Shame on me

[mkmury]

I don't mean to offend anyone but for 35 yrs I've done everything I can to buy US made tools because in my opinion they're just longer lasting. I just bought some Proto ratchet wrenches (online) and from the little research I did ,I thought they were american made, but not so, only the US made pouch they came in was. I've always relied on Snap-on, Mac,S-K, Vulcan, Williams or Proto, and now I can no longer count on another US tool maker, does anyone pity me, or did I not look into this enough?

 

[tarbellb]

Do your research. Also maybe dont use your actual email for your user name.... mistakes all around.

 

[zmotorsports]

First off welcome to the forum. I too would advise against using your actual email address as your username.

That said, I too wish I could only buy US made tools and equipment but sadly that just isn't the case any longer. Also keep in mind there are various ranges of quality for any piece of equipment or tools even made oversees, or "especially" those made oversees.

I have found those made in Republic of China(Taiwan) to be of much higher quality than those manufactured in People's Republic of Chine (mainland China). That is a general consensus that I personally have come to but as a disclaimer there are exceptions there as well.

Mike.

 

[toddoky]

I don't mean to offend anyone but for 35 yrs I've done everything I can to buy US made tools because in my opinion they're just longer lasting. I just bought some Proto ratchet wrenches (online) and from the little research I did ,I thought they were american made, but not so, only the US made pouch they came in was. I've always relied on Snap-on, Mac,S-K, Vulcan, Williams or Proto, and now I can no longer count on another US tool maker, does anyone pity me, or did I not look into this enough?

The black Proto ratcheting spline wrenches are made in Taiwan, but the full polished versions are U.S. made and have a different form/profile to them.

 

[Farmall450]

Weird. Typically the pouch is mexico or China and the rest is US. (Ie buck knives)

 

[mkmury]

Thanks for your info gentlemen, I got the full polished wrenches with serial #s containing more letters than #s which was what I was told was the clue to whether or not it was made in the US, but when I got them each plastic bag they were wrapped in was marked "made in Taiwan", also I'm so computer illiterate I don't know how my email ended up as my user name

 

[PugetDude]

... also I'm so computer illiterate I don't know how my email ended up as my user name

Expect to be deluged with emails espousing the virtues of ******, Harbor Freight, Russian Models who want to meet you, Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, Corona Beer, The RNC, DNC, and Progressive Insurance... Good luck.

 

[CobraChevelle]

Expect to be deluged with emails espousing the virtues of ******, Harbor Freight, Russian Models who want to meet you, Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, Corona Beer, The RNC, DNC, and Progressive Insurance... Good luck.

add another for adult toys

 

[malykaii]

I don't mean to offend anyone but for 35 yrs I've done everything I can to buy US made tools because in my opinion they're just longer lasting.

I definitely respect collecting American tools, especially for 35 years. However, I don't agree that Country of Origin defines how long a tool lasts.

Being a global economy, I'd recommend checking out other countries pro tools, which can exceed the specs of some US brands you mentioned. This way you get quality tools with no surprises.

Try Japanese and German stuff.

 

[zendriver]

I'm sure you'll get many guilt trips, but they won't be from me.

We all used to own RCA or Zenith televisions at at one time, certainly they were better than Sony or Panasonic, because they were American-made.

Profitable corporations are moving their manufacturing elsewhere because it's even more profitable, but I should be ashamed of myself, for not paying $350 for a torque wrench.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[rsanter]

Nile I try to and like buying American made, I don't always do so.
Sometimes I need something that I am not sure I will use again or just need it good enough.
Sometimes the foreign made stuff is decent ( that tends to be the stuff from Europe)

If they bother you then to return them and get something else. If they seem to expensive for where they were made, return them. If they seem cheap, return them. If you don't like them, return them

If not give them a try and see what happens



Bob

 

[gdocktor3]

I have those black taiwan made Proto ratchet wrenches and other than the thin profile, they work really well. The spline box end is awesome and the open end has the anti slip jaw. I got mine from my employer, but probably wouldn't pay that much for them out of my own pocket. Still decent wrenches that haven't skipped a beat since buying them over a year ago.

 

[BigT69]

The black Proto ratcheting spline wrenches are made in Taiwan, but the full polished versions are U.S. made and have a different form/profile to them.

I thought this as well. I ordered and returned 2 different sets of full polish ratcheting wrenches before receiving the third set which was the made in USA. The customer service at proto said that the USA ratcheting wrenches model number ended in sa. Not sure if this is correct. The USA wrenches look different in size and strength. Much better in my opinion than the Taiwan ones.

