Vice Grip Garage Choice of Tools

[Wamsutta]

First off, VCG is a great show and I think Derek Bieri is a great guy. He's down to earth and seems to have a good sense of American patriotism. Part of his monumental success is being able to appease the common folk who works at home in their own garage. The common folk probably doesn't have a big budget for buying tools. Derek is able to appeal to that guy by having Harbor Freight and Boxo tools featured in his show.

I get it. It's one of the oldest psychological tricks in the book. Make your audience think you're one of them. Derek has been so successful with that show that he's built a car museum and has invested capital into Wildfire lifts. Derek lives in the great state of Tennessee.

What famous tool company has always manufactured their tools in Tennessee?

My point : If Derek is so successful and so patriotic, why not spread some of that love to the great tool company opertating in Tennessee?

 

[FigN⋅m]

You answered your own question

 

[ecotec]

I haven’t watched it yet. I should give it a chance.

I always try watching those shows, and they usually lose me.

 

[RedneckWelder]

First off, VCG is a great show and I think Derek Bieri is a great guy. He's down to earth and seems to have a good sense of American patriotism. Part of his monumental success is being able to appease the common folk who works at home in their own garage. The common folk probably doesn't have a big budget for buying tools. Derek is able to appeal to that guy by having Harbor Freight and Boxo tools featured in his show.

I get it. It's one of the oldest psychological tricks in the book. Make your audience think you're one of them. Derek has been so successful with that show that he's built a car museum and has invested capital into Wildfire lifts. Derek lives in the great state of Tennessee.

What famous tool company has always manufactured their tools in Tennessee?

My point : If Derek is so successful and so patriotic, why not spread some of that love to the great tool company opertating in Tennessee?

Why don’t you enlighten us as to what tool company produces its tools in TN so I don’t have to play a guessing game

 

[KnurledNut]

What famous tool company has always manufactured their tools in Tennessee?

Why don’t you enlighten us as to what tool company produces its tools in TN so I don’t have to play a guessing game

I think he is talking about Snap-on. But his statement is incorrect because they became a company in the 1920’s in Wisconsin and didn’t open their Elizabethton, TN plant until over 50 years later in the 70’s. I had a friend that worked there until he retired.

 

[finn]

Snapon has facilities in something like 15 US cities and 12 countries.

Tennessee can’t really lay claim to them.

 

[mikedodge]

I prefer to see him continue to use the tools that most of his audience is using/can afford to use. The demise of a lot of car shows is when they start into projects or using equipment that most people can't afford or can't easily obtain.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

I believe he has said in the past that instead of traveling with his tools he prefers to simply go to the local HF and buy tools that he leaves behind once he gets the car going. As to his home box, I cannot say.

 

[rust in the eye]

I usually enjoy Derek's shows even though some of his schtick grows tiresome. They've become feature length films now so I seldom watch, that plus I've been through 99% of the stuff he does to get old heaps going again.
Not sure what makes this guy particularly patriotic but agree he seems a decent human being.
The tools used on the road are treated as disposable. You can buy a workable or better tool set from HF or similar stores that costs less than a heavy checked bag. If he does indeed leave behind those tools, ostensibly to the seller of the vehicle that is a nice(patriotic?) gesture.
He seems to manage quite well getting the work done using those humble tools.Perhaps he has a shiny show set of Snappys at his home shop.
If you think blowing ten (twenty?) times his tool budget to buy YOUR favorite brand makes him a better patriot write him a letter and tell him so. Me? I think he's smart.
Some interesting concepts of patriotism these days

 

[zimman]

First off, VCG is a great show and I think Derek Bieri is a great guy. He's down to earth and seems to have a good sense of American patriotism. Part of his monumental success is being able to appease the common folk who works at home in their own garage. The common folk probably doesn't have a big budget for buying tools. Derek is able to appeal to that guy by having Harbor Freight and Boxo tools featured in his show.

I get it. It's one of the oldest psychological tricks in the book. Make your audience think you're one of them. Derek has been so successful with that show that he's built a car museum and has invested capital into Wildfire lifts. Derek lives in the great state of Tennessee.

What famous tool company has always manufactured their tools in Tennessee?

My point : If Derek is so successful and so patriotic, why not spread some of that love to the great tool company opertating in Tennessee?

Love the guy but he's owned and operated by O'Reilly's. I've never seen anyone who buys a 50pc O'Reilly took kit every show. LOL
Zim

 

[finn]

The cost of the HF tools he uses and often leaves behind pales in comparison to his airfare, car rental, and food and lodging expenses plus tools would be checked baggage, which adds to travel hassle..

I suspect ORiley’s sponsors him now, and writes off tools and supplies as advertising expenses.

You sometimes see those HF tool kits abandoned in cars in his “storage yard” when he is filming segments years later. The tools are disposable props necessary to film the show, not keepsakes.

 

[AldeanFan]

Yes, ViceGrip Derek should use all snap on tools,
And Red Green should trade the Possum Van for a new Cadillac

 

[finn]

I’m pretty sure his home shop is largely populated with SnapOn tools, but he doesn’t focus on it, as it would contradict the “low buck, backyard” image he’s nurtured.

 

[Cheesy1]

Of course O’Reilly sponsors him, he’s not trying to hide it. Whether he’s buying a couple hundred dollars of tools at hobo freight or Oreillys giving him tools and parts and he leaves them all behind, big deal.

The premise of most of the show is go find some car in a hedgerow, and with some basic tools and effort, everyday guys like us can get these classic cars running again.