Why to you like Made in USA tools?
- Thread starter Jrboulder
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racinfarmer
Well-known member
I like to "buy local," per say. I will even go further and say when I buy new tools, I'll look to see if there are a Made in MN tools available. Bondus, Enderes, Norseman, etc.
I wish Huot still made toolboxes, because I'd probably splurge and buy one, but for now, I'll need to lust after a extra extra nice Lista or Vidmar.
I wish Huot still made toolboxes, because I'd probably splurge and buy one, but for now, I'll need to lust after a extra extra nice Lista or Vidmar.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
The quality is better and I'm helping some guy in Elisabethton, Tennessee feed his family.
Richard Cranium
Well-known member
Buy American made and American's work.
Pretty simple.
American made is my first choice when possible.
Pretty simple.
American made is my first choice when possible.
nieuport17
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2014
- Messages
- 466
I like to think that usa tools are better quality with skilled workers.
If they are not good quality, I'm not buying them.
If they are not good quality, I'm not buying them.
BDT/NWMN
Well-known member
Mainly because many foreign tools are made with communist labor rather than by fellow Americans. Junk is junk wherever it is made, but the Pacific rim products represent the most involved players in the race for the cheapest price. When shopping for a tool, I first select the tool, and then the brand. Then I will find the best price for those choices..
I prefer quality USA products: but; I do have My share of "cheapo stuff" for occasional use.
I prefer quality USA products: but; I do have My share of "cheapo stuff" for occasional use.
anndel
Well-known member
Ditto + quality + reliability + durability. I have 30 year old Snap Ons, Craftsmans, Protos and Mac and they all work great to this day.
derosa
Well-known member
In many things us is better made
As mentioned above, I'd rather the money stay in the us. More Americans work more pay taxes and the government doesn't need to take as much from each worker. I don't like my neighbors capable of earning a real, living wage.
The final reason is that the epa keeps us industry more environmentally conscious then many Asian nations. I do consider European to be a fine and equal alternative.
As mentioned above, I'd rather the money stay in the us. More Americans work more pay taxes and the government doesn't need to take as much from each worker. I don't like my neighbors capable of earning a real, living wage.
The final reason is that the epa keeps us industry more environmentally conscious then many Asian nations. I do consider European to be a fine and equal alternative.
FlyingA321
Active member
Higher quality and us tools last forever.
jdlong
Well-known member
Better quality control throughout the entire tool making process. When you pay people decent wages and benefits, they care. When you pay people ****, they don't give a ****.
A few reasons... I like the idea of supporting local workers and small businesses. I think usually American-made tools are much better quality than most imports. I also think US steel is much stronger than Chinese/Taiwanese/Indian steel.
Occasionally I will still buy cheap import tools, but if I do, l only get it from Harbor Freight now. I figure why pay double or 3x for roughly the same tool from HD or Lowes when the Pittsburgh tools seem just as good as today's Husky or Crescent.
Occasionally I will still buy cheap import tools, but if I do, l only get it from Harbor Freight now. I figure why pay double or 3x for roughly the same tool from HD or Lowes when the Pittsburgh tools seem just as good as today's Husky or Crescent.
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Buying used US products, reminds me of a time, of a triumphant post-war America, When Corporations made a decent profit, making decent products, employing well paid, well treated, middle class Americans, who felt they had a great place in the world.
That's all changed now.
If "buying American", means paying top dollar, profiting some bloated Corporate tool "conglomerate" (often subsidized by taxpayers), who hires part time temps, for $10/hr no benefits, for products of half-assed quality, then I have no problem, moseying over to Harbor Freight.
That's all changed now.
If "buying American", means paying top dollar, profiting some bloated Corporate tool "conglomerate" (often subsidized by taxpayers), who hires part time temps, for $10/hr no benefits, for products of half-assed quality, then I have no problem, moseying over to Harbor Freight.
NorDel Garage
Well-known member
I believe in the adage "What goes around, comes around."
An American family will prosper, and in turn, will support with their income
mine or my neighbors families .
When possible, I do look for the made in USA label, or at least assembled here.
An American family will prosper, and in turn, will support with their income
mine or my neighbors families .
When possible, I do look for the made in USA label, or at least assembled here.
mudflap
Well-known member
I'm kinda over it...i still buy Made in USA when it makes sense...Its the Unions, OSHA, EPA, high Corporate tax rate, Health care cost...that ran manufacturing out..Not higher wages...Companies did not move manufacturing to seek lower wages...it was to escape all the other stuff that was driving up costs..with no end in sight..and not any one of those things..but a combination of them all.. The way i see it...If i buy a new Carlyle ratchet..i am supporting plenty of American jobs.. The workers at the Port of LA..The truck drivers moving it from the port, and in distribution to the Napa store...The Americans that work at the various warehouses along the way...My Napa Rep, Etc...The only job cut out...is the Union drooler standing at the press.... The kids we are hiring out of the Tech Schools couldn't care less where their tools are made...They want a quality tool..at a good price....they won't paY extra just because something is "Made in USA".. It has to be better (Channellock) comes to mind..So you do the math... Unless SO, SK, etc can compete price wise with quality offshore stuff, there days are numbered...Especially once us old timers are gone..and the kids take over..lol
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kythri
Well-known member
Now I'm waiting for the thread titled "Why do you like tools?"
