Secret Snap-On Factory? Where exactly is Snap-On making their new locking grip pliers?

[@t-dawg1161]

I’m glad Snap on gonna keep making them

[@TheDigitaldoug]

I have always liked Snap-On tools except for their confiscatory prices and a warranty totally dependent on some truck operator. Their price point has opened the American market to Knipex, as now the German company can easily compete with Snap-On with well-designed products that caught Snap-On off guard. I am glad to see Snap-On with some competition as now they will have to play the old-fashioned game of free enterprise and let the engineers and craftsmen at both companies engage in the design and build of new products. With the advent of new viable competition, Snap-on's old mantra of charging whatever they wanted will surely change or they will vanish into history. Competition makes for happy customers.

[@Art-is-craft]

Snap-on are technical level tools. There are very few brands that produce at those levels.

[@bgbeck55]

My grandfather started in auto repair in the 19 teens through the 1940's. He had a habit of modifving tools as needed. The Snap-On rep would stop at his shop and show him the atest a greats from Snap-On. My grandfather would look at it go to his tool box, and come back with a tool he'd re-made that did the exact same job. It wasn't shiny and polished, but it worked. It finally got to the point that rep stop in ask, "Do you need anything?".

[@walterbordett2023]

One issue is that Malco is unknown outside the HVAC community. They make great specialty tools for that trade. Other trades, general mechanics, and DIYers have never heard of them. If I didn't have a drawer full of locking pliers, I would have bought a bunch of the Eagle Grip tools. So will SnapOn now come up with a brand of tools for the big box centers, wholesale distribution, and hardware store markets? This would up production for their pliers lines. I am a fan of both Den of Tools and ToolGuyd. Glad to see you collaborating.

[@Art-is-craft]

Snap-on are technical level tools. If they produce general market tools it could endanger their core product lines. When working in operations critical environments substandard tools that are not to technical standards cannot be tolerated. So for example having a socket set where 5 pieces are perfect but one is out of sorts because it is made in a different plant under licence can prove to be untrustworthy.

[@pat2430]

I'm sorry, but if you're american and can't start up an American business without being leeched of every cent you have before, you even have the doors open. That just shows the system is broken.

[@ckm-mkc]

No, just no. I've lived in 7 countries and the US is one of the best place to start a business. Period, end of story. This kind of comment is just uniformed garbage that's just polarizing. If there is a reason why businesses can't be profitable in the US, it's because everyone shops at Walmart & Harbor Freight and we expect a 1st world quality of life. You can't buy cheap crap and expect living wages in manufacturing (or anything other industry for that matter).

[@pat2430]

@ckm-mkc you sound new to the country. You have no idea how much easier it was to start and run a business in the 60s, 70s, 80s, that's why if you look at a lot of businesses around the states many where started during and prior to that. Also, our infrastructure is dated during those times and needs desperate repairs now and is a hot topic among politicians.

[@chechnya]

​@@pat2430 It's a misnomer that it's hard to start a business these days, it's just easier with better profit margins to go overseas.

[@Art-is-craft]

@@pat2430 Name a better business start up country than the US if you can. We do eagerly await.

[@pat2430]

@@chechnya true and also false

[@AutobahnDan]

Hey hey, long time! I paid close attention to the timeline of the Malco plier release, and one thing that should be noted is that Snap On got first dibs on the pliers. I couldn’t find the pliers anywhere in the Malco brand, but they were on truck at the time. Snap On had a huge play in the whole thing and I believe it wasn’t possible without Snap On in the first place. So, for them having it now is just simple and makes sense.

[@Michael-yi4mc]

I have a ASMR over Snap-on tools. I can tell by the sound of a Snap-on ratchet a mile away. Music to my ears 🎵

[@johnriley8713]

Elizz-BETH-tun Tennessee!!! Mom grew up near there! Thanks Mom!

[@dangrimes5078]

Does anyone realize that Haas machine tool, If I'm not mistaken is the biggest producer of CNC machines. All made in Oxnard CA. They started out about 40 years ago making strange looking vertical CNC milling machines with plastic enclosures. Now they have an incredible lineup of machines that they export all over the world. I own a few of these machines and I can tell you they are durable and accurate and reliable. If they can do it why can't others do it?

