U WANTED MADE IN U.S.A., or SHINN FU??

this is an interesting watch... it doesn't answer "where?" but its exposing what i perceive to be a real weakness at a very basic level... (our education system). it can be the beginning of answering your question of "where?".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NwEFVUb-u0


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ABC Nightly News with Dianne Sawyer has been promoting a "Made in America" segment and is looking for American companies to profile if you know of one or are one please contact ABC and get the word out.Maybe forwarding a link to this discussion while you are at it.

 

But Lary the Cable Guy show cases it much better. You gotta watch his show.

 

I have to say, in all my years here on the HAMB, this is the calmest post from our good friend theHIGHLANDER I have ever seen, see Pork-n-beaner, WE CAN MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFRENCE

 

Now I can be on TV with my good friend benno too, you guy's are just not gonna let up until we come out of retirement are you

 

In my best "Larry the Cable Guy", that's funny right there, I don't care who ya are.

 

Phil, its funny you say that. I started a thread earlier about making our engine stand " modular ". Outriggers could be easily and reasonably priced to add onto a good solid base model for just that reason. If you dont need such capacity you dont have to pay for it. Anyone who has EVER rotated over a tall deck blower engine never forgot the first time when it got away from them, and they pooped thier pants because it happens so fast!! A longer main beam or front out rigger for the straight 8 crowd. Inexpensive add on, and if you ever used a engine stand you know you dont want to spend the day tripping around a permanant long stand if your just building a V-8. Keeping with the modular design, make it easy to add on a rotating mechanism, for again the heavy crowd building engines like you mentioned. I saved the best for last. A kit to turn your new engine stand into a test/run/break-in stand. Like they say at Verizon- " can you hear me now? "

 

It's the consumer. When was the last time you wanted to pay 70% or more of your income for food, like people in other countries. In the USA food is very cheap. What drives grain markets is the export and speculation on availability. It isn't the box of Wheaties. Start paying $10.00 for your box of wheaties and the farmer can start paying $25.00 per hour for unskilled labor.

 

Yeah, now you're talking. I dig the modular idea. Make it all fit together for easy storage and you've got a winner. I have a test stand, but it's pretty big. Think about a low cart that lets you stash engines under the bench.

 

I just bought an OTC brand engine stand a couple months ago. $129 and it is the one to handle the heavier engines. My Y-block made that sucker sag quite a bit. I was not impressed with the fit of the pivot point for turning the engine over. It sucks and is hard to turn. I would be happy to pay more for something that has a bearing pivot with something that is a controlled roll over rather than the "Oh ShXt" there it goes type.

When will production start for the USA made ones you guys are going to build? Can I trade in a slightly used OTC?

 

Plan9, Brillant!! Thank you.I think I will use that for a presentation to my school board .Locally the high school trades program has cut and sold all the equipment to the machine shop program,Not for a lack of funds but because the schools were discouraging kids from such programs so they could instead fund liberal ,self promoting programs for themselves.Long story short,BRING BACK SKILLED TRADE EDUCATION!!! Thanks

 

I hope it's not to late to weigh in on this thread. In my last job, for 5 years, I spent 60% of my time manufacturing in China and Mexico. We phased out of Mexico because it was getting too costly. The average "take home" wage for the Chinese factory worker is $0.23 per hour, and if somebody doesn't like it, there are a billion people waiting in line for the job. There are no human rights, and it is common to see people getting maimed on the job because it costs money to implement even the most basic safety measures for a job....say safety glasses for example.

If you buy a product made in China, no matter what you say, you are not contributing to a"green" world. China is a polluted shit-hole, and their government is OK with that.

One of the reasons that I quit that job was because I was basically disgusted with contributing to killing American jobs.

That being said, I'm thinking of setting up a metal forming company to do some sheet metal work....I have no idea exactly what would be a good product to start with....but I'll never take it off-shore.

I see the root of the problem is a thing that is gone in American business schools (you know...the MBA guys who run the companies). It's called loyalty. Companies that got their start off the sweat of American labor can't seem to remember that. They think it is OK to off-shore a part and lay off the American guy who used to make it. Our government thinks this is OK....so they won't throw a tax on the imported parts. I guess I just don't understand the Global Economy.

Sorry for the rant....this thread sparked something in me.

If you guys want to manufacture hoists and stands, PM me....I'll give you a call. I have a friend with a pretty good business model. He manufactures golf course equipment right here in the US & has kept his costs down.

 

The Modular test/break in stand "kit" would put a bunch of AMERICANS to work!! Gauge panel, fuel tank, radiator, throttle control, battery box, etc. Phil, I would also incorporate a slightly larger caster/wheel than most, BUT also use a Low-profile frame to lower the center of gravity for those big heavy old iron block builds. The lower center of gravity would also allow me to not only build a safer stand, but to incorporate a drain pan that actually stays in place while you work. If you have ever rolled a old iron monster on a stand across a less than perfect floor, surely you understand the slightly larger casters.

 

Turn off these Asian computers,throw out your cellphone and all other electronic devices in your house and business.Refuse to buy anything unless it's made here.See,it's easy!

 

Sell it to some pimple faced kid with the rice burner....

 

I have been in manufacturing for 20yrs. I started as an operator, moved up to a maintenance tech (working on the automated equipment). I did a little managing and now I am a design engineer. I have started a factory in China; and yes I was aware we were exporting our jobs. The company I work for now makes tools that sell for $30M. Our main customers are in Japan.

