Sears tools

Craftsman wrenches are made in USA. I think Sears tried foreign made tools with Craftsman on them some years ago and they did not go over well.
Electric tools, drills, saws, grinders are made overseas, mostly China. The drills that are marked "professional" are made in China, same with 15 amp circular saws. Found one worm drive saw that was made in USA.

Also was in Home Depot(I have some interest in a 1/2 variable speed drill). The Ryobi rep happened to be there and he said their tools were made in China. DeWalts are made in Mexico. Milwaukee and Porter Cable drills and saws I looked at were made in USA. A 1/2 inch Milwaukee drill was $119, a 1/2 inch Dewalt made in Mexico was $139 . Being made overseas did not necessarily make them cheaper. Same story on circular saws.
Just for information.

KEH

I also am looking for a 5 spd tranny for it. 4cyl, 4x4

Do a little research before you start talking about others.

The rest of your questions should be addressed in your state. I don't make anywhere near $60,000 a year and I have my master's degree and almost 10 years in the field. I cannot speak to the situation where you live.

As far as I am concerned, you are going to think and believe whatever it is that you choose (regardless of misinformation)... and any of my comments are moot at this point. My only hope is that the next time you single out a group of workers you actually do your research and know what you are talking about first.

Oh, and Craftsman tools have always worked well for me. In fact, I plan on picking up a couple of their two and three arm pullers. Made in the uSA and the price/performance/warranty cannot be beat.

Link

-mike

By the way, Milwaukee tools are owned by Techtronic industries of Hong Kong, so is Ryobi, and Homelite. A few days ago they bought Hoover vacuum cleaners out from Whirlpool...+...+... Oddly enough, they seem to manufacture atleast some of those items here, but ownership is still in Hong Kong.

I have to say though that unions went too far and it has created a world of many lazy and overpaid workers. I feel if you work hard and have real talent you dont need a union in this day.

P.S. When did Mexico float away and become overseas?

Yeah, the quality of Chinese tools seems to go up each year. I'm sure Taiwan has been worried for some time. The Sears 12 inch compound miter saw is made in Taiwan and is about $100 cheaper than the DeWalt made in Mexico.

KEH

Every time I get a slick flyer/magazine in the mail and see pictures of union guys in 1500 dollar suits I get sick. I know who put the suits on their backs. Unions may have had their place years ago but now it is no more than organized crime.

No wonder companies move away and cut their operating cost. I tell guys that here and they laugh. 95 percent of these idiots cannot see one day past their next paycheck but if they didn't get that next check, they would be on welfare with 4 or 5 snot nose kids in their double wides and a 300 lb ho ho eating wife.

A man the shows up for work every day, is ready to work mentally and physically, and is ready to EARN his money, does not need a union of any type. Couldn't you use the 19 years of dues you have paid right now? What has the union really done for you? I wish I could keep my 71.50 a month. I would be as good off without the union.

You are exactly the kind I referred to in my previous post. You complain, yet reap the benefits of the Union who represents you. You can't tell me anything dude....I retired 3 years ago from CSX (the largest RR east of the Mississippi) after 27 years as an engineer. You might blow that smoke up somebody else's skirts, but not mine. I've been there and done it. You're problem is you're jealous because somebody else has the foreman's job and you don't...so you refer to them as lowlife's. More than likely, you're the kind who b1tches everyday because you ain't the guy with the white hat driving the highrailer and packing the motorola while somebody else (you) tamps ties. You think you should stand around with your hands in your pockets while the lowlife's tamp ties. HAR! I've seen more than my share of your kind. You resent the fact that there is a seniority roster and you're name isn't at the top...if you were the dude doing the bumping, it'd be a different story. I'll tell you right now, if there were no Union, there would be no seniority for you, regardless how deep you stand on it. I bet you complain every time the RR sends you a paycheck too don't you. Tell us that $180-$200 a day you earn, plus health, dental and eye care is worthless BS too. Tell us that after 19 years you enjoy 3 weeks paid vacation and 10 paid personal days a year and how you hate that too. Also tell these folks how next year..after 20 years of service you'll get 4 weeks paid vacation. Go on...tell them and how without a Union you'd still enjoy all these benefits. I KNOW the straight scoop, been there and done it. I worked a job I didn't particularly enjoy, but I raised a family, educated the kids, always drove a nice vehicle, bought and paid for a nice home, put money in the bank and a 401K program. I am 49 years old, owe no man a dime and never worked anywhere but the railroad after I was 19 years old. I injured my right knee 3 years ago and now draw a pension nearly equal to what I made and will the rest of my life....do that without a Union. Tell these fine people we railroaders fall under a workers protection act called the FELA (Federal Employers Liability Act) whereas when we get injured we enjoy something workers comp will never hold a candle to. You have it made and I know it. Go down to McDonald's or Autozone and get yourself such a deal. Maybe you should move to China or Mexico and see what it's like in a workers paradise.

