Sorry - I should have looked more closely at who was posting.I should have worded it better and theat the bottom was that the point was sarcastic - should have used the /s
Icon Tools
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1Bad55Chevy
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Buy the Matco ball joint press.... you will thank me later. No ball joint press holds a light to the Matco press for those solid axle 4x4 ball joints!
1Bad55Chevy
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- Joined
- Feb 20, 2025
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- 618
I should have worded it better and the
Used to be all China tools were somewhat crappy, because well, that's all they knew how to make. Even though some like to think otherwise, that ship pretty much set sail years ago.
My view is that they now have the technology and have realized, that it really does not cost much more to make high quality products. They could probably design their own ball joint press, but from a business standpoint, makes more sense to copy an existing, well made brand.
If they are US made, the price difference almost seems ludicrous.
Its not that they can't make a quality product it's just US companies order the cheapest **** from them. The factories over there build to whatever specs the customers order. Honestly the reality is the majority of US consumers want the cheapest **** possible so why put quality products on the shelf? The few of us that actually care about real quality have to search specialized stores to fulfill our needs.
I should have worded it better and the
Used to be all China tools were somewhat crappy, because well, that's all they knew how to make. Even though some like to think otherwise, that ship pretty much set sail years ago.
My view is that they now have the technology and have realized, that it really does not cost much more to make high quality products. They could probably design their own ball joint press, but from a business standpoint, makes more sense to copy an existing, well made brand.
If they are US made, the price difference almost seems ludicrous.
I agree, but for the rest of the crowd, Chinese auto factories are significantly more automated than US auto factories- the number of robots they have are staggering; they now lead the US, Japan, Germany in automation. They launched a program 10? years ago, and robotics were one of their, "we're going to dominate this" fields. And here we are. They know that making sneakers or impact sockets is a dying business for them and that will soon go to Bangladesh or India for $1.50/hr labor, like much of their clothing mfg did in the last few years. They've invested heavily in the future of manufacturing of higher cost products- like cars and commercial airplanes.
They typically aren't doing the Pakistan dirt-floor handmade belt sander **** unless that's all you want to pay for. They know they can't compete with India on making low-cost tools or Bangladesh on clothes or shoes. They are moving onto higher margin products. They've already mastered building cars, next are commercial passenger jets.
I was referring to the “good old days” of baby-**** color, plain brown shipping cartons, screwdrivers that the handles popped off and wrenches that were literally made from pot metal. Even if it had been invented, the quality making a iPhone in, China in the 1980’s would’ve probably not been all that.
It’s a lot different nowadays that they’ve sent their engineering students to some of the best technology schools in the world, and they know what the global demand is
I disagree with your last point - people don’t want cheap, crappy goods , they want the best quality at the lowest price.
The Chinese are busting *** to produce that.
There is probably some of that, but there is also the higher cost of labor, insurance, real estate, and taxes to manufacture in the US, plus the franchise distribution model where the truck guy has to make a living too.At a selling price of $200 bucks, Icon is copying the SO design to a tee, but they are cutting corners by saving a few cents for good quality steel and proper heat treating.
Makes perfect sense.
Are the tools made better? I'm aure they are. Does that account for 100% of the of the price difference? Of course not.
Per capita, China graduates twice as many Mechanical Engineers per year as the US does. China recently had multiple humanoid robots that finished a half marathon. Yes, most of them did not finish the race, but some did; they are years ahead of Tesla on this.
Per polls, the majority of Americans shop by lowest price; and for lower earners it's ~90% that shop by lowest price.
Everyone talking about the Snappy BPJ1 but Everyone forgot the real swinging D mac daddy!
BALL JOINT PRESS BJP18100 | Matco Tools
www.matcotools.com
Thats what I use when things get real! Like Dodge 4x4 front axle!
I am genuinely impressed that it's cheaper to buy it from Matco.
Plenty of bridges and buildings fall down in USA, too. Our infrastructure is nothing to brag about.
four.cycle
Well-known member
The difference is the bridges and buildings in the US are old structures, the ones failing in China are relatively new for the most part.
four.cycle
Well-known member
^ It makes not one little bit of difference to those who are injured or killed.
are we far enough off topic yet?
are we far enough off topic yet?
Is there such a thing?^ It makes not one little bit of difference to those who are injured or killed.
are we far enough off topic yet?
MWEric
Well-known member
I think this thread should get some sort of award for going the farthest off topic.
neophyte
Well-known member
The USA has had its own colossal engineering screw ups in the past, some with practically brand new structures.
Some of the failures are mentioned in this book.
Attachments
four.cycle
Well-known member
you mean like...... "Galloping Gertie"? 
Yeah, but have you ever seen a Snap On building fall down?
Side note, part of the parking garage fell down at my old office. It was only about five years old. Cars were stuck inside for a couple of weeks until engineers decided it was safe.
Next
Well-known member
Everyone talking about the Snappy BPJ1 but Everyone forgot the real swinging D mac daddy!
