Just noticed today sears had its tool sets on sale cheap so I went a picked up a set (after years of dreaming about it) once home i'm looking at the shipping box and notice "SUPPLIER NAME = JESSIE & J CO.,LTD." so after a quick google search I find this (http://"http://library.consusgroup.com/library_pvw/130/130022.asp") so I guess its true.. craftsman is all made in china?!
I guess its better than Taiwan.....:yuck:
I really lost a lot of respect for sears and craftsman after seeing the tools for sale at KMART. Sure there was a buyout, but I've lost trust in that name.
theres no doubt the craftsman tool quality has changed alot. they were never snap on but they were decent tools. now it seems im constantly breaking their stuff...
Even their "professional quality" tools feel really cheap
a buddy of mine worked at a performance shop, and spent some serious money on tools, he has a Mac ratchet, that doesnt have a ratched mechanism in it, it has a clutch! Its completely silent, and smoother than anything. You know when you have a bolt thats too tight for your fingers, but too loose for a ratchet? That doesnt happen with this ratchet. I forgot what he said he paid for it, but it was significantly more than my ratchet/socket set from craftsmen, and that was just the ratchet.
And what the hell is with Sears giving you "refurbished" tools now? You dont get new tools anymore, you get a ratchet that someone broke, brought back, and some people rebuilt for someone else to break when they return a broken tool. I think they might even do that with some screwdrivers. Pull out the shaft, and press a new one in.
I didnt even know they sold them at kmart. That says alot right there.
I was excpecting the k-mart thing. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I haven't had any problems with craftsman tools. Something breaks, I just take it and get another which doesn't happen often. However I don't have anything to say about their "professional" tools except they do feel cheap. Mostly I think due to the cheesy plastic casings. I just stick to sockets wrenches and ratchets anyway which have been fine so far.
As far as selling refurbished tools, they probably just got in over their head. So many people would probably bring tools back for the slightest thing so to help keep themselves afloat, they repair them rather than make a new batch.
K-mart Bought sears not too long ago. probably the reason for the quality issue. For the weekend wrencher like most of us their stuff is good enough but if it was someone that worked on stuff everyday like a mechanic,etc id definently get something quality like snap-on or Mac
Well, yeah they probably did have to source other manf's or start selling refurb tools to make up for the losses through user "fraud" (for lack of a better term)
Back in the early days of their lifetime guarrantee, back when folks were a bit more honest I'm sure it worked as intended and helped them to reengineer them a bit to improve on them.
Now when you have people breaking things when when they use them outside the realm of their intended application and specs and them go back and say "It just broke, I want a new one"..it is going to come bite you in the ass eventually. The ideas of the early 20 century to not work in the world of the 21st anymore. Even if there is good intentions behind something, it gets explioted...and then ruined.
Either spend the money on "good" tools and use them correclty, or buy 3-4 sets of cheap tools and use them however you want, but don't complain when you break something while using a 3' breaker bar on a 3/8"-drive deepwell socket on a completely rusted bolt.....
for thr price and quality id use huskey tools. have never had a problem with em at all. same with stanley tools. havent broken one ywt.
You mean you're
NOT supposed to do that? :hick:
I haven't bought a Craftsman tool for years, simply because it's 10 miles to the nearest Sears (and K-Mart is long gone in Canada). I use all Mastercraft (Canadian Tire) tools. They're made in Canada by Gray Tools
Husky tools are up and coming, they have some nice "professional" series tools, good quality, not like a Mac, or Snap-Ons pro series, but better than craftsmen, and cheaper.
Stanley, i used to break their shiznit all the time, my friend broke two of their pro series ratchets, and was using them properly
i *just* broke a snap on ratchet, a 14 year old ratchet, the stanley my friend broke was about 3 days old
Inheritors can't be choosers.. I'm being given most of my grandfather's old (probably 15-20 years old, I would guess) Craftsman stuff. Not that I mind.. most of my tools are cheap Wal-Mart stuff I won't feel bad if I break, because it's cheap to replace. These will be a step up for me.
Guys, being that I work at sears I think I need to may correct a few things being said here and fill you in on a few others.
