Airtools: other than China COO?

[Vinny]

A long while back, I bought a newer IR 1/2 inch impact gun that was made in the USA. I've been looking to expand my airtools arsenal, and everything else IR sells is made in China. Same with other manufacturers, even 3M! Any airtools manufacturers making items outside the PRC?

 

[Professional Tool User]

Other than Snap on, certain Chicago Pneumatic models, certain IR models, most of the air tools out there are made in either Taiwan or China. Other than my Snap on MG725, PH2050, and PH3050, all my other front line air tools are made in Taiwan. The air tools I don't use much are mostly hand me down, obsolete made in Japan CP and Craftsman models, and an old Snap on air drill. Quality wise, there's nothing wrong with made in Taiwan and to a certain extent made in China air tools.

 

[WhataTool]

Some of the best air tools in the world are made in TW. There's dozens of factories side by side competing for the best, most powerful or innovative air tools on the market. Come to the US, there some staples that have always been made here and are quite good and reliable. But same 'ol stuff for the past 30 years.

China... maybe IR and that's about it. Some dodgy stuff still

 

[Dave455]

Loads of choices.

Some of them are pretty much specific to one tool (I’m thinking Dotco for die grinders) others are more general.

I like Desoutter (the proper Desoutter, not the cheaper CP). No longer British made, but European made.

Snap On, has lovers and haters, but U.S. made.

How about Japanese? Kuken (not Koken) make beautifully smooth tools. Like many makers, the cheapest models are outsourced, but the Japanese made tools are lovely.

Failing that, what about used. I’d much rather (indeed do) but a used tool of top quality than a new one that isn’t!

The Taiwanese tools are not bad in my experience. Just don’t pay too much for one with a fancy brand name, when you can get an identical tool for half the money!

 

[bob15]

These companies used to be US-made. Not sure anymore, so you would have to do some research to be 100% sure. Those companies making assembly line tools will probably have US-mad equipment.

Snap On
Sioux
Cleco
Florida Pneumatic

 

[rlitman]

These companies used to be US-made. Not sure anymore, so you would have to do some research to be 100% sure. Those companies making assembly line tools will probably have US-mad equipment.

Snap On
Sioux
Cleco
Florida Pneumatic

All the Florida Pneumatic tools I've seen were imported. They're the same company as AirCat FYI. Good stuff though. Michigan Pneumatic is also an importer. Must be something in the names...

Dynabrade I believe is US COO.

 

[Mr_B]

some of the japan and taiwan air tools are best modern innovation available ,
I have kuani, ACT, M7, aircat and astro tools that can't be beaten even by spending 4x the cost .

 

[2ndGearRubber]

SP Air makes some in japan, CP too. As Mr B said, the taiwanese seem to be dominating the market with good quality air tools.

Souix, Atlas Copco are the two first world companies that come to mind. IIRC snap on air tools are at least assembled in the USA.

 

[bob15]

All the Florida Pneumatic tools I've seen were imported. They're the same company as AirCat FYI. Good stuff though. Michigan Pneumatic is also an importer. Must be something in the names...

Dynabrade I believe is US COO.

That is good to know with regards to FL Pneumatic. I wasn't sure anymore as my die grinder from them is at least 20 years old.

 

[Steve_P]

Dynabrade also has an import line, but they are clear on COO in the catalog. Snap on and Dynabrade I have is USA. Aircat I have is Taiwan.

 

[cassidy]

Florida Pneumatic makes nice stuff


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[Skin]

Most Snap-on (non-Blue Point) is US made.

The really high end IR stuff like the G1 and G3 grinders are still US made as are most of the flagship big anvil impacts.

Dynabrade for US made grinders and sanders.

Superior Pneumatic makes a line of riviters/air hammers and a few other things in the US.

St Louis Pneumatic offers a line of fairly common air tools, all made in the US.

Higher end Atlas Copco is made in Europe.

SP Air/Kuken carries Japan coo on most stuff. A couple other brands are Toku and Shinano but not everything is Japanese.

