Snap-On tools - Now made in Taiwan?

Pogo · 10-15-2011, 10:45 AM

I was doing some researching because I was wanting to get a set of metric ratcheting combination wrenches. I looked at Craftsman, and I didn't like them. I have a set of GearWrench ratcheting combination wrenches for inch measurements, but GearWrench is made in Taiwan.

I would rather buy American, but it looks like it's getting close to impossible. I even looked at Snap-on, and many of their tools are now made in Taiwan as well. I learned that from researching a mechanics forum. I knew that the Blue Point line of Snap-on were Taiwan. Now at least some of the tools that are badged as Snap-on are imported. http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....store&tool=all

I hate having to buy all of these friggin metric tools. It just doubles the size of your tool chest needlessly. Maybe I'll just get another set of GearWrench ratcheting combination wrenches in metric.

10 Bears · 10-15-2011, 10:52 AM

Seems like evey piece of equipment has a combo of inch and metric nuts and bolts.
Phukin pisses me off.

500grains · 10-15-2011, 10:54 AM

Pawn shops = American made tools from the 70s and 80s.

dinkydow · 10-15-2011, 11:03 AM

Many older mechanics have retired with a first class tool set and now, only want to sit in a bar and drink themselves to death. They are selling their first rate tool sets off and or are pawning them for beer money.

Pogo · 10-15-2011, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinkydow

Many older mechanics have retired with a first class tool set and now, only want to sit in a bar and drink themselves to death. They are selling their first rate tool sets off and or are pawning them for beer money.

And if you break one of those first class "guaranteed for life" Snap-on wrenches, it is replaced - with a tool made in Taiwan.

Same thing happened to Sears. I don't know where Craftsman tools are made now, but they aren't of the same quality they were 30-40 years ago. I recently returned two broken sockets to Sears that have been broken for several years. They gave me new replacements, but they were junk compared to the old highly polished thin wall sockets that I turned in. They were thick walled (obviously because a lesser grade steel was used), and was looser fitting on the nuts or bolts you were loosening or tightening. And on one, the chrome was starting to chip off. I traded it for another one while still in the store.

The salesman couldn't understand what the problem was. He said if it breaks you can turn it in for another one. But I still wasn't getting the high quality precision socket that I had replaced.

Czubek · 10-15-2011, 11:22 AM

Swap meets, flea markets and many other sources lately.

I'm not addicted to Scrap-On, although I have very many of their tools. I have Mac, Matco, Craftsman (older) and whatever else to suite a need or job.

Scrap-On is now available at Costco and other outlets and most are chink and therefore dangerous to use.

Now, I do have quite a few Taiwan and chink tools, that I have had given to me or found, that get made into other one shot then throw away tools or implements. Softened chink sockets make great shaft drivers.

Brian

10 Bears · 10-15-2011, 11:27 AM

I have a chink made 3/4" box/open that is not only bent but twisted in the bending process.
Don't know if it was mine, originally, or when or where it was bent.
Allmost threw it out, a while back.

I'm a sucker for old tools, only one's I've actually lost were the ones that I threw as far as possible when pissed.
Couple years ago I dug up an old pipe wrench that had been burried for too many years.
Solid rust, with wood handle rotted off.
Tried to convince the wife that it was something to be admired.
It dissapeared, somehow, from being displayed on my desk.

Gus · 10-15-2011, 11:29 AM

I still have a few Snap-on socket sets, extensions and rackets from the 1970's.

I also have many other manufactures tools, S&K, Craftsman etc.

Pogo · 10-15-2011, 11:30 AM

I have a set of Taiwan made ratcheting combination wrenches at are fairly nice. I might just go ahead and get a metric set.

I was wanting to buy American, but I see that is just about an impossibility anymore. I don't know where Sears are made, but I just don't like the quality of their tools anymore.

And by far, most of my wrenches are Craftsman, but they are old ones.

5knives · 10-15-2011, 12:01 PM

Snap-On hand tools and wrenches = Taiwan for sure, some China.

Snap-on diagnostic and anything electronic = China.

For quite a few years now (7 or so since phase in began).

Regards,

...

OneShot729 · 10-15-2011, 12:12 PM

Seems any type of tool you buy now is made somewhere over there. Not many brands still manufacture and market "Made in the USA".

I'm proud of the fact, and consider myself fortunate, to work for a company that still does.

dinkydow · 10-15-2011, 12:45 PM

Wright Tools, manufactured in Barbertown Ohio.

Pogo · 10-15-2011, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinkydow

Wright Tools, manufactured in Barbertown Ohio.

JH Williams Tools used to make a lot of tools for Kobalt, Snap-on, Husky, and others. But I don't know if the company still exists.

Lowes sells Kobalt but I noticed their Kobalt tools are now made in Taiwan and China.

AKWARRIOR · 10-15-2011, 01:21 PM

Sad,I remember when the big Snap-On and Mac tool trucks would stop at my uncles mechanic shop and sell stuff.Back when the stuff was made in the US.

thefundamentalist · 10-15-2011, 02:12 PM

I'll be honest and admit I have an SAE set of Gear Wrenches. And, though I know they are foreign, they are a great tool.
I heard rumors a few years ago of Snappy outsourcing to China. Not being a S-O fan it didn't really matter to me, other than knowing they were getting tools made inexpensively yet turning around and selling them at S-O price.