First off, to my knowledge all of the actual Sears-branded hand tools are still made in the US. I know a lot of the other stuff we sell is made in china (like all the power tools).
Second, we have been giving out refurb ratchets and tape measures to people for as long as I've been at my store (and I've been there 5 years), probably longer than that. Honestly, given what new ratches and tapes cost, how can you expect a new one every time? I was informed not too long ago that sears LOSES $34 MILLION a year on tape measures alone. Also, do you know the number of commercial businesses that use craftsman tools and bring in buckets full of them at a time to exchange (even though commercial businesses aren't supposed to be allowed to do that)
And that leads into...
Third, Chuck hit the nail on the head- abuse. People break stuff on purpose just to get it replaced. I've seen box wrenches broken in half, 1/2" and 3/4" drive ratches with the square drive part broken off, ratchets that look like they've been sitting in a field or at the bottom of a lake for 10 years, you name it. I've even seen people exchange hammers and shovels and the like just becuse they were rusty. But of course, if the stores started to really enforce the guarantee and didn't take things that were obvious cases of abuse, people would throw a fit.
Anyway- I've had no problem with the craftsman tools I own. Granted, I realize they aren't the highest quality in the world, but I've looked at stuff like Cobalt over at Lowe's and it's just as expensive (and I get a discount at sears:hick: ). And my brother has been buying snap-on stuff for the last couple years, all I can say about that is F that! He bought a 3/4" drive ratchet with a 3' handle extension and spent over $300 on it. He also just recently got a 2 box snap-on toolbox set that he spent over $1000 on (and I don't see how it's any better than the craftsman boxes with the roller bearings and drawer latches, which he could had gotten for around $600 for 3 boxes).
As far as Quality is concerned, I think you're actually better off with those older ones.... Most of my stuff is between 10-12 years old. Everything I've bought in the last three years has been off the Snap-On truck when I happen to see it and I remember what I need.
Craftsman hand tools are mostly made in the US. SEARS tools are made mostly overseas. My profession for a living is being a mechanic. I use Snap-On, Mac, Craftsman and other tool companies. Craftsman hold up almost just as long as Snap-On does. I have many sockets that are Craftsman and they handle the abuse to air power tools on a daily basis. Mac tools are made by Stanley. I never cared much for Mac tools but they are OK. Snap-On is just really good stuff. I went through more Snap-On ratchets than Craftsman ratchets to this day. All in all it comes down to preference. I like Craftsman tools since you can go to Sears and get another one.
Sears warranties refurbished tools for a long time. I remember breaking a 1/2" drive ratchet and they gave me a refurbished one. Still had the same warranty as if it was new so it really didnt matter. What do you think Mac and Snap-On does when your ratchet or screwdriver breaks? The rebuild it! They dont give you a new one unless the housing is actually broken and they cant rebuild it. Another thing is they dont warranty their handles! Say the plastic handle broke on your Snap-On 3/8" ratchet. You have to pay for it cause it is not under warranty! So just because it says Snap-On doesnt mean it comes with a lifetime warranty.
James
I did forget about that- although they do give you refurb ratches and tapes, they are still "guaranteed forever" if you break them again.
My brother had a Snap-On battery powered impact wrench that cost him a small fortune, and it broke just as fast as a cheaper one would have.
Doesn't Sears still sell a ratchet rebuild kit for $.01 (1 cent)? I remember seeing those once and thought that was way cool. Something brand new, for a penny.
I'm a Craftsman guy and have had great luck with everything but the ratchets. They all suck, new or replaced. Now if you get an old one, like 20+ years old, those rock big time. Otherwise I haven't been too impressed with the newer ratchets.
Here's three 5/8 Craftsman wrenches from the 70s, 80s, and 90s...
Note the differences(sorry the pix isn't a little better, camera don't like close up on shiny things)
If the newer tools are made in China, then it will be stated on it.
(http://members.pen 15s.net/turbocoupe50/P7040177.JPG)
top- 80's
middle- 90's
bottom- 70's
100% WRONG.... That wasn't the idea anyway...
They are in order, oldest at the top... Look at them some more..
