craftsman- new vs old hand tools

[SoCalGarage]

I recently had to repalce a 10 year old 1/2 drive ratchet that failed- The one it was replaced with is CONSIDERABLY lighter weight then the old one. I liked the heft of the old one and wondered if they are making them cheaper now or if its a comfort thing(lighter = less weight to hold when wrenching on something?)

I also had to repalce a pair of CM vice grips(which looked like Vice Grip brand) and the new style CM vice grips are boxy and square??

Anyone else notice these changes?


Doug

 

[kartracer55]

of course... all tools change. Especially with craftsman, some suppliers are constantly changing and they need to make thier tools cheaper to compete with the offshore ones... Craftsman targets the weekend warrior type, not the pro mechanics, so cost IS a major factor. If you take a look at a craftsman ratchet from 50 years ago youll realize how heavy duty the thing really is. When you take them apart you really say "they dont makem like they used too"

Sometimes its better though. Inovations, better steel etc.

Jim

 

[MarkH]

The regular Craftsman of 50 years ago was targetting a different group of customers. It was in competition for the regular industrial users of tools. Not the one who used tool trucks, but the regular user in maintenance shops, farms, etc. They are built on those lines. The weekend warrior and other similar users used Craftsman for their status tools and other considered lesser brands for the rest.

With the switch to servicing the very large but cost concious weekend warrior market there have been many changes made that make many regular Craftsman tools feel light or rough by the standards of the old ones. So like all good marketting companies out comes Craftsman Industrial which morphed into Craftsman Professional. There for prices more in line after inflation with what was paid for Craftsman years ago you find the weight and feel of hand tools that is more familiar. Also the weekend warrior will buy the pro tools for his status tool and the regular line for the rest.

I know what I buy for daily use. But for weekend warrior use, my first and only many times reccomendation is still the regular Craftsman as the best value for the money without having to spend alot of time shopping around. Unfortunately for the industrial user it is no longer saying go to Sears and get me a Craftsman 1/2 in combo wrench. It has become more complex if you send them to Sears you have to describe which one out of 6 wrenches you want.

 

[Thumper]

I've noticed that on the fairly older Craftsman wrenches the shank of the wrench is slimmer.

 

[Brian]

The locking pliers ("vise grips") you showed are made by stamping layers out of sheet steel and riveting them together to make up the jaws. This is done for one reason alone, it is cheaper than forging one piece jaws like the Vise grip brand has. In my opinion they are far inferior to the forged one piece jaws which Sears still sells (re-branded Vise grips).
If you took in the type with one piece jaws then that is what you should get in return. I would take back the junk laminated pliers and get the good kind.

 

[joecaver]

I had the same thing just a couple of months ago. A 1/2 drive ratchet died so I took it back to exchange. The guy reaches under the counter and gives me a new/rebuilt one. It is not nearly as nice as the one I had. Like you said very light weight. It just doesn't have a good feel to it. The kicker to me was that he said that they rebuild the defective ones in their spare time and hand them back out as exchanges. After I left I realized I should have asked him to just rebuild mine and give it back to me.

 

[z28toz06]

I was in a big sears recently and they had a bunch of ratchets hanging behind the counter. I though they were broken ones that had been returned. The guy tells me that they repair the broken ones that are turned in and give them out as replacements to the next guy that brings one in broken.

I don't know why but I assumed if you bought one new and it broke they would give you a new one. Silly me.

As far as making things cheaper and trying to keep up with the competition, I think that is a double edged sword. Surely they must constantly find ways to stay ahead of the competition. However they do a lot of research and development as far as the metallurgy and design/strength goes. Thinner and lighter doesn't always equate to cheaper and more breakage prone.

 

[eschoendorff]

Thinner and lighter doesn't always equate to cheaper and more breakage prone.

Good point. "Tool feel" is sooo subjective, though. How do you measure it?

 

[MarkH]

Well in for some tools it is thinner and lighter others more bulky. Having regular craftsman wrenchs from the late 50's early 60's to last year. There is a move from a thin - curved wrench to a thicker straighter one. Head is also larger since there a couple machines the new ones do not fit in space allowed on some machines.

To get the "feel" of the old ones we buy other brands at higher costs but very much in line with inflation of what we paid for those old Craftsman's.

The comment on rebuilding lets me know why I get a funny look when I bring in some rarer models. They take it and I get the replacement in the mail. Will have to ask for the rebuild kit if possible.