Craftsman tools

I was in my Lowe's today and noticed all the new Craftsman tools in the bright red packaging. They had quite a few shiny wrenches and many of the specialty automotive tools. I looked at several of the packages and noticed that most were made in China. It is sad to me that owns a lot of the old Craftsman tools that I bought in the late fifties and early sixties and used on the job and at home. Those tools are still very usable today. I guess if I need a China tool that I can find what I need at Harbor Freight.

I refuse to let a China craftsman in my total USA craftsman tool box. If I need a replacement I Go to a pawn shop. sometime if there are good USA craftsman in a pawn shop I buy them if I need them or not.

I buy tools from venders at tractor shows. I get good old tools cheap and it keeps them commingled to the shows.

Dave

Buying imported tools support a foreign workmen, Buying at a flea market or pawn shop assures employment for a domestic thief. Buying at an auction aids a widow. I must confess that I buy from the pawn shops and support the thieves

I have never gone out of my way to buy craftsman tools. Domestic or otherwise.
And that is a long never.

Is there a specifically regulated enforced time period between these threads crying about Craftsman/Chinese tools or is it just done randomly?

I've never actually paid attention to the intervals but they seem to show up fairly regularly.

I own some Craftsman power tools that work quite well, and have delivered excellent service, BUT, those tools were made way back in the days of Sears and Roebuck.

I stopped buying Craftsman Tools when they started making them in China. I think Sears still owned the Craftsman name when this started. Luckily I have a pretty good selection of Craftsman Tools. I notice Kobalt Tools are imported from several different countries. I find that most tools made in Taiwan are of pretty good quality.

I get tired of 'land of almost right'. The products made for sale by Chinese Mfgs. are 'to a price' so that the North American market can make the highest profit - DUH. For example, I have a 'Master Forge' SS BBQ. I have had this unit for 10 years, and use it a couple of times a week - year round. The only thing that has shown any rust was the small bolts/nuts on a U.S. made rotisserie - since replaced with SS. Go figure.

I carry HF tools on my ATV, thinking is if they get lost or stolen not much is lost. They are just for safety sake as my machines are normally in good condition. For my shop I but used Snap on or Williams (Industrial Division of Snap on). I also quit Craftsman when they re-sourced to China. A couple of months ago Stanley Black and Decker (Owners of Craftsman now) put out a press release they are moving production to Texas. Time will tell.

Most import tools nowadays are actually pretty good quality, it's not like it was 30 years ago. And in reality ratchets and sockets are 100 year old technology, it's kinda narrow minded to think no one else could learn to make them well after a century!

Not Craftsman but similar quality issues.

For many years the "go to" brand of fencing pliers here in Oz was "Made in USA Crescent".

Lately we have been getting "Crescent made in Taiwan".

The first pair I got didn't even build a fence before the cutters rolled over - that on the standard hi-tensile wire the old ones stood for years.

The second pair did about 50 m of fence before the same thing happened.

Is production going back to USA?

Anyone remember when the cheap stuff came from Japan?

Dusty

(quoted from post at 06:32:04 01/26/20)
Anyone remember when the cheap stuff came from Japan?

Dusty

Click to expand...

Yes. The only thing to come from Japan that was worth buying were those transistor radios that fit in a shirt pocket.

I have Craftsman tools from my early days of being a machinist. That was 45 years ago and every one of them is still in good shape. The new stuff, especially screwdrivers, is so poorly made I don't see how they think there's a future for them.

The flat blade screwdrivers have grooves that run across their faces and the blades snap off at the grooves if you put any side load on them. Who among us hasn't used a screwdriver to pry something like a paint can lid or whatever.

I just think it's sad as well to watch a great brand name with good designs and manufacturing to slip away. Harbor Freight should have bought the name.

I stopped buying Craftsman tools as soon as I could afford something better.

Craftsman tools were decent entry level tools because you got a lot of tools for a small price. They were usable for the most part, but they had their limitations. Wrenches were bulky and poorly designed. They did not have a good balance or feel to them, but they did work for the most part. As entry level tools on a limited budget, they did the job. Sockets were another story. They sold almost all 12-point sockets. They stripped off more bolt heads than they loosened on old rusty bolts - the kind that were found on the old cars and equipment that I mostly worked on in those days. The 6-point sockets worked so much better.

Their screwdrivers were very good. Even the big time professionals bought Craftsman screwdrivers. They were better than even the Snap-On ones.

Today, Harbor Freight tools are as good as the Craftsman as far as sockets and wrenches go. I use sets of their wrenches and sockets in the junkyards. If I lose them, I didn't lose an expensive fancy brand tool.

(quoted from post at 06:54:39 01/26/20)

(quoted from post at 06:32:04 01/26/20)
Anyone remember when the cheap stuff came from Japan?

Dusty

Click to expand...

Yes. The only thing to come from Japan that was worth buying were those transistor radios that fit in a shirt pocket.

Click to expand...

I spent some coin for stereo equipment made in Japan....Kenwood, Sansui, Sanyo, Pioneer.....could blow your socks off. Mine speakers could make a candle flame flicker! I recently bought a used Kenwood 200 Watt Amplifier....from the 70s.

My high school shop used only Craftsman tools. Everything from the table saw to the socket sets were Craftsman. If you want to test a tool. Give it to a bunch of high school boys that think they know everything, But really know nothing!

The wrenches,socket sets, and screwdrivers were very good. Those boys abused them daily the tools held up very well. I only remember once when they broke a socket. The principal made a special trip to Sears in the middle of the school day to get the socket replaced for free!

The school also had some Craftsman junk. The craftsman stick welder, Scroll saw, and power sanders were junk. The sanders only lasted one school year.

I have more Craftsman tools than I thought. I really have no complaints except for the new slotted screwdrivers. As mentioned earlier, they have horizontal grooves cut into the blade. Twisting on a tight screw will break the blade. I have two tap and die sets( one from the 70's and one from the 80's) Both are just as good as dad's ACE tap set.

If you watch ebay. Craftsman sockets are very cheap. I like to watch one seller that starts his auctions at a $1 with free shipping. Just for fun I like to toss a $5 bid on the loose socket sets. Last year I won a 8pc set of 1/2 sockets for $5.80. The new sockets may not be as good as the 1980's sockets. I think they are the same as any auto parts store tool. Most auto parts store tools are now made in Tiawain. I won't buy tools from NAPA anymore. They won't replace the life time tools my dad bought in the 80's. The CARQUEST store will still replace the tools they sold me and dad when they were Big A auto parts.

I have bunches and bunches of Craftsman tools. In fact, it's about the only brand I still buy mainly because the warranty is still great and super easy to replace wherever Craftsman tools are sold (e.g. Sears stores, Lowes, Ace Hardware)