Eric, you can't buy the ratchet rebuild kits. They are listed as having a value of $.01 because they are a store-use only item, but they have to have a value in inventory so they are assigned a value of $.01. However that is what they use to rebuild the ratchets. The only part they don't replace is the handle.
So, what's the deal with that middle wrench saying "puppiesan" on it? I didn't know craftsman anything was ever made in puppiesan. And if it was, well, that's not such a bad thing, I've seen quite a few "good" tools that were made in puppiesan (cheap junk is made in China, Taiwan, etc)
Bump to the top of page #2...
Page 2 for you, same page for me. Changed the posts per page to the maximum value. Much fewer pages as a result. :p
AHHH, you noticed... Back in the mid '80s there were some puppiesanese wrenches. I'm sure Sears took some flack over them, so they were short lived. Just by luck I have almost a complete set of std and metric of these. They've been every bit as good as the ones mfd in the USA..
Always thought about sending one to A J Foyt back when he was hawking tool for Sears.... Bet that would have started some fireworks(now I wish I had)...
So Red_LX with you and Nate still at Sears and me retired, thats three Sears folkes on here... Corse with the screwin' the retirees are getting, they can go to Hell for all I care...
That would have been great. I remember all the commercials he did. Craftsman used the same one for something of 10 years.
"You know its a quality tool, cause you know where it come from":giggle:
I wonder were the brand new craftsman wrenches are made. I bought this set about a month ago, and their is no location marked on either side.
Note: the top one is 5/8 craftsman, the second is mastercraft (Canadian) brand. On the back is only a production number, no location.
On the subject of Snap-on vs. Craftsman, (I own both) the snap-on pieces are at least twice the price, but not nearly twice as durable.
I didnt notice a single country marking on any tool in my 300pc set and the box said made in china on it. Also noticed quite a few tools had bad stampings on them so the size of the socket is a mystery, also the 'craftsman' on the ratchet handle wasnt centered, kinda off to one side and the ridges cut in the handle have sharp edges on them... kinda disappointing but as long as it has a lifetime warranty I dont mind, especially since each tool only cost me $1.44 each
I usually use my grandfathers tools (my car is parked/stored in his garage) and he has Craftsman tools from the 50s-70s. He's never managed to break one nor have I. I have a newer set of metric sockets and 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 ratchets from craftsman and the ratchets just don't work like the old ones so I just use the metric sockets with the 50s ratchets:D .
Oh, I know what you mean. Sears is definitely going down the per. I'm gettin tired of all the BS and politics at my store...glad I'm graduating in May so I can get the hell out of here.
I basically do the same thing. After my grandfather died, I inherited most of his tools. You can't beat the old ratchets.
Like this one??? These are fine toothed and my favorites...
I think they are still available, or at least were a couple of years ago...
Looks about right. I have a py monitor here at work so...
I couldn't tell you if they really are still available or not. Mostly because since they've been so good to work with, I haven't been shopping for new ratchets. My experience with the newer ratchets has been those in one of the small mechanics tool sets that I got for Christmas last year. The're good but just not as good or smooth as the old ones I go from my grandfather.
From what I've seen, I THINK they only carry the "fine tooth" ratchets (with the fingerwheel) in 1/4" drive, but I could be wrong.
When I bought my 1/2" drive ratchet at the store, I decided to go ahead and get the best one they had (the one that's fully polished, with the elliptical handle, for $40). You can feel the difference in quality between that one, and the cheaper ones that are around $20 each. The cheaper ones have a lot more slop and the ratcheting action is rough. My 3/8" drive ratchet is one of the "regular" kind with the square handle, I think I might upgrade to one of the better ones because it, too, has a really rough ratcheting action that I don't like very much.
I have three each of these in 1/4" & 3/8" along with 2-3 rebuild kits(buddied up to the PMT)... Only have one in 1/2", but have a old Thorsen that works just as well(but no thumb wheel).
EDIT... Looks like all three sizes are still available...http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/productcompare.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=SEARS&poid_1=1074325716&poid_2=1074325717&poid_3=1074325724&prodCount=3
Scroll down: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_27/c3941003_mz003.htm
James
That's pretty old news actually.
I always like the stuff that says "Contents made in China, assembled in Mexico"