can you fly with power tools made in china

Having traveled with thirty or so cordless drills and tens of other tools recently, I decided to look a bit closer into what the rules are when it comes to flying with power tools, hand tools, bolts, nuts, and other hardware.

If you are looking for a quick answer, here you go: in vast majority of cases, you can travel with your tools and hardware. Depending on the tool, you might be able to carry it on, however, I recommend checking all of them in to avoid any potential issues at security. The only exception to that are batteries from your cordless tools which need to be carried on.

While this article is based on FAA and TSA rules for traveling with tools and batteries, they can serve as a rough guideline for your other travels as well. In either case, though, if you are not sure whether or not you can travel with a certain tool or piece of hardware, make sure to get in touch with the local authority as well as your airline.

The general rule when it comes to flying with power tools – whether corded, battery-powered, or engine-powered – is that all of them need to be in your checked in luggage and are prohibited in your carry on.

Battery-powered tools such as cordless drills and saws can technically travel in checked in luggage with their batteries attached, but they have to be prevented from shorting and from accidentally activating.

As such, when it comes to battery-powered tools, I recommend you to remove their batteries and put them in yourcarry on luggage – only putting the tool itself in your checked in luggage.

While most power tool batteries should be within that limit, if you are unsure – and if there is no Whcapacity mentioned on the battery – you can calculate it as follows:

Engine-powered tools such as chainsaws, trimmers and generators are prohibited from both carry on and checked in luggage if there is any fuel left in them – even in the form of residual vapors.

Just like the drills themselves, you cannot carry drill bits in your hand luggage. And, given that sharp objects are prohibited from carry on luggage in general, things such as power saw blades should be packed in your checked luggage as well.

On the other hand, given that – as you will see below – tools under 7-inches long are allowed, in theory you should be able to carry on Phillips and socket bits. However, I would still pack everything in checked luggage to avoid any potential delays at the security check since the final decision rests on the security screening officer.

However, given that there is also the general rule of not being able to carry on sharp items and the fact that the security screening officer makes the final decision about whether or not you can carry something on, I recommend you to put all tools in your checked in luggage.

If you, for one reason or another, you insist on taking your tools into the cabin, here’s a list of some of the tools that are technically allowed in the cabin based on TSA’s website as long as they are under 7 inches long:Multi-tool without blades

As you can see above, in most cases, you will have to check your tools and hardware in. The notable exception being hand tools shorter than 7 inches and scissors with blades shorter than 4 inches.

One last tip: if for some reason you decide to carry on tools, make sure that you arrive at the airport early enough to have enough time to go back from the security check to the check-in counters in case the security staff determines that you must check the tools in.

You can pack almost all tools in checked bags. If you are bringing power tools any spare or loose lithium-ion batteries cannot be packed in checked baggage and much be packed in carry-on bags.

Gas powered tools can be packed in checked bags too. However, if they contain any residue or vapors of gas/oil, they would be considered a hazardous material & prohibited from being transported on the airplane. Even brand new tools can have residues because they are tested before sale. Check with your airline about bringing any gas powered tool in hold luggage.

You cannot bring power tools in carry-on luggage. Fans of the horror movie genre will understand why. Power tools can be used as weapons and that’s why they are not allowed in carry-on bags.

Regular hand tools must be shorter than 7 inches. This is because longer heavier tools could be used to knock someone over the head. Hammers or knives of any size are not allowed in hand luggage.

If the smart baggage is checked in, the battery must be removed and carried as carry-on baggage. Electronic devices installed on the baggage must be powered off during the flight.

Power tools and all tools longer than 7 inches (measured from end to end when assembled) are prohibited in carry-on baggage; these items must be packed in your checked bags.

Now, that isn’t to say there isn’t the potential for safety problems to occur, especially when flying or when lithium-ion batteries don’t have protections. These mainly occur when the lithium-ion battery is overcharged, kept at too high a temperature, or goes through mechanical abuse such as being dropped or tossed around. Of course, there are some issues that can arise during the manufacturing process, but most of the time, companies are very particular about making sure that their batteries are safe. RAVPower is no exception.

Disclaimer: We’d like to address that lithium-ion batteries CANbe dangerous in that they can catch on fire on, especially when flying. It is for this reason that airlines restrict certain li-ion based products, as well as put rules on others – such as power banks. It is also why some lithium-ion products are required to be brought on board in your carry-on luggage so in the unlikely case of a fire, they can be put out immediately.

So what about power banks? Can they be brought on to planes? Well the answer is yes, most power banks will be able to be taken on planes, but there are some limits when flying with a power bank. First of all, power banks that use lithium-ion batteries will need to be taken in your carry-on bag and second of all, power banks that are rated above 100Wh per battery are not allowed, unless you get prior authorization from the airline to bring it on board. Most consumer power banks (including RAVPower’s) are below that level, but some exist that are indeed higher than that.

Airlines need to come into the 21st century and embrace technology as it becomes smarter and smarter every single day. As technology continues to advance, regulatory changes will need to be considered and made by the airlines if they want to have happy customers. However, it is also the duty of the technology companies, smart luggage innovators, and other power bank manufacturers to ensure their products are safe and they should aim to make their technology safe not only on the ground, but also in the air.

Horst Julius Pudwill grew up in Hanover, Germany and in 1971 moved to Hong Kong with his Canadian wife to head up the local Volkswagen office. He never moved back home. Instead he started a trading company that evolved into Techtronic Industries, one of the world"s largest power tool companies, and today he"s a billionaire.

Credit Pudwill, 71, with making construction tasks easier with smarter tools for a new, tech-savvy generation--indeed, TTI"s power tools now come with mobile-phone applications. Its Milwaukee brand is No. 1 in Australia, the U.S. and Canada in electric drills, screwdrivers, saws and other power tools. Its Hoover vacuum-cleaner brand is so iconic that many people use it as a verb, such as to hoover the carpet.

In Dongguan in southern China, in a nearly 3-million-square-foot factory compound, employees in red, yellow and blue outfits churn out millions of tools each year. Most are made for professionals, destined for the construction sites of tunnels, skyscrapers or Internet data centers. Others will go to the do-it-yourself market.

