I Found The Weirdest American Tools Made in the USA!
I couldn't go to America and not go on a hunt for USA Made Tools! I spent a few days in Delaware, and visited the local home Depot, Lowes, Harbour Freight and more, looking to find as many quirky and interesting American tools! Here is my top ten, with a very American Brucie Bonus! Let me know which is your favourite tool in the comments below!
00:00 I went to America
00:53 #10 Drain Weasel
01:43 Testing the Drain Weasel
02:13 #9 Gator Grip Universal Socket
03:38 #8 Empire Spirit Levels
05:14 #7 Craftsman Professional Auto Locking Pliers
07:15 #6 Milwaukee ScreWdrivers & Set Square
10:23 #5 Snap On Screwdriver
11:58 #4 Bondhus Allen Keys & Eklind Allen Keys
14:11 #3 Estwing Prybar
15:20 #2 Proto Reversable Circlip Pliers
16:44 #1 Channel Lock Pliers & Retaining Ring
19:32 Brucie Bonus - Bug-A-Salt Shredder
21:48 Testing out the Bug-A-Salt Shredder
25:05 How to Cut Shadow Foam
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Just 12 more payments and the Snap-On screwdriver is all his!
😅 that’s tickled me that!
I have 4 of them, best ratcheting screwdrivers i have ever used.
My son was in an automotive tech program that offered special discounts with Snap-on. 3 grand to set him up for classes and most of it ended up being Bluepoint. SMDH.
We call them cir-clips too.
At least it's slightly cheaper than the Linus Tech Tips ratchet driver.
Definitely should of bought an Estwing hammer those things are on a different level
Next time for sure! 👍
I’m 66. I still have the Estwing hammer I bought at 15 when I started tech school. It still has the Estwing ring too!
Yeah I have my great grandfathers from the 50’s from his old school carpenters kit and it is bulletproof with its wonderful spun leather handle
Depot dropped the Eastwing. Very sad.
Yup, love mine. Top quality product.
As an American, I can tell you that Milwaukee bought Empire Level several years ago so that Milwaukee red square is still an Empire. Also, Eklind makes at least some of the Snap-on Hex keys. Those Milwaukee screwdrivers are excellent. Milwaukee also makes a lot of their Sawzall blades, hole saws, and step bits in the US. All very good quality items. Estwing and Channelock are also great brands and choices. We used to make a lot more but it's nice to see some of this manufacturing returning.
And a fun fact, Eklind was started in 1923 by swedish immigrants Henning and Ruth Eklind.
As a person who uses a milwaukee sawzall at work at work every day I think Milwaukee sawzall blades are junk (at least the fine tooth blades). I prefer Lenox arc blades but they are getting harder and harder to find. A lot the local electrical suppliers sell 25pks of Milwaukee blades so I end up using a lot of them. The best part about Milwaukee is, at least here in a large Canadian city, the availability is good. If you need a specific size hole saw usually the suppliers are good at carrying all the sizes.
Craftsman used to be American made until Eddie Lambert got his mitts on Sears which is where they were sold ( the good ole days)
What happened to Sears was the fault of Sears. The internet crushed Sears. Lambert parted the company out, which saved the Craftsman brand. The buyers of Craftsman moved manufacture off shore. The world changes. Lambert staved off the change, but as they say, time marches on. Those who bought Craftsman had insufficient belief in Craftsman customers. That was a shame but it created opportunity for other quality manufacturers.
Yeah, it’s not like the man save the company from going bankrupt and being not a brand anymore
Craftsman is now owned by standley black and decker. They built a brand new manufacturing plant for hand tools but close months later. Could not make them affordable
Well said
@@JimmeShelter Was Lambert the libertarian idiot who tried to run Sears like Microsoft (every department set on each others' throats to justify yearly budgets), or was that the guy before him?
