Thinking about retiring my USA Craftsman tools

[CGarage]

I’m not going to say one way or the other what you should do with your existing tools. But Wright, Williams and Proto make amazing tools that are screaming values for what you’re getting in a lot of cases. Use this how you want to.

Screaming value? Where??

 

[M635_Guy]

Screaming value? Where??

I'm assuming he means compared to Snap On.

 

[Bubba Fett]

I actually prefer necromancing old threads instead or reposting the same things again and again. Probably saves server resources as well.

I have a set of Craftsman raised panel wrenches. Some I bought, some I got from my Dad, and some I got on ebay. I don't have a problem with them at all. They are not as pretty as Snap-On, but they work.

I also have a small set of sockets. The sockets are great. The ratchets are OK, but don't get used very much.

 

[ecotec]

When upgrading from Craftsman, you might want to keep the Craftsman deep chrome. The full broaching can come in handy in certain situations.

As I upgraded, I donated and gave away a lot of sockets, and sometimes I wish that I had the fully broached version of a given socket.

 

[Ton ton]

I actually prefer necromancing old threads instead or reposting the same things again and again. Probably saves server resources as well.

I have a set of Craftsman raised panel wrenches. Some I bought, some I got from my Dad, and some I got on ebay. I don't have a problem with them at all. They are not as pretty as Snap-On, but they work.

I also have a small set of sockets. The sockets are great. The ratchets are OK, but don't get used very much.

Well said,sir!

 

[jstroede]

Yes, most of the standard issue ratchets were not good. I have a pile of them, and I use them from time to time, but the thin profile ratchets I think are really nice. They didn't make them in USA for very long, but they are out there. I probably have more craftsman USA stuff than almost everyone here, and while I understand that it is not the end-all of tools, it works for me and it does get used often. I have a sprinkling of a few gear wrench items like flex head ratcheting wrenches, but for the most part I use Craftsman USA stuff. If you keep your eye open, you can still pick up good deals on ebay for items.

 

[zendriver]

Try eBay! I went on there recently to see if I could find a set of the Made in USA Craftsman Professionals and HOLY $%!T they are selling for insane prices more than their S-K or Armstrong Equivalents! Anything that's -V-, VV and less so VA are bringing decent money, not really sure about the Ratchets though. Someone paid over $100 for this basic set. I ended up buying a Taiwanese set of MAC Precision Torques which actually have a Craftsman Equivalent "V-Series", seriously one of the finest feeling wrenches in the hand (and I've used a lot of brands over the years).

Might be because they have excess money, plus an affinity for Craftsman tools.

The next generation might likely have neither.

 

[CGarage]

Well said,sir!

It keeps all info in one place.
To me, it is stupid this obsession about starting new threads. It makes it more time consuming to search for relevant info.

 

[Rogue_Ryder]

Might be because they have excess money, plus an affinity for Craftsman tools.

The next generation might likely have neither.

It'll be sad if that's really the future for the next generation. Hopefully the young ones that are willing to get their hands dirty and learn how to rebuild and repair things will be able to make enough money to live comfortably as it seems there's fewer and fewer of those people everyday.

I've been teaching my kid how to use hand tools since he was 2! He's fortunate that he has 2 Grandfathers with a vast collection of made in USA vintage 60s-80s tools (mostly Craftsman). His maternal Grandfather has 3 sons and 2 other grandsons none of whom want anything to do with getting their hands dirty so he's already said his tool collection can go to my son if he wants 'em! I'll probably give him the bulk of my craftsman tools I've had for over 20 years to him as well (I'll be hanging on to my better stuff until I'm too old to use 'em).

 

[zendriver]

It'll be sad if that's really the future for the next generation. Hopefully the young ones that are willing to get their hands dirty and learn how to rebuild and repair things will be able to make enough money to live comfortably as it seems there's fewer and fewer of those people everyday.

I've been teaching my kid how to use hand tools since he was 2! He's fortunate that he has 2 Grandfathers with a vast collection of made in USA vintage 60s-80s tools (mostly Craftsman). His maternal Grandfather has 3 sons and 2 other grandsons none of whom want anything to do with getting their hands dirty so he's already said his tool collection can go to my son if he wants 'em! I'll probably give him the bulk of my craftsman tools I've had for over 20 years to him as well (I'll be hanging on to my better stuff until I'm too old to use 'em).

IMO They will be for sure, if only out of financial necessity (like the rest of us)

They just won't be collecting average quality, mass produced tools at 10x the original price, just because they say "craftsman" on them.

That's our "baby boomer with money" thing.

 

[zktk01]

I am on the side of use them, they are not precious metal. My mother passed away in 1988 the last Christmas gift she got my grandfather was a craftsman circular saw, he never opened it up left it in the box for almost 30 years. I got it when he passed, and I decided to use it. I figured my mother would of wanted him to use it, I used the other day to cut some 2x4's and remembered her while using it. I feel like I am the only person left it would have any special meaning to when using the saw.

