheting wrenches are the nicest Ive ever seen/used. The quality and features are miles ahead of any similar priced sets. The ratchet end is very smooth and centered perfectly, The modified open end is broached very nice and smooth and they all reverse nicely. I cant claim any of that for the Gearwrench or even blue-point/Williams wrenches.

IMHO the Armstrong wrenches are of perfect quality and as a painter and tool nut, I'm very picky about the finishes, even on my tools.


Here some pictures I took of brand NEW Armstrong and Gearwrench wrenches.

Armstrong 15mm

Gearwrench 15mm

My most hated USA tool brand is the 2nd gen Danahar Kobalt tools. Chrome plated bricks for ratchets, ruff cast wrenches, 36-tooth ratcheting wrenches, etc.

 

[fivespdcat]

^those Armstrong wrenches are so nice. I had to really hold back from buying that set, since I already have a complete set of ratcheting wrenches.

 

[Peoria Man]

I will never buy anything else made by Great Neck after having used a Torx 50 that tore all to hell trying to loosen a seat belt fastener. I bought a Craftsman Torx 50 that worked just like it was supposed to.

T55 is always the deal breaker for me; I have one vehicle with lots of T55 fasteners and they'll twist a Lisle T55 in no time. Biggest Craftsman makes is T50 (that I'm aware of) so for T55 its Snap-On or nothing.

No complaints about any of my Craftsman or Snap-On Torx sockets.

 

[Cookannapurna]

All this makes me think is that I need more tools to be able to better judge.

I hope my wife is not monitoring this!

 

[vintagefan]

Ive got to completely disagree with you.

I respectfully must disagree with your disagreement.

I have repeatedly given Armstrong a chance, and they have repeatedly proven themselves to have abysmal quality control, at least in the wrenches that I've personally tried.

My second most recent failure at giving Armstrong a chance was the USMC tool kit tray that was recently on sale from Unclesam's in the Hot deals thread.

Nearly 25% of the wrenches in the set had some issue. Most of them had horrible broaching (not even up to chinese quality), but a couple had broaching like you show.

Even amongst the "good" wrenches, none of them had uniform ratcheting action, some had very strong springs, and some had very weak springs. Some had dirty teeth, some had clean teeth. Amongst the bad wrenches, some seized part way through rotation, and some self-reversed. Please realize, this isn't me being nit-picky either, these are blatantly obvious issues... I handed a few to my wife to try, without saying a word, and she was like, "Wow, these are ****!"

This is the THIRD brand new set I've gotten that shared these same exact issues.

The second set was purchased for almost $200 directly from McMaster-Carr, after the disbelief I experienced with the horrible quality of the first set I tried, which was purchased from ebay, with each wrench still in the plastic.


All three sets were brand new in sealed factory packaging, and all three had absolutely inexcusable issues. Not like "I kinda don't like them", more like, "they never, ever should have left the factory".


Now, if this was just my personal experience, I would assume I'm just having bad luck... as I would if it was only a single, or even two wrenches in a set. But if you check the last couple major deals on Armstrong wrenches that have been posted on this site, you'll find numerous other members that have gone through the same exact thing. We're talking multiple bad wrenches, over multiple bad sets, over multiple GJ members... a fairly clear pattern.

One memeber even got a wrench that was missing the entire ratcheting mechanism... just an empty wrench body. I mean, come on LOL! That's just plain absurd


Edit: sorry if i was too harsh with my post. I didnt mean it like that. I just am really frustrated, because i reallly wanted some affordable USA made ratcheting wrenches and it felt like i hit a dead end. In all fairness, the ones that were goid quality, were some of the best ive seen, it just wanst repeatable it seemed.

 

[Pro-Painter]

I respectfully must disagree with your disagreement.
Edit: sorry if i was too harsh with my post. I didnt mean it like that. I just am really frustrated, because i reallly wanted some affordable USA made ratcheting wrenches and it felt like i hit a dead end. In all fairness, the ones that were goid quality, were some of the best ive seen, it just wanst repeatable it seemed.

No need to apologize bud, That is the joy of a forum. If everyone agreed, it would be one hell of a boring forum. Unlike many members, I don't need to be told how awesome my tools are all the time. I enjoy reading all opinions, positive or negative.

I feel the same way about Gearwrench as you do armstrong. 4 sets purchased in the last year (SAE flex, metric flex, 20pc sears deal and the 8pc reversible metric) and IMHO they are all horrible quality. I kept buying based on member reviews from this forum and hoping they would get better. I was wrong, they got worse. When I first mentioned the quality of the sets I got flamed from the pro Gearwrench. Now I'm on the other side with you and Armstrong.


