Craftsman 2B or not 2B.

[Toolking]

Who stuck with Craftsman and who didn't and if not what brand did you switch too.

 

[Toolking]

I started out with Craftsman and for specialty tools I went with Snap on, Then I decided I'd better get out while the getting was good in 2014 so I started selling off my craftsman and replacing them with Snap on.

 

[visionguru]

Craftsman has been a good DIY and low end pro tool brand. It still is.

Snap On is not considered a switching, rather a moving-up.

 

[MJK]

Like many folks, I started off with mostly craftsman USA stuff from Sears years ago. They were good quality tools that were locally available and I felt like I was paying a fair price for something that was going to do what it needed to do and last a long time. I worked on cars because I enjoyed it, but equally or more so to save money and make sure it was done right. Those tools treated me well for a long time.

When I had more space, more money and wanted more tools a couple decades later - the new tools just didn't seem as good as the old ones. So, I bought other things including a lot of SO. Some old CM stuff got relegated to a travel set, some tossed, some given away and some I still use happily.

The interesting question in my mind is whether SBD with its whole portfolio of brands will allow CM to be a quality/mid-price/USA made/lifetime warranty/available locally brand again. If they can do Proto/SK/Williams grade tools as described above, I will gladly start buying again.

 

[californiaHank]

No interest in Craftsman since the tools stopped being US made.
Proto, SK, Channellock, Wilde, Bondhus, Klein, etc. Plus some foreign stuff - Stahlwille, Facom, Wiha, Witte, etc.

 

[BrandoJames]

I still have my old man’s Craftsman U.S.A ratchets and sockets. They’re still excellent quality for a DIYer. After retiring last year, I started doing auto repair DIY projects—something I haven’t done since I was a young man. My local Sears was closing last winter, so I picked up some Chinese Craftsman impact sockets and a 3 ton floor jack for half price.

The impact sockets have been fine so far, but the Cman floor jack was garbage. After 6 months, It couldn’t hold a load long enough for me to get jack stands under it. I was shocked. I threw the jack in the trash and picked up HF’s yellow Daytona 3 ton floor jack.

For hand tools, I now buy tool truck brands—not because I need them but because I’m lucky enough to be able to afford them. I also mix in midline brands like Tekton—their ratcheting box wrenches are excellent. I think Tekton has replaced Craftsman as the preferred DIY line of tools. I recommend Tekton to DIYers on a budget and to young techs who don’t want to get into debt.

 

[Fialaja]

I’m filling in my collection with NOS USA Kobalt, Allen, KD, Armstrong from Cripe Distributing. Can’t beat their prices on the stuff and it’s a good match to the full polish craftsman professional wrenches

 

[Jason280]

I still routinely use US manufactured Craftsman sockets and wrenches (combination, double box, flare). Matter of fact, I probably have 30-40lbs (if not more) of USA marked Craftsman SAE & metric wrenches in tool bags that aren't being used (saving for a rainy day).

 

[bixxjs]

I've from the UK and sadly our home grown tool brands went the same way as Craftsman, funnily enough though I've started collecting CM USA made tools!

 

[zendriver]

I have "tools", which includes a few sets of craftsman both domestic and import.

I plan on keeping them, because it just seems silly to do otherwise.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[mrjaw14]

I have my old us made craftsman. Zero interest in current ****. I’ll take another look IF the us manufacturing ever did come back to us. I had been buying snap on, but their recent shipping change is alienating me. I’ve gone to SK for most things.

 

[Toolking]

Craftsman has been a good DIY and low end pro tool brand. It still is.

Snap On is not considered a switching, rather a moving-up.

Looking at it like that I could have moved up by choosing Harbor Freight Pittsburgh.

 

[BroncoAZ]

I won’t buy any overseas Craftsman unless it’s Taiwan. Otherwise I’m buying quality Taiwan, USA (when I can find/afford it), and Germany (when I find a deal on Amazon.de). I recently purchased some tools from Carlyle, Gearwrench, Tekton, Sunex, and a bunch of Taiwan made socket sets from Wiha. I splurged on new USA split beam torque wrenches from Precision Instruments on Cyber Monday.