[@Finnegan6674]

By far the best locking pliers ever made are Eagle Grip. i have 2 of each clamp and one each of the other pliers. I was waiting for the needle nose which looks like were made for Snap-on first before they put them in market under their name. They were costly but didn't have the Snap-on up pricing. These are life time tools that will never need to be replaced.

[@jontnoneya3404]

Awesome - love the deep dives and all the details!!

[@Chevybass62]

It’s Eliza-BETH-ton….like the lady’s name. Not Eliza-BEEF-ton like the cow 😂

[@Fishbone8891]

Snap-On just expanded their Milwaukee plant last year as well and the new addition is up and running

[@lostcreek8036]

Channel lock used to be owned by the same company the owned vise grip (American tool) I live 20 miles from Dewitt Nebraska I worked at the vice grip plant at one time

[@andymauthe5508]

Sorry but Channellock has been owned by the DeArment family since the company was founded.

[@lostcreek8036]

@@andymauthe5508 you maybe right but there was channel lock branded tools made both in Dewitt and beatrice Nebraska channel lock in Dewitt was in the building to the south across the street from the vice grip plant it is now owned by farmer’s cooperative

[@andymauthe5508]

Channellock like most manufacturers doesn’t make everything themselves. It’s quite possible that they had Vise-Grip making Channellock branded locking pliers for them. Just like I’m sure that Channellock makes pliers in their plant that are branded for someone else. All I’m saying is that Channellock is indeed still owned by the same family that founded it, and always has been. I live within 40 miles of them and have been through their plant. They are indeed forging and assembling all of their pliers themselves every day. But, their screwdrivers for example are made by someone else.

[@mikej5959]

I think Snapon is one of the the largest US tool manufacturers. The next would be Stanley, black and decker through their proto and a couple other lines. Problem is a snap on is just ungodly expensive. There’s too many hands in the pot because of their tool truck model, and the fact that they have to sell their government tools within so many percentage points of what they sell to the public in order to keep those government prices high. As a federal worker, though, we are starting to look more and more at Proto and other US manufacturing like Wright . All our new boxes at my Air Force Base are Proto . Anytime a snap on brakes. We are sending it to auction and get a Proto.

[@AToolWithTools]

The hands in the pot are investors. Snap-on is very proud of paying a dividend every quarter since the late 30s, and it's a major reason why their share price is in the high $200s right now. They post operating margins of over 25%, which means for every dollar they bring in they keep over 25% of it after the employees are paid and steel is bought and all that. That's a crazy margin, while SBD is posting sub-10%. The truck model is practically just instead of having a store that sits there and you go to it, the opposite happens. And after the tools are on the truck they're no longer Snap-on's problem, they've made their money, it's up to the independent franchisee to try recouping theur money. Gov can arrange, and sometimes does, a good discount off list for Snap-on by foregoing warranty. Hence the "G" tools.

[@TheDigitaldoug]

Should have guessed that the government in its infinite reason is why Snap-On prices are ludicrous. The government wants a guarantee that they get the best price so Wala the rest of us get screwed. Just look at anything the government buys, and you get ridiculous prices, i.e. Ford F-150, or for that matter any vehicle. If the government had purchasing agents with half a brain such guaranteed lowest price mandate would be unnecessary.

[@mikej5959]

@@AToolWithTools Yeah but we aint buying snap on. and while youre right we dont warranty our boxes do come with some support. Drawer slides and locks. Nothing terrible but if we arent buying new boxes and new tools they aint making money off us anymore.

[@Art-is-craft]

@@mikej5959 It has nothing to do with Snap-on model. Western made tools are expensive especially if they are of a technical level. People have become confused in the modern world because everything around them is cheap out sourced manufacturing. In peoples minds they have associated those cheap products with every thing. It used to be that a hand tool could cost a months wages. US manufacturing brought the costs down and kept the quality high post WW2.

[@mikej5959]

@@Art-is-craft It does have a bit to do with their model. Half the reason they are so high is because of government sales. In order to sell to government your public sales have to be within so many percentage points of private sales. That said I still appreciate SO because they are one of the most comprehensive line of USA made handtools. I just dont think the CS or warranty is worth it, id rather they lose some of that and lower costs.

