Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

The fact that we obtain approximately 75% of our drugs from China kind of scares me.

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

I was thinking the same thing. If one good thing has come out of this pandemic, it has opened up some eyes.

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

Well said JT Ford. I don't wish bad on anybody but it's difficult to respect the Chinese government and their policies which have such afar-reaching repercussions on so many levels.

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

And ours?

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

Right on, Mike

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

A long time ago, I installed some waterjet cutters in China. When I finished and was getting ready to come home, my customer technicians asked if they could buy my American tools....they said that Chinese tools were "junk"! I sold them and got enough $$ to replace them with new stuff when I got home.

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

My tools reflect equal opportunity for a wide range of suppliers .... true diversity.

Craftsman, Snap-On, Proto, Blackhawk, Napa, Pennkraft, Mac, Powerkraft, Thorsen, etc., etc.

Rarely bought new sets. Just filled in what I needed at the time both in sae and metric. Had to raise a couple of kids so big expenditures on tools didn't happen.

First car ... first sockets were S-K given to me. I still use them and fondly remember the previous owner.

All of these are U.S. made. Quite a few by the same manufacturer in the same factory (like New Britain Machine).

Anyhow, always got along just fine with all of them. i like my Snap-On screwdrivers, Craftsman 1/2" fine tooth ratchet, and Craftsman 1/4" socket set.

... I would rather look through the flea markets than buy Harbor Freight.

(A new set of golf clubs does not make you a better golfer. Same with hand tools and mechanics.)

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

"It's a poor workman who blames his tool" anon

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

Oh my, I couldn't agree more.
When I first became a tool maker, it became apparent rather quickly that the tool room had the machine tools that well, were poopy compared to the production part of the shop.
We were told that with our schooling, we could make gold out of horse sh--.
We did... there was no option "B".

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

When I was around 10 years old the neighbor two doors down was taking the transmission out of his car in the garage, it was sitting on cheap stamped steel jack stands, it started to rain so the wife moved the riding lawn mower in garage, her foot slipped, the mower bumped the car, the car fell on George. He was around 50 at the time, told my Dad the day before he just paid off the house, he spent the next 30 years in a motorized wheel chair unable to talk. He just died a couple years ago, she still carries the guilt. Sure you can say the jack stand wouldn’t matter but when you’re 10 and you watched all this from the bottom of the driveway it made an impression, the other neighborhood guys who helped get him free made comments of the sort in regards to the stands and jacks with no blocking. When I put a car in the air I go overkill... when I go to swap meets estate sales, auctions or on Craigslist I always look for industrial strength jacks and stands that are in the 40-100 year old range. I never buy anything new.

Hand tools much the same, old Craftsman sockets and wrenches, older Snap-on ratchets, proto, S-K, Matco, MAC, last year I bought a complete 3/4” drive S-K socket set from the 60’s/70’s for around the same as a new China set. I’m rarely disappointed with old quality name tools, as stated above the new tools from the quality names often disappoint. Thankfully I’m an old soul that likes old stuff.....

Mike

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

As a instant buy cheap society. We get what we pay for. There are options, always have been. We always made some stuff here, just never bought it.

Picking up at auctions and garage sales are good, but take time.


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Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

I have some really good quality jackstands and then I have a couple that are the L cheapo‘s for $20 or whatever. I only use those for holding up something that I guarantee you I will not get underneath.
Oh yea, So when are they going to recall this virus?

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

...


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Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

The way things appear to be going you won't have to worry about Chinese junk because there will be no trade between China and the USA or worse . That should serve nicely to deflect any reflection on the quality of the administrations response to the virus !

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

That sounded blatantly political to me, and uncalled for.

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

I agree with BOTH of you!

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

Where do you purchase your floor Jacks from that are American made?

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

My floor jacks are older than me, and I am in my mid-70s.....they are well cared for, and can be rebuilt as they wear.....every tool I have (2 roll away boxes, several hand boxes, and 2 machinist's boxes) is made in USA......as are all my power tools.

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

So awesome. Your a hero seriously. Unfortunately all new floor Jacks I’m aware of are Chinese make. It is also getting harder to find good jack rebuilders as the cheap Chinese junk & people willing to accept it have put the rebuilders out of business.
Keep digging my friend.

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

I have a great USA made floor Jack, Its a treat, I will get a pic and brand for you today.
Lawrie

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

I do too. My Walker 2 ton is USA made and has been trouble free for 20 years. I found a '30's vintage Blackhawk 1 ton bottle jack at a swap. $5. $60 for a rebuild and it's as good new.

