Archived from the Tools In Action forum (Pub Talk). This thread is read-only.
1. Just curious How far you guys are willing to go to buy 100% American tools. Would you be willing to pay 10%, 20%, maybe even 30% more to support manufacturers who are dedicated to American production?
2. How much does the country of origin factor into your decision on which tools you buy? Would you pass up a good sale on an outsourced tool in favor of one made in the states?
3. What percentage of your hand tools would you say are made in the United States?
Conductor562 wrote:
1. Just curious How far you guys are willing to go to buy 100% American tools. Would you be willing to pay 10%, 20%, maybe even 30% more to support manufacturers who are dedicated to American production?
It would depend a lot on the quality of the tool. I’m not going to pay top dollar for something that is made cheaply. I would pay serious money for real quality.
I have taken a different tack, if I can’t find what I want made in the US now, I’ll look for it used.
2. How much does the country of origin factor into your decision on which tools you buy? Would you pass up a good sale on an outsourced tool in favor of one made in the states?
It depends. Chinese probably, Swiss, German, English or French, maybe not.
3. What percentage of your hand tools would you say are made in the United States?
15%
I started buying U.S made tools many years ago because they have the reputation for being built above and beyond what you would ever put them through.
This has meant paying multiples in some cases the price of other tools but they were worth every penny.
I wish more people took that attitude Wayne.
I’d say roughly 60% of my hand tools are USA made but I won’t be satisfied until it’s around 90% I may never get there, but I’ll try. Power tools you might as well forget it.
Just being honest guys Quality is worth the money (and the shipping) 🙂
Conductor562 wrote:
I’d say roughly 60% of my hand tools are USA made but I won’t be satisfied until it’s around 90% I may never get there, but I’ll try. Power tools you might as well forget it.
Got to quit posting before I have my morning coffee. I misread the question, I didn’t register the your in what percentage of hand tools are American? I would have to say at least 75%. Most of my hand tools were purchased before the Chinese invasion. The next 15% are European with about 10% Asian.
I have a bunch of Chinese punches, chisels, and files, that drag my percentage down.
All of my pliers, wrenches, screwdrivers, sockets, ratchets, etc. are American made though. Well, except for the Taiwnese Kobalt ratchet.
Most of the Asian tools I have are actually Japanese specialty tools I purchased to work on Japanese motorcycles. The few chiwanese tools I have were bought as expendables that didn’t end up getting destroyed. the remaining are things like tape measures,chalk boxes and the like that are not available produced anywhere elsewhere.
Most of my corded power tools are American or European. I keep my eyes out for good used tools and have been pretty successful at keeping myself in business. I wish I could say the same for cordless tools.