American Made Power Tools

[jazzy]

please dont forget channel lock made proudly in Meadville Pa - not power tools but didnt see it mentioned. I am also on a quest to replace all tools with american made and have been stumped looking for batt powered american made. I will keep digging or just ise my hands if have to - good luck and please keep pushing the american made products in everything you by!!

 

[BDFan1981]

The following power tools I and my dad own are made in the U.S., except one is from Canada and the other from China.

Black & Decker 6015 Shorty 1/4" Drill (Automotive Series) (built 1977, was an inheritance from my paternal grandpa)
Black & Decker 7190 V.S. (variable speed) Reversing 3/8" Drill (2) (one orange, one black; the orange one was an inheritance from my paternal grandpa, the black one was a Christmas present I bought in 1994)
Black & Decker 7390 7-1/4" Circular Saw (inheritance from my paternal grandpa, 2000)
Black & Decker 7456 1/2 Sheet Finishing Sander (made in Canada, 1982) (bought NOS on eBay in 2003)
Black & Decker 7504 Jig Saw (dad's)
Sears Craftsman 315.11640 19.2V V.S. Reversing 3/8" Cordless Drill-Driver (made in China) (dad's)
Sears Craftsman 315.11721 3" x 21" Belt Sander (dad's)
Sears Craftsman Professional 900.271580 V.S. Reversing 1/2" Drill
Skil 4235 V.S. Jig Saw
Skil 9311 4" Angle Grinder (dad's)
Skilsaw 576 7-1/4" Circular Saw (dad's)

I hope that I can obtain a used Black & Decker or DeWalt Univolt cordless drill from the early 1990s -- that is, if they were actually any good in the ratings back in the day. Think about this list:
Black & Decker 1923K/2623K 7.2V Univolt 3/8" V.S. Reversing Cordless Drill/Screwdriver Kit (also DeWalt DW942K)
Black & Decker 1963K/2663K 9.6V Univolt 3/8" V.S. Reversing Cordless Drill/Screwdriver Kit (also DeWalt DW943K)
Black & Decker Cyclone 2664K 9.6V Univolt 3/8" V.S. Reversing Cordless Versa-Clutch Drill/Screwdriver Kit (also DeWalt DW944K)
Black & Decker Super Cyclone 2665K 12.0V Univolt 3/8" V.S. Reversing Cordless Versa-Clutch Drill/Screwdriver Kit (also DeWalt DW945K)
Black & Decker Super Cyclone 5912K 12.0V Univolt 3/8" V.S. Reversing Cordless Hammerdrill Kit (also DeWalt DW946K)
Black & Decker Kodiak 2651K 13.2V Univolt 3/8" V.S. Reversing Cordless Drill Kit (also DeWalt DW947K)
Black & Decker Kodiak 2661K 13.2V Univolt Dual-Range 3/8" V.S. Reversing Cordless Drill Kit
Black & Decker Kodiak 2666K 13.2V Univolt 1/2" V.S. Reversing Cordless Drill Kit (also DeWalt DW948K)
Black & Decker Kodiak 5991K 13.2V Univolt 3/8" V.S. Reversing Cordless Hammerdrill Kit (also DeWalt DW949K)

If ever I am to buy anymore power tools, they will be used and obsolete... but only because 95% of the choices I want were made here (in the U.S.)

~Ben

 

[justanengineer]

I think much of this "search" for domestic tools is fruitless unless you go to the proper source. Milwaukee IS made in the USA, IF you buy the professional line. If you go to the box store you will more often than not find the homeowner's line of **** made overseas.

Not to offend anyone, but box stores and Walmart are not the places to be tool shopping, with few exceptions.

 

[retrobuilder]

Stihl..made in Virginia and Germany.

 

[Alfajuj]

ALWAYS look on the nameplate of the tool itself for the COO.
I don't think any of the cordless Milwaukee are made in USA, but a lot of their corded tools are. Especially the big stuff like coring motors.
Don't assume that Bosch are made in Germany. They have some production in China too. Even Hilti has some products made in China. But Festool is definitely made in Germany.
The most hilarious is DeWalt. The nameplate has "made in China" written vertically in a really faint color in TINY letters so that you can barely see it. It's like they're saying, "Pleeeeease don't notice the COO"

That being said, the big brands are very careful to protect their brand image and the quality is usually just fine no matter where they're made. They do exhaustive testing and make a lot of quality and design requirements. At my work, we OEM for a lot of these brands. They have a lot of procedures to ensure the product is up to snuff.

It just bugs me that it's so hard to find made in USA.

