Who makes Bauer?

Are they just Chinese copies of American brands?

Isn't that just about the only thing that HF sells, cheap Chinese knock-offs?

It's hard to tell who actually makes Bauer. Easier to tell who owns the brand.
For the most part, the names you see on tools are not the names of the companies that make the tools. The actual manufacturer can change depending on whose factory the corporate parent company is contracting with.


https://toolguyd.com/tool-brands-corporate-affiliations/

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For throwaway things, I'm ok with that. For something like a grinder, I want to buy a western made product, one of the reasons I bought the Metabo which is made in Germany.

Dewalt grinders were US made

My "throwaway" 20 year old $12.99 HLVP HF paint gun and my "throwaway" 15 year old $14.99 HF angle grinder and my "throwaway" 10 year old $19.99 HF buffer along with a bunch of other cheap HF chinese tools must not have got the message that they are not supposed to work. :D

I own more tools than most DIY types including a Bridgeport milling machine, Logan lathe, Snap-On tools, Mac tools, Craftsman tools, Miller tig welder, Chinese mig welder, Milwaukee power tools, Dewalt power tools, Chinese power tools etc etc...

They all have their purpose and have served me well for many years. I have no issue with folks who only like to spend money on premium tools, but I personally don't like to spend more than I need to for any tool that will do the job I need it to. :)

Yup. I have (4) HF angle grinders that I paid $13 each.
Beating them up for 30 years now and still ticking.

I would never know if a Chinese tool would last. I do my best to NOT support the Chinese Communist Government and am happy to pay more for US and German made products because, jobs. And who the **** would be proud to support commies when they don't have to, I don't know.

Very few "American" made items are comprised of 100% American made components. But whatever.... I served this country in the military so at least I have that going for me.

I buy WTF I want. You buy WTF you want. :cool:

From the bench grinder thread, you know I like old stuff.
My 35 year old BOSH still does everything I ask it to.

What's interesting (and I know that they are different) is that it seems that most Makita tools are made in China. They are not really the same as the stuff sold by HF, I suspect.

And these days, HF sells some decent stuff that's competing with the big boys for quality at least for some items.

I just do my best not to buy anything Chinese Steve. It's impossible not to but unpatriotic when there are easy to purchase quality US made alternatives.

Yep, I get it. Just thinking out-loud, below would be my order of preference from best to worst.

Made in USA by USA based company - excellent
Made in someplace like Germany or Japan by some company - excellent
Made in a developing(cheap) labor country other than China - OK
Made in China by a company based somewhere else with focus on quality - OK
Made in China by company based in China with focus on quality - mostly avoid
Made in China by a Chinese company with focus on cheap, quality be damned - ideally avoid 99% of the time

Perfect

I don't think it really matters for general home use. I have a smaller makita 4" or 3.5" I think, it has worked great for a decade or so but I dont use it much. Probably the 19$ HF is fine as well.

I would buy battery operated though assuming you already bought into a brand for batteries.

Plug is fine but that one time you want to cut off some nails in the fence, or trim some flashing on the roof, or whatever.....battery is really nice.

Makita - made in Thailand

If it helps, remember to sing "I don't see nothin wrong... with a li'l bump n grind" while you're sharpening the blades.