CRAFTSMAN: USA vs Japan vs China
- Thread starter Stevenn1
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CobraChevelle
Banned
Harley-FXDWG
Well-known member
Who cares! This subject has been beaten to death! Just let it go!
kd3pc
Well-known member
I would be much more concerned by the dimension of the open end and box end - and how well that holds up and is it strong enough.
The weight and markings, or lack thereof, are not proof of anything that would hamper it's use.
Perhaps balance should be measured?
The weight and markings, or lack thereof, are not proof of anything that would hamper it's use.
Perhaps balance should be measured?
1950mercury
Well-known member
Agreed
gdocktor3
Well-known member
Poor guy... He worked hard on this and you guys shot him down...
Can you do a metallurgic test on them??? That would be worth reading. Especially if they were all made of the exact same stuff!!
Can you do a metallurgic test on them??? That would be worth reading. Especially if they were all made of the exact same stuff!!
reader2580
Well-known member
The alloy and strength of the steel is far more important than the weight of the steel.
AceofSpad3s
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This is an exception, the guy actually put effort into doing this. Most can't even be bothered to type more than a sentence beside USA VS CHINA WICH 1 THE BEST !1!11!!!?
Not saying that this topic isn't beaten to death, but at least the OP put in some effort.
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Harley-FXDWG
Well-known member
Tell us what kind of "effort" was put into setting wrenches on a scale???
As stated before, the topic of brand quality has been beaten to death. A quick search will show you that. Original posts are much more desireable.
As stated before, the topic of brand quality has been beaten to death. A quick search will show you that. Original posts are much more desireable.
gdocktor3
Well-known member
Well, can you explain why the Chinese wrench is .15oz heavier than the USA wrench?
Harley-FXDWG
Well-known member
I doubt many people even care why!
ganymede
Well-known member
To meet the price point specified at the time it was manufactured ?
The Toolest Guy
Banned
It's obvious that tools made in Japan are far superior to tools made in the USA. It has been this way for at least a couple of decades now.
I'm not from Japan and I have nothing to do with Japan so there really is no bias on my side. I simply like Japanese tools because they are better. It's a fact that the blind self loving USA patriarchs hate to hear, but that doesn't stop it being true.
I'm not from Japan and I have nothing to do with Japan so there really is no bias on my side. I simply like Japanese tools because they are better. It's a fact that the blind self loving USA patriarchs hate to hear, but that doesn't stop it being true.
toddoky
Well-known member
It being your opinion doesn't make it true either.
Cause it is stronger?
I like pie - that doesn't automatically make it better than cake.
Post up your tests or reviews that bolster your position otherwise you are a "blind self loving" twit.
Cato
Well-known member
The raw weight is interesting, too. But, yeah, metal analysis would really answer a lot of questions. A stress test would be nice too. It is curious to note that the Chinese Craftsman isn't a lobster claw.
BDT/NWMN
Well-known member
Just got home after a long day at work.. Enjoyed a Budweiser while reading this thread.. Thinking about popping a large bowl of popcorn and opening another Budweiser...
Maybe I will have a clear and acceptable answer to this thread in the morning.. But I like Budweiser, popcorn, and a good night's sleep;;... But in the meantime; I will explain something about Craftsman tools.. You are aware that manufacturers in at least three different countries submitted bids, and contracted with Craftsman to build tools during different periods of time.... OK, the bids and the specifications were presented to the Craftsman bean counters at the time... Was there some sort of race amongst the three countries involved?? These were business deals.. Did Craftsman score the best deal? Was Craftsman after the lowest price? I don't think so, because they could have had tools produced even cheaper than they did.... But they did hold up to certain standards for the Craftsman line... Who set these standards, and during which period of time they were set comes into play... You will notice there is a variation amongst the quality of Craftsman tools over the years.... But any of these countries are capable of making good or **** tools.... So, I will point the finger at the Craftsman bean counters for the variations... But it is My choice whether I purchase those tools.... I will pick and choose which Craftsman tools I buy... Fortunately; there are other brands to choose from..
Maybe I will have a clear and acceptable answer to this thread in the morning.. But I like Budweiser, popcorn, and a good night's sleep;;... But in the meantime; I will explain something about Craftsman tools.. You are aware that manufacturers in at least three different countries submitted bids, and contracted with Craftsman to build tools during different periods of time.... OK, the bids and the specifications were presented to the Craftsman bean counters at the time... Was there some sort of race amongst the three countries involved?? These were business deals.. Did Craftsman score the best deal? Was Craftsman after the lowest price? I don't think so, because they could have had tools produced even cheaper than they did.... But they did hold up to certain standards for the Craftsman line... Who set these standards, and during which period of time they were set comes into play... You will notice there is a variation amongst the quality of Craftsman tools over the years.... But any of these countries are capable of making good or **** tools.... So, I will point the finger at the Craftsman bean counters for the variations... But it is My choice whether I purchase those tools.... I will pick and choose which Craftsman tools I buy... Fortunately; there are other brands to choose from..
drink
Well-known member
I find this thread interesting especially since I did not know there was a Japanese made version of Craftsman wrenches. Do you have a caliper or any other precision measuring tools you can take other measurements with to further compare them. Can you tell more about the Japanese version? Was it a prototype or did Japan mass produce them also?
