Milwaukee Tool Begins Making Hand Tools in the U.S.

[Buncheong]

“We know that if we don't disrupt and change the game and provide the solutions to our users, then they're going to want some other product from somebody else that's gonna deliver better solutions. And that paranoia keeps our teams working hard.”

https://www.wuwm.com/2022-08-11/milw...or-the-company

[SteyrAUG]

Sorta wish it was their power tools, but I guess I know where I'm getting my next screwdrivers, especially since my Craftsman ones and their Lifetime Warranty has no meaning any longer.

[prepare]

But Milwaukee Tool is owned by Hong-Kong based Techtronic Industries. So a Chinese company is going to make Chinese tools in America.

[SteyrAUG]

But Milwaukee Tool is owned by Hong-Kong based Techtronic Industries. So a Chinese company is going to make Chinese tools in America.

That is the draw, a Hong Kong company now owned by China (as is all Hong Kong), will be hiring 150 people in the US to make 2 hand tools in the US. I assume under the assumptions that so many Americans are so poorly informed they will believe all Milwaukee tools are now "Proudly made in the USA" and honestly it's not a bad gamble.

[TMS951]

The desire for American made products is returning.

People have had it with China made crap and wish they had the tools of days past.

Eventually we’ll see American made products from American owned companies.

[SteyrAUG]

The desire for American made products is returning.

People have had it with China made crap and wish they had the tools of days past.

Eventually we’ll see American made products from American owned companies.

Well we'd have to rebuild most of our infrastructure. We haven't built much since NAFTA in 1994 when we sent most of our jobs to Mexico to solve the illegal immigration crisis. That worked out so well.

Since then we've become a service oriented economy because we are renowned for our excellent service. Detroit doesn't make cars, Pittsburgh doesn't make steel and they tell us Americans lack the skills to mow lawns and pick oranges. If you want a car built in the US, you sorta have to buy a BMW.

So if that's the plan, we got a long road back.

I think that's one of the attractions of guns, most of them are actually made here and aren't a piece of steaming crap. There are no computer modules on a Colt and BCM doesn't require a wifi connection. These are things, made to a standard that perform to acceptable standards. The AR in your safe will outlast every car in your driveway. Assuming they are still legal in the future your AR will probably still function when your grandkids get it. I've got my Grandfathers Springfield Mark I and it's more reliable than any household appliance I've bought in the last 30 years.

[TMS951]

You’re not wrong on everything you say.

My only rebuttal is that in 28 years how much old tooling would have worn out? How much new technology/production techniques would have been switched to anyway.

I’m not suggesting in any way that things will go back to what they were. I do think new factories will be built with more modern tooling and American made products will return. They will however be a niche market and much more expensive. The Walmart crowd will keep buying China crap. A more discerning higher income group will buy American made and owned.

[pinzgauer]

I've been moving back to Klein tools because they just work better and happen to be made in US in most cases.

There's some pretty good reviews on YouTube by a channel called "project farm" which tests various tools side by side in a objective fashion.

I have long been grumbling that it seemed like adjustable / crescent wrenches just didn't work as good as my old craftsman ones did. He did a test and sure enough vintage Craftsman beat pretty much all the current ones. And the cheap Chinese ones were just as bad as I thought.

I bought a set of Lowe's adjustable wrenches on one of their sales just to have some extra around. Was a three pack. Very nicely made, looks great.

And they just don't work as good. They're constantly losing the adjustment either too tight or too loose.

So I recently bought a vintage US made Craftsman adjustable wrench off ebay. Was less expensive than a new one and just works a lot better.

Craftsman screwdrivers made in China are useless now, I've switched to Japanese (Vessel) screwdrivers. Although I still use some Klines.

Even simple things like combination wrenches there is a difference, and project farm did a great video demonstrating that.

Back when they were made in US Kobalt wrenches and sockets were pretty nice, but they are not now.

I was surprised to see it, but for combination wrenches Matco came out on top, even though they were made in Taiwan. I've had good luck with other tools that were made in Taiwan, so I do differentiate between them and mainland China.

Back on topic, if Milwaukee starts making more of their tools in the US I will certainly be giving them a try.

[jsbhike]

Seen a tiered preference list several years back that makes sense.

1. American owned and American made

2. Foreign owned and American made

3. Foreign owned and Foreign made

4. American owned and Foreign made

[HMM]

Seen a tiered preference list several years back that makes sense.

1. American owned and American made

2. Foreign owned and American made

3. Foreign owned and Foreign made

4. American owned and Foreign made

I agree with that order!