Tools and DIY
- Chemical Guys (Gardena, CA): car care products (cleaners, polishes, and protectants) made in California.
- Empire Covers (Jenkintown, PA): covers for bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trucks, boats and SUVs, made from waterproof, woven polyester with strap and buckle for snug fit. Most are made in their factory in Kentucky, but check for the U.S. flag and "made in USA" at the top of specific product descriptions. Also available from Empire Covers at Amazon [As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases]
- Strapworks (Eugene, OR): straps and tie-downs for autos/motorcycles, camping and other applications, made from nylon, polyester and polypropylene webbing with metal or plastic hardware. Most products are made to order. A few are imported, so confirm country of origin before ordering. [Affiliate: I earn commission on purchases through this link]
- American Carbide Tool (Canton, OH): precision and standard cutting tools, plus specialty tools, all made in the USA
- Atlas Cutting Tools (Waterbury, CT): carbide, high speed steel and cobalt cutting tools made with domestic (USA) carbide.
- Big Gator Tools (Louisburg, KS): high quality drill and tap guides, made from an alloyed steel that's heat treated for durability. Lifetime warranty.
- Diamond Saw Works (Chaffee, NY): Sterling-brand saw blades, made in USA since 1890. Blades for band saws, reciprocating saws, jig saws, hack saws, and more.
- Frictionworks (Naples, FL): polymer bench vise jaws for stable, non-scratch clamping. Available from Amazon. [As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases]
- Kaiser Tool Company (Fort Wayne, IN): manufacturers of THINBIT® precision cutting tools for grooving, threading and boring. (I also hear they often include great "made in USA" swag with your order!)
- Kodiak Cutting Tools (Syracuse, NY): supplier of American-made end mills, taps, twist drills, threadmills, burs, carbide drills and reamers
- LakeShore Carbide (Buffalo, NY): high performance carbide endmills, made with American carbide, unique geometries, and high quality coatings. Custom tooling also available.
- Niagara Cutter (Troy, NY): carbide and diamond-coated carbide cutting tools, all made in USA in their Reynoldsville, PA facility
- RedLine Tools (Minneapolis, MN): machine tools (carbide endmills, drills, threadmills, and toolholders)
- Severance Tool Ind. (Saginaw, MI): specialty high-speed steel and carbide cutting tools, and originator of the ground flute rotary file
- SGS Tool Co. (Munroe Falls, OH): solid carbide rotary cutting tools. All products (burs, drills, endmills, and routers) are manufactured in Northeast Ohio. (In March 2016, SGS Tool was acquired by Japan-based Kyocera Corp. The press release notes that production will stay primarily at existing facilities in Ohio and Indiana.)
- Viking Drill & Tool (St. Paul, MN): cutting tools designed, engineered and manufactured with union labor at their 74,000sq ft facility. In 2010, the company began participating in GreenPOWER, a program to train workers in green manufacturing practices.
- Whiteside Machine Co. (Claremont, NC): manufacturing a complete line of solid carbide and carbide-tipped router bits for all your woodworking needs.
- Ampco Safety Tools (Garland, TX): non-sparking, nonmagnetic and corrosion resistant hand tools for work environments where ignition sources are a concern. (The few imported products are noted in product descriptions.)
- Awl for All (Arlington Hts., IL): wooden-handled lock stitch sewing awl for repairing leather, canvas, vinyl and fabric items. Needles and thread store in tool handle. Made in USA since 1903. Triple strand waxed thread available in colors to match your project.
- Bondhus (Monticello, MN): ball-point hex tools, available from Northern Tool
- Channellock Inc. (Meadville, PA): over 120 different sizes and types of pliers and other hand tools, including their patented tongue-and-groove and slip-joint pliers.
- Chapman Tools (Durham, CT): miniature ratchet and insert bit sets for applications when a regular screwdriver or hex key will not fit or provide adequate torque. Made in USA since 1936. (Save $15 off the blue set with code StillUSA)
Save $15 off the blue set with code StillUSA
- COOK Hammer Co. (Lapeer, MI): this manufacturer of soft alloy (non-marring) hammers and non-sparking hammers was purchased by Lapeer Manufacturing Company in 2017 and has moved from Rhode Island to Lapeer. Hammers are still made in USA.
- Cornwell Quality Tools (Wadsworth, OH): this manufacturer of American-made ratchets, sockets, and wrenches, and now metal tool boxes and storage units under the Kennedy brand, uses a franchise mobile sales model for B2B sales rather than sales to consumers. However, I include it here for completeness.
