You might have noticed that we’re running a Goldblatt sidebar banner advertisement this month that features their new aluminum box level. Goldblatt signed on as a ToolGuyd advertiser, and we’re glad to have them! Before we kicked off that advertising arrangement, Goldblatt sent over a couple of their new box levels for testing and review. You’ll hear more about those levels later today.
Goldblatt is a long-standing brand that specializes in concrete, masonry, tile, and drywall tools, and they have been branching out into other areas. The USA-based company is now owned by GreatStar Tools (since 2011), which is a huge OEM.
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To be frank, before I received them, I was a little hesitant about the quality of the levels. I own some tools that are made by Great Star Tools that I love. Others, not so much. To my relief and delight, the levels proved to be thoughtfully designed and very well manufactured, and I believe that this will be true of other Goldblatt’s current and upcoming products.
Going back to the very beginning, I posted about Goldblatt’s renewal back in May of 2011. At the time, I was pumped about all the great things that Goldblatt’s new owners were going to do with the company. I wasn’t familiar with the brand, but it seemed like they were going to come out with some great new tools. I briefly posted about a new 4-in-1 drywall multi-tool, and waited to see what would happen next.
I guess Goldblatt lost a little momentum, as I didn’t really hear much from them after that, until they reached out again earlier this year.
Before we started talking about advertising, and even before I received the level review samples, I spoke with the VP of Product Development for GreatStar Tools. GreatStar is based in China, and the VP I spoke with is based here in the USA.
They emailed in once, twice, and then a third time earlier this year. Sorry! I have been in a perpetual struggle to catch up and be prompt with emails. I’m glad they didn’t give up; at the least, the new levels are great.
The call came in out of the blue, but was impactful. During that first call, we spent quite some time talking about the Goldblatt brand, GreatStar products, metallurgy (yes, really), and everything in between. That really uplifted my impressions about the brands, neither of which I had really paid much attention to in the past.
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I still had some hesitations, but my experience with the new levels have shown me that Goldblatt means serious business.
Goldblatt has new products in the pipeline, and you should already see some of their professional drywall, masonry, concrete, and tiling tools at Lowes stores, with more to come. Now that you know a little more about the brand, be sure to check them out.
As always, I believe in transparency and no-BS. The advertisement arrangement with Goldblatt is strictly for banner ad placements. Any reviews, other editorial content, or potential giveaways are completely separate and isolated from that arrangement, and I’ll be sure to remind you of the banner ads for transparency’s sake.
Norm
Speaking of that 4-in-1 drywall tool, I have a similar (this is actually a 6-in-1) southwire tool.
http://hvac.southwire.com/Pages/ToolDetail.aspx?ID=48
Stuart
As I mentioned, GreatStar is a huge OEM. Looks to be the same tool but with one added feature.
fred
I probably bought my first Goldblatt tool in the late 1960’s.
Based out of Kansas City back then they did a fairly big mail-order (pre-Internet of course) business – and if you bought from them – you got an updated catalog on a regular basis. They called themselves a specialty company for the “trowel trades” – sort of like Bon Tool and Marshalltown.
I remember their drywall hammers – mine (their part # 05-162-M7) had a bull’s-eye face.
We also had a jig from them (their part # 07-449) for drilling wooden scaffolding planks (talk about something that has long ago been superseded) with pointy steel rods that reinforced then.
At one point Goldblatt was acquired by Stanley – then some years later I think they went private again – and now – as you say they are part of Hang Zhou Great Star Industrial Co. Ltd.
fred
BTW this was one of their innovative concept tools:
http://www.amazon.com/Goldblatt-G15850-Runner-Drywall-Cutting/dp/B001O457EU
JG
Looks like another awesome US made tool unavailable in Europe, eh. I’ll need to buy another Knipex/Wera/Wiha tool to counter the sadness.
Stan
This has been LONG time since I’ve seen any USA made Goldblatt tools. As what I’ve seen is mostly made in the PRC. Given they are owned by a Chinese firm, well that speaks for itself.
Probably not what a advertiser wants to read, but whatever.
Drew M
I saw the Goldblatt ad and clicked on it. Their levels looked interesting so I looked for them at the Lowes to see these in person. Lowes didn’t have a single Goldblatt product anywhere as far as I could tell. I was quite disappointed.
Mike
I just looked through the Lowe’s app and they aren’t available in stores. Only two basic models (a 24″ and 48″) are sold online.
Blythe M
My experience is purely concrete tools, and they make nice stuff. I’m partial to marshaltown, but mostly cause that’s what I learned with. My several lowes stores around me clearanced all their kobalt concrete tools and now have a full display of goldblatt concrete tools
Tom PEREZ
Floor Decor has no knowledge about Goldblatt wet saws. Provide no assistance in looking up the product on line. The man was too busy on the computer screen ,to look at me. His comments was what you see is what you get.
Not buying a wet saw at Floor Decor.
Or a Goldblatt wet saw.
Jacquie
I just bought the 36” bridge saw there…I know nothing about Goldblatt tools but I know that the Ridgid saw lasted way too short and any tile saw that has a rolling plate starts defecting early on…Wish me luck!
Marcin G.
I could not find any reviews about this bridge tile saw anywhere. Is it worth buying? Any pros or cons? Thank you.