craftsman pro

[DARKSCOPE001]

Hey guys question. in my free time I lurk around at sears from time to time. My local sears still have a few of the U.S. made professional wrench sets and a few sets of the professional plier sets.

So here is the question. Should I go ahead and buy the U.S. made wrench and pliers sets knowing that the wrenches will no longer be offered in U.S. versions? and the pliers will no longer exist. Or should I wait and just buy something else. I know everyone raved about the cman pro wrenches back when they were U.S. made and afaik the pro pliers are made by knipex.

Just curious because I wanting to transfer over my cman basic pliers to my home box and use something else for my work box.

Thanks
Sean Scott

 

[4x4gearhead]

I havent been around the forum much lately, the new cman pro wrenches are chinese? (ew)

 

[HandyManny]

I don't think the pro pliers are or were even made by Knipex. I know that Knipex made and still makes two types of pliers for the Craftsman brand - the Cobra and the Alligator. That's it as far as I know.

If you see the USA stuff and like it, then just buy it.

Overall when it comes to pliers you'd have better luck buying Channellock. Knipex are real nice if you can afford them. I own and use three various pliers from Knipex and like them, but the vast majority of my pliers are Channellock.

 

[DARKSCOPE001]

I don't think the pro pliers are or were even made by Knipex. I know that Knipex made and still makes two types of pliers for the Craftsman brand - the Cobra and the Alligator. That's it as far as I know.

If you see the USA stuff and like it, then just buy it.

Overall when it comes to pliers you'd have better luck buying Channellock. Knipex are real nice if you can afford them. I own and use three various pliers from Knipex and like them, but the vast majority of my pliers are Channellock.

you might be right. I forgot I heard at one time knipex made certian pliers for craftsman and I thought that they perhapse made the pro line but I do know the craftsman cobras are an exact copy of the knipex only with black and red cman grips. I do like the cman pro stuff what little is left. so I might just start nabbing it up. and yes the channellock stuff sure is ****. i like how easy the blue grips come clean.

 

[HandyManny]

you might be right. I forgot I heard at one time knipex made certian pliers for craftsman and I thought that they perhapse made the pro line but I do know the craftsman cobras are an exact copy of the knipex only with black and red cman grips. I do like the cman pro stuff what little is left. so I might just start nabbing it up. and yes the channellock stuff sure is ****. i like how easy the blue grips come clean.

Channellock is one brand of tool that has never let me down in all the decades I've been using them. They still make excellent tools that work. The basic Cman pliers are mostly made by Western Forge. They're okay. I find that Western Forge makes great adjustable wrenches, but not the greatest pliers. Just my experience with them.

 

[pcpro15]

If your ok with them being replaced with china stuff if you ever have a problem with them... go for it. Not saying you will, but it could be possible. I won't buy the pro wrenches for that reason.

 

[SMKS]

Should I go ahead and buy the U.S. made wrench and pliers sets knowing that the wrenches will no longer be offered in U.S. versions?

I think another member did this and didn't have much luck selling them here. I don't even think he was looking for a profit. I could be remembering wrong.

But, if I needed a set of wrenches I'd buy a set for sure.

Another person talked about warranty and getting a Chinese replacement.

Seriously, have you ever broken a wrench? Plus, if they wear out after 10+ years of use, you got your money's worth.

 

[pipsters]

My thing is I buy Craftsman 1) because I'm price sensitive 2) because I like USA made stuff and 3) I like the warranty.

I can tell you on things that I honestly don't ever see breaking or Sears selling out to China (sockets, ratchets) I have no problem buying Craftsman brand. On those things that are on their way out I won't buy them because a big part of the Craftsman price markup is the warranty issue. On things like pliers and such I'd buy Channellock for sure.

 

[Sterff]

I would at least buy the pliers. They are a great buy and they already are gone from the local sears

 

[Jeeper]

i have the cman pro wrenches and really like them. If they are reasonably priced, they are a good addition.

For pliers, I like channelock and knipex better.

 

[woody 73]

Darkscopeoo1 Hi,

Which sears store, I am in your area and I would like to see the sets.

Woody

 

[DRhodes]

Woody,

I think he is talking about the Sears hardware in Pickerington (by Krogers). I was in the store last week and if I remember correctly I saw them.

Derek

 

[DARKSCOPE001]

Woody. Im in Pickerington and the two that Im talking about in particular are the sears hardware off of 256 and refugee. And the sears retail at eastland mall. They all have a few sets of U.S. made wrenches and some small sets of the pro pliers left currently.

I was thinking about getting the U.S. made pro wrenches with the idea that breaking a wrench is very unlikely. And that its a pretty good deal. Same goes for the pliers. But I do really like the channellock stuff. I am about to get a set of the iron workers linesman pliers and some of the bent nose needle nose to start my channellock set. I kind of like that channellock sells everything individually at fair prices. Makes it nice to be able to build your kit.

Anyways Thanks
Sean Scott

 

[23bw]

Get the Cman Pro wrenches because when the USA made ones are gone...they are gone ! That's what I just did a few weeks ago. Figure I would just sit for a while during the 90 days to decide if I want to keep them or not. Well....after unpacking them, I knew immediately they are not going back to the store. I'm on the side who believes it's unlikely you'll ever break one of them. If it does happen, then so be it. I'll just deal with it if/when that time comes. Plus who knows what will happen in the future with these Cman wrenches. COO might shift around some more and might even come back to the USA. In the mean time, you'll have those Cman wrenches to enjoy.

 

[chewy7]

I was going to get a set of craftsman professional USA wrenches too, but they were chinese made at my local sears store. So I bought two 15 piece sets of S-K combo wrenches for like the same price of around $100-$105 off ebay or amazon including shipping per set. 1 metric and 1 sae. Those were way better than the similar sized craftsman pro set by far-USA or Chinese. if USA, buy them, if Chinese, don't

 

[mrholeshot]

Buy the wrenches. They are very well made and get the 13 pc sets if possible

 

[crewchief888]

i have CM pro wrenches in my work box in the same drawer with my SO wrenches.

they seem to get along just fine

 

[leod]

i got the last 9pc metric USA wrench set in store and i would get them if they are still available as you wont see them again. hopefully they come back when SK is in production... note the sarcasm