BDT/NWMN
Well-known member
Well, that is not always the case.. The last Apex produced Craftsman raised panel ratchets come to mind. A few years back; I bought some 3/8 drive sets to give as Christmas gifts, and some for Myself. After three failures within a couple months, I would have been ashamed to give any to Family members.. Those ratchets were replaced with ProTo ratchets. Cheap junk at a dime store price is still cheap junk; even if made in the USA. Low bids and contracts seem to bring some real turds to the surface. So even with USA goods; there have been numerous times I have been compelled to raise the bar a few notches.
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kwoswalt99
Well-known member
Well, that is not always the case.. The last Apex produced Craftsman raised panel ratchets come to mind. A few years back; I bought some 3/8 drive sets to give as Christmas gifts, and some for Myself. After three failures within a couple months, I would have been ashamed to give any to Family members.. Those ratchets were replaced with ProTo ratchets. Cheap junk at a dime store price is still cheap junk; even if made in the USA. Low bids and contracts seem to bring some real turds to the surface. So even with USA goods; there have been numerous times I have been compelled to raise the bar a few notches.
*cough* Oxwall *cough*
raiderhillbilly
Well-known member
Because I live here. If i lived in Germany, I would like German tools. If i lived in China, I would like Chinese food.
BDT/NWMN
Well-known member
That is where I jump the fence; I love Chinese Food
chopsticks? I enjoy the challengebixxjs
Well-known member
When I was a young man just starting off in industry all the really skilled experienced guys used quality handtools.All Made in England or USA ,sadly there's not many made in England tools anymore but I do still buy USA .Quality I can trust.
scissorman
Well-known member
Be American, buy American.
In reality US steel is a lot better than Chinese steel and therefor is stronger. Besides, maybe one day if people started buying US made things again then there could also become more jobs available to us here in the US.
In reality US steel is a lot better than Chinese steel and therefor is stronger. Besides, maybe one day if people started buying US made things again then there could also become more jobs available to us here in the US.
If Americans only buy USA made and sell USA made goods to Americans then these US only transactions should fix all of our problems. Of course, every other country does the same,buying and selling their own products to themselves only and no one else.
SweetD
Well-known member
Because I'm American.
Doesn't mean I ONLY buy American, but I prefer to whenever reasonable.
Doesn't mean I ONLY buy American, but I prefer to whenever reasonable.
That is where I jump the fence; I love Chinese Food
If I used Chopsticks I would weigh alot less.
I like to keep Americans in good paying jobs, and I don't like to exploit 3rd world labor (horrendous working conditions). Also, USA/Canadian made products are usually of higher quality, though a Chinese factory can produce just as good of stuff (if it's spec'd out). But the odds are that a USA/Canadian made item will be better.
ganymede
Well-known member
Hey the EPA OSHA and other regulatory originations exist because companies have in the past cut every corner to make a profit then denied responsibility when there actions hurt others. Can the regs get stupid sure. But remember safty regs are written in blood. And sometimes its not even the government somtimes it the insurance industry. Here in Arizona i was told that framers use scaffolding and no longer walk the beams when setting rafters. Insurance companies got tired of workers comp claims.
trackwelder
Well-known member
Another Union hater who forgets where the 40 hour work week, overtime, vacation, pension etc came from. It sure wasn't the greedy ******* companies that gave it up willingly.
Yeah, people have short memories. As recently as like 100 years ago, people worked under super harsh conditions for 15 hours a day 6 or 7 days a week next to their children. Until they dropped dead at 35 years old. 0.001% of the population were well off while the rest of the serfs were mistreated.
mudflap
Well-known member
I'm not a Union hater..Have been working in a Union shop for 26 years..4 more yrs till i could start collecting on my Union negotiated County retirement.. I'm talking about factory rats that negotiated theirselfes right out of a job..I make about the going rate for a 26yr ASE Diesel tech.. But if u were making $28hr shooting screws on an assembly line.....you had to know that wouldn't last.
so misguided, really where do you get this stuff? this is the same argument used for keeping the manufacturing sector alive and well E.g. job multiplying effect BUT turned upside down. Service sector jobs don't have to the same punch on an economy, they don't create real wealth. The mechanized factories of today offer much higher wages than most transportation , retail, and heath care jobs.
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mudflap
Well-known member
I will give you that....prior to OSHA, and labor laws, the Unions were the only safety backstop workers had.. but since about the 1970s..union have done more harm than good...Now it's the Unions lining their pockets off the backs of labor..and offering no real representation.
trackwelder
Well-known member
I totally disagree with this statement, but unfortunately if we continue it's going to get ugly so I'll just bow out.
mudflap
Well-known member
Do you even read this stuff before u hit send....Union port workers are very well paid..Union rail workers are very well paid, CDL Truck drivers well paid for people with no education, What RN, Radiology Tech, Hospital janitor, Hospital Admin, etc do you know that isn't pulling down big $$..Health care workers are doing just fine... People in retail would be making the same regardless of where the tool was made...
Sorry those industries can't help offset the trade deficit. The import trade routes E.g docks rail/ interstate are very well oiled indeed and don't thrive on manufacturing where whole towns are gutted and shuttered by the loss of them. For an example consider a future without GM, Intel, & Boeing. Pretty soon if things keep going the same direction that's a real possibility.
you should read some basic economics texts, the are some concepts to build upon.
you should read some basic economics texts, the are some concepts to build upon.
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My wife's an RN and I certainly don't consider her paycheck "big $$".
But to keep the thread on track; I buy USA whenever possible. I know it's a global world. But, as an example, my Tahoe was assembled right down the road by "neighbors". The Proto tools I just bought were manufactured right down the road by "neighbors". It's not always possible or even practical; but when I can, I do.