If buying AMERICAN matters...

[sofasurfer]

I just stumbled on this website... madeintheusamatters.com ...that lists companies that produce products in America. Here is the page that lists automotive tools...

Mechanics Tools Made in USA: Forged for Fixers - Made in the USA Matters

Shop American-made automotive tools: wrenches, ratchets, sockets, lifts & more. Durable tools trusted by mechanics, DIYers & pros.

madeintheusamatters.com

 

[sofasurfer]

I just stumbled on this website... madeintheusamatters.com ...that lists companies that produce products in America. Here is the page that lists automotive tools...

Mechanics Tools Made in USA: Forged for Fixers - Made in the USA Matters

Shop American-made automotive tools: wrenches, ratchets, sockets, lifts & more. Durable tools trusted by mechanics, DIYers & pros.

madeintheusamatters.com

This got me curious, so another search turned up the fact that labels that say "made in USA" do matter. Quite interesting.

What It Takes to Be "Made in the USA"

The label "Made in the USA" carries an unspoken promise of quality and job security for American workers, but the rules for using it might surprise you.

www.investopedia.com

 

[CraigStu]

Thank you. I saved this site for myself and just emailed it to about 10 friends.

 

[bb29510]

not all cresent, not all kleins are made in usa. found out the hard way

 

[nadogail]

Klein has a plant in Mexico for years. I learned about Kline Mex during the’80s while working at NASSCO in San Diego.

 

[jack stand]

I've learned that so many items are made in China but "wear" a trusted American Co. name.
What got me started was buying some LED worklights for my tractor. I bought a pair (I'm not including names) and before I installed them, decided to order more from an ebay seller. They looked very similar in the ebay pictures but I could get 4 lights for less than the first 2. They get delivered and un boxing each, they are identical with the exception of the mounting nut and bolt!
Both versions got "bench tested" in the darkened shop and again, no difference.
I really don't try anymore as it's not a easy to find the origin when you just want to walk out of the store with your parts, tools, clothes, or, you name it.
I understand why some domestic sellers would be more expensive, (selling imported ****) but that would get political and is off limits here.

 

[Drunkonunleaded]

I've learned that so many items are made in China but "wear" a trusted American Co. name.
What got me started was buying some LED worklights for my tractor. I bought a pair (I'm not including names) and before I installed them, decided to order more from an ebay seller. They looked very similar in the ebay pictures but I could get 4 lights for less than the first 2. They get delivered and un boxing each, they are identical with the exception of the mounting nut and bolt!
Both versions got "bench tested" in the darkened shop and again, no difference.
I really don't try anymore as it's not a easy to find the origin when you just want to walk out of the store with your parts, tools, clothes, or, you name it.
I understand why some domestic sellers would be more expensive, (selling imported ****) but that would get political and is off limits here.

Name and shame them.

 

[jack stand]

I don't believe that there was deception involved and believe in a company's duty to make a profit. Those 2 lights were returned for a refund and I even explained to the guy at the store what I found and paid. He understood.
This also was about 8 years ago and right now I'm adding 2 more of those lights to the same tractor. I've been holding them in reserve, waiting for these cheep Chinese lights to fail. But they haven't!

 

[1982fxr]

3...2...1.....until someone who knows nothing tells us all Made in USA labels are just a sticker on a box with a Chinese good inside.

Not saying it's never happened but it's highly illegal and any consumer can file a complaint directly with the FTC.

 

[VolvoRyan]

That's a silly website.

-Ryan

 

[WWheeler]

Years ago while working in manufacturing, Harley-Davidson did a tour of our plant when they were considering us as a supplier of one of their parts, and while all of our materials and labor in all of our end products were 100% USA, I suspect the one thing that tripped them up was that almost all of our equipment and tools we used on the line to make them were not. For example, they stopped and were looking at the tools, like a crescent wrench and a set of allen wrenches etc on the shadow board at a station next to where I was working and I could hear them discussing all the "Chinese ****" they were seeing everywhere. I have no idea how much or how little that actually factored into everything but we did not ever get that contract.

 

[RightGuard]

Hmm. All of the hand-tool companies listed on that website have farmed out some of their line-up offshore or do re-branding of what I would call 'ancillaries'.

