Why I buy American Tools

[Conductor562]

Weirton Steel: Weirton, WV.......

Youngstown, OH.......

Bethlehem Steel......

Pittsburgh, PA......

A picture is worth a 1,000 ******** excuses

 

[KF5LCH]

Re: Wy buy American Tools?

How depressing. I'm a locomotive engineer & I roll on 211 miles of 90lb Bethleham rail every day at work.

What a shame.

 

[RCRGarage]

Re: Wy buy American Tools?

I'm new and all, but isn't this kicking a dead horse?
Coworker has wrenches that say "pittsburgh" on them, lawl.

 

[Conductor562]

Re: Wy buy American Tools?

How depressing. I'm a locomotive engineer & I roll on 211 miles of 90lb Bethleham rail every day at work.

What a shame.

Who do you work for? I'm a Conductor (CSX).

 

[KF5LCH]

I work for the DoD. U.S. Army rail. http://www.mcaap.army.mil/

Prior to that I worked for U.P. out of MK566 (McAlester, OK)

You would love this place. It's like a rail road time machine. GP-7's, 211 miles of good 90lb rail, Bethlehem, Carnegie, Illinois Steel, most made prior to 1942, as this place was built at the start of WW2. I know of several sticks of 1882 Illinois 75lb still in service out here.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Conductor, people will never understand unless they see those picture in real life everyday. Great visual of the problem globalization has caused for American companies.

 

[Redex]

Western workers will never be able to compete with a cost effectiveness of disposable employees who are paid pennies on the dollar for their labor.

It won't last forever.

 

[3xpendable]

I feel ya op. I'm from Ohio. My grandfathers worked at the steel mills. One at weirton and one at wheeling. It is hard to see plants the size of city's die.

GOD BLESS AMERICA! GOD Bless the hard working American man and help us put him back to work.

 

[Peoria Man]

Western workers will never be able to compete with a cost effectiveness of disposable employees who are paid pennies on the dollar for their labor.

And propped up by their governments.

 

[buffalobill]

I drive by Bethlehem Lackawanna every week, my wife has heard me rant for hours about it. trust me, i know,I moved over to Buffalo from around Flint Michigan, I would have been a 4th generation shop rat, if anyone on here knows what that means anymore.

btw, since someone will get their HF ******* in a wad over this thread, ibtl.

 

[Dieselbutterfly]

conductor,this point of view has my complete support,but it wont be long before someone posts this is why i dont buy American tools......and it will degenerate(i have been guilty of this) into an off topic,debate.i noticed the social clubs spot on this site,i would like to start a social club here just for people who DO CARE.we can monitor companies who label things made in USA,but sell things that are not.and a variety of other helpful to our economy things we can do.if anyone would join such a club please pm me.if not any support at least i wont be the only club with one member,lol anyway it is in the works.sorry for the hijack.btw the club is called fight the good fight club and it is up and running

 

[Davefr]

Take the tour:

http://www.detroityes.com/fabulous-ruins-of-detroit/home.php

 

[Chadwilliam1]

I put effort into everything i buy being made here. I am fortunate and I make a good living. I realize not everybody is as fortunate.

 

[hifi_hokie]

 

[t100]

one would think with the current high unemployment rate, people would work for less just to put food on the table.

Nope!!

 

[warmpancakes]

one would think with the current high unemployment rate, people would work for less just to put food on the table.

Nope!!

I took a 25% pay cut to go back to work ,

 

[buffalobill]

one would think with the current high unemployment rate, people would work for less just to put food on the table.

Nope!!

none of those plants are recently shuttered, so judging by the unemployment of the different times of those plants closing, why should those people work for less? people take cuts in pay and still end up getting their jobs shipped away. so why take the cut, so you have less spending power to help the economy improve?

 

[Trey T]

BS excuses??

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

 

[NWphotog]

Talk about people being out of touch with reality and living in the 70s. They seem to have no understanding of the world they live in. Yes, let's bring .50 an hour jobs to those states. That will help out the unemployed.

 

[Chipmunk]

There are thousands of examples of employees giving concessions to keep their employer afloat, while management gave themselves bonuses. A recent example is Hostess Bakeries.

We are all in this together, some like to say we’re all in the same boat, the problem is that not everyone has their oars in the water. When someone buys a Chinese tool to save a few bucks, they directly or indirectly effect the jobs of other American workers who are laid-off because their employer couldn’t sell his American made tool. The net result is that Chinese tools are not cheaper in the long run.

What is more amazing to me is the multitude of lame excuses some can produce to justify cutting another American throat in the name of saving a few dollars.

(and before someone flames me for citing Chinese tools….I was using China as an example of cheap government subsidized tools made by workers being paid 50 cents a day or some other unreasonably low wage.)

