build your own power tools factory

Setting up a big workshop can be extremely expensive. For this exact reason I"ve made this collection! While other people waste all of their money on tools, You can save THOUSANDS of dollars by building your own. From mallets and anvils, to welders and vises, I"ve got you covered with 50+ tools!

Building something on your own usually carries with it certain benefits, such as being in full control over what it is you are building and what it will accomplish, as well as a sense of pride when you create something that finally works just the way you want it. If you continue down that path, you may eventually start making your own tools to help build your other creations, and if you also have some CAD software you can make some very high quality tools like this belt grinder.

This build comes to us from [Emiel] aka [The Practical Engineer] who is known for his high quality solenoid engines. His metal work is above and beyond, and one thing he needed was a belt grinder. He decided to make a 3D model of one in CAD and then build it from scratch. The build video goes through his design process in Fusion 360 and then the actual build of this beast of a machine. The motor is 3.5 horsepower which, when paired with a variable frequency drive, can provide all of his belt grinding needs.

Ever wonder who owns Craftsman tools? How about Milwaukee, Mac Tools, or Skilsaw? It may surprise you to know that only a handful of power tool companies own your favorite tools. That’s right, most tool brands fall under a parent company that also controls additional power tool manufacturers and brands. We break it down for you…with charts!

Stanley Black & Decker (SBD) turned heads when it bought Craftsman Tools in 2017 after Sears closed 235 stores in 2015. The company owns many brands, however. Dating back to 1843 with a man named Frederick Stanley, the company quickly formed its roots. In 2010, it merged with another company that started in 1910—Black and Decker. As of 2017, the company maintains a $7.5 billion business in tools & storage alone. SBD brands include:

As it turns out, TTI owns Milwaukee Tool and a host of other power tool companies. It also licenses the RIDGID* and RYOBI names for cordless power tools (Emerson owns RIDGID). TTI stands for Techtronic Industries Company Limited (TTI Group). Founded in 1985 in Hong Kong, TTI sells tools all over the world and employs over 22,000 people. TTI is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and had worldwide annual sales of over US$6 billion in 2017. Their brands include:

Not anymore. In 2017, Chervon acquired Skil Power Tool Brands from Bosch. This added two big brands to their portfolio: Skilsaw and Skil. Chervon started its power tools business unit back in 1993, launching the EGO brand of cordless outdoor power equipment in 2013. In 2018, the company rebranded Skil (including the logo) and announced new 12V and 20V cordless power tools. Today, Chervon tools and products are sold by more than 30,000 stores in 65 countries. Chervon manufactures the following brands:

First off, Bosch Tools only represents part of the Bosch Group which includes Robert Bosch GmbH and over 350 subsidiaries across 60+ countries. In 2003 Robert Bosch GmbH combined its North American power tool and power tool accessory divisions into one organization, forming Robert Bosch Tool Corporation in North America. The company designs, manufactures, and sells power tools, rotary and oscillating tools, power tool accessories, laser and optical leveling devices, and range finding tools all over the globe. Bosch also manufactures the following tools:

Husqvarna Group manufactures chainsaws, trimmers, robotic lawn mowers, and ride-on lawnmowers. The Group also makes garden watering products as well as cutting equipment and diamond tools for the construction and stone industries. They have a presence in more than 100 countries and employ over 13,000 people in 40 countries. Husqvarna Group also owns the following tools:

JPW owns several large brands including Jet, Powermatic, and Wilton. The company has its headquarters in La Vergne, Tennessee but also has operations in Switzerland, Germany, Russia, France, Taiwan, and China. They sell products in 20 countries throughout the world. Their tool brands include:

Apex Tool Group has its headquarters in Sparks, Maryland, USA and employs more than 8,000 workers. They operate in more than 30 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Annual revenues exceed $1.4 billion on the sale of hand tools, power tools, and electronics tools for the industrial, automotive, aerospace, and construction/DIY markets. The following tool manufacturers belong to APEX Tool Group:

Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), Emerson controls power tool manufacturers and products in the industrial, commercial, and residential markets. While TTI licenses the RIDGID name for power tools, Emerson controls the following tools (among others):

