Before Mastercraft Became Mastercrap!

[Gregg33]

Here is a set of old school Mastercraft combination wrenches I put together. It is missing the 11/32" (if one was made?), 1/2" 7/8" and 1-1/8" sizes. They are in decent shape. After I took the picture (go figure lol) I cleaned most of the surface rust off of the larger wrenches using steel wool and a brass brush.

I don't know much about this style of wrench? They appear to be made by Gray (same shape and size) but unlike another style of Mastercraft wrench made by Gray they don't say "Canada" on them. I'm guessing they date back to the Gray era at Canadian Tire, ie. 1970's or early 1980's. If anybody can provide any insight on this by all means do so. On the back of the wrenches is the text "Alloy Steel" which it says on most Gray wrenches. Many of the newer off shore Mastercraft are termed "Chrome Vanadium". I suppose there is a slim chance these could be Gray knock offs made for Canadian Tire in Japan (don't think much was made in China in those days).

 

[outdoorsman310]

I have some mastercraft wrenches, te newer ones and I am quite impressed with them. I am getting a set of mastercraft maximum sae wrenches thanks to a friend in canada. much better than craftsman, sna-on fd+ is still the best I have found though.

 

[stovebolt6]

I dunno, I don't really get the Mastercraft hate.. they've always been good performing, reliable tools for me. The non-maximum sockets (the stamped ones) are awesome. If I need something at any time save for the middle of the night, I can run to the Canadian Tire a few kms away and get what I need. Plus lifetime warranty which I've used a couple times hassle free.

That's a nice set though, and I love the old style logo. Wish they still used it.

 

[PCO6]

Gregg33 - I don't know if this helps but here's a picture of some of the Mastercraft wrenches I've acquired since the early 70's. There's no doubt that the early ones were Grays. I purchased various sets and individual wrenches with different markings (Gray, Mastercraft, Maple Leaf, etc.). Unfortunately none of my early ones are polished - all have the basic finish. I have used polished wrenches of the early vintage and they are definitely nicer.

The second photo shows the range that I have. Notice on the oldest (top) wrench that they "forgot" to stamp the size on. I got this one from my Dad who stamped it on with a punch. It's the only one I've seen with this problem. The bottom one, a Mastercraft Maximum, is only a few years old. I think these are great wrenches for the money.

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[abvw]

Ever seen what kind of junk Home Depot and Sears have to offer? I pity the fools working with those raised panel garbage.

 

[KamiCrit]

I wish Gray would come back. It would be so awesome to walk down to the local Canadian store and buy professional grade tools. I really hope Gray's online store opens up to the whole catalog.

 

[Jswain]

For the price you get them on sale/quality/and the warranty I dare you to find a fair comparison.

 

[DekeT]

Ever seen what kind of junk Home Depot and Sears have to offer? I pity the fools working with those raised panel garbage.

I don't get it. My raised panel craftsman wrenches have never failed me in turning a bolt.

 

[Jim C.]

I don't get it. My raised panel craftsman wrenches have never failed me in turning a bolt.

^^^^^^Same here. I have several Sears Craftsman raised panel wrenches in various sizes and patterns from the 1960s to the 1990s, and have never had a problem with a single one of them. They're my "go to" wrenches because that's really all I have. I guess I could purchase something else that "feels good in the hand" or is "well balanced" or doesn't have the alleged "hand and finger mangling raised panel." When I see those comments written about Craftsman RP wrenches, I laugh and just wave them off. I don't buy into those arguments. Maybe I've just been lucky all these years using RP wrenches. I have no complaints. Sorry to all of you who have had bad experiences with them. That being said, now that they're being manufactured in china, I won't buy them new. I don't buy tools made in china.

Jim C.

 

[Techie1961]

I wish Gray would come back. It would be so awesome to walk down to the local Canadian store and buy professional grade tools. I really hope Gray's online store opens up to the whole catalog.

