What tools do foreigners use?

[scottguehne]

If we prefer and use USA made tools because of the better quality over Taiwanese and other foreign made tools, what do those other foreign countries use? Do they use their own cheaper stuff, or do they import our higher quality tools? Or do they think kind of how we think, that their own countries' tools are actually better than any others? This is a question that's plauged me for some time.

 

[stricht8]

Europeans use European tools which are not in the least bit of inferior quality to US made tools. Some excellent brands are Stahlwille, Hazet, Facom, Beta, Gedore, Unior, Acesa, just to name a few. Facom seem to abound in most professional garages. They are kind of like Snap-on for us. However, I do think that they have a fascination with the best American tools. Who wouldn't? I don't know what they do in Asia but I suspect that they prefer foreign (to them) tools.

 

[T56 Impala]

Japan has some VERY nice tools. For the average guy though, these tools are way out of the price range.

I know this has been covered many times. I wish we had a forum member in China or Korea that could give us a clear cut answer.

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Here in the UK Snap-on is number one for the professional user.

 

[MXtras]

what do those other foreign countries use?

Domestic tools.

 

[tpolley]

i'd like to know too. i can't imagine a mechanic in taiwan or india making a living with the pitsburg tools we buy at horrible freight. the kind that bend and spread appart when any kind of force is applied to them. there should be a "what's in your toolbox" thread for guys and gals in those countries just to satisfy our curiosity. i'd like to see shop pictures, too.

 

[Frank Elson]

What Moose says.
But for us non-pros the Snap On driver (the three I know anyway) won't deal with us at all.

So, Draper, Halford Pro, King ****, Elora... and the German Stahwille, and Gedore.

Now I mostly buy used I look a lot more closely for "Made In England", "British Made" and "Sheffield".

Of course, we're not foreign - YOU are

 

[tpolley]

Of course, we're not foreign - YOU are

.....




....

 

[RRmech]

I worked with foreign mechanics, from all around the world at Washington, D.C.'s Metrorail system.
Greece, Croatia, Soviet Union, Mexico, Cambodia, Vietnam, Canada, Scotland, England, Germany, Ireland, Iran, South Korea, Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Senegal, Gambia, South Africa, Peru, Bermuda, Japan,.....and these are the only ones I can remember off the top of my head?
They all had one thing in common......they ran to Sears and bought Craftsman tools.
Truthfully, I can't remember seeing a foreign-born mechanic on any tool truck that ever visited us?

Steve

 

[rsanter]

china used the american and european made tools that they buy to copy

either that or they use Snap On and complain about the price and that they can hardly ever get the snap on guy to come over to exchange broken tools

bob

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Of course, we're not foreign - YOU are

You're entirely right, we're not the ****** foreigners, everyone else is!

 

[kmorgancraw]

What Moose says.
But for us non-pros the Snap On driver (the three I know anyway) won't deal with us at all.

So, Draper, Halford Pro, King ****, Elora... and the German Stahwille, and Gedore.

King ****? Really? That's just too funny.

 

[Jononon]

King ****? Really? That's just too funny.

http://www.kingdicktools.co.uk/frm/frm_prod.htm

 

[scottguehne]

I hope nobody has been offended by the term "foreigner". I just don't know how else to say what I was trying to say. It's all perspective, as to what is foreign. Sorry if any of that sounds derogatory. It isn't meant to be.

 

[Frank Elson]

nah, just joshing ya.
I did put a smiley in...

 

[Moose-LandTran]

I worked with foreign mechanics, from all around the world at Washington, D.C.'s Metrorail system.
Greece, Croatia, Soviet Union, Mexico, Cambodia, Vietnam, Canada, Scotland, England, Germany, Ireland, Iran, South Korea, Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Senegal, Gambia, South Africa, Peru, Bermuda, Japan,.....and these are the only ones I can remember off the top of my head?
They all had one thing in common......they ran to Sears and bought Craftsman tools.
Truthfully, I can't remember seeing a foreign-born mechanic on any tool truck that ever visited us?