Those blue spirit levels are really cool, and the build quality of the screwdrivers... *Chefs kiss*
Couldn’t agree more mate! 👌
The Channellock retaining clip pliers are great, except for the fact that the accessory sleeve can get lost easy. I wish they made it so you can store the extra tips in the handle or somewhere else on the tool.
These days, my favorite US made brand (most of their tools) is Tekton. It's the new Craftsman. Although, they aren't sold in many stores, you can find them online pretty easily.
You should have stocked up on those Drain Weasels. When your girls get to my daughters age, 16yrs, you'll be unclogging that bathroom drain every couple months. When I found that it was a God send. I love that product.
I use large zip ties; I make diagonal cuts into the sides to have the hairs hook onto. Stick it in the drain and twist around. Then pull out the gross stuff. Works great and costs next to nothing. Might want to wear one of those shadowfoam kit gloves when making the cuts though ^.~
Haha thanks for the advice mate
@@TheBayru Thanks for the info. Sometimes I use pipe cleaners as well. I twist two together and it works sort of but I'll have to try your method.
Real Americans need a tool like this that works on a cordless drill....
@@JimmeShelteras a plumber, I can assure you that I have made my own drill mounted hair removal tools out of metal clothes hangers, but honestly, manual operation is better
Loving the drain weasel 😂👌🏻👌🏻
By the time you got to #2, I was (quietly) screaming at the screen "Channel Lock!" and then you brought up number 1. Thanks for calming my frayed nerves. I'm going to have to look for those snap-ring pliers.
Thanks so much for sharing. 😉👌🏻
I am with you on the Bondhus allen keys . certainly the best in my opinion . 35 years since I bought my first set . lost and replaced a few but worked them hard in my daily job all the while . Cheers Ade
Very happy to hear that Ade, exciting to think my set will continue to last! Thanks for commenting mate!
Eklind and Bondhus hex keys are indeed absolutely fantastic. I've used both quite a lot and they're always worth their price.
The Craftsman 45307 & 45308 Auto Lock Pliers were introduced in 1998. I believe at that time they were manufactured by Stanley at the old Parker Manufacturing Company in Worcester Massachusetts. In the early 2000s they stopped making them in the USA and started switching to overseas manufacturing. Of course now Craftsman is owned by Stanley/Black and Decker as a low cost budget brand.
I have what Sears Craftsman called RoboGrips that seem very similar. I had them years. Would never consider selling them.
Same on the robogrips.
I am a millwright 🎉from Canada and I have many American made tools but my favorite is Klein pliers and screwdrivers they are excellent tools
Still got both a metric and imperial eklind allen keys. Had them for about 15 years. Good quality tools.
Happy to hear they are still doing you the business after 15 years, I am not surprised!
Great job! Nice to see that even across the pond, folks are admiring U.S. made tools! I live in Virginia, and strive to buy from our own manufacturers! Thanks!
I have family that works at Channellock in Meadville PA. Cool to hear about it from the UK. Thanks.
Got'ta love tool tourism! When I visited friends in Switzerland I just had to stop in a hardware store. Picked up some great PB Swiss screwdrivers.
Very cool! Hope to have a Swiss tool shopping haul of my own soon! 👍
@@ShadowFoam that's awesome. Really interested to see what you find here! PB screwdrivers are something that's inheritance here!
What a great video and I agree with you about snap on tools I think they are over hyped even though they may be good. The only American tool I owned was a estwing hammer and it was the best hammer I’ve ever used.look forward to the next video cheers 👍
For Screwdrivers I use Apex or Vessel one esp ones like the "Ball Grip" made in Japan, they take a beating and the finish on them is great .. I need to to find some of these Drain Weasels
I bought one of those Snap On ratchet screw drivers back in 1989 when I thought I wanted to be an automotive technician. I will tell you I still own this ratchet screwdriver, I have used it so much the a lot of the texture on the plastic handle is gone and it's smooth now. I will hand that down to one of my sons. Never get rid of that. When you were talking about "circlets" I kept wondering what you were saying. I had to turn on subtitles to figure it out. Because I looked at those tools and I said those are retaining ring tools. LOL, then you mentioned how we call them different here. Makes sense now. Oh 1 minor thing it "Bass" Pro Shop, Like the fish. Not Base Pro Shop.