Not sure what you mean by "come back" as they are still out there. Were you referring to coming back to Canadian Tire? If you go to www.graytools.com you can use their lookup tool to find a distributor close to you. I deal with Markham Industrial here in the Toronto area and they are great. I talked to them but they don't do mail order.

 

[PCO6]

^^^ - Same with Cummins Hydraulics Sales & Service in Newmarket. Good to deal with and they have lots of Gray tools on the shelf and can get more for you but they don't do mail order.

 

[r22yu]

I think the issue with "mastercrap" lies more with their power tools than hand tools.

 

[KamiCrit]

Not sure what you mean by "come back" as they are still out there. Were you referring to coming back to Canadian Tire? If you go to www.graytools.com you can use their lookup tool to find a distributor close to you. I deal with Markham Industrial here in the Toronto area and they are great. I talked to them but they don't do mail order.

I know what you're talking about, there is a truck service shop in Northern Nanaimo, BC that sells the product. But one shop in the whole city isn't the type of availability I'm looking forward to from the main pride of Canadian tools.

 

[Mazdaspeed]

I think the issue with "mastercrap" lies more with their power tools than hand tools.

Their battery powered ones...I have a few corded mastercraft tools that just keep on trucking, and $20 bucks for a grinder or $15 for a drill or $30 for a sawzall why not? Granted my dewalt stuff is better, but for the low use items or ones that will get beat up, it's no big deal.


Their hand tools are pretty decent, if you are mindful of the rating on their site and only buy 4+ stars, you're in good shape. I have a fair bit of their stuff.

 

[r22yu]

Even with the corded tools it depends. I have the Maximum fixed base/plunge router. Works great and I'm very happy with it. I built a deck using the Max mitre saw, no complaints there.

On the other hand I borrowed my Dad's Mastercrap circ saw and couldn't stand it. The laser was out of alignment and dust was always covering my cutline. The saw guide was off by 1/8 of an inch. Bought a dewalt cause I got sick of it and it blows the air away and the saw guide is bang on. The Maximum jigsaw was even worse, thing would not cut straight at all.

 

[Alex in Canada]

You just gotta look and research before you buy. IMO you cannot go wrong buying a 32 piece impact socket set for $20. Yea, its not Snap-on quality. For what it is though, its pretty good.

 

[3baygarage]

Cool stuff Gregg. I never focused on Gray or Mastercraft as I've only seen them scattered here and there over the years.
So was Mastercraft produced by Gray as a second tool line, or just produced by them for Canadian Tire as their retail line?

 

[sasquatch12]

I have a few of both old sets and buy them at every garage sale i come across.
Very durable good wrenches, my favourite though is the maple leaf stampings, there are still lots of those old CTC wrenches in use.

 

[ADSR]

I think the issue with "mastercrap" lies more with their power tools than hand tools.

Agreed. I own a lot the their wrench sets and the fit and finish is just awesome.

 

[PCO6]

One of my brothers is a millwright. He swears by Milwaukee cordless tools but decided to purchase some Mastercraft cordless tools for general use by the "masses" in the shop. He said he expected them to be abused and really didn't care what happened to them. He's been surprised at how well they have held up.

 

[truckaddict]

mastercraft hand tools no issues. The only mastercraft power tool I have is their electric 1/2 impact. Only gets used a few times a year but for the $100 for it and the impact socket set its hard to beat. Then again maybe I got a good one. been abusing the hell out of my $30 Jobmate Hammer Drill for years and its still a beast.

 

[Gregg33]

Cool stuff Gregg. I never focused on Gray or Mastercraft as I've only seen them scattered here and there over the years.
So was Mastercraft produced by Gray as a second tool line, or just produced by them for Canadian Tire as their retail line?

