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CD · 11-22-2011, 11:34 PM

I saw some Craftsman battery powered tools at Costco tonight. They were made in China. Is Sears selling tools to Costco now? It sure lowered my opinion of Craftsman tools.

kjburns · 11-23-2011, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CD

It sure lowered my opinion of Craftsman tools.

Okay, I'll bite...why?

Mr_D · 11-23-2011, 12:43 AM

Sears was bought by K-Mart some time ago so you can find the tools there too. They are also thinking about licensing the name "Craftsman" to other companies. I think that will pretty much kill them off.
Sears is still honoring the lifetime warranty on hand tools, EXCEPT I took in a thin wall 12 point socket and they gave me a thick wall 6 point instead. I didn't notice till I got home.

sdennislee · 11-23-2011, 01:18 AM

Craftsman has not totally gone overseas. Below are a few interesting Craftsman tool facts.

Craftsman power tools are made in China. Their packaging will state Assembled in America with imported materials or similar wording.

Craftsman Automotive tools have been manufactured by various companies over the years, currently they are made by Danaher Corp.

Hand tools, 80% of Craftsman hand tools are still made in the USA. Notable exceptions are tape measures, rakes and shovels which are made overseas.

You can determine the manufacturer of most Craftsman products by the model number. Use the first 3 digits in front of the decimal point and compare to this list

Sears and Craftsman Source Product Code | Tools In Action

As I've said before, I am willing to pay more for items manufactured or grown in the US. Let China support their own economy, I will support ours. This of course assumes their is an option to buy Made in the USA.

Geezer80 · 11-23-2011, 03:42 AM

Craftsman torque wrenches are pure crap. Bought one last year and it was very inaccurate. Exchanged it for another and that one failed before I left the store!

Really, the setting adjustment an the handle just spun. I remember the days when I looked forward to reading their tool inserts in the Sunday paper. What a shame.

DGShaffer · 11-23-2011, 03:49 AM

I bailed on Sears back in the 80's when credit cards were running 20%. Everyone else lowered theirs except for Sears so I left them completely. I can count on one hand how many times I've been in there since, and it was always for tools.

K-Mart had a lifetime tool guaranty before they bought Sears, the difference was that their tools would always break.

I'm glad I saw this, now I never have to go back.

sdennislee · 11-23-2011, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyringo

Craftsman torque wrenches are pure crap. Bought one last year and it was very inaccurate. Exchanged it for another and that one failed before I left the store!

Really, the setting adjustment an the handle just spun. I remember the days when I looked forward to reading their tool inserts in the Sunday paper. What a shame.

I've had good luck with Kobalt torque wrenches.

JimM68 · 11-23-2011, 06:01 AM

I inherited a bunch of snap on tools when a distant relative passed on.

Damn I wish I could afford a toolbox full of that stuff. The 250 ft-lb torque wrench with case is wonderful. The wrenches are pure art.

gauto5150 · 11-23-2011, 06:05 AM

I saw Craftsman tool sets at Menards recently, they were small sets but cheap with a rebate. The USA made stuff too. Same sets were at an Ace Hardware too.

tvman44 · 11-23-2011, 07:00 AM

There was a time I would not buy anything but craftsman:mechanic tools, power tools anything craftsman. I cannot tell you the last time I bought craftsman, now I go to Lowes for Kobalt or HF for theirs.

LadyFitz... · 11-23-2011, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CD

I saw some Craftsman battery powered tools at Costco tonight. They were made in China. Is Sears selling tools to Costco now? It sure lowered my opinion of Craftsman tools.

While Craftsman used to make excelent hand tools, the quality has gone down over the last half dozen or so years.

Sears power tools never were worth the hammer it would take to smash them. I also learned to never buy a Craftsman tool that used consumables. I received a power hammer as a gift and by the time I needed it to nail a sill to a concrete pad, Sears had discontinued it and no one else loads and shots would fit in the darned thing. Also, only their staples would fit in their staple guns.

The reason I quit buying Craftsman hand tools was I got robbed a couple of dozen years ago. The insurance company insisted on depreciating them despite the fact that, with the exception of chisels, saws, and drill bits, properly used good handtools do not wear out and Craftsman had a lifetime replacement guarantee. I didn't see the sense in buying high priced tools anymore when there are less expensive ones that also have lifetime guarantees.

CD · 11-23-2011, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyFitz...

While Craftsman used to make excelent hand tools, the quality has gone down over the last half dozen or so years.

Sears power tools never were worth the hammer it would take to smash them.

I bought a 3/8" Elect. drill motor in the early 60s. Last year the trigger switch broke, other wise it was still working good & I used it a lot. To me that's quality.

LadyFitz... · 11-23-2011, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CD

I bought a 3/8" Elect. drill motor in the early 60s. Last year the trigger switch broke, other wise it was still working good & I used it a lot. To me that's quality.

I have a Monkey Ward circular saw that has lasted longer than any Craftsman power tool I got from Sears.

Our Time · 11-23-2011, 10:54 AM

I recently purchased a set of Craftsman metic wrenches for the coach. The weight difference between the new wrenches and the ones in my tool box is amazing. Half the wrench it use to be!