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Chadwilliam1

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Can anyone explain this. I'm lacking knowledge about dual offset pawl design, and how it would have a higher effective tooth count. Thanks.

James

when one Pawl engages the other is disengaged. they are offset by 1/2 of a tooth. so if its 45 teeth it will have 90 clicks. that makes it a 90 position ratchet.
 

Glacial_Speed

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I found a brand new Wright 3/8 drive 45 tooth round head ratchet with the all chrome contour handle for $35 shipped:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wright-Tool...796?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c260ffb04

Is that the same one that Harry Epstein's has on closeout for $25 (plus shipping)? Or is it a different one

http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/usaratchets/3490-C.html

I think the -C just means chrome instead of black industrial finish

BTW Wright lists the 3490 with 41 teeth not 45.

Oh and I think that might be a good place to buy Wright or other American Tools. It's one of the few places where they clearly list where it's made.
 
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plinker

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Channellock, Wilde, Vaughn and other I dont remember off hand are more or less niche manufacuter's. meaning they specialize in certain type's of tools, Nothing at all wrong with that, it's just you wont find a complete set of tools from one brand. I myself would not want to own only one brand of tool anyway.

Epsteins carry's a lot of USA made brands at fair prices.

S-K, Wright, Armstrong & Proto are good options for full line brands. I dont see them outsourcing much. Williams is good stuff too basicly 50/50 mix of decent quality import & USA made.
 

hifi_hokie

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I find it difficult to want to support USA-made tools and still buy from Amazon.

Unless they've drastically changed their policies in the past year, which somehow I doubt...
 

Dieselbutterfly

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this op already shot down most every one of these options way back,as too expensive.but still hasnt said what price he does consider ''affordable'' for American made
 

hifi_hokie

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Google "Amazon working conditions"...

Sort of a dichotomy to want to buy US-made stuff in hopes of supporting decent wages, yet the cornerstone of the supply chain is counting on a race to the bottom to keep things humming along.

Granted, there are a lot of places that don't use FBA but directly ship from their stores. Not sure I'd want to morally split that hair...
 

shoturtle

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I would look at craftsman for chrome sockets.
wright or armstrong for ratchets and extensions and u joints
Armstrong or SK for wrenches
estwing or vaughn for hammers
Kleins for pliers
Craftsman pros for screwdrivers
armstrong for impact sockets

It is easier to get armstrong then wright. More places carry them

That will still keep things semi affordable for a home mechanic set for made in the USA
 
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BrokewrenchLS1

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Google "Amazon working conditions"...

Sort of a dichotomy to want to buy US-made stuff in hopes of supporting decent wages, yet the cornerstone of the supply chain is counting on a race to the bottom to keep things humming along.

Granted, there are a lot of places that don't use FBA but directly ship from their stores. Not sure I'd want to morally split that hair...

Quite a few (most?) FedEx warehouses don't have air conditioning. When I worked there, night-shift, we'd be unloading full trailers that had been sitting in the sun, on asphalt, all day. It wasn't uncommon for it to be 110-115F in those trucks. And we just had fans.

If we took more than 5 sicks days a year, we were "let go". Course, it didn't reflect on FedEx, since we were all technically employed by a temp company...that just happened to farm about 75% of its workers in that area to the FedEx plant.

Working in almost any shipping warehouse is a dirt-bottom job (I was in a West Marine shipping warehouse for a couple months, and it was essentially the exact same as FedEx - with the caveat that our supervisors could change our hours at a whim, and did at least once a month, including changing our start time from 7am to 5am)...just because it's more documented in Amazon warehouses doesn't mean it doesn't happen other places. If you want to boycott Amazon because of "inhospitable working conditions", then you should do the same with FedEx, at the very least.

More on-topic, if Armstrong and SK are simply too expensive, there's not much else US-made that's going to be less expensive. Wine taste on a beer budget, isn't that the saying?
 

Hiball

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heard bad things of wrights warranties, I'd be cautious

Ive only had to Warranty a few Hex Bits, But Never had any Issues.. There Warranty Statement is pretty Standard.

For over 75 years, the Wright Tool company has manufactured top quality hand tools. The use of Wright Alloy™ steel, precision heat treating, and advanced manufacturing techniques results in products of long life, durability and toughness. Therefore, for as long as you own it, any product manufactured by Wright Tool which fails to render service due to defect in workmanship or materials will be replaced at no charge. This warranty does not apply to any defects or problems caused in whole or part by misuse, abuse, alteration, or worn out from use. Wright Tool makes no other warranties, express or implied, with respect to the tools or their suitability for specific applications. Replacement is the exclusive remedy, and Wright Tool neither assumes, nor authorizes any person to assume for it, any other warranty, or obligation express or implied.
 

decaf

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I like the Estwing hammer line - all US made.

