Power Tool Manufacturers and Who Really Owns Them

It is Supprising

Too bad they have all let the quality go to crap. Nicholson files aren't worth buying anymore. Stanley started out as Stanley Rule and Level Company, then expanded into other tools. They were the top maker of planes for about 100 years, until the late '60's. They also had really good chisels in that time frame. The new chisels and planes, though patterned after the old ones, don't compare for quality. Most of the time it's the details, not the materials, that are the issue. Stanley needs to tighten quality control in their manufacturing, and relook at their old designs. The new 750 series chisels are too heavy in the edges.

Milwaukee seems to be more plastic than metal in their corded tools. Most, if not all, of the others seem to be the same way. The NAREX brand bench chisels don't seem too bad for the price.

I could fill a page or two with a rant on this subject.

Just like Brunswick owns several boat manufacturers. It might be one owner but they are still made different.

Its what Happened to Troy Builts Quality

The old big named tools are mostly junk today one or two use tools really cheaply made. I bought a old barn shed for a chicken coop it had a old Black and Decker table saw in it. Fixed the legs with a few bolts that thing will rip a 2X4 and has clamp on guides to make straight cuts no plastic except a few of the knobs.

There is a big difference in tool quality when you buy from a real tool/wood store versus the big box stores. The tool may look the same, but the components inside are very different.

Well, I agree to a point. Like everything else it depends on what you are looking at. I will say this much. When I buy a tool, usually I buy about 1 up from what I can really afford. High end tools are usually a better value in the long run. That being said, often times nowadays you don't get what you pay for.

I understand Makita is still it's own company.

Run, how about Makita/Dalmer?
I could be wrong.

Glad no one in the trapper industry changes labels.
LOL

Household appliances are the same. Now many manufacturers, but lots of brands.

X2

I'm a tool enthusiast and have some really top quality, professional-grade tools. Some of them I've used in daily occupation. A quality tool is a pleasure to use and can save much more than its cost in time savings and preventing accidental damage. I have some quality tools that have been passed down from generations before and they are still as useful as when they were new. Heck, I have a toaster that belonged to my great-grandmother and it looks and performs better than anything you can buy at a department store today. That thing was built to last and makes great toast. I'll bet it's nearly 75 years old.

But I've also come to appreciate a cheap, tool, too. Sometimes a cheap tool is the best tool for the job considering the work I need to do with it, the frequency of its use, and the cost of replacement. Afterall, you don't need a top grade Wiha screwdriver to open a can of paint. Sometimes the "right tool for the job" is a cheap, trashy tool that you can use and abuse a few times and throw it in the junk pile.

I got my info off of Garage journal. It's a forum for tool geeks. Makita has some professional grade corded drills that are amazing. I don't think Lowe's sells these professional grade corded drills that I am talking about. My info maybe obsolete. I run Milwaukee and DeWalt @ this point because I have a hard time finding new professional grade corded drills. I know I am rambling but I think Makita bought out Dolmar. I read that Makita acquired Dolmar in 1991.

The old ones are great , very good quality. Now they produce ones made by MTD. Look up MTD , they make a lot of brands , also licensed ones at big box stores that say ' John Deere ' are made by MTD. Go to a real John Deere dealer and they have real John Deere manufactured products , cost more but the real deal.