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Good,Bad, or Ugly? APEX TOOL GROUP (Danaher+Cooper)

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1982fxr

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Jan 7, 2012
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Phoenix
What's the word on this company? I looked at the brand names in the family--lots of stuff that used to be made here, now from china at about the same price.

Crescent, Allen, Lufkin, Wiss, Matco, the list goes on. Is this a blatant outsoucing powerhouse? Trying to form an opinion on them, but not finding much specific info...what do you guys think of them??
 
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ssblood

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Aug 3, 2011
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Some of Matco is still made here. My Fluke 88V is made here also. A lot of Matco is made overseas now though, really a shame.
 
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ishiboo

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Oct 27, 2010
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Oshkosh, WI
1982fxr said:
What's the word on this company? I looked at the brand names in the family--lots of stuff that used to be made here, now from china at about the same price.

Crescent, Allen, Lufkin, Wiss, Matco, the list goes on. Is this a blatant outsoucing powerhouse? Trying to form an opinion on them, but not finding much specific info...what do you guys think of them??
Click to expand...

You're pretty much asking our opinion on 3/4ths of the tool brands discussed here.

Like most megacompanies, some of the stuff is good, some of it *****. They're slowly outsourcing just about everything. Still some good USA-made stuff in the mix, and quality foreign-made.

They have some decent high-end brands like Armstrong, Jacobs, K-D, Nicholson, Sata, Weller, Wiss, and Xcelite... mostly great stuff, even if outsourced.
 
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bob15

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Dec 8, 2011
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Northeasten, CT
Not sure how much fluke stuff is from china, but I've seen a bunch of DVM 73's that have china on them. They used to be US made (have 3 of them, all made in the states)

Apex bits are still US made. Good bits as well. Amazon and MSC seem to be the cheapest for buy them.
 
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Muffduster

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Mar 21, 2010
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Arkansas
I live very close to an Apex plant that USED to make Craftsman raised panel wrenches until very recently. They now make horse shoes now that Craftsman RP wrenches are made overseas.

This is the Springdale, AR plant BTW.

Source: I know a guy who's father works there.
 
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Skin

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Feb 24, 2010
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Location
Boston
GoBlue said:
Looked at a really nice Fluke 115 today on the Matco truck...made in China right on it.
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Cheaper Flukes have been made in China for a long time. That said they do have some very strict quality control on them.
 
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1

1982fxr

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I guess what I'm asking is: do you guys see them as having any interest in keeping anything made here, or are they slowly outsourcing everything they can? Are they a giant version of craftsman, or is it just not that simple because they are so huge?
 
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Danglerb

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SoCal
Brands just don't mean much anymore, I look at the item and decide if I like it, not the brand.
 
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lotsoftools

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Oct 22, 2011
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Inland Empire
I order a lot of Armstrong tools from Apex for work. It seems to me that Apex keeps its high end brands like Armstrong USA made, while letting their lower end brands like Gearwrench be made overseas.
 
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4x4gearhead

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Oct 4, 2010
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New Hampshire
1982fxr said:
I guess what I'm asking is: do you guys see them as having any interest in keeping anything made here, or are they slowly outsourcing everything they can? Are they a giant version of craftsman, or is it just not that simple because they are so huge?
Click to expand...

I think that they are just about the bottom line. As far as Ive seen most of danaher is made in china and what isnt is severely overpriced. Matco's prices are higher than snap on, and in my opinion the quality is sub par. I have some armstrong tools that I am happy with, and very few matco branded armstrong tools. To me they seem bad and ugly. But thats just me, not trying to be that "ONLY BUY SNAP ON" guy because thats not what I think. I just wonder why pay a snap on price for a craftsman quality tool? I mean no offense to those who like matco/armstrong, theyre just not for me.
 
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kythri

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Lebanon, OR
No issue with them in general. I still buy tools made by the conglomerate, and they're still good tools.
 
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Brandon_Lutz

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Sep 2, 2007
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428
Location
Forest Hill, Louisiana
About the only brand they own now that I will deal with is Armstrong. At least 99.9 percent of their stuff is still made here. With the recent move of just about all Craftsman stuff overseas, I've been increasing my pace of Armstrong purchases. The quality in Armstrong stuff is still top notch IMO.
 