As far as I know in Canada Mastercraft brand was only sold at Canadian Tire. In other words these wrenches were made by Gray for Canadian Tire. It's well known that Gray and in earlier times Husky were sold at Canadian Tire at NOT labelled as Mastercraft, but why these particular wrenches were sold as Mastercraft is unknown, at least by me. Was it non-lifetime warranty wrench that was a cheaper alternative to the Gray they sold or was it to get customers used to the Mastercraft name before they switched to off shore wrenches that were to be sold as Mastercraft or?

 

[Gregg33]

A lot of responses on here indicate how people are generally pleased with Mastercraft tools and that they offer a lot of bank for the buck. I have used all brands off tools. I can honestly say the power tools I used and the screwdrivers are garbage, but the hardline tools have been good for the most part. I seen a set of Maximum wrenches on sale for $25 the other week, that's definitely a good value. But having said that I refuse to buy anything made off shore if possible. I will gladly pay extra $ to purchase goods made in Canada or other democratic countries. Other than items like, oil, glue, paint etc. I purchase very little at Canadian Tire anymore. Other than a socket set (Taiwan made I think) that I got for a gift almost 25 years ago and a set of Mastercraft Gearwrenches, I have very little off shore Mastercraft.

It was also indicated how bad Craftsman and Husky have become. I have personally broken 2 Craftsman sockets at work in the past several months, other brands I have broken zero. As far as wrenches go, I think both the Craftsman and Husky are very bulky (hard to get in tighter areas and have a "cheap look" to them.

 

[3baygarage]

As far as I know in Canada Mastercraft brand was only sold at Canadian Tire. In other words these wrenches were made by Gray for Canadian Tire. It's well known that Gray and in earlier times Husky were sold at Canadian Tire at NOT labelled as Mastercraft, but why these particular wrenches were sold as Mastercraft is unknown, at least by me. Was it non-lifetime warranty wrench that was a cheaper alternative to the Gray they sold or was it to get customers used to the Mastercraft name before they switched to off shore wrenches that were to be sold as Mastercraft or?

Thanks for the info.

 

[NotStock]

$20 bucks for a grinder

I bought my first one on sale for 19.99 about 5 years ago. I was told that you "use them until they die and then go buy another for 19 bucks". I bought a few more for flap wheels and wire cups and just to have for when the first died. Figured when they started giving up I'd replace them with "good grinders". Five years and a bunch more 19 dollar grinders later and I'm STILL waiting for that first one to die. Now I just have a bunch of cheap invincible grinders...

 

[Alex in Canada]

I bought my first one on sale for 19.99 about 5 years ago. I was told that you "use them until they die and then go buy another for 19 bucks". I bought a few more for flap wheels and wire cups and just to have for when the first died. Figured when they started giving up I'd replace them with "good grinders". Five years and a bunch more 19 dollar grinders later and I'm STILL waiting for that first one to die. Now I just have a bunch of cheap invincible grinders...

This may have made me want to pick one up next time they're on sale.

 

[Jmac00]

This may have made me want to pick one up next time they're on sale.

They're great to have so not always changing over to discs, flap wheels, etc. I burned out a couple on a job site after some pretty long continuous uses with a grinder wheel...they were brand new as well. But i'm sure most of us at home won't be using them this way....mine at home have held up great.

 

[young_buck]

I have had very few issues with the mastercraft line. As for their wrenches the new maximum line is excellent, and moist of their basic hand tools are ok for the diy'er. The mastercraft line of sockets is great too, they have held up to my abuse for the last 3 years and i have only had one break (it was a chrome socket on an impact, the job needed to be done and i didnt have to right size impact socket)

 

[young_buck]

i will agree that all mastercraft both base line and maximum are junk.

 

[71Datsun510Wagon]

I have had very few issues with the mastercraft line. As for their wrenches the new maximum line is excellent, and moist of their basic hand tools are ok for the diy'er. The mastercraft line of sockets is great too, they have held up to my abuse for the last 3 years and i have only had one break...

i will agree that all mastercraft both base line and maximum are junk.

er.... flipping a coin are we ??

Sorry young_buck, I found that funny. All in good fun!