No other China-factory owner has made it this big with his own brands in developed markets. "I have no competition from Korea, Taiwan or China," says Pudwill over the background chatter of early diners in an executive lounge at Hong Kong"s Grand Hyatt hotel. "Today all my competitors are Japanese, American and German." Estimates put its power tools unit at No. 1 worldwide or at least a close No. 2, running neck-and-neck with

They sourced hand tools for Western brands from suppliers in Taiwan, Japan and South Korea. But soon Pudwill started worrying: "I said to Roy, If we want to be successful, we must be sure we control our destiny, invest some money and do our own manufacturing." " TTI was born in 1985.

Soon Pudwill hit the same roadblock many China-factory owners have. The top player in power tools in the U.S., Sears" Craftsman brand, was critical to TTI"s future because it controlled much of the U.S. tool market. But it was deeply skeptical of China-made goods and sourced products only from North America and Japan. "We were their first supplier to come from China," he says. "It took them a long time, more than three years, to increase their volume, to buy more. They slowly accepted made-in-China and knew the quality was good. We did our quality control. They also did quality control. We checked, and they checked."

Pudwill"s big break came in 1988, when Ryobi of Japan needed a manufacturer for itsRyobi-brand power toolbusiness. Ryobi ended up taking a 20% stake in TTI, leading to an initial public offering two years later. But a quirk of history intervened in TTI"s stock debut. The shares rose 35%, only to plunge 40% by the market"s close after banking giant HSBC said it would move its headquarters from Hong Kong to London, deepening the pre-handover gloom hanging over the British colony. "If you have lived in Hong Kong long enough and you think as an outsider, you"d know it"ll be okay," he says. "China was not hostile to us, as companies. I thought it"d be okay."

So in 1999 TTI started a string of acquisitions, 11 in all. Its product portfolio expanded to include the British vacuum-cleaner brand Vax and America"s Hoover and Dirt Devil vacuum cleaners, DreBo Power Tool drill bits and Stiletto hand tools. Two deals were definitive: buying the Ryobi brand of power tools and outdoor power equipment in 2000 and the purchase of the Milwaukee brand of power tools in 2005 from its Swedish owner. Today TTI"s power tool business generates nearly 75% of its revenue.

Home Depot was already the largest home improvement retailer in the U.S. and went on to become the world"s largest, taking TTI with it. Today more than 700 TTI representatives, most in red Milwaukee jackets, roam the stores" power tool aisles, their sales contributing 37% of TTI"s top line.

It was just before this that Pudwill hired Joseph Galli Jr., at first to run the floor-care division and then as chief executive in early 2008, when Pudwill gave up that title but remained as chairman. He"s part of a trio of top management with Pudwill and his son, who owns 2.25%. A wrestler in college, Galli built Black & Decker"s power tool brand DeWalt into the industry"s No. 1 player in the late 1990s but was famously fired as Newell Rubbermaid"s CEO in 2005. He got a second chance at TTI and is now based outside Baltimore, TTI"s American headquarters, just north of a big Black & Decker office. He says that since he started, more than 100 Black & Decker employees have decamped to TTI.

Perhaps riskier than the acquisitions was the company"s decision in 2008 to switch most of TTI"s power tools from electric cords to a new type of battery. Going cordless was not popular with product engineers or consumers; they viewed battery-powered models with trepidation. A friend once told Pudwill that he regarded "cordless power tools as just a gimmick." Says Galli, during a visit to the Hong Kong headquarters: "There"s no question that it"s more powerful than a corded tool. There"s no risk of electric shocks. The young generation of users, the Millennials, have seen cordless everywhere. They grew up with this. The veterans were more skeptical."

Pudwill spends five months a year traveling around the world, meeting customers and seeing firsthand how his tools fare in stores. He gets back to Germany often and still has relatives in Hanover. When he is in Hong Kong he plays tennis regularly, sometimes with his son. "I like it here. People are fast. They get things done. Europeans move slowly. Some parts in Europe are too regulated. I am happy here."

China manufacturing and Industrial Chinese suppliers of tools are known for having low labor and manufacturing costs, higher production capacity, and great business expansion opportunities, so it’s no surprise that people refer to it as the “world’s factory.”

Industrial Chinese suppliers of tools export more manufactured tools than any other country, so it’s no wonder that China is the market leader in the tools industry. The following are only a few examples of Chinese made tools:

There are several advantages and disadvantages to think about before beginning to source tools from China. Since having the right provider is critical to your company’s future, you must make the best possible decision.

✅ Lower production costs: The most major benefit of manufacturing your tools in China is that you can reduce production costs without lowering production volume. This ensures you can increase your profit margin and spend more money on other areas of your business.

✅ Market expansion: One of the major advantages of manufacturing in China is the ease with which you can expand your business into new international markets. If your tools are made in China, there’s a good possibility that people there will be interested in them.

✅ High production in a short time: Industrial Chinese suppliers of tools are capable of producing huge orders of tools in a very short period of time. This is due to China’s ability to afford low-cost labor and its large factories, which actively mass-produce different tools.

✅ Several manufacturers to pick from: If you decide to have your products manufactured in the United States, you cannot have much of choice in choosing your own manufacturer. You can pick and choose the manufacturer which is appropriate for your business in China because there are so many different industrial Chinese suppliers of tools manufacturing various types of tools.

✅ Quality management: When working with industrial Chinese suppliers of tools, creating and ensuring a high-quality product is extremely challenging. You don’t travel to China too often, so you have no idea how good the products are. You might get an impression from the samples, but you won’t know for sure until the final product is made and delivered.

✅ High MOQ: Since China has so many factories that rely on mass production, they expect a high minimum order quantity (MOQ) when negotiating with foreign companies. If the company has been unable to accommodate this, you will need to negotiate with the suppliers or look for a new one of those industrial Chinese suppliers of tools.

✅ The ‘Made in China’ stigma: More people are choosing to make their goods locally or internationally, and industrial Chinese suppliers of tools will use this to attract buyers. However, people continue to purchase tools made in China, so it isn’t a deciding factor.

Finding industrial Chinese suppliers of tools that suit their brand, deliver a fair price, and produce high-quality tools can be challenging for many businesses. It’s a smart idea to know what product you want to be made, the materials you want to use, the price you want to sell it at, and how many you want made before you start looking for industrial Chinese suppliers of tools.

Another website that connects businesses to Chinese suppliers is Made in China. If your company is looking to import industrial tools and spare parts, Made in China is a good option because it offers inspection and reporting facilities.

