Craftsman Industrial 2016

[jjkrjh]

I was waisting time and checked out the Craftsman Industrial website, noticed that they had "coming for 2016". Looks like some new USA stuff.

http://www.craftsman.com/dap/industrial-program.html

http://c.shld.net/rpx/newars/crafts...strial/images/201506-CI-Brand-Flyer-FINAL.pdf

 

[JerryB]

So Sears / Craftsman now has a line of tools that they claim are better than their 'standard' fare.

That totally ignores the fact that their standard fare, which used to be of very high quality with excellent support, is now approaching Harbor Freight's level of quality, with support for most things virtually non-existent.

They can call it anything they want, but based on the recent items I have purchased or tried to get support for, Sears / Craftsman is now off my list of suppliers.

 

[Flattie]

Glad to see the premium ratchet line hasn't died totally on the vine. They just switched it over to the industrial line. Which means probably too hard to find and WAY too expensive for the average Joe. Or Ed in my case... Too me average guy they are nice. I like my 3/8. I know there are better out there etc, but I got mine in a real store.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'd imagine you will have to order them to find instead of going to the store and looking at them first.

 

[Travisnd]

Craftsman Industrial has been sold by Summit Racing as I have purchased many CI tools from them. I hope the same would apply to these new tool offerings.

 

[Brownsfan]

I really wish they would offer it in store. Maybe even just a small section. But give us a choice.

 

[Ponchoguy]

Hopefully it can be well distributed so it's available to the masses, at least through the Sears website.

I of course enjoyed getting "regular" Craftsman in the store, it worked for years....

 

[Skin]

Does this mean 90% of it will be on clearance in 8 months? Who ever is in charge of this line is perpetually drunk.

 

[Brownsfan]

Its not marketed very well. I really don't know other than summit racing where to buy it. It would be nice to be able to walk into a store and buy it. Maybe in just better performance tool sales stores get them in a section of the tool department. Or the Appliance and Hardware stores get some of it. Just thinking out loud but it won't sell that well if people don't know where to get it. Or if they see it at a place like Grainger and it's ridiculously priced.

 

[ganymede]

Does this mean 90% of it will be on clearance in 8 months? Who ever is in charge of this line is perpetually drunk.

 

[Ponchoguy]

Its not marketed very well. I really don't know other than summit racing where to buy it. It would be nice to be able to walk into a store and buy it. Maybe in just better performance tool sales stores get them in a section of the tool department. Or the Appliance and Hardware stores get some of it. Just thinking out loud but it won't sell that well if people don't know where to get it. Or if they see it at a place like Grainger and it's ridiculously priced.

Or make an ad, "Available online at Sears.com" or something like that. It should be easily distributed, as regular Craftsman was for years.

If you make it hard to get, I agree, it won't sell. This might be some attempt at Sears to use a "dealer" network to sell tools. I'd rather it be in the store.

 

[sucking chest wound]

Does this mean 90% of it will be on clearance in 8 months?

I hope so!! Loaded up on Industrial during the last blowout about 2 years ago. I'd double down if those prices came back!

 

[drink]

Sears does have a limited selection of these tools on Sears.com and if you are able to cross over the item numbers to the Sears version you might even find some in the Sears store register. It might be for the Sears Commercial customers or who knows?

Here's some of the stuff they currently sell at Sears.

http://www.sears.com/deals/GDOs.html

 

[sucking chest wound]

The other trick is to search the phrase "professional use".... Not just "professional". This will return the Industrial stuff which can be confirmed by zooming in on the pic.

 

[TNToy]

$67 for a 1/4" Craftsman Ratchet!?

http://m.summitracing.com/parts/shc-925479?seid=srese1&gclid=CJrY0PWLvMkCFZY0aQodrTQIig

No thanks. My Snap-On / Matco / Cornwell clickysticks were cheaper or similar in price to these things, unless they were locking flex heads or the like!

 

[Coach James]

A lot of the wrenches in the PDF catalog were labeled USA, but I also saw some were marked as "Available ------ 2013". So I have no idea if it is still USA made or not.

Coach

 

[wagon]

$67 for a 1/4" Craftsman Ratchet!?

http://m.summitracing.com/parts/shc-925479?seid=srese1&gclid=CJrY0PWLvMkCFZY0aQodrTQIig

No thanks. My Snap-On / Matco / Cornwell clickysticks were cheaper or similar in price to these things, unless they were locking flex heads or the like!

I got the 3/8" for $20, and the 1/2" for $50, but I think they dropped the price for me when I brought a receipt back when it went on clearance.

Couldn't get a hold of a 1/4", but I've had the 3/8" seize up a few times, requiring a vise to free it. I'm pretty sure the 1/2" did me a similar favor.

Love the handle, and the "clicks" are second to none. Love them when they work, and when they don't, just go grab another ratchet.

