What do I replace my stolen 20+ y/o Made in USA Craftsman hand tools with?

[ProudToHooah]

I joined the Army and put all my tools and household goods into Army provided storage when I was stationed in Korea in 2011. I finally got all my stuff back this April 2015 and someone cleaned out my toolbox. The Army will be reimbursing me for what I am going to guess is fair market value replacement costs of the Sears China **** (but those tools where 20+ y/o USA Craftsman) so I will NOT be getting enough money to buy Made in USA tools as their prices are way beyond what I will be getting in my settlement. I need some affordable brand names that are EQUAL in quality to my stolen tools and Taiwan stuff seems to be decent from what I have read in this forum. Thank you so much for your time!
HOOAH!!

UPDATE:
OMG I am SOOOOOO sorry for not getting back to y'all. Initiailly I could not for the life of me remember where I posted this back then and within a month of my last visit to this site in May 2015 my wife was in a near fatal head on collision car accident http://www.wrdw.com/home/headlines/A...307912431.html. They had to revive her twice on the operating table but she barely survived because she's a WARRIOR!! THANK GOD!! So needless to say our lives were flipped upside down for a year and a half straight with constant complications and extended hospital stays and she is about 50% recovered two years later. My life forever changed that dreadful day and I feel horrible for disappearing on everybody in this thread. Things were so bad for so long after the accident that I missed the submission window for my lost/stolen and damaged items claim to the Army and ate 100% of the loss... My tools were the least of my concerns during those difficult times....Once again I apologize for not responding to y'all's most gracious offers and advice.
Jim

 

[mypov]

Not an easy task, maybe even impossible - If it were me and I was intent on replacing the tools with all made in USA, I would be spending time on craigslist and eBay (that is to say if you do not have to produce receipts for replacement value). Otherwise, your looking at finding SK tools that have been manufactured in USA, PROTO, Armstrong(?) brands like these - good luck, and sorry to hear about your misfortune...

 

[drtyler]

Sorry to hear about the theft. That's a real stinker.

If you watch the classifieds here and on Ebay, you can find good deals on new and used made in the USA tools (SK, Snap On, Proto, Craftsman, etc). That may be the least expensive route.

 

[countryroad82]

I just got done saying in another thread were I to have to start over, I would go Craftsman as bad as I would have to say. It's hard to beat when you catch a mechanics set on sale for about $300-$400 and you're fairly well set up. I also said I would ditch them as fast as I could, but to get by it's the better deal. As for Tiawan stuff..... Gearwrench!

 

[Askme42]

It's really gonna depend on how much money you get back. There's still some reasonably priced usa stuff out there but it ain't a steal for sure.

 

[Strouty]

That really does stink. There is another thread where someone is trying to sell a bunch of 20 year old craftsman tools they found in a locker. Maybe they can help you value them?


Seriously if you want to buy new and you want it all at once the craftsman kits will do it. What is the plan for the tools, are you using them in automotive or more homeowner type scenario?

 

[CobraChevelle]

If I had to start over. I would look into those gearwrench socket sets and maybe invest in some snap on ratchets from ebay. Maybe have some harbor freight pitts pro ratchets laying around for backup too.

 

[u118224]

As for Tiawan stuff..... Gearwrench!

I think Gearwrench wrenches and sockets are China now. Ratchets may still be Taiwan.

 

[ProudToHooah]

I have 2 classic cars along with my other automobiles that I wrench on. I do everything under the hood but mess with transmissions (outsource that craziness). Along with fix everything under the sun when it comes to household applications.
and
Thanks for the responses so far!
HOOAH!

 

[cbus]

Flea markets have some amazing deals. Cman usa is very common. So is every other usa brand really. Just gotta get there early.

 

[erty67]

depends what you are looking for. Ratchets, pretty much anything Taiwan will be better than the craftsman ratchets. Sad, but true. Sockets, plenty of Craftsman USA still available and Gearwrench and Carlyle are very nice. Wrenches, again if you just want to replace what you had, there are plenty of nice used raised panel craftsman wrenches available.

 

[TangoFoxTrot]

I'd go with a variety of different manufacturers rather than just one.

I've been really impressed with GearWrench, I actually think in many cases it's better than my older USA Craftsman stuff. I would probably look there for wrenches, ratchets and sockets.

Knipex for pliers and Wiha for screwdrivers.

Most of it you can find online from places like Amazon.

 

[Strouty]

What are we looking at for your budget? Are you thinking of spending more than they are giving you or less? It would help some of us to point you in a direction knowing you wanted to spend x amount.

 

[panknuckshovel]

Did you submit an inventory list before you shipped out to Korea? If so, did that list say that they were craftsman tools in the box?

