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Decent Made in USA Tool line?

KPAero

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Are cornwell tools usa made?

Yes. Like pretty much all tool companies, not everything re-branded as Cornwell is USA made (But a lot of that stuff is still either US by another company, or from a quality european manufacturer) but all of their hardline tools definitely are.
 
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CWP1616L

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Are cornwell tools usa made?

Their core line is made in USA by them. That would be their pear head shaped ratchets; their sockets that are not bit sockets; their NON-ratcheting combination wrenches; and their extensions. Their pliers are made by Channellock and their screwdrivers are made by a mystery Taiwanese company.

EDIT:
I might mention that their ratchets and combination wrenches have some ergonomic advantages not seen in other brands of tools.

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TimDaToolMan

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Looks like Cornwell is right up there in price with Snap On. $82.53 for a 3/8 ratchet.

I'm going to the pawnshop tomorrow. I will see what they have.
 

SKAutomotive

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For quality US tools, you will be charged a premium, and it is worth it, the truck brands worth it even more for the warranty and ease of warranty exchange.
 

CWP1616L

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I'm interested if you'd be willing to expand on this.

Their ratchets have a smooth contoured handle that has no machined grooves in it to cut into your hand. Their combination wrenches have nice rounded edges on the beam so that you can pull on them real hard without having square corners cutting into your hand. Ergonomics are very important when it comes to hand tools; just my preference though.
 

Gotmayhem

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Their ratchets have a smooth contoured handle that has no machined grooves in it to cut into your hand. Their combination wrenches have nice rounded edges on the beam so that you can pull on them real hard without having square corners cutting into your hand. Ergonomics are very important when it comes to hand tools; just my preference though.

Cool, I was curious because I haven't gotten the chance to try any of their hand tools yet.
 

Davefr

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Cool, I was curious because I haven't gotten the chance to try any of their hand tools yet.

Try the Cornwell JR72 3/8" Ratchet. It's the best ratchet anyone has every produced IMHO.

They're very hard to buy though. (dealers are extremely scarce and Cornwell won't sell direct)
 

Gotmayhem

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Try the Cornwell JR72 3/8" Ratchet. It's the best ratchet anyone has every produced IMHO.

They're very hard to buy though. (dealers are extremely scarce and Cornwell won't sell direct)

Thanks for the recommendation. I saw on their website that they sell a three piece 100 tooth set too. That's sort of tempting due to the fact that SO don't currently sell a 1/2" 100 tooth. But at the same time I have more leeway in prices with my local SO dealer, warranty is easier, and rebuild kits are cheaper. I will keep an eye out for local private sales though.
 

Brownsfan

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Try the Cornwell JR72 3/8" Ratchet. It's the best ratchet anyone has every produced IMHO.

They're very hard to buy though. (dealers are extremely scarce and Cornwell won't sell direct)

I have one and I agree. I will be buying the TR72 and the JRF72 very soon. Also I have a company local to me called Production Tool Supply and they sell Williams and Wright along with Channellock to name a few. This is my USA tool purchase place besides the Snap On and Cornwell trucks. They have most stuff in stock including the Williams black hard handle screwdrivers. Anyone in Cleveland Oh go check this place out. They also have like 30 vises on display.
 
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CWP1616L

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I saw on their website that they sell a three piece 100 tooth set too. That's sort of tempting due to the fact that SO don't currently sell a 1/2" 100 tooth.

Those 100 tooth round heads are not theirs; those are imported from some mystery Taiwanese factory. I can tell you which tools are theirs and which tools are not.
 

Gotmayhem

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Those 100 tooth round heads are not theirs; those are imported from some mystery Taiwanese factory.

No kidding? Ok, pro-USA fanboyism completely aside, $264.95 for three Taiwan-made ratchets? I could buy three Gearwrench's for under $100. That's insanity. You saved me a lot of potential trouble in the future, thanks :lol_hitti
 

CWP1616L

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No kidding? Ok, pro-USA fanboyism completely aside, $264.95 for three Taiwan-made ratchets? I could buy three Gearwrench's for under $100. That's insanity. You saved me a lot of potential trouble in the future, thanks :lol_hitti

I've been collecting Cornwell catalogs for about 20 years now. I'm very familiar with their line of tools and I can tell you which tools are their traditional tools and which tools are from an outside vendor.
 