 

[anndel]

add another for adult toys

Don't forget Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump and Barak Obama.

 

[Can I try?]

IMO, Stanley-Proto has one of the better websites/online tool catalogs among major tool manufacturers. It's fairly easy to navigate. I can't recall at the moment if it lists COO, but it definitely indicates when an item is US-made. They've place an American flag icon on the details page for each item to which this applies. The overwhelming majority of Proto items are US-made.

 

[CobraRed]

Don't forget Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump and Barak Obama.

Tools and tool bags have already been covered here

 

[1930]

Forward the Russian models e-mails to me please

 

[Fedwrench]

It's a challenge to keep up with where a tool is made these days.
Especially with new products. proto used have just two lines of ratcheting wrenches, the black ones were made in Taiwan, and the fully polished chrome reversible I beam sets were US made. However, Proto released at least one set of fully polished ratcheting combination wrenches last year that had zero offset boxed ends that were made in Taiwan. They're not cheap either which may add to the confusion as to where they're made.

 

[bczygan]

Thanks for your info gentlemen, I got the full polished wrenches with serial #s containing more letters than #s which was what I was told was the clue to whether or not it was made in the US, but when I got them each plastic bag they were wrapped in was marked "made in Taiwan", also I'm so computer illiterate I don't know how my email ended up as my user name

Well, welcome to GJ.

And welcome to a fast changing world, in which all your long held beliefs and assumptions need daily checking and testing, to see if they hold true, if they ever did.

Bill

 

[TK-421]

Do your research, and don't worry about where a tool is made, worry about the quality. Are tools more likely to be quality made because they're made in the US? Yeah, sure. However, that doesn't mean that there aren't quality tools made in other places. Look at Knipex, some of the best pliers, and they're German made.

Remember, Chinese tools aren't junk because they're Chinese, they're junk because they're designed to be cheap. The Chinese are perfectly capable of producing quality stuff, just look at your cell phone, they're just known for cheap tools because that's what they're told to make.

 

[toddoky]

It's a challenge to keep up with where a tool is made these days.
Especially with new products. proto used have just two lines of ratcheting wrenches, the black ones were made in Taiwan, and the fully polished chrome reversible I beam sets were US made. However, Proto released at least one set of fully polished ratcheting combination wrenches last year that had zero offset boxed ends that were made in Taiwan. They're not cheap either which may add to the confusion as to where they're made.

That was the status of the availability when I purchased my set of Proto full polished USA made spline wrenches...the only Taiwan made sets were the black ones.

 

[K-Dog]

Expect to be deluged with emails espousing the virtues of ******, Harbor Freight, Russian Models who want to meet you, Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, Corona Beer, The RNC, DNC, and Progressive Insurance... Good luck.

Oh and don't forget the Prince of Nirobia. ( Who owes me money by the way ... )

 

[malykaii]

Wait! O.P. you've been collecting tools for 30 years, American exclusively up until now. Yet you feel US made tools "last longer"? How on earth do you figure that if you've never touched anything else?

I can say that I dislike the taste of cat, but I never tried it. Sure I never want to, but claiming to dislike the taste is lying.

Try something else. Have the cat stew! Or maybe settle on a Stahlwille wrench.

 

[gdocktor3]

In his defense, I think he was comparing to Taiwan or Chinese stuff. Stahlwille is in a different league and not easily available in the USA like the China ****. A majority of the time he's right. I have a lot of vintage Craftsman, SK, Proto, etc and a lot of Vintage Taiwan, Japan, India, etc made stuff also. They're in a huge cooler down in the garage because I don't use them anymore. They're my beater tools and occasionally I'll go in there for one. Most of the Chinese stuff is rusted and corroded while the USA stuff is pretty much the same it was the day it left the store. Chinese steel has always been weaker than USA steel and even worse nowadays. A few years ago I bought a set of brake drums for my truck. I paid $180, give or take, I think for the pair. Within 1 month they were completely covered in surface rust. Since then I always try to buy USA if it's made of steel. Especially car parts that your life depends on.

 

[malykaii]

Chinese steel has always been weaker than USA steel and even worse nowadays.
...
Since then I always try to buy USA if it's made of steel.

Again, COO has nothing to do with this. If you buy a US made tool for cheap (Lisle comes to mind) and compare it to a pro grade Chinese brand like Sata you'll get exactly what you paid for.

The Chinese make world class steel, if you pay for it. A large portion of sky scraper steel beams are made in China. If US steel was better, Bethlehem Steel would still be in business.