Attending China’s most famous trade show, the Canton Import and Export Fair, is one of the best places to find industrial Chinese suppliers of tools. It is held twice a year in Guangzhou and is divided into three sections: the first is electronics, the second is home decoration and household products, and the third is clothes, accessories, textiles, and office supplies.

Shanghai, on China’s central coast line, is one of the world’s busiest ports. Tools, electronics, automobiles, networking devices, and steel are the major items made in this city

It can be difficult and stressful to have your tools made in China. We hope this article has been helpful in your cooperation with industrial Chinese suppliers of tools.

Only one difference is it four companies on 48% of the marketplace and Black and Decker owns Stanley DeWalt Craftsman and a half a dozen other companies so therefore they are all basically based upon the same designs and parts Black & Decker owns Lennox Craftsman Irwin tools DeWalt and crib master so what the hell is the difference they’re all Black and Decker

There store brand has never been makita try better try the orange colored rigid Makita tools will hold there own with DeWalt and Milwaukee all day long and if you get in the 40v platform there is no comparison though it is marketed more to the heavy tech mechanic with the torque ranges of impacts and the size combination of grinders

I am a professional ,I have been in the construction industry since july of 1983, I have built countless homes,high rides and everything you can name , and I must say you are wrong . I use a makita saw every day it the no.one selling saw in the world ,along with the complete line of makita tools they are one of the top brands but just so you know the other brand most used is dealt, which used to be sold under black and decker professional, but they changed their name ,but as,apro I dont care who makes the tools long as it performs the way it should I have countless nail guns but surprisingly the guns my employees reach for most is a 99 dollar harbor freight the senco,and Hitachi spend most of their day in my trailer,proof that quilty tools are some times manufactured by the store brand

A professional can use any of these power tools and absolutely do the same quality work . Most of us didn’t start out with the best tools ., Of course I love my equipment and I’m not stuck in one particular brand because they all have their star player …Don’t buy into the hype ….

What difference does it make who DeWalt is owned by? Are you saying they don’t make quality tools? Do you slam Lexus because they’re made by Toyota? Sorry but that’s a really dumb criticism.

Milwaukee, DeWalt and Ridgid are all top quality cordless power tools. Heck, even Ryobi are decent tools for home owners and DIY level guys. I’m not sure what tools you are referring to when you say they are like toilet paper soaked in Kool-aid.

What are you talking about?? First there are no Home Depot branded tools. Second, even ones sold “exclusively” at Home Depot are still not “Home Depot Tools” like Ryobi but this brand is the only one I can think you are try to bash. The rest are unquestionably good tools. Ryobi is part of the same company that owns other high quality tool manufacturers and share some of the same technologies. I’ve had the same Ryobi power tools that I purchased in the early 2000’s and have some other random less used Ryobi power tools, just because I have the batteries and they are not daily commercials work tools. My work tools are all Milwaukee, RIDGID and DeWalt. I have some Husky tool bags and cases and some hand tools. All take daily abuse and use and no issues.

The big box stores do a good rental business. The as a service thing is close to existing on that front now. It was funny, I was building something for a guy and had my chop saw, compressor, nail gun, generator as well as a slew of hand power tools and good ol mechanical hand tools at his site. We were at one of the big box places picking up wood. He had commented a couple of times about how expensive I was. I took him into the rental room, and showed him what the per day rental costs were and it would have only cost him about $50 more a day to rent the big stuff I provided and he DIYed it. The look on his face when he saw that was priceless,

The only tools I have been buying have been Ridgid at HD. If you follow the process and register all the pieces on line within the allotted amount of time post purchase, the tool and the batteries are covered by a lifetime warrantee. In a few years the owners of other brands will be faced with that buy a new tool and battery for $15 more than a new battery or buy a new battery for $15 less than a new tool and battery, while I can just swing by HD and get a replacement for free.

I have had two different instances where I “applied to register” (because you aren’t registered until Ridgid SAYS your are, and even then…) and Ridgid has said, “Registration? We don’t have a registration for this tool” or tools. First time, they said “No registration, please send proof of purchase to us”. When I sent a copy of the HD purchase receipt, they said, “Oh, this tool was registered four times”. Right.

The second time was for the first two Ridgid tools that I had purchased years ago (and registered). Ridgid said, “We have no record of these tools being registered”, i.e. – they won’t warrant the tools, period.

The lifetime warranty is why I have a sack full of RIDGID tools, I find them to be more than adequate and haven’t had any issues with them. I use the 1/2″ drive impact all the time and it still surprises me occasionally when I put it in something I just know it’s not going to have the needed torque to remove and it just buzzes it right off. Such as axel nuts which have never been removed

That’s a fantastic business model, from my perspective. As long as I stick with the same brand, I can make a one-time purchase for expensive batteries and have access to a huge selection of relatively cheap tools? I’m in. Great for customers, great for the brand, as it locks in those customers.

Hmm, except tool batteries are consumable (even rechargeables eventually die) so your one-time purchase is repeat. I’ll take mains powered tools where possible, a copper cable should be cheap compared to a battery pack.

My selling point was being able to leave the tools in a shed and the batteries in the mud room with climate control. Also they’re usually just 18650s if anyone needs to put those idle hands to use in the devil’s right-to-repair workshop.

You forget that one brand can use 4-6 different battery standards for their tools, each one compatible only with some tools. It’s the DSLR lens mount business model, where Canon, Nikon and some others used to have 4-6 different lens mounts (each) for different camera series…

I am more than happy to use a heavy duty cable to connect these $29 power tools to an external high current DC supply. Pesky neighbors wouldn’t want to borrow these tools. :P

If anyone has a better idea, please go forward and let someone know. If you saw the amount of power tools, etc that go running out the door on a weekly basis, and it was YOUR business, you’d try anything you had to, considering no one is allowed to try and stop them for fear of getting fired. The thieves know it, so they get away with it. It’s frustrating to all that would simply like to kick their ass before they hit the door, but yet… There are literally parents using their children as shields to run out and jump into a getaway car! It’s insanity! And if the prices go up, you can start hunting down the thieves and thank them for it. And yes, the cameras do work, and they help to ID thieves, but then police don’t have time to go after every petty thief that has already dumped the stuff at a pawn shop or in someone else’s garage..it’s a domino effect that needs to be stopped…Anyone got any ideas that aren’t full of sarcasm and bashing of what they do try? Can’t say it won’t be a pain in the ass, or that it will work, and thieves will probably find a way around that too.. but what will make it stop?! Pretty sure third world treatment of steal something, lose a hand, wouldn’t go over too well, but….

