Anybody ever seen one? I broke my 8mm tonight. Closer look at it shows that it was made in Japan.
When did this start?
When did this start?
Imported Craftsman tools?
- Thread starter Chris142
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I don't know, but I have been saying repeatedly that I have stopped buying any Craftsman tools because they kept breaking. "Japan" means probably "counterfeit in China."
How did that break? I always thought Craftsman tools were made in USA. Last time I went to Sears the tool sets still had the made in USA logo. Its hard to tell which tool brand is still US made. Perhaps Snap-On, Mac Tools are good stuff since many shops use them. Kobalt appears to be exclusively at Lowes and Husky is Home Depot.
Myself I have a set of Performance Tools made in Taiwan that was like ~$20. I lost a couple of pieces and cracked a socket. Thinking of a new tool set.
Myself I have a set of Performance Tools made in Taiwan that was like ~$20. I lost a couple of pieces and cracked a socket. Thinking of a new tool set.
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I had my tool box stolen, could not afford to replace everything so I bought a tool set from Harbor Freight, made in India. Craftsman is not the Craftsman I remember, the Indian tools looked better and they are way cheaper.
Chris, I'm looking at the rough casting and the crooked letters, I don't think that's a real Craftsman wrench; I think it's a Chinese knock-off. By the way, there hasn't been any tools made in Japan for 15 to 20 years.
I bought my Craftsmen tools in the mid-1980's. Yes, they did attempt to have some tools,wrenches in particular, outsourced to Japan back then. I know because I, too, have Japanese combination wrenches in my tool box. They have very crude machine work on the closed end.
I bought my last set (for work)about 10 years ago and the combo wrenches look better, but nothing like the 60 year old set I still have (very slim and well machined).
On my most recent visit to Sears, I was very disappointed. The wrenches are stamped USA, but the machining looks worse again. A trip through their power tools section makes one think that the Craftsmen stuff IS Harbor Freight.
Again, it's hard for us old timers to deal with these changes. You used to see Craftsmen tools in professional mechanics tool chests.
I bought my last set (for work)about 10 years ago and the combo wrenches look better, but nothing like the 60 year old set I still have (very slim and well machined).
On my most recent visit to Sears, I was very disappointed. The wrenches are stamped USA, but the machining looks worse again. A trip through their power tools section makes one think that the Craftsmen stuff IS Harbor Freight.
Again, it's hard for us old timers to deal with these changes. You used to see Craftsmen tools in professional mechanics tool chests.
yes, sears sucks.
bought a electronic torque calibrator thingy. It's supposed to go between your ratchet and the socket, has an lcd readout, cost like $199.
It was for 1/2" rachet & sockets but the female end of it was too small so it didn't fit on the end of my 1/2" craftsman ratchet easily and the other end that's male (that goes into a socket) was chromed and it was too large and would not fit into any of my 1/2" craftsman sockets at all. Had to hammer the thing on, scraping off the chrome so it would fit, but by then I figured hammering on an electronic tool to get it to work wasn't good so I returned it.
Sears now seems do be doing 15%/20% restocking charge on all returned items.
bought a electronic torque calibrator thingy. It's supposed to go between your ratchet and the socket, has an lcd readout, cost like $199.
It was for 1/2" rachet & sockets but the female end of it was too small so it didn't fit on the end of my 1/2" craftsman ratchet easily and the other end that's male (that goes into a socket) was chromed and it was too large and would not fit into any of my 1/2" craftsman sockets at all. Had to hammer the thing on, scraping off the chrome so it would fit, but by then I figured hammering on an electronic tool to get it to work wasn't good so I returned it.
Sears now seems do be doing 15%/20% restocking charge on all returned items.
FWIW, Some of the Craftsman tools are made by the Danaher Tool Group in Gastonia, NC.
Need a 1 5/16 combination wrench ? A 32mm socket ? Set of metric crowfoot wrenches ? Unless you're willing to pay up to 4x to 5x the price for Snap-On then Craftsman is your best bet. I don't even bother looking for tools at places like Home Depot, as they don't have anything but very basic stuff.
Snap-On has some very nice tools, I have some sockets, tool chest, etc., but they're not magic tools made by elves. When I was buying some I noticed that the plating was peeling from some of the sockets, asked if that was normal, and the guy said no, to bring them back if it happened. I've also had to repair a ratchet with the kit that is available, but that's kind of an expected wear item.
Snap-On has some very nice tools, I have some sockets, tool chest, etc., but they're not magic tools made by elves. When I was buying some I noticed that the plating was peeling from some of the sockets, asked if that was normal, and the guy said no, to bring them back if it happened. I've also had to repair a ratchet with the kit that is available, but that's kind of an expected wear item.
8mm?
The fastener should have sheared first!
The fastener should have sheared first!
Probably an imported craftsman brought it with him...
I can't find even a 21 mm 6pt socket from Craftsman. They have 20 & 22 mm & that's it, that I could find anyway. I went with a Mac Tools impact for roughly the same price as Craftsman - $12-13.
The Craftsman 1/2 inch drive, 6 point 21mm socket number is 9-44278. It sells for around $7.
That is the worst looking Craftsman wrench that I have seen. Did you buy it at a store? Or second hand?
I have been overall happy with Craftsman hand tools. MOST are made in USA which is hard to find. I will not be buying anymore Craftsman power tools, however.
I have been overall happy with Craftsman hand tools. MOST are made in USA which is hard to find. I will not be buying anymore Craftsman power tools, however.
Craftsman haven't been American made for at least 20yrs in Canada. And they've changed the supplier to cheaper and cheaper importers.
I've got a 19mm Craftsman deep socket that I use for torquing lug nuts.
All it says is "Imported by Sears Canada". There are no markings on it other than the Craftsman name and the product number.
All it says is "Imported by Sears Canada". There are no markings on it other than the Craftsman name and the product number.
doitmyself,
At 3 different stores, none had the 21mm over a 2 month time period. Still happy with the Mac Tools purchase. So it was about 1-3/4 times the price of Craftsman. Is Snap-on that much more expensive?
At 3 different stores, none had the 21mm over a 2 month time period. Still happy with the Mac Tools purchase. So it was about 1-3/4 times the price of Craftsman. Is Snap-on that much more expensive?
I don't know where Craftsman comes from anymore. They used to say the sets came from offshore and the individual tools were US.
I bought a set of flexhead, rachetting, combo wrenches last winter. Canadian Tire and Sears had the identical sets but stamped with their respective names.
I bought a set of flexhead, rachetting, combo wrenches last winter. Canadian Tire and Sears had the identical sets but stamped with their respective names.
My dad bought the whole set for me when I started my 1st mechanic job. The whole set did resemble this one but I didn't pay much attention to it.
One of the tool trucks was offering a deal on a new wrench set if you turned in your old ones. I traded the set in and upgraded. I somehow kept this one and use it at home.
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