 

[purplezr2]

$67 for a 1/4" Craftsman Ratchet!?

http://m.summitracing.com/parts/shc-925479?seid=srese1&gclid=CJrY0PWLvMkCFZY0aQodrTQIig

No thanks. My Snap-On / Matco / Cornwell clickysticks were cheaper or similar in price to these things, unless they were locking flex heads or the like!

Snap on t72 is 84.95 msp

 

[Fedwrench]

Changing the handle shape on a basic 36 tooth quick release ratchet or that horrible non quick release round head ratchet doesn't seem like much of an improvement to me.

On the other hand, releasing the Armstrong made Proswing ratcheting box/fixed boxed end wrenches would be nice.

 

[jcfields]

.

 

[shockwave]

Industrial line is for sure Armstrong open end is a dead givaway

 

[ChrisPace]

This is all great news as far as I'm concerned. It's just more of us guys with USA jobs. It's most likely going to be based on Armstrong and Matco product. Mainly to fulfill govt and industry orders. I bet we can order online and pick it up at the store like I do now. Or have it shipped.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Tiny Jackson]

Those of you that have CI tools, how are thay compared to 70's and 80's regular craftsman hand tools?

 

[Skin]

Those of you that have CI tools, how are thay compared to 70's and 80's regular craftsman hand tools?

80s and even the early 90s were better quality. Craftsman Industrial isn't a special line at all, all they did was copy the Craftsman catalog that was on the shelves at every Sears store and keep the USA production so they could be eligible for contracts (most specify USA made whenever possible). If basic Craftsman was still USA made they'd literally be duplicate lines, with the Industrial one costing 2-3x more.

 

[drink]

Here's a copy of a Craftsman Industrial hand tool statement about how the tools meet or exceed ANSI and ASME standards. To my knowledge, none of the regular Craftsman hand tools were marketed with this statement.

 

[drink]

Years ago a Craftsman Industrial Tool Catalog was available to places like industrial suppliers. A lot of the tools offered in the industrial catalog were the same tools being sold at Sears. Some of the sets that were available in the catalog were not sold at Sears but they were made up with the same tools being sold at Sears. An example would be the socket sets did not have the easy-to-read sockets. Instead they had the old style chrome sockets but they were good quality tools in my opinion. The photo is of a really nice 1/2" drive Craftsman Pro Pick socket set they sold out of the Craftsman Industrial Tool Catalog, and a scan of the Pro Pick statement from the 2006-2007 Craftsman Industrial Tools & Equipment Catalog.

 

[drink]

Here is a scan of some Armstrong ratchets with the ASME standard and Federal Spec listed under each ratchet.

 

[drink]

More Craftsman Industrial data!

 

[rednotch]

The other trick is to search the phrase "professional use".... Not just "professional". This will return the Industrial stuff which can be confirmed by zooming in on the pic.

problem is who the hell handles the Line, I've had some miss filled orders or piss poor QC stuff show up ordering thru sears. Try to take it back where I picked it up at the local sears store and they try to exchange it for the china stuff on the rack.

 

[Mechanical Noise]

Those of you that have CI tools, how are thay compared to 70's and 80's regular craftsman hand tools?

I bought some of them at the Sears Outlet a couple of years ago. Most of them look about the same as current Craftsman production. Nothing special. The regular craftsman metric sockets have a knurled band, which I kinda like, and the Craftsman Industrial metric sockets don't. The CI raised panel wrenches lack the ----- CRAFTSMAN ---- accent lines and look plain.

A couple of exceptions. The Craftsman Industrial full polish wrenches seem very nice. I understand they're the Armstrong wrenches with a Craftsman label. Most of my CI sockets have the same slightly darker chrome plating that more recent production sockets have. But some of them are quite bright, like in the old days, and have a standard detent rather than the cheesy looking Craftsman double detent. The very Craftsman-ish sockets have a G series code and the nicer looking sockets have a K code.

Can't really comment on performance because I haven't used them hard.

 

[drink]

I am not sure if Sears will provide warranty service on the Craftsman Industrial line of tools. In the past they would provide warranty service on the regular Craftsman line of tools they sell at the store. They said if you buy another brand of tools from them to contact the manufacturer to get warranty service. I didn't have a problem mailing a broken tool to the manufacturer and having a new tool shipped back in a few days. Sometimes the mfg would pay shipping costs each way.

Years ago when I asked Sears if they would provide warranty service on Armstrong tools they said no. They even said no when I asked if I purchases Armstrong from them. Only Craftsman gets warranty service from Sears.

 

[Travisnd]

I have warrantied CI tools before with no issues. I called the # that came with the tools, had a replacement CI wrench within a week.

 

[drink]

Those of you that have CI tools, how are thay compared to 70's and 80's regular craftsman hand tools?