- Craftsman: this iconic tool brand was acquired by Stanley Black & Decker in 2017 and is currently made in USA from domestic and imported materials. Craftsman was formerly a Sears brand long beloved for its lifetime warranty and "made in USA" credentials. In 2019, Sears and Stanley settled a court case over the rights of each to market the brand. US-made Craftsman products are available from Ace Hardware and other retailers [Affiliate: I earn commission on purchases through this link]. However, per this July 22, 2023 article in the WSJ, the company's attempt to produce Craftsman tools in an automated factory in Texas is apparently at an end.
- Eklind Tool Co. (Franklin Park, IL): hex tools, including folding, L-keys, and T-keys, all made in USA
- Electrical Safety Products (Woburn, MA): 1000v dielectric double-insulated electrical tools and safety equipment. Insulated coatings on U.S.-made tools by Channellock, Eklind, and Wright Tool
- Estwing (Rockford, IL): hammers, mallets, axes, and geological tools, with a patented shock-reduction grip, made in USA. Available from Ace Hardware and other retailers. [Affiliate: I earn commission on purchases through this link]
- Excel Blades (Paterson, NJ): precision knives, cutters, tracing wheels, awls and scribe tools for artists and crafters (some other product categories imported so look for "Made in USA" in product descriptions).
- Grace USA (Williamsburg, MI): handmade tools for the gun industry, woodworking, industrial, military and mechanic trade, since 1941.
- Hardcore Hammers (Shawnee, KS): hammers and premium hatchets; carpenter's framing hammers with special features, including a head with magnetized nail slots and a recessed waffle surface to grip nails without leaving a mark on wood surfaces.
- Jaw Manufacturing Co. (Reading, PA): specialized hand tools for mechanics, including rethreading taps, dies, and files since 1950. Veteran owned and operated.
- Kalama Precision Machine (Kalama, WA): makers of Hold and Fold™ Photo-Etch (PE) Tools for fine-scale metal modelers. Offering PE workstations, rolling sets, and cut-off kits, all made in USA.
- Klein Tools (Lincolnshire, IL): manufacturing a wide variety of handtools at several facilities in Illinois, Texas and New York. The company website has a nice summary of product lines made at their U.S. facilities. (Some products imported from Mexico and elsewhere, so check origin). Available at Home Depot, Lowe's , and other hardware and home improvement stores
- LoggerHead Tools (Chicago, IL): adjustable Bionic Wrench, covering a range of SAE/metric sizes.
- Malco (DeWitt, NE): manufacturing Eagle Grip locking pliers in the plant that formerly produced Vice Grip pliers. Other Malco product lines imported.
- Midwest Tool & Cutlery (Sturgis, MI): forged blade hand tools, including metal cutting snips and related edge hand tools
- Moody Tools (Cranston, RI): manufacturers of precision miniature tools.
- Park Tool (St. Paul, MN): bicycle repair tools, most made in USA (multi-tools imported), available from REI
- Precision Instruments (Des Plaines, IL): precision torque tools and testing equipment since 1938, including torsion bar dial type wrenches, split-beam click wrenches, and micrometer adjustable click wrenches.
- Proto Industrial Tools: a division of Stanley Black & Decker, making heavy-duty industrial hand tools used in the manufacture of autos, aircraft, transportation/fleet maintenance. Most Proto tools are made in USA ("Some days a good wrench is the only friend a man's got.") Available from Grainger and MSC
- S-K Professional Tools (Williamsport, PA): socket and drive tools and wrenches, made in USA. The company is now owned by a Chinese firm (GreatStar Industrial), and in November 2021 manufacturing and distribution of SK Tools was moved from Sycamore, IL to Williamsport, PA.
- Snap-on Tools: a business division of Snap-on Inc., Snap-on Tools Group manufactures tools for motor vehicle service and repair at 4 facilities in the U.S. (Elkmont, AL; Algona, IA; Elizabethton, TN; and Milwaukee, WI). Known for their franchised dealer vans, Snap-on tools are now also available online. Many, but not all, tools imprinted with the Snap-on name are made in US, other tool brands (including Blue Point) are imported. County of origin is provided for each product on the Snap-On website, so check before you purchase.
- Stiletto Tool Co. (Winton, CA): titanium and steel hammers
- Tekton (Grand Rapids, MI): although the vast majority of Tekton tools are imported, their angle head wrenches, crowfoot wrenches, screwdrivers, and nut drivers are made in US. Check country of origin in product descriptions.
