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American made tools (and...)

kornbln

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Jan 27, 2008
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American made tools are popular around here. What do you guys try to buy that's American made besides tools? I've been trying to expand it to other things and it's tough.
 
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Joe B.

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Jan 2, 2007
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For some reason, it is not that hard to find high quality socks that are made in the USA.

I also buy US made dress shoes. Pricey but I was able to get a pair resoled once. (Allen-Edmund's) I don't wear them much these days.
 

pep

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Mar 1, 2010
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Shoes are doable. 501's are all made overseas now I think (and it really is amazing how much thinner the fabric is than in days of yore).

Cars, depending on what you consider the foreign content on them. About all I've ever owned is 1969-1970, so it's a no-brainer...and I expect that modern Chevy truck has a goodly chunk of US content.

Furniture. I think I'm 100% on that. About all I've got is either Stickley, Globe Wernicke (older), or Vitro.

Older wind instruments, all US (King). Newer, all French.

Anything that plugs in the wall. Far East...I'm not sure that it's even possible to buy a US built washer/dryer, TV, meat slicer, mixer, toaster oven, etc. etc. etc.

I'm rambling on, but it's pretty obvious how screwed we are. Something like 98% of shoes are made overseas. Probably a similar number for clothing and appliances. The US wind instrument biz is kaput. Go to a modern department store and look at COO. Honestly, I don't know what we trade for this stuff. Pieces of paper I guess. What'll happen when the pieces of paper lose their value?
 

ecotec

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shoes are hit and miss for me. when i buy boots, though, i buy american.

most of our furniture is heywood wakefield (40's and 50's).

all of our flatware and china is made in USA (in the 50's).

most of our house is filled with vintage (the vast majority made in usa) things that we have collected throughout the years.

we do what we can, but it is getting worse all the time.
 

Griff93

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Huntsville, AL
Anything I can afford. Machinery-Both my mill and lathe were made in the US. Both my welders are US made as well. I really try to buy US or german made car parts when given the option. Raw materials-I try to buy US steel and aluminum when possible.
 

mrholeshot

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Guitars. I do own some guitars from other countries (fine guitars) but I stick pretty much to Gibson, Taylor and Vintage Gibson. For most other stuff I look for Quality above COO. Somethings you think are made in the US arn't and some things you think are made overseas are made in the USA.
 

Ed_EOD

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Dec 4, 2009
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North Pole, AK
All of my knives (that I care about) are made in the USA and as long as I can help it, always will be. Tools are USA, German, and Swiss with a few exceptions. Basically, I always try to get made in the USA first, Europe and Japan second, and others third with China being last.
 

BanjoSavesTheDay

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Huntington, WV
Anything at all that I buy, I check very hard to see if I can get it American made. A couple months ago I spent hours on the internet trying to find a set of American made measuring spoons for the missus. As far as I can tell, there is no such thing. Even the All Clad ones don't say USA.
 

Mike83

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Jan 24, 2008
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Wisconsin
People food, dog food, toys and treats. The US made doggy toys are not easy to find and they are expensive, but they last! Surprisingly a lot of bike gear/clothing is made in the US. Components and frames not so much.
 

Theloniousmonk

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Where the tall corn grows!
American Apparel clothes - based in southern California
Allen Edmond shoes - the last word in fine quality American made shoes (but they have to outsource some work since it is near impossible to find craftsmen that know what to do w/ leather these days)

Pencils/Pens - various brands, just look on the package
Paper - just look at the package
LED emergency lights (police,fire,ambulance,rapists) - a couple companies make these in the states
Ralph Lauren premium "green or purple" label - some pieces are made in US, depending on price. actually, alot of premium high-end designer clothes from american designers are tailored in the US, just have to pay a steep price and deal with snooty chics. I'm not talking about the labels you can buy at the Mall either.
 
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Joe B.

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Jan 2, 2007
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Britax car seats for the kids. Expensive but also better than the imports and worth the money.

Intel Computer CPUs. Most of them are started in the USA but are finished in Asia or Costa Rica. Most of the value add is USA.
 

SM Racing

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May 3, 2006
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Huntsville, AL
I don't know about you guys, but the more I look the less I see. Most of my tools are made here, some facom, some China, but most of the handtools are all US or European. The Powertools are Mexico or china. No one seems to manufacture us powertools. Airtools are a mix. Compressor is an IR, but I suspect it was built in Mexico or somewhere else. Rumor has the 2475 is Welders are both US made Millers, Plasma cutter is US made. Air hoses are US made, but I doubt I can find too many more of those. Blast cabinet is US made EMPIRE, Tool boxes are HF, Waterloo and Craftsman, but I expect most all of it is Chinese or Taiwan.

It is hard to find household stuff made here. I will however buy stuff not made in China. Clothes pretty much come from everywhere but here, same with shoes and boots. It is hard to find US stuff locally. :(

Hell my 96 Dodge Dually was made in Mexico, my Civics were made in Canada and the CRX is made in Japan. The 914s are all made in Germany. Sorry but American cars are junk for all intensive purposes. Too bad, because we should be able to do better.
 

cashishift

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Sep 2, 2008
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Omaha, NE
Kershaw Knives
Some Klein Tools
Oakley Sunglasses
Ingersoll Rand Compressors (at least the GarageMate is made in Kentucky i think..)
 

