l_bilyk
Well-known member
Hecho en mexico senjor! cha cha cha
Bought some nicholson files today
- Thread starter l_bilyk
- Start date
Stuey
Well-known member
For the price, what do you expect?
Uncle Buck
Banned
Not likely, Nicholson is part of the Cooper tool group last I checked.
I bought 3 different (2 mill and 1 triangle) Nicholson files at Home Depot in December and all were made in the USA.
Stuey
Well-known member
Hmm. I thought that they weren't made in the US for a while. I guess I'll check where mine are from when I get home.
Sorry I made a mistake. Only the mill files were made in the USA.
ba614
Well-known member
it is a dissapointment when you go to buy tools that always were top of the line and US made to boot ... only to find out they are made elsewhere ... automatic loss of confidence in the quality ... the files may be as good as the US made ones ... but the confidence ain't there anymore ...
so true.....
russlaferrera
Well-known member
I wonder where the ******* is made? Does anyone know how they named that file?
I didn't use that term for fear of censorship, so I covered all these flat files by saying mill.
If memory serves, I think its named after one of your presidents. W something
krusty the clown
Member Emeritus
I didn't use that term for fear of censorship, so I covered all these flat files by saying mill.
If memory serves, I think its named after one of your presidents. W something
well.....he is a tool
eschoendorff
Well-known member
If you are talking about me, I was made in Flint, MI, USA
BTW... I have some drills made in Brazil and they really aren't bad at all. I understand the not made in USA disappointment, but the quality of teh files might surprise you.
OctaneMotorsports
Well-known member
I bought four Nicholson files a few weeks ago, all made in the USA. Extremely high quality, even just by looking at them. A guy I work with had a little plastic pouch with four tiny Nicholson files in it, and it said made in china on the package 
Nikolai_V
Well-known member
Notwanting to stir here (and believe me I have my flame suit on when I say this), but did you know that in the rest of the world we have the same conversation, except its comparing the relative merits of american vs european vs japanese vs taiwanese etc... and most of the time we pick the japanese or european brands as they are generally better?
Example - Dodge (Chrysler etc) have just established in my country. They get slated for poor quality and finish, just generally not as good as say a Toyota. People over here (in our lovely free market economy) choose on how good something is, rather than where its made. My step-father has a Chrysler 300C. One word to describe it - heap. For the money he could have (and will be as soon as he can get out of the lease) a pick of executive japanese sedans, with better performance, handling and economy. America has made some great cars, true, but why is it that there isnt an export maarket to speak of for them?
It amuses me how you can have a lack of confidence in a manufactured good, made by engineers in another country - look at the japanese - they`ve only been working steel for centuries before america existed (like all of europe to boot).
It does come across as arrogance - you expect everyone else to buy your goods, but yet have this atttude towards imported goods? yes you make some good stuff, but so do a lot of other countries.
I have a lot of american friends (they came as tourists and decided to stay) great people all of them, and you guys do some great stuff in the world, its just a little humility wouldnt go astray, as well as some understanding of the existence of the rest of the world.
Rant over.
Example - Dodge (Chrysler etc) have just established in my country. They get slated for poor quality and finish, just generally not as good as say a Toyota. People over here (in our lovely free market economy) choose on how good something is, rather than where its made. My step-father has a Chrysler 300C. One word to describe it - heap. For the money he could have (and will be as soon as he can get out of the lease) a pick of executive japanese sedans, with better performance, handling and economy. America has made some great cars, true, but why is it that there isnt an export maarket to speak of for them?
It amuses me how you can have a lack of confidence in a manufactured good, made by engineers in another country - look at the japanese - they`ve only been working steel for centuries before america existed (like all of europe to boot).
It does come across as arrogance - you expect everyone else to buy your goods, but yet have this atttude towards imported goods? yes you make some good stuff, but so do a lot of other countries.
I have a lot of american friends (they came as tourists and decided to stay) great people all of them, and you guys do some great stuff in the world, its just a little humility wouldnt go astray, as well as some understanding of the existence of the rest of the world.
Rant over.
eschoendorff
Well-known member
If you lived in teh USA, I think you would understand this a little better. I am not going to argue that we are in the middle of a global economy. The issue is that our trade laws seem to unfairly favor imports - over exports. That's a whole other topic though.
In general, we try to support our own by buying American. Many of the Chinese goods are just reverse-engineered American goods anyway. The Chinese are reverse engineering just about everything. Look at their high way system - it should look familiar to any American.
Consider us arrogant if you want. But until imported goods can match the quality of American goods, I will buy American any time that I can. Hell, I will continue to buy American just to offset those with attitudes like your own. If you don't like the attitude of this message board, maybe you should find a a tool forum based in New Zealand.
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Stuey
Well-known member
It is not arrogance that steers many of us to a pro-US product attitude, but experience. More often than not, a product made in China is lower in quality than the same product manufactured in the US, a western European country, or Japan. Tool production that previously took place in the US or England before being moved to factories in China see a notable decrease in production quality and quality control.
I'm not saying that all Chinese products or manufactured goods are bad, but experience has shown that they are not as good as US or European made counterparts.
Also, there are many European brands that don't really see much distribution in the US either, which is why they're often overlooked. In general, the choice is going to be between US and Chinese products. In the absence of a US made tool, I try to look for tools made in Japan, England, Canada, or Germany based on my experience with tools having those countries of origin.