I like to build sets sometimes and I started putting together a set of the Craftsman Industrial tools. So far I have a bunch of open stock sockets, ratchets, and wrenches. I also have a few sets of wrenches, sockets, tool box, and other stuff. None of these tools have been used so far.

I have used a lot of Craftsman tools from the 1970's and 1980's for a long time. They have been my most used tools during my lifetime. Very few have been broken but so far Sears has replaced every one of them without a hassle. I would have to say during the last 10 years or so I have encountered a few Craftsman tools that were not manufactured properly. Some of the defective tools appeared to be made from 1018 steel that was not heat treated and they either bent or twisted like taffy. Sears replaced them. My 70's and 80's Craftsman tools never had that taffy problem. The only thing I can quickly think of as far as the 70's and 80's tools are concerned is the ratchets would strip out. Sears replaced all of my ratchets so far with new ones.

When the taffy problems started I purchased brands of tools that were made per spec so I would have reliable tools but I still use Craftsman. My little set in a 16" Craftsman tool box doesn't weigh much and I can grab it in a hurry when I need a box of tools for light repairs. So far my little box full has not had a single tool to break and all of them were made in the USA.

 

[Flyordie]

I'd imagine you will have to order them to find instead of going to the store and looking at them first.

Sears in Quincy, IL (which is an independent Sears, the property it sits on is owned by a guy who used to work for Sears, and he refused to sell it when Lampert took over, lol) He has the 3/8" drive premium ratchets stocked all the time. The 1/4" and 1/2" drives are stocked, but you have to ask for them, they are locked at the register. People were stealing them. Not kidding. lol

I got all 3 of mine for about $85. 2 KAD and one KAC.

The KAD's have a horrible problem with locking up on me though. They are machined VERY VERY VERY VERY TIGHT. As in, no play in the drive at all. I have a hard time even reassembling them. I solved the issue in the 1/2 drive one by cleaning it out and using Valvoline Crimson Synthetic Grease in it.

The 1/4" drive... does it and when it does it, it don't budge. Bout to go in and just ask for a new one or a rebuild kit at minimum.

I have the ultra rare 13mm Long Beam Combo wrench from the CI line. lol. Full Polish. I've been offered $50 for it from the shop downtown. I've loaned it to him 2x after his SNAP-ON 13mm long combo's snapped.


I will be paying attention for the new line though. Hopefully they got some money this time from Lampert. Sometimes, I just wish IDEAL would say .. "Hey, Lampert.. give us Craftsman. We'll show you how its done."

 

[bonneyman]

Sears in Quincy, IL (which is an independent Sears, the property it sits on is owned by a guy who used to work for Sears, and he refused to sell it when Lampert took over, lol)........................Sometimes, I just wish IDEAL would say .. "Hey, Lampert.. give us Craftsman. We'll show you how its done."

Good for him!

And yes, IDEAL acquiring the Craftsman line would be a big improvement, IMO. That would at least help bring the manufacturing back to the USA. Though, the prices would probably go up to where SK now is.

 

[crerus75]

I would have to say during the last 10 years or so I have encountered a few Craftsman tools that were not manufactured properly. Some of the defective tools appeared to be made from 1018 steel that was not heat treated and they either bent or twisted like taffy. Sears replaced them.

The only wrench I ever saw bend without being abused was a Sears raised panel combo wrench. A guy I knew was taking driveshaft bolts out of something and tapped on the end of the wrench with a plastic dead-blow hammer. He ended up bending the wrench into almost an L shape. Completely missed heat treat on that one.

 

[Davefr]

Just a heads up that any CM Industrial warranty is pretty worthless.

If you call Apex, they'll tell you to contact Sears. If you go to Sears they'll say they don't stock Industrial.

 

[Loscaldazar]

Just a heads up that any CM Industrial warranty is pretty worthless.

If you call Apex, they'll tell you to contact Sears. If you go to Sears they'll say they don't stock Industrial.

Last year when they had the big CMAN industrial blowout on sears.com I bought quite a few wrenches (mostly using points to get the singles for free) individually. A few (2 out of the 40 or so I got for free) came in pretty bad form. Local sears had no problem giving me the USA open stock (regular craftsman) in exchange for my industrial ones. Ask if they might do that.

 

[Travisnd]

Just a heads up that any CM Industrial warranty is pretty worthless.

If you call Apex, they'll tell you to contact Sears. If you go to Sears they'll say they don't stock Industrial.

I've called Apex a few times and have gotten replacement CI wrenches mailed to me with no issues.

 

[drink]

The only wrench I ever saw bend without being abused was a Sears raised panel combo wrench. A guy I knew was taking driveshaft bolts out of something and tapped on the end of the wrench with a plastic dead-blow hammer. He ended up bending the wrench into almost an L shape. Completely missed heat treat on that one.

The Craftsman tools that bent like taffy were a hex socket and a pin punch. Those are the only ones I can remember.