 

[Wakefield]

Our problems didn't just start overnight. Great original thought and pictures.
Our country/centers of power leaders--and voters-- can contract all of our essential industries away so that we won't have to see any coal smoke----and then we will be defenseless-----maybe have nothing more than,say,Haiti .
It would be nice to see some pictures of the Wright factory or maybe the Williams factory or Snap On factory humming away--maybe even a little coal smoke? Where's the steel made? I hope somewhere over here? There are way to reduce or control the smoke without completely putting it out of business I think.
The public likes to see the smoke coming out of Western Maryland Scenic Railroad's restored Baldwin steam locomotive--even might improve the health of the local rosebushes a little bit--the sulphur probably discourages fungus disease--
If we send all of the coal smoke away to Red China--doesn't it still come back in the planetary winds over the Pacific?

 

[bdamico]

There was a reason why our (at least mine) great grandparents worked to death (some literally) working in these industries so that their children and grandchildren would never have to. The magical place everyone here seems to remember and cherish does not exist nor did it ever exist.

 

[Hiball]

I work for the DoD. U.S. Army rail. http://www.mcaap.army.mil/

Prior to that I worked for U.P. out of MK566 (McAlester, OK)

You would love this place. It's like a rail road time machine. GP-7's, 211 miles of good 90lb rail, Bethlehem, Carnegie, Illinois Steel, most made prior to 1942, as this place was built at the start of WW2. I know of several sticks of 1882 Illinois 75lb still in service out here.

211 miles makes me sleepy... Then again if your riding on GP-7's with jointed rail that probably is enough to keep you Alert.. Lol.

I prefer my comfort cabs along with my 141 mile runs, I make a lot of 3-4 hour trips.

 

[buffalobill]

Talk about people being out of touch with reality and living in the 70s. They seem to have no understanding of the world they live in. Yes, let's bring .50 an hour jobs to those states. That will help out the unemployed.

what are you talking about? those jobs were NOT 50 cent an hour jobs when they were here, they were real, middle class jobs, that helped out the economy more than multiple low wage jobs. mom gets to stay at home when dad makes REAL money and has good benefits.

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

There was a reason why our (at least mine) great grandparents worked to death (some literally) working in these industries so that their children and grandchildren would never have to. The magical place everyone here seems to remember and cherish does not exist nor did it ever exist.

Steel mill jobs were intellectually fulfilling, paid exceptionally well, and had very minimal dangers. You just need to put your nostalgia glasses back on.

 

[buffalobill]

Our problems didn't just start overnight. Great original thought and pictures.
Our country/centers of power leaders--and voters-- can contract all of our essential industries away so that we won't have to see any coal smoke----and then we will be defenseless-----maybe have nothing more than,say,Haiti .
It would be nice to see some pictures of the Wright factory or maybe the Williams factory or Snap On factory humming away--maybe even a little coal smoke? Where's the steel made? I hope somewhere over here? There are way to reduce or control the smoke without completely putting it out of business I think.
The public likes to see the smoke coming out of Western Maryland Scenic Railroad's restored Baldwin steam locomotive--even might improve the health of the local rosebushes a little bit--the sulphur probably discourages fungus disease--
If we send all of the coal smoke away to Red China--doesn't it still come back in the planetary winds over the Pacific?

if you ever get the chance, Niagara Falls NY still has a lot of up and running chemical plants that are pretty cool to look at. lots of smokestacks up that way. a lot better than the casino thats downtown, at least!

 

[buffalobill]

BS excuses??

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

I know what he is talking about, the same lame excuses about why someone wont/cant buy something made here.

you know, "snap on is too expensive", "my brothers friend says he works there and they just ship them in from china and stamp USA on them", "its not made here, its only assembled here", etc.

 

[dandan111]

Wonderfull pictures. Whenever I see a old factory shut down I talk to my wife and kids about it. Wife is a nurse and has no sence of manufacturing but understands my sadness when we see ghost plants like the ones pictured.

 

[buffalobill]

Steel mill jobs were intellectually fulfilling, paid exceptionally well, and had very minimal dangers. You just need to put your nostalgia glasses back on.

you don't think the steel mill jobs pay that well? compared to what, fast food, jiffy lube, being a flat rate tech? steel mill pays good, i've talked to a couple guys that work at the Republic bar mill that still runs out of the ruins of the Bethlehem Lackawanna complex.

 

[Trey T]

You only see the surface of the issue. It has to do a lot with the American sold all of their scrap metals to the Chinese.

It cost more to have a finished metal from iron ore than scrap of today's global market.

... When someone buys a Chinese tool to save a few bucks, they directly or indirectly effect the jobs of other American workers who are laid-off because their employer couldn’t sell his American made tool. The net result is that Chinese tools are not cheaper in the long run.

...

 

[dandan111]

Uh ,minimal danger? Have you ever worked around a furnace?

 

[Higgins]

OK here are a few comments from am ole' fart!

