Q. I see a lot of imported tools these days, like hammers and dollies, at 'big box' stores and online, and the prices are unbelievably low. How good are these tools, and is it better to buy domestic tools, even if they are more expensive?
Chuck Higgins
Via the Internet
A. The answer to your question is complicated. First of all, we are truly part of a global community these days, and most of our durable goods are manufactured overseas. Countries in Asia seem to be making the majority of the tools that we import these days. Many years ago, the common wisdom was that anything made in the U.S. was a quality product, and anything imported was scrutinized with suspicion. Now, it's not so simple.
All of the U.S.-made hammers and dollies that I've seen are still top-quality, made from drop-forged tool steel. There are several brands of hammers and dollies made in Europe that are quite good, too, although they tend to be more expensive than the U.S. tools, partially because of the costs of shipping. The questionable tools are the ones imported from Asia, with China and Taiwan being some of the largest suppliers.
I have purchased a few tools manufactured in China that were well-made, and very inexpensive. But, I have purchased many more Chinese tools that were poorly made, and although the price was attractive, they just didn't perform very well. Unfortunately, you really can't tell a lot about the quality of a product if you are only looking at a picture in a catalog, or online. I have seen many Asian hammers and dollies that are made from cast iron, and I consider these to be inferior tools, not really designed for serious long-term use.
Back in the 1960s, when Japan was starting to send a lot of manufactured goods to the U.S., the overall quality was poor, but now, Japanese-made products are some of the best in the world. In time, I think we'll see other Asian countries continue to improve their quality, but it's a very uneven mix right now. If at all possible, talk to someone who has purchased tools like the ones you are interested in, to see if they are pleased with their quality and performance. It's a complicated world now that so much manufacturing has gone offshore, and let the buyer beware!
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