Detroit Tools

[dikman]

Handstitched, I reckon you'll be happy with the Detroit and I'm confidant that if you do have any issues Total Tools will do the right thing. As for the name, it's simply the Chinese manufacturer trying to capitalise on an American sounding name.

[Spyros]

On 7/10/2021 at 3:15 PM, Handstitched said:

G'day and thank you for your replies. 

Does it say anywhere , on the tool,  packaging or storage box where its made?  I can hazard a guess. 

@Spyros I still have a few ' GMC' tools , (that are no longer made),  drill, jig saw,  bench sander and a compressor , and ,  touchwood, they still work fine . 

Its seems that we can't get away from ' Made in China' . 

I might have to take a bit of gamble. It doesn't seem to matter what brand I go for, it will still be ' Made in China'. 

I agree. This will only be used for the occasional restore job, cleaning/polishing, removing rust on small components etc. 

Thank you once again for your help  

HS

Half my tools are made in my back yard :D

There's a lot of appetite for locally made tools in the market, people would buy them, but no one seems interested to make them.  The bottom line is if you're in Australia and want to invest in something there are easier ways to make money.  Manufacturing is hard and low margin.

Edited July 11, 2021 by Spyros

[Handstitched]

Just went to order my ' Detroit' tool online , only to find the freight is  a bit over  2/3'ds of the product price, $49 for the tool and $35 for freight to my  address ...that sucks. However, if I buy $100 worth of tools, I get free freight...go figure? 

It'll cost me around $45 bucks in fuel ( + traffic  snarls/ hassles/ rage )  to pick the damn thing  up !! 

Theres an expression we have here in Oz " NOT-HAPPY-JAN !! "  only an Aussie will know what that means....   I'll.... figure something out...apart from inventing new curse words  

 @tsunkasapa     Sadly, Buck knives, an American icon, are now made in China. 

Yep I hear ya !!  Happens  far too often to our icons.  And I always keep an eye out for any old / vintage  leather tools at s/h markets etc.  practically any tools related to leather.  They were made to last . 

HS

Edited July 14, 2021 by Handstitched

[Klara]

I feel your pain. Between $ 35 for shipping and $ 55 for more tools, I'd choose the latter. Surely they sell something else you or your family or a neighbour might need or want? 

Or find another supplier. I doubt there is much difference between one Chinese rotary tool and the next...

[jimi]

16 minutes ago, Handstitched said:

Just went to order my ' Detroit' tool online , only to find the freight is  a bit over  2/3'ds of the product price, $49 for the tool and $35 for freight to my  address ...that sucks. However, if I buy $100 worth of tools, I get free freight...go figure? 

In that case i would probably look for a second hand little used Dremil around your area, sometimes people buy them for the urge and don´t use them in the end so you might get a good deal. Also people get them as presents and then sell then off when nobody in the family is looking!  I think they are made in Mexico?? 

[sbrownn]

On 7/11/2021 at 4:50 AM, Spyros said:

Manufacturing is hard and low margin.

Without tooling it is difficult to compete in the tool manufacturing world and the upfront costs for tooling are expensive.

[Handstitched]

I think I have it sussed. I have an appointment in Perth ( 3hrs drive) in a few weeks time. I can pick up a rotary tool on the way. Its  not the 'Detroit'  I wanted, its the ' Rockwell'  brand and is pretty much identical and about $10 more, but works out a lot  cheaper than freight. The Detroit brand is available at a shop further north,  extra 40 mins,  but I can't be bothered driving that far. 

Wow, what a saga just to get a new tool and save a few bucks  eh? 

In the next  gripping episode.....just kidding  

HS

[Spyros]

16 hours ago, Handstitched said:

I think I have it sussed. I have an appointment in Perth ( 3hrs drive) in a few weeks time. I can pick up a rotary tool on the way. Its  not the 'Detroit'  I wanted, its the ' Rockwell'  brand and is pretty much identical and about $10 more, but works out a lot  cheaper than freight. The Detroit brand is available at a shop further north,  extra 40 mins,  but I can't be bothered driving that far. 

Wow, what a saga just to get a new tool and save a few bucks  eh? 

In the next  gripping episode.....just kidding  

HS

why don't you just grab an ozito from bunnies?