You wont necessarily be getting the best by ignoring Taiwan completely though and when it comes to things like the IR G3s, Dynabrade, or Atlas Copco get ready for some big price tags. For those brands things like their commercial die grinders start at $500 and go up from there.

Florida Pneumatic is mostly Taiwan. As stated they own Aircat and they are also the supplier to some other brands like HF impacts. I'm not a big fan of any of their stuff personally.

Cleco use to be good but I noticed some time ago they spun down the crapper a bit when they shifted over to the APEX family. Some of their stuff is identical to Gearwrench air tools except marked way up.

 

[anndel]

I have Snap-on- made in USA, IR - Taiwan, Aircat - Taiwan and Astro Pneumatic - Taiwan.

 

[Wamsutta]

I'd go straight to Sioux if I wanted a U.S. made air tool.

 

[MattT]

Souix, Atlas Copco are the two first world companies that come to mind. IIRC snap on air tools are at least assembled in the USA.

Sioux is owned by Snap-on and there is some crossover between the brands. The red drills look to be identical.

 

[dnschmidt]

Threads like this baffle me. WHO CARES as long as it's a quality tool. I have spray guns from Japan (Iwata), Germany (SATA) DeVilbiss (England) Italy (Walcom), Taiwan (Air Pro/Warwick and Astro). They all work to my satisfaction. What the hell's the difference if it does the job. Most of Sioux's tools aren't made in the USA anymore, they once were and were very good tools, but looked horribly finished as the castings were mostly unfinished and by today's standards would be unsaleable with ugly gray paint jobs. I had both a Sioux electric impact wrench and an air impact wrench both of which had 1/3rd the power of my battery powered Chinese Milwaukee cordless. The war is over face reality.

 

[Vinny]

Threads like this baffle me. WHO CARES as long as it's a quality tool. I have spray guns from Japan (Iwata), Germany (SATA) DeVilbiss (England) Italy (Walcom), Taiwan (Air Pro/Warwick and Astro). They all work to my satisfaction. What the hell's the difference if it does the job. Most of Sioux's tools aren't made in the USA anymore, they once were and were very good tools, but looked horribly finished as the castings were mostly unfinished and by today's standards would be unsaleable with ugly gray paint jobs. I had both a Sioux electric impact wrench and an air impact wrench both of which had 1/3rd the power of my battery powered Chinese Milwaukee cordless. The war is over face reality.

First, I don't care where anyone gets their tools from. Do what makes you happy.
For me, I prefer to support industry in the US first and foremost. Then, other countries. If left with no choice, China. I don't like PRC's policies so try to avoid them. Those are my principals. But, too, I would never buy a garbage US made tool over a quality China made tool, as rare a case as that may be.

 

[bob15]

Threads like this baffle me. WHO CARES as long as it's a quality tool. I have spray guns from Japan (Iwata), Germany (SATA) DeVilbiss (England) Italy (Walcom), Taiwan (Air Pro/Warwick and Astro). They all work to my satisfaction. What the hell's the difference if it does the job. Most of Sioux's tools aren't made in the USA anymore, they once were and were very good tools, but looked horribly finished as the castings were mostly unfinished and by today's standards would be unsaleable with ugly gray paint jobs. I had both a Sioux electric impact wrench and an air impact wrench both of which had 1/3rd the power of my battery powered Chinese Milwaukee cordless. The war is over face reality.

I care. I watched management close 3 plants and move most all of production and assembly to india and china and stopped caring about quality. Three thousand people lost their jobs. Have you traveled to india or china recently? Do you understand why their junk it is sold so cheap in the States?

I will do what I can to help try and keep those remaining manufacturing jobs in the States by buying US-made products.

 

[Professional Tool User]

I care. I watched management close 3 plants and move most all of production and assembly to india and china and stopped caring about quality. Three thousand people lost their jobs. Have you traveled to india or china recently? Do you understand why their junk it is sold so cheap in the States?

