Official Luthiers Forum! :: View topic - Porter Cable crosses the border

On an unrelated note, I'm sorta diggin' this whole nautical avatar thing...maybe we need 'theme-of-the-week' avatar contests to pep things up...or not.

..... Milwaukee is still manufactured in Wisconsin. Not only that but they are warranted for 5 years. .

[headinwall] I am pissed. The Milwaukee IS made in China. Well, that's the last tool I buy...
At least my shoes are made in Wisc and SC, and my clothes union made in America.

Electric orbitals are for HGTV viewers, not professionals. T

Is it just my imagination, or having now satisfied the desire for better Martins, are we slowly shifting towards building better Gibsons for those not satisfied with the factory product? Seems like a lot more interest in Gibson AJ/J-35/35/50 these days. Nice, John...

As I suggested, the total surface area of an acoustic is perhaps 5-6 sf and there's under a board foot of lumber to be worked ...not like it's a run of Craftsman library tables or a 20' long conference table. Air makes a lot of sense for cabinetmakers or for folks doing a lot of guitars, but I just don't see the tradeoff for many small shop builders.

Author:	Haans [ Thu Jul 29, 2010 5:26 am ]
Post subject:	Porter Cable crosses the border
As a long time PC user, I was sad to see that their "product" is now manufactured in Mexico. I was shopping for a new D/A sander (my PC finally died). I was however, delighted to see Milwaukee is still manufactured in Wisconsin. Not only that but they are warranted for 5 years. The D/A is just fabulous. Their drillmotors don't look like Nikes either...a sure sign that a company has gone "consumer". I'm a convert!

Author:	audiorecluse [ Thu Jul 29, 2010 7:20 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Porter Cable crosses the border
Thanks for that info, I will be buying Milwaukee in the future whenever possible.

Author:	Haans [ Thu Jul 29, 2010 8:59 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Porter Cable crosses the border
Well, I guess aside from PC's 390K low profile POS, I haven't bought any PC since '99. I've had that sander just over a year, and have had it completely lock up (they sent me a new one), had that one in once for excessive vibration, and now it's just died. If they've gone consumer (uh, "tradesman"), I guess they will make a lot of $$$ and ride on their laurels. One can only hope that Milwaukee doesn't sell out. I see the manuel is printed in China, but at least they have a factory in Brookfield, Wisc. and are employing a few Americans.

Author:	WudWerkr [ Thu Jul 29, 2010 9:17 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Porter Cable crosses the border
As a tool dealer I want to warn you to check carefully on all your purchases . I am a porter cable user and also very happy with Milwaukee as well , HOWEVER not ALL milwaukee is made in wisconsin I have several Hand tools on my store shelves that are milwaukee and all of them say " made in china " so check carefully . I hate to see any machines go overseas , and i dont really like selling stuff made in mexico or china . However if i ran my business on strictly " made in usa , I would starve to death.

Author:	WudWerkr [ Thu Jul 29, 2010 9:31 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Porter Cable crosses the border
Quote: On an unrelated note, I'm sorta diggin' this whole nautical avatar thing...maybe we need 'theme-of-the-week' avatar contests to pep things up...or not. How about that one

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Porter Cable crosses the border http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=28404	Page 1 of 2

Author:	the Padma [ Thu Jul 29, 2010 12:12 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Porter Cable crosses the border
Haans wrote: ..... Milwaukee is still manufactured in Wisconsin. Not only that but they are warranted for 5 years. . My how times have changed...me remember when red tools cost a fortune and if any thing went south with it you just dropped it on the counter and they give you another one...for life. Oh well. blessings

Author:	Haans [ Thu Jul 29, 2010 1:05 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Porter Cable crosses the border
I am pissed. The Milwaukee IS made in China. Well, that's the last tool I buy... At least my shoes are made in Wisc and SC, and my clothes union made in America.

Author:	the Padma [ Thu Jul 29, 2010 1:34 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Porter Cable crosses the border
Hanns, Buy American eh? hmm... me wonder if Canadian air is any different than US or even Mexican air, I mean we are all Americans yes? Everything we consume is made right here on planet earth. Our loyalties to crown, country, flag or brand name are a throw back to a form of false economical structures and B.S. that are fast becoming extinct. American don't make things any more, we consume them. Oh Padma

Author:	Miketobey [ Thu Jul 29, 2010 5:43 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Porter Cable crosses the border
Don't know about the air-but I was pretty peeved to find out that Australian toilets do not flush in opposite flow circles than USA<G>!

Author:	the Padma [ Thu Jul 29, 2010 7:34 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Porter Cable crosses the border
Haans wrote: [headinwall] I am pissed. The Milwaukee IS made in China. Well, that's the last tool I buy... At least my shoes are made in Wisc and SC, and my clothes union made in America. Haans, we must support the New World Order of Economics, cuz if we don't and the Chinese call in the load, well then us Americans are up the creak without a paddle. Then what? blessings

Author:	John Mayes [ Thu Jul 29, 2010 8:01 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Porter Cable crosses the border
I'm all for supporting our economics, and product, but I've got a Milwaukee 18v lithium ion cordless drill that the gear box has died three times in it. All I drill is small bits in soft wood. The thing is just not good. On the flip side I have 4 PC routers, and they have been performing for years very well. Who knows...