Get money from customers first – maybe online – then deliver the tools to them at their home the next day. With the money you save not running a store, you could sell the tools cheaper and throw in free delivery.

Hell, I’m making LESS now than I was 15 years ago, despite having grown my skill set significantly. I once owned my own home, now the possibility of owning another is completely out of reach. Meanwhile dickheads like Jeff Bezos exploit workers so he can fly a dildo to the edge of space and give CNN talking heads $100 MILLION each for being tools of the 1%.

let me ask you, when the vast majority of this country is homeless and starving in the street, who is going to be left to be buying power tools, let alone anything else that corporate America sells? Corporate greed is driving America towards COLLAPSE! Spending is what drives our economy, and fewer and fewer Americans are able to participate because of this concentration of wealth. This negative feedback loop has only ONE possible outcome, and it’s disastrous for EVERYONE.

Slippery slope. If it’s easy to defeat it’s pointless. So it’ll end up being integrated into same chip as motor controller. Once the Borg have invaded your drill/saw/etc, it’s easy to take the next step, which is “oh yeah, device demands to phone home” every so often, or else device refuses to work! This way, if someone steals the tool from You after you buy it, We can find/brick it! Oh, this is for telemetry, so we can make our products better! So we can alert you when your tool is getting near needing replacement! You did want to replace every year didn’t you? Or every month? We totally won’t brick your tool in under a month. Welcome to tools “as a service”.

100%. Absolutely spot on. That’s the exact progression with most companies these days, which is why I refuse to use any of them. I’ll go back to hand tools before I use an Adobe model impact.

Power tools aren’t cars dingus. I suppose you’re also advocating for requiring a license and insurance to use that drill? See how your lame, fallacious analogy falls apart? With “logic” like yours, probably not.

You think that is where the profit comes from for tool companies? Industrial buyers spend more in a year than Joe 6 packs entire neighborhood will in a lifetime. I buy 10-15k in Milwaukee tools a year just for my location.

Exactly, what will make or break this will be people/companies who buy, use and abuse these tools for a living in mass, not one random dude who buys one tool that he uses a handful of times over the course of a few decades.

wait for people to forget about it when it’s actually in place in a year and the lack of transparency as to which tools require an activation. oh those lawsuits are going to be fun. sign me up for that class action suit

I worked for home depot for 9 years, I first heard this mentioned by a Milwaukee rep that they were showing it at the store manager meeting (a trade show the show what’s coming to the stores in the near future) I mentioned concerns about longevity because I would imagine it would have to be an electrical Reed switch or something that’s triggered magnetically I dropped my tools all the time how many drops will it take until that falsely deactivates. I also mentioned to him that I know that the margin that home Depot makes on those tools is less than 10%, who’s paying for the security device to protect home Depot the end user? If it eats up more profit margin than the loss that the company is experiencing in a hole then it defeats the purpose so if I was the guest the end user is going to see the price increase which then is just going to keep them from being competitive to the retailers that is not doing this stupid ass program. How he mentioned it he said that they had an internal meeting and this was home depot’s proposal but they’re not really on board of it either again circle back to longevity of the tool that’s their name on the tool it needs to last the same as if it was bought with or without the security device and that’s not likely to be the case.

If the tool stops working, or even if the battery dies, it won’t cause me any major problems. I own HD’s RIDGID tools. If the tool or the battery dies they have a lifetime warranty. I just take it in and get a replacement.

Yes, far larger market for the Ryobi (batteries) then the Milwaukee. Though the Milwaukee tools are worth more, they are only worth 1/2 price to someone already in their red eco-system and those people tend not be on-line looking for steals. Too busy at real jobs. imho, Far better to steal Ryobi batteries and chargers.

Ryobi has made their ONE+ 18 volt tools for 25 years and the Lithium Ion ONE+ batteries work in every ONE+ tool. They recently launched a more powerful 40 volt line, all of which use the same 40 volt batteries in several amp hour capacities. Very likely they’ll still be compatible 25 years from now.

Second thought was any solution simple enough for a minimum wage cashier to do perform and cheap enough not to drive the price of these tools up is going to have a work around up for sale on ebay within a few weeks.

One power transistor few resistors and a microcontroller cost almost nothing. how quickly replacement controllers will be on grey market? And given the tools – they are probably unified anyway.

To a degree, just put the power tools in a checkout counter of their own and if people ask, then say that shoplifters are a problem with these high value goods. Few people would question it to be fair.

It’s probably not about the tools but the labour. covid has screwed up the employment market and by making the tools intelligent home depot can put any unskilled worker behind the counter. personally i would make do with a fuse that is blown in a special procedure to enable operation, kind of like a reverse bricking feature, but no drm needed.

The problem is that is is not where you keep the tools, unless you keep them locked up in the back room, where you only have to worry about employee pilferage. I read on one of the forms I am on that employees are specifically not allowed to even try to stop people from leaving with things in many stores. They are supposed to call the police and file a report an let the insurance deal with it. It is much more expensive to fight off a suite for having an employee get hurt or worse yet, hurt a paying or nonpaying customer. I also know first hand that about 90% of the time that things with the security tags that are supposed to be deactivated at the checkout are not. I no longer even slow down when I buy something and the alarm goes off. They ask me to stop, I just say no thank you and keep on going. I used to stop and I would get the manager and go to the cashier and make a big deal out of it but things never improved playing by the rules and trying to get them to improve. So now I just keep walking.

I would think that if they have an employee theft problem, CASH is a greater problem going missing than a bulky power tool in a box. They seem to have a handle on that.

Thieves are grabbing tools and running out of the store with them. Security can not detain them and by the time they get the police involved, it is too late.

You really think that people steal power tools because they’re poor!? Try it’s because they’re lazy and don’t want to work. You want to address the issues that cause theft? Great. I agree. Let’s address parents not teaching t heir kids morals and ethics and a sense of right and right. Let’s talk about children growing up with a sense of entitlement with no work towards earning that entitlement. Let’s address all of that and then we can START to get to the root cause of crime.

