KASTAR Tools, Made in the USA

[Blacknwhitepit]

It wasn't but a few weeks ago I picked up a couple of tools that were marked Kastar, but never heard of them before. Since they were marked Made in USA I looked up their website.

Somehow, this company had gotten by me as a made in USA tool company.

http://www.aeincorporated.com/Kastar/?page=store&category=4

They are under A & E tools.

http://www.aeincorporated.com/ae_tools.php

Their Battery terminal wrenches look just like the ones Snap on and Sears Craftsman both sell (possibly their supplier?)

Their battery carrier looks just like the one on the Snappy truck.

Their boxed end ratchet wrenches are USA made and look just like Craftsmans.

These tools look very familiar....

I am going to look into this more;

(I am compiling a working list of where Snap on gets all their tools... I.E. Irwin Taps and dies, Lisle Camshaft pullers and KD CV boot pliers which are all sold under both Snap on and Blue point names)

I have many tools in my list of what Snap on sells as theirs at an exhorbant cost, and is actually more affordable if you buy it from the original manufacturer....


-BWP

 

[Moltar]

See if you can find out who makes this air powered vacuum. I've never seen it labeled under any other brands.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...&group_ID=1844&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[kartracer55]

Kastar makes the ratchet wrenches for snap on, craftsman, and many others. Snap On's use a metal spacer, wheras craftsmans use a plastic one... aside from that, they are the same.

Kastar also makes the rethreading sets for Snap On and craftsman

 

[Deafautotech]

i bought snap on rethreading for spindle that 20 pieces to cover most common of vehicle like cv joint thread or pinion thread... snap on guy sold me for 85 dollars while it is snap on and Kastar sell for 99.99 dollars.....

 

[eschoendorff]

Kastar also makes the rethreading sets for Snap On and craftsman

Yup. I have one of those and absolutely love it!

 

[dink]

A & E also distribue Hazet for North America I like that

 

[kartracer55]

Yup. I have one of those and absolutely love it!

Depending on the warranty from Snap On, Im thinkign about getting one. I have good taps and dies for light fab and stuff, but I want a set like this to "abuse" in the garage. If it has a good warranty and I can get them exhanged easily, Ill spend the 80$ or whatever on the snap on Truck.

Jim

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

i bought snap on rethreading for spindle that 20 pieces to cover most common of vehicle like cv joint thread or pinion thread... snap on guy sold me for 85 dollars while it is snap on and Kastar sell for 99.99 dollars.....

Yes,

The volume that Sears and Snap on buy from their suppliers make some of these tools cheaper to buy at Sears, or through Snap on (especially for a better warranty).

However, many of items that Snap on lists are not cheaper. Many of these tools I am tracking on the list are very durable.

I will post on all of this, the good, the bad and the ugly....

-BWP

 

[Deafautotech]

Yes,

The volume that Sears and Snap on buy from their suppliers make some of these tools cheaper to buy at Sears, or through Snap on (especially for a better warranty).

However, many of items that Snap on lists are not cheaper. Many of these tools I am tracking on the list are very durable.

I will post on all of this, the good, the bad and the ugly....

-BWP

yeah. my snap on guy said it is lifetime warranty on 20 piece rethread nuts. so i paid it and have it ready for someone stripped the thread on cv joint or pinion shaft. i am only tech in my work have that 20 pieces that will fix almost all of chrysler and ford vehicles.... i keep buy what i think that i need it because if it is happen then i have it ready than SOL like other tech did and had borrow from me.....

 

[mulepackin]

The quality they build (or spec they build to) must vary from each reseller. I know for sure that Snap On ratcheting box wrenches are much heavier and more solid feeling than Craftsman.

 

[ba614]

Hey Blacknwhitepit,

Great post ... Thanks for the info ... very interesting

 

[Willy Victor]

It wasn't but a few weeks ago I picked up a couple of tools that were marked Kastar, but never heard of them before. Since they were marked Made in USA I looked up their website.

