It's official, Craftsman tap/die sets sourced from China!

[Uncle Buck]

We all knew it was coming, and I am confirming it, the new Craftsman Tap/Die sets are made in China, and in the mice print on the back side of the box it says so! If you are looking for USA sets I guess the stores still have a few sets floating around out there, at least my local store still had a couple of sets. For those interested, the older sets are in blow molded cases that are solid colored, and they are labeled USA. The new Chinese sets have cases with clear tops on them. :mad:

I had the junk set in my hands only a few hours ago.

[stricht8]

Got a USA made set last year. Guess i beat the China crap. I was in Whole Foods today and of the many free samples they had out on display was a bowl of grapes. A Chinese "gentleman" sticks his hand right inside, grabs a few grapes and throws back the ones he doesn't want. Toothpicks are on display in front of the bowl for the rest of the civilized customers to use. I reprimanded him and he looked at me, clearly not understanding English and walked away. Chinese made tools come from a country with people with this kind of mentality.

[cruiser808]

We all knew it was coming, and I am confirming it, the new Craftsman Tap/Die sets are made in China, and in the mice print on the back side of the box it says so! If you are looking for USA sets I guess the stores still have a few sets floating around out there, at least my local store still had a couple of sets. For those interested, the older sets are in blow molded cases that are solid colored, and they are labeled USA. The new Chinese sets have cases with clear tops on them. :mad:

I had the junk set in my hands only a few hours ago.

UB- Thanks for the heads up. I just grabbed a large and complete Cman SAE set (made in the USA) at a local pawn shop. It's the big older set with a couple of the smaller dies missing. I paid $ 50 so I think I'm okay.

[64merc]

That's sad news indeed UB. I guess it shouldn't come as a surpise though huh?

[mrb]

I wonder if this has anything to do with Chicago-Latrobe, Cleveland Twist, and possibly some other lines being sold a chinese company (Top Eastern Group) by Kennametal. They also own greenfield, i dont know if they sold this one or not.

[Merkava_4]

I draw the line at taps, dies, and drill bits; they just have to be made in USA for me to buy them. At this point in time, I don't trust the thread forming accuracy of Chinese made taps and dies.

[cruiser808]

Got a USA made set last year. Guess i beat the China crap. I was in Whole Foods today and of the many free samples they had out on display was a bowl of grapes. A Chinese "gentleman" sticks his hand right inside, grabs a few grapes and throws back the ones he doesn't want. Toothpicks are on display in front of the bowl for the rest of the civilized customers to use. I reprimanded him and he looked at me, clearly not understanding English and walked away. Chinese made tools come from a country with people with this kind of mentality.


Stricht8 - Just who were these Chinese people? I have limited association with them, but the folks I deal with are China engineers, architects, and city planners. From my experience, these folks are highly educated, sofisticated, and don't need to piss off Americans. Is the problem with the lower level staff? If so, the next time we meet, I'll make it clear what Americans expect from them as a people in terms of courtesy. :mad:

[Merkava_4]

I wonder how long it'll be before y'alls beloved Craftsman Pro wrenches will be made in China - oh the horror. :spit:

[stricht8]

He was a customer in the supermarket who didn't stick out in any other way until he stuck his hand in that bowl of clean fruit without any regard for the rest of the unsuspecting customers. I let the manager of the store know and he immediately removed the bowl.

Stricht8 - Just who were these Chinese people? I have limited association with them, but the folks I deal with are China engineers, architects, and city planners. From my experience, these folks are highly educated, sofisticated, and don't need to piss off Americans. Is the problem with the lower level staff? If so, the next time we meet, I'll make it clear what Americans expect from them as a people in terms of courtesy. :mad:

[bmwpower]

Great yet another tool I get an offshore replacement for when I need one warranteed.

[Uncle Buck]

I draw the line at taps, dies, and drill bits; they just have to be made in USA for me to buy them. At this point in time, I don't trust the thread forming accuracy of Chinese made taps and dies.

