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> OT: where to buy American made tools, Sears is going bust!
914 RZ-1
post Jan 5 2018, 08:20 PM
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So where are people buying American made tools now that Sears is going out of business? I realize they haven't made them in America for a few years, but they did. Most of my Craftsman tools are made in the US. If I ever have any warranty returns, I'm going to likely get made in China stuff.
Home Depot, harbor freight and Lowe's get most of their stuff from China.
I suppose I could go to a swap meet, but those tools are pretty beat up.
SK makes good stuff but it's expensive.
I've bought a few Proto tools and they seem good.
What does everyone else plan to do?
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914 RZ-1
post Jan 7 2018, 03:53 PM
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Wow. I had no idea there's be this many replies!

It seems that Snap-On is the favorite, with older Craftsman coming in next.

I just want to support American manufacturing and American companies. I get that we're in a global economy and that often we get "Made in USA out of global components." I can do a web search for "Made in USA tools", but I thought I'd see what everyone else thought/did.

Out of curiosity I priced out a #2 Phillips screwdriver from various brands:

Project Source (available at Lowes): $0.98
Harbor Freight: $1.69
Stanley $3.50 (made in USA)
Husky: $4.22
Kobalt: $7.35
Craftsman: $6-7
Proto: $8-9
SK: $12
Snap-On: $24

I get paying for good tools, but it seems most of us don't need the high-end stuff, unless we are doing this for a living. Even then, it seems a steep price to pay. I'm all for supporting American companies, but at what point are we being ripped off? $24 for a screwdriver?! WTF!? How is it that much better?

I've broken a Harbor Freight breaker bar, found a broken HF box wrench, stripped a few smaller Craftsman screwdrivers and broken a Kobalt screw extractor. I was not misusing any of them. All the stores gave me new ones/money back with no hassles.

I couldn't find any site that reviewed tools the same way Consumer Reports reviews items. Toolguyd.com, Garage Journal and a few others have forums in which they discuss them and posters chime in, but there is no formal testing. Anybody know of any sites?

I'd like to buy reasonably priced, American-made tools from a vendor that has easy, no-hassle returns. That used to be Sears.
There's a Harbor Freight everywhere it seems, but I've broken more of their tools than any other.
I could go with Husky or Kobalt, but they make most of their stuff in China.
Stanley makes decent tools, but I want to see what happens with them "re-shoring" their manufacturing. They have many "Made in the USA" tools, but they don't seem to have too many tools for automotive use.
Proto and SK can be bought online, but it seems like a hassle to return anything. I have to wait to send it there, then wait to get it back. If I need a tool now, I'm screwed.
I live in LA and have hardly ever seen a Snap-On, Matco or other tool truck anywhere. I'm not so sure they'll come to my house so I can buy one tool, either. I'm not sure I want to go to them; for the prices they charge, they should come to me.

Another option is to got to swap meets, but then I'm getting used/possibly abused tools.