[Handstitched]

On 7/17/2021 at 9:23 AM, Spyros said:

why don't you just grab an ozito from bunnies?

I though about that too, however, the  new massively  OTT  Burnnings in Midland (WA) has moved to  another location , and its a real PITA ( Pain In The A....e ) to get to and park , but the the auto shop, SuperCheap Midland   where the Rockwell is , is  much easier to get into along my journey. But thanks  

HS

[chrisash]

Afraid the world is just the same as most small businesses, both have to specialise in their market area of expertise. The USA specialised in Aircraft, Oil exploration, electronics and many high end area's, whilst the Brits went for manufacturing, Technology and services, Norway on technical ships and oil industry, and Germany on high end engineering. but things change all the time with countries dropping out of some area's and moving into new ones.

Whilst its easy to look at China for selling lots of goods ( and some are first class) look at the number of airlines around the world who buy US made aircraft, high end computers and other items

One thing that's different in the US than all other countries, is that other countries have one set of rules for the whole country whilst in the states each state can make its own rules, or so I understand, which may hinder some companies for example California has very strict rules on goods whilst others are far more relaxed. Just a observation and not a comment on right or wrong

Edited July 19, 2021 by chrisash

[Handstitched]

@Spyros I got the Rockwell this morning. Off to have a 'play' soon   

HS

[Spyros]

On 7/26/2021 at 5:49 PM, Handstitched said:

@Spyros I got the Rockwell this morning. Off to have a 'play' soon   

HS

Nice

Get yourself some original Dremel bits.  The ones that come with those cheaper tools will still do the job, but find the ones that you use the most or are most important for what you do and get Dremel branded ones.  Bunnies has them.

[Handstitched]

I have finally  had the chance to use my new rotary tool ( that I bought back in July)  this arvo. 

I was cleaning up a few horse shoes for a few projects . I combine the shoes & leather for   ' horsey' ornaments.  The bulk of the cleaning is done with a  bench buffer, but  I used the  rotary wire brushes to clean out the groove on the shoes, they lasted.........?

........2 minutes .

They just fell apart . I was gentle with it and  I slowed the speed right down too. My shirt was pitted with bits of wire. You get what you pay  for,  I know that , but FFS , I would have thought they would have lasted a bit longer than 2 minutes ???  Off to hardware shop this Friday to get better quality accessories. 

HS

[Spyros]

toldya :D

[Klara]

My best wishes for finding decent accessories at a reasonable price!  And then I cross my fingers that the motor will last...

[Dwight]

Looking at the tool . . . . and the price . . . . I'd run from it.

My 20 yr old Dremel is still working . . . does not work as good as it did back then . . . but I doubt if the Detroit will last that long.

And my Dremel tool alone was almost twice that price.

Best wishes . . . may God bless,

Dwight

[Handstitched]

It was a ' Rockwell', same as Detroit...etc etc etc . 

This is one of those ' it'll only get used occasionally and stay in the case most of the time ' tools . Didn't see the need to fork out $$$ for an ex$y tool that gets used rarely. But will try to get some better accessories on Friday....fingers crossed. 

Going off topic a bit, I have 'cheap'  GMC tools that have lasted many years and have never failed ( touch wood)  

You can see the aforementioned horse shoes, just to the right of the nice .....mmmm.......yummy .... icy..... cold beer in the pic.....I had buttered crumpets for lunch too, hence the beer    

HS

 

[chuck123wapati]

i have two Dremel's and one off brand, one Dremel approx. 35 years old single speed but still runs fine, the ten speed Dremel not used much, my off brand motor , bought at wallymart, is used a lot , it is variable with the cable extension and about ten years old now. BUT i use Dremel bits and all Dremel discs and such. As i posted on another thread about power tools a cheap motor will run good bits a long time but cheap bits will kill a good motor quickly. If you are money tight you can use a cheaper motor but spend wisely on the bits and accessories and buy quality.

[Handstitched]

Went to our hardware chain for better quality accessories,  no luck . Sure they had individual  Dremel bits 'n' pieces, but not the ones I wanted, lots of empty hooks though . 

I'll keep looking, I'll end up going on line no doubt. 

HS