Sometimes the Taiwan tools are better than USA, it really depends on the individual tools. I have full sets of USA Wrightgrip 2.0 combinations wrenches, my new set of Wiha (Taiwan) combination wrenches fit the fasteners tighter which I prefer. The Wiha were on sale for the same price as Tekton. HF makes a decent torque wrench that routinely sells for $10, not Snap On, but fine for the average DIY.

I’m in the market for new flare nut wrenches, I’ll likely go USA on those as there seems to be a difference in quality of fit and head thickness.

 

[Robinson1]

I was never really "with" Craftsman.

My tool store growing up was the local True Value Hardware and Southern States. Both being right on the edge of farm and coal country kept a nice selection of tools.

Dad was a carpenter and never had alot of interest in mechanics tools. He also had a burning hatred for Craftsman power tools and classed them as total junk not good enough to last a year when used professionally.

I accumulated some Craftsman over the years but it was never something I sought out.

One of my first experiences with the brand was a set of their WF sourced butter soft acetate screwdrivers. That left a sour taste in my mouth.

I've got a set of raised panel wrenches from 1/4" thru 1-1/4" that I actually like and have been my go to set of SAE wrenches for years riding on multiple work trucks and being pulled off for home use as well.

So I guess I can say I dont miss the brand because I never really used it.

I will say I hope Stanley can bring it back and reestablish it as a major USA contender. But looking at the offerings at Lowes. I'm not holding my breath

 

[Robinson1]

Also the fact that we never had a local Sears probably had alot to do with my feelings toward Craftsman in general. Why drive 60 miles to Sears when I passed two dozen hardware stores, parts houses, supply houses, and lumber yards along the way.

 

[81turbota]

Ditched CM for mostly Snap on. Having a blank check for Snap on at work spoiled me, it was hard to go home and use the CM stuff.

With that said, the USA made CM stuff served me very well and went to my brother. Their Chinese made stuff its pretty bad IMO.

 

[M6erfan]

About 20 years ago I outfitted myself with C'man USA combo wrenches, sockets and ratchets. All 6pt thin wall (Armstrong) 1/4, 3/8, /1/2" in Metric and SAE. Ratchets were the USA 60t low profile jobs. I still have all the sockets, save for a few lost ones but only the 3/8" ratchet remains. I use the 1/4" sockets all the time and the 3/8" sockets fairly often. Not one issue with the sockets in all these years. The ratchet still works fine but rebuild kits for that model are NLA. I also got C'man SAE & metric sets of the SK made 'K' code long pattern, full polished combo wrenches.

Since then I've discovered Ko-ken, Hazet, Gedore, Stahlwille, etc. So I guess I've 'upgraded' some of my tools, but there are absolutely zero issues with my old USA C'man's.

 

[Fedwrench]

I still have much of my old US made Craftsman but, I don't care for the PRC made Craftsman and I think the SBD Craftsman tools are worse.

I would say Taiwan made Gearwrench, Tekton, OEM, Channelock, Koken, Proto, & Matco are what I mostly buy now.

I do miss the old Craftsman and their tool catalogs though.

 

[joe_padavano]

I've had C-man since the early 1970s. I still use them daily. I don't buy new tools. I buy old tools at swap meets. There aren't a lot of US-made C-man tools (including a lot of specialty stuff) that I don't have by now. I've never cared for C-man power tools.

 

[Hammer1963]

I started out with Craftsman as well, but was never a fan of the wrenches, sockets or standard design ratchets. The sockets always fell off and the handles were just uncomfortable. I gave them away and went with Snap-on, MAC, Matco, basically anything that I found was of good quality. I still own many Craftsman tools that they offered like pliers, chisels and hammers. I was never a fan of their power tools except the shop vacs if you classify that as a power tool. I have never discriminated about brands or COO. A good tool is a good tool regardless of who produced it or where it's made.

 

[lardy1]

I remember my envy of those that had Craftsman. By the time I was seriously buying tools I had pretty much moved to other U.S. of A. brands. I never really had a whole lot of Craftsman. Until their last few years of domestic production I do believe they put a wide selection of generally (at least) good products on the shelves.

They don't even enter into my consideration as an option today. No hate. Just not interested in what they're selling.