- Trusty-Cook, Inc. (Indianapolis, IN): polyurethane dead blow hammers and mallets of all sorts, each hot cast by hand.
- Vaughan Mfg. (Hebron, IL): straight claws hammers and prybars made in USA since 1869 and still made with American-made steel. Available from Northern Tool
- Wilde Tool (Hiawatha, KS): full range of hand tools, including pliers, screwdrivers, scrapers, wrenches and specialty tools, full polished with red grips
- Wright Tool (Barberton, OH): wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, pliers, and hammers, made in USA with U.S. steel
- Xuron Corp. (Saco, ME): industrial and consumer handtools, including shears, pliers and forming tools.
- Havens Luxury Metals (Edgewater, FL): stylish handcrafted copper and stainless steel kitchen sinks, including farmhouse, custom, and bar sinks. Really lovely.
- Ampco Safety Tools (Garland, TX): non-sparking, nonmagnetic and corrosion resistant hand tools, including hammers, axes and picks with fiberglass handles. (The few imported products are noted in product descriptions.)
- Bark River Knives (Escanaba, MI): this family-owned business crafts knives and other cutting tools, with an amazing selection of blade styles and handles.
- Bear & Son Cutlery (Jacksonville, AL): American-made hunting knives, camp axes and saws, pocket knives, and multi-tools
- Benchmade (Oregon City, OR): manufacturer of folding and fixed blade knives for camping/outdoor use, as well as self defense and public safety applications. Several product classes (Red Class, HK, and NRA Outdoors) include imported product.
- Best Made Co. (New York, NY): Hudson Bay axes and longer-handled American Felling axes, both with heads forged by Council Tool of 5160 high carbon U.S. steel, and handles (painted or plain) made from Appalachian hickory. Metal tool boxes made in USA, and lots more. (The site also has an eclectic mix of books, maps, knives and other supplies--mostly European imports--for camp and travel.)
- Buck Knives (Post Falls, ID): family-owned manufacturer of knives, including folding and pocket knives, for hunting, fishing and general use. All knives made in USA are noted with an American flag icon. [Affiliate: I earn commission on purchases through this link] (Check out the plant tours)
- W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery (Bradford, PA): manufacturers of premium hand-crafted pocket knives, hunting, and fixed-blade knives since 1889.
- Council Tool (Lake Waccamaw, NC): American-made striking, digging, and firefighting tools, including axes, mauls, mattocks and sledge hammers.
- DMT (Marlborough, MA): Diamond Machining Technology makes diamond sharpeners for kitchen, garden, and workshop tools. Diamond crystals bonded to a metal plate, will not break or chip. Bench stones, as well as foldable and pocket models for sharpening on the go.
- Emerson Knives (Harbor City, CA): tactical knives handcrafted in California from steel made in Chicago..."deployed with the most elite military and law enforcement organizations in the world..."
- Estwing (Rockford, IL): camping axes, wood-splitters and geological tools. Available from Home Depot
- Kershaw Knives (Tualatin, OR): utility knives made in their Oregon facility--look for "Made in USA" in product descriptions. Kershaw is now a brand of Kai, headquartered in Tokyo (Other product categories mostly made in Japan and China.)
- Ladder's Little Helper: an anti-slip ladder guide that fits over gutters and prevents side-to-side movement of your ladder while you are on it! Sounds like a great safety idea. Designed in Australia, but made in USA (Kansas City) with U.S. raw materials.
- Leatherman (Portland, OR): knives, pruners, and multi-tools, made in USA from US and imported parts.
- LogRite Tools (Vernon, CT): aluminum-handled logging tools for use at sawmills, woodlots and construction sites. Tools include cant hooks, log peaveys, timber carriers, and hand saws, all made in USA.
- MagLite (Ontario, CA): my favorite example of a product that integrates beautiful design and performance--the red MagLite flashlight. "Every Mag Instrument flashlight, no matter where in the world it ends up, comes from a factory located in the U.S.A. and staffed by American workers." Read more about the company's commitment to U.S. workers .
- Medford Knife (Phoenix, AZ): tactical, survival, hunting and law enforcement knives, made with US steel
- R. Murphy Knife Co. (Southbridge, MA): hunting, fishing, and sport knives, plus knives for flooring, roofing, scrapers, and shop tools. An edge for almost any use!
