Tools, lets talk about tools.

[DaMaN]

In the black Friday thread, it is getting kind of deep talking about tools and their manufacturers so I figured I'd post in here to discuss the manufacturers and where they make their tools. Here is what i found so far in my research:

The "Rigid" brand is owned by Emerson Electric, which is an American company. TTI is a Hong Kong based company, which uses the "Rigid" brand (under license from Emerson Electric) to manufacture a line of power tools. TTI actually owns many brands including Ryobi, Dirt Devil, Hoover, Homelight, and many others. It also owns AEG which is a European manufacturer/brand and is the brand used for many of the tools that are marketed in the U.S. under the "Rigid" brand. (In the U.S. the tool is branded "Rigid", but the similar tool in Europe is branded "AEG".)

The "Rigid" branded power tools are those "orange" tools that include the cordless and corded line of hand-held power tools, bench tools, and stationary tools like woodworking table saws, drill press, thickness planer, joiner, etc. While the older line (gray color with red-orange trim) of Rigid stationary woodworking tools was included, the new "orange" line also included new hand-held TTI-produced tools; the entire TTI-produced "Rigid" line is almost exclusevly sold through Home Depot and they carry a 3-year warranty and are available, with proper registration, for the Limited Lifetime Service Agreement (which is a TTI-backed service program utilizing Rigid-authorized service centers).

But to my knowledge, Rigid plumbing tools and the tools used in both the plumbing and electrical trades are produced mostly here in the U.S. I'm sure there are exceptions and most likely some components that are sourced globally... in places like Taiwan and China, as well as others. The Ridgid shop vacuums are part of Emerson Electric and not TTI. On the machine and on the box of the last shop vac that I purchased, the only address I can find is St. Louis, Mo. So, can we presume it's made here in the U.S.; but whether it's made or assembled in the U.S., Mexico, China, or wherever, the profit is with Emerson Electric.

(I am under the impresson that most of the plumbing and other "trades" tools are made here in the U.S.; but of course, I don't know that for sure.)

You can't go by brands either, as I understand that many DeWalts, as well as other brands, simply don't say where they are made, but many if not most are made or at least assembled in foriegn countrys. Most of these brands however, are U.S. companies that make increased profits because of their foreign manufacturing. Black and Decker Stanley is largely made in China too, even though they are one of America's oldest brands.

I just checked all my remaining Rigid power tools and it shows that they are made in China.

After doing some googling, TTi makes Rigid, Milwaukee, and Ryobi tools, along with a few other brands.

http://www.ttigroup.com/en/our_brands/by_brand/milwaukee

After checking my Bosch tools, they are a mix between Malaysia (Impact wrench & drill and sawzall) and Switzerland (Hammer Drills, circular saw and rotary hammer).

I am unsure if any of the power tools are made here anymore.

Mike, I even read that the Snap-On ratchets are no longer stamped with U.S.A. anymore as they are outsourcing that process from Kenosha, WI.

[renovation]

I do own a Rigid 1/2 cordless drill and love it .its properly balanced and plenty of guts for mixing buckets of durabond drywall mud or paint.
what im finding is after 4-5 years of daily use and it don't matter the brand of cordless tool (Dewalt,Ridge ,Milwaukee, makita ). the batterys seem to need to be replaced due to not holding or taking a charge any more. also the replacement cost for oem batterys can run you 1/2 to about the same as buying a whole new tool kit (battery and tool and charger ) in a lot of cases.
im not talking tools were the battery is built right into the handle of the tool and you connect the power adapter to a plug on the hadle like a lot of black & decker and other cheap home owner grade rechargeable tools.

funny thing just came to mind. I have never had to replace the brushs in any of my power tools.

[normalicy]

OK, here's what I've got:

Makita 18v drill - China
Makita grinder - China
Makita 18v cordless circular saw - China
Makita 18v cordless sawzall - China
Makita 18v Batteries - Japan

Go figure. However, it seems that they have plants all over the world & it really depends on what kind of tool you buy as to where it's made. But they started to introduce Chinese production around 1995.

Now for the rest:
Master Mechanic dremel tool (circa 1995) - Made in USA and still going strong

Craftsman soldering gun (circa 1998) - Made in Taiwan and I can't seem to find a better one even after paying more money for one.

Porter Cable plug in circular saw (circa 2002)- Made in USA, but I hear that changed around 2005 (see below)

In 1960 the company moved to Tennessee, which remained the manufacturing base for the company even as it has been acquired by other larger toolmaking entities such as Rockwell and Pentair. However, Black & Decker's purchase of Porter-Cable in 2005, and then the subsequent buyout of Black & Decker by Stanley in 2009, now means that Porter-Cable tools are being made overseas with Mexico or China being the most common origin. The Jackson, Tenn., plant now functions primarily as a distribution center and currently employs over 3,000 people.

I'll admit that I didn't bother listing a bunch of my other tools just because I knew that it was a lost cause. I know that I have a number of US made hand tools. However, I'm pretty sure it's due to their age.

[renovation]

my roofing ,trim and framing guns.

4 paslode Cordless Nailer they are
2 paslode trim nailers -1-16 gage ,1-18 gage
2 paslode framers

air Pneumatic tools
1 porta cable air framer
1 Stanley Bostitch Ridge Runner Coil Roofing Nail Gun
1 Campbell Hausfeld brad nailer

cordless drills
1 ridgid 1/2 drill
1 ridgid 6 1/2 Circular saw
1 dewalt 18 v Reciprocating saw
3 asst dewalt drills all 18 v
dremal tool -drill and rotary tool kit

corded tools
1 dewalt 3/8 drill
1 Milwaukee drywall shooter drill
1 Milwaukee right angle 1/2 drill
1 Milwaukee Circular saw
2 Milwaukee Reciprocating saw
1 Makita circular saw
1/2 Hitachi impact driver
Bosch bulldog hammer drill
Dewalt palm sander
off brand -15 speed table drill press
craftsman older 1/3 sheet pad sander
craftsman older belt sander
craftsman router
Craftsman table saw
ridgid 16 gallon shop vac
shop vac -small 4.5 gallon shop vac
dewalt 10 in compound miter saw
Rotozip drywall cutter
dremal variable speed rotary
Dewalt scroll saw
off brand older table grinding wheel
harbor freight (junk ) 4 1/2 hand grinder only need it every blue moon.
Milwaukee heat gun - like a hair blower/dryer


air compressers
1 dewalt 4gallon ele.double tank hot dog compresser
1 thomas 4 gallon ele double tank hot dog compresser
1 eglo 8 gallon gas double hot dog compresser
1 single tank no brand ele. for blowing up tires.
the tools listed are only a part list . I need to do a complete inventory