The FLEX power tools addiction thread !
- Thread starter Monte
- Start date
moltentungsten
Member
I am considering to buy the SBG 4910 saw.
Is this made in germany?
Is this made in germany?
the gypsy
Well-known member
Which Porter Cable tools are made by Flex?
neophyte
Well-known member
Probably no current ones. I believe Porter Cable used to own the Flex brand and its parent company, but after Black and Decker bought Porter Cable, the Flex brand was sold off to someone else. Now I believe it's owned by a Chinese company, but a lot of the more expensive Industrial and Professional tools are still made in Germany.
When Porter Cable bought Flex, they sold the tools as "porter Cable Flex" brand in the USA and Canada. I've seen a number of specialty tools made by Flex for sale on ebay at one point or another. I'm not sure whether the entire Flex line of tools was sold in North America, but the number of tool models was more extensive than what is currently sold in the USA.
There were also tools sold specifically under the Porter Cable brand rather than the Porter Cable Flex brand, that were made in Germany by Flex, but with differences. Angle grinders and polishers were made branded Porter Cable, and obviously based on the Flex models, but they usually lacked the specialty electronics, such as constant speed control and variable speed, used in the Flex models. The Flex made Porter Cable branded models were also about half the price of the Porter Cable Flex branded tools.
When Black and Decker sold the Flex brand, a lot of Porter Cable Flex tools got dumped on the market as closeouts. Unfortunately the supply has mostly dried up.
it´s a leftover from Porter Cable. So probably made far away from germany
Porter Cable Porta-Band
...were made...:
e.g.:
This one is for sale for 99.99 ...... 7"/9" angle grinder
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Porter-...768435?hash=item51ac66c9b3:g:gSMAAOSwD0lUitcM
sold as Flex "Red Bär" (red bear) over here
the side handle and main handle are adjustable
willhollin
Well-known member
Where are these made, Monte?
ash95608
Well-known member
wow I didn't know they where owned by a Chines company, I have quite a few of there tools and all are made in Germany hope that doesn't change to China.
They were owned by several other companies before like Porter Cable and an investor. But it didn´t look good for Flex it seems. So several chinese companies as well as french and german companies bid for Flex and it seems Chervon made the best offer. If the chinese are bright enough they will keep the factory and higher grade power tool manufacturing here and continue to sell these under the Flex brand. For all-chinese manufactured tools they already offer the Chervon brand (DIY) and Devon brand (professional range). Lower priced Flex tools are imported but already for longer time (recip saws, sanders, grinders...)
cajunfirehawk
Well-known member
I own a Flex XC 3401 VRG car polisher, awesome machine.