ICs are like medicine. The actual cost of production is very low. What you pay for is R&D and distribution costs. The cost of adding this “feature” is close to zero. They already have a microcontroller in most power tools, it’s just a matter of adding a tiny little bit of firmware to manage the lockout, and a way to communicate with the outside world which could be a simple serial port or optical (they often already have a white led for lighting, they could use it for TX, and add a phototransistor for RX, cost <$0.1)

I know there are some negative possibilities here, but I think they are approaching it from a different angle than people are expecting here. First of all, TTI builds Ryobi, Milwaukee, and Ridgid tools. Ridgid is Home Depot’s “House” brand. First to address battery expense and tool longevity concerns. Ridgid has a (basically) no questions asked lifetime warranty on their tools IF YOU REGISTER THEM IN THE FIRST 90 DAYS (otherwise it’s a 3 year warranty) a battery has a 1 year warranty. The trick is that any tool that comes with a battery covers the battery under the same warranty as the tool (except their vacuums which I found out thru sad experience). I have used the warranty once, they literally sent me two new batteries and let me keep the old ones.

Second, for the subscription model everyone is scared of. They will be doing this over Bluetooth. There are already Milwaukee tools that have the feature and all of my batteries are Bluetooth enabled. You can optionally pair them to an app and use it to see battery stats, lock the battery, and make the battery chirp if you can’t find it. I rarely use it, but I have to locate a battery a few times. Also useful to lock your batteries and make them useless to criminals.

I have 7 Bluetooth enabled batteries, 3 x 3Ah, 3 x 6Ah, and a 9Ah. I purchased them with tools, so all but the 9Ah is covered lifetime (the 9Ah came with the vacuum). I am not a professional, but I do use them a lot, and have had no trouble. I actually pulled some old chargers apart for the battery holder and contacts and installed them in some power wheels for my kids. The batteries will get replaced free when they die, so why not? Also, power wheels batteries are the real rip-off. I know some of you like to hate stuff for the sake of hating it, but at least for now I don’t see any mal intent here, and I have been VERY happy with my Ridgid tools. My oldest drill from them is about 8 years old and still going strong.

With registration tools AND batteries have lifetime warranty with HD house brand. They use Bluetooth for locating tools/batteries, as well as stats, and give you an option to lock your tools. If no app, tools work as normal unless you expressly locked them.

TBH, I was given a set of Ridgid tools when I was younger and just kept going with them. I continued because I liked the lifetime warranty on the batteries. I agree they are not the BEST tools, but they are no B&D garbage. I have never had a real issue and I don’t see a reason to plop large sums of cash for tool quality that will not realistically benefit me. That just seems stupid.

HDX is home depot’s house brand for simple tools and supplies. I have never seen an HDX power drill myself. Home Depot “Launched” the Ridgid line in 2003 and has exclusive rights to sell. From my research and talking to people home depot also services the lifetime warranty for the power tool line. This discussion is not about the Ryobi line, and I don’t care for their power tools (the battery design bugs me) so I have not done much research beyond knowing they are also produced by TTI. Do your (any?) research before you spout off bud.

The lifetime warranty for Ridgid tools is serviced by home depot. If you try to register the tool it will ask for the Home Depot receipt (there are a couple other options like if it was purchased at a Ridgid trade show or home depot website, but home Depot receipt is the primary option, you can not buy from an online outlet besides HD and get a warranty).

With this change to their tools, people will first have to stop at the register before leaving.. it’s ridiculous to burden customers with this requirement.

You’re a funny guy. I actually have a few. They take forever, even in softer wood, and look at driving screws, or drilling through metal or steel. Not going there. Should we also give our power saws away and onlynuse a hand saw to build your house and furniture? You think it takes a long time to build now, if we go back to 1940’s era tools and practices, we will never get out of the housing shortage.

Sounds like the perfect opportunity for someone to start a business selling converted versions of the tools. Send the battery in, replace the locked guts with your own unlocked version, send back out.

I’m not convinced this isn’t a bluff until we know more about it. If they come up with a creative way to stop shoplifting, good on them. I just don’t see how they could easily implement this from manufacturing to POS. I’ve worked retail, I’ve repaired my own power tools. I doubt they’ll add any wireless technology, so that means physically doing something to unlock the tool at the POS. I could see adding Bluetooth chips to unlock something big like a miter saw, but that would be a lot of investment for a $79.99 drill or saw- usually left out in the open (versus behind a locked gate) and thus the low hanging fruit for theft.

Apparently some tools already have Bluetooth locks in them (e.g., https://onekeysupport.milwaukeetool.com/en/knowledge/ios-tool-lockout). I could see integration as easy as scanning the UPC, then scanning a serial number barcode (Nintendo has required this of their retailers since the mid-90s), then pushing a cryptographic activation code via BTLE once the transaction is done. Or they could use EPC/RFID to read the product type and serial number simultaneously. Or replace the UPC with a 2D barcode, etc.

I don’t know why they didn’t simply have the tools on display to look at and hold. Then the other tools in a cage and when I wanted to buy a tool, I could pick up a card, taken it to checkout, swipe and pay for it and have someone bring me the tool. Such a simple and easy system that has been working for countless other stores for decades.

Just in case somebody hasn’t pointed it out yet – the “shoplifting prevention” line is probably a smokescreen. What’s *really* going to happen is the tools will be sold by subscription, and you’ll need to pay a yearly fee to keep using them.

Came here to post this. Absolutely. I can totally see HD replacing their “lifetime warranty” on their Ridgid range of power tools with a subscription model where you no longer own the tool.

I suspect the percentage of tool users who are willing to open up and fix their own tools is pretty high. A subscription model is probably redundant. We already buy consumables: screws, bits, battery packs, and unnecessary accessories.

When I buy a Stihl piece of equipment it is registered at the store I buy it from immediately before I leave the store. A real time saver and great customer service. I’m glad HD is doing that too. I register all my Ridgid tools I buy and it would be a timesavers for me.

Or they say they don’t work. Some just have a battery shell held on with a fancy strap or bracket. I got some air tools off a display from a store that was changing things over to a new display. They insisted they didn’t work but I took them home, screwed in the quick connect fittings, hooked up the hose. Working tools.

I can see that happening for professional grade tools but that will never fly with regular Joe 6 pack who does diy projects at home. I’ll go back to Harbor Freight or buy knockoff tools from somewhere besides HD.