I will do what I can to help try and keep those remaining manufacturing jobs in the States by buying US-made products.

Whether you like it or not, labour intensive manufacturing is going to be outsourced. Capital intensive manufacturing has the potential to make a comeback but provide the same output with less manpower. Businesses don't do things from the goodness of their hearts alone. Manufacturing in the US has to be competitive to a certain extent for it to work out.

 

[bob15]

Whether you like it or not, labour intensive manufacturing is going to be outsourced. Capital intensive manufacturing has the potential to make a comeback but provide the same output with less manpower. Businesses don't do things from the goodness of their hearts alone. Manufacturing in the US has to be competitive to a certain extent for it to work out.

We were competitive and we were making very good money as a company, including our pension (yes, we still had one at the time). We had quarterly meetings and the CFO would show us what the bottom line was. After moving, the ebitda slowly dropped and quality suffered. I know first hand about the quality issues because I was one of the technicians that tested the junk parts and components; before, during and after durability. About 2 years ago the new CEO even stated in our quarterly meeting that closing manufacturing in the States was a mistake; however the company couldn't afford to bring it back due to lack of money. Now the company is struggling to just hang on.....

 

[Alaniho]

Suhner/Pferd air tools are still Swiss made, ATA tools are made here in Ireland and are of some the best die grinders around, BIAX are also mostly still made in Germany.

 

[Wamsutta]

Threads like this baffle me. WHO CARES as long as it's a quality tool. I have spray guns from Japan (Iwata), Germany (SATA) DeVilbiss (England) Italy (Walcom), Taiwan (Air Pro/Warwick and Astro). They all work to my satisfaction. What the hell's the difference if it does the job. Most of Sioux's tools aren't made in the USA anymore, they once were and were very good tools, but looked horribly finished as the castings were mostly unfinished and by today's standards would be unsaleable with ugly gray paint jobs. I had both a Sioux electric impact wrench and an air impact wrench both of which had 1/3rd the power of my battery powered Chinese Milwaukee cordless. The war is over face reality.

Count me in as one of those people who cares.

Famous quote: "The job you save may be your own."

 

[Monte]

Rupes makes some of their air tools in Italy

Bosch makes some of their air tools in Germany

 

[The Fall]

We were competitive and we were making very good money as a company, including our pension (yes, we still had one at the time). We had quarterly meetings and the CFO would show us what the bottom line was. After moving, the ebitda slowly dropped and quality suffered. I know first hand about the quality issues because I was one of the technicians that tested the junk parts and components; before, during and after durability. About 2 years ago the new CEO even stated in our quarterly meeting that closing manufacturing in the States was a mistake; however the company couldn't afford to bring it back due to lack of money. Now the company is struggling to just hang on.....

This happens often. The sociologist Jefferson Cowie has written a couple of books on it. Companies making healthy profits in the US are outsourced, in pursuit of even greater profits. Cowie's written about guys tearing down their own machinery for shipping to another COO. It doesn't always work out how the top brass expects it to. I'm with you. It's really myopic. You can watch the closing/relocation of American Axle in real time in the film Detropia. Also strange, as the son of a combat veteran and cabinetmaker and grandson of a veteran/truck driver, to see presumably working-class guys side with finance and internalize their values.

Nevertheless, it's difficult for American companies to stay competitive because of the high costs associated with the FIRE sector (especially health insurance) who've more or less written the tax code in their favor and not in manufacturing's.

Buy USA-made if you can.

 

[Stephenw]

I like Ingersoll Rand air tools. Even though they are now made in China, they are most definitely NOT the same as Harbor Freight air tools. They are a quality tool.

Just like Milwaukee tools are now made in China, but still high quality professional tools.

 

[GrundleJuice]

Sioux is owned by Snap-on and there is some crossover between the brands. The red drills look to be identical.

