wallmaxx

DeWalt Tool Tester Survey

I just received this email...thought some of you might like to check it out.

If I am selected to advise DeWalt on future tools...#1 is going to be

START BUILDING THEM HERE IN THE U.S. BY AMERICANS. Get rid of the bean counters and make a solid American product that lasts.

I'd pay more for a better American tool than for 2 or 3 of the same chinese pieces o' crap.

__________________
"I HAVE SWORN UPON THE ALTAR OF GOD, ETERNAL HOSTILITY AGAINST EVERY FORM OF TYRANNY OVER THE MIND OF MAN." THOMAS JEFFERSON

neolitic

I'm with ya, but I'll bet that
will just get a chuckle in the
old board room.

__________________
Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)

2ndGen

AMEN!



I'm willing to pay more for a good "Made In America" products.

Maybe they should make a Contractor Grade Line that's code for "made in America, so that's why these cost a little more".

__________________
"I've been up on the roof. I know what those guys go through.
My whole life has been about making that profession respectable."
Ken Hendricks

kodiak_island

Stay American People

DrewD

I got the same email Wallmaxx, I'm a huge Dewalt fan but have noticed their quality has started to slip a little. My new 18V Nano battery just got the fast flash of death, it had less than 20 hours on it. I think seeing a 'Made In America' emblem would sell more tools than low prices.

firemike

Same here, I have never had problems with their tools, but their batteries suck! Don't seem to last no where near what my Milwaukee batteries do. I even change them as soon as they start slowing down just like they say, and still don't seem to get a reasonably useful life out of them. I even mention it to the DeWalt reps when I see them, they really don't have any comment other than I must be overworking or overheating them.

Man I would love it if an independent manufacturer made reasonably priced batteries to fit all these cordless tools like they do for computers and other electronics.

__________________
-Mike-

buildenterprise

There's quite a few battery pack rebuilders out there that can do the job. A couple of guys sell them on Ebay. They're not cheap but they last and have a higher mah rating than stock.

TempestV

I signed up there as well. Building them in America would be a good improvement.

orson

For me I'd like to see them built in America as well, but also built with more durability. My DeWalt cordless tools never hold up; it's to the point where I no longer use them. I wish they were better built because they have the single best selection of 18 volt cordless tools of any company. I have felt for a few years that DeWalt coasting and not innovating and building quality.

__________________
York & Lancaster Remodeling Contractor - Lancaster Remodeling
Kitchen & Bath Remodeling PA- Bathroom Remodeling Lancaster PA
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TempestV

I've had pretty good luck with Dewalt. My dad has two Dewalt 18v drills, and the new one is over 8 years old. They get used on a daily basis, they've been dropped over 20' from a lift cart, and they are plenty beat up, but they are far from dead. In fact, 8-10 years, only one battery has had to be replaced. I have quite a few Dewalt tools, and I've never been disappointed with them. The only problem I've ever had was a bad switch on a sawzall, and it was one of the cheap ones that Dewalt makes to sell to home owners at Home Depot. For a $60 saw, it was really pretty impressive, keeping up with twice as expensive and twice as powerful saws as far as cutting speed. I'm just having trouble trying to figure out what is wrong with Dewalt tools.

oldrivers

I had just the opposite expierience i used to have a dewalt 14 volt cordless that seemed to work pretty good then when it walked away i tried the milwaukee 14 volt cordless in the same class, seemed like the milwaukee batteries didnt last as long and the drill itself wasnt as durable it would constantly slip out of direct drive when trying to drill with 1/2 inch bits.
i know 1/2 inch is pushing the limit for those drills but the dewalt could handle them better. plus i like the fact you can charge the batteries in the dewalt radio unlike the milwaukee you cant. but the milwaukee radio is far superior in sound and reception as far as im concerned so pick your poison . Id like to see dewalt improve its radio charger then i might think about going dewalt again.

wallmaxx

When I started framing in 1988, I was working with two brothers who had an old high torque drill, I think it was an Atlas Thor. They said it was from the 40s or 50s. The entire thing was all metal and heavy. It's casing was cast aluminum, not plastic like today. One time it got stuck drilling through a plate and twisted out of my hands. I had two pieces of plumbing pipe threaded into the sides for extra handles. When it spun around, the handles hit the studs and broke them free from the plate.

