WTF Klein Tools Made in Mexico

[davidless]

While on my quest to replenish my hand tools with solely US made stuff
little did I know Klein's slip joint pliers are made in Mexico
So much for straying from Channel Lock brand

 

[jakemac]

At least they're not made in China. Better quality control, mexican manufacturing takes more pride in their work. They've really stepped up in the last 25 years. I'd take those over chicom any day.

 

[kythri]

While I'm not particularly interested in stuff that's Hecho en Mexico, my understanding is that Mexican-manufactured hand tools are pretty decent - Urrea/ProtoMex, the Klein stuff, etc.

I'm sure there's exceptions, but, in general, I thought it had a better cachet than Chinese-manufactured tools.

 

[Wizzard]

Funny how we are now conditioned that Hecho en Mexico is comparable to USA made. Pretty soon people will be saying "made in China is actually not bad these days"

 

[davidless]

And I'm sure they would do me fine, but still don't meet the requirements, LOL
So I got these instead:

I like the duck bill design better even though channel lock uses carbon 1080 tool steel while most others use nickel chromium they still are great tools

David

 

[brook41]

Herramientas Klein a subsidiary since 1972 http://www.kleintools.com/content/history

 

[Loscaldazar]

Funny how we are now conditioned that Hecho en Mexico is comparable to USA made. Pretty soon people will be saying "made in China is actually not bad these days"

We once said that Japan only made **** (and they did for a while). Then they stepped up their game and Japan became know for their high quality engineering (automobiles, electronics, aviation, manufacturing, etc).

We then said the same thing about Taiwan. Look at what Taiwan can produce if they want (Carlyle, Pittsburgh Pro, Gearwrench). Many won't accept that Taiwan can produce a tool on USA quality levels.

If you want to go back far enough, there was a point where European countries thought anything coming out of the USA was ****/junk. Look where we are now.

 

[Model A Fan]

We once said that Japan only made **** (and they did for a while). Then they stepped up their game and Japan became know for their high quality engineering (automobiles, electronics, aviation, manufacturing, etc).

We then said the same thing about Taiwan. Look at what Taiwan can produce if they want (Carlyle, Pittsburgh Pro, Gearwrench). Many won't accept that Taiwan can produce a tool on USA quality levels.

If you want to go back far enough, there was a point where European countries thought anything coming out of the USA was ****/junk. Look where we are now.

Sending everything to Asia...

 

[pauls_workshop]

While I'm not particularly interested in stuff that's Hecho en Mexico, my understanding is that Mexican-manufactured hand tools are pretty decent - Urrea/ProtoMex, the Klein stuff, etc.

I'm sure there's exceptions, but, in general, I thought it had a better cachet than Chinese-manufactured tools.

The Urrea from Proto is very good. Much better than some lower end US made. Haven't tried these Mexican Kleins yet. I would put Mexico up where Taiwan is for tools today. China is far behind both, but Gearwrench China is probably the best of China coo so far. Not as good as GW Taiwan, but not terrible. - Paul

 

[mikebaker1129]

Well at least it was not China.
I mailed in a broken tool for replacement and was given a made in China replacement.
Klein ajustable wrenches seem pretty good are Made in Spain,some of the multi screwdrivers are made in Taiwan. It seems Klein is going global.
My Urrea stuff is very good and a lot of it is made in USA,some Taiwan but most is Mexico.

 

[jeremy v]

And I'm sure they would do me fine, but still don't meet the requirements, LOL
So I got these instead:

I like the duck bill design better even though channel lock uses carbon 1080 tool steel while most others use nickel chromium they still are great tools

David

When did properly heat treated 1080 tool steel become a bad thing?

 

[PFSard]

We once said that Japan only made **** (and they did for a while). Then they stepped up their game and Japan became know for their high quality engineering (automobiles, electronics, aviation, manufacturing, etc).

We then said the same thing about Taiwan. Look at what Taiwan can produce if they want (Carlyle, Pittsburgh Pro, Gearwrench). Many won't accept that Taiwan can produce a tool on USA quality levels.

If you want to go back far enough, there was a point where European countries thought anything coming out of the USA was ****/junk. Look where we are now.

Well put.

 

[PugetDude]

Most Mexican-made tools should be pretty good. They're probably being forged and finished with the exact same processes and machinery that they were made on in the US.

We've been dismantling our industrial base and shipping the equipment to Mexico for decades. I've seen it firsthand, providing sales and service support for our equipment that got moved across the border. I've toured a lot of Mexican manufacturing plants that are chock-full of older US-made machinery-many with the original dies and fixtures still in use.

Many older hands that worked in US industrial plants in the 1980's and 90's can tell stories about training their Mexican "partners" to operate the equipment, set up QC programs, implement Lean, ISO, etc...

 

[Wamsutta]

For slip joint pliers, get you some Wilde 10 inchers; you'll forget all about Klein.

 

[pauls_workshop]

For slip joint pliers, get you some Wilde 10 inchers; you'll forget all about Klein.

Good point. Wilde is still fully US and makes great pliers. Channellocks are great too. - Paul

 

[jcfields]

.

 

[MAD]

I have pair of chrome-finished Klein slip-joints that were made in Japan. They look quite unlike the rest of their pliers.

Yup- the previous version of the slip joint pliers with the translucent blue grips were all made in Japan. So technically, they have moved production from Asia to America.