Non Chinese power tools anyone?

[jeffsclan]

So, if most of these tools are cheap anyway, Would one be better off just going to HF ? My wife surpised me with a Delta freestanding drill press a few years ago. I though cool a quality press. I'm horrified at the cheapness of it. It looks like the same quality as the ones at HF. In fact for the most part looks like the ones at HF. At least there I know what im getting and maybe save some money.

 

[Cdaniel]

I'd say there's "Chinese" and "Supervised Chinese". The HF stuff can be extra crappy, but not always. I ended up buying a Makita grinder at my local Ace (no box store) after starting this thread. It will probably last with my minimal use. And someone gave me another one for Christmas. It's from Milwaukee China

 

[haryv]

Find a good metal tool that can be repaired. I feel so good that my money is not heading to some chinese owned company. It also employed local people in the tool repair business.

BTW, saw a huge metal grinder in a metal recycle yard and thought, I wonder if that was repairable. I already had two so did not buy it for scrap.

 

[FJ40Jim]

Yep, do this wherever possible. Currently have a 1940 Delta drill press, 1955 Rockwell table saw, 1960 SB lathe, 1964 Sunalyzer, 1960-something AC vac pump, 1968 Emerson/Craftsman radial saw....
Currently on the lookout for a new/old cast iron pump for the 1964 Jacuzzi Bros. air compressor. Jacuzzi parts are totally NLA, so need to get an IR/DeVilbiss/quincy pump that has parts availability. Rebuild once, install synthetic oil, run for another 50 years.

I gave up on finding good new tools from a country that does not have a horrible human rights record. Went to sears and bought a super duper kit of chi-comm 19.2V tools on sale for well under $200, with decent sears warranty & service.

 

[FJ40Jim]

Interesting viewpoint. I look at it the other way. I'd rather send money to a captive American factory in Mehico, and some of that money will come back to US as Black & Decker profit, as well as worker salary leaking back across the border into the US.

Money sent to Chicomm is gone, and supports a repressive commie regime.

 

[Iceman25th]

Interesting viewpoint. I look at it the other way. I'd rather send money to a captive American factory in Mehico, and some of that money will come back to US as Black & Decker profit, as well as worker salary leaking back across the border into the US.

Money sent to Chicomm is gone, and supports a repressive commie regime.

You do have a point. The Chinese however are being consumed by capitalism and their people are restless. I can't continue the analysis because I have been informed that my previous comments were politically incorrect. There is a disconnect here and I need to pause, and take a breath while I struggle to understand it.

 

[hairy_apple]

Honestly, is there such a thing as non China tools that can be bought new anymore? I walked through the tool area at Home Depot yesterday and my wife and I picked up every single angle grinder and drill in that place and all were made in China, from the cheapest to the most $$$.

So what's the point on spending the money on the brand name when you can get a china one from Harbor Freight and they were most likely made with the same parts in the same sweat shops.

I don't know, I would like to buy non china, but if it's ALL china... why spend more money. I had a HF grinder that lasted years and years and years with massive abuse and only broke finally because I dropped it and broke the switch off, and a brand name one that lasted 6 months before it died. Not saying it's always going to be that way, but it seems like quality power tools don't really exist (at least not in the hobbyist price range).

 

[FJ40Jim]

Stores like HomoDepo or Lowes are gonna have chinese tools because they compete solely on price.

Locally, good tools are available from a professional grade tool store, Spartan Tools.

Perhaps there is a vendor like that near you?