Good example is the first one Channel Lock. Their 'classic' line up with thin light blue plastic coated hand grips is still made in the U.S. Anything new production that's bare metal or not a wrench/pliers type of tool... good chance its made offshore.

Anything with Crescent's new logo or the smooth plastic handle coating is not made in the U.S. Crescent also does the irritating tech company maneuver of saying 'Professionally designed in the U.S.A.' and then adding the Made in China in small font at the bottom corner.

You really gotta read all packaging every time if you care about this sorta thing.

 

[David-Eight]

Years ago while working in manufacturing, Harley-Davidson did a tour of our plant when they were considering us as a supplier of one of their parts, and while all of our materials and labor in all of our end products were 100% USA, I suspect the one thing that tripped them up was that almost all of our equipment and tools we used on the line to make them were not. For example, they stopped and were looking at the tools, like a crescent wrench and a set of allen wrenches etc on the shadow board at a station next to where I was working and I could hear them discussing all the "Chinese ****" they were seeing everywhere. I have no idea how much or how little that actually factored into everything but we did not ever get that contract.

That's pretty funny/sad considering Harley is introducing Chinese made bikes soon

First Photos of Harley-Davidson HD350 and HD500

Harley-Davidson and Chinese company Qianjiang have teamed up on a pair of bikes created for that domestic market. But will they be sold outside of Asia?

www.cycleworld.com

 

[bb29510]

Years ago while working in manufacturing, Harley-Davidson did a tour of our plant when they were considering us as a supplier of one of their parts, and while all of our materials and labor in all of our end products were 100% USA, I suspect the one thing that tripped them up was that almost all of our equipment and tools we used on the line to make them were not. For example, they stopped and were looking at the tools, like a crescent wrench and a set of allen wrenches etc on the shadow board at a station next to where I was working and I could hear them discussing all the "Chinese ****" they were seeing everywhere. I have no idea how much or how little that actually factored into everything but we did not ever get that contract.

i wonder if having a tool box of american made tools, like williams would make the worker feel better, happier in his work, then turning out a better product

 

[Old Man Roger]

3...2...1.....until someone who knows nothing tells us all Made in USA labels are just a sticker on a box with a Chinese good inside.

Not saying it's never happened but it's highly illegal and any consumer can file a complaint directly with the FTC.

They list Craftsman, isn’t it widely known that a lot of Craftsman tools aren’t made in the USA?

 

[WWheeler]

i wonder if having a tool box of american made tools, like williams would make the worker feel better, happier in his work, then turning out a better product

They would, imho, but unfortunately the tools that stay on the shadow boards in a 24/7 manufacturing plant get used by a dozen or more different workers a week and any time an actual 'nice' tool gets put there they tend to grow legs. Even the cheap **** they put out needs replaced on a very frequent basis because it is 'missing' and never turns up. It's a problem I've seen in a half dozen different plants in different industries going back decades now, but seems to get worse every year everywhere.

 

[BrandonV]

Not saying it's never happened but it's highly illegal and any consumer can file a complaint directly with the FTC.

Years ago I was working on an RO system and I pulled one of the clogged filters.

Left the filter outside to dry and I forgot about it for a little bit. A week or two later when I found it the label was peeling off.

The American company was no joke slapping their own label marked with Made in America on top of the label from the Chinese manufacturer.

Looking at a new filter you could even make it out if you shined a light on it. Ridiculous.

 

[rust in the eye]

That's a silly website.

-Ryan

Agreed. Just somebody trying to capitalize on the rampant xenophobia.
The lift on their main page looks like an import to me.

 

[WildBill]

Years ago while working in manufacturing, Harley-Davidson did a tour of our plant when they were considering us as a supplier of one of their parts, and while all of our materials and labor in all of our end products were 100% USA, I suspect the one thing that tripped them up was that almost all of our equipment and tools we used on the line to make them were not. For example, they stopped and were looking at the tools, like a crescent wrench and a set of allen wrenches etc on the shadow board at a station next to where I was working and I could hear them discussing all the "Chinese ****" they were seeing everywhere. I have no idea how much or how little that actually factored into everything but we did not ever get that contract.

That's funny, I used to work on a lot of Harleys and 75% of the parts said made in Mexico, probably 20% China, and 5% America.