Well you know squat about what you are saying. I am the foreman. And yes, I am out there tamping ties. I am also my best trackman. I also patrol track on the Inspectors days off and even put slows out. To bother the TE&Y whiners? To create work for myself and my gang? NO...because I have a rule book 6 inches thick and a track spec book 2 inches thick that specify how the track must be to allow speeds of class 1-5. believe me, the last thing I want is to put out a track defect I have to drag my sick, lame and lazy gang out to fix.

You're wrong Dude.

I have good health and dental insurance. I make 19.84 (union scale) an hour. I am subject to any hour call out. I get no more than time and a half for that.

I know that OG&E the electric company in my area, NON union, pays their guys better than that, full benefits, 401K etc. I know many many oil field guys that make at least twice my hourly wage but no benefits or 401k. I know that gas companies pay as well as I make, NON union. Pipeline welders and inspectors make 80-100 K a year with bennies. Some of my old head friends tell me that railroading used to be envied by others but anymore we make average wage.

Without the security blanket of the union, maybe some of these guys would produce and realize it could all be over tomorrow if they dont. The union has bred a very lazy breed of guys here, maybe it is localized..... I HOPE.

I didn't mean just because you are a hoghead you don't know what goes on in the railroad. Sure you do as well as I know that many of you guys dog a train so you can go dead as close to home as possible and get that return trip in a van. Heck our guys love slows and they don't mind being held up by maintenance, the longer the better.

BUT, you made accusation that I am the lazy one and the whiner and you have no idea about that. That was way way out speculation on your part and couldn't be more wrong. As God as my witness, I make my guys do everything right and they hate it but I don't ask anyone to do ANYTHING I don't do. I told them all at some point or another, they will have the pleasure of watching me die on the track before they out work me and BY GOD I mean that. I lead from the front and usually they are glad to observe from the rear.

In 1992 there were 28 people on the seniority list in my shop now there are 9. The building is still over 800,000sq. ft and the same amount of rolling equipment is still there and they expect us to keep it maintained. HA! They are now trying to hire two new mechanics because three are retiring.

The one I like to hear from the cry babies is "I've quit better job's than this" I tell them what's holding you back. Momma got your marbles. Now shut up and go unplug the toilet.

So railhead go unplug the toilet, and laugh all the way to the bank.

Scott

I worked 3rd shift for eleven years because my seniority wouldn't afford me a day shift job. I didn't know what the rail yard looked like in daylight! I worked on call the last 15 years after I went to the mainline. No scheduled days off, no regular schedule...subject to call 24/7 and for most of those years, I operated locomotives older than I was..they were cold and drafty in winter and hot as hades in summer. Sure there are deadbeats amongst the workforce..they are everywhere. If the railroad could run trains without human crews, they would. Why? Higher profits. It's all about profits....all companies want us to consume their goods, but don't want to pay us to make or transport them. If their operations allow them to move offshore and hire people for peanuts..they do. Then they run back here with the goods and expect those they refuse to employ to buy them.

When I was a schoolboy, I recall reading a lesson that said: "The reason the American economy flourishes is because it imports raw materials and exports only finished goods." Read that again! The exact opposite is true today and why our economy is down the drain. Our manufacturing base has disappeared because the fat cats have ran to China and Mexico and other third world countries...for profits. Our Government has dropped the ball by allowing imports to flood our markets. This 'Global Economy' BS is a term coined to brainwash the consuming public into accepting this sad state of affairs. It is a ruse to blame the victims (the unemployed US workers) as being responsible for the jobs going elsewhere. This is a LIE! The manufacturers leave because of profits and no other reason.