 

[Conductor562]

I didn't notice anyone adding that Milwaukee still has a couple of plants and a distribution center in Mississippi. One of them makes Corded Sawzalls and I'm not sure about the others.

 

[flashkl]

My Milwaukee V28 1/2" cordless impact is made in the USA

 

[thetreshon]

Bosch is not american made. Some ridgid and milwaukee stuff is made in mexico and canada. That may be as close as you get these days!

Made in Canada? If you have any examples, love to see them!

 

[CJ in CNY]

Not to rain on the buy "made in the USA" parade but Milwaukee is now owned by the Chinese,
In 2005, Atlas Copco sold Milwaukee Electric Tool (and Atlas Copco Electric Tools) to Techtronic Industries (TTI) of Hong Kong.

In addition to Milwaukee, TTI's brands currently include Ryobi, AEG, and Homelite. One World Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of TTI, also manufactures RIDGID® woodworking tools for Emerson Professional Tools.

 

[Conductor562]

Not to rain on the buy "made in the USA" parade but Milwaukee is now owned by the Chinese,
In 2005, Atlas Copco sold Milwaukee Electric Tool (and Atlas Copco Electric Tools) to Techtronic Industries (TTI) of Hong Kong.

In addition to Milwaukee, TTI's brands currently include Ryobi, AEG, and Homelite. One World Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of TTI, also manufactures RIDGID® woodworking tools for Emerson Professional Tools.

Yea, and for the 10 years before that they were owned by a Swedish company. Their HQ is still in Brookfield, WI, they still have plants in Greenwood and Jackson, Mississippi and a distribution center in Olive Branch, Mississippi.

 

[litng1]

I just go to flee markets all my power tools are usa drills skill saw router etc.. All older craftsmen only my cordless drill is import.

 

[justanengineer]

Not to rain on the buy "made in the USA" parade but Milwaukee is now owned by the Chinese,

And your point is? Even amongst the great "American" companies, many are owned by Chinese investors. Publicly traded stock is public worldwide, and even many companies that are "privately" owned have foreign investors and/or use overseas banks.

 

[Bull]

Not to rain on the buy "made in the USA" parade but Milwaukee is now owned by the Chinese,
In 2005, Atlas Copco sold Milwaukee Electric Tool (and Atlas Copco Electric Tools) to Techtronic Industries (TTI) of Hong Kong.

In addition to Milwaukee, TTI's brands currently include Ryobi, AEG, and Homelite. One World Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of TTI, also manufactures RIDGID® woodworking tools for Emerson Professional Tools.

But being owned by China does not preclude a company from making things in America, with American workers and, hopefully, materials. For example, Hein Werner is owned by a Chinese company, but makes their service jacks here.

 

[zakmartin]

I haven't seen an American made corded power tool in AGES. I inherited an old Craftsman drill from my dad that is USA-made and an old worm drive USA SkilSaw. I also have a near-mint condition Dremel that I bought in the 1980's that's USA made. I've compared it to the Dremels that currently grace the shelves and have to admit, the USA one is a LOT more stout.

 

[arthur1920]

I have recently done the same thing you have done. Sold 99% of my imported hand tools on craigslist, some for more that I paid for. Now virtually all of my hand tools are American made. I have a few taiwans and what not, but no chinese garbage. Sold my big 227 piece kobalt socket set, a boatload of chinese garbage kobalt pliers, a bunch of chinese assorted junk. Now I have Mostly craftsman, with a good number of channellock, estwing, etc. I am a LOT happier with my American made tools. They dont start to rust right when you open the package, they have a sturdier feel to them, and best of all I get to read MADE IN USA when I pick up a tool. Sick of all the chinese ****.

For tin snips, I would go with midwest. Great product. Made in the USA. I got mine at sears. Wiss are nice too.

For power tools, SOME Milwaukee tools are Assembled in the USA. You have to check the package. Dewalt is mexico/asia, depends on the tool. Mexican Dewalt seems to be nice, plus I would rather have mexican than chinese.

Other than that I dont have a clue.

Careful on the Craftsman. According to news this week, Sears is currently being sued for marking tools USA when they come from China.

 

[justanengineer]

Careful on the Craftsman. According to news this week, Sears is currently being sued for marking tools USA when they come from China.

My understanding of it is that its yet another technicality scam on the part of the lawyers. Allegedly, Cman is misleading consumers by advertising their tool LINE as being "Made in USA," when many of them arent. In reality, the feds arent getting involved bc the individual tools are being marked correctly so no crime is really being committed.

 

[Maexle]

you must be F****** kiddin me, i never thought of this, but, are there REALLY NO US made power tools out there anymore ???