Pawn shops and estate sales are the current gold mine of American tools. It won't last forever, but the getting is good while it lasts.

10-15-2011, 10:45 AM	#1
Pogo Mystic Knight of the Sea Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: The Great Swamp Posts: 81,969	Snap-On tools - Now made in Taiwan? I was doing some researching because I was wanting to get a set of metric ratcheting combination wrenches. I looked at Craftsman, and I didn't like them. I have a set of GearWrench ratcheting combination wrenches for inch measurements, but GearWrench is made in Taiwan. I would rather buy American, but it looks like it's getting close to impossible. I even looked at Snap-on, and many of their tools are now made in Taiwan as well. I learned that from researching a mechanics forum. I knew that the Blue Point line of Snap-on were Taiwan. Now at least some of the tools that are badged as Snap-on are imported. http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....store&tool=all I hate having to buy all of these friggin metric tools. It just doubles the size of your tool chest needlessly. Maybe I'll just get another set of GearWrench ratcheting combination wrenches in metric. __________________ .................................................. ....................................… *We have met the enemy, and he is us!*

10-15-2011, 11:03 AM	#4
dinkydow Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: The Great White North Posts: 96,469	Many older mechanics have retired with a first class tool set and now, only want to sit in a bar and drink themselves to death. They are selling their first rate tool sets off and or are pawning them for beer money. __________________ Our forefathers would have already been shooting...by now. "Let your plans be dark and as impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt." "Violence of action means the unrestricted use of speed,strength, surprise and aggression to achieve total dominance against your enemy...any fighting technique is useless unless you totally commit to violence of action." Burning huts in commy vills worldwide since 1968

10-15-2011, 11:22 AM	#6
Czubek slug Join Date: May 2007 Location: Stover, Missouri Posts: 33,622	Swap meets, flea markets and many other sources lately. I'm not addicted to Scrap-On, although I have very many of their tools. I have Mac, Matco, Craftsman (older) and whatever else to suite a need or job. Scrap-On is now available at Costco and other outlets and most are chink and therefore dangerous to use. Now, I do have quite a few Taiwan and chink tools, that I have had given to me or found, that get made into other one shot then throw away tools or implements. Softened chink sockets make great shaft drivers. Brian __________________ 3 Here at the Dirty Dozen's Bunker, we have no problems, only solutions.

10-15-2011, 01:21 PM	#14
AKWARRIOR Gone Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Here and Now Posts: 13,454	Sad,I remember when the big Snap-On and Mac tool trucks would stop at my uncles mechanic shop and sell stuff.Back when the stuff was made in the US. __________________ WOLVERINES!!! "Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined"-Patrick Henry

10-15-2011, 10:52 AM	#2
10 Bears Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: E-Da-How Posts: 137,846	Seems like evey piece of equipment has a combo of inch and metric nuts and bolts. Phukin pisses me off.

10-15-2011, 10:54 AM	#3
500grains Soldier of Allah Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Crackerland Posts: 31,662	Pawn shops = American made tools from the 70s and 80s.

10-15-2011, 11:27 AM	#7
10 Bears Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: E-Da-How Posts: 137,846	I have a chink made 3/4" box/open that is not only bent but twisted in the bending process. Don't know if it was mine, originally, or when or where it was bent. Allmost threw it out, a while back. I'm a sucker for old tools, only one's I've actually lost were the ones that I threw as far as possible when pissed. Couple years ago I dug up an old pipe wrench that had been burried for too many years. Solid rust, with wood handle rotted off. Tried to convince the wife that it was something to be admired. It dissapeared, somehow, from being displayed on my desk.

10-15-2011, 11:29 AM	#8
Gus Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Arizona Posts: 66,849	I still have a few Snap-on socket sets, extensions and rackets from the 1970's. I also have many other manufactures tools, S&K, Craftsman etc.

10-15-2011, 11:30 AM	#9
Pogo Mystic Knight of the Sea Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: The Great Swamp Posts: 81,969	I have a set of Taiwan made ratcheting combination wrenches at are fairly nice. I might just go ahead and get a metric set. I was wanting to buy American, but I see that is just about an impossibility anymore. I don't know where Sears are made, but I just don't like the quality of their tools anymore. And by far, most of my wrenches are Craftsman, but they are old ones.

10-15-2011, 12:01 PM	#10
5knives KaBoom Kontrol Modulator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Colorado, Western Slope Posts: 16,229	Snap-On hand tools and wrenches = Taiwan for sure, some China. Snap-on diagnostic and anything electronic = China. For quite a few years now (7 or so since phase in began). Regards, ...

10-15-2011, 12:12 PM	#11
OneShot729 Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,952	Seems any type of tool you buy now is made somewhere over there. Not many brands still manufacture and market "Made in the USA". I'm proud of the fact, and consider myself fortunate, to work for a company that still does.

10-15-2011, 12:45 PM	#12
dinkydow Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: The Great White North Posts: 96,469	Wright Tools, manufactured in Barbertown Ohio.

10-15-2011, 02:12 PM	#15
thefundamentalist Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 10,887	I'll be honest and admit I have an SAE set of Gear Wrenches. And, though I know they are foreign, they are a great tool. I heard rumors a few years ago of Snappy outsourcing to China. Not being a S-O fan it didn't really matter to me, other than knowing they were getting tools made inexpensively yet turning around and selling them at S-O price. Pawn shops and estate sales are the current gold mine of American tools. It won't last forever, but the getting is good while it lasts.