Author:	timoM [ Thu Jul 29, 2010 8:22 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Porter Cable crosses the border
If its an American made orbital you want, look no further than dynabrade. Electric orbitals are for HGTV viewers, not professionals. T

Author:	John A [ Thu Jul 29, 2010 8:26 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Porter Cable crosses the border
and I have a Harbor Freight that has drilled almost everything you can think of - and it's is still kicking strong - 18 volt - cost me about $17.00 - too bad your Milwaukee can't do that, I would have expected more from them, being a premium brand.

Author:	Haans [ Fri Jul 30, 2010 6:16 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Porter Cable crosses the border
timoM wrote: Electric orbitals are for HGTV viewers, not professionals. T timoM, don't be a tool snob. Instrument makers don't sand miles of cherry/MDF. I used Dynabrade for years when I was a cabinetmaker. Electric orbitals have their place. I don't need a 300 gal compressor either. , I guess eventually the whole thing will collapse anyway. At the rate we are selling out to other countries, we won't last. Every $1 we spend on Chinese or other foreign goods is $.02 that goes to that employee, and aside from the markup in this country that goes to those that own the chains, that $1 goes OUT of this country. It loses it's value to do good HERE. Billions and billions stream out of this country every month. We WERE a consumptive country. Consumption depends on having a job, and having a job is dependent on consumption (demand), not tax cuts for multi-nationals. Other countries realize this; Germany, Sweden, Denmark, even China encourage their populations to buy national to keep jobs. I don't buy much anymore...can't afford to. But I thought I had found a tool actually made in America. I guess not... Rant over.

Author:	Bailey [ Fri Jul 30, 2010 2:50 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Porter Cable crosses the border
New Balance running shoes are still made here.....They are also very good for sitting on a stool in the shop. Boy....they sure make you want to RUN to the house for a brew on a hot day. I tried to read instructions on a newly purchased lazer level this morning....made in China...battery made in S. Korea...instructions in Spanish. Luckily, my vague Latin let me translate. Hate to say it....but, the individual Luthier, living in the US, could be the last of the "Made in the USA". Kent

Author:	timoM [ Fri Jul 30, 2010 10:27 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Porter Cable crosses the border
Holy groupthink Mr Golding. And by the way my statement was "electric orbitals are not for professionals" and furthermore Festool products were designed for on site renovators. I never implied a builder using an electric orbital made he or she unprofessional, nor did I imply that using one yielded a substandard product. All said, electric orbitals have tremendous shortcomings. They are heavy and top heavy, they have a limited range of orbit size and an extremely limited range of pad durometers. They wear out quickly and their imbalance yields a quite imperfect finish. Of course their shortcomings can be overcome with more labor, but after reading post after post of how it is so difficult to make a living as a luthier why would you not understan efficient finishing. Every woodworker, even we lonely cabinet and furniture trolls know that efficient finishing is a necessity. You need only a 80 gal compressor to run 1 or even 2 dynabrades, they are available in a range of sizes and orbits, they are made in America and they last literally forever. T P.S. The only MDF in our shop is on staging table for tools.

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Author:	John Mayes [ Fri Jul 30, 2010 12:14 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Porter Cable crosses the border
Looks at the bottom right of the picture posted below OH NO! I'm just a HGTV watcher and not a professional!

Author:	Haans [ Fri Jul 30, 2010 2:04 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Porter Cable crosses the border
Not me... I'm goin' for Larsons' Prairie State! I'll do Coco one more time and dye it dark. BTW, I use a 13CFM D/A running at 90 PSI and have a 60 gal tank compressor. It runs almost continuously when I wet sand.

Author:	John Mayes [ Fri Jul 30, 2010 2:08 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Porter Cable crosses the border
Todd Stock wrote: Is it just my imagination, or having now satisfied the desire for better Martins, are we slowly shifting towards building better Gibsons for those not satisfied with the factory product? Seems like a lot more interest in Gibson AJ/J-35/35/50 these days. Nice, John... As I suggested, the total surface area of an acoustic is perhaps 5-6 sf and there's under a board foot of lumber to be worked ...not like it's a run of Craftsman library tables or a 20' long conference table. Air makes a lot of sense for cabinetmakers or for folks doing a lot of guitars, but I just don't see the tradeoff for many small shop builders. I'm not sure if there is a big trend away from the norm. I build three models, all Vintage Gibson style, but there is obviously way more martin clones. The guitar I showed I just sent off for finish. It's for Steven Curtis Chapman (his 2nd Mayes)