Stanley Fat Max Junk.

[Trav]

Last night I found my self in a bad position, I needed a 12 inch adjustable wrench to adjust some leveling post in the cellar of one of my apartment buildings.
I keep one down there just for this but it grew legs and walked away.

8PM the only place open is Wallys so I buy a Stanley Fat Max the same as I had there before. Unbelievably Stanley even made the cheapest Chinese junk cheaper! The thing looks like it was ground with a 24 grit wheel; it binds and wobbles all over the place.
I didn’t use it, it goes back today, HF looks like Snap-On quality in comparison to this junk.
I hate to buy an expensive tool to leave down there but it at least has to work.

 

[Clevy]

Ha. Their tape measures used to be awesome too. Now they are flimsy junk.

 

[JHZR2]

sad.

Until people start boycotting this junk, it is only going to get worse.

 

[NHGUY]

I still remember the Stanley "New Britian Connecticut" commercials they used to push back in the 90s...I guess to keep WM happy,you have to resort to the lowest of the low.

 

[bepperb]

I had the same moment with some Craftsman pliers. I was going to buy some Kobalt's on sale, but I figured they were made in China and would just rust in my garage. So I got a Craftsman pliers set... lo and behold also made in China... and yes getting some surface rust in the garage.

So I guess Channnel Locks made in the US from here? I dunno. FWIW my adjustables don't see much use, but they are Crescents from the 90's and they are decent quality.

 

[cchase]

Originally Posted By: bepperb
I had the same moment with some Craftsman pliers. I was going to buy some Kobalt's on sale, but I figured they were made in China and would just rust in my garage. So I got a Craftsman pliers set... lo and behold also made in China... and yes getting some surface rust in the garage.

So I guess Channnel Locks made in the US from here? I dunno. FWIW my adjustables don't see much use, but they are Crescents from the 90's and they are decent quality.


You expect to keep tools in a garage and NOT have surface rust?

 

[4D-56]

as John Perkins would say, we have to vote with our dollars.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
sad.

Until people start boycotting this junk, it is only going to get worse.


EXACTLY!!!!!!!!

 

[demarpaint]

Wow that sucks. I have about 6 of the Fat Max 25' tape measures I use them for paper hanging, estimates, and anything else that requires a tape measure. These are older and probably when they first came out, the are very good. Sad when quality drops like that.

 

[bepperb]

Originally Posted By: cchase
Originally Posted By: bepperb
I had the same moment with some Craftsman pliers. I was going to buy some Kobalt's on sale, but I figured they were made in China and would just rust in my garage. So I got a Craftsman pliers set... lo and behold also made in China... and yes getting some surface rust in the garage.

So I guess Channnel Locks made in the US from here? I dunno. FWIW my adjustables don't see much use, but they are Crescents from the 90's and they are decent quality.


You expect to keep tools in a garage and NOT have surface rust?


Yes. The Crescents don't have any rust. Most of my tools don't. They're in drawers in a tool box. Am I crazy? Because I expect tools to work on a car to stay in the garage next to the car in a box designed to hold them?

 

[01rangerxl]

Can't say I'm surprised. Stanley is good if you need a pry bar or something similar to hammer on. Not so good if the tool has any moving parts.

 

[mcshooter]

bougth some stanley wrenches a while back because they had a american flag on the box only to find out they were made in china. i need some sockets now and iam going to buy wright tools, made in barberton, ohio.. no more lowes, craftsman since they are taiwan made.

 

[cchase]

Originally Posted By: bepperb
Yes. The Crescents don't have any rust. Most of my tools don't. They're in drawers in a tool box. Am I crazy? Because I expect tools to work on a car to stay in the garage next to the car in a box designed to hold them?


It's difficult to keep tools rust free in an area with wide temperature swings, esp. cold at night to warm during the day.

 

[91344George]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
sad.

Until people start boycotting this junk, it is only going to get worse.


Yep.

 

[Trav]

I went to HD yesterday and got a Crescent for $14.50, Made in USA, it seems to be decent quality, good fit and finish.
The Fat Max was $13.99 so for .50c difference you can buy American.

There was one from Irwin but its Chinese as is the Husky and the Gear Wrench at AA.
The one from Klein is $35 but is the best made of the bunch, too much money to leave at the site hanging from a pole.

 

[stephen9666]

Originally Posted By: mcshooter
bougth some stanley wrenches a while back because they had a american flag on the box only to find out they were made in china. i need some sockets now and iam going to buy wright tools, made in barberton, ohio.. no more lowes, craftsman since they are taiwan made.


The regular Craftsman sockets are still USA made, at least for now. Unless you're in Canada, of course.

But, the spline sockets are made in Taiwan.


Originally Posted By: Trav
I went to HD yesterday and got a Crescent for $14.50, Made in USA, it seems to be decent quality, good fit and finish.
The Fat Max was $13.99 so for .50c difference you can buy American.

There was one from Irwin but its Chinese as is the Husky and the Gear Wrench at AA.
The one from Klein is $35 but is the best made of the bunch, too much money to leave at the site hanging from a pole.


APEX tools has announced that Crescent wrenches will now be made in China, ending US production. Members on another forum reported seeing the new Chinese wrenches in stores this week. Many stores probably still have US stock leftover, but those will be the last USA made Crescent brand adjustable wrenches.

 

[PF52]

Originally Posted By: mcshooter
i need some sockets now and iam going to buy wright tools, made in barberton, ohio.


Nice! How are their tools, do you know? I just ordered a ratchet from them, and can't wait for it to arrive.

 

[Trav]

Quote:
APEX tools has announced that Crescent wrenches will now be made in China, ending US production. Members on another forum reported seeing the new Chinese wrenches in stores this week. Many stores probably still have US stock leftover, but those will be the last USA made Crescent brand adjustable wrenches.

That sucks it really does! I would have gladly paid $20 for this if it meant the difference between keeping it American or making it in China.
I am so sick of this Chinese junk i wish American companies would get the message.

 

[cchase]

Originally Posted By: Trav
Quote:
APEX tools has announced that Crescent wrenches will now be made in China, ending US production. Members on another forum reported seeing the new Chinese wrenches in stores this week. Many stores probably still have US stock leftover, but those will be the last USA made Crescent brand adjustable wrenches.

That sucks it really does! I would have gladly paid $20 for this if it meant the difference between keeping it American or making it in China.
I am so sick of this Chinese junk i wish American companies would get the message.


They do get the message - the uninformed masses don't care and the companies are convinced they can do it the same in China, and that's why it happens.

 

[91344George]

Originally Posted By: cchase
Originally Posted By: Trav
Quote:
APEX tools has announced that Crescent wrenches will now be made in China, ending US production. Members on another forum reported seeing the new Chinese wrenches in stores this week. Many stores probably still have US stock leftover, but those will be the last USA made Crescent brand adjustable wrenches.

That sucks it really does! I would have gladly paid $20 for this if it meant the difference between keeping it American or making it in China.
I am so sick of this Chinese junk i wish American companies would get the message.


They do get the message - the uninformed masses don't care and the companies are convinced they can do it the same in China, and that's why it happens.


Actually the masses can no longer afford to buy US made because of the criminal trade agreements that have most people making carp wages because all the good paying jobs went to slave wage China. Vicious cycle isn't it?