 

[MemphisR32]

I would look at some Armstrong tools. Great quality and US made. Slightly more expensive than Craftsman but no where near the price of Snap On.

 

[kctyphoon]

craftsman is still the best bang for the buck, especially if buying a big set.. IF - and i say IF - i had to start over, (and i almost bought this anyway to replace alot of missing sockets) i would start with the craftman ultimate socket set - to make sure i got EVERY socket they make in one set.. that set was on sale not long ago and its hard to ignore it for the sale price.. then - pick your ratchets, buy a nice big screwdriver set, knipex pliers that sears also sells.. basic craftsman wrench set, OR - the dewalt standard and ratcheting wrench sets... those were just on sale for $23, and $39 - and are REALLY nice..

sorry to hear about the theft though - any chance of an insurance claim being filed?

 

[Askme42]

If they run a hot deal on it the dewalt 204 piece mechanics set is awesome.

 

[Rustypigeon]

I'd go with a variety of different manufacturers rather than just one.

That is what I would do as well...
-SK for ratchets and sockets
-Channellock for pliers
-Williams for screwdrivers
-Precision Instruments for torque wrenches

All of these are made in USA, reasonably priced, and good quality.

 

[kody1234]

I like my channellock pliers,best buy for the money.i have got some that are over 40 years old, still use them.

 

[ProudToHooah]

What are we looking at for your budget? Are you thinking of spending more than they are giving you or less? It would help some of us to point you in a direction knowing you wanted to spend x amount.

Whatever they give me I will probably have to go and pinch in to hit about $1500 price range.

 

[ProudToHooah]

Did you submit an inventory list before you shipped out to Korea? If so, did that list say that they were craftsman tools in the box?

I was in Korea when they came to pick up the tools and looking at the packing list they did not mention there were tools in my Craftsman tool box and just tools in my Mac tool box. My mother handled the release of my goods and judging by their lack of tools annotations they already had thievery on their minds.............

 

[Vinko]

If you have the time, perhaps a combination of Armstrong from Cripe Distributing and the Williams stuff from Harry Epstein. Been ages since I've checked them both, so don't know what they've got currently. But I got a lot of good US stuff on sale from them when I needed it.

 

[pendragon1998]

Allen or KD usa made tools should be basically the same thing as cman usa.

 

[Strouty]

You could always look at the government auction sites, you could end up with a full set of snap on for a decent price. I wish I was closer to some of the big bases, I would bid on more stuff.

 

[Strouty]

Whatever they give me I will probably have to go and pinch in to hit about $1500 price range.

I think you could make a decent set with that amount. I would buy wright wrench sets, craftsman sockets, a couple snap on ratchets, and if you did not want craftsman you could get Williams USA or SK, they would be more expensive, but still USA made.

That would be about $500 for the wrenches, $300 ish if you hit the sockets right, and $350 for ratchets.

 

[PFSard]

Of course, there are a lot of good ideas here. I have no idea what your geographic area is like. Or your time frame. Or the amount of time you have.

Personally, I would browse Craigslist, yard sales, estate sales, estate auctions, etc for the majority. I've bought a lot of quality (predominantly U.S. made) tools for ten or twenty cents on the dollar. Best deals for me have been estate auctions or sales where I bought toolboxes with tools in them; I kept what I wanted and sold off the rest.

And GJ classifieds and eBay have good opportunities.

 

[LordPsychon]

I think Gearwrench wrenches and sockets are China now. Ratchets may still be Taiwan.

A bit of both actually - every ratchet is made in Taiwan and there are a few sockets still made in Taiwan but most of the newer wrenches and sockets are PRC. Still, PRC GW beats PRC HF.

 

[fm2176]

That *****... Where are you stationed? I'm in Georgia, aka a "thievin' *** state". Left my apartment in Kentucky for a year while I was in Iraq without incident, had no problems during four years in Northern VA despite MS-13 grafitti in the area, and my house in Louisiana sat empty for over 2.5 years with no problem. I get back to Georgia from a week of pre-deployment leave and find my house burglarized and the mobile home next door missing a water heater. Check my storage units just before Christmas and find a cut lock and a few missing items (my remaining tools were at the back of the unit but I had a bunch of junk piled in front). Wife buys a foreclosure a few hours away and I check on it to find the door kicked in and the water heater missing. The Dukes of Hazzard deceived me years ago--moonshining has nothing on thievery!

Good suggestions so far, and I don't have much to add. Channellock is great for the price, and US made to boot. Otherwise, I'd scour Craigslist and yard sales for deals. Unfortunately, since Craftsman turned to China there are few reasonably priced US-made tools anymore. Industrial brands like Armstrong and Williams cost substantially less than their Matco and Snap On counterparts, but still far more than you'll probably get from the Army.

 

[PJNJ]

Spend some money on good to better tools in the first place so you don't have to replace later on.