A while later I was talking to an old guy about it and he said that the best tools ever made were during WWII. He said that drills, riveter and saws were all VERY HEAVY duty. It was only after WWII that B&D started making cheaper tools to sell to the average DIY type in the civilian market (the beginning of making something of less quality to sell at a high volume to make lotsa cash).

Scroll ahead 65 years. We still design some of the most ingenious tools in the world, but bean counters and lawyers (who know JACK about good tools) get involved and try to squeeze every ounce of profit out of each unit sold. They don't even call them tools...just units sold.

Then when the tool design is shaved to its cost/weight/performance limits, we ship the CAD file to CHINA to have slaves put them together for us (trusting China to ensure the whole build process standards).

GREEDY FOOLISH SELLOUTS!!

I say, let's get together and build a new business model.

US-TOOLS, Inc.
We are all automatically shareholders (contractor talk contractors).
Every 6 months one of us is voted to be CEO.
We submit what we like and dislike about the tools we use.
We submit a list of dream tools that don't exist yet.
We partner up in exclusive contracts with DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita, Bosch, etc, to help design our tools to our specs and build them here at a joint plant.
The big name guys can have our ideas for a price and try to get them to market via China, but we would market to only those who want the highest quality US made tools.
I am looking for tools that you buy once and they stay in the family a couple of generations. It can be done.

Any thoughts (i know, lawyers and all that crap would be needed)...or am I just smokin' something here?

__________________
"I HAVE SWORN UPON THE ALTAR OF GOD, ETERNAL HOSTILITY AGAINST EVERY FORM OF TYRANNY OVER THE MIND OF MAN." THOMAS JEFFERSON

JamesNLA

Hay, I am right there with you. I am constantly looking for tools made in America. I don't even care what they cost. Build a good product and stand behind it. Isn't that what we as American (Canadians can play too) contractors do? Build quality, and stand behind it? It ain't rocket science and whatever your smoking, puff puff give it here.

__________________
"....And then we all switch places when I ring the bell"
-Adrock

2ndGen

I'll cover the S&H, so...

Send them to:

2ndGen
P.O. Box 123
I Scored, USA

__________________
"I've been up on the roof. I know what those guys go through.
My whole life has been about making that profession respectable."
Ken Hendricks

2ndGen

Fact is, there are a lot more homeowners than there are contractors.

Thanks to all the DIY shows, there's been more money to be made in selling lower quality tools to them (homeowners) than higher quality tools to us.

And that's what it all boils down to.

__________________
"I've been up on the roof. I know what those guys go through.
My whole life has been about making that profession respectable."
Ken Hendricks

bcradio

I have yet to really have problems with any Dewalt tools except for my 36v flashlight had a problem with the connections in the hose... but I just took it to the service center 3 blocks from my house and they sent me a brand new one no questions asked

All of my other Dewalt have worked flawlessly and I sometimes prefer to buy Dewalt tools because the service center is so close and usually can get all repairs (if I ever need to) under warranty... and very fast.

22rifle

Have Milwaukee cordless tools deteriorated in the same way?

DrewD

I have never had any problems with Dewalt tools just the batteries. In the nine years I've been using Dewalt tools I have only been through two batteries, the only thing is the two batteries were in the last six months. I like Dewalt for the fact that the tools seem to fit much better in my hands than other tools. I don't want to run a circular saw which is awkward to hold all day.

TempestV

Well, I have both, and neither has deteriorated, despite all the torture I've put them through.

Joining_heads@c

If dewalt were made in the U.S. that would be great for jobs. However, I'm sure they would still suck.