I am absolutely not a COO guy (except for China....i try to stay away if possible but stepped into this trap already a few times....)....

but are there really NO purely US made power tools out there ?

Is it really really all about profit and margin ????

Guess this would be a market niche...

 

[trythis]

CPO sells refurbished tools that are refurbished in the USA. Someone here got paid for something.

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

you must be F****** kiddin me, i never thought of this, but, are there REALLY NO US made power tools out there anymore ???

I am absolutely not a COO guy (except for China....i try to stay away if possible but stepped into this trap already a few times....)....

but are there really NO purely US made power tools out there ?

Is it really really all about profit and margin ????

Guess this would be a market niche...

Last time I took a walk through the Home Depot power tool aisle, every single one of the drills and impact drivers were made in China. Most circular saws were, with some table and miter saws being made in Taiwan.

And to dispell the "big box vs contractor-grade" tool myth, every single electrical and hardware supply store I've ever been to has the exact same Chinese-made tools, for significantly higher prices, Milwaukee and Bosch being the most common at those stores, with Dewalt trailing. Never seen Makita or Hitachi in any of the supply stores.

 

[braol]

I bet there are very little electronic anything made here. Even if it is assembled here I bet the parts for it come from overseas, mostly China. Even Hypertherm and Miller use Chinese electronics, dont they?

 

[Glacial_Speed]

As said earlier, Makita has a plant in Buford Georgia.

I think Stihl Chainsaws are made in Virginia.

Don't know if Porter Cable still does anything in Tennessee or not, they still did their high end tools there a few years ago.

Baldor makes motors in US and Kalamazoo makes grinders from their motors.

Powermatic used to build heavy tools in Chicago. , not sure they still do.

Porter Cable is now the low end joke brand for Black and Decker. It used to be owned by Pentair (along with Delta, Oldham and DeVilbiss) but was bought out in 2004 or 2005 by B+D.

I don't think Powermatic makes much in the USA anymore, it's owned by Walter Meier Holdings aka WMH Tool Group who owns Wilton, JET and Performax also. Don't look for a drill press or table saw made in the USA from Powermatic anymore......it's all hello Asia.

Then there are some old company names that have resurfaced on total import ****....like Rockwell.

Good luck finding the USA stuff.

 

[USA Tool Supply]

I provide cordless tools/ hand tools and related items to the Power Plants in the Midwest. They want everything USA made. Like all good Americans should, right ? When it comes to cordless tools they use Milwaukee and Dewalt, both Mexico/China. No option I know of. At one time PorterCable was USA. I hit their site but nothing says "country of origin" going to call them first of the week.

 

[USA Tool Supply]

Maybe this country needs to designate a " Buy USA Only Week ".
One week of the year when we all try to buy everything we can made here. Americans supporting Americans. Sounds good. Would there be enough USA made product to even do that ? I'm " all in " on this idea.

 

[metaldad]

I always attempt to purchase USA made, in whatever category there is.
Must support in country business. The job you save may your neighbors, uncles or your own.

 

[03protege]

I commend you. If more people start thinking like us, instead of the "screw everyone else, I'm all about ME" mindset that has brought this country to where it is now, then maybe, just maybe we might have a chance of turning things around in our manufacturing sector.

Lol thanks for laugh needed to hear a good joke today!

 

[Farmall450]

Snap on !!!!

Are they even?

I'm sure they're rebadged someone

 

[Farmall450]

Maybe this country needs to designate a " Buy USA Only Week ".
One week of the year when we all try to buy everything we can made here. Americans supporting Americans. Sounds good. Would there be enough USA made product to even do that ? I'm " all in " on this idea.

You'd be surprised by all the US stuff.

 

[03protege]

I bet there are very little electronic anything made here. Even if it is assembled here I bet the parts for it come from overseas, mostly China. Even Hypertherm and Miller use Chinese electronics, dont they?

Miller supposedly uses less than 3% imported parts on the multimatic. Now I don't know if that is by piece count or weight or what.

 

[bobcatdan]

My metabo saw all was made one the USA. Was pretty surprise to see that.

 

[skepticam]

DeWalt now has American made drills in the 20v.

 

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Many/most guns are still made in the US...

 

[MWEric]

I bought the Snap On 18v li-ion. Made by Sioux ( owned by SO) in NC. Replaced all the **** Milwaukee, Makita, Rigid ones I broke. Best cordless drill I have ever used. BTW Metabo grinders (German ones) replaced all the other ones at my company about 10 years ago. By far better than anything else.

 

[Monte]

Just saw a Makita cordless band saw "Made in USA"....