Somehow, this company had gotten by me as a made in USA tool company.

http://www.aeincorporated.com/Kastar/?page=store&category=4

They are under A & E tools.

http://www.aeincorporated.com/ae_tools.php

Their Battery terminal wrenches look just like the ones Snap on and Sears Craftsman both sell (possibly their supplier?)

Their battery carrier looks just like the one on the Snappy truck.

Their boxed end ratchet wrenches are USA made and look just like Craftsmans.

These tools look very familiar....

I am going to look into this more;

(I am compiling a working list of where Snap on gets all their tools... I.E. Irwin Taps and dies, Lisle Camshaft pullers and KD CV boot pliers which are all sold under both Snap on and Blue point names)

I have many tools in my list of what Snap on sells as theirs at an exhorbant cost, and is actually more affordable if you buy it from the original manufacturer....


-BWP

I just looked in my tool box, it seems I have one of their battery terminal wrenchs, don't know where I bought it.


Willy

 

[four.cycle]

02/13/17 06:22 PST

from: aetools.com

1. Lang Tools was founded in 1932 in Racine, WI by Daniel M. Lang

2. John W. Lang (Daniel’s son) took over the business in 1960

3. In 1982, John R. Lang (John W. Lang’s son) became president and began to look for acquisitions

4. John W. Lang (Ian / John R. Lang’s son) became the fourth generation to run Land Tools

5. In 1985, Lang acquired Kastar and moved it from Long Island to Racine

6. In 1999, Lang acquired Hi-Tech Hand Tools out of Kerrville, TX. The operation remained in Texas until it was moved to Racine in 2012.

7. In 2003, Lang acquired Star Products that was located in Long Island and moved it to Racine shortly after the acquisition took place.

8. Lang maintained the Kastar, Hi-Tech, and Star Products brands until they were all replaced by the Lang brand in 2012. This was done to make a unified look across all our product lines.

9. After 85 years, we are still primarily a US manufacturer. We design, engineer, and test our products here as well.

==

early "K" in a star in a circle logo used on older Kastar ignition wrenches


Kastar-manufactured laminated ratcheting box wrench (John W. Lang's patents:
4,748,875 06/07/88 and patent 2,500,835 03/14/50)

 

[tvtaurus]

Holly molly you resurrected a seriously old thread. Good history though.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

four.cycle

Thanks for the interesting update on Lang - Kastar.

My 12 piece Lang snap ring plier set arrived last week.
They were a terrific buy.

Chalk up another point for the GJ Tool Discussions

 

[jl4c]

Here is the Kastar (Lang) thread restorer kit they make for Craftsman. It's $55 with free shipping from Sears. Same Kit that Snap-On and Mac (or Matco--I can't remember which) sell for $130+. Great kit.

 

[four.cycle]

Same Kit that Snap-On and Mac (or Matco--I can't remember which) sell for $130+.

^ Probably all of the above. Kastar/Lang/A&E have been a supplier to many US tool makers for decades, among them some of the better-known "truck brands".

In a phone conversation a couple months back with one of the muckity-mucks in the sales department of the aforementioned manufacturer, I was told "Snap-on is our biggest customer." (Quoted verbatim.)

(here is that post: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5720596#post5720596 )

 

[four.cycle]

Kastar .0015 - .035 feeler gauge

Kastar .018 - .040 wire spark plug feeler gauge

 

[four.cycle]

Very early Kastar .002 - .025 blade type feeler gauge
Note that is was made by the "Kastar Specialty Mfg. Co. Inc."

The previous owner was apparently having some difficulty getting the clearance set on an exhaust valve.

 

[kabinenroller]

A&E headquarters is a few miles from where I live, I drive by it quite often. I wish they had a factory outlet where locals can purchase their products. About a half mile from A&E is the Dremel headquarters, they have a factory outlet but the prices are no deal. Snap On is about 15 miles from here, years ago I was able to attend an employee sale at the factory, the had bins full of ratchets, hand tools, etc. I bought a few things a a good price.