This^

I had a pre SO Sioux drill and now have a post SO Sioux (says snap on on data plate but is identical to the other visually). My 15+years of experience with snap on air tools is mixed and more negative than positive, party for the support after sale. Need a new trigger seal for your drill, snap on will fix it, flat rate $110. Need a new air motor and gearbox for the same drill, $110. Fortunately, a phone call to Sioux and the oring and required parts for a leaky trigger were in the mail. Total cost, $9 including shipping. Hopefully they continue to support directly.

 

[lardy1]

I care.

So do I. I care a lot. Thanks Bob.

 

[Tonyuk]

Threads like this baffle me. WHO CARES as long as it's a quality tool. I have spray guns from Japan (Iwata), Germany (SATA) DeVilbiss (England) Italy (Walcom), Taiwan (Air Pro/Warwick and Astro). They all work to my satisfaction. What the hell's the difference if it does the job. Most of Sioux's tools aren't made in the USA anymore, they once were and were very good tools, but looked horribly finished as the castings were mostly unfinished and by today's standards would be unsaleable with ugly gray paint jobs. I had both a Sioux electric impact wrench and an air impact wrench both of which had 1/3rd the power of my battery powered Chinese Milwaukee cordless. The war is over face reality.

Don't bother, you'll never change them.

I think Chinese and Taiwlan tools can be great myself, and their lower cost (usually) is helping a lot of younger guys in the trade get decent usable stuff for cheap.

I can never get my head around people paying stupid money for sockets for example, just shaped lumps of metal.........

 

[toddmorr]

I think Chinese and Taiwlan tools can be great myself, and their lower cost (usually) is helping a lot of younger guys in the trade get decent usable stuff for cheap.

good point.
i care about COO, but not to the point where I'm willing to subsidize somebody's job. Nor do i expect anybody to subsidize mine.

Rather than protect the past, guys need to think about skills or quality or offerings that Taiwan or China can't easily match. It can be done.

 

[Xcursion88]

Threads like this baffle me. WHO CARES as long as it's a quality tool. I have spray guns from Japan (Iwata), Germany (SATA) DeVilbiss (England) Italy (Walcom), Taiwan (Air Pro/Warwick and Astro). They all work to my satisfaction. What the hell's the difference if it does the job. Most of Sioux's tools aren't made in the USA anymore, they once were and were very good tools, but looked horribly finished as the castings were mostly unfinished and by today's standards would be unsaleable with ugly gray paint jobs. I had both a Sioux electric impact wrench and an air impact wrench both of which had 1/3rd the power of my battery powered Chinese Milwaukee cordless. The war is over face reality.

I would say your reply baffles me but I do understand it's just you being ignorant.

Why and what the hell do you care where the OP wants put their money. It's their money and if buying USA makes him (I'm assuming Vinny is a he) happy then that's all that matters. If he's at least makimg an attempt to refrain from buying an Asian made product that's completely his prerogative, no?
Some people buy things based on packaging. Is that smart? Not really but it's genius to them and since its THEIR money it has no impact on you.

Perhaps you just aren't in an industry that has seen the effects of undercut cheap labor. Perhaps you are and just don't care and you'll buy the cheapest tool available that can get the job done. Maybe the OP is looking for more than just getting the job done. Maybe it's a sense of pride along with getting the job done that he did a small part to help his brethren.
No matter the reason it's his money and GOOD FOR HIM!!!

 

[WittHay]

Nothing wrong with having pride in your country and supporting North American manufacturers.

Lately I am proud, that toilet paper can be still made locally in BC. Something wrong with us importing the Chinese Flu and then have to depend on the Peoples Republic for basic supplies and medication.

Long time ago CP had a line of hd commercial/industrial air tools made in the US. The economy line was made in Japan. Then the US line was discontinued. Japanese made was the bulk of the line, slowly replaced with made in China. Now the made in Japan stuff is called the Classic line with a few models and made in China is the main line

I dont call that progress

 

[MWEric]

I care. North America first and foremost. We look out for each other.

 

[Monte]

Buy global, die local....