I've broken 4 of those Estwing pry bars. I love the form factor, but because of the slot for the nail puller, the flat end is weak. Don't give it the full beans.
Thanks for the info! 👍
I love good multifunctional tools! I worked many years as a maintenance tech repairing automated equipment and having tools that have few parts and multi uses are a lifesaver for quickly fixing things with a normal toolbelt. There are always things that need more specialized or larger tools but it was amazing how many things I could do with my multi set! Like a flip-over set of needle nose pliers with a full set of wire cutters and a flush cut nippers on the other side, or an eight socket dog bone wrench that really worked! I still use them over 20 years later! I also love the Bug assault guns for blasting wasps and hornets, the combination of reach and blasting the wings off makes it a lot easier to deal with those pests!
I have a pair of Channel Lock 909 crimping pliers/cutters that I love. I saw the same 927 snap ring pliers but I went with version from Powerbuilt tools. The tips can be stored in the handle in their version. I don't know where they are made but they have worked well for me.
I like your Packout boxes way more than ours.
Really? I quite like the red packouts, I think they are much more distinctive!
@@ShadowFoam Once you go Black...
I’m the same way. Too much red.
The bug shredder is the real deal. I do keep it at the ready. One shot at about a meter will disable a wasp. Watch out on where you use it on house flys, it WILL leave a mess.
Excellent.. congratulations.. regards from Athens Greece..
I have a full range of Channel Lock pliers as well as several Knipex and Snap-on. My go to is still Channel Lock.
Had that Snappy for about 20 years...in PINK!!!
What do you think of it?
Actually it's more like 40 retired auto electrics now but for the last 15 it's been Milly M12, drill, screwdriver, lights and the cordless iron but the iron is rubbish. That screwdriver was great but generally agree with what you said about Snap-On, I think they're so overpriced but their ratchets and sockets are still the best.@@ShadowFoam
Empire is Milwaukee. Eklin Allen hex are great because the steel does not twist even on the small sizes that are easy to destroy.
#10 hold onto yellow handle and then turn the orange handle. Much easier
I'm a Canadian electrician and I used to have all Klein hand tools, but the german brands are just so much better... especially screwdrivers, the wera and wiha screwdrivers and nutdrivers are excellent. Channel lock does however make decent pliers at cheap cheap prices, so if you're in places where theft is an issue, there is that. Also Canadian brand picquic, made in Vancouver BC is the best multi screwdriver on a utilty/cost basis. Superior by a wide margin to american and german offerings.
Just a tip from plumber: when you use your drain tool on the bathtub, take off the overflow and go down. This gives you a straight shot to the trap and downstream. Using the tool through the crossbars will give you two more 90 degree angles to pass, and if you hit hair.. good luck getting the tool removed.
As a not-a-plumber but a handy diyer, let the water stand and clear the drain with a shop vac. Wet rag over the overflow and FWUMP...big ball of hair.
Love the video, great job!
As a mechanic love snap on for ratchets and such, but my Mac wrenches were 1/4 of the price and I love them, also my expert sockets were 1/8th of the price of snap ons and they do the job they have to do
I have access I'm the usa to alot of thoes made I usa tools but I tend to buy Japan and Germany funny. Milwaukee bought out empire levels and are extremely similar since just are made in the same factory. I dare say growing up with channellock and getting my first pair of cobras I was blown away with German tools ever since. One brand you didn't experience not slways on stores is mayhew. They make fantastic pry bars punches and cold chisels. They also make some good spring tools (thought not the original springtools are the og). The dominator pry bar line is a real gem including the "screwdriver pry bar" with a 14mm tip it's quite nice. They make a 7/8ths 23ish mm thick 42-58in prybars thicker than anything I've seen available. Take a look!