[@MikeCurrysHorsepowerChannel]

I love magic spoon! Red you do realize the size bowl you are eating is like 5 servings? LOL! Cheers!

[@daewooparts]

It's a bear 🐻 sized bowl 🥣

[@AToolWithTools]

Theyre making them somewhere. Older ads for the pliers just said they were an "exclusive design for Snap-on" or something like that, which was probably just referencing that they had their name stamped on them. The recent ad showing the 2 new designs which Malco never released, at the end say "and theyre made in the USA by Snap-on." It doesnt necessarily take special machines custom built for one task and that one task alone. Presses and hammers are just presses and hammers, and can be and are fitted with the tooling for the job which is interchangeable. Industry loves the concept of interchangeable tooling because it makes a machine much more versatile, and if they're discontinuing a particular product they can keep makijg other products with their big capital investment. I doubt Channy is running over 100 hammers for all their different pliers, I highly doubt Snap-on has like 1000-plus different forging presses to make all their different sockets. Warwood makes all their different forged tools in just 3 hammers! I myself am in a different line of manufacturing but my line alone has tooling for 7 completely different shapes of the widgets we make (used to do up to 11), swaps out in under 5 minutes, and can program up to 100 parameter sets in the equipment. My assumption would be that theyve purchased or had made some tooling for the equipment they had already, and are utilizing production capacity they already had.

[@anthony4701]

Off track a little, but I ran into Southern Wire, wire cutters at runnings hardware in Hutchinson, MN. Very nice tools and $44 each, and American made!!!! What do we know about Southern Wire tools?

[@AToolWithTools]

I think you mean Southwire, and they have a few other tools made in USA as well, in addition to making wire itself in USA. The company is very well known since they own the name Romex.

[@Ratchet313]

Anyone know if the 30% coupon is working on multiple items like usual or are they actually enforcing the one item limit?

[@scottgade6856]

i wonder how the knipex locking plier compare to the malco ones?

[@aoverhage5181764]

Better action, but no where near the finish quality. Plenty good enough though. For work and not looks Knipex wins.

[@weing]

I just always figured the snap-on factory would need to be right next to Fort Knox.

[@joshuavillnave3804]

Glad you made this video I have been wondering this since seeing the 6 inch long nose on the snap on truck a couple months back. I hope they make a 9" version then my set would be complete. I always hoped malco would come out with needle nose versions....

[@mattadams9577]

As usual very informative. Great video

[@proffitt72]

Elzabethton Tn my home town they have been workimg on an expansiion at the plant for several months now. The plant has been here since before I was in High school and I'm 52. There used to be another Snap On plant in Johnson City the town next door, but they closed it a few years ago and moved production to the Elizabethton plant. My son worked there for about a year before he moved to Knoxville. I know several people who retired from there. The plant runs 24 hours 7 days a week. Most people there work 6 days a week with oveerime including most Sundays. It is pronounced Elizabeth like the name with ton on the end like metric ton. Elizabeth ton.

[@denoftools]

Well, if you hear about them making Lock and pliers email me 😎

[@MrAnthonyfym]

One of the current snap on foundries prob has some overlap with what is needed to make the vice grips

[@johnhegarty1761]

Why can't you ignorant people understand the difference between Vice and Vise? you can't read the name on the Vise Grip? do you know what a vise is?

[@brianblithe2271]

Took a look at the Malco Eagles and my eyes teared up, never thought true American made ( all the way, respecting ex workers, and even making them better ) would come back. Without American and Govt. support I knew it wouldnt last. Sad that I even thought that and even sadder when it did happen.

[@MrPhil1969]

I had a pair of the Snap-on locking pliers in my hand a couple of weeks ago and I have to tell you the chrome was amazing, so they may be making them at that location.

[@aceyshepard7734]

Yes they are building they have only been producing screwdrivers and pliers I'm not sure what they are building in for but I'll ask my family members that work there.

[@MoneyMarcMes]

I have Malco that I got off Amazon. I bought two pairs.

[@frugalprepper]

I bought some Eagle Grips a few years ago. They are nice. The work as well as my old USA made vise grips.

[@heypeteyj]

Channellock is a price point company.. A premium produced product is off brand. Nothing they make in the USA is remarkable quality, although, their Spanish made Code Blue adjustable wrenches are really nice for the $. As is their locking pliers, also made in Spain.

