I had the pleasure of spending some time with Colleen, Ed, and Cyndi from Eagle Tool US when I went up to Chicago for NECA 2014. During that brief stay, I got the chance to learn more about the products that they carry and the company itself. What their operation does and their commitment to US based manufacturing is very impressive.
Eagle Tool US Commitment
Colleen York is the President and founder of Eagle Tool US. When we started speaking about the company, it was obvious that the most important point for her is their commitment to US based manufacturing. Every product that they sell is Made in the USA, and that is a fact that they are very proud of.
From start to finish, each product is manufactured in the US. Much of the process is done in the state of Illinois, where Eagle Tool US is located. They use only steel mined in America and 90% of the production process is done in house. The only part of production outsourced is the heat treatment, powder coating, and blackening, yet even that is carefully controlled to ensure it is done in the US.
There are a couple of products that they sell such as the Allen wrench required to change heads on their Switch Bit line that they purchase from a third party. Even those small items are required to be 100% manufactured in the United States.
I asked about the issues that are presented with cable installation bits that are produced outside the US. Colleen told me that the major problem is quality. The steel that is imported from overseas is a lower quality that what Eagle Tool US brings in. This leads to bit failures, mostly in the form of bit breakage. Other issues are in the manufacturing process itself. For example, when creating a self feed bit with a threaded tip, that tip needs to be made of a steel blend that will retain its sharpness while resisting breaking off. Lower quality steel can’t produce that. That kind of problem exists frequently with imported steel.
Eagle Tool US History
Eagle Tool US is one of the great American success stories. It’s built on hard work and innovation. Back in 1976, the Eagle Tool US name wasn’t yet in play, and it was a small one person job shop in Cary, Illinois. That one person was Colleen York. Having worked on an assembly line prior, she was determined to make it into the tool room where she could make a better living. Although this was work space dominated by men, she moved up undeterred, and eventually opened her own shop. The determination is impressive. The fact that she was doing high quality work and getting noticed for it in what was considered to be a “man’s world” is inspirational.
Eagle Tool US jumped into the cable bit niche of the industry when a friend and customer brought in a cable bit that they couldn’t make work. It was modeled after successful bits of the time, but something about it kept failing, and he took it Colleen in exasperation.
Colleen worked with the failed accessory, discovered the inherent issues in the design, and corrected them. This is before Google and smart phones, so what really stands out is that she did this of her own ingenuity and experience. Because of this, she had an intimate knowledge of the materials and design from the ground up.
The first big break for the product came in the form of a contract with one of the major tool retailers. Colleen’s shop produced the bits to be sold under a different brand name through that retailer. Their quality was recognized, but a more diverse product line was required and expansion of their product line resulted. To meet the required expansion, they partnered with another company that produced masonry bits and successfully pitched the combined line with their existing cable installation bits.
Manufacturing for private labels can often put you in a tough position. With instability, mass offshoring of manufacturing, and the request to use Chinese blanks for assembly, Eagle Tool US launched in 2003 with a the Switch Bit and Concrete/Sheet Metal Installation tools. With this launch came the commitment to 100% Made in the USA manufacturing. Since that launch, they have created new tools in an area that the larger companies have less interest in, put new technologies to work in their manufacturing to be competitive in a global market, and build the best tools for the best price.
Eagle Tool US in the Current Market
Eagle Tool US is now one of the top quality manufacturers of cable bits and the only one that meets all of the requirements to place a “Made in the USA” sticker on every product they sell. They’re not content to sit in that position though, so they continue to innovate with products that change this niche market.
The Eagle Tool US Switch Bit line of cable bits pairs interchangeable cable bit heads with different shaft lengths. With just an Allen wrench required to change heads, it takes about the 30 seconds to swap them out. By working in this fashion, a full set of professional cable bits from Eagle Tool US will save about $230 over buying a full set of traditional bits. You’ll find the bits in diameters of 3/8″ to 3/4″ and options for wood, masonry, and steel.
The Eagle Tools US Flexible Dirt Auger eliminates the need to use a water jet or hydraulic hammering tool to auger under sidewalks and driveways. Part of the interchangeable Switch Bit System, the Flexible Dirt Auger saves time, money, and potential damage to the concrete.
Eagle Tool US also produces the Concrete Screw Installation Tool. Traditionally, you would have to drive a pilot hole into concrete before driving in your cement screw. This requires you to either have two drills or switch out a drill bit and nut driver. With the Concrete Screw Installation Tool, one accessory does the job of two. After drilling the pilot hole, simply twist and pull up the midsection to reveal the nut driver. It locks solidly in place so that you can confidently drive the concrete screw in. Eagle Tool US also offers this as a Sheet Metal Installation Tool.
Eagle Tool US won several 2014 Pro Tool Innovation Awards in the Accessories category. This includes the entire Switch Bit system, the Flexible Dirt Auger, and the All in One Drill and Drive Tools (Concrete Installation Tool and Sheet Metal Installation Tool). To see the entire lineup of Eagle Tool US products, visit their website by clicking here.
When I asked the team about future products, Colleen gave me a knowing smile and simply said that there are several new products under development. For now though, those are going to remain a secret.
Why Buy Eagle Tool US Products?
We all love a good story, particularly one that we can be proud of as Americans. At the end of the day, however, we want to know that we’re getting a quality product is we’re going to support a company. This is especially true if we’re going to pay a little more for that product. After all, the reason so many manufacturers choose overseas options is to sell a cheaper product.
Some of this we’ve touched on already. Eagle Tool US uses US mined steel because of its higher quality before the actual manufacturing process ever starts. Unlike foreign steel from countries like China, the standard is just better. This provides a solid foundation for each product. If you start with lower quality materials, your top end potential is limited from the word “go”. Eagle Tool US has no desire to be in that position.
Products from Eagle Tool US aren’t simply the purchased patents from someone else or the acquisition of products from a take over. They have gone from idea, to concept, to testing, to market from the innovative minds at Eagle Tool US. They have a very deep knowledge of the tool from the raw materials used all the way through the manufacturing process.
Speaking of testing, Ed is a master carpenter that has a major role in the testing process of Eagle Tool US products. For example, on the bits designed for wood applications, he tests them by drilling through some of the hardest woods. In this way, they know that no matter what wood the bit encounters on the jobsite, it’s going to meet or exceed the expectations of the user.
So there you have it. Now you know who Eagle Tool US is, their commitment to US based manufacturing, and their commitment to innovation from the ground up. For electricians and cable installers, it’s time to take a look at the quality and innovation that buying Made in the USA products can bring. Since I know you’re already hankering to get your hands on Eagle Tool US products, you’ll find them at The Home Depot, Grainger, Kahn Tools (they only sell Made in the USA products!), Amazon, Licensed Electrician, Cable Supply, and Global Industrial.