Mayhew is criminally underrated. A lot of stores will have 1 or 2 things they make sort of hidden somewhere but their tools are top notch. My favorite bit sockets I've ever used are their stubby dual drive Allen/hex and torx sockets. Super stubby and can be used with a ratchet or a wrench
Channel lock being in the #1 spot make sense to me, great tools at an affordable price, imo. I'm not a fan of Eklind but some swear by them, i think it might be a quality control issue. Estwing makes some great hammers, both the Taiwan ones and the ones made in the USA.
The Gator Grip is basically junk, when used on standard nuts and bolts. HOWEVER, it is good for turning things like thumbscrews, eyebolts, or items like that with odd shapes.
Craftsman tools were mostly made in USA decades ago, but over the years, that changed.
Another great video Jonathan, cool to see some quirky American made tools. Top pick for me would be the Milwaukee screwdrivers be cool to get my hands on some of those. Also like the look of the channelock gear and the estwing pry bay. Slippery slope with snap on tools but there is plenty of cheaper options to purchase them via eBay for example and there or some reasonable priced tools directly off the truck or even via there online uk store. I recently got a 10” striking pry bar for just under £30 straight off the snap on truck. Look forward to seeing the upcoming videos.
I knew Channellock would be #1. Great tools including their new screwdrivers
Kia Ora & Good Morning from North Shore, Auckland, New Zealand ...Great Video Bro…
What a great look at some thing different. USA can offer so much.
Really enjoyed the video. Like the list as well.
9:16 - The Craftsman's clear handles on their screwdrivers is acetate.
Excellent videos
I love my 100 piece Craftsman Mechanics Tool Set. All 100 pieces were made in the US. Got my kit in the 1990's. Nearly 100% of Craftsman tools were made in the US back then. I think I have one Craftsman tool from that era that's foreign made. But I will say that Snap-on tools are above and beyond anything that Craftsman ever made. I've never owned a Snap-on tool but I've used them and they're a pleasure in the hands, perfectly weighted and shaped.
I found your channel yesterday, love it. 🎉😊🇳🇴
How much did it cost on average per box to post mate going in a few weeks and looking at sending some tools back myself
I have a USA set of Milwaukee screwdrivers, excellent quality, highly recommend, you will have them a long ,long time.
I've been using Eklind Allen keys for decades. They hold up well under daily use.
That’s great to know, thanks Mike! 👍
That’s great to know, thanks Mike! 👍
Loving all these videos recently
Thanks Richard, I’ve been loving making them! 👍
Keep up the good work! You plan on going to any tool fairs in the uk which are coming up?
Fun video. I've used Bondus allen keys daily for thirty plus years, They didn't break or wear out.
I have a stubby SnapOn ratchet screwdriver that a friend gave me & its one of my favourite tools, can’t afford other SnapOn kit but I am impressed with the quality of their tools
As a mechanic for over 20 years snap on screwdrivers are my favorite but the new 3 point adjustable pliers they came out with are amazing, but I always have my vessel screwdrivers too. I would highly suggest the snap on pliers thought. Great vidjya you just hooked me as a new sub.
I've got the set of those craftsman auto pliers, they are really good.
Empire Levels since 1919 have made high quality levels and squares and you will see them on every construction site the torpedo levels are mainly for Electricians and Plumbers, and levels with the veri pitch is for the Plumbers, they need to angle their water pipes...
We have circlips here in the States as well. They are not the same as internal/external retaining clips. An example of what we call circlips can be found holding the 1/4" drive DeWalt impact's chuck in place. Don't remove it unless you are prepared to lose your mind.
Great video!!
I find the traditional transparent ck screwdrivers are the best, but any handheld tool is really dependent on the user’s preference
That layout looks amazing. Keep up the amazing content 😁 👍
Thanks mate, appreciate that! Which tool was your favourite?
2Gotta love the Bug assault Ripp'r, outside of that the channel locks are one of my favourites from this lot.
