Made in AMERICA

[Rick Potter]

For really comfortable shoes, try SAS (San Antonio Shoe Co.). Made in Texas, and really nice. They cost about $165 for the ones I use.

I had a worsening case of Plantar Faceitis (SP?), my foot just burned, and I was using a splint at night to keep it straight. My wife, who has used these shoes for years, told me to try them, and it cleared up in a very short time. They are not orthopedic shoes, just shoes which fit right, and have proper support, and they last forever too. You can get them re-soled too.

Rick Potter

[Robert Boyd]

A winter boot that I have been looking at is Kamiks. These are made in Canada and assembled here. I had a pair of LaCrosse Icemans which were good down -50 that were US made. Luckily my brother still has those.
I spoke with Sorel and Lacrosse last month and pretty much all of it comes from overseas.

Redwings have two tags a black and white one. I believe the white is the made in US. Love the hiker boots but they have been cheapening out the sole so they don't last long now. Really disappointed in them. But the traditional work boots, wore them for a week and now they are sitting in the trunk of the car.

Rockports used to be a good shoe, really comfortable, haven't worn them since they went to over yonder.

Thats all I got,
Robert

[Larry Edgerton]

I'm patriotic, but for me it's mostly about quality. Pretty much every tool I've bought in the past 5 years has been German/Austrian.

I am not an isolationist by any stroke of the imagination. My shop is full of Italian tools, and much of my tooling is German. My wife drives a Mazda made in Hiroshima. I do like to do business with friends, and I am concerned with the deindustrialization we are seeing and the far reaching consequences of losing our manufacturing capability.

I would love to see a North american tool company manufacture tool that are precise and innovative along the lines of Feldor/SCM/Etc. but until then I will be sending my money to countrys like Italy where they allow their citizens to live a full and prosperous life.

Larry

[Bill Orbine]

Check out this website, http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/tools.html Tom

I checked out the website. The first thing I looked for was woodworking clamps made by Jorgenson andor Pony... not listed.. I'm sure there's quite a bit of stuff made USA that not listed. I did favor the Cabinetmaster clamps by Jorgenson over the Bessey's K-body in consideration of the country or origin. Did you know some of the Bessey's are made in China?!!!

[Jerome Hanby]

One side effect to high unemployment and high fuel prices, it begins to be more cost effective to build here instead of building there and transporting it...

[Ben Hatcher]

As much as I dislike it, that's business. Maximize profit by reducing costs, hire only when demand requires it, and sell for as much as you can. I don't suppose that you saw a price drop in those Red Wing boots when their manufacturing costs dropped by 90% did you?

[Andrew Joiner]

The Wings I wear have the white wedge sole with no heal, and are soft so good traction on schaffold and roofs, yet have very little tread so I am not tracking clumps into peoples homes. The soft sole gives great traction, but wears fast, much like tires, you can't have both.





I'm thinking if we don't get our stuff together we will be walking around barefoot, in the dark......

Larry

I repair my own shoes, no sewing needed, just contact cement a new layer of sole on. Best to do it when the soles aren't completely worn thru. I have used hard EVA foam. It's got good traction. You might try scraps of conveyor belt.

I had so much fun doing the leather work on my last set of chairs, I may make some shoes from scratch.

[George Gyulatyan]

I used to work at the PaperMate factory in Santa Monica, CA. In 2005 they moved it down to Mexico. Quality suffered, but who cares? They were paying on average $20 - $25hr to the workers on the factory floor in US as opposed to around $.50 (yup fifty cents) in Mexico. Sure at the beginning they broke a couple of million dollar molding machines, but so what? With that kind of difference in salary alone, I am sure they recouped from it in a jiffy.

[Larry Edgerton]

As much as I dislike it, that's business. Maximize profit by reducing costs, hire only when demand requires it, and sell for as much as you can. I don't suppose that you saw a price drop in those Red Wing boots when their manufacturing costs dropped by 90% did you?

"Thats Just Business" is also us deciding that enough is enough and refusing to buy things manufactured in a country that does not have our best interest at heart.


No, I do not think that $240 is justified when you look at the cost of materials and the small amount of actual labor that goes into making a pair. They should not have that show on TV that shows how things are made. I watched shoes being made at my brothers one day. I was amazed at how fast they can do it.

Larry

[Larry Edgerton]

I repair my own shoes, no sewing needed, just contact cement a new layer of sole on. Best to do it when the soles aren't completely worn thru. I have used hard EVA foam. It's got good traction. You might try scraps of conveyor belt.

I had so much fun doing the leather work on my last set of chairs, I may make some shoes from scratch.

Andrew

I thought about that, just for a bit. I have broken my hip, my legs five times, and broke my foot right off, so I walk a little funny. Because of that I wear my shoes out in wierd ways. The heel on one foot and the insole on one side on the other wear fast. I get up in the morning and I don't know which way I am going to limp! I'd have to take them to a belt sander I guess? I work on some very high projects, currently working on a post and beam with 36' ceilings. I don't trust my shoe repair ability that much.

[Jason Roehl]

http://www.constructiongear.com/made...ork-boots.html

Just something I found. No experience with them or affiliation.

[James White]

Check out this website, http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/tools.html Tom

I was just looking through some of these manufacturers. I was wondering if anyone has tried these carpenters pencils. I like carpenters pencils for there durability. It would seem that this company has taken that to the next level.

http://www.chattahoocheepencil.com/carpenterspencil.php

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...e+pencil&ajr=0

James

[James White]

Here is some more info on this pencil.

http://robsworld.hubpages.com/hub/Ch...penters-Pencil

Here is there competitor. Does anyone know if they produce there products in the USA? They are quite a bit less expensive.

http://www.amazon.com/CH-Hanson-1058...N%3DB0011V81EY

http://www.chhanson.com/superpencil.html

James

[Andrew Teich]

My favorite backpack is a Duluth Pack. I've had it at least ten years and it's still going strong, lifetime warranty and made in USA. They also offer products other than packs and bags.
http://duluthpack.com/

[Ben Hatcher]

Larry, I totally agree. The job of business owners is to maximize profits. If we, the American consumers, continue to demand the lowest price and/or continue to buy products that are made in low cost regions, businesses will continue to move work there. If more of us refuse to do so we, THE AMERICAN CONSUMER, will create jobs here and/or prevent more from leaving.