Craftsman tools = crap

[wdfifteen]

I should have said NEW Craftsman tools are crap. I bought a new Craftsman ratchet about 4 years ago, after I lost one I had owned for decades (I later found it). I think I got it at Lowes.

It has been in the same tool box drawer in the same environment as the S-K Wayne that I've had for 55 years or so. The S-K Wayne looks like new, the Craftsman will be a pile of rust flakes in a few years. This is very disappointing.




Springtime in Ohio is rough on anything with iron in it. We have several cycles of cold weather followed by warm humid weather every spring, and water condenses on everything metal. Some tools are made to take it, some aren't. Craftsman tools used to able to handle anything.

[pwd72s]

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When Craftsman Stopped Making Tools in the USA
Craftsman’s full-scale U.S. manufacturing of hand tools effectively ended in the late 2010s, with the final major U.S. production facility closing in March 2023.

Timeline of the Decline
2008–2010: Sears began replacing many USA-made Craftsman hand tools with imported versions, starting with sockets, wrenches, and ratchets
toolguyd.com
toolguyd.com
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2012: Sears discontinued the Craftsman Professional line and many USA-made hand tools, shifting to imported suppliers
toolguyd.com
toolguyd.com
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2013: Sears fully transitioned many product categories to imported manufacturing, including prying bars made in Taiwan
toolguyd.com
toolguyd.com
.

2017: Sears sold the Craftsman brand to Stanley Black & Decker (SBD), which inherited the supply chain but did not restore the old U.S. manufacturing network
carlmurawski.com
carlmurawski.com
.

The Fort Worth Factory Attempt
In 2017, SBD announced a $90 million, high-tech hand tool factory in Fort Worth, Texas aimed at bringing Craftsman tools back to U.S. production
www.warehouseautomation.ca
www.warehouseautomation.ca
. The plant used advanced automation and fast-forging presses, but faced:

Equipment failures (presses, clutches, brakes, oil leaks)
toolguyd.com
toolguyd.com
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Design and testing issues with supplied machinery
toolguyd.com
toolguyd.com
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Supply chain and pandemic disruptions
www.warehouseautomation.ca
www.warehouseautomation.ca
.

By March 2023, just over three years after breaking ground, SBD announced the closure of the Fort Worth factory, citing that the technology did not meet expectations and production challenges could not be resolved
www.warehouseautomation.ca
www.warehouseautomation.ca
.

Current Status
No large-scale U.S. hand tool production for Craftsman exists today.

SBD still markets “Made in the USA” Craftsman products, but these are limited and often use global materials
toolguyd.com
toolguyd.com
.

The brand continues to sell tools worldwide, but the U.S. manufacturing base that once produced Craftsman tools for Sears is gone.

In short: Craftsman stopped making most tools in the USA around 2013–2014 when Sears shifted to imports, and the last major U.S. production attempt in Fort Worth closed in March 2023
toolguyd.com
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[masraum]

A while back I was looking for a particular ¼" drive Craftsman ratchet. I got it cheap on eBay. There are lots of old Craftsman tools on ebay, ratchets, sockets, wrenches, etc.... They aren't all cheap, but most are what I'd consider very reasonable for what they are.

As long as you're not in a hurry, that's probably a good source. (I've heard that pawn shops are also a good source, but I've never bought a tool at a pawn shop. Hell, I think I've only been in a pawn shop twice in the last 56 years.

[GH85Carrera]

The ratchet I have I bought right after I got my first car in 1970. The chrome on the sides of the wrench is worn off from a few thousand times of laying it on the floor while under a car working.

It is a Fuller brand, and has never broken or had any issues.



That is it on the left. I had to buy that other socket and wrench to get to one of the nuts on the 911 pulley area where there is just no room for the Fuller.

I have a several drawers full of Sears Open end - Box end wrenches in Metric and SAE. All bough back in the good old days of American quality manufacturing.

We all understand Snap On is a next level up. I have a set of Sears line wrenches.I was trying to remove the fittings on the fuel filter. I could fee the wrench starting to round off the tips. I went to a Snap on dealer and bought Snap On line wrenches. They fit tighter, and removed the fitting with no issues.

I have some cheap Chineisium tools that are junk, but in a 24mm or 36mm open end, super tight tolerances is just not an issue.

[Por_sha911]

I used to buy Craftsman at the local Sears store. Had what I needed right there on the shelf and had a lifetime warranty. When the above ended, so did my buying Craftsman. I've got many pre 2005 tools and am glad to have them. If I need higher quality than Harbor Freight I go to Lowes for Kobalt. Haven't been disappointed.

[The Synergizer]

Made in USA Craftsman tools are becoming a little collectible now. Sometimes good finds on eBay

[Baz]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

the Craftsman will be a pile of rust flakes

Soak it for a day or two in a container of EvapoRust. After removing - use a toothbrush to remove any residue. Then wash off thoroughly with water. Dry with paper or shop towels. Then spray liberally with WD40. Then store inside a large zip lock baggie.

I have used this method on all kinds of hand tools that over time have gotten some corrosion on them. I live on a barrier island so anything not inside a tool box or tool cabinet is going to get it.

I buy my Evaporust by the 5 gal. pail. Then after removing the top of the container, just drop my tools right into the pail. Pull them out after a day or two and follow above method.