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

My jack is a Brunnhoelzl alloy one,
I have had it for 9 years(got it for a birthday prez), never missed a beat.
Used most days in the shed.
Tony, I bet they use these at your shop.
Lawrie

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

Mon Dieu!! I've gotta sit and catch my breath for a minute. Those things are "ONLY" $875 at Speedy Bill's. Looks about the same as my Craftsman alloy jack that has performed wonderfully. DD


https://content.speedwaymotors.com/P...26cbd68b0e.jpg

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

I was in the Navy in the late sixties and was assigned to a relatively new ship, all of the tools on board were made in Spain-you could literally bend a wrench around a bolt with out loosening the bolt and they expected me to rebuild a 12 cylinder diesel with this junk. when one broke I threw the rest in the junk bin, would have been over the side had we been at sea. I used my craftsman wrenches for two years on that ship and repaired a lot of machinery. Look at the quality of the tools you think are made in the US vs old school USA tools

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

Yes yes and yes old tools were built to last forever and will. I see the HF tool post here and on the hamb and always say why in my head. What happens to the tools after you buy them ? Screwdriver gremlins ? Jack stand gremlins ? Now where are to good old tools passed along by family or bought when no harbor freight was around and Craftsman was made in the great USA .
My father told me when I was a kid buy the best tool you can and it should last you a lifetime. Some of my woodworking tools are over a 100 years old and still do a amazing job..
As for jack stands I see guys making the 2x4 risers that fit under the tire. I like that idea and chopping up a dozen or two 2x4 is easy cheap and safe.

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

My favorite jack cost be just $25 off of craigslist. I restored it it (new seals, fluid and a paint job). He had two so I bought them both. When I broke an axel this was the only jack to have. And it has built in locks.

I was great when I redid the rear brakes, because you have to jack this car up so high just to get the rear tires off.

Still trying to get original rubber pads. And it was made in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Yes I still use jack stands with it.

Ok, so I don't use it under the bumper, instead I put the pads under the frame.

One of these on each on side of the car and you have a car hoist.

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

G’day Lawrie. Yes that’s exactly what we use. But who can afford them for hobby use.

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

Hein-Werner Jacks are the "Cadillac" of American-made jacks. Most guys that own a Hein-Werner jack refer to them proudly as their "Hiney". DD


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...7&d=1590242711

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

I totally agree . . . this is ONE part of the problem. The other is that we no longer really have any selection - hard to find "good, better, best" choices for almost anything. When one goes into Home Depot to buy even simple garden tools - you basically can't find anything that is made well and made in this country . . . so what do you do, you buy what they stock and you head back home to your garden . . .

It is sort of a vicious circle -- and too few people will actually PAY for quality these days. They make products that "look good" - but with poor designs, poor materials and shady manufacturing processes . . . and most US shoppers don't know any difference - so they buy the cheapest on the shelf.

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

This is a brand new Hein Werner jack I have. Copy of Lincoln or NAPA

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

Chinese
I have worked on many of these as I have purchased them cheep most leeked or has an issue all near new. I am completely done fixing these as I have more than will last me if I lived to 100. I have next to 0$ in them. Simply because they had issues from brand new.

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

I'm sure most of us on here can recall when Sears sold two completely separate lines of tools. "Dunlap" for the masses and "Craftsman" for those who cared.

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

And now a lot of Craftsman wrenches are 'Hecho en Chine'.

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

"Heck-O" on that 'Hecho-elsewhere' BS from now on! DD

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

You were in the wrong outfit. I was in the Navy from Feb 66 to Nov. 69 in VP squadrons and Naha, Okinawa. We used Navy issue Snap On tools all the time.
We always had great tools. Never went aboard ship though in 4 years in the Navy.

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

My Dad was in there Air Force during the war,I have some of his snap on tools, one a 1/2 ratchet I gave to the snap on man to give it a clean up, he said that style was last made in 1945, so I know where he got it from lol, I still use it today.
Lawrie

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

I don't remember what tool supplier we used in the Army (Hawk Missile System) but I do remember they were high quality!

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

Been a thing for a long long time. Things have been made over seas forever and will continue. In the 60-80's japan made better guitars then the states. Why?

Supply and Demand. If demand is for higher quality and cheap, well it's not possible. The old saying... Cheap, quick, or good. Pick two.



If nobody is going to buy a jack for more money, No one is going to make. I'd personally buy quality over anything. I don't need to rebuy something like a jackstand or a jack. But if cadillac could keep a bumper on a old caddy, why buy another one. :)


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Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

Are you suggesting some Craftsman Tools are not made in China? Your wrong. I doubt Ace Hardware could sell a ⅜" drive socket set or a set of wrenches for $9.99 if they were still Made in USA.

Re: Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
 

I'm aware of the origin of Craftsman stuff any more. The ONLY thing I'm suggesting is that MY dollars will NOT be going westward across the Pacific any more.....FOR SURE! Furthermore, it's likely that my dollars will remain within the confines of the contiguous 48 from now on.....USA! DD