Based in Wendlingen, Germany, TTS or Tooltechnic Systems owns Festool (electric and pneumatic tools), Tanos (not to be confused with the guy who destroyed half the universe), Narex, Sawstop, and now Shaper Tools. TTS is truly behind the scenes as it doesn’t really have appear to have its own website (at least not in the US) or an official logo. In bullet point format, its subsidiaries include:

Yamabiko Corporation started in 2008 and has three core business segments: outdoor power equipment, agricultural machinery, and industrial machinery. Based in Japan, Yamabiko is a global company with major markets in Japan and North America, and a growing presence in Europe and Asia. Tool brands include:

Founded over 100 years ago, ITW manufactures specialized industrial equipment, power tools, hand tools, and consumables. ITW operates in 57 countries with over 50,000 employees. They also have more than 17,000 granted and pending patents. ITW brands include:

Who makes Harbor Freight Power Tools remains a mystery—possibly because they may have switched suppliers in the past. Some have suggested LuTool, a company established in June 1999 supplies their power tools. LuTool has headquarters in Ningbo, China, and a North American office in Ontario, Canada. LuTool is owned by Gemay (Ningbo Gemay Industry Co Ltd) which also has its headquarters in Ningbo, China.

Not to be outdone, others have suggested Powerplus as the manufacturer behind the Drill Master, Warrior, Bauer, and Hercules lines of tools. Powerplus is a division of European company Varo with headquarters in Belgium.

Hilti and Makita are just Hilti and Makita. Hilti doesn’t have any subsidiary companies underneath them or a parent company over them. Makita, on the other hand, did acquire the Dolmar brand, bolstering its already-impressive line of outdoor power equipment tools. It’s pretty impressive the market share each of these companies enjoys!

We can’t leave out the popular house brands available at those big-box retailers and home improvement warehouses. Note that many (if not all) of the brands below represent ODM or OEM solutions. That means the tools get specified by the store but executed by another manufacturer. In other scenarios, tools are “offered” to a retailer and then manufactured in bulk upon acceptance of a buyer’s order.

While you may have thought you knew who owned all those power tool manufacturers, consolidation has changed the playing field. By far, Stanley Black & Decker demonstrates the largest buyout pattern. Companies like TTI, Apex Tool Group, ITW, and others also enjoy adding to their numbers.

Ever wonder who owns Craftsman tools? How about Milwaukee, Mac Tools, or Skilsaw? It may surprise you to know that only a handful of power tool companies own your favorite tools. That’s right, most tool brands fall under a parent company that also controls additional power tool manufacturers and brands. We break it down for you…with charts!

Stanley Black & Decker (SBD) turned heads when it bought Craftsman Tools in 2017 after Sears closed 235 stores in 2015. The company owns many brands, however. Dating back to 1843 with a man named Frederick Stanley, the company quickly formed its roots. In 2010, it merged with another company that started in 1910—Black and Decker. As of 2017, the company maintains a $7.5 billion business in tools & storage alone. SBD brands include:

As it turns out, TTI owns Milwaukee Tool and a host of other power tool companies. It also licenses the RIDGID* and RYOBI names for cordless power tools (Emerson owns RIDGID). TTI stands for Techtronic Industries Company Limited (TTI Group). Founded in 1985 in Hong Kong, TTI sells tools all over the world and employs over 22,000 people. TTI is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and had worldwide annual sales of over US$6 billion in 2017. Their brands include:

Not anymore. In 2017, Chervon acquired Skil Power Tool Brands from Bosch. This added two big brands to their portfolio: Skilsaw and Skil. Chervon started its power tools business unit back in 1993, launching the EGO brand of cordless outdoor power equipment in 2013. In 2018, the company rebranded Skil (including the logo) and announced new 12V and 20V cordless power tools. Today, Chervon tools and products are sold by more than 30,000 stores in 65 countries. Chervon manufactures the following brands:

First off, Bosch Tools only represents part of the Bosch Group which includes Robert Bosch GmbH and over 350 subsidiaries across 60+ countries. In 2003 Robert Bosch GmbH combined its North American power tool and power tool accessory divisions into one organization, forming Robert Bosch Tool Corporation in North America. The company designs, manufactures, and sells power tools, rotary and oscillating tools, power tool accessories, laser and optical leveling devices, and range finding tools all over the globe. Bosch also manufactures the following tools:

Husqvarna Group manufactures chainsaws, trimmers, robotic lawn mowers, and ride-on lawnmowers. The Group also makes garden watering products as well as cutting equipment and diamond tools for the construction and stone industries. They have a presence in more than 100 countries and employ over 13,000 people in 40 countries. Husqvarna Group also owns the following tools:

JPW owns several large brands including Jet, Powermatic, and Wilton. The company has its headquarters in La Vergne, Tennessee but also has operations in Switzerland, Germany, Russia, France, Taiwan, and China. They sell products in 20 countries throughout the world. Their tool brands include:

Apex Tool Group has its headquarters in Sparks, Maryland, USA and employs more than 8,000 workers. They operate in more than 30 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Annual revenues exceed $1.4 billion on the sale of hand tools, power tools, and electronics tools for the industrial, automotive, aerospace, and construction/DIY markets. The following tool manufacturers belong to APEX Tool Group:

Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), Emerson controls power tool manufacturers and products in the industrial, commercial, and residential markets. While TTI licenses the RIDGID name for power tools, Emerson controls the following tools (among others):

Based in Wendlingen, Germany, TTS or Tooltechnic Systems owns Festool (electric and pneumatic tools), Tanos (not to be confused with the guy who destroyed half the universe), Narex, Sawstop, and now Shaper Tools. TTS is truly behind the scenes as it doesn’t really have appear to have its own website (at least not in the US) or an official logo. In bullet point format, its subsidiaries include:

Yamabiko Corporation started in 2008 and has three core business segments: outdoor power equipment, agricultural machinery, and industrial machinery. Based in Japan, Yamabiko is a global company with major markets in Japan and North America, and a growing presence in Europe and Asia. Tool brands include:

Founded over 100 years ago, ITW manufactures specialized industrial equipment, power tools, hand tools, and consumables. ITW operates in 57 countries with over 50,000 employees. They also have more than 17,000 granted and pending patents. ITW brands include:

Who makes Harbor Freight Power Tools remains a mystery—possibly because they may have switched suppliers in the past. Some have suggested LuTool, a company established in June 1999 supplies their power tools. LuTool has headquarters in Ningbo, China, and a North American office in Ontario, Canada. LuTool is owned by Gemay (Ningbo Gemay Industry Co Ltd) which also has its headquarters in Ningbo, China.

Not to be outdone, others have suggested Powerplus as the manufacturer behind the Drill Master, Warrior, Bauer, and Hercules lines of tools. Powerplus is a division of European company Varo with headquarters in Belgium.

Hilti and Makita are just Hilti and Makita. Hilti doesn’t have any subsidiary companies underneath them or a parent company over them. Makita, on the other hand, did acquire the Dolmar brand, bolstering its already-impressive line of outdoor power equipment tools. It’s pretty impressive the market share each of these companies enjoys!

We can’t leave out the popular house brands available at those big-box retailers and home improvement warehouses. Note that many (if not all) of the brands below represent ODM or OEM solutions. That means the tools get specified by the store but executed by another manufacturer. In other scenarios, tools are “offered” to a retailer and then manufactured in bulk upon acceptance of a buyer’s order.

While you may have thought you knew who owned all those power tool manufacturers, consolidation has changed the playing field. By far, Stanley Black & Decker demonstrates the largest buyout pattern. Companies like TTI, Apex Tool Group, ITW, and others also enjoy adding to their numbers.

With all the focus on what tools are Made in the USA, we wanted to take stock of what’s actually manufactured and assembled here in the United States and celebrate the companies putting American workers to work. You quickly run into two problems with that, of course. One, we can’t possibly include everybody, and two, the rules keep changing regarding when you can actually say a product or tool is Made in America.

On that first problem, we simply ask you to follow along—we’re going to go through our list in alphabetical order. If we miss a company that makes their tools or equipment in America—let us know in the comments below.

Now, regarding what tools are Made in the USA—for real. We definitely need to back up a bit before we dive in. In June of 2020, the FTC announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for a Made in USA Labeling Rule.

Briggs & Stratton Corporation, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the world’s largest producer of gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment. They also design, manufacture, and market power generators, pressure washers, lawn and garden, turf care, and job site products through their Briggs & Stratton, Simplicity, Snapper, Ferris, Vanguard, Allmand, Billy Goat, Murray, Branco, and Victa brands. Briggs & Stratton designs, manufactures, markets, and services its products in over 100 countries on six continents.