 

[Toolking]

I still have much of my old US made Craftsman but, I don't care for the PRC made Craftsman and I think the SBD Craftsman tools are worse.

I would say Taiwan made Gearwrench, Tekton, OEM, Channelock, Koken, Proto, & Matco are what I mostly buy now.

I do miss the old Craftsman and their tool catalogs though.

It's not the tools in the toolbox, it's the mechanic who knows how to use them that matters.
A man is known by the tools he keeps.

 

[Toolking]

It's not the tools in the toolbox, it's the mechanic who knows how to use them that matters.

That what she said

 

[Toolking]

I remember my envy of those that had Craftsman. By the time I was seriously buying tools I had pretty much moved to other U.S. of A. brands. I never really had a whole lot of Craftsman. Until their last few years of domestic production I do believe they put a wide selection of generally (at least) good products on the shelves.

They don't even enter into my consideration as an option today. No hate. Just not interested in what they're selling.

Same here I'm just not interested in what there selling anymore.

 

[The Fall]

I kept buying new old stock up until recently. I got a lot of Snap-on with the student discount. I'd purchase a little off the trucks. Mostly it's SK and the the industrial tool companies: Proto, Wright and some of the Armstrong deadstock from Cripe.

 

[The Fall]

CMan USA was the best deal in tools.

 

[Toolking]

I was never really "with" Craftsman.

My tool store growing up was the local True Value Hardware and Southern States. Both being right on the edge of farm and coal country kept a nice selection of tools.

Dad was a carpenter and never had alot of interest in mechanics tools. He also had a burning hatred for Craftsman power tools and classed them as total junk not good enough to last a year when used professionally.

I accumulated some Craftsman over the years but it was never something I sought out.

One of my first experiences with the brand was a set of their WF sourced butter soft acetate screwdrivers. That left a sour taste in my mouth.

I've got a set of raised panel wrenches from 1/4" thru 1-1/4" that I actually like and have been my go to set of SAE wrenches for years riding on multiple work trucks and being pulled off for home use as well.

So I guess I can say I dont miss the brand because I never really used it.

I will say I hope Stanley can bring it back and reestablish it as a major USA contender. But looking at the offerings at Lowes. I'm not holding my breath

Actually most of Craftsman power tools were made by Porter cable, Dewalt, and Delta.

 

[Professional Tool User]

Craftsman has long been eclipsed by other low to mid price range tools. Harbor Freight, Gearwrench, Tekton, and others have taken over with the sad state Sears is in. If you don't have anything besides COO as a selling point, you are in deep trouble.

 

[Moose97]

I'm a DIY'er and use almost exclusively Craftsman. Some American and some China. They meet my needs. I don't see a reason to change, it's not like I'm buying a lot of new stuff at this point. I did recently buy a set of Gearwrench ratcheting wrenches and they are outstanding.

 

[Parrothead]

I have so much Made in USA Craftsman I really can’t say I need anything else when it comes to hand tools. The 299 pc ultimate socket set. All the Craftsman Pro combination wrenches 6-32, same with the raised panel sets. I have the full set of 6pt raised panel combo wrenches too. Most of the Craftsman Pro screwdrivers offered, as well as some of the standard screwdrivers and cushioned grip. Craftsman Pro offset wrenches, flair nut wrenches, torx, pliers, etc. I could go on but you get the idea. It’s worked for me.

That being said, I have minimal interest in import Craftsman, and I’m not opposed to import tools in the slightest. At that point I’m just picking the best value, and more often than not it’s been Tekton.

 

[Toolking]

Many years ago Sears was sewed because there tools were stamped made in the USA but they were actually foregin made. There is all kinds of loop holes that allow American companies to stamp made in USA on there foregin made products.

 

[Ton ton]

Toolking, that's sad.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I bought a lot of Craftsman back in the 80's, early 90's. They were a small step up from department store brands and HF. I never claimed warranty for tools that I had abused or even used hard. The few that I did have problems with were repaired or replaced without incident.
Sometime in the late 90s warranty and/or customer service became non-existent (even within an hour or 2 of purchase).
I haven't bought a Craftsman tool since and probably never will.