 

[gdocktor3]

You're missing the point. The op complained because he got Chinese made tools when he paid for USA made tools. Everyone knows USA craftsman is better than Taiwan, but they were priced the same when they were on the shelves together. It's not always get what you pay for. Gearwrench Taiwan made stuff is better than China made stuff, but sold for same prices.

Of course in most cases you get what you pay for, but who's going to pay snap on prices for a Chinese tool? I literally just bought a Facom j161 ratchet off eBay last week and it's great. Another member bought one from same seller, about the same price, but it's different coo and he says it's junk. So I'm sticking to my guns that coo does matter in most cases.

Bethlehem steel was better, but couldn't compete with foreign prices. Bottom line. Just like so many other businesses. In my case with the brake drums, I bought the easiest available parts because I was in a pinch. USA made drums were twice the cost and would take days to ship in. I got what I paid for in this case as they are covered in rust. But as with everything else Chinese, the parts were available the day I needed them for cheap. That's why USA companies can't compete.

 

[1982fxr]

Wait! O.P. you've been collecting tools for 30 years, American exclusively up until now. Yet you feel US made tools "last longer"? How on earth do you figure that if you've never touched anything else?

I can say that I dislike the taste of cat, but I never tried it. Sure I never want to, but claiming to dislike the taste is lying.

Try something else. Have the cat stew! Or maybe settle on a Stahlwille wrench.

He said he's been collecting US made, that doesn't mean he's never used asian junk.

 

[1982fxr]

Again, COO has nothing to do with this. If you buy a US made tool for cheap (Lisle comes to mind) and compare it to a pro grade Chinese brand like Sata you'll get exactly what you paid for.

The Chinese make world class steel, if you pay for it. A large portion of sky scraper steel beams are made in China. If US steel was better, Bethlehem Steel would still be in business.

So china = awesome steel
and US = **** steel

yeah ok. And that last sentence...where to even begin.

 

[ganymede]

So china = awesome steel
and US = **** steel

yeah ok. And that last sentence...where to even begin.

You trying to twist what he was saying ... where to even begin.

 

[malykaii]

So china = awesome steel
and US = **** steel

yeah ok. And that last sentence...where to even begin.

No, not what I'm saying. I keep trying to say COO isn't the only deciding factor in what you buy. Yet we're here still generalizing. Lets stop generalizing.

USA = You get what you ordered
China = You get what you ordered.

Saying one country is better based on arbitrary experiences is sterotyping. You may as well be saying white people are better at "x" because your white and your good at "x". See how stereotyping is very very dangerous?


I toured Bethlehem Steel. The consensus there is one major contributing factor to the fall of Bethlehem Steel was increased competition from Chinese steel mills. They were able to meet and exceed specs for high grade sky scraper type beams while undercutting Bethlehem prices. *****, but true.

 

[malykaii]

He said he's been collecting US made, that doesn't mean he's never used asian junk.

I re read his post. Your right. By him saying he's done everything to buy us only, it in a way implied thsts all he's used. However, that doesn't have to be the case. Sorry,

 

[PureLeaf]

No, not what I'm saying. I keep trying to say COO isn't the only deciding factor in what you buy. Yet we're here still generalizing. Lets stop generalizing.

USA = You get what you ordered
China = You get what you ordered.

I agree completely with this. However the reason people go to China for anything is because its cheap. Not for quality. So thats probably why theres a general consensus that China = ****.

If I wanted expensive well made stuff, I can get that done here. In fact I work for a tech company. We have our proprietary items that we don't want the intellectual property stolen from made here.

The general unimportant items are made in China. Because its cheap, and the quality is generally absolute ****. I waste a lot of my day sending back dead on arrival equipment, and making them send replacements for it.

 

[zendriver]

It helps to understand reality.

In the old days, technology made a car battery usually lasting 3 years or so, before it was kaput. then, technology made it to the point where you could buy a battery, at even Walmart, or auto zone, that might last 6-7 years ( I had them). Now it's wonderful if they make it 5 years.

What happened? Corporations realized - once again, they made more money, when batteries did not last as long.

China makes iphones, fighter jets, ICBMs and battle tanks so the notion, that they can't build a box end wrench, as good as Snap-On, is just a silly one.

Could China, or any company that manufactures there, build a 3/8" ratchet that last 35 years?

Really, why would they want to?

 

[davethorik]

Chinese steel has always been weaker than USA steel and even worse nowadays. A few years ago I bought a set of brake drums for my truck. I paid $180, give or take, I think for the pair. Within 1 month they were completely covered in surface rust. Since then I always try to buy USA if it's made of steel. Especially car parts that your life depends on.

You do know brake drums for common passenger vehicles are made of cast iron, right?