Craftsman RP wrenches

[_brian_]

I recently acquired a USA made Craftsman 32mm RP combo wrench. Prior, I have a China made Craftsman. I needed a second one anyway, and I was interested to compare them. I refer to Sears Craftsman.

I do not notice much difference between the two. The China made one does have edges that are a bit rougher, the USA clearly was polished/finished better. My China made one is not the "lobster claw" design, so please consider that.

Does anyone have any details on the actual differences, besides where it was made? Meaning, is the metal alloy different? Is the hardening process different? Etc? I do not wish to debate the COO as others threads have, I am simply looking at two wrenches with the same part number, but of different generations.

I know that many will say there are better wrenches out there, and I also have a ratcheting Gearwrench set. But the Craftsman RP wrenches have been some of the best wrenches I have used in general terms. I am wondering if the newer China made ones are any different. Both versions seem to work equally well when used normally, hit with a hammer, used on the other end of an impact, etc.

 

[1982fxr]

Nobody on here will have specs like that.

Some talk **** about Chinese can because they miss the usa stuff.

Others talk **** about it based on experience with Chinese hand tools in general.

 

[_brian_]

Yeah... I am not trying to judge a tool based on the country it came from, but for what it actually is. I do admit that the majority of change to China resulted in negative. I will never buy any ratchets, extensions (due to the detent ball), etc based on personal experience of poor quality. But I have good luck with wrenches and sockets so far, so I Am curious as to any differences that might exist that I cannot see given my use.

 

[Lesserstore]

One difference is that MDF and Easco (V & VV) craftsman wrenches used chrome molybdenum steel while Chinese uses chrome vanadium. I am uncertain about what steel Danaher used for the V^ and VV (VV was for stubbies only by this point) as I have a 35 piece Masterforce USA (made by Danaher) socket/ combo wrench set that says that they are chrome vanadium steel.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Never seen the RP date code must of been towards the end of the USA stuff when they used just about every code that was possible lol.


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[drtyler]

The recent USA produced Craftsman wrenches were nothing special. The non-lobster claw Chinese versions may be an improvement.

 

[_brian_]

One difference is that MDF and Easco (V & VV) craftsman wrenches used chrome molybdenum steel while Chinese uses chrome vanadium. I am uncertain about what steel Danaher used for the V^ and VV (VV was for stubbies only by this point) as I have a 35 piece Masterforce USA (made by Danaher) socket/ combo wrench set that says that they are chrome vanadium steel.

Very interesting, thanks for sharing this. I was unaware that any of the wrenches were Cr-Mo. Most of my Craftsman USA wrenches are VV, the ones I got from my father are mostly V. That is for sure a notable difference.

 

[Lesserstore]

Most US tools are made from chrome molybdenum because we produce a lot more molybdenum than vanadium. 60,700 metric tons of molybdenum was mined in the US while only 591 metric tons of vanadium was mined here while China mined 41,000 metric tons of vanadium. These production numbers are from 2013.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Some talk **** about Chinese can because they miss the usa stuff.

Others talk **** about it based on experience with Chinese hand tools in general.

The Chinese CAN make decent quality tools given that

• they have good metal to start with (Astro had this issue)
• they have a good design (most big companies actually OWN the dies !)
• there is good quality control in place
• there is quality assurance in place
• there is incoming inspection done in the US