Bulk of retail theft, is the employees… The activation thing, is probably intended more of as a deterrent. Likely, there was already a trend with manufacturers to make smarter tools. Mostly like, the consumer will eventually have the same controls, and more of their purchase. Not always possible to keep your tools in a locked, secure cabinet. Not play toys, for yours, someone else’s kids. Or even just anybody, on a job site. I can see a GPS, or similar tool locator. Really surprised it hasn’t been a ‘thing’ for a while. Tools, get lost. misplaced, sometimes ‘walk’ around on their own… I don’t mind my brother using my tools, but he’s terrible about putting them back where he got them, doesn’t always mention he’s ‘borrowing’ something.

The only affiliation between GE and Hitachi that I am aware of is their joint nuclear energy business. Hitachi power tools are not – to my knowledge – connected to GE in any way.

The lines are so blurred it’s hard to tell. Williams is a Snap-on Industrial brand. Even if certain tools appear similar, there might be small nuances that differentiate the Snap-on tools from Williams ones.

OEM and private label tools is tough to follow as well, as contracts and arrangements change every now and then. Right now, I have no clue as to who else Williams manufacturers tools for outside the Snap-on corporate family.

Williams is much better than bluepoint. A lot of Williams tools are US made, a lot of bluepoint tools are not. And besides, most bluepoint stuff is rebranded anyway.

Danaher is making Craftsman tools now, Danaher started making them in China, Its interesting to know Danaher is owned by Bain capitol which was founded an owned by Mitt Romney, no wonder Craftsman tools are being made in China, Romney absolutely hates American workers!, after finding this out I will never buy another Craftsman tool, I would rather overpay for SK, or Snap On than buy a piece of shit Chinese made Craftsman tool!!!!

Whilst Mitt Romney was a co founder of Bain Capital though his being a partner in the Bain and Company consulting firm, he was also a co owner, not THE owner. In any event he apparently retired as CEO of the firm in 2002, at which time Bain Capital also retired the position of CEO. Since that time Mr Romney has had nothing to do with Bain Capital’s management or with what acquisitions it has made. Sorry if you don’t like Mitt Romney, or believe that he hates American workers, because he had nothing to do with Danaher, Craftsmen tools being farmed out to China, or even Bain Capital purchasing the Apex Tool Group from Cooper Tools and Danaher.

Boy, you got that all wrong. Danaher never made anything in China. Danaher and Cooper group spun off their tool divisions to form Apex . They sold Apex to Bain Capital that has been closing tool divisions like Armstrong, Allen and KD and making tools in Taiwan. Mitt Romney has had nothing to do with Bain for many years so your attempt to tie him to the current situation is just you political viewpoint.

Regardless of when, from whom, or where these acquisitions and transfers took place, the story is fundamentally the same. These corporate conglomerates are nothing more than profit drones – machines in their own right. “They” have no concern for quality, American workers (or any workers for that matter), or the consumers who buy their tools.

Long gone is the norm of companies who took pride in the tools they produced, whose principle concerns were quality and reputation while making enough of a profit to keep the business going, i.e., companies who took satisfaction in creating something of real and lasting value. Sounds quaint doesn’t it?

So where’s the list of people like Thomas Lie-Nielsen of Lie-Nielsen Toolworks who created and carefully built a company based on the principles of quality and reputation, and whose success is one of the rare bright spots in an otherwise dismal industry? Yes, it would be a very short list of a few rare individuals, but it would be nice to provide some recognition for these folks who are not hell bent on destroying everything they touch for the sake of their personal wealth and power.

So where’s the list of people like Thomas Lie-Nielsen of Lie-Nielsen Toolworks who created and carefully built a company based on the principles of quality and reputation, and whose success is one of the rare bright spots in an otherwise dismal industry? Yes, it would be a very short list of a few rare individuals, but it would be nice to provide some recognition for these folks who are not hell bent on destroying everything they touch for the sake of their personal wealth and power.

I can’t praise individuals I haven’t met and don’t know much about. I don’t have experience with Lie-Nielsen tools, although I am quite aware of their reputation.

Other than Bosch (Germany) and TTI, all of the companies are headquarted in the US. It still burns me that TTI is a Chinese owned company and it produces Milwaukee tools. Not knocking their products, they make nice stuff, I just have a hard time seeing the profits go back to China too.

Cleveland, Bassett, Chicago-Latrobe, Cli-Line, Putnam Tools, and Vermont Tap & Die are part of Greenfield Industries, which is owned by Dalian Far East Tools, which is based in China.

It is not the Liberal government that is making all the regulations–many have been instituted under republican admins as well—It has to do with “not in my back yard” mentality. Every one wants energy independence and manufacturing jobs–but not in my backyard–don’t spoil my view. Ps, while I am fine with paying more for my American made tools, to ensure domestic workers have decent wages and conditions the rest of the Wal-mart connoisseurs are only about the cheap price with no regard to the fact their neighbor lost his job and now his kids qualify for free lunch at school because they refuse to look for the USA label.

The same way I would not underestimate Taiwan and Korea as industial powers. Some of the biggest brands in cell phones and computers and parts are from Taiwan. Just to mention a few – Asus, HTC, Acer.

Taiwan is very strong on tools, and I feel most on the tool inovations of the last decades came from there, such as the ratcheting wrench. In fact, the Gearwrench brand is owned by a Taiwaneese company (Lea way), now owned by the Apex group.

Not to mention the fact that TTI is also producing power tools for Ridgid under a negotiated contract. They are probably making those tools overseas to. It is unclear exactly what tools TTI is manufacturing for Ridgid? If anyone knows I would like to know.

TTI designs and manufacturers Ridgid power tools under a licensing agreement with Emerson (Ridgid’s parent company), exclusively for The Home Depot. TTI is the OEM for a lot of Ridgid power tools, but does not own the brand.

From the photos I’ve seen, many Ridgid tools are simply relabeled AEG in other parts of the world. So its not so much that there are two lines of tools, but rather two name plate stamps at the factory.

I would say its the opposite – TTI has the global brand AEG. In the USA they sell AEG tools under Home Depot’s private label Ridgid (Which, as mentioned above, is actually owned by Emerson, and made its name making plumber tools).

TTI develops and produces Ridgid tools and some Craftsman power tools. Chervon also produces certain Craftsman power tools, and Black & Decker produces the Craftsman Matrix modular power tools.

