When did the first Chinese/Taiwanese made tools start hitting our shores? You guys have any idea?
I had a drill press from 1987. or should I say I inherited a free one from Taiwan.
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A quality Chinese tool
- Thread starter MarcSeattle
- Start date
I had a drill press from 1987. or should I say I inherited a free one from Taiwan.
China is good at making people!!!
This type of topic always does sir!
I personally don't buy anything from China unless it's a mistake. I did see some clothes the other day made in the USA though. Shocked the heck out of me!
Toolhorder
Well-known member
Reading this I was kinda laughing on the inside because a couple weeks ago I was using a vise across the shop to take off a wheel bearing race and after grinding through most of it I borrowed a chisel and hammer from a co-worker who works next to the said vise and after about 3-4 hits the chisel was flat on the tip. I looked at the thing up close and noticed the made in China stamp. I asked and it was a harbor freight chisel. The co-worker said it's "normal", lmao.
I showed him my Snappy chisel that I've never sharpened and it's still holding a nice little edge.
dieseldodge01
Well-known member
When I first started buying tools I bought some Horror Freight punch and chisels. Never again, they mushroomed on the first hit or lost there edge. I ended up buying a set of Fulton punch and chisels, made in USA, in Fulton, Ill.
I been to Fulton, IL. great little town with awesome atmosphere. Right along Mississippi river.
They have a local pizza place called Mannies or Manny's. Awesome food if you're ever in the neighborhood!
Merkava_4
Banned
I still can't get the image out of my head of a Good ol' Boy wearing a cowboy hat sitting on the toilet reading a GearWrench catalog. 
I still can't get the image out of my head of a Good ol' Boy wearing a cowboy hat sitting on the toilet reading a GearWrench catalog.
Lol! I can't shake the thought of you smuggling in Chicomm grass seed!
Jettback50
Well-known member
Here is a torque wrench I bought lately. Made in the USA for the chinese market. I know the chinese make boat loads of torque wrenches but still there is a market (it appears) for USA made tools in china.
Does anything look fishy about that USA stamp? Sorry to tell you but that was not produced here. If you read the "made in USA labeling standards" if an item is produced overseas but uses, a large percentage of US steel, us coating, or US assembled it can be marked as Made in USA.
Reading this I was kinda laughing on the inside because a couple weeks ago I was using a vise across the shop to take off a wheel bearing race and after grinding through most of it I borrowed a chisel and hammer from a co-worker who works next to the said vise and after about 3-4 hits the chisel was flat on the tip. I looked at the thing up close and noticed the made in China stamp. I asked and it was a harbor freight chisel. The co-worker said it's "normal", lmao.
I showed him my Snappy chisel that I've never sharpened and it's still holding a nice little edge.
Again. Comparing a $2 chisel to a $50 chisel.
Wanda tools which was bought by Snap On. There are others that we may not know about them.
China .
Mickey O
Well-known member
A subsidized $2 chisel. When you buy a $2 chisel at HF you're paying a lot more for it than you think and in many ways, the cost is huge, a lot more than a $50 chisel (although you're exaggerating about $50).
Scout Driver
Well-known member
It is believed that the recipe for General Tsao's chicken originated in the USA!
Scott
Strouty
Well-known member
I remember reading somewhere about China and WWII, they made a manufacturing city and called it Usa so they put made in USA pronounced oosa this was to trick americans. Also I have seen items made in California, which was also a ploy by the Chinese to trick unsuspecting buyers. I know they can and do make some quality products. People are going to keep buying the cheap stuff until the GREEDY americans get a good product at a reasonable price. All me seem to offer is a "PREMIUM" product at a premium price. If I replaced all my Chinese stuff with the same made in U.S.A. I would have to take a second mortgage out! There is no reason for a socket to cost as much as dinner for two on a friday night. I know they last, but what if I only need it for a few uses? If the prices were better on Snap-on tools then they could make up the difference in volume, the same way the Chinese do it. The problem is Snap-on would loose money buy not being exclusive and selling franchises.
Strouty
Well-known member
I guess it was Japan , not China. they did California though.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
There is a town in Japan named Usa, but it was there long before Japan ever started importing anything into the USA so the story is a myth.
As far as whether there are high quality tools made in China, I would imagine there probably are but we don't see them here because there's not a market for them.
