Posted on 07/04/2020 7:02:14 PM PDT by neverevergiveup
I have been trying very hard to buy American, and/or to avoid buying goods made in China. I need to buy several new power tools (e.g. circular saw, reciprocating saw, miter saw), and it seems impossible to NOT buy products made in China. Sorry for the vanity, but it is the Fourth of July, and buying American is important. Suggestions?
Antique shop.
As ridiculous as it might sound, try to look for older/vintage tools on EBay which are still functional; brands which were certainly made in the USA.
Just like how I’m never going to find a cell phone or video game console made outside of China, it’s a pain.
Avoid Harbor Freight—but you knew that.
I think Professional Brands like Snap On and Matco are made here.
Fisher-Price makes some good tools.
“Fisher-Price makes some good tools.”
Yes, I already have those..
I think Kobalt, sold by Lowes, is made in South Korea.
Stick with the brand names like you mentioned. It’s the best you can do these days. I don’t even think Bosch/German or Makita/Japan make much difference than the “American” brands. All depends on who you want to make richer. They all go to China for the cheap labor.
Porter Cable makes the best drill in my opinion, unfortunately all the power tools are now made in Mexico and China.
Makita is a fine American brand...
The older domestic tools were meant to be serviced too. Not replaced.
Let all those companies know that you will buy American but not China. There agree indications your’e not the only one.
I get the interest in not buying Chinese made tools, but at this point in history, either suck it up or hit the yard sales. If you want to buy American where it matters now, buy American made blades for your saws and American made bits for your drills. It will cost more than Chinese, but you’re helping American companies stay afloat.
Kobalt is excellent. Close to DeWalt in quality, much less cost. Their 24V sets are really excellent. Lot of bang for the buck. Best part is they donrip you off on batteries. They are about $10+$10xAH. So 2AH is about $30. 4ah is $50.
I have a lot with circular saw, drill, light (really good), sawzall (rocks!), 1/4” impact ((man it is powerful!). Bought saber saw and blower separate. Excellent. Only negative is the drill—there is about a 1 sec delay from pulling trigger to motor turning. Not instant like everyone else. That may be fixed now. Mine are 3 years old.
Kobalt wrenches and sockets really good, too.
But they are expensive.
Such as it is, and for what it is worth, I have found the following to be a good guide:
If the product is made in China by a typically-named Chinese company then do not buy it.
However, if the tag or label simply says, “Made in China,” but is an American, quality product, for example, “Florsheim Shoes,” then it is safe to buy that product because it will be manufactured in China but it will be manufactured to Florsheim’s specifications. This has been true for all of the various products which I have bought, including power tools.
The Chinese companies make junk and should be avoided like the plague. Chinese companies who manufacture American products then it is safe to buy them.
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