Craftsman’s hand tools come from EVERYWHERE. Apex Tool Group makes a lot of their mechanics tools, Vaughan makes some of their hammers, Stride used to make some of Craftsman’s wire strippers (and Klein’s as well), Knipex made two Craftsman water pump-style adjustable pliers, Keter makes some of Craftsman’s tool boxes, Waterloo makes a lot of Craftsman’s tool chests and cabinets, Bosch produces some of Craftsman’s power tools (e.g. Dremel-style rotary tools) and accessories, Wilde used to make Craftsman’s pry bars, and Western Forge produces (or used to produce) some of Craftsman’s screwdrivers and pliers.

Good article, now you should make one about where these brands produce their tools so that people aren’t surprised when they find out their products aren’t built here.

Under the Stanley-BD umbrella, the Facom brands are missing – Bost (France), USAG and Pastorino (Italy). Those companies still manufacture many of the global SBD tools – mostly under the FACOM name, but not only – for example, Stanley Fatmax screwdrivers (at least in Europe) are rebadged Bost.

The inconsistencies are not deliberate, but result from discretionary decisions. I refrain from mentioning some of the more esoteric industrial parts brands, but mention ITW’s Tapcon and Red Head brands. I tried to focus on tools, in a semi-strict sense, as much as possible.

Thanks for all the tool listings. It really surprised me to learn of the mother companies of a lot of tools I possess. I had no idea that Ideal owed S*K tools. Which is one of my most favorite brands. I always thought Faacom was affiliated with S*K. Tells you what I know.

A mechanical engineer friend of mine awhile back printed several pages of “Who Owned What Tool Company.” I’m sure it is very inaccurate now due to drastic changes in marketing. On the list it showed that Stanley tools formerly made Craftsman hand tools and this was taken over by Danaher. I was always under the impression that Danaher was still making the hand tools for Sears. It looks like to me that the process was part of the Cooper/Danaher merger that was sold to Bain Capital and made into a new company called Apex. Bain seems like such a dirty four lettered word to me. This company knowingly buys big conglomerate companies and breaks them up into little pieces and spits them out all over the place to maximize their profits. Being involved with Bain is what partly hurt Mitt Romney’s chances of election. I shudder when I hear that Bain is part of an acquisition, especially tools.

Danaher was the primary OEM for Craftsman mechanics tools before Danaher and Cooper joined forces, and then the Apex Tool Group took the arrangement with them. I believe the Apex Tool Group is still the primary OEM for Craftsman mechanics hand tools.

It’s hard to say which is the largest and most profitable tool company in the world, as some of these companies are involved in a lot more industries outside of tools, accessories, and related product categories.

According to data from Stanley Black & Decker, as discussed in a recent post, SBD is the largest and most profitable tool manufacturer in the world, at least in regard to construction and DIYer tools.

Very interesting, a list of companies that actually manufacture the tools for the retailers would be helpful to trace tool quality, and then money savings. In other words a list from the bottom up instead of the top down.

Like RIDGID brand power tools, TTI also makes Ryobi tools for the US market as a licensee. They do not own Ryobi which is a company based in Japan which offers totally different tools.

My understanding is that the Ryobi name is trademarked and used under license by OWT, but the entire Ryobi power tools and accessories business itself is owned by TTI. The arrangement TTI has with Ridgid is a little different.

What are you talking about. Danaher has sold off all of their tool businesses. The current owners are Apex owned by Bain Capital and Fortive. Danaher is now only in the the precision measuring equipment business. Medical or some such. NO TOOLS.

I get asked a lot who own/makes Kobalt Cordless Power tools, my research has produced a company called Chervon… What other brands do they own/make? Also… doesn’t Emerson also make Kobalt corded tools in addition to Rigid’s? Some of the models look identical.

Chervon makes some power tools for Craftsman as well, and certain tools for other brands. They’re an OEM. Chervon also makes HammerHead and EGO tools.

TTI designs, produces, and markets Ridgid power tools for Home Depot, and they also produce certain tools for Craftsman. TTI is also responsible for Ryobi power tools in the USA, North America, and Australia, perhaps in other regions as well.

It is explained in the original post. Ridgid plumbing tools are owned by Emerson Electric. Emerson owns the Ridgid name. They have licensed the name to TTI to make the Ridgid power tools sold exclusively by HD. Notice the orange and gray HD colors on the Ridgid power tools. Ridgid plumbing tools are red.

I’m just curious about Freud tools. I know Bosch owns the power tool accessory part of Freud (bits and blades etc.), but who owns the rest of Freud, e.g. the power tool part? Assuming that part is still in operation. I can’t find any info on the Freud site about any of their power tools, only their accessories.

Also, there is another line of professional tools that most people don’t know about in the US, or at least they aren’t that popular, but they do have some serious tools. It is Festool.

They are available from Woodcraft and made in Germany They are serious tools at even more serious prices. Their “domino”joiner has attracted a lot of attention. But $500 to $700 is more than most can spend on a hand power tool.

I believe Frued power tool division is or was still owned by the family that started it if my memory is right after they sold the accessories division. It’s been six years since I worked for BOSCH. Just so everyone knows. Bosch power tools North America has a cooperate office in Mt Prospect IL. It is huge and employs a lot of people. Also Bosch is privately owned and is owned in majority by a charity and others including the Bosch family. Robert Bosch was an inventor and invented a lot things. He worked in a Thomas Edison factory at one point.

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I wrote 52 bad reviews just on amazon warning folks to keep usa, not exchange but order kit repair their self, its easy. Amazon removed all but 4 a week later and stated I bent a rule? So I filed bbb complaint on Sears,Amazon,Menards, anyone else google sent me too selling crapsman tools for false advertising walk in warranty & all had made in USA on websites. They bent rules too…lol

Salesman told me that day Kmart/Sears built a huge manufacturing plant in china a few yrs back and been making craftsman engines & tools. They are junk & get returned daily! They still make money because of cost to make vs selling price, if they give you 100 returns they’re still ahead. Before then you’ll quit and buy another brand. Great company today. Sorry so long, Im almost over it as you can tell…lol

Husky THD950L tile saws are made by Chervon. Apparently according to Home Depots technical assistance line they are making quite a few Husky power tools for Home Depot.

That is a very nice article~! My company is in translation business for many tools companies and at the first it was difficult to get to the right person in this industry with our services, as almost all the companies are not independent!