 

[craftsman creep]

Probably about 80% of my tools are old craftsman USA made tools and they do just fine I highly doubt that you ever break one with them being pretty brand new just don’t be dumb with your tools. You might want to get some other brand ratchets because craftsman aren’t the best brand there’s somewhere in the middle
-Preston

 

[Houe]

Don't kid yourself... Craftsman is just one of a dozen or so companies that imports Asian commodity tools from the lowest bidder. Even the best of USA craftsman back in the day was only mediocre at best. I bought a few Craftsman from China when it first switched over and honestly it was higher quality than most of my USA Craftsman - Sad. When you pass your tools will probably be sold at a garage sale for a buck a wrench or $5 for a set. They really have no value except for being average tools you can get and replace with just about any brand. Honestly even nice tools will probably suffer that same fate. Snap on, Mac, Proto - people don't know the value and they get sold for cheap at garage sales all the time. People post about the great "you ****" deals they find all the time...

I speak from having a lot of craftsman USA stuff in my box. I despise those double detent sockets and the short raised panel wrenches. I have been working on replacing it with higher quality tools (snap on, proto, williams usa, wright, etc.). I will keep the craftsman, not because its great stuff, but because if I need a tool to alter, bend, or beat on, I'll have some junk tools to do so with. If the neighbor needs to borrow a tool I'll direct him to the Craftsman box.

If the quality is sufficient for the work you do then keep them and use them. If you have some spare funds upgrade and your knuckles will thank you for it.

 

[finn]

Four year old thread.

Wonder what he did?
Grandkids probably graduated by now and working on a business degree so they can become bankers.

 

[1Bad55Chevy]

Thanks for the responses. Guess I'll just keep using them. I've never been a collector of tools. They are just tools. Though I do have a nearly mint set of sk drive tools my grandpa left me. My dad recently passed and I kept all his vintage snap on tools. I don't have any plans to use them. They just sit in plastic tubs in my garage.

Thats what he did.

 

[rust in the eye]

the only good thing about craftman was the warrenty, they was trash back them, the quality have not change, they are still trash, but they do the job they was design for. usa craftman are worth no more that a china craftman and not much more than harbor freight, but are cheaper than snap on

so keep using them till you loose them. oh the #10 socket. its on the fender well behind the battery

You are wrong on all counts but the last, which is something less than a profound statement.

@OP Use what you have. If something breaks or wears out you can still choose to keep it for posterity.
Plenty of well done jobs have been performed by those "trash" Craftsman tools

 

[Houe]

You are wrong on all counts but the last, which is something less than a profound statement.

@OP Use what you have. If something breaks or wears out you can still choose to keep it for posterity.
Plenty of well done jobs have been performed by those "trash" Craftsman tools

I completed plenty of jobs with bottom barrel made in India tools too. Doesn't mean they are good or that I want to work with them either. If Craftsman is the best you can afford - fine, but I'm not going to pretend they are good tools. Mid range at best...

 

[alinc100]

I wouldn't rush to retire my vintage Craftsman or be concerned about using it. No you cannot walk into a Sears store right now and get a replacement. But with avenues like Ebay,Facebook Marketplace and even GJ classifieds replacements, fillers, complete sets are available. Case in point the tools I picked up at this sale are very clean, nearly new looking . The type study on the ratchets put them between 1959 and 1966. And 60 years later still function, still look great.

 

[mikey03]

Is there any american made craftsman tools that people honestly seek out compared to current stuff to use? Or people just using it because they already bought it 20 years ago and it’s still good enough

 

[liliysdad]

Based on the prices I get for US made Craftsman tools, someone is still out there hunting for them. Hell if I know why, but as long as they do, I will keep buying them cheap and selling them to them.

 

[E46 Tony]

I gave my 90s/00s stuff to a buddy to get him started, the prices I was seeing weren't worth the effort it would take to sell them.

 

[alinc100]

Is there any american made craftsman tools that people honestly seek out compared to current stuff to use? Or people just using it because they already bought it 20 years ago and it’s still good enough

Based on the prices I get for US made Craftsman tools, someone is still out there hunting for them. Hell if I know why, but as long as they do, I will keep buying them cheap and selling them to them.

I believe it is the nostalgia and the fact that you can't walk into Sears and buy them any longer. The "I didn't even want them, until you told me I couldn't have them" theory

 

[Kscardsfan]

Four year old thread.

Wonder what he did?
Grandkids probably graduated by now and working on a business degree so they can become bankers.

Probably the best welder/fabricator I know is a financial planner by day and builds custom rods and etc by night in his shop.

 

[LOW1]

Your executor will be happier if you do not buy more tools.