EvapoRust is also available in a one gallon container but I use it for my motorcycle work so makes sense to buy it in bulk.

Good luck!

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by The Synergizer

Made in USA Craftsman tools are becoming a little collectible now. Sometimes good finds on eBay

Garage Sale finds are usually cheap and low miles. I don't have the patience to hunt through piles of junk but I bet there are good deals out there.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

If I need higher quality than Harbor Freight I go to Lowes for Kobalt. Haven't been disappointed.

That's an unfair statement.

Harbor Freight's ICON brand is head and shoulders above Kobalt as to quality. The end.

I'm not dumping on Kobalt but you need to differentiate between Chicago Electric/Pittsburgh/Central Pneumatic type HF tools and ICON brand HF tools.

The HF mid grade Hercules, Chief, Braun stuff is in the Kobalt ballpark. Good DIY tools.

Yes HF cheap stuff sucks: In the 2000's I had a big slide hammer from the freight and the "forged" ball on the end of the fat slide rod was meant to stop the slide hammer and transfer force to whatever you were hooked to. It broke off from the slide hammer hitting it. A dozen others tools have started on fire, quit, broke, never started, etc.

[zakthor]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

That's an unfair statement.

Harbor Freight's ICON brand is head and shoulders above Kobalt as to quality. The end.

I'm not dumping on Kobalt but you need to differentiate between Chicago Electric/Pittsburgh/Central Pneumatic type HF tools and ICON brand HF tools.

The HF mid grade Hercules, Chief, Braun stuff is in the Kobalt ballpark. Good DIY tools.

Yes HF cheap stuff sucks: In the 2000's I had a big slide hammer from the freight and the "forged" ball on the end of the fat slide rod was meant to stop the slide hammer and transfer force to whatever you were hooked to. It broke off from the slide hammer hitting it. A dozen others tools have started on fire, quit, broke, never started, etc.

I was working down the front of a marine engine. Out in the sun and my hands didn’t fit so getting scraped up with grease and salt water. Owner had loaded up on the cheapest harbor freight tools, gone long on their awful totally useless channel locks. I had my own tools.

Whenever I needed a break I’d sit back and drink water and pick out his worst rusted garbage tool (Phillips with manked tips, rusted pliers, miscast channel locks) and give it the old float test. Felt like I was doing the world a favor and it put me in a better mood.

I’ve handled the icon stuff it seems really nice but price is pretty serious.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by zakthor

I’ve handled the icon stuff it seems really nice but price is pretty serious.

I may be wrong, but doesn't icon have no-questions-asked lifetime guarantee?

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by zakthor

and pick out his worst rusted garbage tool (Phillips with manked tips, rusted pliers, miscast channel locks) and give it the old float test. Felt like I was doing the world a favor and it put me in a better mood.

This is outstanding!!!

Dude never knew you did it.

[porsche tech]

Seems like if you put a ratchet in there, you’d need to open it up and regrease the innards afterwards. I usually regrease my ratchets every so often anyway, just cuz.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Pretty sure I have that exact Craftsman ratchet, except 20+ years old from the Sears days. Still looks and works great.

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

I may be wrong, but doesn't icon have no-questions-asked lifetime guarantee?

I’m pretty sure all of their hand tools have a lifetime free replacement guarantee. I’ve generally had good luck with their stuff as a DIYer.

[Baz]

Got these all for free a few years back. Saw them being thrown away a block down the street. Bunch of other stuff as well. Biggest score of my life.....

[masraum]

Originally Posted by zakthor

I was working down the front of a marine engine. Out in the sun and my hands didn’t fit so getting scraped up with grease and salt water. Owner had loaded up on the cheapest harbor freight tools, gone long on their awful totally useless channel locks. I had my own tools.

Whenever I needed a break I’d sit back and drink water and pick out his worst rusted garbage tool (Phillips with manked tips, rusted pliers, miscast channel locks) and give it the old float test. Felt like I was doing the world a favor and it put me in a better mood.

LOL! thanks for saving the world!

I’ve handled the icon stuff it seems really nice but price is pretty serious.

I haven't bought any, but in the various tests that I've seen (like test to failure stuff) the ICON stuff is usually not far behind Snap-On in quality for 25% of the price.

[pwd72s]

Baz..the Craftsman wrenches & ratchets with the double line before and after the Craftsman name are semi-collectable. People who collect Craftsman get picky about when made, and who made the tool to Craftsman specs. I'm not familiar with all the codes & stuff because I just bought 'em to use.
But hell yeah, Free was a hell of a price. Have a grinder with a wire wheel? That would probably knock off hat surface rust.

Glen, want tools in a USA quality grade as good as snap-on? Check out Wright tools...made in Ohio, primarily supply commercial use tools. $pendy, but not as much so as Snap-on.

(edit) Also, very generally speaking, the Taiwan tools sold by Tekton are every bit the equal or even superior to Harbor Freight's Icon line, also Taiwan made. https://www.tekton.com/

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Baz

Got these all for free a few years back. Saw them being thrown away a block down the street. Bunch of other stuff as well. Biggest score of my life.....

Holy moly! That is a serious score!

[A930Rocket]

Baz, your neighbor sure do throw away a lot of good stuff!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Baz, your neighbor sure do throw away a lot of good stuff!

Most of them probably die and their kids throw out the good stuff.