[@carson_craftsman]

a while ago you mentioned a difference in quality of gearwrench. how can we distinguish between the two quality levels

[@denoftools]

Price is the easiest way to tell and if you can see them up close it's fairly obvious but I really do with would spell it out.

[@DDB168]

Did you notice on the June 28 2022 patent that there is a Taiwan Office application number? I guess that's either a Snap On office or their patent office.

[@AudiophileTommy]

snap on tools are gold plated 🎉

[@Ratchet313]

For what they cost, you would think.

[@Art-is-craft]

@@Ratchet313 Well do any of you know of western made tools in the same categories that cost the same.

[@catsupchutney]

Small cities were at one time the industrial heart of the USA, feeding products to the larger cities. Now Shezhen China has greater market clout than domestic industry,

[@Art-is-craft]

US industry is making a comeback but it will take a decade to play out.

[@guyconnell2250]

I think the elephant in the living room is the timing of the plant closure. Closes down in 2009, opens again in 2017, then closes again in 2022. Hmmm, interesting.

[@andrewscott8892]

Please explain

[@Ratchet313]

Are you suggesting that the company was dependent on government to keep it a float and could only turn a profit tasty enough for the owners when major corporate tax breaks subsidies were made available to millionaire owners allowing the rich to get richer, and once the corporate loopholes were closed, the benefactors of paying little to no taxes turned their backs on American workers because it was not as profitable continuing production here in America?

[@FountainCityVol]

@@Ratchet313Yeah, those dirty corporations that were putting Americans to work. How dare they!

[@iFixJunk]

​@@Ratchet313 Wow, so Biden really is the Robin Hood that's fixing our economy? Tell us more!

[@Art-is-craft]

@@Ratchet313 Snap-on are a very profitable company.

[@CapeSIX]

I used to work for snap-on as a company store. I love the company but they put me in a area that cant sustain a franchise just to keep the area alive with hopes it would one day sell... and I was not hitting the collections of $10,000+ week needed to make my bonus worth the 12hr work days. I was basically a minimum wage worker, but i truly loved the job but love does not pay the bills.

[@josephmckeown3992]

How about Great Neck tools in New York making pliers?

[@AToolWithTools]

They hardly make their own tools anymore. Great Neck can be found in some mom n pop hardware stores, guess where a lot of it is made?

[@wesleynelson8263]

There is a Snap-On facility in Alabama. I think it is just a logistics plant. Elkmont, AL

[@GlockMan-oj2ik]

There is a snap on plant in Murphy NC. I pass by when I go to the harrahs casino 😊

[@richkarlock2195]

Im a truck driver and deliverd at that plant in Dewitt many years ago and saw pallets full of Vise Grip and Erwin next to each other on the dock

[@lastbesttool]

Fremont? We still own farmland outside of Schuyler!

[@denoftools]

Dude you have to be joking!

[@johnd9402]

I miss American made vise grips!!!!!

[@johndiestelow3944]

The other red plires are good and you get 2 for arround $25.

[@kellyarnett4062]

After trucking snap on tools and tool boxes from Mexico. My guess is made in America in Mexico, South America. I guess that still make it in the America's. Just not North America.

[@Tanker3278]

"E - Lizah - Beth - Thun" said quickly. - Virginia hillybilly that now lives in TN. Love the show! Great work Bear! God bless!

[@richkarlock2195]

Also I cant remember the name of the town in southern Illinois but snap on had a manufacturing plant there there but I dont know what they made there

[@bradleyyounger8499]

I wonder if Malco went under because Snap on decided to manufacture themselves.

[@proffitt72]

They do make rachets, wrenches, amd screw drivers I believe at the plant.

[@noimagination99]

Looks like the patents were originally filed (applied for) in 2019, and 2022 is when the application was published in the US. If it says 'A1' it's still just a patent applied for, if 'B1', 'B2', etc., then it is a granted patent.

[@davebrock6618]

you can still get the Eagle Grip locking pliers on the great A-zon for the time being.

[@bill4123]

Patent documents: some of the documents showed were published applications, not granted patents, though some were granted patents (the document heading distinguishes between the two). Also, the dates cited were the published date of the document. The filing date is actually much earlier (box #22). Sometimes you will see a claim to earlier filling priority in box #30 but this isn't always the case.

