Show us your made in China tools.

[German Satin]

yeh we've all got some at least ... if you haven't then I'm impressed!

Here's mine ... Halfords basic 1/4 ratchet ... decent quality. Bahco bit set - really good quality (absolute steal on Amazon for about £7). Both made in China. That's it. All my other stuff is European/US/Japan made apart from the other two ratchets (top) which I'm guessing is Taiwan (Matador 1/4, Welzh Werkzeug 3/8).

EDIT:- Forgot about this one. I have a Wilko (UK chain of stores) 8oz ball pein hammer with hickory handle no less made in china. Love this little hammer, tough as hell carbon steel.

 

[jonshonda]

It would be fun if people posted pics of their busted junk Chinese stuff. Or the quality tool that replaced the Chinese junk.

 

[RAS61]

Here's ALL my Chinese tools:



That's it!

 

[Jack_K]

The only Chinese tool I have a photo of. I am now trying to not buy any tools made in China/Taiwan

 

[2oolhound]

I broke these channel lock copies at work while trying to close the little ring on the key chain. I think it was a 1 handed deal too. They were 16" or 18".




Don't remember when this broke.


I broke both die handles trying to cut threads with a $5 swap meet 50 piece chinese T&D set. It seemed like a deal and I didn't have a full set of metric. After this I tried welding the handle together and then the die broke. I had to go out and find a good set. Got a Hanson/Irwin set and it cut the same threads like butter.



I end up with a few chinese tools when I buy a lot somewhere. I then sort them out and stick them in a junk drawer to use for welding or to give away. I don't have to buy many tools as I have most of what I need already.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Here is a few lol.

 

[German Satin]

It would be fun if people posted pics of their busted junk Chinese stuff. Or the quality tool that replaced the Chinese junk.

Definitely. What do they say 'buy cheap, buy twice'

 

[German Satin]

The only Chinese tool I have a photo of. I am now trying to not buy any tools made in China/Taiwan

The Irwin grips made in China are pretty good though aren't they?

 

[Tools4Me]

I was actually a bit surprised when I went around my shop looking at all my tools. I have quite a few Taiwan made tools (mainly impact sockets), but I assumed I had more Chinese stuff than I actually do.

I looked quite closely through all my tools. The only things I found that were made in China were my...

-Gearwrench reversible ratcheting wrench sets (SAE and Metric)
-HF 1/2" drive 18" breaker bar
-About half of my angle grinder cutting wheels and flap wheels
-All my diamond files (around 20-30 total)
-5-6 HF China made screwdrivers that I use as beaters and/or pry bars
-4pc wood chisel set that I use for situations where I don't want to damage the cutting edges of my good chisels
-Beater fractional, number, and letter drill bit indexes. My primary use drill indexes all contain USA drill bits.
-1" drive HF SAE jumbo socket set (the sockets work fine, but the ratchet from the set was junk and replaced with Taiwan)
-A few other low cost individual items here and there

If I had to make an educated guess as to my overall COO percentages for hand and power tools combined, I would say I am about 55% USA, 20% Germany, 15% Taiwan, and 10% misc other countries like Czech Republic (Wera), Spain (Irega), England (Thor), China, Canada, Malaysia, etc.

 

[Jack_K]

The Irwin grips made in China are pretty good though aren't they?

I haven't had any issues with them unlike the generic ones I have used.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

HF baby ball-pein hammer is one of my favorites, which I use daily. I'd like one with a wooden handle for easy clean up, but I'm so attached to the design and function of the little guy I haven't been able to find an otherwise identical unit.

All my M12 tools are chinese I believe.

 

[Ton ton]

I love my Chinese tools. Performance tools ratchet wrenches are the bomb when you have a fast local warranty. Performance tools through tang screwdrivers and do it best screwdrivers. Great stuff. Duralast screwdrivers are nice too.

 

[Bubba Fett]

The Irwin grips made in China are pretty good though aren't they?

I think the quality improved a bit when SBD bought Irwin from Rubbermaid, who moved production there in the first place. Still not as good as the old Petersen pliers, though the last of the USA-made ones had really slipped in quality.

For the money, Bremen at HF is better, and made in Taiwan. Of course the Malco Eagle Grips are awesome, but also pricey.

 

[lardy1]

She's a dandy.

 

[Boilerhouse]

She's a dandy.

I bought something like that for our 6 year old baby girl, just to give her some exposure to tools. And screwing around with it, on other toys, she managed to break the 10 mm socket.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Man I have a lot of Chinese junk lol . Don’t ever buy the oil filter pliers they aren’t very good especially for small filters like Subaru. I want some better vise grips. On Monday or Tuesday when Snap-on is here I might pick up a set of them. I like the design they have now versus the old design.

 

[German Satin]

I love my Chinese tools. Performance tools ratchet wrenches are the bomb when you have a fast local warranty. Performance tools through tang screwdrivers and do it best screwdrivers. Great stuff. Duralast screwdrivers are nice too.

Yeh, some Chinese tools are good for sure.

 

[mr.lemons]

which I'm guessing is Taiwan (Matador 1/4).

I had a 3/8" Matador ratchet from that model range. It was marked 'Made in Germany' on the underside. Maybe the 1/4" is as well.

 

[Jweebothee]

Man I have a lot of Chinese junk lol . Don’t ever buy the oil filter pliers they aren’t very good especially for small filters like Subaru. I want some better vise grips. On Monday or Tuesday when Snap-on is here I might pick up a set of them. I like the design they have now versus the old design.

Universal Adjustable Oil Filter Wrench From 2-1/2 inch to 4.5 inch Oil Filter Wrench Tool Set With 3 Jaw https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PYNM72P/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I use this on subies, works great, has great grip and never slips on over tightened filters

 

[guitarbutt]

How about I just take you to Harbor Freight and I point at all the stuff I have? It'd be easier plus I am get more stuff

 

[Ton ton]

Harbor freight has gaps in the tool lineup that you can fill in at the local auto parts store and/ or tractor supply company. LOL.

