Made in USA?

[TimH]

Now days its hard to tell where a power tool is made without looking at the label. I heve DeWalt tools made in USA, made in England, etc.

I am in the market for a buffer. Trying to decide between these two quality tools:

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/tylertool_2080_162733448

Milwaukee 5460-6 7/9 in. Dial Speed Control Polisher

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41PJR42yvoL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

Makita 9227C 7-Inch Hook and Loop Electronic Polisher/Sander

I have used Makitas before. Never used the Milwaukee. Having a hard time finding out where they are made. Milwaukee used to be American made but are they still?

[TimH]

If the Milwaukee is still made in USA they should state it on their web site. I dont see it anywhere. I am pretty sure the Makita is made in Japan.
If the Milwaukee is made in China now Ill buy the Makita.

It shouldnt be this difficult to find the information.

[goodbasil]

It doesn't mean a lot Tim. As Leonard Lee of Lee Valley Tools told me, (us), he gets offers all the time from manufactures asking if they can produce a tool for them and they will stamp it, ("Made in ....) Any country he picks.
And the country stamped on it is not always and indication of quality. Remember, Jap Crap? Used to be England, USA, Canada, Germany were an indication of quality but I've seen junk from all of these countries and others.
When I started buying power tools I went to a repairman and asked him what he thought was best. His reply, "Makita, they're never brought in here.)
Makita is good stuff as a rule though I'd prefer better design on most things.
All I have now is a Makita compresser.
Best thing to look for is the guarantee.
If something is made by a Chinese company, not made in China by a parent company from elsewhere, like Delta, then if you need a part you'll be lucky to get it and if you do it will be the wrong one the first couple of times. Most offshore stuff they don't repair, they just replace the whole thing.
Here in B.C., and I expect its the same in Washington, items are sold, "as is."
Also, the price is simply an invitation to make an offer. And they can't sell it for more than the lowest price marked.
As for a guarantee. If the retailer doesn't guarantee it they don't have to refund or exchange even 5 minutes after you've paid. They can send you to the manufacturer. If they don't guarantee your SOL.

Companys like Milwaukee and Makita aren't fly by night outfits so I expect they both have a parts outlet in Seattle. Makita here has a huge warehouse in Richmond which will sell parts and rebuilt tools, (often the best route,) to Joe public. They won't sell new stuff unless you have a wholesale license.
Google for an email or phone number and ask them.

[TimH]

I know Makita is good quality. I dropped a cordless drill off of the deck of a cabin cruiser onto the concrete floor of the storage building. The battery popped out but it still worked fine. I bought one for myself and its been a good unit for the last 15 years (aside from short battery life and replacement price).

In the last 10 years or so I have started to buy American whenever I can. Since I am not in manufacturing anymore you wouldnt think it would matter to me but it still does.

Milwaukee has a great reputation too. With the Makita I would get more for the same price (polishing wheels and a nice carrying bag).

But if the Milwaukee is made here I will get it. My brother owns a body shop and swears by Milwaukee tools. That and Snap-On.

[Steve Paskey]

I googled "milwaukee tools china" ... and it looks like they're built in China.

Milwaukee's own web site states that production was moved from Milwaukee to Mississippi and Arkansas beginning in the mid-1970s. According to a Jan. 2009 article in the Milwaukee Sentinel Journal, in 2008 the manufacturing for ALL Milwaukee power tools was moved to China, and the plants in Mississippi and Arkansas were closed.

See, e.g. ... www.shorewoodnow.com/blogs/communityblogs/43800917.html

[TimH]

Thanks Steve I missed that.

So its Makita or maybe DeWalt.

[TimH]

And then there is Flex. Only one thats easy to see where its made.

Simply the best circular polisher on the market today.

The FLEX LK603VVB Circular Polisher combines the best features of the Makita 9227 and the DeWalt 849 into one sophisticated rotary polisher. The German-made FLEX LK603VVB Circular Polisher is a professional quality, 10 amp car buffer that delivers consistent, smooth performance in a user-friendly package.

