I’m currently pouring a lot of money into building my hand tool collection. It’s not all USA-made, but it is mostly.
Ive been lurking here for quite awhile because this is hands down by far the most informed forum on this topic.
I’m curious if there’s a desire to start a thread attempting to keep up with which tools from formerly-all-USA-made vendors are USA-made and which are not.
FWIW, I went all in on ratcheting wrenches and bought a discontinued Proto 20-piece metric USA-made set for $800, which I understand to be the very last set out there. The 18-piece SAE set is gone, so I found an 11-piece and painfully scraped up the other 7 pieces to complete the set and bouget the correct pouch from Proto. I then bought a new 150+ piece 3/8 and 1/2 Proto SAE mechanics set off eBay for $450 that is worth no telling how much. I’m guessing MSRP could be $2500 or more. I bought about 50 6 and 12 pt metric sockets in 3/8 and 1/2 from Toolup to complete the mechanics tools set. It’s 200+ pieces, all new and Proto USA-made.
I’ve bought 15+ Wilson, Proto, and Crescent USA wrenches. Some Channellocks still available to complete my set.
I’ve bought a lot of Proto and Milwaukee USA screwdrivers, and levels and assorted tools from other USA makers. It’s been fun and there’s a very rewarding feeling to it.
I have about 300 Kobalt sockets that fill any conceivable void that my Protos don’t fill. Bought a huge Kobalt SAE and metric combo wrench set. These are perfectly good tools to fill in where the USA-made leave gaps.
My tool boxes other than a small portable Proto are Yukon and US General simply because they are good quality for a person like me working out of the home garage.
I’m now looking for my first American muscle car to rebuild mechanically and electrically. I have a good friend who’s a car dealer in Arizona and I’m hoping to find a good patina car that’s rust free to focus on internals, bring back to amazing, and drive it daily. I drive sports newer cars, but ready to go back to my roots and drive a heavy muscle bound beast thats way, way out or warranty and fun to work on And keep building up. There’s really no limit if I find the right car.
I’d like to keep finding and buying USA-made tools as the need arises. Is there any way to track the very daunting world of tools from makers making them in the USA and all kinds of places overseas? I think it’s tough. I’m curious if anyone thinks it’s worth the effort track it.
Anyway, I’ve really enjoyed reading from all of the folks here who clearly have a lot of experience with American tools. I learn a ton. Thank you.
Ive been lurking here for quite awhile because this is hands down by far the most informed forum on this topic.
I’m curious if there’s a desire to start a thread attempting to keep up with which tools from formerly-all-USA-made vendors are USA-made and which are not.
FWIW, I went all in on ratcheting wrenches and bought a discontinued Proto 20-piece metric USA-made set for $800, which I understand to be the very last set out there. The 18-piece SAE set is gone, so I found an 11-piece and painfully scraped up the other 7 pieces to complete the set and bouget the correct pouch from Proto. I then bought a new 150+ piece 3/8 and 1/2 Proto SAE mechanics set off eBay for $450 that is worth no telling how much. I’m guessing MSRP could be $2500 or more. I bought about 50 6 and 12 pt metric sockets in 3/8 and 1/2 from Toolup to complete the mechanics tools set. It’s 200+ pieces, all new and Proto USA-made.
I’ve bought 15+ Wilson, Proto, and Crescent USA wrenches. Some Channellocks still available to complete my set.
I’ve bought a lot of Proto and Milwaukee USA screwdrivers, and levels and assorted tools from other USA makers. It’s been fun and there’s a very rewarding feeling to it.
I have about 300 Kobalt sockets that fill any conceivable void that my Protos don’t fill. Bought a huge Kobalt SAE and metric combo wrench set. These are perfectly good tools to fill in where the USA-made leave gaps.
My tool boxes other than a small portable Proto are Yukon and US General simply because they are good quality for a person like me working out of the home garage.
I’m now looking for my first American muscle car to rebuild mechanically and electrically. I have a good friend who’s a car dealer in Arizona and I’m hoping to find a good patina car that’s rust free to focus on internals, bring back to amazing, and drive it daily. I drive sports newer cars, but ready to go back to my roots and drive a heavy muscle bound beast thats way, way out or warranty and fun to work on And keep building up. There’s really no limit if I find the right car.
I’d like to keep finding and buying USA-made tools as the need arises. Is there any way to track the very daunting world of tools from makers making them in the USA and all kinds of places overseas? I think it’s tough. I’m curious if anyone thinks it’s worth the effort track it.
Anyway, I’ve really enjoyed reading from all of the folks here who clearly have a lot of experience with American tools. I learn a ton. Thank you.