HandyManny

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Ford Pick-Up trucks. Certain firearms. Hunting knives. The few high quality tools that I can still find. Carhartts. Boots. I try to buy USA made stuff when I can, but only if it's quality. Generally I look for quality no matter what the COO is. Sad to think that most American Icons are no longer made here i.e. Levis, Fruit of the Loom, Ray-Bans, Nike, etc
 

cashishift

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Ford Pick-Up trucks. Certain firearms. Hunting knives. The few high quality tools that I can still find. Carhartts. Boots. I try to buy USA made stuff when I can, but only if it's quality. Generally I look for quality no matter what the COO is. Sad to think that most American Icons are no longer made here i.e. Levis, Fruit of the Loom, Ray-Bans, Nike, etc


Truth.. it's hard to find american made stuff.

But I usually pay more for the american made item.

Sad thing is, the next 5 people behind me won't.
 

pep

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Mar 1, 2010
Messages
469
I wonder why hand tools (not power) are something of a holdout. DOD purchases?

Plus, I guess that buying old stuff is something of a copout in the discussion.

Is Fiestaware still made in the US? That's an entry for everyday items.
 

BigRed390

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Apr 30, 2009
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Chattanooga, TN
Hmmmm..... tough question. Here's a few off the top of my head:

Lie Nielsen woodworking hand tools (Really great stuff!)
Boots - Several options here
Guitars (We've got 2 from Chris Bozung outside of Nashville. Hard to top one of these.)
Whiskey, as someone mentioned before


Aside from food, guitars, booze, the occasional piece of footwear, and tools, what else am i supposed to buy? :bounce:
 

BanjoSavesTheDay

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Huntington, WV
i hear ya on that. my wife and i have been looking for about 3 years to find a new set of measuring spoons made in the USA. i really doubt they exist unless you buy used.
a lot of All Clad stuff is now made in china. that's why they don't say USA, they can't. they weren't made here. their pot lids are made in china.

And here I thought I was the only one... :thumbup:

It is sad that All Clad stuff is slowly migrating East.
 

Joe B.

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And here I thought I was the only one... :thumbup:

It is sad that All Clad stuff is slowly migrating East.

All-Clad provides some input on what is US and what is not on thier website. I could be clearer but it is better than most companies.

http://www.all-clad.com/consumer-service/frequently-asked-questions/#faq14

14. Is All-Clad made in the USA?
All-Clad has a policy of manufacturing all of its bonded cookware in the USA. This means that it purchases its metals only from US suppliers, and bonds them at its own rolling mill on-site in Canonsburg PA, and then forms them at the same location into high performance cooking vessels.



All-Clad is the originator of bonded cookware technology and is committed to investing in bonded cookware manufacture solely in the USA.



There are areas in which All-Clad does not manufacture in the USA. These are:



1. Where the bonding of metals is not required for superior cooking performance (E.g. tools, accessories)
2. On regular non-bonded components where making in the USA would add to the retail price but not generally to performance (E.g. lids)
3. Where manufacturing constraints exist at the Canonsburg plant (E.g electrical kitchen appliances)

All-Clad’s tools, accessories, lids or electrical kitchen appliances, are manufactured by select partners overseas qualified carefully by All-Clad with highest quality specifications.



All-Clad Metalcrafters LLC has a strict policy of selecting and working with reputable and responsible suppliers that strive to consistently manufacture materials, components and products worthy of the All-Clad brand name, in addition to being in total compliance with applicable environmental and product composition standards.



All-Clad items manufactured overseas are subjected to, not only, strict U.S. Food & Drug Administration testing; but also stringent third party testing to ensure products are free of lead or any other contaminations. All-Clad maintains its policy of providing consumers with safe, high-quality products that are backed by a lifetime warranty.
 

sjt78

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Mar 11, 2009
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Western NY
I recently bought a Made in USA Joseph Abboud suit. I had the choice of going with a made in China suit and save $90, but it felt good keeping some garment workers at work here in the US.
 

BanjoSavesTheDay

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All-Clad provides some input on what is US and what is not on thier website. I could be clearer but it is better than most companies.

Wow, I hadn't seen that. I respect a company a lot more for being straightforward about that kind of stuff. That's probably the most explicit description of exactly where everything is made that I've ever seen. Thanks for posting that. If I had the money to buy their cookware, I'd feel a lot better about it now. :bounce:
 

Lump

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Mar 16, 2009
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Location
Jamestown, Ohio
Billiard supplies: Pool cues, Pool tables, balls, and other supplies. So far, Asian suppliers cannot seem to make these items of decent quality. KMart-quality cues are Chinese, but ALL serious players use US made or European made cues, exclusively. Same for pool tables.

Firearms: Remington, Mossberg, Smith & Wesson, Ruger, and others are nearly all US made. Ammo too. Thankfully it's illegal to import Chinese ammo, due to our protest over the Tiannamen Square tragedy.

Tires: Goodyear, Firestone, and others.

Truck parts and accessories: IE: Roll-N-Lock tonneau covers, BedRug bedliners, etc.

Carpet, tile, and furnishings for the home.

High Performance car stuff. MOST of the stuff I like is still made in USA; IE Competition Cams, Edelbrock intakes, ****** headers, etc.

There is much more. Just can't think of it all right now.
 
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HandyManny

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Mar 13, 2009
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Out West
American Apparel clothes - based in southern California


I've seen footage of their operation. Something tell me most of their workers are illegals, but I could be wrong.

If I didn't know any better I'd swear that CC Filsons stuff was made in China, turns out it's just made in Seattle using Chinese immigrant labor.
 

HandyManny

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Out West
I keep hear guys here talking about stuff like Ralph Lauren clothes, Allen Edmunds shoes, Joseph Abboud suits, etc, etc. Thought more tool users would be Salt of the Earth types.
 
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