Lisle doesn't brand their tools

[The motor guy]

How come Lisle doesn't seem to brand their tools? I bought a couple pliers, maybe these were new and they haven't patented them yet. One says patent pending on one, but they did come in lisle packaging. Kind of annoying because I could have bought the same stuff off amazon for probably $25 less, but I just assumed the amazon stuff was some cheap chinese knock off version like most stuff is on amazon.

 

[D60]

In the past I've emailed them for COO. They were honest.

Used to be most of their stuff was made in Clarinda, but it seems increasingly they're repackaging Chinese stuff.

I don't necessarily blame them, it's difficult to run a competent machine shop and pay Americans a living wage.

But yeah, caveat emptor as some of their stuff could be had for less $ as no-name Amazon [whatever]

 

[D60]

^^also if you wanna see what boutique, quality manufacturing should cost look at companies like Assenmacher and Company 23. Nice stuff, but not exactly inexpensive.

Granted, someone like Company 23 who specializes in something like Subaru engine tools has a narrower market share than Lisle with something more universal like hose clamp pliers

Finally, watch out for Lisle stuff rebadged as BluePoint. Nothing worse than paying SnapOn-ish prices for Lisle BP often doesn't hide the part numbers, using the same numbers but, say, adding the YA prefix

 

[The motor guy]

Straight off the packaging:
Lisle 37960 made in vietnam
Lisle 13120 made in usa
Lisle 37980 made in china
Company still based in Clarinda, Iowa
The irritating part is I have some cheap harbor freight pliers, mostly needle nose and the handle grips look exactly like the harbor freight version. Although I can tell these are better quality. The harbor freight pliers I can literally touch the handles together, they're so springy and flimsy. I can't with the above lisle ones.

 

[D60]

I had emailed them about their #17000, which they told me were actually Taiwan COO. I bought some no-names that were considerably cheaper but I do not think the quality was the same as Taiwanese-sourced Lisles. Still, they're working fine:
Post in thread 'New tool thread' https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/new-tool-thread.328515/post-6749173

 

[Trav]

Last week I bought a Mueller Kueps wheel cleaner, no COO on the plastic tool or on the box, lack of COO usually only means one thing CHINA. If that thing was not made in China I will take a knife and fork and eat it in front of Macys dept store window next new years eve. If I had to guess it was probably around 5-7 bucks wholesale.

 

[PF52]

I recently bought a kind-of expensive Lisle tool; neither the packaging the instructions or the tool itself had any COO on it. I tend to doubt it's Chinese.... But if it is, I'll be unhappy. I could have gotten a Chinese knockoff for half price, or even less.

 

[The motor guy]

I recently bought a kind-of expensive Lisle tool; neither the packaging the instructions or the tool itself had any COO on it. I tend to doubt it's Chinese.... But if it is, I'll be unhappy. I could have gotten a Chinese knockoff for half price, or even less.

Even if it is, it's still or atleast should be up to their standards. That sure is unprofessional of them to not put any type of lettering on the tool.

 

[Hootbro]

Those Lisle connector release pliers are the biggest rip off if you bought them thinking it was a Lisle exclusive or they developed them.

Lisle Tools fills a niche but hardly nothing they offer even when it is or was USA made was ever stellar quality.