Matco Flare Wrenches Made In China

[XxToolAholicxX]

I thought Matco hard line tools were made here in the good ol USA till I saw this. Made to Matco specification in CHINA.



http://www.ebay.com/itm/281409590060

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I am a Toolaholic,Sometimes I regret it,Especialy when the Toolman wont give me no credit

 

[Harrison2]

thats why you buy snap on!

if you want china go to harbor freight!

trolololol.

 

[Danguitarman]

I think I'm gonna throw up. And to think that I gave a guy at work **** because his Matco snap ring pliers were made in Taiwan! LOL

 

[joebachor]

*uck matco

 

[XxToolAholicxX]

thats why you buy snap on!

if you want china go to harbor freight!

trolololol.

Snap-On outsource many of its tools too such as Blue Point And Williams,And don't stamp USA on their hard line tools. Emmmmm. Wonder Why.
Oh I remember according to Snap-On its a global company. Lol
I do own lots of Snap-On tools.

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I am a Toolaholic,Sometimes I regret it,Especially when the Toolman wont give me no credit

 

[Jarhead0408]

Think I'll stick with my SK's.

 

[1950mercury]

I have an old usa matco set that is every bit as good as my snap ons. But yea i dont buy hardly anything off the truck anymore and when i have to warranty **** im not happy with tbe offshore **** they give me. Almost all tbere stuff is Taiwan now for usa snap on prices (close enuff)

 

[1950mercury]

Snap-On outsource many of its tools too such as Blue Point And Williams,And don't stamp USA on their hard line tools. Emmmmm. Wonder Why.
Oh I remember according to Snap-On its a global company. Lol
I do own lots of Snap-On tools.

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I am a Toolaholic,Sometimes I regret it,Especially when the Toolman wont give me no credit

95% off the hardline stuff labled snap is usa made

 

[JUNK-MAN]

I knew Matco made some of there stuff in Taiwan but I thought the rest was USA, that's one thing about Matco I cant stand: they make there tools in so many different places you don't know were you're getting a tool from and when you order stuff online you cant handle it and see if its a USA one. Where Snap-On tells you were everything is made under the "specification" button so you know were your tool is coming from, as far as Snap-On making tools in China, the only Chinese made tool by Snap-On is some of there Blue-Point stuff.

 

[TOOL FANATIK]

I'm disgusted. And you wonder why they're so desperately searching for franchisees via social networking. SK. Promises that anything that has SK on it was made here, so we don't have to research where a specific tool came from, which can be a hassle since even if the COO changed on a given tool, the item number does not change in most cases, though clearly there were changes in production or material.

 

[Fedwrench]

Once again people, MATCO only makes tool boxes.

Everything else is made by someone else. Yes, most if not all of their hand tools used to be US made in Armstrong factories but, sadly this isn't the case any more.

 

[TOOL FANATIK]

^ yes, that was a hell of a run on...so please don't tell me I already know! ; )

 

[thesilverone]

The Bain Capital effect

 

[JonDick13926]

Gotta love the "To xxxxx specifications" line though. I think the first time I saw it was on some vise-grips at Lowes. "Made in China to Irwin specifications", or something like that. As if that helps. I knew they weren't USA made anymore, but I looked anyway.

 

[shockwave]

cant say i did not see this coming alot of matco tools are switching to overseas
and a flare nut wrench is one tool i prefer snap on and the open end flare nut wrenches are the best with there thicker open end

 

[woody 73]

I thought Matco had been going overseas for a long time now. Shame back in the day they were ahead of the curve and now it has all changed.

 

[DodgeMech]

Snap-On outsource many of its tools too such as Blue Point And Williams,And don't stamp USA on their hard line tools. Emmmmm. Wonder Why.
Oh I remember according to Snap-On its a global company. Lol
I do own lots of Snap-On tools.

