American made hand tools?

I think S-K is prolly the best value you will find now that Craftsman has gone to crap. I saw this coimg thirty years ago when Sears started with three different tiers, with the American made tools (i.e., the good stuff) on the top tier, then Japanese, and then on the bottom I think it was Taiwan back then. I figured eventually it would all be in Taiwan (didn't see the PRC emerging back then). I am so glad that I bought just about every tool I would ever need back then - all American made Craftsman, even though it was hard becuase I didn't have much money.

I have some Stanley tools . . . not really in the same league as the old Craftsman stuff, or S-K or Snap On.

If I was starting over now, I would be scouring eBay for deals on Snap On, S-K, maybe older Craftsman. If you really want to buy new, I would go with S-K . . . before they go bankrupt again for good.
 
Klein, Estwing, Allen, Channelock, Maglite (not really a tool though), Leatherman (negligible)
I LOVE the older USA Vise-Grips with the cast in/stamped grip patterns on the handles- the 2 pair I have is used quite often. I have not used the new imports though.
 
Enderes tools made in Albert Lea MN for the last 100 years. Farrier tools, star drills, nail sets, center punches, pry bars, cold chisels. Good tools made by people right here in the Midwest of USA.
 
J.H. Williams is Snap-on's industrial line. Most are made around the Snap-on plant. Thankfully they will tell you which ones are made overseas. Matco is Danaher's flag ship, pretty much Crapsman quality with a better finish. Mac and Proto are Stanely Lines. After years of putting out crap tools Stanley is finally trying to produce a quality product again, only time will tell. Danaher makes Armstrong, Wright, ect... In my experience anything that says Irwen is not worth the money you pay. Look for deals on used Snap-on or Stanely made before 1990, Proto before 1984, or S-K tools.
 
There are still plenty of USA-made hand tools.

Can you be more specific regarding what type of "pliers, etc..." you're looking for. Hammers? Chisels? Wrenches? Ratchets? There are tons of options if you're willing to buy components rather than complete sets.
 
Sid Post said:
Awesome screwdrivers and hex wrenches. They put everything else I ever bought to shame.
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oh yeah, I LOVE my Wiha small screwdriver set. They are TOP of the line. Between those, my Klein pair, and my little Huksy torx set, I can cleanly disassemble any piece of computer hardware down to the hard drive magnets.

Also, Knipex for German pliers.
I know this is a USA tools thread, but there are other quality non-outsourced tools from different countries too. Or maybe just Germany. ;)

I have heard (no references to offer) that some companies have finally recognized the cost of offshoring manufacturing and are bringing things back Stateside. I'd like to know which ones those are too.

-Daizee
 
daizee said:
I have heard (no references to offer) that some companies have finally recognized the cost of offshoring manufacturing and are bringing things back Stateside. I'd like to know which ones those are too.

-Daizee
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Some call centers have moved back when the perceived "cost savings" didn't pan out or customer service just wasn't good enough to keep their clientele. As the cost of transportation goes up and unemployment stays high, it becomes cheaper to make things locally versus shipping them half way around the world and trying to figure out what people might want several months in the future (warm winter or harsh and cold for example)?
 
Stuey said:
There are still plenty of USA-made hand tools.

Can you be more specific regarding what type of "pliers, etc..." you're looking for. Hammers? Chisels? Wrenches? Ratchets? There are tons of options if you're willing to buy components rather than complete sets.
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Basically, everything you mentioned there. I don't need every specialty tool. But, I guess I'm looking for enough tools to work on vehicles (not looking for computer analyzers), and other basic mechanical stuff. I'm just tired of buying chinese junk that breaks/strips when you turn it. I'm not a knucklebuster by any stretch of the imagination. But, I'd just like to reach into my toolbox, and know that what I grab will actually hold, without stripping or being sloppy.
 
btw, is there a rule of thumb anyone uses, when looking at complete used tool sets (snapon, mac, matco, etc..) on craigslist, where someone might have a chest of drawers of tools? I look at some of these set, and I start to get overwhelmed. I'm wondering if people use a general rule, say like $10/piece, and they come to round # that ballparks what a set of tools are worth.
Thanks!
 
seionage said:
Basically, everything you mentioned there. I don't need every specialty tool. But, I guess I'm looking for enough tools to work on vehicles (not looking for computer analyzers), and other basic mechanical stuff. I'm just tired of buying chinese junk that breaks/strips when you turn it. I'm not a knucklebuster by any stretch of the imagination. But, I'd just like to reach into my toolbox, and know that what I grab will actually hold, without stripping or being sloppy.
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If cost is an issue, Craftsman or Vaughan for wood-handled hammers, Dasco or Mayhew for cold chisels, Wright for wrenches (or Proto, Armstrong, or USA Craftsman Professionals if you can still find them), Proto ratchets if you want USA-made, Gearwrench ratchets if imports are okay, Wiha/Wera for screwdrivers, Channellock for pliers, and Channellock/Irega for adjustable wrenches. All tools have the propensity to fail; buying USA-made doesn't guarantee perfection.
 
The only good thing about craftsman these days is the warranty, when I was wrenching for a living I would make a trip once a week to trade out my busted stuff. No questions asked.
Snap-on is good, but a lot of it is just re-branded with their name, years ago I was able to find the company that made their long handled pliers sets and got them direct for less than half. Also, I spent $300 on a bolstered set of screw drivers and the first time I asked for a replacement the guy gave me a hard time for 20 minutes about prying and using screw drivers as chisels, neither of which I had done. He finally agreed to replace it once I started getting mad, he got out a tool and pulled the shaft out of the handle and then stuck a new shaft in the old handle.. I gave him the whole set back and bought a set of craftsman pro series. Not as pretty, but when they break sears actually replaces the whole thing. I bought Mac, Proto, Matco, SK, Husky... Now days just about everything I have for work is Wiha, William Hahn makes a mean torx driver.
 
I've collected a large array of tools and some of the tools are older then I am. I have snap on tools from the 70s and 80s and craftsman tools that are from the late 80s and early 90s. They work just as well now as they did then from what I've heard.

There's no shame in buying second hand to get quality, american made tools.
 
Adventure Wolf said:
There's no shame in buying second hand to get quality, american made tools.
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Good point Wolf. That's actually a very smart and sensible way to go, especially for those with a lifetime warranty, regardless of the original purchaser.:thumbup: I've saved a ton on many used tool purchases.
 
Adventure Wolf said:
I've collected a large array of tools and some of the tools are older then I am. I have snap on tools from the 70s and 80s and craftsman tools that are from the late 80s and early 90s. They work just as well now as they did then from what I've heard.

There's no shame in buying second hand to get quality, american made tools.
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Absolutely. I'm a fan of the idea of buying broken Leatherman tools and sending them in for repairs.
Might as well, if you can.
 
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