Does it Matter Where Your Tools Are Made?

There's an interesting editorial piece on Toolmonger titled, "Made In..." This four part series touches on what it means for a tool to be made in a certain region, why some tools cost more than others, and why 'they don't make em like they used to'.

Follow up:

“My dad had a whatsit from that company 30 years ago and it was great!”

And guess what? The manufacturing process they used 30 years ago probably has as much to do with the current manufacturing process as I do with Olympic speed skater Apolo Ohno. The brand may even have changed hands (possibly more than once) during those intervening decades, for better or worse. Again, you’re not buying a 30-year-old product. You’re buying current offerings, so research accordingly.

“I heard this company owns that company…”

First of all, this is likely total hearsay. You wouldn’t believe the bogus goings-round we’ve heard along these lines — even from friends in the know. Yes, some tool companies own multiple brands. They often trade these brands around like playing cards in a game of go fish. But here’s the real skinny: Regardless of who owns whom, it’s common for tool manufactures to apply entirely different manufacturing processes to each tool line — regardless of what name they stamp on it or the color of the housing. Consider each tool individually, regardless of brand.

It's a pretty interesting read. If it matters to you where your tools are coming from, you might want to give this a read.

Part 1 , Part 2, Part 3, Part 4