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Fedwrench

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Dec 9, 2007
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Valley of the sun
They're FUGLY. Many decent US made tool lines have dried up our became imported with the formation of the Apex tool group. I think of them as the chinafication of formerally US tool brands. Apex has been great for Gearwrench but, at what cost? The hand tool part of KD tools ceasing to exist. The previously US made line of Napa and Allen becoming Gearwrench clones. Armstrong will probably become imported once their government contract for the GMTK expires. I use some of their brands but, I'm not a huge fan.:wtf:
 
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napaAl

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Jan 1, 2012
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Napa Ca.
1982fxr said:
What's the word on this company? I looked at the brand names in the family--lots of stuff that used to be made here, now from china at about the same price.

Crescent, Allen, Lufkin, Wiss, Matco, the list goes on. Is this a blatant outsoucing powerhouse? Trying to form an opinion on them, but not finding much specific info...what do you guys think of them??
Click to expand...

They're a mixed bag, like my tool shed.
 
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SMKS

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USA, planet Earth
Muffduster said:
I live very close to an Apex plant that USED to make Craftsman raised panel wrenches until very recently. They now make horse shoes now that Craftsman RP wrenches are made overseas.

This is the Springdale, AR plant BTW.

Source: I know a guy who's father works there.
Click to expand...

I haven't read anything on here about imported raised panel wrenches. Has anyone seen them?
 
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RAYJAY

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May 29, 2006
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2,638
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UNION DALE PA
lotsoftools said:
I order a lot of Armstrong tools from Apex for work. It seems to me that Apex keeps its high end brands like Armstrong USA made, while letting their lower end brands like Gearwrench be made overseas.
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you think gear wrench is a lower end brand :wtf:
 
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mikew13

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Jun 25, 2011
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513
Location
USA
Cooper tools is da debil. Very bad deal for USA made tool and domestic employment. They killed Diamond Tools of DuLuth. Anyways a name on garbage cans doesn't belong in the tool business (Rubbermaid) IMO.
 
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plumber84

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Dec 18, 2011
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England
As the company that moved production of an all time American icon (the crescent wrench) to China they can burn in the lower levels of hell for all i care along with Irwin and Stanley.
 
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Armstrong Brand

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Aug 7, 2008
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It's GOOD!

Of course, I'm biased. Here are a couple points of clarification:

- We don't own the Craftsman brand or decide where it should be made. That is our customer's decision.
- Crescent adjustable wrenches are still made in Sumter, South Carolina. We have added additional capacity in Asia.

Thanks,
Steve
 
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t1r2u3s4t

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Oct 30, 2011
Messages
250
Funny you mentioned Crescent wrenches, I can't seem to find MIA Crescent anywhere...
Armstrong Brand said:
It's GOOD!

Of course, I'm biased. Here are a couple points of clarification:

- We don't own the Craftsman brand or decide where it should be made. That is our customer's decision.
- Crescent adjustable wrenches are still made in Sumter, South Carolina. We have added additional capacity in Asia.

Thanks,
Steve
Click to expand...
 
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plumber84

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Dec 18, 2011
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249
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England
Armstrong Brand said:
It's GOOD!

Of course, I'm biased. Here are a couple points of clarification:

- We don't own the Craftsman brand or decide where it should be made. That is our customer's decision.
- Crescent adjustable wrenches are still made in Sumter, South Carolina. We have added additional capacity in Asia.

Thanks,
Steve
Click to expand...

If thats true i gladly take back my previous comment, i,ll just make sure i buy the USA ones and not the PRC ones in future : Note to Armstrong DONT offshore your tool production as professionals we prefer USA made tool quality and will happily pay for it, save the Chinese stuff for Wallmart customers. just my 2c.:beer:
 
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Armstrong Brand

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Aug 7, 2008
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t1r2u3s4t said:
Funny you mentioned Crescent wrenches, I can't seem to find MIA Crescent anywhere...
Click to expand...

Yes, it depends on the distributor. You'll have better luck finding Made in the USA with professional distribution (Fastenal, MSC, etc.). You could also buy our Armstrong brand adjustable wrenches which are MUSA.

Thanks for the support! Glad you are looking!
 
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plumber84

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Dec 18, 2011
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249
Location
England
@Armstrongbrand will the Armstrong adjustables remain USA made ? or will you source from western forge or klein?
 
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DTB

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Jun 12, 2011
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541
Thanks for the inside intel.
BTW,tried to request a Armstrong catalog the other day and received a email stating it was failed delivery?
 
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plumber84

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Dec 18, 2011
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249
Location
England
Thank you for being so forthcoming with your information i like tool manufacturers that are honest and that engage with their customers, other tool makers could learn from this.
 
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