Post current Made in the USA tools here

[downsizingnow48]

I gave my favorite old retractable utility knife to my son in law, figuring it would be easy to replace. Went to Ace Hardware and then Lowe's, all they had was Chinese, except one was Thailand and one was "made in USA of globally sourced materials". Went to Amazon, nothing but imported. I am not a fanatic about US made but maybe sentimental, I like to keep my leather tool belt and everything in it USA made.

Went to Harry Epstein company and they had the exact replacement, so I got two of them for about 3 dollars each. Very competitive with the imported stuff. The knife is printed "Master Tools" but I could not locate that company. So I wrote a note to the Epstein company. They kindly replied that those knives are made by the US Blade Co. I looked them up, that is an interesting company based in the east and southeast. They make the knives (for various OEMs) and a lot of other stuff.

Anyway here is the knife. Solid as a rock. I still have several of the even simpler Stanley box cutters, but for use in the tool belt best to have a retractable blade.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I gave my favorite old retractable utility knife to my son in law, figuring it would be easy to replace. Went to Ace Hardware and then Lowe's, all they had was Chinese, except one was Thailand and one was "made in USA of globally sourced materials". Went to Amazon, nothing but imported. I am not a fanatic about US made but maybe sentimental, I like to keep my leather tool belt and everything in it USA made.

Went to Harry Epstein company and they had the exact replacement, so I got two of them for about 3 dollars each. Very competitive with the imported stuff. The knife is printed "Master Tools" but I could not locate that company. So I wrote a note to the Epstein company. They kindly replied that those knives are made by the US Blade Co. I looked them up, that is an interesting company based in the east and southeast. They make the knives (for various OEMs) and a lot of other stuff.

Anyway here is the knife. Solid as a rock. I still have several of the even simpler Stanley box cutters, but for use in the tool belt best to have a retractable blade.

Thanks for the tip.

 

[downsizingnow48]

A trowel is not the fanciest tool out there but worth some consideration.

This morning I ouldn't find my old thinset trowel, it will surface eventually.

So I went to the nearby Ace hardware. I got the trowel in the picture which was $4.00. I have never seen a short one with offset angles, but it turns out to be extremely handy. I used it today to put down thinset under cement boards preparing for floor tile in my wife's bathroom.

I was also interested to see it said "made in USA from global materials". Especially compared to the fancier trowels next to it, that were $14, that were labelled "made in China". Given a choice I always go for USA, even if it has got that dodgy "global materials" language. A USA made trowel, excellent functionality, at 1/3 the price of the Chinese trowel. Hard to beat.

 

[downsizingnow48]

I happened to be using both these this morning.

Transfer punch set from Spellman Company. Very accurate, heat treated. I once looked at a HF set, you could tell by eye that the center punches were not concentric with the shaft.

And a hole cutter set from Blair. Stays sharp forever it seems. Easy to use either hand held or drill press. For material 1/4" or less.

 

[Jstpssng]

Zombie Thread Alert!!!

Yeah, I’m bringing back a very old thread but it’s worth revisiting.

Not a tool, but I won’t buy a flag which isn’t Made in the USA. Otherwise, what’s the point?

 

[Hay Dude]

I think US made tools could return with a investment made in robotics production and low taxation areas only. Pretty much have to eliminate the worker from the assembly line and build production lines in areas where businesses are low taxed?

 

[sixdogs]

Things don't always have to come from the USA to be great. Maybe they just have to NOT come from China? Below is a great pair of locking-type pliers that are made in Germany and are the finest I've ever seen. They are probably the best in the world. They are called pipe pliers but if you grip onto a nut or something nasty you want to come apart, this will do it.

https://www.amazon.com/KNIPEX-Tools-Swedish-Pattern-8310015/dp/B005EXOI8S/ref=dp_fod_3?pd_rd_i=B005EXOI8S&psc=1

EDIT--I do buy USA whenever possible but some tools, like the one above are no longer made here.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Kant Twist Clamps. Good stuff.
Multipurpose & Round Handle Clamps - USA (Kant Twist Series 672) Model 415 / 4-1/2" Max Opening (A) / 2-1/4" Open Throat Depth (B) / 3-13/16" Closed Throat Depth (E) / (Deep Throat): Fixturing Clamps: Amazon.com: Tools & Home Improvement

 

[Torvy]

I think you will find that in the modern economy, few things are made in any particular country only from locally sourced parts.

We are lucky in the US that we have a lot of resources and the ability to make so many things locally. It makes some sense to avoid trade with countries that do not reciprocate or that do not respect intellectual property rights, etc. Blindly buying things made in the US just because the label says made in USA and has a little flag attached does little to help Americans. In the grand scheme, it hurts as many or more Americans. For every worker who makes an extra $10 per hour, there are hundreds who pay more of their wages to make it possible. Not to mention that the sales taxes are paid on a higher dollar amount than if sourced more cheaply.

From a global economics standpoint, one of the biggest myths is that importing more than you export is a bad thing. If you think about it, if we get more resources coming in for less of our money (resources), that is a good thing. Again, this does not mean we should trade with countries who are bad actors or who cannot seem to separate the government from the private sector.

 

[sixdogs]

One maker of tools that makes mostly (all?) USA tools is Klein Tools. They used to be hard to find and concentrated in commercial sales but recently have seen their tools it the big box stores. I think it was either Lowe's or Home Depot.

Klein Tools Online Catalog

The Klein Tools catalog includes an expansive product listing to meet every professional’s demands. These Klein Tools products deliver the performance, durability and precision needed to get any job done right. From Klein Tools electrical products to a variety of tools job-matched for other...

www.kleintools.com

The nipper and pliers faces are dead straight with no wobble or side flexing. They work great and beyond any other I've used. Excellent steel quality.