Anyone caved and bought non-usa Craftsman hand tools?

[DEMAYO]

I caved and bought the Tru-Grip wrenches and metric spline sockets. I had a gift cert to use and had stocked up on anything a DIYer could think of. I'd love to find CM USA specialty ratchets, but they're all Taiwan sourced now.

Anyone else give in?

 

[geologist]

I caved and bought the Tru-Grip wrenches and metric spline sockets. I had a gift cert to use and had stocked up on anything a DIYer could think of. I'd love to find CM USA specialty ratchets, but they're all Taiwan sourced now.

Anyone else give in?

The only non-US Craftsman tools I have make up an 18 piece Craftsman evolv combination wrench set that I received as a Christmas gift from my 5 year old.

 

[HandyManny]

I have two Craftsman thread pitch gauges that say Germany on them. But these are from the late 1980's. Bought them as replacements for the older ones I lost.

 

[porphyre]

I've got a 90's Taiwanese, Canadian Market, ratchet. And an 80's vintage Japanese 6" pipe wrench.

Oh, and my 18v drill and light. And my 19.2v C3 Impact gun.


Or did you mean the recently off-shored stuff?

I've got a 5-piece deep-offset double box set. Metric. Seems to work ok, but I'm warrantying them w/ open stock USA from my local stores as fast as I can figure out creative ways to break them.

 

[Jim85IROC]

I got a 5-pack of Evolv pliers in my family's Yankee Swap at Christmas. Prior to returning them, I gave a couple of them a squeeze, and to be honest, they felt pretty good. No idea how well they'd hold up or how sharp the jaws would stay, but just giving them the handle squeeze gave me the impression that they were pretty well made. They still went back though.

 

[geologist]

I got a 5-pack of Evolv pliers in my family's Yankee Swap at Christmas. Prior to returning them, I gave a couple of them a squeeze, and to be honest, they felt pretty good. No idea how well they'd hold up or how sharp the jaws would stay, but just giving them the handle squeeze gave me the impression that they were pretty well made. They still went back though.

Those handles do feel pretty good, all things considered.

 

[DEMAYO]

Or did you mean the recently off-shored stuff?

I mean the recently off-shored stuff. Like the Planet Fitness Club commercial, I picked them up and put them down. Alot. Over a year. Then, when as a hobbiest I felt buying the most gigantic open stock double box end wrenches that I didn't have was being counter productive, I caved and bought the Taiwanese CM, still can't do it on the Chinese CM.

 

[Halligan]

No I have not and I don't intend to. I was at sears this morning to warranty a screwdriver and as I browsed the wrench aisle I noticed everything was from overseas except the raised panel wrenches and some older stock crossbeam wrenches. A fella was looking for a replacement wrench he had broke and I casually stated how it's a shame that Craftsman was outsourcing the tools to China. He looked at me kind of funny and I pointed out how most of the wrenches he was looking at were from China. I could tell up until that moment he did not realize the Craftsman was moving overseas.

I have a pretty good stock of tools to the point where I have a "spare tools" toolbox that holds my overflow including many USA made Craftsman tools. I have also, in the last several years, switched my frequently used tools like 3/8" ratchets, screwdrivers, wrenches and some sockets over to Snap On. I wil continue to phase in the Snap On stuff as the budget allows.

I personally will not buy China made handtools when I can get USA made. Even if I have to pay more.

 

[byoungblood]

No. I warrantied a set of small cutting pliers and got a Craftsman Pro pair as a replacement since the standard ones had been discontinued. I was a bit disappointed to see the Pro ones were made in China. I tossed them in my road box.

 

[Need4racin]

Only non usa tools I have are an autozone door panel puller, and a hf torx set. Oh and HF torque wrench for lug nuts.

 

[JASTECH]

I went to our small town Sears and handled some ratcheting wrenches, the steel don't feel correct to me, too soft if you know what I mean.

 

[MN Falcon]

I got a set of Chinese ratcheting wrenches in a mechanics set I bought over Christmas. I have a 3/8 and 1/4 Taiwan ratchet that came in a set from the late 80s as a gift to me. I replaced the 3/8 recently and they gave me a "top of the line" Taiwan off the shelf. It cost some $40 compared to the $10 USA made raised panel they still had on the shelf, but they wouldn't give me the raised panel instead :-(

I have a $50 gift card from Christmas I need to spend. Don't know what to do with it :-( If I have to end up buying Chinese ****, I sure ain't going to pay Craftsman prices for it.

 

[powertrip]

I went to our small town Sears and handled some ratcheting wrenches, the steel don't feel correct to me, too soft if you know what I mean.

Who are you, Superman?

