US built power tools...my insane dream.

[daepp]

I have had the same thought about high end high fidelity equipment. All US made, and pay handsomely for the product designers. It would cost more, but made to a higher standard.

I don't think you would need a life time warranty as I don't think the public expects it.

And along with being well designed, of quality US components, the product literature would be well written, comprehensive, and easy to understand.

Would you pay for it?

[Jim Bremner]

Originally Posted by jyl

Wow, seems like $1100 was a good price for such a magnificent device.

Red Beard. I worked for a couple of the guys that made the $1,100 coffee maker for the airforce. It needed to survive a 20g crash, within 5 minutes it needed to brew a pot in less than 1 minute. Every 5 minutes after that it needed to brew another pot in less than 2 minutes. it couldn't weight more than SX and needed to be smaller than Y but the kicker was that they only needed 200 of them EVER

What was the application that required such a coffee maker? What military vehicle was expected to have a 20g crash that would leave occupants ravenous for coffee within 2 minutes or else?

Bomber, I think that it was for the B1B. The same for the $900 toilet seat and the $800 hamer had to weight a certain weight, length, couldn't spark and had to be a short run as well.

[Jim Bremner]

I try to buy american when ever I can. I was @ homedepot buying lawn sprinkelers RAINBIRD is made in California, right next to a box of mexican made sprinkelers. I wrote on the box MADE IN USA on the Rainbird

[Jim Garfield]

There certainly is a market for good tools that work well. I have probably $10 - 12 k of German made Festool machines (which actually isn't all that many tools ). They are 2 or 3 times more expensive than many "commercial" grade tools ($1300 for a compound miter saw for example), and it takes my breath away when I buy them. The thing that I've found out though, is that even if they cost twice as much they would still be a bargain - because they are so well thought out and manufactured that I can do most projects much faster. They suck up all of the dust so that projects can be done inside instead of running in and out to sand/make cuts and they are a pleasure to use. They have developed a very loyal following because they work so damn well.

[Mr.Puff]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Yes it has in fact. I mean some people would pay extra for that but not enough. Your production costs would be astronomical to find electronic parts not made in asia. I mean there are some very well made foreign power tools and it would be hard to compete with those prices making things in small quantity in the USA.

You are correct. It has been proven that the personal discount rate is rather high. Meaning that people choose options that benefit the short-term with disregard to the long-term.

[herr_oberst]

Invent something that works exactly as advertised like the Drill Doctor and build it in the USA.

Guarantee it with no questions asked.

People will buy it.

(no affiliation)

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I go out of my way to find stuff "Made in the USA" and yes I do (and would) pay more for it.

I see the destruction of U.S. manufacturing as one of the biggest problems facing us right now. Anything we can do to try to resurrect it, bolster it, etc. will help us long-term.

Ultimately an economy depends on being able to deliver TANGIBLE goods and services in order to thrive - not just providing a bunch of management doublespeak gobbleygook and software upgrades to bloatware that nobody understands or cares about. Somewhere along the line we completely lost sight of that and thought it'd be just hunky-dory to allow all our manufacturing might to sail away to China.

Rebuild/renew interest in trades, rebuild American manufacturing and bring back our industrial muscle. I think these things are critical to a long-term, sustainable recovery. I reward these initiatives with my business when and where ever I can.

[Zeke]

On "How It's Made" they showed Milwaukee tools being made here or in Canada, I don't know which, but the factory was 99% white workers. Maybe the sub assemblies come from who-knows-where, but it's American enough for me.

Makita tools that use our voltage are made in the Carolinas somewhere. That's American enough for me.

They both last a long time. I don't think I've ever replaced a Makita tool, only repaired, I've never even repaired a Milwaukee.

Rigid is Ryobi, plain and simple.

[lendaddy]

Guys, it's not as simple as manufacturing to a lesser scale. Power tools are a perfect example of a product that will need a gazillion dedicated tooling setups. Molding for the plastic parts, ditto for the cast metal pieces, etc.... These things cost the same (many times even more)whether you're making 5,000 units or 5 million. So, the "price of admission" becomes the issue. You'd have to spend the same or more in development money as a Makita, spend much more on materials (due to both economies of scale and the fact that you're trying to make a superior product which = superior materials), etc..