Channellock started making high-quality hand tools back in 1886 when George B. DeArment, a blacksmith from Evansburg, PA, began hand-forging farrier’s tools in a small factory.

Tools made in the USA include Crescent Wiss Next Generation Aviation Snips; Crescent H.K. Porter 14″ PowerPivot Center Cut Double Compound Action Bolt Cutters; and the Crescent JOBOX Crossover Truck Box and JOBOX chests.

Stanley Black and Decker (or SBD) includes almost too many brands to count. Most are familiar with the DeWalt, Craftsman, Stanley, Black + Decker, Bostitch, Irwin, Porter-Cable, Mac Tools, Proto, and Lenox brands—to name just a handful.

Since 1923, Estwing, a family-owned company has designed and manufactured claw hammers, axes, specialty tools, and pry bars for both tradesmen and craftsmen.

Greenlee, a brand of Emerson Electric, employs US workers in seven manufacturing facilities—at least two of which are in the USA. Their Genoa, IL facility opened up back in 1948 and manufactures commercial bending and pulling tools for electricians. It currently employs 73 people while their Louisville, KY facility has a staff of 80 and supplies metal fabricated products, components, sub-assemblies, and weldments for all Greenlee products. In all, they produce over 300 products at this plant.

J. Walter Becker started Ideal Industries back in 1916. Headquartered in Sycamore, IL, Ideal now includes brands such as Casella, Anderson Power Products, Wavetek, SK Tools, and Cree Lighting.

Klein Tools founded its company back in 1857 and still makes the vast majority of its products in the USA. The company has also invested in 4 new U.S. manufacturing facilities in just the past 10 years as well as investing heavily in new equipment and tooling to expand both the capacity and quality of these and its existing plants.

The Benchmade Knife Company is based in Oregon and was founded by Les de Asis in 1987. The company may have been the first to employ high-tech tools like high-power laser cutters and low-tolerance CNC machinery into the knife-manufacturing process. Benchmade makes all of their knives in their 144,000 sq. ft. Oregon City, Oregon manufacturing facility.

Ron Meyer and Si Kraft established the Kraft Tool Co. in 1981. Thirty years later, Kraft Tool continues to manufacture Made-in-the-USA tools for the professional cement finisher, brick mason, asphalt paver, tile setter, plasterer, and drywall craftsman. The Kraft Tool Co acquired several companies and brands over the past 39 years including W. Rose, Sands Level and Tool, Superior Tile Cutter, Inc, and Hi-Craft.

You can’t discuss what tools are Made in the USA without bringing up Leatherman. Leatherman began with an order for 500 tools from Cabela’s back in 1983 when they launched the first Leatherman tool. Originally called the “PST”, or Pocket Survival Tool, it jammed 13 different tools into a folded-up 5 ounce, 4-inch toolbox. Over the next decade, Leatherman sold over one million of these multi-tools.

We mentioned this company earlier as part of SBD, but Lenox Tools has an interesting history of its own. It began in 1915 as the “American Saw and Manufacturing Company” with just 10 employees. Back then, they made hacksaw blades. Over 100 years later, Lenox makes industrial saw blades, hand tools, power tool accessories, and other products. The company still, however, designs, tests, and manufactures products in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts using global materials.

Malco Products got its start in 1950 when Mark W. Keymer, a young steel supply salesman, decided to manufacture and market a pipe crimper he had invented for use in installing sheet metal ductwork. Decades later, early Malco crimpers, seamers, notchers, and punches have since been joined by hundreds of other specialty tools——nearly all of them made in the company’s Annandale, Minnesota plant. That includes turboshear drill attachments, Turbo Crimpers, Hole cutters, Andy and Max Snips, Seamers, and Mini Brakes.

Matco Tools, a subsidiary of Fortive Corporation, began in 1946. Since 1979 they’ve sold automotive tools and products directly through a network of independent franchised tool trucks.

In the works, Milwaukee also plans to manufacture hand tools in a new facility in West Bend, WI. This plant focuses on tools for electricians, plumbing & mechanical trades, and utility linemen.

Opened in 1986, Proto’s Dallas, TX manufacturing facility manufactures Proto and Blackhawk sockets, wrenches, drive tools, and torque wrenches. This includes calibration as well as the associated heat treatment, and plating processes.