 

[pipsters]

Not a chance in hell. I did buy a Screwdriver bit set that was China, I didn't realize it. Actually ended up selling it on ebay for almost exactly what I paid for it.

Currently in my tool box, all US Craftsman, bought in the last 12 months from Sears or Sears.com:

Sockets & Ratchets
299 pc socket set
7 pc spark plug socket set
3 pc Thin profile ratchet set
Wobble and locking extension sets in 1/4, 3/8, & 1/2
3 pc universal joint set
52 pc impact socket set

Wrenches
43 pc RP wrench set
12 pc polished deep off set wrench set
12 pc (each) 6 point RP wrench sets in MM & SAE
9 pc flare nut wrench set
21 pc crows foot set
10 pc (x2) flare nut crows foot set in SAE & MM (SK rebrands)
10" & 12" adjustable wrench
3/8" beam style torque wrench

Hammers & enforcers
Ball pein hammers in 8, 12, 16, 24, & 32 oz
Rubber and plastic tipped ball pein
Rubber mallet
4 lb sledge hammer
5 pc pro pry bar set
3 pc "standard" pry bar set
16 pc cold chisel set
Nutcracker

Screwdrivers & Misc
17 pc "standard" smelly handle screwdriver set
LED inspection mirror
26" magnetic pick up tool
Screwdriver bit set
4 pc pick set
4 pc Pro pick set
Seal puller
3 pc gasket scraper set
Magnetizing tool
Hand impact tool set
Piston ring compressor
3 pc Professional branded snap ring plier set
Aviation and serrated snips
Several pliers on clearance

I did buy a Craftsman air compressor 2.5 years ago but it's "Made in the USA of domestic and global components". Only thing I can find on it that is made in the USA is the tank, everything else is imported.

Including those I have bought or have on the way other US stuff, from various vendors from Lisle (Sears - various specialty items like a/c disconnect set, trim tool, and several others) to Harbor Freight (Goodyear hoses) to Tooltopia (Precision Instruments split beam torque wrenches) to TheToolWarehouse (SK Impact sockets) to Amazon (Bondus allen wrenches) to Cripe (extensions, allen key sets, Kobalt branded hex & torx bit sockets) to eBay (Williams screwdrivers) to Home Depot (Klein wire strippers, Estwing 3# drilling sledge and non-marring rubber mallet).

I did buy a couple non-USA tools. I bought a Harbor Freight 1/2" Earthquake impact, the 1/4" air ratchet, the Gearwrench 6 pc 8mm-15mm Ace set for $10, and a few odds and ends. Not much.

Excluding the compressor, I'm getting around $2500 give or take spent over the last 12 months. That's a one time deal though, only other stuff I will buy from now on is specialty stuff that I can see.

I can never see myself needing, or wanting, to buy Chinese Craftsman. I will go to Northern Tool or Harbor Freight and buy it for significantly less. I could have saved probably $1500 had I bought imported product but to me I wanted US made. Cost more but not a HUGE amount more, unless I went Snap-On.

 

[rebelram]

I was in Sears yesterday. I needed to pick up a 14mm wrench. They still had USA made singles in the Professional series, so I got one of those. Every time I go in there I see more and more Made in China hand tools. Saw the raised panel ratchets made in china. There is just something so wrong about that! Even though they aren't the best ratchets, it's just wrong not to see USA stamped on them. While I was at Sears looking at the tools I kept saying to myself "I'm not about to pay Craftsman prices for china made tools, if I want china made tools, I'll just go to Harbor Freight and pay their china prices!" I guess I wouldn't be annoyed as much if Sears would just own up and say they are moving Craftsman tool production to china and then drop the prices to reflect that change.

 

[DEMAYO]

I agree with Rebelram on the pricing aspect. It's a bit of an insult.

Edit - yes I know there are tons of threads about the COO/price angle, I'm more interested in if anyone has broken down and purchased: spline sockets, spline wrenches, tru-grip wrenches,etc. or anything that WAS US made and is now off shore.

 

[Kev442]

I agree with Rebelram on the pricing aspect. It's a major insult.

All fixed for ya!

 

[billymade]

This thread might be of some help:

Craftsman Pass/Fail thread!

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=78451

 

[twincam00]

I got a new craftsman brake spring washer tool and a 1/2 to 3/8 impact adapter last month, not made in the usa but the quality seems damn good

 

[rj-oz]

Hi Pipsters,
[Currently in my tool box, all US Craftsman, bought in the last 12 months from Sears or Sears.com:]

I have been doing similar since Black Friday, building up a USA toolkit to replace my son's stolen kit-he's a diesel fitter working in the mines over here in WA (huge boom going on in our resource area--this year WA alone is facing a shortage of 188000 mine workers--want $200k. a year?-get over here !