I do not always agree with you on your positions Merk, but regarding cutting tools I agree 100%.:thumbup:

[TRTOOLSUPPLY]

UB,
That explains why all the T& D sets were on sale when I bought the thread chaser set............Sears is trying to get rid of the USA made sets!:mad:

[Uncle Buck]

I wonder how long it'll be before y'alls beloved Craftsman Pro wrenches will be made in China - oh the horror. :spit:

How about not turning this one into one of "those" threads Merk. :beer:

[cruiser808]

He was a customer in the supermarket who didn't stick out in any other way until he stuck his hand in that bowl of clean fruit without any regard for the rest of the unsuspecting customers. I let the manager of the store know and he immediately removed the bowl.

Sounds like some lower level deuqhue bag. I'll discuss this with my staff on how we deal with future Chinese interactions. Mahalo.

[Merkava_4]

How about not turning this one into one of "those" threads Merk. :beer:

Alright ... I just had to make a quick little stab at it though. :bounce:

[Big Bad Jon]

I do not always agree with you on your positions Merk, but regarding cutting tools I agree 100%.:thumbup:

I agree COMPLETELY! The cost of time and money spent fixing screwed up threads cut by inferior tap/die sets is way too high. While I am not a USA only tool zealot like some on the forum, this is a place not to try and save a buck!

[wrenchr]

SAD very SAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Uncle Buck]

I know this will sound queer, but I am almost in a state of mourning on some level. Yes I know how utterly goofy I sound. It still does not change the way I feel.

[A_Pmech]

I wonder if this has anything to do with Chicago-Latrobe, Cleveland Twist, and possibly some other lines being sold a chinese company (Top Eastern Group) by Kennametal. They also own greenfield, i dont know if they sold this one or not.

Do you have a link to this info?

If true, I guess I'm down to Triumph now. :mad:

Edit: Nevermind!

http://metrospirit.com/index.php?cat=1993101074452415&ShowArticle_ID=11010206093659214

[-B-]

There are plenty of good cutting tools not made in the USA . I'll give you one clue where they do not come from the land of cheap pacific rim tools.

[Uncle Buck]

There are plenty of good cutting tools not made in the USA . I'll give you one clue where they do not come from the land of cheap pacific rim tools.

No doubt true, you get no objection from me. The reality though is the Pacific Rim stuff you referenced is primarily what most of us are exposed to though.

[Major Ramifications]

Thanks for the heads-up UB. This saddens me also. Almost all of my taps and dies are Craftsman. I hope Vermont American isn't the next one to go chinese.

While we are on the subject of chinese people, are there ANY asian people who don't smoke? I have yet to meet a non-smoking asian person of any backround. Even the most educated ones suck on the cigarettes like they are the only thing keeping them alive.

[billymade]

Its sad but the currently shipping Craftsman sets weren't lifetime warranty anyway (this begs the question, why buy them from Sears?); this will push people to find higher quality USA tools. The Hansen/Irwin sets seem to be well made and are typically are the oem for the tool trucks like Snapon/Mac AFIK.
http://www.google.com/products?client=safari&rls=en&q=irwin%20hanson%20tap%20and%20die%20set&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wf
I think used is the way to go; I find tons of taps/dies at the flea for typically a $1 or less; tap/die sets are typically easy find at pawn shops too! :)

[Uncle Buck]

Its sad but the currently shipping Craftsman sets weren't lifetime warranty anyway (this begs the question, why buy them from Sears?); this will push people to find higher quality USA tools. The Hansen/Irwin sets seem to be well made and are typically are the oem for the tool trucks like Snapon/Mac AFIK.
http://www.google.com/products?client=safari&rls=en&q=irwin%20hanson%20tap%20and%20die%20set&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wf
I think used is the way to go; I find tons of taps/dies at the flea for typically a $1 or less; tap/die sets are typically easy find at pawn shops too! :)

What is more sad is the fact that at one time even the carbon steel sets Sears sold were lifetime backed, in fact as recent as 1978-79 the catalog boasted of them being lifetime backed. I bought my first 41 piece set during the referrenced time frame, that warranty was always a nice plus in those days.

I have all the new sets I will ever buy myself and they are all the USA taps/dies, but it still bothers me. I still say Sears is operating on marked time.