- Ontario Knife Co. (Franklinville, NY): sporting/outdoor and survival knives, edged tools, fixed and folding blades
- Randall Made Knives (Orlando, FL): hand-crafted knives for outdoor, hunting, saltwater, survival and military applications
- Woodman's Pal (Malvern, PA): land clearing tool--"Designed by Americans, made of American materials and crafted with 23 meticulous hand operations by Pennsylvania workers."
(For additional outdoor gear listings, see Sporting Goods)
- Bodelin Technologies (Lake Oswego, OR): makers of the ProScope HR hand-held digital microscope for science education, law enforcement, and manufacturing quality control. New products include wireless handheld digital microscopes for iPad and iPhone, and microscope cameras that connect to PCs, iOs and Android devices using WiFi or USB. Made in Oregon.
- Crick Tool (Ben Wheeler, TX): standard and door buck levels, precision crafted in USA from carefully selected hardwoods, double strength lenses, water resistant glues, and laminated construction.
- Deltronic (Santa Ana, CA): optical comparators made in USA, plus plug gages, pin gages, thread wire gages, and gear wire gages.
- Johnson Level & Tool Mfg. Co. (Mequon, WI): laser and "bubble" levels, framing squares, and other leveling, marking and layout tools. In April 2018, the company was acquired by Hultafors Group of Goteborg, Sweden. Products made in Wisconsin are available on their Made in USA page.
- L.S. Starrett Co. (Athol, MA): precision tools, including micrometers, calipers, levels, dial indicators, and gage blocks. Many still made in USA at facilities in MA, OH, MN, and NC. Some products made overseas, so check origin.
- MagEyes (Kerrville, TX): optical quality magnifying lenses with a headband for hands-free close work. Manufactured and assembled completely in the US.
- CAN-GUN 1 (Ashland, OR): spray can handles that attach to any standard aerosol can (spray paints, lubricants, adhesives, window cleaners etc.) for ergonomic spraying with better control. Made in USA from recycled plastic.
- Ladder's Little Helper: an anti-slip ladder guide that fits over gutters and prevents side-to-side movement of your ladder while you are on it! Sounds like a great safety idea. Designed in Australia, but made in USA (Kansas City) with U.S. raw materials.
- Little Giant Ladders (Springville, UT): adjustable A-frame ladders made from aluminum that are strong and light. All articulating ladders include 5 configurations: A-Frame, Staircase, 90 Degree ladder, Extension, and Scaffolding. Models made in USA (with foreign and domestic parts) include: Classic Ladder, Revolution, Super Duty, and Skyscraper. Other models made in China. Check the "specs" tab for the model you are interested in to see country of origin.
- Purdy (Portland, OR): handcrafted paintbrushes in a variety of bristle types, lengths and widths. I love the feel of the wood handles. These fantastic brushes are still made in Portland, although the Purdy brand was purchased by Sherwin-Williams in 2004.
- Briggs & Stratton (Milwaukee, WI): manufacturers of small gasoline engines, based in Wisconsin and with additional U.S. facilities in AL, FL, KY, MO, and GA. Briggs & Stratton engines power many welders, pressure washers, and generators
- Cyclo Toolmakers (Louisville, CO): polishers with dual orbiting heads for balanced, smooth polishing of bare metal or painted surfaces. Ideal for automotive, marine or RV finishes. (In January 2015, the company was acquired by Italy-based toolmaker RUPES, but continues to manufacture in Colorado)
- Lake Buchanan Industries (Buchanan Dam, TX): manufacturer of BarrelBlaster blast cabinets and pressure pot blasters, that work with a variety of abrasives including glass beads and walnut shells
- Mi-T-M Corp. (Peosta, IA): pressure washers, generators, air compressors, and wet/dry vacs, manufactured in Iowa since 1971
- Rizk National Industries (Warren, MI): American-made battery chargers, booster cables, and transformers
- Montana Brand Tools (Ronan, MT): drill and drive sets, including titanium drill bits, magnetic screw guides and bit holders, and innovative tools like the Drill & Driver tool that allows drill and drive or countersink of screws without chucking new tools
- American Workbench (Charleston, SC): hand-built wood workbenches with maple butcher block tops, custom height, recessed shelves so that you can pull up a stool, and your choice of stains. Awesome.
- Atlas 46 (Fenton, MO): tool vests, belts and rolls made from Cordura nylon for carpenters, firefighters, auto mechanics or anyone else that needs to keep hand tools organized and close to hand. They also manufacture American-made workwear (pants, bibs and tees).
