Starrett is a USA brand of precision machinist and measuring tools and accessories. They also make some misc. construction tools, such as angle measurement tools, hole saws, and hacksaw blades.
Over at Amazon, they’ve proclaimed to be holding a “big savings” event on Starrett tools.
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I looked over a few items, and the prices do seem to be lower than I remember them being, and they’re also lower than at 3rd party dealers and some industrial suppliers’ sites I had checked just to be sure.
I don’t see any HOT deals, but maybe something you’ve been meaning to buy is on sale.
I’m not really a fan of Starrett these days. I bought a few tools over the past few years, and some of them were good, others arrived in unsatisfactory condition, such as with threads loaded with greasy metal chips that should have been cleared out at the factory.
Even so, I’ve worked my way through the list and found 2 or 3 Starrett tools that I just might buy.
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fred
Pity about the QC issues. I recall that you commented about a tap wrench in a prior post. My Starrett stuff is all decades old – and I don’t recall ever having had any issues with the quality – and that includes the style of tap wrench that I think you had issue with. But back in the 1960’s and 70’s when I was acquiring mine – you tended to pay full price or close to it. Not to make excuses for them – but perhaps today’s marketplace with its fierce competition has resulted in some cutting of corners. BTW did you notice if the QA issues were on items made in the USA or in China? Just curious – not that it matters – since well-made and finished products do come from both sources. Conversely not everything made in the USA comes out perfect – unless you pay attention to detail.
Steve
Yeah, I’d just as soon spend the dough on the vintage stuff. It’s really competitive on Ebay, but they hold their value and are truly fine pieces to work with and handle. I just don’t see the value in buying these new machinist’s tools, except for the digital calipers where you need a quick reading. Starrett, Lufkin, Mitutoyo, etc. have all cut corners in the last few years.
HybrisOne
I bought a combination square and protractor head I’ve been eying for a while. They arrived in perfect condition which was a relief given how many commentors claim that quality has fallen. The combination square analihated the plastic bag and inner cardboard box during shipping, but the edges are still straight and square, so not great loss.
Certainly expensive, but I haven’t had any problems with the US made stuff.
Larry
As a CNC tool & die machinist student I recently purchased a set of Starrett digital measurement tools and a bunch of other hand tools. The measurement tools are great and had no faults. I have to agree though that the three different size tap wrenches don’t work as well as a Craftsman one I bought way back in the 60’s.
JMG
Other than a couple of Starrett tape measures I purchased around ten years ago, all of my Starrett tools are over fifty plus years old. They were tools my father used when he worked for GE back in the fifties and sixties, and were handed down to me sometime in the eighties. Still going strong today.