Must have large impact sockets

[Bubba Fett]

While I don't disagree with y'all, and it makes perfect financial sense, my take on it, beyond the obvious quality differences, is that American manufacturing, in pretty much all industries, tools included, has been serious hurt by companies looking to profit more.... Sending manufacturing overseas for less cost - but prices of their products have not been reduced to reflect this reduction in manufacturing costs (referring only to companies that used to make their products here, but do not any longer). Therefore, I try to buy American in everything I possibly can, to help keep American companies keep their manufacturing here.

My current "go-to" brands for new sockets (and most hand tools in general) are Wright and Proto. I do look for NOS Armstrong when I can find it, because of cost. I also have a lot of newer SK tools, but every since they sold the company to the Chinese, I've started shying away from them for new purchases.

Now I know there's non-Americans in this forum, and they likely could care less about American products, and I totally get that. This is just my stance.

This is not to say that I do not have any foreign tools, because I do. They are just few and far between in the grand scheme of things. I would say that greater than 90% of my, very large - especially for someone that is not a professional mechanic, tool collection is American made.

I do try to buy American-made tools whenever possible (or German, Japanese, Canadian, etc.) because I also like to support US manufacturing. However, in some cases it simply doesn't make sense to spend hundreds more on a tool that will sit on a shelf for the vast majority of its life. I'd rather spend that on quality domestic tools that I use much more often. In some cases, the Taiwan-made tools are just as good, and occasionally even better. USA-made does not automatically guarantee superior quality. We have an observational bias, because only the good USA-made tools have survived from the old days. There were plenty of domestic companies that made absolute junk.

Taiwan is a fair trade partner, and isn't trying to dominate the world economy like China. I figure any tool that comes from them is a tool that could have come from China, because the US options may simply not be there. Sometimes we have to pick our battles.

 

[putergod]

I do try to buy American-made tools whenever possible (or German, Japanese, Canadian, etc.) because I also like to support US manufacturing. However, in some cases it simply doesn't make sense to spend hundreds more on a tool that will sit on a shelf for the vast majority of its life. I'd rather spend that on quality domestic tools that I use much more often. In some cases, the Taiwan-made tools are just as good, and occasionally even better. USA-made does not automatically guarantee superior quality. We have an observational bias, because only the good USA-made tools have survived from the old days. There were plenty of domestic companies that made absolute junk.

Taiwan is a fair trade partner, and isn't trying to dominate the world economy like China. I figure any tool that comes from them is a tool that could have come from China, because the US options may simply not be there. Sometimes we have to pick our battles.

I'm not saying there aren't use cases for buying cheap tools.
Case in point - When I was doing some work on my D-Max, I had some bolts that were nearly impossible to get to, extremely limited space, and at an awfully awkward angle. I couldn't even get my hand on them, and the GF could barely get her finger on them.
So, I went to Harbor Freight, Northern Tool, AutoZone, Lowes, etc, looking for various styles of wrenches that might help. I ended up with s wrench sets from HF, extremely long ratcheting wrenches from NT, and a few others. they were readily available, cheap, and I just wanted these dang bolts out. Ultimately, none of those worked and what did was an extra long 1/4" drive ratchet with a 24" 1/2 drive extension. The ratchet handle was thin and round and just fit into the square drive opening of the 1/2" drive extension, essentially making a nearly 3 foot long 1/4" ratchet. I still have those cheap tools, and I will keep them just in case they provide a benefit for a job one day, but to date they've never actually been used.

I would argue the "Taiwan-made tools are just as good, occasionally better" statement though. Over half the tools I've ever broken in my 47 years were Taiwan made. The others, Chinese. I have broken a grand total of TWO US made tools. One 1/4 drive craftsman ratchet, and one 1/4 drive craftsman u-joint/swivel - in 47 years. I have broken a plethora of Taiwanese and Chinese tools, however, which is why I feel the way I do today about tools and COO.

 

[JradM]

Just need to wait for a bolt my impact can't remove so I can test.

 

[Ton ton]

Just need to wait for a bolt my impact can't remove so I can test.

You may want to use an impact socket unless your battery is super weak.

 

[JradM]

You may want to use an impact socket unless your battery is super weak.

That was just for the picture. the chrome socket was already on my workbench and I didn't feel like digging out an impact version.

 

[Ton ton]

That was just for the picture. the chrome socket was already on my workbench and I didn't feel like digging out an impact version.

Got it.