Found a Craftsman wrench at Northern Tool

[txan]

Was walking the aisles and spotted something mildly interesting - a Craftsman flare nut wrench in a pack of Northern branded tools. The other sets had the correctly branded wrenches. The Craftsman wrench was identical to the Northern equivalent.

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[rsieracki]

must have fallen out of the wrong wheel barrel at the fung-lung-dung tool factory

 

[Trucky]

must have fallen out of the wrong wheel barrel at the fung-lung-dung tool factory

Made me drop my Pepsi.

 

[onelochevy]

how are the northerntool tools priced compared to craftsman at sears?

 

[otis66]

How much was the set of wrenches? Were they the same price as the Craftsman set at Sears?

 

[bobcatdan]

It happen to me once, Bought a 3/8 to 1/4 adapter at sears, got home and looked at it, it was a NAPA.

 

[toolnut]

That would be a good warranty question for the Northern tool guys???

 

[rsieracki]

just makes you wonder how much we should be paying for stuff

 

[greasemonkey44]

heh its all in a name, all that stuff comes out of danahers plant
i have lots of northern stuff but never seen that

 

[txan]

How much was the set of wrenches? Were they the same price as the Craftsman set at Sears?

About $13-14, iirc. Made in China.

 

[SMKS]

About $13-14, iirc. Made in China.

While there could be differences in the Craftsman wrench (steel quality, hardening, etc.), this makes me think there is probably little or no difference.

 

[Pro-Painter]

Northern wrenches are made by Danaher in china. The Canadian craftsman wrenches are china made as well.

My guess, it is a china made Canadian craftsman that got mixed up with the Northern's.

BTW: The northern line wrenches are great! Ive had them for years now and not had a single issue. I have both (SAE/Metric) 3pc sets.

 

[pipsters]

Keep in mind, I don't believe Northern Tool offers the same warranty Sears does, so it's legit for Sears to charge more. Not OBSCENE more, but more. for example I bought a 4# sledgehammer from Sears for about $5-$10 more (double $$) than I would pay at Harbor Freight but not only did I get made in USA but I also got an unconditional lifetime warranty. Important for something like a sledgehammer that you are literally using to beat other things with.

That being said, I see Sears switching (or selling out of) their older US stuff and going to Chinese stuff and keeping the same price. You know it costs them 1/4 to make those products, they should try to pass those savings along, or people will still keep buying at Harbor Freight.

 

[otis66]

Keep in mind, I don't believe Northern Tool offers the same warranty Sears does, so it's legit for Sears to charge more. Not OBSCENE more, but more. for example I bought a 4# sledgehammer from Sears for about $5-$10 more (double $$) than I would pay at Harbor Freight but not only did I get made in USA but I also got an unconditional lifetime warranty. Important for something like a sledgehammer that you are literally using to beat other things with.

That being said, I see Sears switching (or selling out of) their older US stuff and going to Chinese stuff and keeping the same price. You know it costs them 1/4 to make those products, they should try to pass those savings along, or people will still keep buying at Harbor Freight.

But how much was that Northern Tool flare nut wrench set. You should have bought the cheaper hammer if it was the same. How many times do you brake a sledge hammer.

 

[pipsters]

But how much was that Northern Tool flare nut wrench set. You should have bought the cheaper hammer if it was the same. How many times do you brake a sledge hammer.

I don't ever brake sledge hammers, I do that in my car.

I've seen a lot of broken sledge hammers personally! All sledge hammers are the same, they are a block of metal attached to the end of a handle . Like I said I paid extra for US made and lifetime warranty.

 

[diesel research]

Northern wrenches are made by Danaher in china. The Canadian craftsman wrenches are china made as well.

My guess, it is a china made Canadian craftsman that got mixed up with the Northern's.

BTW: The northern line wrenches are great! Ive had them for years now and not had a single issue. I have both (SAE/Metric) 3pc sets.

Canadian chinese craftsman=stanley like walmart.

 

[timesrgood?]

Keep in mind, I don't believe Northern Tool offers the same warranty Sears does, so it's legit for Sears to charge more. Not OBSCENE more, but more. for example I bought a 4# sledgehammer from Sears for about $5-$10 more (double $$) than I would pay at Harbor Freight but not only did I get made in USA but I also got an unconditional lifetime warranty. Important for something like a sledgehammer that you are literally using to beat other things with.

That being said, I see Sears switching (or selling out of) their older US stuff and going to Chinese stuff and keeping the same price. You know it costs them 1/4 to make those products, they should try to pass those savings along, or people will still keep buying at Harbor Freight.

You did the right thing. If all us "drop in the buckets" would buy USA tools(while we can), the for sale signs would be on the Chinese factories and new hammer factories in the USA would be breaking ground for new buildings. The Chinese are laughing heads off I am afraid.

Those chrome polish wrenches by Danaher are really good, I bought a set on a trip emergency and they are just fine. That isn't the issue, if they are junk or good, to me anyway. Most common stores like Kragen, AZ that you come across on a trip have all made in China tools.

I don't know the whole history of lifetime warrantys, but I bet Sears started it, so thank them for getting everyone else to compete. Some of the LTW require mailing, and don't cover wear so they are really no warranty at all.