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I am a Toolaholic,Sometimes I regret it,Especially when the Toolman wont give me no credit

uh, no...they don't stamp it cuz the guys walking on the truck and paying 150 bucks for a 3/8 ratchet expect the ****** thing to be US made...which it is...

I thought Matco had been going overseas for a long time now. Shame back in the day they were ahead of the curve and now it has all changed.

matco *****...they don't even make anything...other than boxes, everything else is made by someone else...they are the craftsman of the tool truck world...and they're even moving to china more and more, just like c man

 

[bob15]

I thought Matco had been going overseas for a long time now. Shame back in the day they were ahead of the curve and now it has all changed.

Since when were they ever ahead of the curve? I have two 3/8 drive deep Matco sockets that were given to me 15+ years ago, there is no COO on them. What does that say about where they're made?

Even when Bonney made their wrenches in the 80's, they never put their lobular boxed end on the Matco wrenches. Matco had the generic, grab the corners boxed end.

Matco has outsourced since day one.

 

[woody 73]

Maybe I can dig up some of their old tools and take some pictures, I still feel that back in the day they made some very nice tools.

 

[Fedwrench]

Since when were they ever ahead of the curve?

I think Matco was ahead of the curve in the early 2000's. They introduced thin head fine 60 tooth ratchets when the other tool trucks were using 30-36 teeth. Matco also introduced the Proswing series of fine tooth ratcheting wrenches around the same time. They also released their pinless impact swivel sockets.
It's sad that most of their stuff is imported now but, it wasn't always that way. I always liked their tools when I was a dealership tech but, I've been away from their trucks for more than a few years now.

 

[woody 73]

Ok so maybe I was wrong you guys want your money back...

I still liked the great idea about using the Gold colored lettering to highlight it making it easier to read the sockets. (see pictures of my sockets).

I liked the swivel impact socket design, but alas you guys were right it is not made in the USA. (see the following pictures)

No lobular boxed ends on my old wrenches ok you got me again.

Man you guys are a tough crowd tonight!!!

 

[Wamsutta]

So what other wrenches is Matco having made in China? Combination wrenches? Box wrenches? Angle wrenches? Makes you wonder doesn't it? Meanwhile back in Elisabethton Tennessee, Snap-On is making wrenches in USA!

 

[RedneckWelder]

A lot of the Matco items can be found elsewhere under other brand names.

HOWEVER

There are a few items that Matco carries and are Matco exclusives.

The longer handled and comfort grip 88t ratchets (particularly with the locking flex head). Armstrong carries some of the same ratchets that Matco does but Matco has a far larger selection. I LOVE the 24" locking flex head 1/2 drive ratchet.

They carry a larger selection of the pinless swivel impact sockets, which are excellent. You can get some of the sizes from Armstrong and Craftsman, and I believe Gearwrench is supposed to start carrying them, but Matco has the largest size range.

The ADV line of sockets isn't horrifically priced, it is Taiwan but not too bad.

Screwdrivers- they are made by Witte, but Matco is easy to warranty. Not exactly a Matco exclusive, but nice to be able to get them through Matco anyway.

I wouldn't go out of my way to get their normal sockets and wrenches, but I do like their ratchets and some other products a lot.

I havent' seen much Chinese on the Matco truck, usually it's USA or Taiwan.

 

[Skin]

The Bain Capital effect

Matco is still part of Danaher for whatever reason.

 

[Monte]

What do you guys expect for only 116.99$

 

[rodm1]

I believe Wright Tools is one of the few that is 100% Made in the USA. I like there tools sow I try to buy from them anytime I need something. The bad thing is they don't really have a warranty and somewhat hard to find.

 

[Pumpman1968]

Not to stir the pot, but, my Craftsman flare nut wrenches says "USA" on them!

OK.....maybe I do want to stir the pot.

 

[espyking83]

LOL Matco.

Worst overpriced truck brand out there, can't believe people still buy it.

 

[WhiffySpark]

LOL Matco.

