looks like the Pony/Jorgenson business has been bought by a Chinese firm. Heartbreaking...

Edited November 23, 20178 yr by Ron Dudelston
tags added

Really? Sheesh. I'm done. Home made hand tools! The only way to ensure quality.

Why not? We've already sent most of our jobs to them, they may as well own the companies too.

 

Steve

why not...

we already  bought the chinese knock offs starting the demise of Pony...

c'mon y'all...

tell us about your great chinese deals, how cheap the shid is...

you did it to yourselves...

what ever happen to pro America...

Edited June 7, 20179 yr by Stick486

People need to start buying with their heads instead of their wallets.

 

Complain about the poor quality nails and screws made off-shore. Shop around. Guess what, you can get quality American made screws and nails for about what you pay for the Big Box crap. I always shop for a deal, just like the rest of you. However, I always try and buy goods made in North America. USA and Canada always get first choice. Unfortunately, I am just a breeze in a windstorm. As more and more buy the off-shore crap, because it's cheap and works (for a while anyway) instead of good quality, it adds another nail in the coffin.

 

At least there are still some quality tools makers left in the country and a couple of European countries, but they are constantly challenged by the off-shore crap and may not make it.

25 minutes ago, schnewj said:

People need to start buying with their heads instead of their wallets.

 

don't you just wanna jack slap these ''folks''...

overall thinking w/ your wallet is hardly ever a good plan...

but thinking long range works out out so much better more often than not...

be aware of the intangible cost as well as the tangible costs...

intangible costs sure do jack up the cost of those ''great deals'' and effect/affect the bottom line...

Well, maybe I'm one of those who need slapped....but I think with my head whenever I buy something (at least I try). Decisions on what tool to buy will always be different for a "professional" versus a hobbyist, and for many hobbyists having a crow bar from HF is just as effective as having one made in the US. When you consider the tool may be used 3-4 times in it's lifetime, as opposed to 6 hours every day, the cost difference becomes hard to ignore. Then there's the circumstance that not everyone can afford the high cost of the very best, it's either the cheaper version or nothing. I'm not pimping for Chinese tools, I generally try to get better quality whenever I can and when the application needs it....but there is a reason these cheap tools exist. Even though not all of us agree with the thinking. I have a handful of HF type stuff (only one that I can recall has an electrical wire on it) and for the use these tools see they are quite serviceable. I have a roomful of other higher quality, same thing: they meet my need. But I am still bemoaning the loss of once-great names to Chinese companies. Just my opinion.

Fred, I pretty much agree with what you have written - except for the HF crow bar...

Years ago I needed a wrecking bar, do not even remember what project it was on.  But, the first time I used it I bent the foot end of it nearly straight!  As l said, I don't recall the project; but I do remember that that should not have happened.  I still have it, but it is relegated to light duty only use!

Cal

I must disagree with most of you here.

If American manufacturers want to stay in the game then they must compete, not sit by and have the attitude of "people will buy American no matter what"

Case in point:

The engine of my rototiller failed (piston through the cylinder wall), so I shopped:

Briggs Stratton $350 90 day warranty, if problems take it to the shop and let them try to fix it (if it's a part, then wait for parts to arrive, can take several weeks to get engine back. (I had several warranty repairs done to the tiller (craftsman) 6 weeks minimum repair time)

HF $125 2 yr warranty if problems (any) trade across the counter for another.

 

Which would YOU get?

My Jorgies just attained collector status.

I use my HF locking pliers but, the Vice Grip ones are soooo much better. 

 

As a mechanic I always shopped American made tools and have continued to do so for my hobby tools.  Trouble is finding American made tools even if they have an American name on them.  I will buy a used American made tool in a heart beat.

Pretty sad. I cringe every time I see someone buy a HF 2 hp dust collector, ( or any other HF merchandise ) then spend more money on a pleated filter, and who knows how much time reconfiguring the DC in a manner that the motor is positioned vertically. I really question whether the bearings in that cheap of a motor can handle a side load for long. For about the same price, maybe a little more as the HF DC and a pleated filter, I have something that I didn't have to reconfigure, the resale value is much better, it does a better job, and I'm much more proud to own it. To me it's worth the little extra in cost. I learned my lesson long ago, I had a cheap set of no name bar clamps. When you tighten them the foot walks all over the place, Pony's do not do that, plus they don't rust as easily. You get what you pay for folks, I'm not saying that you have to go out and and buy Festool, a gimmicky SawStop, or even a industrial grade cabinet saw, exc for your hobby shop. I don't, and probably never will. I've been a woodworker long enough to know exactly what I need, and what I don't. In other words I know how to spend my money wisely without buying garbage. But who cares right ?

Edited June 7, 20179 yr by CharlieL

My point (in my second post, which I may have not have made) is that we should have a choice.  That allows us to make the value judgements we need to fit our personal situation(s). But trying to buy almost anything that's made in the US or Canada anymore is tough to do, and getting tougher.

3 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

But trying to buy almost anything that's made in the US or Canada anymore is tough to do, and getting tougher.

 

why????

29 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

My point (in my second post, which I may have not have made) is that we should have a choice.  That allows us to make the value judgements we need to fit our personal situation(s). But trying to buy almost anything that's made in the US or Canada anymore is tough to do, and getting tougher.

In todays environment I generally buy used, but the manufacturers have made that risky also because they quit making parts for older stuff. As much as I luv older Delta, I hate their parts situation, which they did intentionally when they sold out, perhaps forcing some with broken machines to scrap them and  buy new. It's disgusting. 

Edited June 7, 20179 yr by CharlieL

Go ahead an slap me Stick, but I will still buy either or, as long as it does what I want it to do. The American Co.'s have most of their crap made off shore and assembled here in some cases and charge an arm and a leg for it.  It all boils down to MONEY Don't blame the consumer. Blame Pres. Nixon, he was the one who opened up China trade for all his Corporate buddies.

Herb

you really believe that???

We all have to live within our own budgets.When I was working full time, I purchased DeWalt cordless drills, 3 of them. Once retired, replacing a battery proved to be more expensive than buying a Ryobi cordless and drill and impact driver with 2 batteries. My cheap Ryobi's have performed very well . I gave my DeWalts to a friend who already had several batteries for them., Several years ago,because of health issues, I thought my woodworking days were at an end, and I sold my HItachi 10" SCMS, and my Jet 14" band saw and a few other tools. After a great recovery I was back in the shop, needed a SCMS and a band saw. I settled for the HF 10" SCMS and a Craftsman 14" band saw. They're not the best tools,but I'm able to accomplish what I want with them.As a hobbyist, I've never had any issues with any of the cheaper tools.

The cost of a tool is not always an indication of it's quality or it's usefulness to the purchaser.

However, I will not...repeat...will not... go cheap on sharp edges that turn in circles really fast. 

1 hour ago, Gene Howe said:

The cost of a tool is not always an indication of it's quality or it's usefulness to the purchaser.

However, I will not...repeat...will not... go cheap on sharp edges that turn in circles really fast. 

 

how about a declared great deal for a 2½'' fostner bit for a whopping 7 bucks...