Down Under: Tools from Australia?

[catsteve]

Not light duty but according to website -

All Smithweld products are design and manufactured in Australia and comply with AS/NZS-3000-2009 electrical standards.

includes some precision measuring tools.

http://www.smithweld.com

I have seen their ovens in use around the place.

 

[catsteve]

More Australian made tools. keeping the flame alight

http://www.ruralfencing.com

 

[Tactile]

I know...its a 10 year old thread, looks like it needs reviving!

I was in Tool Kit Depot in Melbourne today and I noticed McNaught had a display/promotion on for their retractable hose reels. Said on the display that they're made in Australia...imagine that!

 

[Tactile]

Looks like Dawn is back in Australian ownership. A lot of their cast, fabricated and stainless products are still made here.

 

[Tactile]

Sidchrome cold chisels still made in Australia.

 

[Jack_K]

I know...its a 10 year old thread, looks like it needs reviving!

I was in Tool Kit Depot in Melbourne today and I noticed McNaught had a display/promotion on for their retractable hose reels. Said on the display that they're made in Australia...imagine that!

I am wanting to know if their grease guns are still made here, I suspect not.

Looks like Dawn is back in Australian ownership. A lot of their cast, fabricated and stainless products are still made here.

At least they seem to list where each product is made. Unfortunately I bought two axle stands and had to get them replaced because the welds were rubbish.

Sidchrome cold chisels still made in Australia.

I suspect Sidchrome chisels and punches are/were made by Finkal. Unfortunately Finkal was bought out and don’t appear to make anything here anymore. If Finkal are the manufacturer of the Sidchrome products then they are probably relying on existing stock but I could be wrong.


Warren & Brown deflecting beam torque wrenches are one of very few tools still made here.

Sutton make some products here but on a lot of products they don't even label the COO. I have had Japan and South Africa on some so the unlabelled ones are probably from China or some other cheap place.

 

[Tactile]

Next time I'm in a tool shop with McNaught stuff I'll take a look and see if there is any COO info on their grease guns.

The Finkal punches Ive used are quite soft. Some applications require this but if you want stuff to last and you lean on them hard then Finkel might not be the tool for you.

Looks like Sidchrome's pin/centre punches are made in Australia too...clock might be ticking on that though. I was looking at some Sidchrome cold chisels today in Sydney Tools and they look a bit rough and are pricey, especially when they were right next to the Rennsteig gear.

 

[paulsomlo]

These Australian made tools - if you get pissed off and throw them, do they come back to you?

 

[Tactile]

These Australian made tools - if you get pissed off and throw them, do they come back to you?

No, most of them you wouldn't want to either.

 

[Jack_K]

Next time I'm in a tool shop with McNaught stuff I'll take a look and see if there is any COO info on their grease guns.

The Finkal punches Ive used are quite soft. Some applications require this but if you want stuff to last and you lean on them hard then Finkel might not be the tool for you.

Looks like Sidchrome's pin/centre punches are made in Australia too...clock might be ticking on that though. I was looking at some Sidchrome cold chisels today in Sydney Tools and they look a bit rough and are pricey, especially when they were right next to the Rennsteig gear.

I have some of the Sidchrome pin punches and they seem soft to me. I do need to buy some more punches and I was thinking of Rennsteig, definitely not Sidchrome or Finkal.

 

[Jack_K]

If one wants tool storage there are actually a few Australian manufacturers, just not much for automotive mechanics. Basically a lot of manufacturing here is based around the mining industry. Therefore there are a couple of manufacturers of ute tool boxes. There is also a few manufacturers of tool bags as for FIFO mining work where tools need to be flown in there is a strict weight limit.

Faber Toolboxes - Toolboxes - Australian Made

Faber Toolboxes have been used by farmers, builders, plumbers, miners, electricians, carpenters, mechanics, engineers and many other professionals across cities and outback Australia for years. Renowned for their unbeatable quality and sturdiness Faber Toolboxes are highly respected and...

fabertoolboxes.com.au

DSM Toolboxes - Designed to Last in Your Ute

DSM Toolboxes

www.dsmtoolboxes.com

RBM Industrial Bags Pty Ltd

For quality-made tool bags, kit crib bags, backpacks, spanner wraps, tool rolls, and specialty bags. Manufactured in Australia. Recognised across the world.

rbmbags.net

Beehive Vinyl

www.beehivevinyl.com.au

There is at least one more bag manufacturer but I can't remember the name.

 

[Tactile]

Mumme punches seen in the wild...

 

[Jack_K]

Mumme punches seen in the wild...

From what I've read they must be old stock.

 

[Jack_K]

I am wanting to know if their grease guns are still made here, I suspect not.

I needed another grease gun so ordered a macnaught K29 anyway. As expected they have removed "made in Australia" from the label where it used to be. The hose is made in Germany.

Hopefully it is still as good as the old ones since there doesn't seem to be much choice of good grease guns.

 

[Tactile]

Hopefully it is still as good as the old ones since there doesn't seem to be much choice of good grease guns.

Have you ever used one of the new cordless ones? I'll never go back and I dont care where they're made!

 

[Tactile]

From what I've read they must be old stock.

That photo was from Total Tools in Virginia...their website still has them. Have you heard that they have stopped production?

 

[Jack_K]

That photo was from Total Tools in Virginia...their website still has them. Have you heard that they have stopped production?

Apparently they were bought by a "US" company and stopped production here.

The website no longer says anything about made in Australia.





That's actually one of the three Total Tools stores that I go to.

 

[Jack_K]

Have you ever used one of the new cordless ones? I'll never go back and I dont care where they're made!

I would like one but I don't use it enough to justify the cost. It would certainly make greasing the excavator easier.

 

[Tactile]

I would like one but I don't use it enough to justify the cost. It would certainly make greasing the excavator easier.

I never thought about it much (I used to own a McNaught) until I stared doing work on the farm (after a 30 year hiatus) where my dad has a M18 Milwaukee...man does it make a difference! You do however have to be careful not to over-grease and pop out seals and stuff like that around bearings.

 

[Tactile]

That's actually one of the three Total Tools stores that I go to.

Cool. I'm up here on "holidays" for a week or two, it's crazy to see new tools rusting on the shelves! They had these in there too -



Klein Tools have owned them (Mumme) for a while. I dont know why you would buy a brand that no one has heard of and shut down their manufacturing capability? What else do they have if their brand isn't well recognised? Especially in a global sense.

I'm sure they had their reasons.