Milwaukee fanatics

[kmealy]

A while ago, I found a FB group on remodeling.   Under the covers it appears to be a Milwaukee tool fan club.  

 

Some of these guys have definitely been drinking the red Kool-Aid.  The back of their vans are a sea of Milwaukee tools, Pack-out boxes, Milwaukee extension cords, gloves, hats, radios, etc.  I'm wondering what happened to the tools they bought 10 years ago?  And I thought that phenomenon was only for Festool

[kmealy]

[Ron Altier]

Where I worked, my company bought good heavy duty tools. Milwaukee was one of them. Of course I've been retired 22 years, so maybe Milwaukee has changed

 

Edited April 7, 2021 by Ron Altier
add info

[Gunny]

54 minutes ago, Ron Altier said:

Where I worked, my company bought good heavy duty tools. Milwaukee was one of them. Of course I've been retired 22 years, so maybe Milwaukee has changed

 

I have yet to kill any Milwaukee tools.  

[Artie]

7 minutes ago, Gunny said:

I have yet to kill any Milwaukee tools.  

Okay, I gotta ask.......Have you tried?

[kmealy]

Not sure when it happened, but Milwaukee is part of TTI.  Same company owns Ridgid and Ryobi.

 

https://www.protoolreviews.com/news/power-tool-manufacturers-who-owns-them/43632/

[Ron Altier]

2 hours ago, kmealy said:

Not sure when it happened, but Milwaukee is part of TTI.  Same company owns Ridgid and Ryobi.

 

https://www.protoolreviews.com/news/power-tool-manufacturers-who-owns-them/43632/

Wow, that was an eye opener. Very few original manufacturers still in business on their own.

[FlGatorwood]

Very interesting information.  One thing that some men in my family used to say, the tool does not make the man, it is the man that makes the tool look good.  

[forty_caliber]

Wikipedia has quite a bit written about Milwaukee Tools.   The few samples that were passed to me by my father are of the pre-1986 vintage and are truly heavy-duty USA made monsters.   As an example the router is 2HP and weighs in around 20 pounds.  Better be holding on to it when powering it up, the torque will try to twist it out of your hands.  

 

Ownership history

1924: The Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation was established by A. F. Siebert in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

1975: Sold to Amstar.[7]

1986: Sold to Merrill Lynch.

1995: Sold to Atlas Copco.[8][9]

2005: Techtronic Industries.[10]

 

The ones sold today are simply not comparative in quality.  Much like comparing a Detroit built Buick to a plastic Prius.

 

.40

 

[Gunny]

5 hours ago, Artie said:

Okay, I gotta ask.......Have you tried?

 

 

Maybe.... 

[kmealy]

10 hours ago, FlGatorwood said:

Very interesting information.  One thing that some men in my family used to say, the tool does not make the man, it is the man that makes the tool look good.  

I call it the Golfer's Delusion:   
them: If I only had that new $400 putter, I could knock 5 strokes off my game.

me:    No, sooner or later, the determining factor is on the rubber end of the club.

 

 

Or, in our terms, on the wooden end of the hammer.

 

 

One of my sons-in-law works in the town where Ridgid (the plumbing tools) is HQ'd.  As far as I know, they bear no relation to the power tools.  As a general rule, Emerson manufactures “Red” RIDGID tools and TTI manufactures “Orange” RIDGID tools.  Emerson made, at one time, many of the Craftsman power tools (those beginning 113.)

 

Can't tell the players without a scorecard!

Edited April 8, 2021 by kmealy

[Gene Howe]

Started accumulating tools with my first Shopsmith back in the pre internet, pre credit card era. Paid for it with a handwritten check (in cursive). A short stint in the oil patch introduced me to Rigid tools. Mostly pipe wrenches, though. I also learned a few new words. I own a couple of their pipe wrenches, now. The words remain in my vocabulary but, like the wrenches, are seldom used. Usually, in combination with the wrenches. 

Through an expensive T&E process, I ended up with a pile of Porter Cable routers and, a corded drill, another bunch of Makita drills, and one real piece of DeWalt crap. Tried to give it away several times. No takers. I did mange to rid myself of a Crapsman 6" jointer. I hope the recipient finds it useful. I've not missed it at all. I do have a Rigid branded oscillating belt/drum sander that has been a jewel. I'm guessing it's no relation to the wrench people's tools. I don't think I've ever bought a Milwaukee tool. Though, my deceased BIL gave me a 90° drill before he passed.  He was an electrician and used it for running wire in new construction. I've never used it but, it'll get some use after my shop walls are up. It's a mite bit heftier than my Makitas or the PC. I was warned to use auger bits. Spade bits in it could break a wrist! 

I'd guess that the majority of my corded tools and several of the hand tools are all well over 25 years old. Many, over 35. Bought before the brands became some conglomerate's acquisition and got cheapened up. 

Some of my tools have required fixing. One that comes to mind is the old axe. Had to replace the handle twice and the head once. But, it's still a good old axe. 

Edited April 8, 2021 by Gene Howe