Why is everyone obsessed with U.S.A. Tools

[Sugarfryz]

I'm 20 years old, so I pretty much missed the age where any good tool was made in the U.S.A., never owned any USA made craftsman or anything. A lot of people rant here when a tool isn't made in America. I buy a lot of snap on, Matco and Cornwell. I think Matco and snap on are on the same level quality wise. I definitely notice snap on has much more USA made products than Matco. To me they both work the same and Matco is cheaper, so I've been buying more Matco lately. I definitely like seeing USA on my tools but it doesn't really matter.

So what I'm asking is, do people believe that USA tools perform better than tools made in other countries? Or are people upset that tool trucks want the same money when it's made in another country?

Not trying to start a ******* contest, asking for people's personal opinions. No one is right or wrong.

 

[winlinmac]

It's very simple, (pun intended) Go to Harbor Freight, pick up a pair of Tongue & Groove Pliers and compare them to the original US-made Channellocks and you shall see.

 

[gdocktor3]

It's a pride thing really. A tool can be made overseas just as well as a tool here in the States, but most tools made overseas aren't with metal as good as American steel.

 

[rjvjeepster]

I'm 19. I enjoy the feel of American tools, especially old ones. Maybe it's because it reminds me of my grandpa since I inherited his old SK/Snap on/Craftsman and I can definately feel the difference between them and new HF or China Craftsman. Not that any of those are bad- they turn bolts too.
Some import stuff is really nice feeling, like Gearwrench. But it doesn't have the same soul. For instance, a new Ecoboost F150 will run with most any of the V8 competitors but the burble from an American V8 can't be beat.

 

[four.cycle]

not sure "obsessed" is really the correct word, but for what it's worth:

When I was in high school, I bought my first socket set, which I'm still using - 40+ years later.
Show me a Chinese socket set that's going to hold up that long. Never broken a socket or wrench. I did finally wear out a model 2875 Indestro RHFT ratchet (after over 30 years of use.)

Chinese pliers pinch fingers. Chinese wrenches skin knuckles. I should know: I've sold enough of them, and been forced to use them when I had no options.

Chinese power strips and CFL bulbs set houses on fire. Chinese automotive fuses labeled "10 amps" don't blow until they're hit with 50+ amps.

Sorry, but I simply don't trust the bastards.
Sure, I'm forced to use their computers and telephones, because there are few options there.
I have options when it comes to hand tools, so I use what I know I can trust.

 

[jabberwoki]

Ah maybe there is hope in the future generation.

 

[raddksn]

Ecoboost F150 will run with most any of the V8 competitors but the burble from an American V8 can't be beat.

I like thinking here!

 

[General Geoff]

Has to do with patriotic pride, the want to help our domestic economy, and lastly, a (real or perceived) difference in quality.

Not everything made in the USA is the highest quality.

I do try to buy first-world manufactured tools when I can (USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Japan), but I don't dismiss Taiwan-made tools out of hand if the quality is top notch and the price is significantly lower. China I try to steer clear from unless there's no alternative.

 

[Sugarfryz]

Ah maybe there is hope in the future generation.

I love seeing USA made tools. I'd much prefer to have them made here. I just don't find it to be realistic. I do enjoy paying a little less for a tool made in another country that works just as good in my opinion. That being said it kinda made me mad when I bought a Matco line wrench set the other day and it wasn't made in America. Used it today for the first time and it rounded a bleeder screw. I did use my Matco socket which was not USA to take it off. That even kinda sparked the idea for this thread.

 

[a52-830]

ultimately, i think it is a combination of several things:

1) non-US tools mean that US manufacturing jobs were lost, since a lot of tools used to be made here.