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

Hey, Wal Mart is the largest retailer in the world. I wonder what their US content is... not much I bet. I try to buy Canadian or US or European tools, but it's tough

[TimH]

The DeWalt is made in Mexico and Brazil.

[D Happ]

My hat is off to you for trying to find out the country of origin and trying to support America.
I do it every chance I can.

[Noah]

I have the Makita that you showed and love it, if that makes any difference. Great tool.

[TimH]

I have a feeling that little of the profit of a made in Mexico buffer goes to Mexico. And I like Brazil.

DeWalt it is. South America is better than no America :) And a great place to visit (or move to)

[TimH]

I have the Makita that you showed and love it, if that makes any difference. Great tool.

Suprisingly if you look at the reviews people give, lots like the DeWalt over the Makita these days.

I used to use a Makita when I worked at the marina though and rented one once. Great machines.

[SMARTINSEN]

I have a Milwaukee angle grinder, which in essence is not much different from a buffer/polisher. After I wore out an old Porter Cable, I tried to find the best grinder that I could, and I chose the Milwaukee. It has worked hard for me, and it still grinds exceedingly fine. Made in Mexico.

I just bought a Makita cordless drill,on the same principles as above. The batteries on the old one were starting to slow down, but I liked it so much that I bought a new one. Made in China.

I do not think that you could go wrong with either one, but given my preference, I would go for the Milwaukee.

[TimH]

I actually have an old Milwaukee single speed 7" (or was it 8"?) grinder/buffer back east. Doesnt do me any good out here though.

My brother gave it to me when he bought his forst variable speed about 25 years ago. I should ask him what he uses now.

[pcford]

The gears in the Makita give out. Definitely by the Milwaukee unless there have been changes since I last used the tool. No comparison between the two tools. The Milwaukee is heavy but it can take a f**king and keep on clucking.

[Michael D. Storey]

Bosch makes some nice stuff that I always feel safe using. Some in USA stuff, some is priced right.

[Noah]

I got the Makita because of the speed control - it does a really good job keeping the same RPM regardless of the load on the pad.

[goodbasil]

Email to Milwaukee, all their angle grinders are now made in China.

Phone call to Makita warehouse in Richmond, B.C., their most popular angle grinder, 9005B is now made in the States, (used to make it here,) as for the rest, Japan, USA or China. Depending on the model #.

1-800-663-0909 toll free to Makita, give the Model # and Josh will tell you where its made.

[TimH]

Thats a canada only number

[pcford]

If one wants to work on wood, an angle grinder has limited use.

You need a sander-polisher.

[TimH]

I already have a 4-1/2" angle grinder (DeWalt)

Im buying a 7" buffer sander

[TimH]

And actually its for buffing frozen snot :)

[goodbasil]

1-800-462-5482 (Georgia) press 2.

[TimH]

closed now. Ill call Monday.

[katiedobe]

Mexico is part of America too. North America, as much an equal part as Canada!

[TimH]

Yea, but I can see Canada from here :)

[Lew Barrett]

I can barely wait until they start making power tools in America again. And I believe they must. I am sick of buying things that were made in China, if only on pronciple. Even as I ease into "retirement" and a fixed income, I'd rather buy a few less things and even pay more to get quality items that are made right here. Is there any chance we'll see such a thing in our lifetimes?

[Bob Adams]

I hope the do Lew. In the meantime, buy domestic when you can.

[TimH]

Only if people make it known that thats what we want. And let your dollars talk.

[goodbasil]

Some times the lack of quality backfires.
A contractor here was replacing drywall and copper pipe so often that he found it cheaper just to buy and install domestic.

But what am I supposed to do? Buy Canadian or US made? Some Veritas stuff is now made in China. A store here has lots of Stanley tools, most made in China. If I don't buy Chinese made I have to go without.

Theres a Chinese made .5" drill there which I'd like to have. Only $73-- and its
9 amps! He's sold lots of them and none have ever been returned. Hard to argue.

Thing I really hate about buying stuff like the drill is if it conks out I'd prefer to get the part and fix it rather than they just give me a new one and chuck the old one in a landfill. I'm from the school that can get another mile-and-a-half out of anything with a length of bailing wire and some chewing tobacco.