My preferred Mastercraft wrenches are the older style Mastercraft Professional series. I have some Maximum sets too. I've never had an issue with any of them.

Excellent value especially when on sale. Does anybody buy tools from CT at full price?

 

[Gregg33]

I bought my first one on sale for 19.99 about 5 years ago. I was told that you "use them until they die and then go buy another for 19 bucks". I bought a few more for flap wheels and wire cups and just to have for when the first died. Figured when they started giving up I'd replace them with "good grinders". Five years and a bunch more 19 dollar grinders later and I'm STILL waiting for that first one to die. Now I just have a bunch of cheap invincible grinders...

The boss has a couple for work. One I burned up (stripped the gears) almost immediately, I warrantied it, the next one I got still works, although it sounds very unhealthy, ditto for another one has. My Makita's even though they are off shore take much more of a beating, same goes for the Hilti's we use at work. IMO if you want one for light or occasional use the Mastercraft will probably last at least a few years, but if you do a lot of grinding (ie use it for work or build a lot of projects at home) I would avoid them.

 

[NotStock]

Good point on the grinders, I use them for hobby type work. Results may be a lot different in an industrial setting.


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[rancherbill]

Stop the bashing.

I am not a pro.

I buy Mastercraft stuff for the FIRST tool I get. If I'd bought the good stuff, e.g. Snapon, I'd have one set of wrenches. That's it. I now buy brand names for the stuff that gets used all the time. However over the last fice years I did treat myself to the Maximun combo wrenches and Maximum Gearwrench sets.

I know of 3 mechanics that have 100% Mastercraft bseline tools and only by Snappy for the special stuff. Imagine buying on sale 1,000-1,500 Dollars worth of Mastercraft - it would be 2 toolboxes. In Snappy it maybe might fill one drawer.

 

[PCO6]

... Excellent value especially when on sale. Does anybody buy tools from CT at full price?

Regarding wrenches, ratchets, sockets, etc. I think if you were starting out from scratch (i.e. - you had nothing) and went in weekly and only bought what was on sale, you would have a full set in no time.

 

[XJay]

I spent my early wrenching years watching the sales flyers at CT and Sears slowly filing up an older 7-drawer Beach bottom roller. It seemed HUGE at first but years of flyer shopping finally resulted in the need for a nice used top box for my growing collection.

I have fixed alot of cars and worked as a mechanic for a few years with these tools and while some broke, they were warrantied easily(ratchets I abused and 1 socket) and overall there weren't any that didn't perform over and above what I paid for them.

Recently, i've started upgrading my metric sockets to SK. The older CT stuff is still plugging away but is in a road-kit these days. The CT hard-line tools saved me alot of money when starting out and made me plenty more when I needed them to.

They certainly don't have the lineage and higher quality/price tag of finer tool brands but for the price they are tough to beat.

 

[ndoran]

I have purchased the Mastercraft Professional and Maximum wrenches, impact sockets, chrome sockets and never had a problem with them, I also own snap on, Gray, Proto, Gearwrench, Britool, Elora, huskey and MAC wrenches and others and for the money the Mastercraft Professional and Maximum stuff is unbeatable value. While I do not use my tools to earn a living they do get used for high torque and worn fastener applications and they have never given me any problems and I have never needed to warranty any of them.

Having moved to Canada from the U.K. I think we are very fortunate to be able to buy tools of the quality we can fron CT at the sale prices they offer.

I also own two of their 41/2 inch grinders, purchased for $19-99 each, a jointer and a pillar drill all of which have seen very heavy use and still work well. The grinders are still working perfectly after 15 years and I have used them to cut steel rebar, tubes, concrete kerbs, bricks and to grind steel and concrete. They have given far more reliable use than you could expect for the price I paid.

The jointer has been used to install hardwood floors, to make cabinets, shelving etc. The pillar drill has drilled thousands of holes in steel and aluminium and I use it for holes from 1/8in to 1in.