How is Marshalltown doing with their Dasco acquisition? Has the quality of the Dasco punches and chisels improved? It would be nice to have another US supplier. I found the consistency of their heat treating to be lacking which made me stop buying 10 or more years ago. The fit and finish was atrocious, but that didn’t really bother me. Does anyone know if Marshall Town actually invested in any improvements at their Vaughn facility?
Dasco Pro Tools Quality?
- Thread starter Etchase
- Start date
woody 73
Well-known member
OP great question, wish I knew the answer, but alas I cannot answer your question. years past Dasco were at best Swiss cheese at least in my hand's others may have different opinions. That's why I hunt for other brands in the used market.
Wishing them better luck in their new products.
Wishing them better luck in their new products.
I bought a set years ago, because they were made in USA. They were terrible. As I kept finding punches and chisels at estate and garage sales, I did not have room for them. They were thrown away or donated years ago.
Punches and chisels are so easy to find second hand in good condition that I see no reason to buy new.
Dasco Pro was so bad for so long that there is not enough goodwill there to use the name. If Marshalltown wants to manufacture punches and chisels, they should use a different brand name and different metallurgy, they should not be blue, they should use different dies or molds. They should start over at zero. How many years can you produce garbage without tainting the name forever?
The real question is, were they ever good… at any point in history?
Here are some of my punches and drifts. I have a drawer of chisels as well as some punches on my workbench and cart and some spares.
Punches and chisels are so easy to find second hand in good condition that I see no reason to buy new.
Dasco Pro was so bad for so long that there is not enough goodwill there to use the name. If Marshalltown wants to manufacture punches and chisels, they should use a different brand name and different metallurgy, they should not be blue, they should use different dies or molds. They should start over at zero. How many years can you produce garbage without tainting the name forever?
The real question is, were they ever good… at any point in history?
Here are some of my punches and drifts. I have a drawer of chisels as well as some punches on my workbench and cart and some spares.
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gatewaysysop
Well-known member
I recall when looking for some Vaughn hammers that, since the Marshall Town change, more than I care for were listed as "Made in USA with global materials." There's only a couple components to most hammers, and since they say the handle is "American Hickory" I suppose figuring out which other parts are imported is an exercise for the astute reader.
Don't get me wrong, I've got tools from all over, including imported ones. Hell, I even have older Vaughn hammers from when they were explicitly "Made in USA" and I like them. For me at least, hammers are one of those tools where if the company isn't proud of where the materials come from, I'm not gonna shell out a premium price.
3baygarage
Well-known member
Is the brand Stayin' Alive?
I’m not sure about their tool quality but I am sure John Travolta might argue the point