How much time do you spend looking for USA made tools?

[reader2580]

I recently wanted a set of hex / Allen screwdriver bits. I probably could have run over to Home Depot or Menards and been back with a set made in China or Taiwan in 30 minutes or so.

However, I like to buy stuff made in the USA where possible. I spent hours searching online for a set of hex / Allen screwdriver bits made in the USA. Some of the items I found you either couldn't actually purchase anywhere, or it would take two weeks before the item would even ship. I finally found a Bondhus set while browsing Amazon. I somehow missed the screwdriver bit sets when looking through the Bondhus catalog. After nearly a week of looking I placed an order with Amazon last night. I had tried Harry Epstein and the only ones I found on the website were imports.

Does anyone else here spend this much time looking for made in the USA tools?

 

[2ndGearRubber]

They're pretty easy to find once you know who to look at.

Want USA? Proto, wright, SK, most of the tool truck stuff not all of it. Those are the big hand tool players with larger catalogs. IMO its partially about knowing the market as a whole. For instance in your example if one is looking for hex bits, one needs to be aware of European, american, and tianwanse offerings to make an informed choice based on needs. One can buy the USA product and not really get what they need from a functional standpoint.

 

[dnschmidt]

None.

 

[BTJHP]

I do spend time finding the country of origin for products. I try to find made in USA products, but more importantly to me is avoiding products made in China.

I have no problem with made in Taiwan when necessary and will be disappointed if the Taichung factories become controlled by China.

 

[swedish_chef]

Does anyone else here spend this much time looking for made in the USA tools?

Eh, I tend to spend my time trying to figure out the best manufacturer for a particular tool. Sometimes it is the USA made tool, sometimes it isn't. The tool could be made in Germany, Czech Republic, USA, Japan, or China. I would much rather get the best quality tool for the job than a particular COO. In today's world of multinational conglomerates, JIT manufacturing, and outsourcing who knows how much of a particular tool's economic value add benefits a particular country or country's workers.

.. and I say this as a guy with a toolbox full of a lot of Proto.

 

[designer485]

I spend way to much time trying to find the best options for a certain tool. I have spent hours, days or even weeks trying to find the best option or price. I avoid made in China tools where I can (not totally possible with power tools). I know I shouldn't think that way, but I almost would rather not have it, then buy it from China.

That's mostly for tools though as its not really feasible for other consumer products.

 

[gmcgeo]

I spend all my time looking at reviews, I don't care where they make it.

If there is 300 reviews and average a 1.8 star rating and i read the bad reviews i don't buy the tool.

so i may spend hours reading reviews before a purchase

 

[four.cycle]

reader2580, there is a List of U.S. brands and manufacturers of mechanics hand tools HERE you might take a look at.

as to "Allen" hex wrenches and bits, I suppose Bondhus would be the logical choice for a U.S. supplier, but I believe you will find very positive reviews from other GJ members here for other brands, in particular those made by the Germans, the Japanese, and the Swiss.

 

[Snapped-off]

I prioritize usa for some things, and plain quality for other things.

I always prioritize avoiding china. Sometimes it's just not possible or too unreasonable.

 

[FMB4]

I collect vintage Proto mostly from the bay. At this point I'm close to having a fairly extensive set in a '79 Proto roll-around. But I recently realized that I was spending too much time and $ trying to fill-in the last couple of dozen pieces that I 'need'. So, I've put my Proto search/quest on the back burner until mid 2020 or so.

 

[Handyandy23]

I spend a lot of time researching purchases beforehand, but I fall more into the category of researching the best overall option vs just blindly going Made in USA. And best overall option can mean different things depending on what my criteria is for a certain purchase.

COO is certainly on the list of considerations though.

If it's a tool I know I'm going to use a lot, and the price range between the top and bottom tier isn't huge, then I'm basically looking for "best quality". If it's something I know I won't use a lot, or the top end is 10x the price of a mid tier option that will do the job just fine, then I'm just looking for "best value".

And if all other factors are roughly equal, COO is a good tie breaker.

Something small, cheap, consumable like a bit set, I've found options at HD that are inexpensive and work well for me, and they're easy to go get more. Stuff like that I'm not going to over-think the same as spending several hundred or thousand dollars on a purchase.

 

[reader2580]

For as little as I'll use this bit set the quality doesn't matter all that much. I'm sure any of the Taiwan or Chinese stuff would be fine as long as the bits are the proper size. (I have purchased Chinese wrenches in a pinch forged to wrong size!)

Price was definitely a consideration too. I didn't even consider Snap-On as their prices are so high ($41 for Snap-On vs $18 for Bondhus.). I didn't see that SK sells these.

 

[four.cycle]

^ how do you know that Bondhus isn't supplying them to Snap-on ?