[Uncle Buck]

Its sad but the currently shipping Craftsman sets weren't lifetime warranty anyway (this begs the question, why buy them from Sears?); this will push people to find higher quality USA tools. The Hansen/Irwin sets seem to be well made and are typically are the oem for the tool trucks like Snapon/Mac AFIK.
http://www.google.com/products?client=safari&rls=en&q=irwin%20hanson%20tap%20and%20die%20set&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wf
I think used is the way to go; I find tons of taps/dies at the flea for typically a $1 or less; tap/die sets are typically easy find at pawn shops too! :)

(this begs the question, why buy them from Sears?)

The reason for still buying the USA sets Sears has sold in recent times was still easy, the sets were still made in the states, of comperable quality to the older sets made in the 70's, and when found on sale were still sold at a better price than Irwin, Hansen, or Vermont American (one of which who made the Sears set anyway)

[back2class]

True story. My sister was in China getting a massage at a nice hootel and she looked over and the guy to find he was picking his nose.

[Stephenw]

I hope Vermont American isn't the next one to go chinese.

I'm fairly certain Vermont American has been made in China for several years now. While I haven't checked their entire line, every drill and screwdriver bit I checked in the store said made in China.

[mrb]

is there anywhere left where you can walk in the store and buy a dang tap and die that's made in america?

[Merkava_4]

This is the real stuff right here!!

http://www.brubakertool.com/catalogs.asp#brubaker

[Bolster]

We all knew it was coming, and I am confirming it, the new Craftsman Tap/Die sets are made in China, and in the mice print on the back side of the box it says so!...

Aww, cuss it. Now I'm depressed. :sad:

[-B-]

No doubt true, you get no objection from me. The reality though is the Pacific Rim stuff you referenced is primarily what most of us are exposed to though.

If you noticed i am being as nice as I can be with the Pacific Rim line. :puke::FIREdevil I absolutely refuse to buy or use cheap tools I rather have to make a tool than use that cheap garbage. I demand a lot from my tools they must be quality not matter the country of origin. I can believe the amount of fan sheep who want to jump on a Pacific Rim tool because of a slick picture and cheap price. Marketing targeted at happy harry the home owner who is going to use the tool a minuscule amount of time buy hay it is professional grade in the minds of the marketers only.

Garbage is garbage good tools cost money cheap tools cost time and health.

[nissan_crawler]

They've had that for a long time. Dad went to warranty one broken tap, and they refused to, they would only give him an entire no warranty chinese set for his lifetime warranty U.S. set.

[Canadian Charlie]

The new Chinese sets have cases with clear tops on them. :mad:



I hate seeing clear top cases on anything I buy, the only exception I have is a rivet gun I bought a few weeks ago as I only need to use one a few times in my lifetime

[G1K]

I wonder how long it'll be before y'alls beloved Craftsman Pro wrenches will be made in China - oh the horror. :spit:

My guess is right about the time that your beloved snapon tools don't have made in USA stamped on them anymore... oh wait....


R

[Kevin54]

This is the real stuff right here!!

http://www.brubakertool.com/catalogs.asp#brubaker

Is it? Brubaker WAS owned by a holding company. So who owns them now? And if not still held by a holding company, then the holding company has sold them to someone else. If that is the case, then who's to say whether or not some of the items are not outsourced to China?

From this site http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3618/is_199802/ai_n8802660/

Talbot Holdings Ltd. (Cleveland) bought Data Flute CNC Inc. (Pittsfield, MA), a manufacturer of high-performance solid carbide end mills, and Minnesota Twist Drill Inc. (Chisolm, MN). Talbot also owns Weldon Tool Co., Brubaker Tool Corp., Fastcut Tool Corp., and New England Tap Co. The goal, says Robert McKee, president, is to provide global manufacturers with onestop shopping for precision round cutting tools. Talbot is a unit of Valenite, a subsidiary of Cincinnati Milacron Inc.

[Uncle Buck]

They've had that for a long time. Dad went to warranty one broken tap, and they refused to, they would only give him an entire no warranty chinese set for his lifetime warranty U.S. set.

I have seen you post this before, and never responded, but I have decided to ask the question your statement always makes me wonder about.