2) the idea that anything associated with the US must inherently be better than something foreign made.

combine those two, and you get:

3) foreign made must be junk, the reason we lost the jobs was because "they" would make them cheaper, therefore they must be cheaper (read: inferior).

and, of course, there is some snobbery:

4) well, if you are going to be happy buying [insert name here] tools, then of course you dont care about quality, so what does it matter where it is made?


you, of course, are not automatically buying your parents biases. that is how it is supposed to work. i grew up in Virginia. when i was a kid, inter-racial couples were rare, and a lot of people stared at them. what really changed it was the Vietnam War. a lot of GI's started coming home with asian wives, and some of those GI's were black. they went out and learned that people that looked and talked and thought different weren't really different.

you grew up in a time where homosexual marriage "came of age". your children will wonder "what the big deal was", just like i wondered why a black guy and a white woman being together was an issue.

and i bet, some day, you will look back wistfully to when tools were better quality because they were made in china, as opposed to africa, or something like that. costs in china are already getting to the point where other places offer a better deal. as their quality has gone up, so have their costs. soon, it will be someone else's turn.

 

[pstemari]

Yeah, AFAICT the legal system in the PRC, as well as many businesses, is totally controlled by political insiders and with the right connections, one can counterfeit and commit outright fraud with impunity.

Without trusted connections and an in-country presence, all bets are off as far as the quality of goods received.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[TK-421]

It's very simple, (pun intended) Go to Harbor Freight, pick up a pair of Tongue & Groove Pliers and compare them to the original US-made Channellocks and you shall see.

It's not even entirely close to being that simple, quite the opposite actually.

Channellocks were made to be quality, and Harbor Freight tools are made to be cheap. They are built to two completely different specs, for two completely different purposes, and trying to say that the reason people by USA over imports is because of Channellock vs Harbor Freight is like trying to wonder why you can't compare the horse power between a bicycle and the space shuttle.

Now, if you were to compare Channellock and Knipix pliers, that would be more of an apples to apples kind of comparison, rather than your apples to a blue whale comparison.


To the OP, there really isn't any good or logical reason as to why so many people on here seem to think that the only good tool is made in the USA, and it's junk if it's not made here.

There are plenty of good quality tools made in other countries for the pro-usa stuff to be mostly bupkiss.

All you have to remember is that if you pay for junk, then you're going to get junk, no matter where it's made. If you pay for quality, then you're going to get quality, no matter where it's made.

 

[Sugarfryz]

It's very simple, (pun intended) Go to Harbor Freight, pick up a pair of Tongue & Groove Pliers and compare them to the original US-made Channellocks and you shall see.

I agree with you but the is made channellocks will be much more money. I'm trying to compare tools of the same level of quality but different coo. around the same price as well.

Is it just a get what you pay for deal? Is higher cost of the USA tool going to make it that much better?

Snap on sockets are USA, and Matcos are Taiwan. Matco is much Cheaper and to me does just as good of a job. I'm talking strictly impact sockets, the hardline not adv sockets

Matcos chrome sockets are about the same price so I'm just gonna buy snap on and assure I'll get the USA origin.

 

[Sugarfryz]

It's not even entirely close to being that simple, quite the opposite actually.

Channellocks were made to be quality, and Harbor Freight tools are made to be cheap. They are built to two completely different specs, for two completely different purposes, and trying to say that the reason people by USA over imports is because of Channellock vs Harbor Freight is like trying to wonder why you can't compare the horse power between a bicycle and the space shuttle.

Now, if you were to compare Channellock and Knipix pliers, that would be more of an apples to apples kind of comparison, rather than your apples to a blue whale comparison.


To the OP, there really isn't any good or logical reason as to why so many people on here seem to think that the only good tool is made in the USA, and it's junk if it's not made here.

There are plenty of good quality tools made in other countries for the pro-usa stuff to be mostly bupkiss.

All you have to remember is that if you pay for junk, then you're going to get junk, no matter where it's made. If you pay for quality, then you're going to get quality, no matter where it's made.

You beat me to the reply to that post. You said it much better than me.

 

[rjvjeepster]

There's a difference I think between someone who simply uses tools to get a job done, a means to an end versus some people the tools are the end and it's a passion to have nice ones.

Much like people that buy a Kia to have simple and reliable transportation, versus someone who prefers driving a built Jeep, it's not an appliance but a passion. The former would simply go with the tool that performs well a fair price, like Gearwrench. The later will be "I really want some snap on sockets from the *** era so I can have a matching set."

 

[anndel]

Maybe call is a sense of pride and craftsmanship helping our fellow Americans with jobs rather than flowing out to a country building weapons aimed at us though I have 80%+ of my tools made in USA I do support other countries like Canada, Europe, Japan, Taiwan, Mexico, etc.... anybody but china.

