How Important is Made in the USA?

Lockport · May 13, 2011

Actually when you buy foreign products of still developing demographs that historically are plagued by root inarticulateness of philosophies hindering the propogation of bridging our civilizations it offers the market buying power. Eventually this can only be rewarded by the insurmountable opportunity of customer base far beyond the scope that we have ever seen. Long and the short...Reep what you Sow. It's been around for centuries.

doall · May 13, 2011

deep lockport>

ShannonCole888 · May 15, 2011

Aren't most tractors made in India now adays ? India builds, and sales more tractors than anyone else. Massey Ferguson, New Holland, John Deere, Mahindra are all assembled in India. India also produces more cast Iron than the U.S. I believe. I don't know if the tractors in India are made with as high quality steel, or poor quality steel. I have done some research on metal products from India. China is suppose to be the first place cast iron has been used. India is suppose to have high quality steel, and they probably do, but the quality of steel that Howse makes their products with may not be the same they use in the tractors. I don't know. Kuhn is the only know manufacturer of tillers I know that make their tillers out of what appears to be the highest quality of steel reasonable. If you go to tractorhouse, and look at kuhn tillers several years old, compared to like howse, woods, king kutter,phoenix, even frontier. The rust corrosion isn't the same, it appears to be made out of higher quality steel. King Kutter plows, and Howse plows look almost identical, just different paint skeems. I looked at them real close. King Kutter is suppose to be 100% American made, but if Howse has parts made in India, I don't know. They look awfully close to not be the same thing, only different colors. After a year or two, the King Kutter stuff seems to rust quiet a bit. Check out the Kuhn products, and used Kuhn products, compare the difference in the rust, with like the King Kutter. Kuhn is fron France, Sicma is from Italy. Sicma has considerable rust on their tillers, after a few years of use too. The plows everythingattachments are coming out with, appear to be of better steel quality, I don't know, but they appear to be. If anyone knows the quality of steel used in the tractors made in India today vs, the tractors of the 40's-60's your insight would be appreciated. Just because the metal products made in America are used with American materials, put together by Americans, doesn't mean it is of higher quality. It depends are the quality of the material, and the person assembling it. If the person is careless, if may fall apart, if the person is careful, then the product may be more reliable.

ShannonCole888 · May 15, 2011

If anyone knows the grade of steel used in the tractors being assembled in India, their insight is appreciated. I know of tractors built in the 40's that people are still using to this very day. The tractors aren't rust buckets either. I go look a tractors at the dealership, they already have rust on them, and they are brand new. I know it is suppose to be surface rust, but is it ? If the process continues, and it starts flakeing off, is it cheap quality steel ? A good paint job can make cheap steel look good. I am looking for a quality made product, american made, doesn't mean good quality. With so many people on drugs, it is unlikely that products made by americans, are even as good as products overseas. Almost best to build our own tools..

chamjoe · May 15, 2011

I follow the anywhere but China rule where possible and will always give a preference to USA made items. I think its important to our economy to preserve the middle class and no I'm not a union fan. Imagine what would happen to our country if we went to war with China.

I would gladly pay 10% more for a quality USA made item. I would like to preserve the wealth in this country instead of enriching the Chinese.

mjncad · May 16, 2011

After 45+ years of using a little 3-1/2" vise made by Littletown (no longer in business) I treated myself to a Wilton 6-1/2" Tradesman vise. It was so nice to see "Made in USA" cast into it. Now I need to make a pedestal for it as my workbenches aren't strong enough for it.

Yes, I need new workbenches too; but my shop is in the basement and hauling a stout bench down the stairs is not going to happen.

BethesdaEC · May 16, 2011

mjncad said:
After 45+ years of using a little 3-1/2" vise made by Littletown (no longer in business) I treated myself to a Wilton 6-1/2" Tradesman vise. It was so nice to see "Made in USA" cast into it. Now I need to make a pedestal for it as my workbenches aren't strong enough for it.

Yes, I need new workbenches too; but my shop is in the basement and hauling a stout bench down the stairs is not going to happen.

Take a look at the Gladiator workbenches, they have a 1 3/4 inch thick maple top and stout metal legs. Also the legs bolt on so you can assemble it once you get down into the basement. I have three in my basement workshop. Keep an eye on Sears, they will put them on sale periodically.