The Ridge Tool Company incorporated in Elyria, Ohio back in 1923. It began with the introduction of the now-iconic Ridgid pipe wrench, a tool still in use today. In 1966 Ridge Tool Company became part of Emerson Electric. To this day, the company still makes press jaws, pipe wrenches, roll grooving tools, threading dies & threaders, pipe cutters, hole-cutting tools, handheld power drives, and pipe bevelers in their Elyria plant.

Note:SK Professional Tools was acquired by GreatStar Tools USA on October 28, 2021 (SK was formerly part of Ideal Industries). GreatStar Tools USA is based out of Hangzhou, China.

Nearly anytime we bring up what tools are Made in the USA, Snap-on gets mentioned. In 1920, Joseph Johnson, an engineer from Milwaukee, and his co-worker, William Seidemann made the very first Snap-on tools. They spent weekends using crude bending jigs and pure muscle to fashion two sample sets of five handles and ten sockets.

Snap-on currently makes many of its ratchets, wrenches, screwdrivers, roller cabinets, sandblasters, and certain diagnostic tools in its Kenosha, WI manufacturing facility.

Southwire Company had its founding as a manufacturing company in Carrollton, Georgia in 1950. They have facilities nationwide with more than 7,000 employees. The company produces everything from wire and cable to hand tools and equipment. Southwire’s Made In America hand tools program features an extensive line of products made in the USA—part of their commitment to US manufacturing. This also includes their Seatek Series, Sumner Manufacturing Co. product line, along with a majority of Southwire extension cords and contractor equipment product categories.

In 1880, Laroy Sunderland Starrett invented and made the world’s first combination square in Athol, Massachusetts. 140 years, thousands of employees, and millions of precision tools, gages, and saw blades later, the L.S. Starrett Company continues to manufacture the lion’s share of its tools here in the States.

Stihl builds nearly 100 different products from both domestic and foreign components right in this state-of-the-art facility. This includes gas and battery-powered blowers, string trimmers, hedge trimmers, pole and chain saws, multi-head units, shredders, and sprayers

Titan USA, based in West Springfield, Massachusetts, started around 50 years ago. The company prides itself on producing solid carbide, high-speed steel, and cobalt precision cutting tools. All are 100% Made in the USA. That includes endmills, micro endmills, thread mills, drill mills, drills, chamfer mills, taps and dies, reamers, burs, and countersinks.

The company currently makes over 17 different types of tools in their Bushnell, Illinois manufacturing facility. That includes hammers, picks, mallets, hatchets, nail pullers, and pry bars. In addition, Vaughan & Bushnell acquired Dasco Pro and makes their punches, chisels, wrecking bars, and awls.

Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Viking Drill & Tool has manufactured high-speed cutting tools since 1951. From the raw material to the finished cutting products, Viking designs, engineers, and manufactures cutting tools in their 74,000 square foot St. Paul facility.

Wilde Tool manufactures hand tools—and the entire start to finish process occurs at their manufacturing facility in Hiawatha, Kansas. You may have never heard of them. In fact, their primary business has them private-labeling tools for several national and international companies, mass merchandisers, and OEM’s.

The company started 95 years ago in Kansas City, Missouri, when brothers Paul and Otto Froeschl thought to angle the nose on ordinary straight-nose pliers 32 degrees to create greater leverage and gripping power. Thus was born the original Wilde Wrench, the first patented pair of angle nose pliers. The rest is literally history.

Years later, the manufacturing of Wilton industrial vises moved to Carpentersville, IL. There, the Wilton brand came alongside JET and Powermatic which, in 2014, became JPW Industries. When we asked Wilton what tools are Made in the USA, they responded with the Wilton Combo Pipe & Bench vises and Machinist Bullet Bench vises.

Since 1927, the Wright Tool Company has manufactured quality hand tools for professionals. Even since striking the first forging in Barberton, Ohio, Wright Tools continue to be made in the USA. They continue to make all of their wrenches, ratchets, sockets, and attachments using U.S. steel. Precision heat treating and advanced manufacturing techniques likely contribute to the fact that Wright can offer a limited lifetime warranty on most of their hand tools.

This mindset and unrelenting focus on the trades began our own internal “revolution” – a period that continues to this day and has enabled us to break away from what was expected of us as a “Electric Power Tool Manufacturer” to become progressive problem solvers across multiple tool and accessory categories