I already own all I need. That was just showing the insane prices
Off shore tools?
- Thread starter Exhaustgases
- Start date
For kicks and giggles, I bought a CAT 3/8" ratchet last year from the CAT dealer down the street from my office. It appears to be a re-badged Williams 36 tooth, is built like a tank, but is otherwise unremarkable.
Well for a while Craftsman was manufacturing tools in Texas but don't think that lasted too long. Hopefully that will change. I'd like to see more tools made here.
How quickly people forget we used to make all the stuff here and it was affordable.
Yeah but now the materials as well as the pay scales etc etc. make that landscape way different now.
$5.00/ per hour in country X, Is just way cheaper labor than any place in the USA, that can go from $20 / hour to $50 / hour, and also the ultra costly robotics that are now used as well.
In 1969 a long handle 1/2 drive snap on ratchet was $13.00, my dad got one.
Now I don't think you can find some super crappy brand of a new one for less than at least 2 times that.
Well, that’s what globalism gave you. How long before an average American can’t even afford the cheap junk? We all know it’s inevitable. If we have any chance at all of reversing our current course, it is now.
Change is never easy.
$162.00 for a 12" adjustable wrench. Beyond insane. All the way to completely idiotic.
https://shop.snapon.com/product/Adjustable/12"-Adjustable-Wrench/AD12C
https://shop.snapon.com/product/Adjustable/12"-Adjustable-Wrench/AD12C
I purchased the Cornwell made in U.S.A. version of that 1/4 drive set many years ago for about $140.00. It has been fantastic and brought me plenty of income over the years. I actually wore the blow mold case out and had to replace it. It lives in the home tool box now. I recently purchased the $100.00 Icon set for work and while the sockets are nice, the ratchet is lousy. It didn't last long at all. I warrantied it and set the new one aside for a spare as it doesn't feel right either or inspire confidence. I purchased a flex head Ko-Ken to use in its place and while nicer, it isn't holding up as well as expected. The reversing lever detent is almost nonexistent and the head is so floppy it is a pain sometimes. I will be going Snap On in this application as there is a difference.
ICON has already introduced their Gen 2 ratchets. They all have the lifetime warranty.
Sometimes you have to sleep in the nest you made,I have always tried to support the American worker if I can,Proto,Williams,USA,Wright,Snapon,Blackhawk and SK.I do agree,tho,the Germans,Japanese and the Tawain tools are great and tempting
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For many years, all I bought was Snap On. I still have all my stuff but when I occasionally need something else I go straight to Icon.
For years, I only had metric in 3/8 and 1/4 inch drive. My son and I needed 1/2" drive for his Ram pickup so right to HF to get Icon. The prices are so reasonable I always grab him a few extra pieces to build his set.
Going on five years ago, my brother had a rack of Snap On deep sockets stolen. He drove to HF and grabbed a set of Icons. He uses them daily on diesel generators. I said keep me posted on how they last. He still hasn't warranteed a single socket.
For years, I only had metric in 3/8 and 1/4 inch drive. My son and I needed 1/2" drive for his Ram pickup so right to HF to get Icon. The prices are so reasonable I always grab him a few extra pieces to build his set.
Going on five years ago, my brother had a rack of Snap On deep sockets stolen. He drove to HF and grabbed a set of Icons. He uses them daily on diesel generators. I said keep me posted on how they last. He still hasn't warranteed a single socket.
Since Sears has ceased to exist, if I need something additional to the US made Craftsman I own, I go to HF. The offshored Craftsman tools just don't seem to have the same quality. Where I no longer use my tools daily- the Pittsburg or ICON lines fit my needs just mine.
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Snap-on is definitely expensive but some things are worth it like their flare nut wrenches, ratchets, etc. But for one thing is my dealer seems to show up once maybe twice a month so if your waiting on anything your going to be without it for awhile whereas had I bought it from another source I could of already had it replaced or had it on its way. I personally prefer going to the parts stores for tools. Napa used to be my go to but not any longer since they changed suppliers. Now it’s AutoZone, Advance and O’Reilly all have affordable good tools and sell individuals which that’s my problem with Harbor Freight is not enough individuals so you’re forced to buy the whole set. I don’t get why so many people get hung up on country of origin it doesn’t matter if it works. Some of the imported stuff is a bit expensive but nowhere near Snap-on prices.
I do miss Sears for their decent quality USA made tools. Many of them I’ve got in my toolbox and use on a daily basis. I went and bought a bunch of the imported tools when they were closing up and they aren’t that bad. Nowadays I usually just ride to the parts stores or sometimes Harbor Freight or Northern Tool and get what I need. I do buy occasionally off the tool trucks but not a lot these days.
I do miss Sears for their decent quality USA made tools. Many of them I’ve got in my toolbox and use on a daily basis. I went and bought a bunch of the imported tools when they were closing up and they aren’t that bad. Nowadays I usually just ride to the parts stores or sometimes Harbor Freight or Northern Tool and get what I need. I do buy occasionally off the tool trucks but not a lot these days.
Got this email not long ago from Tekton.
"
Hello,
I'm Tekton's CEO and am writing today to keep you informed about how new tariffs could affect your future purchases from Tekton.
Right now, the United States has imposed an extra 10 percent tariff rate on products coming from most countries. Our products come almost entirely from Taiwan, the United States, Canada, or Germany. We put the country of origin at the bottom of every product page on Tekton.com. We try to be specific about origin, down to individual components like the webbing on a pouch or the tube on a six-in-one driver. When we say a product is USA-made, we mean that the whole product is made here and that the materials are sourced in the United States.