So far I've got--
2 x 18pc wrench modules--USA--these are nice
1 x 10pc large wrench module USA-nice
1 x set thin profile ratchets USA
1 x set premium ratchets USA
1 x set 12pc deep offset double box end-USA
1 x set uni joints-USA
x 3/8 short wobble ext USA
1 x 4pc set drive adaptors USA
1 x 176pc socket set USA
1 x 82pc socket set USA
9 x Hansen trays met & imp USA
+ more sockets on way to flesh out both met & imp sets USA
------------------------------
other stuff--don't ask me why--
2 x 7pc sets Gearwrench flex
1 x 5pc deep offset double box ends--cheap China--and it looks and feels like it too.

btw. I just looked on Sears international page just then--all the prices have jumped heaps and now no 40% shipping discount either now, so I guess that's it from Sears for awhile--gotten too expensive presently

 

[american lockpicker]

I bought a Swiss heat gun and a German screwdriver...

 

[pipsters]

Hi Pipsters,
[Currently in my tool box, all US Craftsman, bought in the last 12 months from Sears or Sears.com:]

I have been doing similar since Black Friday, building up a USA toolkit to replace my son's stolen kit-he's a diesel fitter working in the mines over here in WA (huge boom going on in our resource area--this year WA alone is facing a shortage of 188000 mine workers--want $200k. a year?-get over here !
jumped heaps and now no 40% shipping discount either now, so I guess that's it from Sears for awhile--gotten too expensive presently

Haha looks like you are doing what I am/was doing. I was born in Penrith outside Syndey as well. Do US tools command a premium over there? More of a novelty item? I've always wondered if I moved to another country and brought my US Craftsman stuff with me, if it would be the only US stuff around. I know in Canada there is almost no US or Canadian tools. There is one manufacturer but they are like the Snap-On up there, very very expensive.

 

[rj-oz]

[Do US tools command a premium over there? More of a novelty item? I've always wondered if I moved to another country and brought my US Craftsman stuff with me, if it would be the only US stuff around.]

Don' know if the sockets would-plenty of cheap ones on Ebay--mostly US sellers (I don't think theyr'e very good quality either), but the pro wrenches, ratchets etc you never see down here, maybe I'm the only one in WA with the Craftsmen USA pro stuff

 

[HotRod68Camaro]

The only non-US made tools i have are the ones i owned prior to finding the Garage Journal.

 

[Mark_RP]

I just found out about this switch today thanks to this forum, which saves me from ever having to go to sears again. They sicken me. They lose my years of purchasing thousands of dollars of their tools, but obviously they dont care about that.

 

[wornoutoldman]

Currently in my tool box, all US Craftsman, bought in the last 12 months from Sears or Sears.com:

Sockets & Ratchets
299 pc socket set
7 pc spark plug socket set
3 pc Thin profile ratchet set
Wobble and locking extension sets in 1/4, 3/8, & 1/2
3 pc universal joint set
52 pc impact socket set

Wrenches
43 pc RP wrench set
12 pc polished deep off set wrench set
12 pc (each) 6 point RP wrench sets in MM & SAE
9 pc flare nut wrench set
21 pc crows foot set
10 pc (x2) flare nut crows foot set in SAE & MM (SK rebrands)
10" & 12" adjustable wrench
3/8" beam style torque wrench

Hammers & enforcers
Ball pein hammers in 8, 12, 16, 24, & 32 oz
Rubber and plastic tipped ball pein
Rubber mallet
4 lb sledge hammer
5 pc pro pry bar set
3 pc "standard" pry bar set
16 pc cold chisel set
Nutcracker

Screwdrivers & Misc
17 pc "standard" smelly handle screwdriver set
LED inspection mirror
26" magnetic pick up tool
Screwdriver bit set
4 pc pick set
4 pc Pro pick set
Seal puller
3 pc gasket scraper set
Magnetizing tool
Hand impact tool set
Piston ring compressor
3 pc Professional branded snap ring plier set
Aviation and serrated snips
Several pliers on clearance

Now we know where ALL those US tools went

 

[sjdon67]

I only buy US made tools. Any china or other country tools that I end up with go into my junk tool box for the kids to use. I dont care if they break or loose those.

 

[rsanter]

No
No
No
No
No
And no

Bob

 

[TexasT]

Such a sad turn of evens. I know the sears is going to offshore but it was driven home to me the other night when I went in there to see about a flex head ratcheting box wrench or possibly a set. I laughed to myself as I looked through their stock and nothing had USA on it. The offshore stuff was expensive. I though, jeeze for that money I can get a snap on or matco and have it be USA.