Steve

Give me a job, i'll show you a foreigner on a Snap-on truck!

 

[krusty the clown]

looks like les paul and fender..........

 

[oldtools]

Aren't the US use Chinese/Taiwanese tools? Most SO, MAC, Cornwell, etc are foreign tools (Chinese/Taiwanese) under the disguish of US brands. If you look at the lower end market tools, everything are foreign made. Even if the Chinese/Taiwanese use SO, MAC, etc tools, aren't they just using their own tools?

Japan has several professional tools companies so I assume they use their tools.

European use European tools.

Not sure what the Russian and Middle East use. Can they afford SO, MAC, etc...?

 

[Voltron]

Here in New Zealand, we have Snap-on trucks just like everywhere, snap-on is known for its quality obviously but is even more expensive in the US, if thats possible. The other truck brands are virtually unheard of, i cant off the top of my head say that ive seen any of those brands in the flesh. You may see occasional others like SK, but not common at all. US made tools are considered quality but are just not very common. More common are european brands, the top one being Stahlwille, would have a reputation on par with or better than snap-on. But by far the most common brands are Taiwanese and Chinese ****, just like everywhere i guess. There is no tool manufacturing to speak of here so loyalty doesnt play much part in tool choices, as i said people who appreciate quality go for european or american brands but the majority are happy with asian junk. The exception is probably Koken, who are a very common brand from Japan and excellent quality - this is probably the only brand i would consider good that you could reliably expect to find on the shelves in an industrial supply store, most of the Euro and US stuff are by special order.

As for "local" tools, Sidchrome of Australia (not local as such but close enough) had a huge reputation until recently, and would have been the most common professional brand by a long way. I still use mostly sidchrome tools. unfortunately sidchrome was bought by Stanley who moved production from Australia to China with the resulting loss of quality. Currently sidchrome are as far as i can tell rebadged from proto's cheapy line (challenger or blackhawk maybe?) I even have a sidchrome 1/4" socket set from around the time they moved to china labeled "Sidchrome-Proto".

 

[scotty4130]

www.tengtools.com for me, easily available in northern ireland, good value and i find the quality more than acceptable for my light usage.

 

[307WYLD]

In the future, will I be able to purchase Snap-On cybernetic prosthetics in case of limb-loss? It would be super handy if they were indeed, Snap-On, Snap-Off.

 

[superautobacs]

Tool lovers can rejoice if they lived in Japan; they import brands from around the world, not to mention, on top of the abundance of domestic tool brands the country has already establised.
Just to name a few foreign brands they have available:
Snap-on, Hazet, Mac, Stahlwille, SK, Facom, Proto, Beta, IR, PB Swiss, Armstrong, Knipex.....you name it, they probably have it.

 

[billymade]

I find this line of questioning interesting; thats why I started a number of threads.... like these; check 'em out! They might be of interest and enlightening!

"Whats the tools situation in...."

"Germany"
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28819

"The UK"
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18655&highlight=tool+situation?

"Taiwan"
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29814&highlight=tool+situation?

 

[HandyManny]

I worked with foreign mechanics, from all around the world at Washington, D.C.'s Metrorail system.
Greece, Croatia, Soviet Union, Mexico, Cambodia, Vietnam, Canada, Scotland, England, Germany, Ireland, Iran, South Korea, Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Senegal, Gambia, South Africa, Peru, Bermuda, Japan,.....and these are the only ones I can remember off the top of my head?
They all had one thing in common......they ran to Sears and bought Craftsman tools.
Truthfully, I can't remember seeing a foreign-born mechanic on any tool truck that ever visited us?

Steve

Makes the most sense! Why would they use anything else if they are working here in our country?

 

[HandyManny]

I try to buy only quality, but also try to buy American made when I can find quality in American made. Sadly it's getting much more difficult these days to joing the words "Quality" with "American" together and have it make sense.
With that said, there are a lot of good professional quality Taiwan made tools out there. If it's my only option I'll go for it, but other than that I'll look for the American made tool that still have high quality in them. Believe it or not there are still a few around.