1. Americian tools are made to some defined level of quality. If you purchase a $5 tool, you purchased a $5 tool. Likewise, you purchase a $100 Tool, it's quality will be higher than the $5 tool.

2. Corporate Americia is driven by profit margins $$$, which result in $$ going into their pocket books in the way of bonus

3. Businesses have dumbed down who they hire these days! I don't care what business you walk into, you can't find anyone who can tell you how to remove and install a bearing, or drill out a snapped off bolt!

4. Also, Corporate America has seen what Wallmart has done, and has fallen in line in regards to salary, and any employee is replaceable. Oh, did I mention, they only hire part time workers, so they don't have to pay insurances...........

5. The American Public has brought some of this on them selves, as "WE" want everything cheep, cheep, cheep!!!!!

6. The clock is ticking, and the car is going down the road. The Baby Boomers are retiring, and all the technical knowledge is going with them. The younder generation can't do anything for themselves, unless the device tells them to change their oil, inform them that their tire is going flat, or change the darn air filter!

I Try buying anerican as much as I can! I have a ole Husky wrench and breaker bar that are over 45 yrs old and still function. Can't say that about Craftsman. SK is also a winner!!

While I'm on the buy USA kick, my wife wanted to replace out coffee pot for the past several yrs. I have refuse to purchase one as I want to purchase one made in the USA.
Well I'm happy to report that BUNN has several models that are made in the USA. Models GR, BX, or BT. The NHBX are made in Canada, Creston IA, and China. So you need to check the box to see where it is made!!

OK I'm done!

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

I know what he is talking about, the same lame excuses about why someone wont/cant buy something made here.

you know, "snap on is too expensive", "my brothers friend says he works there and they just ship them in from china and stamp USA on them", "its not made here, its only assembled here", etc.

So not being able to afford $100 for a single ratchet is a "******** excuse" for not buying one then?

Guess me not having $1.5m to buy a Veyron SS is just a "******** excuse" for why I drive a 2005 Pontiac Sunfire.

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

you don't think the steel mill jobs pay that well? compared to what, fast food, jiffy lube, being a flat rate tech? steel mill pays good, i've talked to a couple guys that work at the Republic bar mill that still runs out of the ruins of the Bethlehem Lackawanna complex.

For an industrial job, I'm sure they were average in terms of what the normal guy made over the course of a year.

 

[dandan111]

Lol,Higgins I'm glade you found that coffee maker!

 

[buffalobill]

nope, you are not understanding what i am saying. you are supporting your country for buying a snap on, matco, or mac usa ratchet. and if you cant afford 100 for a ratchet, cool, neither can i, join the club! but i can get a nice sk for a decent price, and there are industrial supply houses around buffalo where you can still buy quality usa tools for a reasonable price.

they won't be gearwrench prices, but some guy got paid to make them here, and it employed more people HERE, than just a truck driver taking a rail container out of a railhead to a warehouse for a box store.

but i enjoyed your hyperbole about the cars! and thanks for supporting GM, they still employ a lot of rust belt workers in the US and Canada.

now what do you do again, that makes you so financially superior to a steel mill worker, yet unable to afford a 100 dollar wrench?

 

[OHMS LAW]

3. Businesses have dumbed down who they hire these days! I don't care what business you walk into, you can't find anyone who can tell you how to remove and install a bearing, or drill out a snapped off bolt!

Why is it my job to teach someone how to use tools? I am paying for my education, they pay for theirs.
My instructor has been telling us from day one not to explain things to people, or give away our education. If they want advice 20 bucks for ten min.

 

[warmpancakes]

took me 2 weeks to find a made in the USA christmas tree it wasnt much more than the chinese made ones (20%) but it has a life time warranty

 

[Man of Many Vices]

...i would like to start a social club here just for people who DO CARE.we can monitor companies who label things made in USA,but sell things that are not.and a variety of other helpful to our economy things we can do.if anyone would join such a club please pm me.

You have a great idea to identify companies and products that falsely proclaim to be American made. Photos of such products would be essential, especially if the foreign product is designed to look like its American predecessor.

Your first post should be a brief legal definition of what "American Made" is and should be, and then a thoughtful analysis or application to our field of interest, so that everybody is on the same page.

Aside from informing GJ members, a secondary goal might be to actually notify the offending company and then report back its response. Perhaps we could let them know that their mislabeling practice is being illuminated by a small but bright light of disapproval.

 

[buffalobill]

For an industrial job, I'm sure they were average in terms of what the normal guy made over the course of a year.

you are dead wrong! thats what irritating, these were GOOD union jobs! you could support a family and your wife could stay at home to raise the kids, and you could buy a new car every few years! hardly what your "normal *******" makes now.

most of my idiot generation doesn't even know what we lost with bs trade policies and globalization. but its ok, we have ipods and fantasy football, what do we need middle class jobs for......