 

[bobg03]

Years ago while working in manufacturing, Harley-Davidson did a tour of our plant when they were considering us as a supplier of one of their parts, and while all of our materials and labor in all of our end products were 100% USA, I suspect the one thing that tripped them up was that almost all of our equipment and tools we used on the line to make them were not. For example, they stopped and were looking at the tools, like a crescent wrench and a set of allen wrenches etc on the shadow board at a station next to where I was working and I could hear them discussing all the "Chinese ****" they were seeing everywhere. I have no idea how much or how little that actually factored into everything but we did not ever get that contract.

I've been out of the game but I believe some of the first EFI's on the touring bikes and some Carbs were made in Japan/china for the American MC company. I believe that a set of driving lights on a 2013 road king that burned out prematurely and were replaced by the parts counter and clearly marked HD on the package were made in Japan/china...

 

[Old Man Roger]

Agreed. Just somebody trying to capitalize on the rampant xenophobia.
The lift on their main page looks like an import to me.

Do you consider wanting to support American companies xenophobia?

 

[M6erfan]

Agreed. Just somebody trying to capitalize on the rampant xenophobia.
The lift on their main page looks like an import to me.

"Rampant"

 

[Bubba Fett]

That site is a little out of date, to say the least.

 

[RAS61]

It's very difficult to tell where something's made when buying online, usually no disclosure at all. Last year congress passed the fewest laws since 1931 - seriously! Do something for a change and make it mandatory that the country of origin be disclosed upfront on EVERYTHING sold online; I don't want any of my money going to support China, and neither should the American government

 

[M6erfan]

Last year congress passed the fewest laws since 1931 - seriously!

Will wonders never cease?!

 

[engineer2]

That's pretty funny/sad considering Harley is introducing Chinese made bikes soon

That's pretty funny/sad considering when I visited Harley-Davidsons Pilgrim Road Powertrain Operations Plant they had a "hall of shame" with a table full of fucked up and mis-machined parts. It was supposed to be a lesson for employees and they were quite proud of it.
They also had manned work stations that checked to make sure the previous assembler didn't make a mistake, like a missing transmission case O-ring. Very old-fashioned manufacturing.

 

[zendriver]

Do you consider wanting to support American companies xenophobia?

That's really what it usually is.

Much love for German, Swiss, Japanese, etc. stuff but Mexico, China, Vietnam, etc. - "Oh hell no!".

That's exactly what xenophobia is. Maybe the stuff is good quality - doesn't matter.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

That's really what it usually is.

Much love for German, Swiss, Japanese, etc. stuff but Mexico, China, Vietnam, etc. - "Oh hell no!".

That's exactly what xenophobia is. Maybe the stuff is good quality - doesn't matter.

-dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries.-

Unless Germany, switzerland, or japan became states recently, that is by definition not xenophobia. Just FYI.

 

[zendriver]

-dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries.-

Unless Germany, switzerland, or japan became states recently, that is by definition not xenophobia. Just FYI.

They are not countries? Those teachers were full of ****.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

They are not countries? Those teachers were full of ****.

xenophobia is a dislike or prejudice against people from other countries. If someone is a xenophobe, they would be prejudiced against the Japanese and the Chinese.

In your example, on asian country is praised, another asian country derided. A USA based xenophobe would dislike both countries, because they're both outside the US. Otherwise a different criteria is being used to differentiate Japanese and Chinese products in this example. Thus xenophobia cannot be the cause, as xenophobia should garner the same reaction to both countries.

 

[rust in the eye]

I should have known that uttering "xenophobia" around here would stir the pot.
Like I said before; The lift shown on their home page looks like an import. Have a look, 5000kg. on the post. Seems to me that they don't care enough to even use an image that supports their supposed mission. Is that site even run by Americans?
My own overiding criteria for selecting a vendor is the overall value; service, quality and price (choose your own mix) not COO.
Sometimes USA comes out on top, not always. I'll not blindly support a business simply because they are American no matter how much flag waving they do. The notion that all things from country X are superior or garbage is absurd.

 

[zendriver]

xenophobia is a dislike or prejudice against people from other countries. If someone is a xenophobe, they would be prejudiced against the Japanese and the Chinese.

