Chinese manufact uring has advanced leaps and bounds in the recent past.  Americans have experienced a mixed blessing due to this.  While most manufacturing jobs have unfortunately been sent overseas, Americans can now afford to purchase products that at one time were too expensive for most households.  While most people know this is true with electronics, this same rule also applies to power tools.

High quality power tools have become affordable with China's progression.  It wasn’t too long ago that good power tools were made only in the United States, Germany, or Japan.  However, in the recent past, China has become the exclusive manufacturer of all power tools, both high and low quality. 
Sure, China still makes a lot of low quality, Fisher Price looking tools.  But they are also now making the higher end products as well.  Whether you are shopping for a $100, five-piece Ryobi combo kit, or a $300 DeWalt 24 volt hammer drill, they were both made in China.  As lower end tool companies have become higher quality, they have changed the accuracy of many purchaser’s preconceptions.

Even power tool kings like DeWalt and Milwaukee now produce lower end products that are not aimed at true professionals.  These two manufacturers were once the class of power tool companies.  However, as Big Box stores have become the main outlet from which to purchase power tools, the rules have changed.  The well established, over priced brands have developed lower quality tool lines in order to compete with fairly priced newcomers like Makita and Ridgid. 

Just like the top of the line DeWalt and Milwaukee products, Makita and Ridgid’s higher end products are designed primarily for professional workmen.  However, in many cases, professional workmen have been reluctant to embrace the newcomers and still stick with The Big Two.  It's not like any of these companies manufacture much (if any) of their products in the United States.  Don't be misled by the big power tool companies; Makita, like everyone else, makes most of their tools in China.

While Chinese manufacturing was once not able to produce high quality tools, they have recently become much more capable.  With this new found skill, they have changed the rules we thought we knew regarding power tool manufacturers.  This sad fact undoubtedly means an even bleaker future for American manufacturing.  But hey, for the time being, why would you pass on buying the tools you've always wanted?