How quality AMERICAN tools are made

[softailgarage]

I had the pleasure of touring this forge while in Ohio for training last September and as you can imagine, being a tool freak, was in heaven thruout the tour. This plant is the original Cornwell forge in Mogadore, Ohio and one of the last American tool forges still in operation since 1928.

 

[TurboCup87]

Pretty cool, THX

 

[Kracin]

I had the pleasure of touring this forge while in Ohio for training last September and as you can imagine, being a tool freak, was in heaven thruout the tour. This plant is the original Cornwell forge in Mogadore, Ohio and one of the last American tool forges still in operation since 1928.

nice video, love to see what other processes look like. i've been a mechanic in a couple different plants now and it's amazing how each industry is different... especially in terms of safety, the one i'm with now is obsessed with guarding and color coding, which does nothing if they don't teach their people to be safe.

you go from a machine with 200 safeties on it like my plant, vs the plant in the video which relies on teaching employees safe practices and knowledge of their machines... easy to bet that the latter has less injuries in the end. idiots can get by any guarding.

 

[saryon7]

I like Cornwell tools. When I was wrenching we had a very cool driver who had been doing it forever. I got my start with Cornwell and have a lot of their tools. I still think their wrenches are top notch. Even though I have Snap-On, Matco, and Craftsman prybars, I always reach for my Cornwell ones first. They don't bend like my Snap-On ones do.

 

[3baygarage]

Great video. Way cool to get a look in the forge! Such equipment to make even a small socket is something, and real neat to see how pry bat handles are installed. I'll be watching this over again for sure.
Good post.

 

[lynnbilodeau]

I still have some Cornwell tools I purchased in 1971-1975. Good quality. There are a few Snap on items I prefer. Don't have an opinion on pry bars, but no reason to doubt sayron7 above.

 

[58Yeoman]

Cool video. Now I'll have to start looking for the Cornwell tools at the estate sales I go to. I don't need any more tools, but always trying to help out the guys that do.

 

[FlyBy]

Cornwell tools are great, love the USA production. I had a chance to go through the Channellock plants in Meadville, PA years ago when I was working on my thesis in college. I'll have to find those images and post some up (in another thread).

 

[banditbigdog]

My "go to" wrenches are an old set of industrial finish Cornwell 6 points.
Just feel better in my hand than any of my other wrenches.

 

[platform389]

I always reach for my Cornwell ones first. They don't bend like my Snap-On ones do.

Finding them on the website is another matter however.

 

[ffast65]

Marking to watch later

 

[TheRobotCow]

Thanks for sharing this video!! Man... It only made me wanna buy more Cornwell tools haha.


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[ADSR]

quality right there! That 3/8's rat rated for 150 ft/lbs didn't fail till 260 ft/lbs! And it didn't break the gears, only the drive!!!

 

[Cato]

I like the family owned and American made aspect but I think they could take it up another notch by modernizing their equipment.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I like the family owned and American made aspect but I think they could take it up another notch by modernizing their equipment.

I noted that as well. I know they stated they "are by hand" and that's great, but after seeing the "HOW IT'S MADE SNAP ON VIDEOS", there's no way Cornwell could produce that volume. And maybe they don't wish/want to.

But what company doesn't want to grow? I know when I do cattle in the future I want to stay small beans. So who knows.

Interesting video none-the-less.

And I totally agree with another member that teaching these guys how to work around machines instead of "idiots with guards" is so much better in every way.

 

[wild cowboy]

dang, I watched about 6 Cornwell videos in a row, it kept starting new ones and they were all very interesting. the plasma cutter one taught me some things.

we give ******** a hard time, but there is no doubt that the tools they still make themselves are right there with the best in the world. I haven't had any failures with any Cornwell hand tool - even my TE27 test lamp has been through hell for 20 years and works like new, even the original bulb has lasted!

They need to be a little more selective about some of the cheaper **** that lands on their truck as filler though, some of the stuff they do not produce internally can be bought elsewhere at a much better price, several trucks have this bad habit and I think it cheapens the name, when their own base tool line is up there with the finest. - Also make the flyers a little more professional looking.

The Cornwell website is second to the Snap-On site to be able to find what you want and get information, specs, and price quickly, we can be thankful it is not the complete mess that is the Matco site, or slow as molasses like the Mac site!

I can't offer an opinion on their toolboxes, I don't piss away money on expensive toolboxes from any truck, that is just money I could use to buy MORE TOOLS!

 

[67King]

... especially in terms of safety......

you go from a machine with 200 safeties on it like my plant, vs the plant in the video which relies on teaching employees safe practices and knowledge of their machines... easy to bet that the latter has less injuries in the end. idiots can get by any guarding.

That was the first thing that jumped out at me. Lost part of a finger last Summer (wheel/brake caliper), which made me even MORE sensitive to this kind of stuff. I see those presses and just cringe.

I noted that as well. I know they stated they "are by hand" and that's great, but after seeing the "HOW IT'S MADE SNAP ON VIDEOS", there's no way Cornwell could produce that volume. And maybe they don't wish/want to.

Not just volume, it is quality control, too. Like Kracin, I've compared plants, as well. Used to be an engineer with Ford, and having been in several of those plants and seeing how things are done, them toured a couple of boat plants, I was almost dumbstruck. I know why, but they are actually bragging about how the boats are hand made. That screams to me that quality control is borderline non-existent. And it is no wonder ski boats are knocking on $75K for the entry level ones to well over $100K for the nicer ones. "Hand made" just means "lots of variability" to most engineers.

 

[SS8UUP]

Cool video, thanks for sharing it, I agree with robotcow that it makes me want to buy and support cornwell more! It made that new extra long wrench purchase that much easier haha

 

[sonvolt]

Awesome video, I only have a 1/4 ratchet by Cornwell. That is old school manufacturing there.

 

[kbs2244]

The employee owned thing is two edged.
It helps keep everyone trying to work together.
But there can be resistance to improve efficiency because it will cost someone their job.
Some of those presses and grinding/buffing procedures look like they date to the 1920’s and should have been upgraded or replaced years ago.
You could get the same end result with much better worker safety and for less labor dollars.

That would allow you lower manufacturing costs and thus allow avoiding product price increases when inflation was giving you higher raw material costs.

When I was selling labor saving capital equipment I often had to soft sell the labor saving part.
You would put the emphasis on the “moving people to safer, cleaner, quieter” positions.
And let natural attrition provide the labor saving.
When some one quit or retired they just were not replaced one for one.
It would push out the return on investment timetable but keep everyone happy.

I like Cornwell stuff.
But the tools I have I inherited.
I cannot justify the buying new for the amount of use I give them.

 

[lakota]

delete

 

[Cato]

"Hand made" just means "lots of variability" to most engineers.

Yes, "hand made" might be great when it comes to grandma's oatmeal cookies, but a bunch of dudes in t-shirts running decades old presses opens things up to too much human error.

 

[Krokodil]

Very nice video!