Vaughan acquires Dasco Pro

[NoahG]

From their Facebook this morning:

“Vaughan Strikes Deal

Vaughan & Bushnell Manufacturing Co. (aka “Vaughan”), a world leader in the production and sale of hand tools, including hammers and prybars, is pleased to announce today that it has acquired substantially all the assets of Dasco Pro, Inc. (“Dasco”), an industry leader in the production of chisels and punches.

Dasco, located in Rockford, IL, has been forging and selling tools since 1922. They offer a broad range of high quality, forged hand tools for construction professionals, home improvement enthusiasts, and hobbyists alike.

“We are extremely excited about our acquisition of Dasco and combining these two great, venerable American companies” says Charlie Vaughan, company President. “This acquisition will expand our product offering within the same growing retail category, generate further economies of scale for our ‘Made in the USA’ manufacturing, and strengthen our competitive advantage against other tool manufacturers, both domestic and foreign”.

Dasco’s products will continue to be sold by Vaughan under the Dasco trade name.

One of the worlds largest producers of hammers and striking tools, Vaughan also has the distinct honor of being one of America’s oldest tool companies. Founded in 1869, this 5th generation, family owned company pioneered the design and innovation behind what we know today as the modern hammer. Along the way they helped shape an entire industry and defined what quality, well-balanced tools should be. Proudly “Made in the USA” for 150 years.”


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[dr_clyde]

I hope Vaughan makes them better than Dasco did. They are arguably some of the worst punches and chisels I have ever used.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I hope Vaughan makes them better than Dasco did. They are arguably some of the worst punches and chisels I have ever used.

I certainly agree. Mayhew and Enderes are better choices locally.

 

[NoahG]

I hope Vaughan makes them better than Dasco did. They are arguably some of the worst punches and chisels I have ever used.

I haven’t bought a Dasco since Menards starting carrying Wilde.

Hopefully Vaughan can put some quality back into the line.


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[KM223]

I hope Vaughan makes them better than Dasco did. They are arguably some of the worst punches and chisels I have ever used.

Yep couldn’t agree more. Quite ******!

 

[B_Bimmer]

This is one of the few times I would say an acquisition sure can't hurt. My only question is why anyone would even want that brand. Worse than most any other punch I have ever used.

 

[anndel]

I hope Vaughan makes them better than Dasco did. They are arguably some of the worst punches and chisels I have ever used.

Exactly. Dasco chisels and chisels are soft and I've nicked a bunch of them. The latest I nicked a chisel doing some light work like indenting the axel nut on a Toyota Avalon.

 

[Jawn]

FWIW, I have no complaints about the Dasco prybars I have.

 

[Davefr]

I hope Vaughan makes them better than Dasco did. They are arguably some of the worst punches and chisels I have ever used.

Agree 100%.

Maybe Vaughan will teach them how to heat treat steel. Dasco's products are about the same softness as a Grade 1 bolt.

 

[Parrothead]

FWIW, I have no complaints about the Dasco prybars I have.

Agreed!

I’ve used them to remove more trim, siding and baseboards than I even want to think about.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I hope Vaughan makes them better than Dasco did. They are arguably some of the worst punches and chisels I have ever used.

Unfortunately, for beating tools, they don't take a beating.

FWIW, I have no complaints about the Dasco prybars I have.

Agreed, but it's not really that hard to make a bent piece of metal, is it?

I have the mini ones and they work fine, but so does the tiny plastic cap on my gatorade bottle. Neither are very expensive, intricate, or hard to make, but still work as intended.

 

[BikerDad]

This is one of the few times I would say an acquisition sure can't hurt. My only question is why anyone would even want that brand.

Maybe the fact that Dasco is the punch/chisel of choice for Home Depot's buyers has something to do with it?

 

[Professional Tool User]

If Vaughn can improve the quality of Dasco's garbage, then it's a win. I highly doubt Dasco can be made worse.

 

[Bushnell]

Vaughan WILL improve the quality of Dasco tools. They do make some of the best hammers and bars in the world.

 

[Bockscar]

I buy Wilde at Menard’s as well.

USA and priced good

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[neophyte]

As far as I’m aware, Vaughan doesn’t own many brand trademarks other than the Vaughan and Dalluge, ones. Adding Dasco could allow Vaughan to sell tools without violating non compete contracts.

I’m not sure about in other areas of the country, but in my area, Lowes carries Vaughan hammers as their top professional brand, Home Depot carries Estwing. HD also carries some Dasco chisels and a few pry bars, and has for a while.
Lowes in my area also just started carrying some Estwing hammers, about the same time Craftsman showed up. Maybe there’s going to be a shift in what brands each place stocks.

 

[mikebaker1129]

Vaughan WILL improve the quality of Dasco tools. They do make some of the best hammers and bars in the world.

Yes they do!
They sell some quality replacement wood handles too.

 

[1982fxr]

As far as I’m aware, Vaughan doesn’t own many brand trademarks other than the Vaughan and Dalluge, ones. Adding Dasco could allow Vaughan to sell tools without violating non compete contracts.

I’m not sure about in other areas of the country, but in my area, Lowes carries Vaughan hammers as their top professional brand, Home Depot carries Estwing. HD also carries some Dasco chisels and a few pry bars, and has for a while.
Lowes in my area also just started carrying some Estwing hammers, about the same time Craftsman showed up. Maybe there’s going to be a shift in what brands each place stocks.

??

What Vaughan and estwing have non competes against each other?

