Its been awhile since B&D bought Porter Cable and the Parent Company of Ryobi bought Milwaukee. Has the addition of these well respected brands improved the quality of the basic non trade oriented power tools that the respective companies make?
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Couldn't say, as the tools I buy are to use in the trade.
A co-related question would be that if in fact the non trade quality has gone up..............what has happened to the trade quality in the process?
A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
That's a good question. I saw that HD around me (NJ) has been pushing Hilti and wonder if quality might take a hit as a result.
I don't think hilti would let the quality slip but you never know.
I saw that HD around me (NJ) has been pushing Hilti and wonder if quality might take a hit as a result.@@@Not just in NJ. Here in SoCal there is usually a red-shirted Hilti rep in the tool aisle at the local HD. Still, that hammer drill we got from them is a dream.The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
I just checked my Milwaukee rotary hammer the other day and discovered it was made in Germany - that was a surprise.Most of my Hilti stuff is made in Leitchenstein (spelling?) Good stuff for sure.JT
Had something from the Czech republic. Heat gun, I think.Suspect there is a town called USA in China.The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
I think the B&D branded brand is going down, those at HD in the bright orange and red are just not worth the money. I remeber the portable screwdriver had a removable battery so it was alway hot, now you got to plug in and wait.
There is definitely a town in China called Chicago - the hammer drill I got from Harbor Feright was made there - the angle grinder, too.
Before anybody goes off the deep end here about my HF tools, remember that I'm an old lady HO, not a real guy!
Before anybody goes off the deep end here about my HF tools, remember that I'm an old lady HO, not a real guy!@@@We've got a few and hit their sales. (nothing in orange) Would like to get their magnetic sweeper for this roof project. White Cap wants about $120 for their version. My experience with their stuff thus far has been positive. Their terminal crimper works fine. I left my Anchor version on the boat and now carry a $15 HF crimper in the electrical kit. My crew have their little air nozzles in their bags for a quick blow off. Lead carpenter has their compressor. No issues yet. (His saw is a Skill 77v.)The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
>> Suspect there is a town called USA in China. <<
Don't know about China, but some years ago there was definitely a town in Japan named USA - had a lot of manufacturing facilities there. This was when most things out of Japan were junk.
USA Japan didn't last long - those pesky Yankees caught on to it pretty fast.
JimNever underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
I think Milwaukee's parent company also owns AEG.- KitTechnique is proof of your seriousness. - Wallace Stevens
I worked in a factory and I liked the Milwaukee 3/8" drill motors they had. So I went to the local Ace hardware and bought one. The variable speed trigger on the one I bought was definately not as nice as the one in the factory. It's would be hard to tell unless you had them side by side and you were doing work that you needed the variable speed control for.
Who knows what else they cheapened.
I remember when rockwell turned out a homoline, probably late 70's/early 80's-a green set if my memory is working. I thought the following commercial tools like the 315 replacement saw, took a dive. Hard to tell if it would be company wide or maybe just pcs/parts.
There's quality (in use at least) stuff out there among the various brands. Whether it lasts as long is another story.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
I remember when rockwell turned out a homoline,
I think thats uncalled for!
Always thought you to be more liberal!
Doug
Those were the pink tools.
I'm sorry doug, my screw up. In this case I should have inserted the hyphen there after the homowner abbreviation. So, that would be homo-line. Thus indicating Homowner-line.
fer-ste' stu? (spelling probably not correct but a man of eastern european should maybe understand)A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
I'm sorry doug, my screw up.
NO apologies necessary, it just caught my eye and thought it was funny!
Doug
That factory drill might've been a commercial grade unit and only similar to the one you got at the store in looks only.
I saw the same differences with the drills I used for aircraft structure work. I was getting Ingersoll Rand 1/4" drills through the company supplier for $300+ whereas a look-alike from the stores on the street were selling for $50. There was no comparison to the trigger controls and the torque/performance they had.
The problem with Milwaukee or any other tool maker selling second rate tools is product image.
They sold me a 3/8" drill motor but lost a customer.
It's just another instance of short sighted thinking incorporate America. I'm sick of it.
Their new compact 3/8 angle drill is Chinese.
Is it well built? I'm not against buying from other countries if the tool is well built and is backed up. The best 3/8" drill motor I've ever had was a Hilti. That thing would practically jump out of your hand.
I lived outside of Milwaukee. Great place. Great blue collar educated work force. Ready to come to work and do their jobs.
Edited 12/27/2007 11:43 am ET by popawheelie
Supposedly well built, but it's the principle. China is not known for adhering to procedures and suppliers. Takes a lot away from the first impression to me. But I'm all for German and Japanese tools, maybe even Taiwan.
I forgot to mention I had a Milwaukee 1/2" magnum. It was slow because it was geared down. No problem there. But it was weak also. I could bog it down easily.
What a useless tool. It was kind of in between big and small and wasn't good at either. Cool name though ;^ )
I'd have to say no.
More and more plastic is being added to new tools for the sake of being "lightweight".
I can only hope some of my new tools last as long as the ones I inherited from my grandpa. His SkilSaw is still running strong after all these years.
Woods favorite carpenter
There was never any intent for the purchases to improve the cheap tool lines. The intent was to own a good tool line in addition to the cheapos. If anything, it is more likely that the betters would be dumbed down.
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