In your example, on asian country is praised, another asian country derided. A USA based xenophobe would dislike both countries, because they're both outside the US. Otherwise a different criteria is being used to differentiate Japanese and Chinese products in this example. Thus xenophobia cannot be the cause, as xenophobia should garner the same reaction to both countries.

Good point.

I guess I can think of another word would be more appropriated, but not allowed here.

The obsession with COO seems bizarre anyway.

It might be an American Company, making a product here (American jobs) but if they use Chinese screws, it's a no-go. We want it all but end up with nothing.

 

[BrandonV]

Good point.

I guess I can think of another word would be more appropriated, but not allowed here.

The obsession with COO seems bizarre anyway.

It might be an American Company, making a product here (American jobs) but if they use Chinese screws, it's a no-go. We want it all but end up with nothing.

People get hung up on COO but some companies get a pass. I laugh cause every Fluke multimeter is made in China. Some are assembled in the USA but that's it.

They get a pass for some reason.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Good point.

I guess I can think of another word would be more appropriated, but not allowed here.

The obsession with COO seems bizarre anyway.

It might be an American Company, making a product here (American jobs) but if they use Chinese screws, it's a no-go. We want it all but end up with nothing.

IDK, they're both Asian too. And they're relatively close to each other on a map.

The COO thing comes down to 1st world vs 3rd and labor costs. Generally speaking, nobody is paying Swiss labor costs to build junk. It costs too much to pay the labor and then build cheap ****. You CAN build quality in the 3rd world, or build junk. But because the latter exists, it pollutes the view of the former made by 3rd world countries.



Unrelated note - 1st world was capitalist, 3rd world was undeveloped/unaffiliated.... is China the last remaining major "second world" country?

 

[manwithtools]

iPhone anyone?

 

[RAS61]

Much love for German, Swiss, Japanese, etc. stuff but Mexico, China, Vietnam, etc. - "Oh hell no!".

Attitudes change over time, there was no love for the Japanese in particular with the WWII generation. My Father In Law who was in the Navy and fought in the pacific wouldn't own a Japanese car, and a friend whose uncle was in the Marines wouldn't even let you park your Japanese car in front of his house! But after decades of Japan being a good world citizen, and a friend instead of enemy to the US and the west, the script was flipped

That's my problem with buying stuff from China, they're not good world citizens or friends of the US, or the west, or anything righteous. A portion of every dollar spent on a Chinese product goes to support an unfriendly government, including their military. When/if they invade Taiwan a good portion of that invasion will be financed by the US, and when 60% of the world's production of micro processors is cut off and the world economy is thrown into chaos we'll have no one but ourselves to blame. While I prefer to buy made in USA, I don't see any other manufacturing nation matching the problems and threat to democracy (support for Russia over Ukraine?) as the ROC, and that's why I avoid anything made there if at all possible

 

[David-Eight]

Good point.

I guess I can think of another word would be more appropriated, but not allowed here.

The obsession with COO seems bizarre anyway.

It might be an American Company, making a product here (American jobs) but if they use Chinese screws, it's a no-go. We want it all but end up with nothing.

I don't think it's bizarre to not support slave labor like they have in China. I want to buy products knowing that the people who made it where paid a living wage.

Against Their Will: The Situation in Xinjiang

www.dol.gov

 

[rust in the eye]

I'm trying not to get too political here.
RAS61 makes an excellent point above. I too remember when Japanese industry was mocked and agree that Japan has become a friendly nation. One thing I also remember about those times is the admiration for German industry in spite of their likewise adversarial nature. I think the difference boils down to racism.
I don't like that so much industry has gone to an adversarial nation as China but we created that demand, both by wanting cheap goods and by over valueing domestic labor.
Someone here once made the arguement that there is no unskilled labor, that is precisely the attitude that sent manufacturers overseas.

 

[M6erfan]

I

I too remember when Japanese industry was mocked and agree that Japan has become a friendly nation. One thing I also remember about those times is the admiration for German industry in spite of their likewise adversarial nature. I think the difference boils down to racism.

Could the reason be, just maybe, that at the time Germany was one of the worlds most technologicaly advanced nations, and Japan was making cheap ****?

Nah, probably racism.

Again . . .

 

[M6erfan]

I am absolutely a (something?)-phobe when it comes to ****** tools.