- Gerstner & Sons (Dayton, OH): although this family-owned company now has an "International Line", they still make beautiful wooden tool chests in the USA. Shop from their Made in USA Products listings.
- Occidental Leather (Sonoma County, CA): tool holders and tool belts, made in USA from American leathers, fabrics, and hardware.
- PDY Systems (Clearwater, FL): makers of Lift-N-Lok portable toolboxes with compartmented storage drawers, a storage bin for larger items, and a locking handle.
- Wall Control (Tucker, GA): manufacturer of wall organizers systems, made in USA from 20-gauge steel with baked-on powder coat finish in a variety of colors. Similar in appearance to peg board, but stronger, and can be customized with hooks, brackets, shelves and bins.
- Accu-Strike (Ord, NE): chin-operated welding helmet for hands-free welding or grinding. What a great idea.
- Hobart Welders (Appleton, WI): Hobart MIG and stick welders are made in USA. (Hobart is owned by Illinois Tool Works).
- Miller Electric (Appleton, WI): all Miller welders are still made in Wisconsin. (Miller Electric is owned by Illinois Tool Works.)
- Barr Specialty Tools (McCall, ID): hand-forged woodworking tools, including chisels, knives, gouges, and mallets. These are beautiful, and worthy of including on my Handcraft Artisans page, but I think more folks will see them here.
- Benchcrafted (Cedar Rapids, IA): manufacturer of woodworking vises and MAGIC BLOK magnetic tool holders for kitchen or workroom, plus benches and woodworking hand tools.
- Blue Spruce Toolworks (Oregon City, OR): beautiful woodworking hand tools, including saws, marking knives, scratch awls, chisels and mallets.
- Blum Tool Co. (Walnut, IA): handmade woodworking tools, including mallets, blade sharpening jigs, holding tools and patented Blum planes designed and crafted by a master cabinetmaker. The planes are truly works of art themselves. Workbenches also available.
- Chappell Universal Square and Rule (Brownfield, ME): framing squares and other layout tools for today's carpenter, made to last in USA from American-made stainless steel
- Eagle America (Huntingdon Valley, PA): makers of quality, American-made router bits. (>Other products imported)
- Forrest Mfg. (Clifton, NJ): Forrest Saw Blades for table saws, radial arm saws and chop/miter saws, all made in USA.
- Frictionworks (Naples, FL): polymer bench vise jaws for stable, non-scratch clamping. Available from Amazon. [As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases]
- INCRA Precision Tools (Dallas, TX): all INCRA woodworking tools are designed and manufactured in USA. Available from Rockler Woodworking and Hardware
- Lake Erie Toolworks (Erie, PA): woodworking tools, including wooden vise screw kits made from hard maple and stainless steel marking knives for woodworking joinery usage, plus cast iron woodworking vises made in America by Milwaukee Tool
- Lie-Nielsen Toolworks (Warren, ME): quality woodworking tools, including block planes, bench planes, and chisels. Also carrying Starrett measuring tools made in USA.
- LumberJack Tools (Chippewa Falls, WI): specialty cutting tools for timber framing or log furniture making, including tenon cutters, chamfer tools, and counter sink tools. All made in the USA from 6061 aluminum or steel.
- MasterGage (Thousand Oaks, CA): precision tooling for aligning, calibrating and setting up woodworking machinery, made in USA (except for the imported dial indicators).
- Noden Furniture Design (Trenton, NJ): Adjust-A-Bench allows easy changes to work surface height, to suit the woodworker and the work. Designed and manufactured in USA.
- Original Saw Company (Britt, IA): wood cutting radial arm saws, metal cutting radial arms, horizontal beam saws, cross cut saws, flat extension tables, roller extension tables, measuring systems and miter saw stands.
- U.J. Ramelson Co. (Newark, NJ): woodworking and scribing tools of high carbon tool steel with wooden handles
- Shopsmith, Inc. (Dayton, OH): Mark V and Mark 7 woodworking machines that deliver multiple tool functions (including lathe, table saw, disc sander, boring and routing) for the home woodworking shop.
- Williams & Hussey Machine Co. (Britt, IA): manufacturing molder/planers and profile knives for woodworking professionals since the 1950's
- Woodmaster Tools (Kansas City, MO): since 1929, this company has been manufacturing versatile machines that are molder, planer, sander and saw in one.
- Woodpeckers Inc. (Strongsville, OH): router lifts, router fences, measuring & layout tools and clamping accessories; Woodpecker woodworking tools are designed and manufactured in U.S. (Most other brands on the site are also made in USA.)