I hear a lot of complaints, but you might as well be complaining that water runs downhill. Trade drives the world economy -simple as that. If you guys can make a quality engine stand for $500 retail, you would probably sell a bunch to the guys in the H.A.M.B., but the tuner crowd will probably still opt for the $120 dollar Harbor Freight one because they have light engines. Is someone to blame for this? -NO!

This country has lost a lot of manufacturing jobs, mainly in un-skilled or semi-skilled production. However; Samsung just spent Billions opening a new manufacturing plant in Austin. They probably make more product in Austin then they do in Korea. I have to assume it is because we do it better and cheaper here.

Any time a government tries to protect their people by restricting free trade, they are hurting their citizens -tariffs, minimum wage, whatever.

Someone mentioned Japan's tariffs earlier. Japans debt to GDP ratio is greater than two. Greece, Iceland, Ireland are all going bankrupt with less debt than that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_by_public_debt

If it is crap -take it back! I lament the fact that we buy so much worthless crap from China that just breaks in a couple of weeks, but again we are really only to blame. If most people were to spend a little time taking the stuff back to the retailer when they are not satisfied with it, we would probably get less crap sold to us. Retailers hate the hassle of returns, they will put pressure on the suppliers to improve the quality, or they would just stop buying it.

One thing about American workers -we are a pretty hard working bunch! I have not been to Japan, but the feedback I get is they don't work very hard. Probably because it is almost impossible to lose a job there. If you let people be lazy they probably will be.

 

Right on Mike Rowe
and The HIGHLANDER

 

First, thanks to the mods for letting this roll. And thanks to the posters for keeping it focused. This subject seems to be on everyone's mind these days except for Wall Street and the Government.

Even back in the 60's when I was in school the VoTech guys (I was one) were looked down on as "laborers". But we had amazing shops to learn welding, electrical and construction skills. And real professional trade teachers too. Today that same school has none of that - all gone. But they do have a 10 million dollar football stadium!

The neighborhood I grew up in had plumbers, teachers, a milkman, bank officers, a dentist and a pilot (my dad). We all lived in modest homes with one car and a b&w TV. We all knew each other too. The richest kid I knew was the son of an electrical supply owner (they had a truck AND a car).

There is no single reason we find ourselves in this situation. The unions helped to build the middle class but they lost their mission some where. The corporations created mass production and job security until they sold their soles to the almighty stock market. And because of flat working wages for the past 30 years the consumers have been forced to seek cheaper goods and services and credit debt to feel prosperous.

So we're all done-for now. Unless, we stop blaming the "other guys", really educate ourselves beyond the "fake-news" TV, get out into the streets and make something happen in our own small way. No matter what your politics, there ain't nobody in power that gives a shit about your financial problems, your health problems or your lack of work. We've allowed a "Monarchy" to suck the life out of "we the people". But there are only a few hundred of them and there are 200 million of us. So step up or shut up.

 

Hell, I'll step up... I ain't got nothing to loose..

 

I'd rather fix up an old engine stand,cherry picker,vise,pnuematic tool or whatever else I need so long as it is made in the USA.I can't cover the world,but I can sure as hell keep my little corner of the universe chink free.

 

My lovely wife is half Asian, that comment is really uncalled for and has no place here. How ironic too, she was born in Kansas, your little corner of the universe.

 

Free trade sucks.Read up on the stats since the 1950s and it'll scare the shit out of you.Free trade means we open up our markets,they keep theirs closed.It's a one-way street ,pure and simple.Tarriffs and protectionism keep jobs from leaving these shores.

 

But aren't some farmers required to sell certain grains at a price that's below the production cost and then file for grants to have the difference made up for by the government?

I've heard of companies lobbying to get that passed so they can buy grain cheap, turn a huge profit, then taxes will make up the difference. So in the end we still all pay and the rich get richer.

 

Japan is darn near the 51st state,but China is our biggest threat.People will go to harbor freight for a cheap vise,I'll buy one at a farm sale or auction,sand blast it and repaint it.Mine says USA and I can will it to my kids.The cheap one hits the floor and you'll see the difference in metallurgy.And we're talking product , not people.My business partner is Vietnamese- American,BTW.

 

Thank you sir for clearing that up, its just a very derogatory term, no harm no foul, thank you again.

 

Its about education...

Teens need to be told to stay in school...

Go to a University...graduate.

and then

Apply for goverment grants to start small companies that produce usefull goods...

and stop eat'n pills...

 

I'm good.Thank you for letting me explain my position.

 

About 10 years ago,I met a junior high kid that rebuilds Art Deco electric fans(Emerson,Westinghouse,etc..)he's still at it,has a hell of a collection,and makes a nice living doing it.Follow your passions and produce something,the American Dream.

 

I spend time in Japan and South Korea. In Japan I have never seen a lazy person. Everyone I have ever dealt with is VERY hard working. If you ever feel the company loyalty to the level of entertaining clients at all hours at the cost of your free time or time with your family you might fit in. Then you go back to the office at 3 am to sleep at your desk for the few hours you need and get to do it all over again. That is dedication and hard work my friend. They have a cannot fail attitude and are always worried what their supervisor or coworkers may think. They do not want to be seen as lazy or not hard working. They could never imagine such disgrace.

 

Absolutely false. No one is required to sell at any price. Study commodities for a while and you will see how complex it really is. There are a lot of assumptions about so called grants and subsidies. Grants don't work that way.

And Flamingokid. Way to go, good way to shut this thread down. There is no reason you should even contribute to this without something at least some what intelligent. Remember my earlier posts about the type of minimum wage workers? Their breathing ability?