 

[cliftonbros89]

If you’re looking for new tools, especially online I wouldn’t waste a ton of time. If you know what specific tools you’re looking for then learn the brands you need to look for.

But really aside from basic hand tools you may not have the option for US made. Also, another thing to look for is that not all US brands have all US made products. There are also a lot of US products that are solely made by one company but sold at a range of prices by other companies.

If you want US brands there are several threads on GJ covering them.

There is Wilde, Trusty-Cook, Lang, Cle-Line, Snap On, Matco, Wright, Proto, Martin, Bondhus, Mayhew, plenty more I know I’m forgetting. But of corse not everything from all of those brands is all US made.

There are plenty of older brands that are no longer around that you can find used or NOS of as well. Bonney, Armstrong, you might as well start adding Craftsman and SK to that list as well.

But again, it all depends on what tools in particular you’re looking for. There are plenty of European companies that offer great quality tools.

Besides just because you’re not necessarily buying an American brand name doesn’t mean you’re not supporting an American business. There’s plenty of online places like KC Tool & HJE that sell a variety of brands that are quality tools that aren’t all American made.

There may even be a smaller local business in your area that has options. I myself sell Wera on the side. It’s not an American brand, but also have a large North American division and presence that supports a lot of American jobs. I went with Wera cuz I think they’ve got the best screwdrivers around. I still offer plenty of other American brands. But I don’t stick to one brand in my toolbox, I encourage others to do so as well. No one brand makes the best of everything. There are a lot of brands that really set the bar for a particular type of tool. That’s what I’m after.

 

[Bubba Fett]

Every tool, every time.

I prefer American, German, and Japanese tools, but I am perfectly fine with tools that are made in Taiwan, Spain, Italy, Canada, Mexico, or any other country that is not trying to overtake the world economy, like China. The only other country I am hesitant about is India, as quality is usually not good.

I will only buy a Chinese tool if I have no other choice, or if I need a sacrificial tool.

 

[f121]

None. I spend quite a lot of time looking for stuff with a decent warranty and dealer support.

 

[reader2580]

I was buying a screwdriver bit set. I don't think most companies would warranty them beyond being bad right out of the box. I doubt I would find them used in decent shape. This is what I bought: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E7XGUU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Some argue that buying imported products from an American company is also good for the American economy. Buying something made in America is even better. You have the American workers at the factory, the American truck drivers delivering raw materials to the factory, and the American skilled labor that maintains the factory building and its systems. The factory was most likely built by Americans too.

 

[four.cycle]

^ When you're referring to items like that little bit socket, most people would refer to them as "consumables" (like drill bits and hacksaw blades.) others believe manufacturers should "warranty" everything forever regardless of how it was used/misused/abused.

I get by just fine with cheap-*** Chinese "bits" in most cases. If it's something where there might be disastrous consequences should the tool break, I'll go find a decent quality item that will get the job done, but (like Bubba Fett above), COO isn't always necessarily the primary determining factor on purchasing decisions.

 

[reader2580]

I never said the Chinese bits are bad. I am certain they would work just fine for my needs. I buy made in the USA to support American jobs instead of Chinese jobs. I use plenty of screwdriver bits made overseas. In this particular case I wanted to see if made in the USA was actually possible.

I know some claim they have never purchased anything made in China which I find hard to believe in today's world. I am not one of the no Chinese goods diehards. I realize that certain stuff is realistically only made in China and I'm not willing to give up those goods. A lot of products made in the USA still have some Chinese content.

 

[finn]

Not a whole lot. Rather, if I see something that maybe I could use, and it’s American made and well as being what I consider a fair price, I may pick it up as an impulse buy.

Some other things, I go directly to a manufacturer that has a relatively high US presence. Dewalt instead of Milwaukee is an example. I do have tools from both, but prefer the domestic brand, all other things being equal.

I stay away from HF because they have earned a poor reputation from past transactions. They are a last resort now.

 

[four.cycle]

Chinese bits generally aren't "bad" the first time I use them. They just don't seem to hold up very well.
Ergo: I found a deal on US-made #2 phillips and bought 30 of them from one of my favorite Ebay sellers.
My "Torx" bits, believe it or not, are a Taiwan-made set branded "Great Neck" that one of my brothers-in-law gave to me years ago, and (with the exception of the one we broke trying to remove the bed bolts from my Ranger) have held up just fine. (It wasn't the bit, btw- it was the bolt. We snapped three more off the same day trying to remove those bolts.)
Some of the best reviews I've seen here for that type of bit were for those made for VIM Tools in Taiwan.

Back to your original question: The amount of time spent searching out "Made in U.S.A." shouldn't be disproportionate to the amount of use the tool is going to receive, as was mentioned above by HandyAndy23 (post #11.) Otherwise you may find yourself being counted as part of the "Get off my lawn curmudgeon" crowd with guys like me.