The USMC deal was my first Armstrong purchase, But the same day I bought a used set from ebay also. Both sets are great quality. The used wrenches have been very well used and they are still fantastic.

However, I remember reading from the USMC Armstrong thread that people where saying that the USMC kits came in the original, unopened boxes. Mine did not. I received a very large box with the re-taped USMC box inside. Makes me wonder if my wrench set was a return, and uncle Sam's exchanged out the bad with new.
Ive had an extremely positive Armstrong experience with all three sets of ratcheting wrenches, the socket set and the craftsman pro wrenches I picked up on sale. I consider myself lucky now. Maybe all my bad Gearwrench luck finally turned postive....


BTW: what did you do with your Armstrong USMC set? Wanna sell it ?

 

[LincolnCont.]

If you havent bought anything recently you wouldnt have noticed it but Snap-Ons most recent offerings are indeed using a dark chrome that looks exactly like Armstrongs'.

On the left there are some very recent production Snap-On wrenches. You'll notice the smallest one at the bottom looks different because thats a few years older when they still had a brighter chrome, now it looks the same as the Armstrong stuff. Those are Armstrong made Cman Pros on the right for comparison.

Besides the new ones being "darker" so to speak, when I look at the flat side of the open end of my newer SO wrenches in the light, the chrome has a blocky distorted look as compared to the old ones that have a smooth uniform finish.

 

[805gregg]

HF of course.

 

[billymade]

The Snap-On wrenches; now seem to be chromed in the trivalent chroming process, watch it here:

I love the look of the older chrome on their tools; the chrome on the 50s to 80s stuff looks great!

 

[vintagefan]

No need to apologize bud, That is the joy of a forum. If everyone agreed, it would be one hell of a boring forum. Unlike many members, I don't need to be told how awesome my tools are all the time. I enjoy reading all opinions, positive or negative.

I feel the same way about Gearwrench as you do armstrong. 4 sets purchased in the last year (SAE flex, metric flex, 20pc sears deal and the 8pc reversible metric) and IMHO they are all horrible quality. I kept buying based on member reviews from this forum and hoping they would get better. I was wrong, they got worse. When I first mentioned the quality of the sets I got flamed from the pro Gearwrench. Now I'm on the other side with you and Armstrong.


The USMC deal was my first Armstrong purchase, But the same day I bought a used set from ebay also. Both sets are great quality. The used wrenches have been very well used and they are still fantastic.

However, I remember reading from the USMC Armstrong thread that people where saying that the USMC kits came in the original, unopened boxes. Mine did not. I received a very large box with the re-taped USMC box inside. Makes me wonder if my wrench set was a return, and uncle Sam's exchanged out the bad with new.
Ive had an extremely positive Armstrong experience with all three sets of ratcheting wrenches, the socket set and the craftsman pro wrenches I picked up on sale. I consider myself lucky now. Maybe all my bad Gearwrench luck finally turned postive....


BTW: what did you do with your Armstrong USMC set? Wanna sell it ?

I already sold most of the set, I only have the screwdrivers and tray. I'm saving the tray for the one day I hopfully can aquire a GMTK Pelican case.

As far as Gearwrench goes, I agree with you, they are trash now. The old Taiwan made were quite good, then they shipped them to China, and the quality dropped a bit, but they were still reasonable. Then they cheapened them yet again, to the point where they were garbage. A member made a thread about it here, I can't seem to find it though.

I've owned all three, and I can say that the original Gearwrenches were a tool I was proud to have in my toolbox. Now, I wouldn't even want to use them as a doorstop.

As far as Armstrong goes, when you get good ones, I think they're great... hopefully that didn't get drowned out in my rant. The problem is, they just can't seem to get their QC together in my experience.

I've read a lot of horror stories about Danaher group and their attempts to emulate "lean manufacturing" employed by toyota. Obviously they're going a little too lean here. That's what happens when you put profit above all else.

I personally try to stay away from companies that do business like that, and IMO Danaher is one of the worst, if the the worst... even worse than Stanley.

The Snap-On wrenches; now seem to be chromed in the trivalent chroming process, watch it here:

I love the look of the older chrome on their tools; the chrome on the 50s to 80s stuff looks great!

So it appears that my earlier hypothesis in the thread was correct.