 

[jd_1138]

Some of us realize that having a strong manufacturing base in the USA is beneficial to all Americans. Besides the added benefit of obtaining a more useful and well made product, we are helping our economy by buying American products.

A factory not only provides jobs to those who work there but also to outside vendors/suppliers (hopefully are also USA based), and the employees of these factories spend their money locally at the place you work at.

Also, I like to buy stuff that isn't being made by radioactive 10 year olds in China. If you don't see the implications of buying non-North American products, you have your head buried in the sand. And like the guy above me, I'd also rather support Europe, Taiwan, Canada, etc. way before China.

 

[OrneryDuck]

I appreciate anything well made. America used to be the king of that and in many ways is still very good; if you can find a product made on American soil. For me, I equally respect American tools alongside, English, German, and Japanese (and would Canadian, if that is a thing...). Chinese And to a lesser extent, Taiwanese tools are typically built to lower standards or with lower quality materials than the other noted countries. Not to say that they cannot acheive such greatness, they can, it is just that they chose not to since it is more lucritive to make a sub-par product that is more-widely accessible.

 

[gdpolk]

I have a mixture of US and foreign tools. I'm a DIY guy but appreciate quality tools where needed and appreciate cheaper tools when that's acceptable. Point in case, Williams US made screwdrivers are hands down better than Craftsman US made screwdrivers but Wera/Wiha foreign made screwdrivers are as good as Williams. Which is better, Williams, Wera, Wiha, Craftsman? Definately NOT Craftsman, but I may choose Williams over Wiha or Wera just to keep local citizens in work.

I think there is a level of patriotism in the buy US crowd that can't be overlooked. Part of owning quality tools is having tools that you can depend on. Part of owning quality tools boils down to personal preference and pride of ownership. For the local guys, having local made products simply make you feel better knowing your helping a domestic economy survive in an international market whereas going to Harbor Freight may help push another working man out of a living.

I think another component of it is that US companies simply make some of the best tools in the world. Lets face it. The US simply has more resources in terms of physical resources, financial resources, technological resources, and some of the best educated engineers in the world. When all this comes together you don't have to look outside of the US to find makers making simple things like hand tools to tolerances and build quality specifications that FAR, FAR exceed the majority of foreign imported goods that are made to a price point.

I think another component of it is that everyone that visits this forum is somewhat of a tools elitist. Lets be honest, the average tool user isn't going to get online and debate tools. We do. We are NOT the average market. We want things from tools that may not be necessary because we want the best from our tools and there are tons of examples where US companies are among the best if not the best in the world.

If given the option of a US made Craftsman socket vs an otherwise identical foreign made Craftsman socket, I'll pick the US one every time. That said, I do and will continue to use foreign made tools of various quality and price points probably until the day that I die. Some of what's in my box are Harbor Freight on sale specials and they simply work, they fit the bill, and they are infrequently used items that I don't mind not having the best in. Some of my tools are the best I can find. Some are simply somewhere in between because it's the best that I can buy within a pricepoint. I guarantee you that the O2 sensor that I removed from my 16 year old car this week didn't care that I was using a Harbor Freight breaker bar with a vintage US made socket. I had what worked well for the job.

 

[zcbauer89]

My my mom and dad both worked in factories growing up. Both factories produced car parts. The factory my dad worked at went to Mexico, and left alot of good folks without jobs. Thankfully the factory my mom worked at made a commitment to stay here and is still operating today. Point being, if I have a choice, I'll buy American made, because I like to support American jobs and families just like my family growing up, even if it's just a little bit. Right, wrong or indifferent, I don't really care. It's just the way I look at it. Now there most certainly are good quality tools produced in other countries, and if it fits my particular needs at that time, I'll buy it. But my preference is still USA made.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Balance of pride in USA tools, quality, and price..

Most of My cheap tools lacked quality, and most of them were not made in the USA.

My quality tools were mostly made in the USA, and are worth the price I paid for them.

Bear in mind I do not count the USA Craftsman tools bought in the last few years as quality tools.. They were cheap; and I got exactly what I paid for..