If the extra 10 percent tariff stays in effect, we'll have to raise prices about 4 percent on most products made outside the United States. However, if tariffs go to higher rates, then higher increases are likely. Tariffs directly increase our product costs. When we receive a new shipment from Taiwan, for example, we will have to pay the tariff rate on top of the cost of the product. We will give you at least one week of notice on our website before we raise prices—like usual, we will show the new upcoming price and the date when it goes into effect.
As you may know, we are working very hard at Tekton to manufacture more of our products in the United States. We have growing CNC, plastic injection molding, electroless nickel plating, broaching, blasting, polishing, sewing, and assembly operations at Tekton. This manufacturing work started years before the new tariffs and it's going great. We also work with other U.S. companies to complete some manufacturing steps or make whole products for us. We have hundreds of items made in the United States. However, it's not easy or fast. Manufacturing things well with all the right people and equipment and figuring out all the best methods to make a highly refined tool repeatedly at an acceptable cost is a difficult process. We will keep going and we are succeeding at it. I strongly support making our tools ourselves. It's good for our company, good for you, and good for our country. We are in my view going about as fast as we can with the resources we have.
In the coming months, you will see us introduce new products made in the USA. Our new service wrench line, which will be entirely USA-made and mostly done in-house, is coming out in several weeks and it will be a more impressive service wrench than I believe has been made before by any tool company. In some cases, however, we aren't ready or able to make the product we want here in the United States, and we have a great supply chain in Taiwan, Europe, or Canada that can do it. For example, having nothing to do with tariffs, we are about to move our screwdriver program to a premium supplier in Germany that makes drivers for the tool truck market. I don't expect us to save costs moving the screwdrivers to this supplier. We are doing it because it will be a better screwdriver line overall and will free up resources to keep working on other projects, especially new USA production.
Thank you for your support. The new tariffs are not simple for us to navigate, but we have a strong company and a great user base. It's our intention to use our growth to find better and faster ways to make even more products in the United States.
Sincerely,
John Amash"
"
Hello,
I'm Tekton's CEO and am writing today to keep you informed about how new tariffs could affect your future purchases from Tekton.
Right now, the United States has imposed an extra 10 percent tariff rate on products coming from most countries. Our products come almost entirely from Taiwan, the United States, Canada, or Germany. We put the country of origin at the bottom of every product page on Tekton.com. We try to be specific about origin, down to individual components like the webbing on a pouch or the tube on a six-in-one driver. When we say a product is USA-made, we mean that the whole product is made here and that the materials are sourced in the United States.
If the extra 10 percent tariff stays in effect, we'll have to raise prices about 4 percent on most products made outside the United States. However, if tariffs go to higher rates, then higher increases are likely. Tariffs directly increase our product costs. When we receive a new shipment from Taiwan, for example, we will have to pay the tariff rate on top of the cost of the product. We will give you at least one week of notice on our website before we raise prices—like usual, we will show the new upcoming price and the date when it goes into effect.
As you may know, we are working very hard at Tekton to manufacture more of our products in the United States. We have growing CNC, plastic injection molding, electroless nickel plating, broaching, blasting, polishing, sewing, and assembly operations at Tekton. This manufacturing work started years before the new tariffs and it's going great. We also work with other U.S. companies to complete some manufacturing steps or make whole products for us. We have hundreds of items made in the United States. However, it's not easy or fast. Manufacturing things well with all the right people and equipment and figuring out all the best methods to make a highly refined tool repeatedly at an acceptable cost is a difficult process. We will keep going and we are succeeding at it. I strongly support making our tools ourselves. It's good for our company, good for you, and good for our country. We are in my view going about as fast as we can with the resources we have.
In the coming months, you will see us introduce new products made in the USA. Our new service wrench line, which will be entirely USA-made and mostly done in-house, is coming out in several weeks and it will be a more impressive service wrench than I believe has been made before by any tool company. In some cases, however, we aren't ready or able to make the product we want here in the United States, and we have a great supply chain in Taiwan, Europe, or Canada that can do it. For example, having nothing to do with tariffs, we are about to move our screwdriver program to a premium supplier in Germany that makes drivers for the tool truck market. I don't expect us to save costs moving the screwdrivers to this supplier. We are doing it because it will be a better screwdriver line overall and will free up resources to keep working on other projects, especially new USA production.
Thank you for your support. The new tariffs are not simple for us to navigate, but we have a strong company and a great user base. It's our intention to use our growth to find better and faster ways to make even more products in the United States.
Sincerely,
John Amash"
Not an option if Harbor freight goes out of business. Unless someone else takes it over.
Got the same letter as @cptbarkey; looks like prices may rise.
I have a Tekton 1/4" socket set. Use it a lot but not to fond of the ratchet. I have several 1/4" ratchets.
It Tekton is going up, ICON may be next. I recently got their set of long ratcheting wrenches.
I have a Tekton 1/4" socket set. Use it a lot but not to fond of the ratchet. I have several 1/4" ratchets.
It Tekton is going up, ICON may be next. I recently got their set of long ratcheting wrenches.
I'm no tool snob, but I do appreciate quality. I have a large drawer of beautiful Japanese open end wrenches and sockets, and they are a pleasure to use. I also have a lot of Craftsman stuff. The open end wrenches and sockets are fine, but the ratchets, suck. High back drag, and sloppy mechanisms.
I bought a few Olsa and Koken ratchets, for the low back drag, and they are a pleasure to use. I'm donating my Craftsman and Harbor Freight ratchets to Goodwill. I'm happy to spend the money on tools like these, but Ikon is fine for stuff that doesn't have functional drawbacks.
I bought a few Olsa and Koken ratchets, for the low back drag, and they are a pleasure to use. I'm donating my Craftsman and Harbor Freight ratchets to Goodwill. I'm happy to spend the money on tools like these, but Ikon is fine for stuff that doesn't have functional drawbacks.
Who knows when? That applies to any brand. The tools are not expensive to begin with.