Danaher has already admitted that they are now using a "BriteGuard" or "DuraBright", or similar named nickel plate process in place of chrome, I read that in an industry article that was linked here some time ago.

It's evident by this video that Snap-on has indeed switched to a Trivalent chrome process, which is backed up by the visual change that correctly corresponds to a switch from Hexavalent to Trivalent.

I can pretty safely assume that SK and Wright are still using Hexavalent chrome, by visual inspection. There are brighteners that can be used, but in my experience in plating, they don't make a significant enough difference to fool Trivalent chrome into looking like Hexavalent.



The evidence so far strongly supports...

Snap-on: Trivalent Chrome
Wright, SK: Hexavalent Chrome
Armstrong: Nickel

 

[MastoidPress]

so who are they?

and for the record I HATE the epa more than you could know.

Just re-read that. So because I stated that I have not been able to find specific examples of tool companies not setting up shop here, that means I blindly trust the government? Amazing.

I hate the epa and the government. If you want to throw some specific examples that you are referring to in here, I am all ears. Until then, the post you made is exactly what i'm talking about. All I can find is that it's an excuse to outsource. So I'm asking you, what are some specific examples of the epa policies shutting manufacturing down?

Ok I logged in for the first time since I made this post and I found a PM from 1982fxr basically asking me to prove in some way that the epa is shutting down tool companies and or forcing them to move production overseas. There may have been some confusion about what I was trying to say, so I will try to make myself clear. To make tools you need steel. To make steel you need coal. My rant was specifically geared towards the EPA regulations that govern both steel manufacturers and coal industry...and in that respect...yes they are BOTH indeed under attack from the EPA....and yes the agency does affect (albeit indirectly) the livelihood of tool companies who depend on the steel companies who in turn depend on the coal companies... BTW the following examples were taken off my twitter feed...imagine what I could find if I spent a day mining Google.


Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin called the closures another example of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hurting Appalachia with "short-sighted" rulings and urged the agency to "review the entire impact of their decisions-from environmental to economical."

"When the EPA adopts regulations, they continue to fail to take into account the real-life effects these rules have on hard working Americans" like those at the FirstEnergy plants, he said.

Six coal-fired power plants in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland also will be retired.

http://dailymail.com/News/statenews/201202080095


Board pushes coal tax increase

http://dailymail.com/Business/201201090186



U.S. Steel today reported a $226 million fourth-quarter loss, citing a softer market in North America, widening losses in Europe, and one-time currency and environmental charges.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12031/1207167-100.stm?cmpid=MOSTEMAILEDBOX#ixzz1oxt66d5P



Homer City plant to spend $700 million on pollution controls

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12011/1202812-100.stm


In a nut shell what those links are shopwing you is the EPA bankrupting coal and steel companies out of existience.

 

[montess84]

C man quality has been declining for past 10 years or so
China Taiwan quality has been going up IMO
I am not a fan of non American tools by any means (yet)

 

[davethorik]

I saw S-K mentioned earlier, I have some of their brand new Ideal stuff and some vintage. Older S-K definitely lacked in QC. I have an almost unused 3/8 set from the dresser days in the mid 70's and whoa. Sharp edges that were chromed, incomplete chrome or chrome flaking on a brand new unused tool, even the beloved 3/8 round head ratchet has a noticeably irregularly shaped head, and is slightly curved along its length. Detent marks in sockets varying depths from there to none, etc. Stamping is also hit or miss. All that being said the tools are still S-K and are tough and they work.

New SK stuff? Beautiful fit and finish. Nice chrome.

 

[mrborohachi]

DO NOT buy any LISLE E-sockets from O'reilly's/pep boys. and the female drive squares are hot dogs through hallways

 

[Steinmetz]

I saw S-K mentioned earlier, I have some of their brand new Ideal stuff and some vintage. Older S-K definitely lacked in QC. I have an almost unused 3/8 set from the dresser days in the mid 70's and whoa. Sharp edges that were chromed, incomplete chrome or chrome flaking on a brand new unused tool, even the beloved 3/8 round head ratchet has a noticeably irregularly shaped head, and is slightly curved along its length. Detent marks in sockets varying depths from there to none, etc. Stamping is also hit or miss. All that being said the tools are still S-K and are tough and they work.

New SK stuff? Beautiful fit and finish. Nice chrome.

Agree. SK-Wayne era told were somewhat better, and new ones are impeccable, in my opinion. I also like Lufkin tools, and own easily a ton of those. Most are left from my early years of apprenticeship.