Sticking with Milwaukee for cordless platform is about as close to brand loyalty as I get.

 

[Ton ton]

I'm leaning toward Carlyle ratchets.

 

[Toolking]

I have so much Made in USA Craftsman I really can’t say I need anything else when it comes to hand tools. The 299 pc ultimate socket set. All the Craftsman Pro combination wrenches 6-32, same with the raised panel sets. I have the full set of 6pt raised panel combo wrenches too. Most of the Craftsman Pro screwdrivers offered, as well as some of the standard screwdrivers and cushioned grip. Craftsman Pro offset wrenches, flair nut wrenches, torx, pliers, etc. I could go on but you get the idea. It’s worked for me.

That being said, I have minimal interest in import Craftsman, and I’m not opposed to import tools in the slightest. At that point I’m just picking the best value, and more often than not it’s been Tekton.

My first toolset was the Craftsman 15030 piece set I was 16 it was 198? and I kept adding any time they came out with some thing new, then when they introduced the professional line I had to have all that to, plus I had all my specialty tools from snap on.

In 2012 I done an inventory for insurance so if anything happened they cant dispute anything, a little 0ver 800 sockets over 400 wrenches, north of 150 screwdrivers, 80 some pliers and so on and so on totaling 3000-3500 piece tool set, And that's how I got the nick name Tool king.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

GJ members and their tool boxes have things in common to Wimmen and their purses.

Three shades of lipstick or three lines of tools.
Cheaper things that work or the gold plated Hair combs.
Wimmen buy the Famous Craftsman tools as gifts for their Husbands; and the Husband doesn't dare say He isn't pleased.
The Husband often thinks of getting His Wife a Craftsman hand truck to haul Her purse with; but She is a terrible driver.
It is unlikely the Wimmen will be spending much time flagging down a tool truck to buy gold plated tools as gifts. Their Mothers claim this is crazy. Reasonably priced Craftsman can be bought anyplace.
The Wimmens shoe stores sell gift certificates. The Mothers of the Husbands often offer abundant advice on this purchase.

Craftsman is still doing their part to keep the world in balance.

 

[yrly]

I have plenty of them from USA and foreign, I have other brands. As long Sears keeps playing their points games I’ll keep buying, at least it’s cheap, the SBD stuff at Lowe’s is expensive in comparison. No real reason to ditch it if it works or stop buying it when it’s dirt cheap.

 

[The Fall]

Craftsman has long been eclipsed by other low to mid price range tools. Harbor Freight, Gearwrench, Tekton, and others have taken over with the sad state Sears is in. If you don't have anything besides COO as a selling point, you are in deep trouble.

Well, they haven't had that (COO) as a selling point in about eight years.

The CMan bashing doesn't resonate with me. They had rebranded Mayhew prybars, that great thread restorer set, SK or Armstrong rebranded wrenches/flare nut wrenches...the CMan Pro screwdrivers were legit (and a great deal at $2.50 when the Outlets were blowing them out), some really nice Danaher USA-made reversible ratcheting wrenches (with the socket inserts)...and I had ZERO problem with their Danaher-era sockets...good gasket scrapers; the WF pliers were solid. Sears/Craftsman in the 2000s was as good as it got in accessible brick and mortar outside of HJE tools. Judge it off their former "Pro" line.

Now that's totally counter to Sears and Craftsman NOW which is a complete shambles and almost as embarrassing as HF's Pittsburgh line.

 

[ChrisLS8]

SBD investing alot of money in a new huge manufacturing facility in TX not sure why people aren't sure about bringing US CM back....they sure are dumping alot of money in it for it to be

 

[Empty Pockets]

I started out with USA CM hand tools in the 70s. They did the job for me for a number of years, although I did buy other brands, including Wright and Powr-Kraft.

Some years ago, my grandfather passed away, and I inherited more CM and other brands that are no longer made including Indestro and SK.

After my father passed, I inherited his tools, as well. These included many CM, some old Williams, SK Penncraft and others.

Over the last few years, my new tool purchases have been mostly SK, Wright, Knipex and an occasional Tekton. Craftsman is dead to me as long their tools are sourced on the Pacific rim