As far as whether there are high quality tools made in China, I would imagine there probably are but we don't see them here because there's not a market for them.
crankshaftdan II
Well-known member
What about the "Quality Made" auto parts that are made in China with the Ford, Nissan etc. stamped on the product, made to many car companies specifications. "IF YOU ARE VERY LUCKY" those parts might last what the guarantee is stated for!! They may or may-not have lead products in them, and the good old usa makes for a real nice dumping ground for any and all materials that the chineese want to dispose of. The so called american owned car companies don't want to pay for a part that would last the lifetime of the automobile, that could be catastropic, imagine a 50 year old car running on the incredible highways. Wait and see how long the true china made cars that will be imported over here last? Remember the Yugo???? I guess a car is included as a tool for the purpose of this thread??
I guess a car is included as a tool for the purpose of this thread??Stuart in MN
Well-known member
Yugos weren't made in China.
regguy1
Well-known member
Pure Capitalism...not Democracy
premierplayer
Well-known member
ROL! thanks for that
honestly, I was thinking rice before I read this
Yes my bad
first, it was Japan after the war, then Korea and Taiwan, later on China, but remember, Chinese labor isn't cheap anymore. just wait till more mega companies set up mess production plants in India and Vietnam, Cambodia, etc. you think Chinese tools are bad, then you ain't see nothing yet.
trbomax
Well-known member
The Norinco AK 47 was a pretty nice piece,I guess thats a tool (of sorts).
hedjhawg
Well-known member
...and post WWI, Japanese products were then deemed to be inferior. Today, many Japanese products are considered premium. Korea is following suit (Kia is introducing a premium sedan to compete with Lexus), and Taiwan and China, eventually, will as well. India will surely go through the same evolution...
It is a repeat of history. Production will move to where costs are the lowest. I am sure the English were saying the same things about the US back in the late 19th century. That said I do wonder how long it will take for the Chinese to produce tools on par with the best the US turned out in the 20th century.
i have some old Gedore stamped India, they do their job.
+1, Norinco also made a pretty good M14 clone with forged receivers.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
China and now India don't need to make quality tools or anything else for that matter as we're a throw away nation. Most people here don't buy anything expecting to keep it forever. From cars to electronics hell even pets are disposable. Many people go for the latest trend, fad, or just to keep up with the Jones so to speak. Very few people keep things forever any more. It's a different system of values these days. It also goes along with the lack of a work ethic and that most people don't want to work, they want to get paid to dress up and do nothing.
arkangel06
Banned
arkangel06
Banned
China and now India don't need to make quality tools or anything else for that matter as we're a throw away nation. Most people here don't buy anything expecting to keep it forever. From cars to electronics hell even pets are disposable. Many people go for the latest trend, fad, or just to keep up with the Jones so to speak. Very few people keep things forever any more. It's a different system of values these days. It also goes along with the lack of a work ethic and that most people don't want to work, they want to get paid to dress up and do nothing.
This is soooo true its sad
Strouty
Well-known member
you forgot about wives.
I bet the springfield one is better
If you are talking the original then yes those are the bomb but pretty much not obtainable to a civilian though. The new Springfield Armory Inc. is not actually better though. The new springfield has a cast receiver and the chinese is forged and closer to the original M14 battle rifle specs. Pretty ironic actually.
arkangel06
Banned
Never seen a new one
This is some sad news though.i picked up a springfield 1911 the other day most of it was made in Brazil
I must be one of the few. I always wanted an older car but those were always more than I could afford. My audio system (vinyl!) is from the mid 70's and my favorite guns are the older style, Marlin 336, SKB, Savage 99 (want one), etc. and my pet is a classic Llewellin setter.
theamcaddict
Well-known member
I would never buy them but Gearwrench appears to be making almost professional grade tools.
GeorgiaHybrid
Well-known member
You do know that SKB shotguns are Japanese made, don't you? I don't have anything against them (use an O/U of theirs for duck hunting) as they make a fine shorgun. A lot of gun companies build their guns in Japan now with Browning being the most notable. Are they the equal of my Berretta or Kreighoff guns? No. But then again, they didn't cost near as much however.
The same tradeoff is the debate we are having on tools. The average person in this country does not know how to change the oil in their car. Why should they buy expensive tools when they don't know how to use them? 95% of the population will buy cheap tools and they will work for them 95% of the time.
My nice guns will not make 95% of the shooters get a higher score or bag an extra bird. A good old Remington 870 pump does everything my K-32 or EELL will do for a lot less money. Does that make the Remington is a piece of junk? NO. Does it mean the Italians and Germans can build a better shotgun? Again NO. They are just different tools with different price points to do the same job.