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

Looks to me like Malco over spent on machinery beyond the needs of rational production numbers. ... leading to financial failure. They really only needed the 1/3 of it that was held for Snappy., It is better to spend less on capitol plant and run 2 or 3 shifts, than go into big debt and never turn a profit

[@denoftools]

I had that thought but then wondered if perhaps Snapon had promised to purchase a certain number of products from them and then during the pandemic changed their minds.

[@TheDigitaldoug]

The villain in this story is government taxes and regulations. You are told who to hire independent of their merit, many times forced to unionize, robbed by taxing authorities from federal to local levels, and unfortunately never offered any assistance by those who tax and regulate you into oblivion.

[@ismaelescalera7879]

The snap on chrome adjustable wrenches used to say made in Spain. Now they are USA branded. Maybe that plant is going to make locking pliers

[@matthewwalter67]

They bought Irwin’s plants in the US. That’s why snap on was selling Irwin Vise grips on their site. Saved you a click and didn’t even get past magic spoon

[@garyhalk5430]

The Snap-on pliers with the painted body are garbage

[@toddhickox4757]

Very interesting !!

[@georgef1176]

The Milwaukee vise grips are best common sets right now anyway, but the absolute best quality set of vise grips and clamp type tools are from Grip-On. the orange ones from Europe. They are such nice quality but expensive but they make like attachments for the Vice grips for benches etc. so sick.

[@beammeupscotty9874]

Left it, Hit it, Shine On :)

[@jondonut1810]

Well go 2 miles until wang Blvd. at the second stop light make a left at ching st go 2 blocks then right at Lee St. At the forth building thats dong wa factory no.1 there you go snap on factory 😂

[@roaddoglv]

At the franchisee show last year dealers were told they came from Elizabethon.

[@cityglass8308]

Elizabeth...... ton !

[@Steelythestacker]

Channel Lock does well in the town I live in. Tool City USA, Meadville PA.

[@jeffa847]

You think there is any risk the ones on AMZN are counterfeits? I wish I had heard about these when they were still being made by Malco. I would have definitely grabbed a couple

[@rvsteve583]

just bought some s/o locking pliers, because the mac ones were junk after 2 uses. mac warrentied them with the same junk......................

[@brianwittman5172]

It pained me to give a Christmas gift of two China made Vice Grip pliers last Christmas. I looked for Malco, but couldn't find any. My local ACME TOOL store just wished me luck in finding them. I appreciate the information here. There is a company called WILDE, I believe located in Missouri. I believe they make some very good products. Is there a chance that they may have a hand in this?

[@kb9ndb]

kinda interesting as vise grip irwin owned by stanley black and decker having skil homak milwaukee and harbor freight in their plant

[@TNtreasurehunter]

Elizabeth ton is how you say it. Just like the name Elizabeth and ton. Plant has been there for over 30years I would say. Was also another one about thirty min from here in Jhonson City TN they voted union in and were quickly closed down years ago. So you are right unions are not always good.

[@Its-Steven]

Between the Democrats and unions, manufacturing in the US has become a toxic environment.

[@Unbendable74]

Bear, try oat milk with that cereal 🤤

[@garymiller5937]

Thank you Jeff. That was a very thorough investigation you conducted, and the conclusion you've drawn sounds very feasible to me. It's just sad that Snap On thinks putting their name on a tool makes it worth twice as much. 😮 😊😊😊❤❤❤

[@Michael-yi4mc]

My first tool was made by Proto in the 1970’s. Quality tools not as shiny as Snap-on.

[@Michael-yi4mc]

I’m willing pay more for quality.

[@DUMPTHETRUCK]

THATS what I said the other day in my video

[@craigjorgensen4637]

Magic Spoon tastes like glue!

[@allen-gt5ng]

Low carbs 😂😂😂😂😂😂😅

[@rwbishop]

Vise Grips! "The Wrong Tool For Every Job"

[@t-dawg1161]

People always talk about Milwaukee handtools. Their handtools are no good they’re known for their power tools, but the batteries fall out.😂 trash

[@mazeman01]

I do perfectly good work without having to shell out the bucks for Snap-On or Festool.