 

[Dakotadadv8]

Did not spend much time, knew Snap on hand tools were made in the USA, better quality and more expensive than my existing CM professionals, and ordered it online or chase down a Snap on truck. Longest part was deciding to upgrade and pay the price.

 

[Doward]

I don't spend any time considering country of origin.

I spend a pile of time considering quality.

I've got Bondhus, Wiha, and a pile of stuff from the days when I couldn't be picky about quality.

I'm slowly getting nicer tools, but I really don't care where it was made - global economy and all that entails.

 

[reader2580]

Did not spend much time, knew Snap on hand tools were made in the USA, better quality and more expensive than my existing CM professionals, and ordered it online or chase down a Snap on truck. Longest part was deciding to upgrade and pay the price.

If you're a DIY guy is the quality difference really that important? For a pro I can see the advantages. If a pro can save an hour or two a week with the right tools that might mean an extra $60 or whatever in the paycheck.

If I replaced all of my tools with Snap-On I would be $5,000 to $10,000 in and have zero money to do any projects with my tools. I'm not some great mechanic and still use mostly Craftsman USA tools I bought in 2002. I have replaced the 1/2" and 3/8" ratchets with SK ratchets and purchased a mixed set of Wright/Williams USA wrenches from HJE in larger sizes. I also have a variety of cheap Chinese stuff mostly for one time use when I needed the tool today and couldn't wait to order USA made.

 

[bsaint]

Zero.

 

[corn chip]

ive spent alot of time and tons of extra money avoiding china made tools. is that what your asking ?

 

[Ricky Joe]

I do spend time finding the country of origin for products. I try to find made in USA products, but more importantly to me is avoiding products made in China.

I have no problem with made in Taiwan when necessary and will be disappointed if the Taichung factories become controlled by China.

Saw a set of Husky wrenches today made in Taiwan finished in China.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

I recently wanted a set of hex / Allen screwdriver bits. I probably could have run over to Home Depot or Menards and been back with a set made in China or Taiwan in 30 minutes or so.

Does anyone else here spend this much time looking for made in the USA tools?

I've got a work box and a home box full of non-Chinese tools. Took quite a while and lots of cash too. I've been adding more Taiwan COO tools for work just because I'm tired of waiting weeks for tools to arrive via snail mail, I'm really hard on my work tools, and/or because the quality of the imports improved markedly. Also, it's getting incredibly difficult to justify the huge price premium for a lot of stuff since I know my blue-collar compatriots in manufacturing aren't seeing those profits.

 

[kngelv]

USA, Europe, Canada and Japan first. Taiwan second. Never China or India.

James

 

[bsaint]

I look at a tool. If the fit and finish it good. The price is good. I buy it. I don't care what human made it as long as it fits a functional and appearance criteria.

 

[redwrench60]

Not really a whole lot. After years of wrenching on junk and gem I’ve figured out what ***** and what don’t. By now I know who the good players are. Most of the time is now spent seeing who has them in stock at the best deal.

 

[tarbellb]

ive spent alot of time and tons of extra money avoiding china made tools. is that what your asking ?

Your grade for this assignment- F, did not read or understand the question





There are 190+ other countries in the world besides the USA and China

 

[tarbellb]

Its quality 1st, with price and availability as a factor for other considerations

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I look at who has the best designs and stuff first. Quality is important too it maybe made somewhere other than the USA and be quality. USA stuff is hard to find now for tools but I think for most it’s not really a first thing anymore. I’ve got plenty of quality tools from other places.

 

[reader2580]

There are 190+ other countries in the world besides the USA and China

So what if there are 190+ other countries. As an American most of the tools available to buy here are made in six countries: USA, Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, China, and Germany. To a lesser extent India and other European countries.

 

[reader2580]

Country of origin is always first on my list over quality as long as the quality is equal. I'm more concerned about fellow Americans having jobs than somebody in another country having a job. I'll still buy something made elsewhere if it is something unique not manufactured in the USA. I own at least one Knipex tool because not aware of a similar tool made in the USA.

I always wonder about all the businesses that close USA plants to shift them to other countries. If everything is made overseas where are Americans going to get money to buy their goods?

 

[wjjeep]

Not much time at all. I care more about the brand.

 

[Fedwrench]

Perhaps an hour a month if you count visiting the monthly automotive swap meet held at a community college.

 

[jabberwoki]

As much time as it takes to find them.

 

[infinite97]

Country of origin is always at the top of my list of importance. Quality is second, but considering the tools are going to be coming from America or Germany, quality isn’t a concern.

it’s always frustrating to have to purchase made in china electronics / diagnostic equipment.