 

[anndel]

Vaughan hammers are very good like Estwings. I bought a couple Vaughan factory seconds rebadged as Gravik welding chipping hammers from HJE and they rock (both HJE and Gravik).

 

[neophyte]

??

What Vaughan and estwing have non competes against each other?

Certain types or classes of stores seem to specifically avoid carrying the same brands and items, at least in the same regions.

I’m not sure whether Home Depot and Lowes buy their stock from the manufacturers directly, or whether there is a shelving system, like in supermarkets, where the manufacturers essentially purchase shelf space for their tools to be stocked in and then Home Depot retails the items for the manufacturer.

Locally, my Home Depot has a wall of Esteing hammers, including the wood handled ‘Sure Strike’ ones that are imported. The Vaughan tools they have are limited to some small pry bars of a type Esteing doesn’t make.
Lowes on the other hand has a display of Vaughan hammers, mallets and prybars, and until a few weeks or so ago, no Estwing whatsoever.
Both stores have products from Stanley sometimes the same items like utility knives, but in the case of pry bars Lowes had Stanley branded ones, and Home Depot has Dewalt branded ones.

I believe in a past thread from a while ago, that someone mentioned that Vaughan was being cleared out of their local HD and being replaced by Estwing, or maybe vice versa, and that they were told it was a regional distribution switch from one brand to the other.

With lowes I’m wondering if Estwing is being added and Vaughan discontinued, whether Estwing is simply being added, or whether the Vaughan stuff will be discontinued and replaced with the same Craftsman branded Vaughan tools Sears used to sell.

 

[davethorik]

The first time I browsed Vaughan's website, my mind was blown at the number of hammers they make, in just about all types and sizes.

Estwing has nowhere near the broad lineup as Vaughan has. Yeah they have the leather handles which are cool and Vaughan doesn't afaik, but Vaughan makes a whole line of solid steel hammers to compete with Estwing, and they have a chunk of wood embedded in the head for shock reduction. They even have a small maul almost identical to Estwing Fireside Friend.

Estwing only offers like 3 or 4 USA made hammers with wood handles, which does kinda ****. Both sizes of double ended metal head/soft face hammer, rubber mallets, and a 21oz bricklayers are about it, at least at HD. However I love the handle profile on these, I have the wood handled bricklayers. It's one of their quirks...I believe they offer one in the cheaper Sure Strike line, the wood handled version, and a plethora of metal handle offerings, different sizes and weights.

Estwing also makes some excellent pry bars that don't get a lot of mention, however it is confusing as some Taiwan, some USA, and a few even Japan. Estwing used to rebadge Trusty Cook dead blows as their own, but switched to a Taiwanese supplier.
My most used pry bar is a 15" Vaughan Super Bar, and like the roaches I feel that thing would survive a direct nuclear strike. Done straight up stupid stuff with it,and it laughed it off. I have an Estwing USA 36" wrecking bar a full 1" in diameter, that comes out for really big/extra stupid tasks. Great for heavy demo, and also self defense. And it was cheaper than same size, Mexican made Stanley.

I personally tend to use Estwing hammers more, and have several. I only have one Vaughan, a 3 lb blacksmiths cross pein w/ fiberglass handle, and it is a good hammer.

 

[OutsideMachinist]

Agree with previous statements. Hopefully they make them better. Dasco punches AND chisels are junk. Same or worse than cheapeast imports quality.

HD has mayhew around me. They are good. They are not the same as the Mayhew PRO ones, not same quality. Decent for the price.

 

[davethorik]

Agree with previous statements. Hopefully they make them better. Dasco punches AND chisels are junk. Same or worse than cheapeast imports quality.

HD has mayhew around me. They are good. They are not the same as the Mayhew PRO ones, not same quality. Decent for the price.

I got a set of 5 Mayhew Select cold chisels from TSC, came with a roll up pouch. It was a TSC-only offering, and had a very friendly price tag. I know the Select line is looked down upon here for not being as good as Pro...either the set I got missed that memo, or the Pro must be out of this world amazing if they're better than these chisels, which I am completely satisfied with.

I have a Dasco add-on in 5/16, a size not in Mayhew set, and I'm honestly unsure why I haven't thrown it out yet. I got good at hand grinding chisels on a bench grinder because of that chisel alone. What's that, gotta mortise a head of iceberg lettuce with it? You'll need to dress the Dasco after.

The best cold chisel I own is an old C-underline Craftsman. I don't know what it's made of but won't rust and holds an edge forever. It is famous around these parts for extracting boogered-up Philips screws in Honda brake rotors usually with minimum fuss.

 

[unbridledid]

As far as I’m aware, Vaughan doesn’t own many brand trademarks other than the Vaughan and Dalluge, ones. Adding Dasco could allow Vaughan to sell tools without violating non compete contracts.

I’m not sure about in other areas of the country, but in my area, Lowes carries Vaughan hammers as their top professional brand, Home Depot carries Estwing. HD also carries some Dasco chisels and a few pry bars, and has for a while.
Lowes in my area also just started carrying some Estwing hammers, about the same time Craftsman showed up. Maybe there’s going to be a shift in what brands each place stocks.

Talking with a Vaughan rep and she said they are pushing to get into home
Depot.

Own both brands, but I like the variety offered by vaughan. The CF4P by Vaughan
Is my latest pick-up, and she is sweeter than wildflower honey !

 

[1982fxr]

I was at h Depot last night they had Vaughan and watering but also a lot of dasco. I can see how adding that line of tools will really help them get space in the big boxes.