I would grab a Craftsman Industrial (used to be Craftsman but still made in USA) socket set from Summit Racing -
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/shc-929791/overview/

Armstrong locking flex ratchets - 1/4,3/8,1/2

Wright "Wrightgrip" wrench sets
Gearwrench ratcheting wrenches

Proto Duratek screwdriver set

Used or NOS Snap On flare nut wrenches from Ebay

Use Taiwan (Gearwrench, Sunex, etc.)for seldom used tools, specialty and socket/bit sets

Good luck and good hunting.

 

[slyonedoofy]

I have some new USA Craftsman sets in my garage I bought 5-6 years ago that I have been looking to get rid of.

255 piece USA.

220 piece USA.

Industrial USA STD Wrenches 5/16-1"

Some USA Craftsman Professional Metric polished wrenches.

Other stuff...

Let me know if you are interested.

All made in USA.

I do sell on Ebay so you can look up my ratings.

 

[twertsy]

What the f$#@ is wrong with people!? Sorry someone contracted idiots to support our troop activities. I'm on my phone and so can't see your locale but PM me. I will get you rolling with some tools.

 

[montanafordman]

Sorry to hear about the loss. First off - have you filed or agreed to a value on the claim? Do your best to inventory what was lost. In most cases insurance will try and settle on the low end of what they think the value is - challenge them on that! In many cases it works. Also when comparing replacement value today use brick and mortar retail store prices - not what you can get from amazon, tooltopia, etc. When you purchased those tools 20 years ago you bought them in a store that has overhead costs and prices their goods accordingly so its only fair you get that cost reimbursed. Then its your decision if you want to buy your tools from your neighbor at your local supply or bought them at a deep discount at a flea market or online supplier.

As far as tools? Todays equal value/quality replacement? Probably Gearwrench. American made options that are slightly more would be SK, Armstrong, and Proto if you find it online for cheap or second hand but Proto will still cost close to the truck brands. I also agree that the big craftsman sets are a great value and worth a look even if they are Chinese. The ratchets are still horrible though. Good luck. I hope a fair settlement can be made.

 

[Strouty]

He has not posted his location yet Twertsy.

 

[Jim C.]

Sorry to hear about the theft of your tools. That's really ******!! Anyway, over the last few years, I've added some really nice used Craftsman USA made tools to my collection almost exclusively shopping on Ebay. There's literally TONS of Craftsman tools on the used tool market. I suspect that you could replace most of what was stolen from you with USA made Craftsman tools and at reasonable prices, just by browsing Ebay.

Jim C.

 

[Strouty]

What the f$#@ is wrong with people!? Sorry someone contracted idiots to support our troop activities. I'm on my phone and so can't see your locale but PM me. I will get you rolling with some tools.

I would be willing to send out some USA craftsman stuff as well. You served us, it is about time we served you.

 

[twertsy]

I would be willing to send out some USA craftsman stuff as well. You served us, it is about time we served you.

Amen.

 

[JAKE-THE-TOOL-MAN]

Sorry to hear about your tools. If I was to start over I would go with a combination of Proto, SK, and Wright.

 

[jrobb316]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Allen-Full-...123?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5b03ef635b

Check this seller on ebay, lots of good USA NOS stuff, as mentioned before. I have this listing with additional wrenches up to 1". All full polish, same as C-man pro series, just branded Allen and KD for other stores (like farm and fleet, etc). Send me your contact info and i'll send them to you, never used, no charge. Ended up with 2 sets so one can be yours. They also have 1"+ sizes for cheap in full polish to round it out. That will take care of your fractional wrenches anyways.

 

[Cato]

I would just take the money the Army is giving you and upgrade to some other USA tool brands. Buy some Wright or Snap On, whatever your preference and slowly add to it as your wallet allows.

 

[fm2176]

What the f$#@ is wrong with people!? Sorry someone contracted idiots to support our troop activities. I'm on my phone and so can't see your locale but PM me. I will get you rolling with some tools.

The military represents our nation in its entirety. It sounds like the OP was ripped off by a contractor or civilian (unfortunately not uncommon with .mil moves), but I'm constantly reminded of how dishonest some of my fellow Soldiers are. The wake up call came when I was a lowly E-2 and my unit got back from Afghanistan in '02. The "secure" lot had a number of vehicles missing stereos and other stuff. Since then I've seen countless thieves get prosecuted for stealing their comrades' stuff--one guy was even caught on webcam sneaking into his roommate's room to steal loose change.

That said, I am humbled by the support anonymous discussion board members such as yourself and Strouty give to our military. I hope the OP isn't a fly by night sort who posted here in frustration and doesn't come back. If and when I get back to Arlington, maybe I can meet you and buy you a beer.