9:18 Cellulose acetate butyrate is one of the most common plastic materials used for handles. I recall hearing the trade name tenex or tenite at one time.
Maybe if you blokes would have had that Estwing Pry Bar, you might have won the war. And that Snap-On Ratcheting Screwdriver would have stopped the Germans in their tracks!
Hi Jonathan nice video just a few questions 1st you got the Ryobi 2and 3 drawer links it any good? as it’s not available in the uk so I’m hoping that Ryobi do release it here but I’d like a review on it 2nd I’ve seen on your web site you don’t do the shadow foam for the Ryobi link boxes will you be doing them or will it be easier just to buy the foam and cut it myself? All in all great videos
I received the bug-a-salt rifle for Christmas. I use it all the time for flies. Now that I know about the shredder, I'll be picking that up as well.
Another great layout. Have to be the iconic 11 in 1 Klein screwdriver as number one for me, not sure we get the USA made version over here though. PB Swiss are big on acetate handled screwdrivers as well.
Thanks mate, glad you like my layouts! 👍
I got a question. How much did it cost you to ship all those boxes, with tools in them, back to the UK?
I have four girls in my family :) But my favorite US tool brand is Lie-Nielsen Toolworks - fine woodworking tools. The second favorite is Leatherman - have you tried the compact changeable bits system of their recent pocket multitools? Besides, i have a question about multiple layers of Shadowfoam in a box: i would like to put a Makita 18V powerdrill and many drills bits in the same Makpac box. The drill bits would fit nicely in a single 30mm insert and the drill plus a few bigger items to another 50mm insert. I'd like the bits insert to be on top as it is much lighter and easier to remove, but the drill can't be completely embedded in the bottom insert. Do you have any solution to this? I was thinking of creating supporting blocks in each corner of the box, that would keep the top layer level.
I had no idea what you were on about when talking about “sir” clips but then you clarified for us across the pond that you meant retaining rings and then I understood. Oh and I use the Bug-A-Salt shred-er every day on flys and June bugs and it works phenomenally! Have a great one and go on and have atcha! 😂
To put the level perfectly out of level, you put a nut or a washer on one end.
Used to have a cheap version of those channel lock circlip pliers (probably Chinese). They were great until the tip snapped off (the thick bit, not the interchangeable tips). Still got the interchangeable tips somewhere tho.
Some very nice gear there, can't pick an outright favourite but I'd get the most use out of those sweet Channellock slip wrenches. Big fan of circlip pliers, and given the often fiddly locations, I'd retain the slender individual tools along with the chunky multi-purpose. Happy to hear you're a camper, one of my passions too. I don't find earwigs appealing either, but they're pretty much harmless. What we need is a reliable defence against ticks, all you can do at the moment is hose everything down with permethrin.
If you are actually interested, the old clear-handle Craftsman screwdrivers-- and most others like them-- were formed from the same celluloid material that old movie films were made from. Tough, durable, turned sepia with age, and had a distinctive scent as they aged-- opening an old toolbox smelled like opening and old movie can.
Milwaukee (TTI?) bought Imperial blades. They make all of Milwaukee’s multi tool blades in the USA. Malco bought and restarted the vice grip factory back up. Those are nice.
The red-and-yellow bundle of screwdrivers is the type usually made with glass filled nylon, designed to be nonconductive and safe for working on live electricity.
I also had a gator grip and the pins bend up, round off or mash up inside
Awesome video. Will make sure I go tool shopping next time I’m in the US
Would definitely reccomend it! I haven’t even scratched the surface yet
The Estwing pry bar is available at D&M tools. I go to their tool show every year and I looked at it for about five years. last year I bit the bullet and bought one. Top tool
Thanks for the info Harvey! 👌
I've used every pry bar known to man, that Estwing rules them all. They are getting harder to find though...