The wrench I was after is a 15mm ratcheing flex head. This is the blue point that is $29. The craftsman one was well over $20 and not of USA.

http://buy1.snapon.com/snapon-store/nbasket1.asp

 

[Greatbear]

It's been a couple years, but the last tools I got from Sears were a set of the "elbow" ratcheting wrenches and a half-sheet sander, both of which are Chinese COO. The wrenches have served me well so far in the limited role they play in helping me contort myself less these days as I deal with mobility issues, and the Craftsman sander was a last-ditch buy as I was looking for a half-sheet sander locally. There are very few of these to be had these days, the vast majority are quarter-sheet. The sander works well for a basic tool, though I would not mind finding something a bit more robust.

Other than taking advantage of a decent deal on the welded Gladiator cabinet sale they had about a year ago, I don't recall the last tool-related purchase I made there. It's too depressing in that store these days, and it doesn't help the goofball that is in charge of the department is annoying and completely clueless when it comes to the merchandise.

 

[Fordman7795]

I will never purchase any hand tools made outside of the US

 

[Hootbro]

Got zinged from a online order on a set of crowfeet and metric stubby wrenches that were Made in China. I will keep them but not really happy about it.

 

[pipsters]

Now we know where ALL those US tools went

LOL yeah I did a lot of shopping in 2011. Got good deals (for new) on them though.

 

[STEVENC]

My Dad had the tri-wings , and I got so used to them I bought a few myself. I like them a lot more than the plastic selector USA teardrops, and the thumbwheel is handy. They are made in Taiwan though. However just got my first SO S80, and things sure are changing.

 

[coal_man]

Got zinged from a online order on a set of crowfeet and metric stubby wrenches that were Made in China. I will keep them but not really happy about it.

I also got zinged on an online order for the 52 piece impact socket set. The photo on sears.com clearly shows "Made in the USA" stamped on the sockets and the online chat "expert" validated that they were made in the USA. When I got them home, they were in fact made in China. I spoke with Sears customer service and evidently the sockets are made by Armstrong, Allen, or Danaher, with only the Armstrong tools made in the USA.

I'm sending mine back. Maybe I can find the Armstrong ones in a store somewhere.

coal_man

 

[Adam McLaughlin]

Who are you, Superman?

Funny!

Adam

 

[firebrick]

I know its not a hand tool, but I just picked up the last made in china craftsman professional vise in the metro area. I dont know vises but this thing is a beast.

 

[pipsters]

I also got zinged on an online order for the 52 piece impact socket set. The photo on sears.com clearly shows "Made in the USA" stamped on the sockets and the online chat "expert" validated that they were made in the USA. When I got them home, they were in fact made in China. I spoke with Sears customer service and evidently the sockets are made by Armstrong, Allen, or Danaher, with only the Armstrong tools made in the USA.

I'm sending mine back. Maybe I can find the Armstrong ones in a store somewhere.

coal_man

What you might be able to do is buy the US ones in store, and swap them for the Chinese ones in your kit. Then return the Chinese ones. Honestly, that is what I would do. I'm glad I bought mine when I did. If I see the US 52 pc impact set module around my local store I will let you know.

Definitely return the Chinese ones though, way too much $$ for China stuff, even if it is good quality. HF is way cheaper. Probably about 50%.

Outside of Craftsman I'll be honest, I don't think there are any other affordable US made impact sockets being sold these days. To stay at a reasonable cost you might have to go import.

 

[ajchien]

I was hoping not. But ...

As I looked around, have a craftsman china made hand hedge pruner.

And there are things I didn't really pay attention to, that i just don't know: Screw extractors? Router bits? stapler? Creeper?

I do have my share of offshored power tools from craftsman.

As for hard line stuff like ratchets, sockets and wrenches, no.

Although being a devils advocate, maybe sears was off shoring because of customers like me. If I were to buy a new craftsman ratchet ... I was never going to buy the USA raised panel ratchet anyway. So off shoring it to china won't affect me at all. I would have bought the USA thin profile. But I'll pass on the the Taiwan thin profile. But I will buy the USA premium ratchet.... So by off shoring their ratchets ... They've caused me to theoretically upgrade from the thin profile to the premium ratchet.

 

[Penny88]

My cousin bought me a set of ratcheting wrenches last Christmas. There china but decent quality. They found a home in my road bag. Everything else I have from c-man is USA including my stapling gun. Outsourcing brothers me, but outsourcing to a communist country is unacceptable. I'm 24 and don't have a lot of money, but the money I do spend on tools should stay here. I just wish this sentiment was shared more