Parabellum
Banned
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Weld each of them to a steel block on each end or clamp down, apply pressure in
middle of wrench with a hydraulic press with pressure gauge. That would put the whole thing to rest, I bet the China wrench would break first.
middle of wrench with a hydraulic press with pressure gauge. That would put the whole thing to rest, I bet the China wrench would break first.
I use to have some combination wrenches marked "Sears" and made in Japan floating around in the garage. I got them from a neighbor whose cousin had died. The cousin used to run a small contracting/handyman business out of their garage. I did a couple of favors for the neighbor who then offered me all of the tools he left. When I get a chance I'll see if I can find them and post a photo. I think Sears and Craftsman sourced these in the '70's from what I remember.
Virgil Cain
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I use to have some combination wrenches marked "Sears" and made in Japan floating around in the garage. I got them from a neighbor whose cousin had died. The cousin used to run a small contracting/handyman business out of their garage. I did a couple of favors for the neighbor who then offered me all of the tools he left. When I get a chance I'll see if I can find them and post a photo. I think Sears and Craftsman sourced these in the '70's from what I remember.
The Craftsman marked tools from Japan are from the 80s. At least mine are. I think I remember seeing them on the shelves into the early 90s?
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PeterT
Well-known member
I don't buy the China tools.
For those die hard craftsman usa peeps, i noticed Summit Racing's new catelog lists the same exact craftsman sets that were in stores now as made in the usa Craftsman Industrial for 300% markup. The exact same 255 pc set i bought 3 years ago for $159 is only $480.
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drink
Well-known member
I use to have some combination wrenches marked "Sears" and made in Japan floating around in the garage. I got them from a neighbor whose cousin had died. The cousin used to run a small contracting/handyman business out of their garage. I did a couple of favors for the neighbor who then offered me all of the tools he left. When I get a chance I'll see if I can find them and post a photo. I think Sears and Craftsman sourced these in the '70's from what I remember.
It is the first time I have heard about a Japanese line of Craftsman tools and I never noticed them being sold in Sears stores. At times I wondered if there might have been a Japanese line of Craftsman tools being marketed to Japanese customers in Japan and possibly other foreign countries.
I'm not really sure as to what they are, or were doing at the time but maybe it was like what GM is doing in China. Making an SUV in China, selling them in China, and having possible plans to export them to other countries.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money...photos-chinese-made-envision-suv-us/78587970/
Now are you asking yourselves if the auto repair industry will be the only thing left in the USA of the auto industry if more manufacturing jobs go offshore? If each country had its own manufacturing facility to produce its own products to its own market then there might be more job security in each producing country. Each producing country could possibly export to some neighboring countries also. Otherwise, if they continue to go to the lowest international bidder there will likely be global rust belts unless they can continue to remain competitive.
drink
Well-known member
Some people would not support Sears when they had them and now the price is even higher. Sometimes you just have to shop the tool market to find better prices than what you found at Summit. Being able to find the best deal can be a challenge sometimes. What set are you talking about?
LB-1911
ALLIANCE MEMBER
01/10/09
Craftsman from Japan
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28071
02/09/06
"Made in Japan" Craftsman wrenches, anyone have some??
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=845767#post845767
I don't think they are all that rare.
I always supported Sears in the past, due to offering USA made tools with good warranties. The set i was referring to is a 255 pc craftsman set that I bought. I saw a craftsman industrial set that seems to be identical on Summits catelog. I wasnt shopping. I was just browsing.
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nieuport17
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Heat treatment and materials used are all factors in strength of those wrenches. So to OP's question, there is no way to know which is better by weight except different letters are stamped there.
drink
Well-known member
From what I remember Sears was selling some Craftsman Industrial tools a few years ago at deeply discounted prices. A set of 1/2" drive SAE sockets was about $36 plus tax shipped to the store. If you asked the store to pull the same set up in the Sears store register it was about $175 plus tax in store. I don't know why Sears did what they did but maybe they were going to sell them in stores and changed their mind and liquidated the inventory they had already received. Who knows. I found the set you mentioned at Summit and it looks like a nice set.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/shc-929794/overview/
drink
Well-known member
I don't know how many products Japan imports from other countries but some people say the Japanese market is tough because they have strong nationalism.
ATK305
Well-known member
I'm with Drink on this one. I never knew there were Japanese made Craftsman wrenches. I would have bought some had I known. Im never turned off by seeing "Made in Japan" stamped on anything. In fact it gives me piece of mind these days. However I would like to see tests on the alloys used to make the tools. That is where I think the biggest difference is when it comes to Chinese tools being inferior. The Chinese factories have some state of the art manufacturing facilities but I have seen where they do a few production runs using the good alloys they used to build production samples and later the quality drops.
I have also wanted to see something like this with our truck brand tools. We have guys in our shops who swear one brand over another but is it really better? Taking product support out of the equation (meaning a truck operator is an ****** or never comes around) and youWith the exceptions of ratchets, specialty tools and anything with an engineered mechanical side is a Snap-On combo wrench really better, stronger, faster then a Cornwall or Matco or Armstrong? Has anybody ever put these to the test?
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Bruce Wayne
Well-known member
Perhaps the Chineseium wrenches are heavier because they are made of a lower quality stell so more is needed to increase the strength.