[Pagie]

All my Makita tool are made in Japan.. I have some of them 25 years. Nothing wrong with them. I bought a small sander from dewalt that was supposed to be made in the US and the controller thingo died and it was going to cost more than I paid to get the Dewalt people to look at it. I chucked it and bought Chinese and it has been going for 2 boats now. It cost 25% of the Dewalt.

[Lew Barrett]

Are you sure your DeWalt wasn't made offshore anyway? Most are.

[TimH]

DeWalt seems to be made all over.

My Rockwell orbital sander was made in the US. I bought it around 1983. Had to replace the little rubber u-joint thingy once, but it still purs like a kitten.

[Lew Barrett]

Same for my older Porter Cables. Newer ones? Not so.

I do note that Delta is now making the Unisaw in the USA again....or so they say.
Whereas, apart from the Baldor, the new Powermatic is made offshore. If I were buying another table saw it would be the Saw Stop, a US made product. There are some US/Canadian products to be had....but Cecil's point is well taken.

[TimH]

My new Makita sander/buffer just arrived. - Assembled in USA. Best I could do.

[pipefitter]

I refuse to use Dewalt anymore. There is a pile of their worn out cordless drill/drivers at our shop. My Hitachi 14.4 has outlasted 4 Duhwalts and 2 Rigid drills and they were all 18v. The batteries last a long time between charges. I think half the crap at the box stores batteries have all gone past their born on dates by the time they stock them.

Dewalt's cords rot off them in a years time, even without UV exposure. Makita? I love their circular saws/drywall screw guns and the Lithium Ion drill is pretty good it seems.

[PeterSibley]

Pipes , I think the 18 volt batteries are a problem , especially in NiCad .14 volt seem to last much better .Personally I've stuck to 12v Makita , mainly because the things won't die .

[jgmarine]

HI,
I have the Milwaukee buffer,
You can dial in the speed you want/need, based on the type of polishing compound you use...and it stays there,,foolproof,.great machine.....

Jack

[goodbasil]

I wuz in the store this afternoon.

3" X 21" DeWalt sander, Mexico
Makita angle grinder, assembled in USA
2-Dewalt anglegrinders, China
2 Porter Gable & 1 Dewalt palm sander, Mexico. (And I'll give you 10 to 1 that they all came out of the same vat.)
Black & Decker jigsaw China
DeWalt jigsaw Mexico
Poter Cable "Skill"saw China (This was one of the higher end ones too.)

May as well get used to it, or its no tools atall.

(Almost broke my heart when Porter Cable was bought by Black & Decker.

[Matt Middleton]

Quote: "If I were buying another table saw it would be the Saw Stop, a US made product."

I am not positive, but I thought most of the saw is made overseas, although it may be assembled here. I visited the shop a couple of years ago and it looked like they do design and distribution, but not manufacturing. Still a good product though, with an important feature that nobody can match, yet.

Matt

[Bob Cleek]

Much as I favor "Amurucun 'Arn" myself, I'm afraid we are going to have to face the fact that we live in a global economy, guys.

IF enough US workers were willing to work for 64 cents an hour instead of $21.11 an hour (per 2002 US labor stats), and the goverment were to waive most all environmental regulations on the operation, a US factory could produce a power tool, or anything else, that could compete with a Chinese one on a level price playing field. That might be more likely if US manufacturing workers were dealing with a cost of living environment where there $.64 an hour bought $2.96 worth of stuff in 2002 USD's.

So, let's figure it out. Based on labor costs alone, forgetting about the environmental regulation costs and all that, you have to ask yourself, if I want to "buy American," am I willing to "pay American?" Let's give the Chinese the benefit of the doubt, and equalize the cost of living differential. The Chicom worker gets $2.96 worth of US living for his 64 cents an hour work. Americans get $21.11 (2002 figures). The labor cost differential will add SEVEN HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN PERCENT to the labor cost of the US made tool.