Sometimes a company will have exceptional quality tools regardless of origin (like Gearwrench). In those cases, the factory location doesn't really make a difference, at least to me.
I for one would like you to stick around here. It's always nice to have open minded people share their difference of opinions. Some guys won't cut you too much slack at first, especially due to the tone of your post, but that's to be expected.
Then again, you have to realize that US production is decreasing at an alarming rate, and a lot of workers are losing their jobs. On top of bad experiences with Chinese tools, a lot of people are growing increasingly biased towards imported tools in attempts to vote with their wallets.
Major Ramifications
Well-known member
Hey Nikolai V,
Why don't your countrymen simply buy cars made in New Zealand?
Oh, that's right, you guys haven't figured out how to make cars yet!
I'm just joking of course. For all I know about New Zealand, they might have several automobile manufacturers there, but if they were any good I probably would have heard of them. I just mean that buying American for us helps keep our countrymen working, and gives us pride in our country. If we didn't manufacture anything, then we only COULD choose by which one is better.
Don't hate me or I won't buy your apples anymore!
Why don't your countrymen simply buy cars made in New Zealand?
Oh, that's right, you guys haven't figured out how to make cars yet!
I'm just joking of course. For all I know about New Zealand, they might have several automobile manufacturers there, but if they were any good I probably would have heard of them. I just mean that buying American for us helps keep our countrymen working, and gives us pride in our country. If we didn't manufacture anything, then we only COULD choose by which one is better.
Don't hate me or I won't buy your apples anymore!
Nikolai_V
Well-known member
Whoa there people, i`m not having a go at anyone or anything here. Just wanted to point out the logical inconsistiencies in your argument. There are say 2 billion people in the world with a first world standard of living / manufacturing. You cant have it both ways - protection through subsidy or other means of locally made goods, and free access to other markets. Not how it works (ignoring military adventures to open markets).
Presumably your companies would like to sell things to the 2 billion chinese and indians? but you dont want to buy their goods? Those guys have families and concerns much like yours. Hell india is part of the commonwealth, fought in WW1 and 2 on our side - just like canada
Now if everyone refused to buy anything imported it would a) **** for the consumer b) **** for the manufacturer/shareholders.
I dont want this to sound like some evil globalisation / look how wonderful globalisation is rant (depending on your viewpoint).
Re the trade laws - as I understand it, you still have subsidies for farmers and tariffs on some inported goods? I dont see how these favour imports. Our farmers have been subsidy free for almost 20 years, and we manage to compete on a global markey fairly well. We have no tariffs on imported goods, so no protection for local manufacturers. Its innovate or die, especially in a country the size of England with 4 million people.
I understand that you guys want to protect your local industries and jobs for americans. I feel the same, except my local industries are nz ones, and the jobs are new zealanders. I didn`t mean to cause offense, but can see how it would have been taken.
Presumably your companies would like to sell things to the 2 billion chinese and indians? but you dont want to buy their goods? Those guys have families and concerns much like yours. Hell india is part of the commonwealth, fought in WW1 and 2 on our side - just like canada
Now if everyone refused to buy anything imported it would a) **** for the consumer b) **** for the manufacturer/shareholders.
I dont want this to sound like some evil globalisation / look how wonderful globalisation is rant (depending on your viewpoint).
Re the trade laws - as I understand it, you still have subsidies for farmers and tariffs on some inported goods? I dont see how these favour imports. Our farmers have been subsidy free for almost 20 years, and we manage to compete on a global markey fairly well. We have no tariffs on imported goods, so no protection for local manufacturers. Its innovate or die, especially in a country the size of England with 4 million people.
I understand that you guys want to protect your local industries and jobs for americans. I feel the same, except my local industries are nz ones, and the jobs are new zealanders. I didn`t mean to cause offense, but can see how it would have been taken.
Speaking as Canadian, I grew up in a time where tools from Japan and China were absolute ****. Granted the Asian countries have closed the gap considerably and now arguably have a similar quality product, I will continue to purchase the time proven, US or Canadian product for my core tools.
Back in the 70's and 80's if you used a file from China then it was the first and last time because there would be no teeth left. Sockets would be rounded out and wrenches would bend. You could pickup an entire set of sockets for $5.00 at the drugstore and they overpriced by $4.99 because they weren't worth 2 cents.I am not exaggerating.
I will stick with what I know and what has served me well over the years.
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old salvage
Well-known member
I pass by the original Nicholson factory (beautifull) in Providence every so often. Tools havnt come out of it since the mid 50's and I think its just offices or something now but I like seeing it and try to imagine what it must have been like back in the day.
DiStOrTiOn
Well-known member
This whole globalisation thing, and the "global economy" doesn't hold much water until we have a common, worldwide currency. As long as a tool comes from a country that makes tools well (USA, england, canada, germany, etc. NOT china) I don't have a problem paying for it. But, if given a choice, I will buy the USA made over the foreign competition, it's my country, and I would like the other guys living in it to have jobs as well, and to keep our economy going strong. It's a matter of national pride, and patriotism. If I were from a different country, I'm sure I'd feel the same way. If I were German, I might balk at how the United States thinks we can make a good plier. But I might buy it anyway, cause hey, it's not made in china. Everyone's got different opinions on it, and shouldn't be critisized too harshly for them, but a discussion where ideas are shared, and everyone keeps an open mind might be nice.
mulepackin
Well-known member
Not to get back on track here, but if Nicholson is now made in Mexico and other countries, are there any American made files to be had?