BALL JOINT PRESS BJP18100 | Matco Tools
Thats what I use when things get real! Like Dodge 4x4 front axle!
Who make sit and where can I get it?
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
neophyte
Well-known member
There have been far more recent examples.you mean like...... "Galloping Gertie"?
nicks78camaro
Well-known member
Matco is cheaper because the cup kit is sold separately unlike direct from SP Tools
CUP KIT FOR BJP18100 BALL JOINT PRESS BJP18100C | Matco Tools
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I believe it's just getting them warrantied is a pain. That's just what I've been told but I don't own any. When ICON stuff is on sale, nobody can beat their value.
That looks awesome!Matco is cheaper because the cup kit is sold separately unlike direct from SP Tools
CUP KIT FOR BJP18100 BALL JOINT PRESS BJP18100C | Matco Tools
nicks78camaro
Well-known member
I want it but haven't had an excuse yet because my Astro kit has done everything I've needed.
WWheeler
Well-known member
My work buys Proto and I hate them. The long DBE wrenches they get for us are the squarest most hand-hurting tool I've ever had the misfortune to have to pull on over and over all day long - so bad I try to use a rag to wrap around to pull on, and their 1/2" ratchets they buy are clunky 24 tooth POS's with gigantic pear heads and knurled handles that I also despise. I can't hardly believe any company still makes a ratchet that terrible. I'm sure Proto makes better tools than those, but those are what we are forced to use at work and it's made me hate the brand sooooo much. I wouldn't make room for them in any of my boxes at home if they were free.
Edit: Searched up some pictures of what I'm complaining about
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My work buys Proto and I hate them. The long DBE wrenches they get for us are the squarest most hand-hurting tool I've ever had the misfortune to have to pull on over and over all day long - so bad I try to use a rag to wrap around to pull on, and their 1/2" ratchets they buy are clunky 24 tooth POS's with gigantic pear heads and knurled handles that I also despise. I can't hardly believe any company still makes a ratchet that terrible. I'm sure Proto makes better tools than those, but those are what we are forced to use at work and it's made me hate the brand sooooo much. I wouldn't make room for them in any of my boxes at home if they were free.
Edit: Searched up some pictures of what I'm complaining about
I never got the draw of that style of Proto ratchet. I have a couple, and I do not like them. The heads are huge, and they don’t have enough teeth.
WWheeler
Well-known member
I'll say they haven't proved to be very reliable either. The selector knobs keep getting broke, sometimes within weeks. And the genius pencil-pushers at work keep replacing them with the same thing.
David99
Well-known member
Are they buying them or getting them replaced under warranty?
WWheeler
Well-known member
They all get tossed and bought new. We're a large manufacturing facility. No one is in any position or has time to deal with a warranty claim unless it's a x-million dollar machine.
I haven’t run across any Proto wrenches with that style beam yet. It’s like they took everything that is awesome about the Williams and Wright beams and made them worse. They look bombproof, though. They need to chamfer the edges in the forging dies.
I have Proto wrenches of all different designs… and none of them look anything like that. The newest ones I have are the Anti-Slip Design combination wrenches. They have a heavy beam, but not nearly as heavy as a Williams or a Wright. Yours are, basically, rectangular.
They look like they are made for the military.
I have Proto wrenches of all different designs… and none of them look anything like that. The newest ones I have are the Anti-Slip Design combination wrenches. They have a heavy beam, but not nearly as heavy as a Williams or a Wright. Yours are, basically, rectangular.
They look like they are made for the military.
nicks78camaro
Well-known member
Tekton for all of your needs
nicks78camaro
Well-known member
19-Piece Combination Wrench Set (6-24 mm) - Rack | TEKTON
Includes: 6-24 mm (Metric) 12 point standard-length combination wrenches with rack storage. No skipped sizes. WCB91202.
14-Piece 1/4 Inch Drive Deep 6-Point Socket Set | TEKTON
Set includes 4–15 mm (metric) 6-point deep sockets. Comes with organization rail. No skipped sizes. SHD90113.
3/8 Inch Hand Drive 4-Piece Extension Set | SHA91011 | TEKTON
Includes: 1, 3, 6 and 10 inch chrome hand drive socket extensions in 3/8 inch drive. SHA91011.
nicks78camaro
Well-known member
Order direct for free shipping over $25 and 10% back in rewards
KnurledNut
Well-known member
Look on the bright side, it could only have 20T and say Koken.My work buys Proto and I hate them. The long DBE wrenches they get for us are the squarest most hand-hurting tool I've ever had the misfortune to have to pull on over and over all day long - so bad I try to use a rag to wrap around to pull on, and their 1/2" ratchets they buy are clunky 24 tooth POS's with gigantic pear heads and knurled handles that I also despise. I can't hardly believe any company still makes a ratchet that terrible. I'm sure Proto makes better tools than those, but those are what we are forced to use at work and it's made me hate the brand sooooo much. I wouldn't make room for them in any of my boxes at home if they were free.
Edit: Searched up some pictures of what I'm complaining about