1) Was your dad offered something like a no name Sears Companion set or something like that? The reason I ask the question is I have been a semi regular Sears store and catalog shopper through the years and until yesterday I had never seen a Craftsman tap/die set labeled as Chinese. Further, I bought a 40 piece Craftsman metric set within the last year and every single piece has USA stamped on them. This is what prompts my question. All I can figure is your dad must have been offered a Sears badged set or something.

[norry]

is there anywhere left where you can walk in the store and buy a dang tap and die that's made in america?

Snap-on... well, it's not a store, but their tap and die set is still made in US. My Hansen set was also made here, I believe, but this was a few years ago and I don't know whether it still is. Anyone know?

[billymade]

According to the Irwin/Hanson catalog; they still are "made in usa"

Irwin/Hanson; taps/dies:
http://www.irwin.com/irwin/consumer/jhtml/browse.jhtml?catId=IrwinCat100420
Cat:
http://www.irwin.com/irwin/resources/IRWIN_2006_TapsDies_Web.pdf

[Ramblur]

My Hanson garage sale find has a lot of "Century" brand stamped Austria.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a353/Ramblur/taps002.jpg

[BB26]

I bought the 40 pc. HSS SAE and Metric sets at Sears on clearance a couple of months ago for around $110 each (reg. $180). Made in USA and good quality. I guess I picked the right time to pick them up. I had a feeling that they were going on clearance to make room for an overseas replacement.

[stock z/28]

I have several Craftsman tap sets dating back to around 1970, and I guess they are OK, but I rarely use them.

In my opinion there are several brands of taps that I think are far superior to Craftsman, or most general purpose type taps.

On a side note, some of the best taps I have used in the last couple of years were made in Russia. When I ordered the taps I expected USA made product. When I saw the "Russia" on the taps I called the supplier who advised to try them, if I didnt like them send them back. To my surprise they work very well for my application. THey cut very precise threads and hold an edge very well even in stainless.

As far as cutting tools go I generally only want high quality items, junk is just that to me,junk.


I have seen Milwaukee now sells China made bits? Quality?



Jeff

[Merkava_4]

What I'm wondering is what kind of a moron would buy a tap & die set made in China? :wtf:

[GSteg]

What I'm wondering is what kind of a moron would buy a tap & die set made in China? :wtf:

The real question is..who would buy any tool that's made in China. :bounce:

[nissan_crawler]

I have seen you post this before, and never responded, but I have decided to ask the question your statement always makes me wonder about.

1) Was your dad offered something like a no name Sears Companion set or something like that? The reason I ask the question is I have been a semi regular Sears store and catalog shopper through the years and until yesterday I had never seen a Craftsman tap/die set labeled as Chinese. Further, I bought a 40 piece Craftsman metric set within the last year and every single piece has USA stamped on them. This is what prompts my question. All I can figure is your dad must have been offered a Sears badged set or something.

I don't know if it was sears branded or not. I'll ask next time I talk to him. His set is HUGE, and the only thing they had that compared was china (or some sort of overseas, not sure where). He wanted them to just give him single carded USA Craftsman taps they had, but they refused to do it.

Personally, I think Sears wants to get people out of the lifetime warranty sets. If they gave him a Craftsman USA tap to go back in his lifetime warranty case, he could come back again for another one if it was broken/dull. If they swap to a chinese set with no warranty, it's a done deal.

I have seen Milwaukee now sells China made bits? Quality?
Jeff

Most of Milwaukee is chinese/overseas.

[Merkava_4]

He wanted them to just give him single carded USA Craftsman taps they had, but they refused to do it.


Your Dad must be real cool headed; I would've been beside myself if they tried to do that to me; especially if they had the replacement tap available right there hanging on a peg hook....

[nissan_crawler]

I talked to him, it wasn't a craftsman set, it was one of their cheap lines. He didn't remember if it was china or not, he said it was "some of that hong kong louis crap".

the case for the set is probably 1.5' wide and 2.5' long. It goes from 4-40 screw thread up to 3/4", fine and coarse thread, taps and dies, and with pipe taps. It also has the metric equivalent of that.

I would love to have it, it's a damn nice set.