I have similar ideas, but you have to have a low tooling cost product.

[Burnin' oil]

Ryobi and Milwaukee are made by the same company, TTI.

[lm6y]

I think Jim Garfield has it right. Don't put a gazillion year warranty on it, just build the damned thing so it doesn't break! Warranty doesn't mean crap when you are in the middle of nowhere, 20ft up on a ladder and whatever tool you use fails.

Build a manly tool that does what it says it will do perfectly, make it easy to use, and well balanced, and weel thought out. It doesn't really have to be pretty, but it does have to be nearly indestructable. That guy on that ladder will tell 10 people about that piece of crap that failed, but might only tell one or two others about the tool that doesn't. He's too busy making money with it.

Think Snap-On. Sure it's expensive, but the stuff is quality, and usually doesn't let you down.

And for God's sake don't quit making parts for them, even if they are 20 years old. Most craftsmen HATE disposable tools. If they like that tool, they want to be able to fix it 20 years from now.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Burnin' oil

Ryobi and Milwaukee are made by the same company, TTI.

They are owned by the same company. I wouldn't compare the 2 even today.

[Burnin' oil]

I can compare them. Ryobi sucks and Milwaukee doesn't.

[Jim Garfield]

I used to buy Milwaukee, I won't buy another. The last two tools, a Sawzall and a heavy duty drill were both crap, lasted a couple years and when the motors went and I took them in to be repaired, it was going to cost 90% of the price of a new one to fix. Bah. As far as I can tell they have run what used to be a great company into the ground and they're living on their once good reputation.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I think you would find a market. How big of a market depends on the cost. Do I believe there are people willing to pay more for a high-quality, made in America tool? Absolutely. 4x as much? Maybe not. Think about the prices that most normal tools sell for, and consider the incredible quantity that the tools are built in. As Len said, they have economies of scale on their side, you don't.

On the upside, your target demographic (tradesmen) tend to be strongly nationalistic. They also depend on their tools, so having something high-quality that wouldn't break is worth a lot. As Im6y said, think Snap On. I think marketing is the absolute key, as these aren't big-box store type tools.

For an example of one, my father in law is a contractor. He goes through DeWalt products like there's no tomorrow, especially batteries. I know that if there was a clearly superior product available, he would pay extra for it. His cabinet shop is equipped with pretty much the best tools money can buy, but they also make is job easier and more efficient. There has to be a clear reason why it's worth spending more money for the same product.

[Jim Bremner]

I have similar ideas, but you have to have a low tooling cost product.


this is the problem. I have a idea in my head but it requires 5 molds at 5-7,000 ea. it kills the project. I know that my Idea will sell and I want to do it HERE! but the start up is too great. I'm thinking of outsourceing the molds to asia, and doing the casting here

[Superman]

I am in a union construction environment, though I am not a construction worker. Never have been. Still, my sense is that the cost of the tool is very much a secondary consideration. The performance of the tool is far more important. Made in USA is also very important. And union-made is also important. So yeah, if you make a super-high-quality product, union made in the USA, there would be some market. But.....the costs would be COLOSSAL, to say the least. Not just the astronomical costs of gearing up for production, and operating costs, but you would also need to market it. You would be starting out with no brand recognition whatsoever, and no distribution agreements.

I'd like to see you, or someone, do this. But you'd surely have to do your homework, and you'd need massive capital.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by Superman

I'd like to see you, or someone, do this. But you'd surely have to do your homework, and you'd need massive capital.

Do you ever wonder if the suggestion ever comes up in the boardrooms at Black and Decker, Stanley or Milwaukee to build hi quality tools in the US? - that's where your capital, expertise, etc, is. Maybe it is time to start lobbying these so called American companies to go back to manufacturing American products for those of us willing to pay for them.

[jyl]

Probably not, because the market would be too small. That's the nice thing, if you could actually pull it off (an all-USA made top quality tool) you'd have a niche market to yourself. Question is if that niche market is big enough to support you.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Burnin' oil

I can compare them. Ryobi sucks and Milwaukee doesn't.

That's what I'm talkin' about.