I've not seen one yet but the little light on the torpedo level is great. I have trouble reading the bubble all the time. That's what happens as you get older unfortunately
Starrett tools are great to have
I bought an Empire spirit level more than 30 years ago from a Do It All store in the UK. It has a fibre glass (I think) body and has never let me down (still going strong after all these years).
Very happy to hear that, felt like solid stuff!
Its crazy i remember the gator grip commercial in 1999-2002 never knew when they where started
I've had a 12" Empire level for about 20 years bought at a local tool shop its fantastic but dont see them around much in the UK anymore
I was a truck driver in the US, I had one of those Shredders for flies in my truck. :)
I totally agree on the Snap on stuff being good but a bit pricey... I think I need some of them sir clip pliers in my life. Always struggle with the many sets I have, they look pretty special.
As an American, I've never heard of Empire tools. They look nice. I'll have to pp down to the shops and have a look.
Milwaukee is trying to up their game by doing a LOT of in house tools here in the states. I've done a lot of prototypes for them, as well as forging dies. Awesome company to deal with.
As an American i am embarrassed by the gator grip 😂
The Tool Exchange in DE is a pretty awesome store. There's a ham radio store up the way from there.. another of my favorite stores. Delaware is a great state as they don't charge sales tax.
I prefer the Eklind loop handles in extra long (54250). When there is a hex in a corner, the shaft can be gently bent to clear the handle. It springs back every time with no damage. It's mostly used in trade show booths for shelving. The locks are always in the brackets tight to the corner. There are shorty ''corner keys'', they are hard to get, mostly people make their own. The stubby allen portion is quite short and the handle is bent. I had an Estwing prybar and it developed legs. I got the plain prybar at HF for $3 on sale and it's better than Estwing for my purposes. Empire used to make Craftsman levels. The aluminum one is for plumbers.
I agree with most of these except the snap ring/circlip pliers. That is one thing I don't buy the multi tool version of. I went through two different types of them before just buying a full kit of Icon's with various sizes and specific internal/external models. Those multi reversible style are OK for light duty, but when you get into larger electric motors, certain automotive parts they just don't cut it. The tips just bend and the cheesy joint is not rigid enough to keep the tips in line.
Gotta love the USA, land of freedom. So far.
I remember that original Gator Grip was sold in Sweden over a TV shopping network.
I have that ChannelLock retaining ring plier, and like it, but I still have some other small retaining ring pliers, as in certain cases I can't get the ChannelLocks into grab the ring.
Can you put link for those Milwaukee screwdrivers up please ?
Good collection I need a salt shredder now😂
The ORIGINAL CRAFTSMAN was owned by SEARS, which went out of business. A popular store as well as JC Penny that has just gone. Milwaukee is a personal favorite, manufactured by Cornwell. (I used to wrench, the harbor freight house brand boxes are also made in snap-on factories!) (MAC TOOLS and SNAP-ON are high cost, but the quality IS there. 6 broken vice grips until i finally got the snapons... argh. Mac Tools tho! TBH Im surprised I didn't see more Irwin (founded 1885 USA).
I've always know "sir clips" as "c rings", "c clips", "snap rings" or "that took flight, never gonna see that again" - so I knew straight away what you were referring to. It's also somewhat sad that many of the brands I remember as a youngster are no longer USA made but encouraging that some are starting to come back. I still have many of my US made Craftsman tools and in all honesty the ones that aren't are still pretty well made.
"Circlip" (as in circle)... in the US and that's what I've called them too.
They've always been snap ring pliers in Indiana.
I use CarboUSAs dual internal/external snap rings for the rare occasion when I need them. B0CWPF1BFQ at Amazing. They are the weirdest tool I have.
I use CarboUSAs dual internal/external snap rings for the rare occasion when I need them. B0CW-PF1B-FQ (remove dashes) at Am-a-zon. They are the weirdest tool I have.
I use CARBO-USA-Precision-Retaining-Ergonomic on amazing. They are the weirdest tool I have.
I have the same drain weasel and I brought it here in the uk