 

[shockwave]

There is a quality from USA made tools most of the time not always that is overlooked from Asian makes are hit or miss at times harbor freight and European made tools are usually more expensive in the USA

Really it comes down to users preference and mostly price is factor

 

[theoldwizard1]

Has to do with patriotic pride, the want to help our domestic economy, and lastly, a (real or perceived) difference in quality.

3 for 3 !

You can't argue with the first 2, but #3 is a toss up.

Astro Pneumatic imports a lot of their tools. However, their design specs, QC and QA mean you are getting a quality product. (Find the thread where Mr Astro is talking about find a supplier for making good taps and dies !)

Made in the USA does NOT guarantee the best quality. Same as Made in China does NOT guarantee that it is junk !


There are time when absolute quality is a must (the Space Shuttle, where every nut and bolt can be traced back to the batch of steel and its chemical analysis) ! Then there is case where "value" is important (cost for the delivered price).

 

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I'm 20 years old, so I pretty much missed the age where any good tool was made in the U.S.A., never owned any USA made craftsman or anything. A lot of people rant here when a tool isn't made in America. I buy a lot of snap on, Matco and Cornwell. I think Matco and snap on are on the same level quality wise. I definitely notice snap on has much more USA made products than Matco. To me they both work the same and Matco is cheaper, so I've been buying more Matco lately. I definitely like seeing USA on my tools but it doesn't really matter.

So what I'm asking is, do people believe that USA tools perform better than tools made in other countries? Or are people upset that tool trucks want the same money when it's made in another country?

Not trying to start a ******* contest, asking for people's personal opinions. No one is right or wrong.

Most tools made in the US tend to be "name brand" and therefore of higher quality. People slam harbor freight but some of their tools are quite nice for the price.

 

[T45]

People also need to think about history

History of Technology in 20th C

- oil / petrol was made in usa (discovere in PA/NY)
- motorcars were made in usa (Ford, detroit etc)
- aeroplanes were made in usa (wright bros to beoing)
- NaSA space/age advanvements were made in usa (apollo/moonshot)
- Defense industry (manhatten project, wwII, cold war)
- many early advances in hand-tool's quality were usa (socket sets, etc)
- quality (snap on) and price/quality ratio (cman)
- many machine shop tools were produced here (toolmakers tools)
- many advancements in steel quality were made in usa

All of this was true up to mid-1960's

Basically alot of the reasons tools were invented or advance revolved around usa invented or produced goods. so naturally tools were invented, produced, and advanced here for a long time at a high level.

Starting in the 1960/70's all of that changed. But that's another story for another day.

 

[TheEuronater]

Take pride in your country, and support American jobs and manufacturing. Many people like myself are sick of seeing everything made in China. It is not okay

 

[Tellingthem]

I won't rehash most of the points but will make a few additional. There is nothing wrong with imported anything. Trade is a good thing between countries. We buy their goods and they buy ours. But we also have to support our own products as well.

I buy things from Harbor Freight as well as Harry Epsteins. I buy imported tools like Knipex and Facom, but also buy domestic tools like Enderes and SK. I try to spread the money around. If we do not support ourselves who will? It doesn't have to be an either/or. It can be both. Supporting local economies and jobs is a good thing. So is buying quality imported tools.

I think that somewhere in the past 20 years our culture has gotten away from supporting and taking care of ourselves. And after watching more and more companies shut down or simply moved overseas some people have become more vocal about keeping whats left.

 

[Tucko]

Get a nice vintage Peterson Vise Grip, and a current Irwin Vise Grip and compare them. That will give you a pretty good idea....

 

[Don53]

Some of us realize that having a strong manufacturing base in the USA is beneficial to all Americans. Besides the added benefit of obtaining a more useful and well made product, we are helping our economy by buying American products.

A factory not only provides jobs to those who work there but also to outside vendors/suppliers (hopefully are also USA based), and the employees of these factories spend their money locally at the place you work at.

Also, I like to buy stuff that isn't being made by radioactive 10 year olds in China. If you don't see the implications of buying non-North American products, you have your head buried in the sand. And like the guy above me, I'd also rather support Europe, Taiwan, Canada, etc. way before China.

This is why I try to buy US when possible. For me personally, has very little to do with quality or pride, but more so economics. Buying US is better for the US economy than buying Chinese... & I figure the better off our economy is, the better off I'll be.