I have no idea what the exact percentage of the labor cost is on a $100 power tool, but, no question, labor is always the largest line item on the profit and loss statement of any business. We could guess that it might represent a conservative 15 percent of the retail cost of the item, maybe. So, your Chicom made $100 power tool is going to cost you $192 if it's made by Red Blooded Americans and labor is only 15 percent of its cost and there's no savings on environmental compliances. In reality, it would probably be closer to $250.

Even if you have a moral aversion to taking advantage of the Chicom semi-slave-labor market, putting American workers out of work, or the worsening balance of trade, it's just plain stupid to pay $250 for a $100 tool. Perhaps it is best to buy the $100 Chicom tool and donate the $150 difference to charity. The Salvation Army helps a lot of out-of-work families in hard times. I'm sure they'd put it to good use.

The sad but simple fact is that the US unskilled assembly line workforce has been priced out of the market. A third-generation high school dropout who figured there would always be a good-paying UAW job down at the local plant, just like Daddy and Grampa had, with medical insurance and a pension, just bet wrong. Unfortunately, there is no longer any need for them. If they are to survive, efforts must be made to provide retraining and re-culturation. That's just the reality of it, sad as that may be. We've all faced this at one point or another. You have to be flexible to adapt to changing times or the times pass you by. "Buying American" doesn't help these folks at all, really.

America IS on the cutting edge. Make no mistake about it. We primarily generate "brain power" and technology these days, not hard manufactured goods. That is the most profitable sector of the global economy, which is why the US controls it. We have very little need for domestic heavy industry because we can buy the goods it produces at a much lower cost than we can produce them for domestically. That is a GOOD thing. If the day comes that we can't, the dictates of the markets will have us opening up new factories and assembly lines. Simple as that.

[RFNK]

Yep, the `only buy American' attitude does look pretty funny from here! Rick

[TimH]

Bob, the amount of labor that goes into a manufactured item these days is not that much. Some factories are so automated they can run virtually "lights out".

And the cost to the end user of a made in US item is usually not that much more than a Chicom item. the main difference is in the amount that goes into the pockets of management.

Our economy cannot survive without in country manufacturing. This whole "service economy" is a pipe dream. As is the"jobless recovery".

Its a smoke and mirrors world these days.

[Lew Barrett]

I am not positive, but I thought most of the saw is made overseas, although it may be assembled here. I visited the shop a couple of years ago and it looked like they do design and distribution, but not manufacturing. Still a good product though, with an important feature that nobody can match, yet.

Matt

You may well be right, but here are a few assumptions:

1. Beismeyer fence, US made.
2. Baldor motor, US made
3. Saw brake....unknown point of origin......US made?
4. Table castings and cabinet assembly? I don't know

But I believe major components are made in the USA, and unlike Jet or Wilton tools, the design and ownership are definitely US. It's probably still the advanced hobbyist/small shop saw to buy though I own a 66 and won't be trading out of it.

[RFNK]

Our economy cannot survive without in country manufacturing. This whole "service economy" is a pipe dream. As is the"jobless recovery".


I'm sure this is true. My own country, Australia, seems to have just about given up manufacturing while we wallow in coal-powered income. However, history has at least shown us that protectionist and similar policies simply lead to continuity of mediocrity or worse within the relevant industries. There may be no better example of this than the, so called, Australian car industry. In my view, countries like Australia and the USA can certainly produce products which compete on quality and price, albeit by incorporating some components from overseas etc. and we should support them. But I'd argue that we can help not only industries within our own countries by supporting quality and value but also manufacturers in places like China and Romania by the same method - supporting, i.e., buying, on the basis of quality and value rather than just price or, worse, misguided nationalism. It doesn't seem very long ago that Made in Japan was a mark of cheapness and low quality. Now it's a stamp of quality. Japan now leads the world in many areas of manufacturing, due, in part at least, to the lazy and inefficient practices which were allowed to continue for far too long in Europe, the US and other places, like Australia. If we now think that China, in particular, is a nation of slave labourers who are only capable of producing inferior goods and the way to help our countries to compete with the `threat' of cheap imports from China is to ignore them, regardless of their actual quality or value, then we do a disservice to ourselves, our respective nations and the global economy. Rick