Craftsman Launches V-Series Pro Tool Storage
Craftsman has a new line of premium-featured USA-built tool storage.
Look like very nice toolboxes. Am a bit surprised actually. Made in the USA with global materials.
I think they're actually shooting for home gamers. And saying it's for master mechanics as part of the marketing.Need more dept, the market they are trying to compete requires it.
No it's not, V series is marketed towards mechanics, it's a higher price point and they also are using HF tactics against snapon. That's the whole point of the line, but like everything stanley touches, they have 0 clue on how to achieve their goals. V series are impossible to find in store, 0 advertising, and lack tool selection.I think they're actually shooting for home gamers. And saying it's for master mechanics as part of the marketing.
Thirty-five-ish years ago, Sears was pushing "Craftsman" as being equivalent to Snap-On, at a lower price.No it's not, V series is marketed towards mechanics, it's a higher price point and they also are using HF tactics against snapon.
No it's not, V series is marketed towards mechanics, it's a higher price point and they also are using HF tactics against snapon. That's the whole point of the line, but like everything stanley touches, they have 0 clue on how to achieve their goals. V series are impossible to find in store, 0 advertising, and lack tool selection.
No it's not, V series is marketed towards mechanics, it's a higher price point and they also are using HF tactics against snapon. That's the whole point of the line, but like everything stanley touches, they have 0 clue on how to achieve their goals. V series are impossible to find in store, 0 advertising, and lack tool selection.

It's what's I'm saying. the V series is not marketed toward home gamers, like some claim. Everyone including HF is eating craftsman lunch, they need to position themselves and fill the nich no one if filling. They already have a shallow box, why offer another? Alot of people are asking for a deep box at a cheapish price and USA made. The consumer is practically begging a company to sell them. Where are the tool carts? Imagine a USA made tools cart similar to the US general. I would buy that instantly. I would give them some props for actually fixing some issues and bringing some EU design to the USA market.
It's what's I'm saying. the V series is not marketed toward home gamers, like some claim.
Icon actually achieved its goal. Lost of professional use them. But that's two different things we talking about. The Intent is always to sell lots of tools, the marketing aspect is different. Just like HF, craftsman was trying to do the same. It's why you don't see any v series marketing done in a home "gamer garage". it's always the professional shop and better the snap on blah blah blah. Hence market to professional with the added bonus of selling to home gamers. Regardless the tools aren't actually bad. It's just that the marketing, availability and price have major flaws unlike HF icon.That's exactly what they are doing, they are convincing home gamers they are buying professional grade tools. The majority of full time wrench benders still aren't buying V series or Icon tools. They are making "pro grade" tools available to the consumer at places the consumer usually shops. It's pretty easy to convince a home gamer to buy the "pro grade" tool when it's sitting in front of his face at a big box store for $20 more than the cheap option. While it is possible to buy tool truck tools new online from the tool trucks I'd imagine it's a very small percentage of someone like snapon's sales numbers.
Some of those Waterloo Magnums are still in use today. They weren't bad for the price and built like a tank. Unfortunately, there's no parts support for them today.I wonder if they will be any better than the rebranded Waterloo Magnums they sold twenty years ago?
Martin


Some of those Waterloo Magnums are still in use today. They weren't bad for the price and built like a tank. Unfortunately, there's no parts support for them today.
What I don't understand is the current V series tool line up consists of like 36 or so items. Why offer V series boxes when you don't offer close to a full range of V series tools?
SBD needs to unfuck the V series wrench sets that don't offer 15 & 18 mm along with expanding wrench offerings over 19 mm/3/4. The V series could be so much more than it currently is if SBD would just rebadge the entire USAG lineup as Craftsman V Series. They could even expand it further by incorporating heavy duty/specialty items from Facom![]()

Negative, the US General boxes are about 1/4" shy of 20" drawer space/depth (front to back)I am going to chime in on this topic. The Craftsman V series tool box has only (or approximately 16 1/2 to 17 inches) of inner drawer depth. The US General tool boxes (56 inch and 72 inch length tool boxes) are around the same inner depth (maybe 1/2 an inch deeper). For any serious DIY-er or Professional the minimum inner depth would need to be 20 inches deep in order to properly manage their tools. The O'll saying around the serious DIY-ers and professional I talk to regularly is "Drawer depth is King!" the more, the better.
They need to bring back the Griplatch drawers. I HATE the soft-close slides; they are harder to open and close.
I stand corrected, Thank you Sir. Perhaps my longer than normal 1/2" socket Tekton trays might fit width wise in a US General 72" series 3 tool box. The 1/2" Socket Tekton (black tray) are exactly 19 and 3/4". It would be a tight fit. I may need to drive over this weekend to Harbor Freight (with my Tekton socket tray) and see for myself.Negative, the US General boxes are about 1/4" shy of 20" drawer space/depth (front to back)
I was wondering, do you own either a US General 56" or a US General 72"? If so, what is your general assessment on the US General tool box. Also, what are your pros and cons of the drawers? The reason I am asking is that I am a serious DIY-er and I don't want to spend a King's ransom on a good quality tool box for my garage. I have a chance to buy a Masters series Snap-On KMP1023 tool box (That is in excellent condition and it has all the Bells & Whistles) for $5000. Thats a serious investment for just a home garage.Negative, the US General boxes are about 1/4" shy of 20" drawer space/depth (front to back)
Needs more depth. I’m happy to see the effort to make something in the USA, but I really don’t have use for anything less than 28” deep anymore.
Lista full depth cabinets are 28.5”Just curious, other than mid-higher end Snap On and Cornwell Platinum boxes which are both 30" deep, what out there is 28+" deep?
Can you post a link? I couldn't find them on Amazon or MSC. Amazon just had a ton of sponsored Chinesium ones, even though I specified Craftsman in the brand section and typed it in the search bar, and MSC didn't seem to have the GripLatch.They did bring back griplatch. It's the Edge series, but they aren't listed on their website. I found them at MSC and Amazon. I have a 26" cabinet, and had but sold a 41".
Needs more depth. I’m happy to see the effort to make something in the USA, but I really don’t have use for anything less than 28” deep anymore.
Need more dept, the market they are trying to compete requires it.
Can you post a link? I couldn't find them on Amazon or MSC. Amazon just had a ton of sponsored Chinesium ones, even though I specified Craftsman in the brand section and typed it in the search bar, and MSC didn't seem to have the GripLatch.
EDIT:
I found them by typing in "craftsman edge tool chest" in a search engine. Took me to reviews on Amazon. Weird that I couldn't find them the other way.
They don't match my existing ones.