Made in America

[Julius]

Jake: Several months ago I purchased a RIDGID jointer and RIDGID thickness planer. I am very please with the quality and performance of both tools; great value for the money.

I thought I knew the history of Craftsman / Emerson / Ridgid and the development of RIDGID TOOLS for Home Depot, and made the assumption that these products were made in America. I was disappointed to find the "Made in Taiwan" model No./serial No. plate on the back of my jointer. Is it only the castings that are made in Taiwan? What about the Emerson motor?

I have since done a little homework, and was very disappointed to discover my Delta drill press was made in China, JET tools are made in Taiwan, even my trusted Lee Valley Tools router bits are made in Tiawan. Have we stopped producing our own products and become importers? Are there any (mid-range/contracter) power tools produced in North America?

[JSchnarre]

First off let me list what tools that we make in the US.

All three of our table saws
TS2424
TS2412
TS2400
RS1000 Radial saw
MS1050 Miter saw
SS1650 Scoll saw
EB4424 Sander
All RIDGID Vacs
Our two air filtration systems are made in Canada along with our dust collection network.

Most of the rest of the tools are made in the Taiwan with the exception of the Drill Press, which is made in China.

A couple of reasons for production of tools overseas: On the tools with Cast iron like the jointer and the Drill press (which are lower volume tools that our table saws), cast iron in the U.S. in low volumes is prohibitively expensive. A lot more pipe wrenches are sold than bandsaws.

Market pressure is the single biggest reason for making tools oversees. If we could demand $30 more for a $250 tool for USA made we would but all things being equal most customers will save the $30 and buy an overseas tool. Also pressure from direct importers such as Jet and Grizzly really make it necessary to source tools from Taiwan. Import does not necessarily mean lower quality. Jet is consistently noted for the quality of their tools and every one of their tools are imports.

We still have the largest single power tool factory in the world in Paris, Tenn. where our table saws and the like are made. The vacs are made in Michigan.

I'd like to hear your input on where tools are made and how much you feel the fact a tool is made in the US is of value to you.

Jake

[hamhand]

I have shopped price for tools over $50 and as you say, foreign-made usually win. However, I am rethinking that as I have a Delta planer (12") that I have been unable to get a part for since 7/5/2000! I thought that a "good" name would assure me of service when I needed it-not so.I believe I will go for USA tools in the future and call the price difference a "service charge". It seems silly to have a tool down for three months for lack of a $7.00 part.

[BB]

There are still a lot of true professionals in the woodworking industry that do care where the tool is manufactured. I always try to buy American if possible. I also buy quality tools manufactured by German, Swiss and Japanese companies. I have never seen or used a quality tool that was manufactured in China, Tiawan, Indonesia, Korea or Mexico because in my opinion they do not exist. I do not believe the argument that Jack is trying to make concerning the cast iron products. You only have to look closely at the rough casting of these tools to realize the difference is not in the cost of the cast iron but in the quality of the finished product. Also the foreign steel used by these manufacturers does not compare to the quality of US or other steel. I recently purchased a Powermatic 66 10" table saw. This saw has long been considered as "The best saw on the market" Before I purchased this saw I was concerned that it was no longer being manufactured In the USA. Powermatic was recently purchased by the mega conglomerate (WMH)that owns Jet tools which are mostly manufactured in Taiwan. I was assured by the customer service dept. of Powermatic that the saw was still proudly built 100% in the USA. When I received my new saw and opened up the cardboard box my disappointment soon turned to anger when I realized that all of the Powermatic saw accessories that where included had been manufactured in Taiwan including the safety gaurd, table inserts, mitre gauge, hand wheels, locking knobs and the cast iron extention wings. (the main table was USA but the extention wings are Taiwan. There is a big difference in the quality of the steel and the mounting holes did not line up) I contacted Powermatic to voice my complaint and was told that those parts are accessories and not part of the main saw so that they did not have to be manufactured or assembled in the USA and the saw could be considered as 100% USA. I would like to see them try to sell the saw with no safety gaurd if it is considered an accessory and not part of the saw. I have filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission as if it will do any good. I have had no problems with saw but I cannot help but feel deceived by Powermatic. Bottom Line - buyer beware.

I did a lot of home work before I spent the money for my Ridgid power tools. I could'nt be happyer with the quility. A lot of people out there feel that just because it says made in the USA it's the best. It's just not true. And a company can say that a product is BUILT in the USA and have all oversea's parts. Thay take the parts and build the finished item. The bottom line is the companys Quality Assurance dept. If you say me Made in the USA more times then not means substandered. Sorry to say this countery has lost the edge it once had. Many of Ridgids tools made be made overseas, But waht sets them apart is Ridgids Quality Assurance. I cant see spending more money for a power tools when I know I can get top quality for less from Ridgid.
Regards Daniel Maloney

[ghodgin]

Generally, I don't care about where my tools are made because I don't buy them from a country. When I bought my Rigid table saw at HD I was buying from HD and Ridgid. If something goes wrong, I know who to contact and whose reputation is on the line. It's the quality and price that matter to me.

[myTechieGuy.Com]

Bravo. I couldn't have said it any better.

We are one of the biggest economy in the world and I think we need to help this other countries indirectly by bringing them up and out of economic jeopardy by. What was that saying "Don't give a man fish, show him to catch it"

The more tools Taiwan makes and sells hopefully the better the tools will become.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ghodgin:
Generally, I don't care about where my tools are made because I don't buy them from a country. When I bought my Rigid table saw at HD I was buying from HD and Ridgid. If something goes wrong, I know who to contact and whose reputation is on the line. It's the quality and price that matter to me. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Maxdod]

It shouldn't matter where the tool is made. If a tool is a quality tool and has good customer support I will buy from them. In the '80s the Japanese car makers forced their American counterparts to improve their products. Just being an American company is not enough, you've got to take care of your customers.

[Bubba Blue]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ghodgin:
We are one of the biggest economy in the world and I think we need to help this other countries indirectly by bringing them up and out of economic jeopardy by. What was that saying "Don't give a man fish, show him to catch it"

The more tools Taiwan makes and sells hopefully the better the tools will become.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Maxdod:
It shouldn't matter where the tool is made. If a tool is a quality tool and has good customer support I will buy from them. In the '80s the Japanese car makers forced their American counterparts to improve their products. Just being an American company is not enough, you've got to take care of your customers.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

All things being equal, I don't think a tool's country of origin is as important as the quality and service behind the tools.

Buying American just because it's American merely hurts us, buy giving our manufacturer's a crutch when they should be competent enough to make a quality tool and offer services to their customers as good as, or better than the competition.

If we give them this "crutch" we could see the same thing happen to our U.S. tool manufacturers that happened to our auto manufacturers in the 70's and 80's which I'd rather not see repeated.

Bubba

[Mike C.]

I suppose that I should no longer be shocked to hear my fellow Americans tout the virtues of tools made in Taiwan or China, or say they don't care where their tools are made. I personally will vote with my dollars to buy American wherever possible. As a person who makes their living in manufacturing - based in the US, I'll continue to support those like me.

One thing to consider next time you buy that cheaper tool made somewhere else - we can't all make a living in this country by doing each others laundry. The strength of this country has been our ability to manufacture the best tools, equipment, and automobiles in the world.