That guy came from Sweden and started making hammers.....

"Estwing Manufacturing Company was founded in Rockford, Illinois, in 1923 by Ernest O. Estwing. Estwing was an immigrant from Sweden who settled in Rockford with many other Swedish immigrants. Estwing products are constructed of one solid piece of hardened steel for strength".
 
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Tack

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this op already shot down most every one of these options way back,as too expensive.but still hasnt said what price he does consider ''affordable'' for American made


I would consider affordable to be what craftsman cost before they were outsourced to China which is, essentially, the exact same cost they are now.

I am very willing to spend money for good quality. I don't want to spend snap-on money though.
 
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Conductor562

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I would consider affordable to be what craftsman cost before they were outsourced to China which is, essentially, the exact same cost they are now.

I am very willing to spend money for good quality. I don't want to spend snap-on money though.

With Craftsman shipping out there really is a void in the "affordable USA made" market. I still say SK is going to be your most affordable option in most cases as far as new tools.

Have you checked out the classified here on GJ? I got a great deal on a 15 piece set of Proto ASD's (Standards) in very nice condition just this morning. Half the price of buying them new and way less than I paid for my Metric set.
 

Hiball

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I would consider affordable to be what craftsman cost before they were outsourced to China which is, essentially, the exact same cost they are now.

I am very willing to spend money for good quality. I don't want to spend snap-on money though.

There are Tons of options that fill that gap between Sears USA and Snap On.... Don't expect to find them priced anywhere near the "Good ole sears USA" days, where they cornered the market in regards to Domestic tools/price.
 
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BrokewrenchLS1

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I would consider affordable to be what craftsman cost before they were outsourced to China which is, essentially, the exact same cost they are now.

I am very willing to spend money for good quality. I don't want to spend snap-on money though.

You're not really going to find good US tools at those prices, unless you look used. Depending on what exact tools you need, you can branch out some - Channellock/Wilde for pliers (and Wilde for prybars), Armstrong for sockets, SK for wrenches, Snap-on or Armstrong for ratchets.

SK and Wright are very economically priced for what are, essentially, truck tools without the truck. Proto is normally pretty good - I've been disappointed with a few ratchets, but the general consensus is that they're equal to SK/Wright. It really only goes up, price-wise, from there.
 

Davefr

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I would consider affordable to be what craftsman cost before they were outsourced to China which is, essentially, the exact same cost they are now.

I am very willing to spend money for good quality. I don't want to spend snap-on money though.


We "never realize how good we had it until it's gone". That was CM USA. (we were really spoiled by the prices - especially on sale and with coupons).

You should be trying to buy up as much CM Industrial as you can get your hands on at the outlet stores!! But it's going, going gone!!

SK, Proto, Wright and Armstrong prices reflect the current economics of the made in USA tool industry without the tool truck dealer overhead. Better get used to it if you want USA tools.
 
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Harwinton

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Well, as I've always said, they don't make old tools in China. That'll probably be the best bet for low-priced USA-made stuff.
 
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Tack

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If you have lifetime guarantee craftsman tools that are made in the USA and it breaks, do they replace it with Chinese junk?
 

justanengineer

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Maybe I missed it earlier in the thread, but I would be curious to hear what company makes tools solely in the US now? Reason being - I cant think of a single one, so why should someone really consider giving up Cman or their other favorite specific brand bc of it?
 

pupjoint

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i always avoid Chinese made tools and that is why i always buy Snap Ons whenever possible. not easy for me to buy other US made in my location. even Snap Ons have to pre-order, which is a PITA.
 

shoturtle

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for ratchets, sockets, wrenches and mechanic tool accessories, Armstrong are all made in the USA. I think their ratcheting wrenches are as well.
 

nyrapscalion

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I have to agree with the consensus here, SK is a brand I trust, so is Proto. Wright is a wonderful brand, very solid construction, all made in Ohio. Armstrong is another danaher company what will eventually outsource to the slums of shanghai, but for now they are made in the US. Klein is a favorite for pliers, screwdrivers, wire cutters, etc. I have some Blackhawk, and Williams stuff, but you have to watch where it comes from.
Used is a good way to go as well, this is really the only way I can consider affording anything like snap-on. Even snap-on...mighty snap-on is outsourcing things. The $10000 roll around box....made in canada. It's a crime.
 

shoturtle

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Armstong has Govt contracts, they will not outsource to China, they would loose those contracts if they did.
 

shoturtle

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Not the set of sk g pro I have at work, there is no made in the USA stamp on them, and they are a year old.
 

shoturtle

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But there is allot of SK stuff still out there. So you need to be careful when buying SK, old stock you can end up with non USA.
 
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