Worst overpriced truck brand out there, can't believe people still buy it.

Your driver can make a difference.

I just brought almost the whole 12v line Friday from him. My driver is tremendous and has always helped me out.

My snap on guy is even better

 

[DodgeMech]

A lot of the Matco items can be found elsewhere under other brand names.

HOWEVER

There are a few items that Matco carries and are Matco exclusives.

The longer handled and comfort grip 88t ratchets (particularly with the locking flex head). Armstrong carries some of the same ratchets that Matco does but Matco has a far larger selection. I LOVE the 24" locking flex head 1/2 drive ratchet.

They carry a larger selection of the pinless swivel impact sockets, which are excellent. You can get some of the sizes from Armstrong and Craftsman, and I believe Gearwrench is supposed to start carrying them, but Matco has the largest size range.

The ADV line of sockets isn't horrifically priced, it is Taiwan but not too bad.

Screwdrivers- they are made by Witte, but Matco is easy to warranty. Not exactly a Matco exclusive, but nice to be able to get them through Matco anyway.

I wouldn't go out of my way to get their normal sockets and wrenches, but I do like their ratchets and some other products a lot.

I havent' seen much Chinese on the Matco truck, usually it's USA or Taiwan.

adv's are decent...but are available as Sunex(maybe GP, something?) for under half the price

Matco is still part of Danaher for whatever reason.

i thought danaher split up...and Matco was apart of Apex tool group now?

 

[4x4gearhead]

I like my matco dealer so I do buy a few things here and there. But generally I don't buy their hard line items. I don't like their ratchets or wrenches. Witte screwdrivers are ok but I like sk or snap on better. A lot of times what I do buy are lisle and OTC items from him. They do make a nice toolbox, but for the most part if I'm going to buy off a truck it's mostly going to be the snap on truck. I bought that same set of flare nut wrenches off the truck years ago, and I gave them back to him the next week. The snap on sae set came with one more wrench and was actually cheaper...not sure if coo was china 5 years ago but I was surprised how expensive they were compared to the better set.

 

[bob15]

i thought danaher split up...and Matco was apart of Apex tool group now?

See the list of companies still under the Danaher umbrella:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danaher_Corporation

Armstrong went with Apex.

 

[RedneckWelder]

I like my matco dealer so I do buy a few things here and there. But generally I don't buy their hard line items. I don't like their ratchets or wrenches. Witte screwdrivers are ok but I like sk or snap on better. A lot of times what I do buy are lisle and OTC items from him. They do make a nice toolbox, but for the most part if I'm going to buy off a truck it's mostly going to be the snap on truck. I bought that same set of flare nut wrenches off the truck years ago, and I gave them back to him the next week. The snap on sae set came with one more wrench and was actually cheaper...not sure if coo was china 5 years ago but I was surprised how expensive they were compared to the better set.

Yeah I am not really attracted to the Matco boxes. They look great in the catalog but if I am going to pay full retail for a toolbox like that it's gonna be an Epiq or KRL, for the depth.

 

[SMKS]

i thought danaher split up...and Matco was apart of Apex tool group now?

Nope. For some reason, Danaher kept the MATCO brand and spun all the other tool brands off into Apex.

Just look on the bottom of the Matco page, it still says they're a Danaher brand.
http://www.matcotools.com/

© 2015 Matco Tools, A Division of Danaher Corp. All Rights Reserved

 

[DodgeMech]

See the list of companies still under the Danaher umbrella:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danaher_Corporation

Armstrong went with Apex.

Nope. For some reason, Danaher kept the MATCO brand and spun all the other tool brands off into Apex.

Just look on the bottom of the Matco page, it still says they're a Danaher brand.
http://www.matcotools.com/

well i'll be damned...don't matter either way though...since matco is just a "brand" of tools i guess

 

[Boiler]

I still think Mac is worse, and more sad that they've gone Chinese.