Badasssapper67

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You could decide to break your tools up into groups and buy all the same brand just for the group. Like all Pratt and Reed torx screwdrivers, all Mac sockets, (or Wright, or Proto, or even old Bonney sockets{old Bonney sockets are very unique and are just as much works of art and execution of ocd as tools. You cant just buy a set at a hardware store but if you want to own tools that are cool, high quality, and your friends cant steel them because you will always see them in their tool box})Industro/Duro make good tools, old Billings and Williams made great double box end wrench sets, etc. Thats what I do. I pick what qualities I like in each kind of tool, find the company that gets close and buy them off ebay. A note to all, dont forget about Amazon and HF. There are people on ebay who "resell" brand new stuff from hf and off Amazon for sometimes double the price.
 

jeffmoss26

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I have one and I agree. I will be buying the TR72 and the JRF72 very soon. Also I have a company local to me called Production Tool Supply and they sell Williams and Wright along with Channellock to name a few. This is my USA tool purchase place besides the Snap On and Cornwell trucks. They have most stuff in stock including the Williams black hard handle screwdrivers. Anyone in Cleveland Oh go check this place out. They also have like 30 vises on display.

I better stay away from there :p
 

soulstryke

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My industrial company gets a good discount through grainger for proto(usa)+westward(china ><) mainly. Proto seems really nice and they are us made. Most of their stuff is the same as mac(or so they look like...you guys would know more than me) just a lil cheaper price :)
 

Coach James

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I kind of have an OCD issue where I like all my tools being the same brand.

I would just go with Kobalt, but I feel like anytime I buy something made overseas, I took away the work from an American Worker.

That's not OCD, that's just a personal preference. I don't think you will find a single company that will provide everything you are looking for and is USA made.

Coach
 

volaredon

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I wonder how hard it is to find Armstrong Tools? I have been to a lot of auctions and have never seen any Armstrong tools. Mainly cman and snappy.

I used snap on tools in HS, and personally I HATED their ratchets. They had no quick release button, and often I would have to use a pair of pliers to take the socket off, and I'm no weakling.

not very. Fastenal sells em and I believe motion industries as well.
 

volaredon

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3 that dont cost tool truck prices and are mostly American made (this is very important to me as well)
proto
williams
SK
I was in a bind Friday at work (had the 36 mm axle nut socket I needed at home but didnt have at work, didn't have 2 hours to go home and get what I needed, and back)
I had a job that had to go out "yesterday" and there's an HF 3 miles from work, so I took my morning break and drove over there. I had to buy a set to get the 1 size I needed, job's done so that "Pittsburgh" set of 3/4 drive sockets is going back. Don't want no China tools, sorry. Lifetime warrnty or not.
 

ihateminimumwage

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I was in the same boat not long ago, I've been using a mix of ancient Craftsman, Proto, Williams, etc. forever. Decided since I'm getting into the diesel field I'd need some new stuff (since I had almost nothing in metric) and wanted all the same brand. Even with my school discount, Snap-On was too rich for me after 2 orders (kept my ratchets and wrenches, sold the sockets).

I've since gone with Williams USA for sockets. They are identical to Snap-On, which makes it so any gaps can be filled with Snap-On singles (OCD again filling socket trays) and are 1/4 the price.

There are still misc things I don't use enough to justify the cost. For those I've been filling with Kobalt USA stuff from Cripe (3/4" Drive sockets, BIG combo wrenches, Torx sockets, Allen sockets), Some Kobalt Taiwan (flex-sockets on sale), Ingersoll Rand impact sockets (with some Armstrong and Sunex fillers), and some misc Gearwrench stuff. The OCD has calmed down quite a bit just in looking at the price difference.

I do have a socket and tool list I built with prices and links I could message to you if interested. Might help you out, I know it has the other guys in the shop.
 

Coach James

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3 that dont cost tool truck prices and are mostly American made (this is very important to me as well)
proto
williams
SK
I was in a bind Friday at work (had the 36 mm axle nut socket I needed at home but didnt have at work, didn't have 2 hours to go home and get what I needed, and back)
I had a job that had to go out "yesterday" and there's an HF 3 miles from work, so I took my morning break and drove over there. I had to buy a set to get the 1 size I needed, job's done so that "Pittsburgh" set of 3/4 drive sockets is going back. Don't want no China tools, sorry. Lifetime warrnty or not.

You bought the tool, used it for a job and now you're taking it back for a refund?

Coach
 
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