[@JPaul60]

Shouldn't those letters be Hanja Characters?

[@zack9912000]

Because its not them, its another factory that slaps their name on it. They also make other brands for 50% off what snap on charges

[@tramptramp5401]

Eliza...Beth... ton ........ I live there. Nice place to live.

[@zapman2100]

sorry but as some one who always buys American when I can, I have never heard of Malco or the Eagle grip line, this seems like a massive failure to properly advertise the product or maybe someone on the inside didn't want it to succeed.

[@pico67ss]

They had a bunch of issues they tooled up prior/during the pandemic material and labor shortage killed them they didn't do a good job at getting the tools to the dealers or make a big deal about it they are big in the hvac industry their dealers had no idea they were available also snap on got the first year of production at double to triple the retail price

[@thoughtstream9591]

I have some and they are really nice. But if it wasn't for KZbin tool channels I would have never heard of them.

[@jamesfarmer2748]

Just received my second pair of 10 inch curved jaw Malco a few days ago, might get a few later,

[@methanial73]

Congrats on doing low carb. It can literally change your life.

[@gypsydildopunks7083]

China will always do it cheaper. Sad but true

[@georgef1176]

It’s not even worth buying snap-on anymore Tekton, Capri, Gearwrench even Husky have become just as good if not better.

[@Michael-yi4mc]

Klein tools are made in America.

[@bro.weaver1282]

LOL He does not have a OnlyFans....haha

[@TrippsMedia]

I’m sure his only fans would be him eating out of a horse trough…… not sure he’s doing his sponsors any favors

[@Ron-e2y]

Maybe they're making them in China and labeling them made in the USA.

[@chuggalueroifan]

How dare those unions demand a living wage for workers. Don’t they know that corporations are entitled to maximum profits off the backs of their workers. Yeah I’m not taking advice from a Huuuuge man that gets excited for cereal.

[@w8lvradio]

Unions don't try to "get everything they can." Instead, they negotiate for the best benefits and salaries that they can for their employee members. Companies are absolutely thrilled to pay nothing and not provide health insurance, and stoke management with pie in the sky salaries when they are allowed to get away with it, leaving the workers and their families struggling. What's more, there are no unions in China, and blaming unions is just as bad as a network implying that the employees for why this or that factory "can't make it" in America as a "reason." Union employees can make quality products at competitive prices in the US, and they do so every day. For companies, it's just easier to take the easy way out. You MIGHT think that I am anti Chinese competition on stating this, but I'm not. Competition is a good thing, but the playing field has to be even to do so. I buy American and Chinese products: The MAJORITY of my electronics test lab equipment is made in China.

[@denoftools]

"Unions don't try to "get everything they can." then you follow it up with "Companies are absolutely thrilled to pay nothing". You can't start off a discussion with this much overt bias and expect anyone to listen. But I can totally dismantle your argument with one word. Hostess.

[@w8lvradio]

@@denoftools Oh no, you haven't dismantled a thing. "Unions try to get everything they can" is your overt and incredibly naive bias, and I have called you out on it. What's more, the thumbs ups agree.. 👍A lot of us that watch your channel and use tools, are Union. That's How It Is. Pilgrim.

[@leemccann280]

Sorry my guy, the bear has you union's will take untill the company dies in the same way a company will pay you as little as thay can get away with you need union's and right to work laws Like it or not union's are just as bad as governments or company's or anything else if thay are protected form market forces

[@TNtreasurehunter]

Snap-on had two pants in East Tennessee one in Elizabethton one in Jhonsoncity. Both plants tried to vote in the union. Workers were told if union came in they would have to close the plants. Jhonsoncity voted it n Elizabethton did not. Elizabethton plant is still open Jhonsoncity was closed down years ago and everyone there lost good paying jobs for this area. So watch what you ask for.

[@andrewscott8892]

​@@w8lvradiounfortunately your measurement of thumbs up means you lose, 4 for your comment and 5 for his reply. And now people see your original comment then click on it to read the conversation underneath

[@frankhorton7329]

E liz a beth ton

[@amactools1207]

Don’t need to hear you chewing!

[@ErlAyagus]

Snap on linesman pliers absolute SCRAP. GARBAGE

[@kipplebits8619]

my inlaws live in femont.