 

[M635_Guy]

I dunno - I don't keep a spreadsheet

 

[yrly]

This was a nice set for Chinese wrenches

 

[Indexmill]

We have all read it. Most of us know it. The Chinese are CAPABLE of making anything to any quality level. But, it will cost more than their rubber dog ****. American manufacturers command the Chinese to make cheap **** for very little cost so they can sell it to us at a hugge profit. Don't confuse American greed with Chinese ineptitude. They can do anything that a customer is willing to pay for...

Just see what happens when the Chinese really start making automobiles.

 

[corn chip]

are creepers a tool ? if so then heres some china junk . wheel broke off right away but i wasnt about to do the walk of shame carrying that big thing through the HF parking lot to get a replacent. ill spare you the misery of seeing a jet drill press with a mile of runout in the spindle

 

[M635_Guy]

Just see what happens when the Chinese really start making automobiles.

Essentially every major auto company has a plant in China (or several). I think the vast majority of it serves the domestic market, but BMW, Mercedes, Volvo, etc. all have plants there executing a quality level similar to their other plants around the world. There are domestic brands as well. Unlike Japan, foreign brands are preferred - you see a ton of VW's and Buicks ( ) there. The first time I went to China in the mid-90's, one of the first things I saw was a Jeep Cherokee amid a sea of Toyota taxis.

 

[jonshonda]

Plain and simple, foriegn quality control and IP what produces good products out of China.

Have you ever seen some of the absolute trash that is sold w/o western/foreign engineering or involvement?

My mom has bought some light fixtures and ceiling fans that really made me scratch my head. You could tell they had absolutely no idea what they were doing in some cases, and no regard for standards or quality.

 

[victor252]

Man I have a lot of Chinese junk lol . Don’t ever buy the oil filter pliers they aren’t very good especially for small filters like Subaru. I want some better vise grips. On Monday or Tuesday when Snap-on is here I might pick up a set of them. I like the design they have now versus the old design.

Here's a decent review video from project farm. Irwin did okay.

Some of the tests may not be that relevant YMMV

 

[Al Borland]

You could tell they had absolutely no idea what they were doing in some cases, and no regard for standards or quality.

Sums up a lot of the new guys at work...


(Goddamn KIDS!!! Get off my lawn!!!)

 

[merkyworks]

The SO vise grips are rebranded Malco‘s. I have a few Malco vise grips and they are in a completely different league compared other brand vise grips

 

[victor252]

I own some of the Grip-On (rebranded as Proto) and I am disappointed that they performed in the bottom half of the two most relevant tests. I may have to buy some of those Malco or Chinese Irwins in the future. I am not a HF fanboy but it would have interesting to see the Bremen brand vise grips.

 

[RAS61]

Just see what happens when the Chinese really start making automobiles.

Even if they do make the best cars ever I'd bet they'd be so ugly you'd never want to own one. Asian manufacturers are great at copying and reproducing things, but poor at innovation and being unique, especially with Western design and aesthetics. Even Japanese cars after all these decades are boring at best. Korean cars not really better; they'll probably combine design elements from a host of cars in what will ultimately be a Frankenstein mess

 

[qqzj]

Even if they do make the best cars ever I'd bet they'd be so ugly you'd never want to own one. Asian manufacturers are great at copying and reproducing things, but poor at innovation and being unique, especially with Western design and aesthetics. Even Japanese cars after all these decades are boring at best. Korean cars not really better; they'll probably combine design elements from a host of cars in what will ultimately be a Frankenstein mess

That's not the case. It's all due to economy. When Japan was in its peak, lots of really nice looking cars that are different from western designs. RX7, NSX, Supra, S2000 etc. Some of those Honda FWD cars are also very classic. But their economy tanked soon afterwards and they lost their design confidence. At the end of the day, it's about the economy, then culture, and everything else will follow.

 

[Ton ton]

I agree Japanese cars are fairly plain Jane.

 

[M635_Guy]

Plain and simple, foriegn quality control and IP what produces good products out of China.

Have you ever seen some of the absolute trash that is sold w/o western/foreign engineering or involvement?

My mom has bought some light fixtures and ceiling fans that really made me scratch my head. You could tell they had absolutely no idea what they were doing in some cases, and no regard for standards or quality.

Your mom bought cheap trash and that means China is incapable of producing quality without foreign IP/involvement?

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

More Chinese stuff lol. Use those at home. Don’t really need to spend big bucks on tools I use after work and on weekends. I’d never use them in a professional setting because they are pretty bad lol.

 

[genog]

Way back, sometime in the late 80's or early 90's I overtightened a humongous Chinese vise.
The dang thing blew up.
Just exploded and sent a pot metal bullet into the wall behind.
Good thing that chunk of metal didn't fly forward and hit me in the head!

I wish I had a picture of it.
Stupid Chicom vise was hanging off of the work bench in two or three pieces

Anyway, that crappy piece of Chinese pot metal was replaced by a smaller USA made vise.
Which, by the way, is still going strong.
And.....won't blow up in anyone's face. I don't use cheater bars any more. ;-)

 

[Dakotadadv8]

CM flare nut wrench metric & SAE sets, CM 1/2 drive shallow impact metric set, CM Crowfoot wrench set SAE & Metric. Flare nuts fit are inconsistent, did not expect much from an inexpensive set, throwaway.

 

[ike]

I have very few Chinese made hand tools, but these work great when needed around the house.

 

[merkyworks]

Have those Cresent nail puller pliers on my ”maybe buy” list haha. How you like them?