Congratulations on this Herculean task – well done sir!! I have been interested in this topic for years. By virtue of our last name I had a special interest in HK Porter tools. My grandfather claimed a long lost relative had invented the double-action jaws of bolt cutters, but sold the patent for a pittance. He said if we ever came across those tools with the “HKP” initials molded into the handles we should hang on to them – I have collected 4 antique examples, I wrote to the company asking if they had a company historian who might fill me in on the company’s past. Below is what I received. BTW my genealogical research never turned up any links to that Henry K Porter. It’s also confusing that there was also another Henry K Porter with his own company in those days – they became the 3rd largest manufacturer of locomotives in the US. I’ve never found a link between those two Henrys or companies.

1900 to 1940 – As the horse and buggy gave way to motor power, “bolt cutters” were adapted to many new, modern cutting applications. New cutters were constantly being designed and refined to keep pace with all the new materials to be cut as industry expanded.

1950 to 1980 – During this period, H.K. Porter expanded its product lines to include ratchet, pneumatic and hydraulic cutting tools. Specialized tools were designed for every conceivable application; such as special equipment to help Astronaut Charles Conrad and Alan Bean salvage Surveyor III during their 1969 moon walk.

1988 – The H.K. Porter operation was relocated to the Wiss facility in Statesboro, GA. The H.K. Porter/Wiss/Plumb plant is one of the largest manufacturers of hand held cutting tools in the world.

Who Owns Chicago Electric Tools? I need assistance with a problem with Chicago Electric Tools parts and can not get assistance from Harbor Freight where I originally purchased the tools. Any help, any ideas.

Makita being one of the few independents. It has one of the largest ranges of cordless equipment and continues to add more products to their range faster than any other manufacturer. I have watched them continually add more brushless cordless tools and 36v (2x18V) cordless tools. They have one of the fastest chargers on the market.

Hi there. i’m a new auto body apprentice. I am looking for a socket set for my work. I wonder which of these tools are useful and last longer (Stanley socket set, mastercraft, or maximum)

I have 3 horizontal saws and one vertical saw in my machine shop, and used Lenox blades for a number of years because they outperformed other brands by a noticeable margin. Shortly after the acquisition by Rubbermaid, the quality deteriorated to a level approximately equal to that of Irwin which has always been a producer of hardware store quality cutting tools as opposed to the true industrial quality of Lenox.

As we might expect, the quality went down but the price continued to climb. Given the good quality level of SBD brands like DeWalt and Bostich, its obvious SBD management knows you have to produce a quality product to command a premium price from people who make their living with tools. Rubbermaid obviously doesn’t understand this.

“Our company is Michigan Industrial tools. M.I.T. offers the brands TEKTON, Maxcraft, Workshop, and we currently are a licensee of Goodyear air hose and reels.”

Working at a Woodshop for the several past years that have different brands of tools such as Delta, Porter Cable, Dewalt, Jet, Craftsman, Grizzly, Hitachi and some of that No-Name Chinese garbage, I found out an interesting thing. Many companies have and use the EXACT SAME PARTS on their machines, they only have different part numbers…….sometimes. Sometimes the part numbers are exactly the same as they don’t add any of their own numbers on to the Part Manufacturer’s Numbers.

Look at it this way. If you wanted to design and make your own line of Woodworking tools, you would not be making your own parts, for the most part, you would be purchasing them from an existing parts manufacturer. They have standard parts they make and sell to several different manufacturers. Some are proprietary and can only be sold to that company, but for the most part, to have that, it costs a lot of money so most parts are and can be interchanged. Take a Bandsaw wheel for example. There are only a few different sizes made, i.e. the reason most companies sell the same Bandsaw sizes. So you would pick from the sizes that company is already making, most likely for someone else. Bandsaws really only have two types of designs, the “Box” look and the “Half-Round” look. Take a look at how closely a Jet Bandsaw looks to a Grizzly. I am betting they are getting most of their parts from the same exact manufacturer. Delta may be as well.

My automotive tools are all SK. Very pricey, very good quality. But even then….I wonder how much has changed with them since I acquired alot of this stuff in the 1970’s.

Right now APEX is still mfg. Craftsman tools but that is coming to an end as their contract turns it over to Stanley Black & Decker, and from what I understand SBD is going to be building a factory in the US to mfg. Craftsman.

Danaher is still involved with tools as they still own MATCO. Much of the COBALT brand (Lowes) is made by JS Products out of Las Vegas, they also own Steelman. That may be coming to an end as Lowes will take on Craftsman tools as soon as the dust is settled.

Before I went into the Army, I was an appliance service man at sears in 1966-1967 and I still have many of my craftsman hand tools over 50 years old and still function as they did 50 years go.

Not sure about Wen and cobalt power but cobalt hand tools at this time are made by (imported) JS Products out of Las Vegas this will most likely change when Lowes takes on Craftsman Tools made by Stanley Black & Decker

Stuart, Matco stayed with the Fortive portion of the Danaher breakout. To answer some of the other questions: Prior to Apex the majority of Craftsman tools were built in USA. Places like Dallas, North Carolina, Arkansas.

Your project sounds like a very interesting one, but I am not envious of the challenges you face. Mapping the supply chain for a more complex multi-component product, such as a cordless power tool for instance, would be quite the endeavor.

There are private label brands as well – Husky for Home Depot, Kobalt for Lowes. Also, exclusivity arrangements. You cannot find Hitachi tools at Home Depot, or Milwaukee tools at Lowes. Home Depot has Klein, Lowes now has Southwire.

I’m wondering if anyone knows who manufactures the cordless battery-powered tools for professional mechanics tool lines, specifically the Snap-On, MATCO and MAC brands?

Anyone here remember SeberTech multi tools. I.e. the M4SeberTech USA tool or even the Craftsman 45505 during the 1990’s? Sure Leatherman came out in the late 1980’s, but this was truly a mini multi tool that was made in California and the M4 was the only mini multi tool back then that had a locking blade and tools you could access from the outside.

Well they were acquired by IDL Tools sometime before 2007 and IDL moved all production to China. RocWizard was introduced in 2007, Home Depot and Ace carried this for a while. From what I’ve gathered, Stanley Black and Decker bought IDL tools a while ago.

Wright hand tools is the last remaining 100% independent non multi n