 

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

This is why I try to buy US when possible. For me personally, has very little to do with quality or pride, but more so economics. Buying US is better for the US economy than buying Chinese... & I figure the better off our economy is, the better off I'll be.

Interesting article:

When You Buy "Made In China", Most Of Your Money Actually Goes To America

http://www.businessinsider.com/made-in-china-money-goes-to-america-2011-8

That being said, all things being equal, I will try to buy the made in the USA product when it economical.

 

[McFarmer]

It's not just tools. Thanks to the internets I have just about been able to source everything from USA.

Part of working on stuff is enjoying the journey, using quality stuff adds joy to my life.

 

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Nearly all pool equipment I buy is made in America by the way. Everything I buy from Hayward has "made in America" stamped on it. I have bought enough made in america stuff to give me bragging rights for a while.

 

[username2]

The best example I have in my garage is old vs. new Vise Grips. There's really a pretty remarkable difference.

Generally, I think what you are seeing is decades worth of cost reduction, and the location of the factory is only part of the problem.

To be fair, it would be interesting to directly compare a new Sunex wrench vs. something like an old Williams wrench. I'm not equipped here to look at the strength, accuracy of fabrication, etc. to really have an opinion, so it's hard to have a super strong opinion on.

Modern stuff sure is cheap from an inflation-corrected standpoint, though.

 

[AusJake]

Weighing in as an Australian, we have lost nearly all of our tool manufacturing industry. As far as I am aware we have only a handful of small and specialized companies that still manufacture here (Sutton, Dawn etc). Only 30 years ago we had multiple manufacturers in each tool category. If you do not support local companies you can lose them very quickly, and once they are gone they will not come back.

If I am buying used I try to buy Australian tools. Mostly for nostalgia sake, it is nice to have something that was made here. To me 'Made in Australia' is not really a mark of quality. Most of our manufacturers that we had here (Sidchrome, Turner, Stanley) made solid homeowner grade tools. Our tools were probably more in the same quality category as USA Craftsman, rather than say Snap On or Hazet. None the less though a lot of the tools that were made here have become somewhat of a collectors item.

If I am buying new tools my preference is for German or US made (Knipex, Stahlwille, Estwing, Channellock). I will happily buy Taiwanese (particularly Gearwrench), Japanese and other European tools as well. I avoid Chinese or Indian made tools like the plague though . I want a tool made by a country that actually enforces standards, and pays people decent wages. I also figure that by the time a company has decided to offshore and manufacture in China it has already tried cutting every other cost, so I am skeptical of the quality.

 

[KM223]

Take pride in your country, and support American jobs and manufacturing. Many people like myself are sick of seeing everything made in China. It is not okay

Best post all day! It is NOT okay.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Most tools made in the US tend to be "name brand" and therefore of higher quality. People slam harbor freight but some of their tools are quite nice for the price.

I'd look at is as things are expensive to make here, so it doesn't make sense to make cheap **** here. Hence buying US products, you are less likely to get scrap out of the box.

Nice for the price? It only takes 1 injury or trip to the store for a replacement in the middle of a job, and the $ you saved are usually not worth it. In my experience 'vice grips' and ratchets are particularly bad for injury, to the point they now go straight in my recycle bin when i get one.

 

[raddksn]

A factory not only provides jobs to those who work there but also to outside vendors/suppliers (hopefully are also USA based), and the employees of these factories spend their money locally at the place you work at.

This is the important part!!!

 

[gdocktor3]

Because everything's made better in America. Did you even watch the Olympics???
USA, USA, USA, USA!!!

 

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I'd look at is as things are expensive to make here, so it doesn't make sense to make cheap **** here. Hence buying US products, you are less likely to get scrap out of the box.

Nice for the price? It only takes 1 injury or trip to the store for a replacement in the middle of a job, and the $ you saved are usually not worth it. In my experience 'vice grips' and ratchets are particularly bad for injury, to the point they now go straight in my recycle bin when i get one.

I'll concur about the vice grips, mine aren't the quality of domestic ones i also have, but I've had good luck with the ratchets and breaker bar.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

their better ones are not so bad, but the bad ones are really bad