 

[pugsly648]

My wife (then girlfriend) bought me my first set of tools when we were dating. It was a 120 something piece Craftsman set with only wrenches, sockets, and ratchets-no junk filler. I have used and cherished that set since the early 90s. It will always be my favorite set I own for that reason. Over the years pieces have been lost, ratchets replaced, etc. Now in my 50s, I have decided to overhaul my tools and have replaced all of those with different brands of varying quality. I did want to pass this set down because of the sentimental value so here is what I decided to do: I chose one piece to represent the set. The 1/2” drive ratchet was my favorite of all pieces, and I know it’s the original. Used it every chance I had in those days. I know my daughter will appreciate having some of my tools when I’m gone. For most of her childhood I used tools to put food on the table. So I’m leaving her my old tool pouch, my first screwdriver I used in the trade, the first couple of wrenches I ever bought, my conduit level, and that ratchet. This way, she will have a small representation of the tools that meant the most to me. And I don’t have to try to gather the remnants of entire sets that will take up space when I’m gone. That’s just my approach to this.

 

[Kurt4440]

My wife (then girlfriend) bought me my first set of tools when we were dating. It was a 120 something piece Craftsman set with only wrenches, sockets, and ratchets-no junk filler. I have used and cherished that set since the early 90s. It will always be my favorite set I own for that reason. Over the years pieces have been lost, ratchets replaced, etc. Now in my 50s, I have decided to overhaul my tools and have replaced all of those with different brands of varying quality. I did want to pass this set down because of the sentimental value so here is what I decided to do: I chose one piece to represent the set. The 1/2” drive ratchet was my favorite of all pieces, and I know it’s the original. Used it every chance I had in those days. I know my daughter will appreciate having some of my tools when I’m gone. For most of her childhood I used tools to put food on the table. So I’m leaving her my old tool pouch, my first screwdriver I used in the trade, the first couple of wrenches I ever bought, my conduit level, and that ratchet. This way, she will have a small representation of the tools that meant the most to me. And I don’t have to try to gather the remnants of entire sets that will take up space when I’m gone. That’s just my approach to this.

A woman who buys you tools, that brings back some fond memories of when I was 18 years old and dating a woman 7 years older than me.
Good times, she also bought me some Craftsman tools.
Of course I still have the tools, but, I also have some good memories.

 

[driftpin]

I read the first couple of pages, and went to the last.

If that's your plan, retire your tools for relatives to own, have at it. You should be able to see who's the gearhead and who's the 'Call Mr. Fix-It to replace the electrical socket' person. The first gets tools, the second will get more use out of a cash gift than your crusty Craftsman set.

I'm in my mid-'70's and had little in the way of tools while growing-up at home. Probably just-enough to change a flat on my Raleigh 3-speed Sturmey-Archer hub 'English' bicycle I had as a young teen. When I was on my own, and had moved out of state to find my way, I began buying tools. My normal purchases were what I could find at the Sears Roebuck tool section. They served me well, and in trying to account for failed sockets, ratchet wrenches or hand wrenches, I think the fingers of one hand would let me make that tally. I didn't ever work as a mechanic, but I did plenty of repairs on my own fleet of cars, trucks, motorcycles, and boats, and work around the houses we've owned. For those jobs I used my USA Craftsman sets. I still use my Craftsman sets. When I go, our son will probably sell-off most of my tools. He has his own.

 

[Michael Bryce Winnick]

I'm about to retire and have more time for living and playing. I have USA craftsman Ratchets, Sockets, Ratcheting Wrenches that I bought when I was younger. I'm thinking about polishing them and putting them away for my grandkids some day. I use them now, but I'm afraid to USE them because a replacement would be junk or mismatched junk because a lot of what I have is no longer made in that style.

I'm thinking of basically starting over for my hard line tools. Money isnt a huge concern, but Truck brand tools would be a waste. I'm thinking maybe Carlyle or Icon. Skipped sizes is an automatic zero in my book. I don't care that I'll probably never use that 20mm combo wrench. I still want it. Horrible Fright and NAPA are both in my neck of the woods. Tekton or Gearwrench might be a contender. Just wanting to see what you guys think.

I use Blackhawk as my brand of choice. For me it must be made U.S.A. I still break and lose tools or leave them under the hood and/or rolled in cross members and under bumpers as well as I did 50 years ago. Ebay has gotten me every replacement I have ever needed. ...except right now I really need a Blackhawk U.S.A. 8mm 6pt. 1/4 drive....anyone? The point being is use your tools and pass them on as is. Craftsman is an easy eBay find for broken or lost anything. Your family wants you to use those tools. They can ebay what is missing or broken. You can too as you go. If you are still using your tools, a replacement of the hardliner tools will give you a few drawers of tools that you do not want to use. You will reach for the stuff that feels like an old friend who has bailed you out of many jambs. The new stuff will sit. I have a great deal of Craftsman and S&K also. Ironically the only ones I lose or break are Blackhawk. Just one guy's opinion. NAPA was a contender when their stuff was made by Danahar. So was Craftsman. Did you ever see a NAPA or Craftsman factory. These are brands...not companies. MBW

 

[413dan]

https://www.sears.com/craftsman-230...Ix75ohAhcnFNL9wW6vADqLVZB40ZikgxoCe58QAvD_BwE

Possible deal for those who may see this thread, with regard to craftsman tools. $99 bucks from sears.com. A 230 piece mechanics set. Not US made like the good ole days, but not a bad set. I have a similar US made set, maybe a 135 piece and am able to do a LOT of maintenance and work with it.