Sigh...I guess I will wait and see what happens in the tool manufacturing world and what else you people all chime in with! Happy New Year!
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914 RZ-1   OT: where to buy American made tools   Jan 5 2018, 08:20 PM
Mark Henry   http://bfy.tw/FtvO   Jan 5 2018, 08:29 PM
sithot   So where are people buying American made tools no...   Jan 5 2018, 08:37 PM
914 RZ-1   This company makes a nice kit I picked up recently...   Jan 7 2018, 03:56 PM
ChapmanMFG   This company makes a nice kit I picked up recently...   Jan 8 2018, 10:34 AM
Chris914n6   Craftsman was bought by Stanley or someone in the ...   Jan 5 2018, 08:56 PM
mepstein   I dont think craftsman has been concidered a quali...   Jan 5 2018, 09:19 PM
Unobtanium-inc   Craftsman was bought by Black and Decker, whose De...   Jan 5 2018, 09:52 PM
Unobtanium-inc   Craftsman was bought by Black and Decker, whose D...   Mar 13 2018, 08:44 PM
somd914   I've been through several of my newer ratchets...   Jan 5 2018, 10:14 PM
burton73   I've been through several of my newer ratchet...   Jan 6 2018, 12:49 PM
Mueller   Craftsman tools to be sold at Lowes sometime this ...   Jan 6 2018, 12:14 AM
somd914   Craftsman tools to be sold at Lowes sometime this...   Jan 6 2018, 06:40 AM
sithot   Craftsman tools to be sold at Lowes sometime thi...   Jan 6 2018, 07:17 AM
somd914   [quote name='somd914' post='2564816' date='Jan 6 ...   Jan 6 2018, 07:22 AM
Aidan   Working in the trades, I always liked Craftsman be...   Jan 6 2018, 02:50 AM
flyer86d   Before I opened my shop, Craftsman tools were fine...   Jan 6 2018, 07:07 AM
rgalla9146   Before I opened my shop, Craftsman tools were fin...   Jan 6 2018, 07:46 AM
mepstein   Before I opened my shop, Craftsman tools were fi...   Jan 6 2018, 08:06 AM
bdstone914   I was told that Kobalt tools sold by Lowes are mad...   Jan 6 2018, 08:03 AM
maf914   I was told that Kobalt tools sold by Lowes are ma...   Jan 6 2018, 08:49 AM
Unobtanium-inc   Snap-on, Mac, and the other higher end tools are o...   Jan 6 2018, 08:16 AM
sithot   Snap-on, Mac, and the other higher end tools are ...   Jan 6 2018, 08:37 AM
saigon71   I agree with the decline in quality of Craftsman t...   Jan 6 2018, 08:20 AM
JOEPROPER   As far as hand tools... Snap-On is the best. Yes,...   Jan 6 2018, 09:20 AM
Jett   +1 snap-on is our choice. We were lucky to get a ...   Jan 6 2018, 09:46 AM
sithot   +1 snap-on is our choice. We were lucky to get a...   Jan 6 2018, 10:03 AM
914 RZ-1   If you find the right Snap On dealer they will ...   Jan 7 2018, 04:00 PM
sithot   [i]If you find the right Snap On dealer they will...   Jan 7 2018, 04:19 PM
The Cabinetmaker   I have used thorsen tools for years. Best end wren...   Jan 6 2018, 10:50 AM
flyer86d   I totally agree with JoeProper. I had more faith i...   Jan 6 2018, 11:38 AM
sithot   I totally agree with JoeProper. I had more faith ...   Jan 6 2018, 11:57 AM
NoEcm   All USA made Craftsman Tools at least 25 years old...   Jan 6 2018, 12:34 PM
Drums66   All USA made Craftsman Tools at least 25 years ol...   Jan 6 2018, 03:55 PM
914 RZ-1   [quote name='NoEcm' date='Jan 6 2018, ...   Jan 7 2018, 04:09 PM
gandalf_025   Snap on is as big a rip off as Harley.. You want t...   Jan 6 2018, 01:43 PM
mepstein   Snap on is as big a rip off as Harley.. You want ...   Jan 6 2018, 02:28 PM
Unobtanium-inc   Snap on is as big a rip off as Harley.. You want...   Jan 6 2018, 02:42 PM
flyer86d   Snap on is as big a rip off as Harley.. You want...   Jan 6 2018, 03:41 PM
914 RZ-1   Snap on is as big a rip off as Harley.. You want...   Jan 7 2018, 04:06 PM
mepstein   [quote name='mepstein' post='2564987' date='Jan 6...   Jan 7 2018, 06:12 PM
Elliot Cannon   I had Snap On tools issued to me when I worked on ...   Jan 6 2018, 04:08 PM
Chris914n6   For the past 30 years, the majority of my hand too...   Jan 6 2018, 09:09 PM
sithot   Chinesium drill bits and these:   Jan 7 2018, 06:50 AM
914 RZ-1   Wow. I had no idea there's be this many replie...   Jan 7 2018, 03:53 PM
Unobtanium-inc   I think a clear distinction needs to be made on wh...   Jan 7 2018, 05:20 PM
NoEcm   This is really interesting! Where'd you g...   Jan 7 2018, 06:01 PM
90quattrocoupe   The majority of my hand tools are Craftsman. I al...   Jan 7 2018, 06:08 PM
somd914   A good friend is an orthopedic surgeon. I enjoy l...   Jan 7 2018, 06:37 PM
sixaddict   :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: Sorry to do this ...   Jan 7 2018, 07:38 PM
MarkV   Nobody has mentioned used tools. Most of my tools ...   Jan 7 2018, 07:50 PM
lalee914   This is an interesting thread. Thought I'd th...   Jan 8 2018, 09:47 AM
Unobtanium-inc   All of the Harbor Freight tools I have ever boug...   Jan 8 2018, 12:32 PM
bulitt   Have owned Craftsman from the late 60's, SK, s...   Jan 8 2018, 12:42 PM
NoEcm   This is what happens if you collect too many tools...   Jan 8 2018, 07:37 PM
jeffdon   My Dad was a Snap on dealer from the 70's unti...   Jan 8 2018, 09:57 PM
strawman   I have been managing public transit systems since ...   Mar 14 2018, 12:07 AM
mepstein   I have been managing public transit systems since...   Mar 14 2018, 08:08 AM
Front yard mechanic   just yesterday I was helping my neighbor with a st...   Mar 14 2018, 07:57 AM
strawman   Last year, I implemented a new Apprentice class in...   Mar 14 2018, 01:59 PM
mgphoto   I took a class at LAUSD and the Snap On rep set up...   Mar 14 2018, 05:11 PM
Grelber   I retired from the electrical channel two years ag...   Mar 14 2018, 06:07 PM
914 RZ-1   I retired from the electrical channel two years a...   Mar 15 2018, 07:26 PM
maf914   [quote name='Grelber' post='2589053' date='Mar 14...   Mar 16 2018, 06:33 AM
Grelber   I retired from the electrical channel two years ...   Mar 16 2018, 06:48 AM
flmont   Try,... ACE hardware   Mar 14 2018, 06:10 PM
maf914   Does the Lowe's Kobalt/Craftsman issue have so...   Mar 18 2018, 05:11 PM
Grelber   No idea. I'll see what I can find out.   Mar 18 2018, 08:30 PM


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