Lowe’s Craftsman Wrenches- Poor Quality

[DaveInHouston]

I bought a set of 20 “Craftsman” combination Wrenches at Lowe’s today. Didn’t open the box till I got home. What a disappointment. The fit and finish is nowhere close to my old standard Craftsman Wrenches. They look like Taiwanese junk. Rough cast, poorly chromed. Clearly inferior quality.

 

[4xdog]

Taiwan generally does OK stuff these days. Their costs and standard of living have moved Taiwan well out of the **** made there decades ago.

These wrenches I assume are from China? Everything is possible in China. SBD have chosen to specify junky stuff in that case, undoubtedly to hit a price point/margin expectation.

Could be worse -- could be from an even lower price point country like, say, Bhutan.

 

[DaveInHouston]

I’ll check the box. I suspect China. Hopefully the metallurgy is good. Traditional Craftsman Wrenches weren’t anything special but were much better than these. Buyer beware.

 

[M635_Guy]

Pictures help.

 

[dr_clyde]

What were you expecting? You bought craftsman from Lowe’s, not premium hand tools.

 

[DaveInHouston]

Yep, made in China, sold at Lowe’s. Easy to tell which is which.

 

[ooba tooba]

China. Home of the pewter screw.

 

[Pawl49]

I can tell you like your craftsman, go to cripedistributing get yourself some Armstrong's/Allen's. Cheap as heck and I felt like Allen could have been a nicer alternative of cman. It ***** because you cannot get any warranty... All NOS which I think is why it's so cheap?

However the Armstrongs especially should last a significantly long time.... I went cheap and got everything wrench related off of cripe, if God forbids anything breaks I'll just get wright or snap on. I have one wright grip 2.0 18mm wrench and DANG that is 12/10 nice and fit is damn near perfect.

I would not ever reccomend buying a wrench from anywhere but a place that actually makes quality tools. Taiwan is no exception, quality from there matches our tools in price but not in quality period, period. Wrenches are also supposed to be built to last a lifetime even the old craftsmans weren't that cheap. Taiwanese wrenches of quality aren't cheap either (blue point Williams). They bank on you coming back for a warranty replacement or something.

I bought about 38 Wrenches and all the black Armstrong's are fantastic in my opinion. Allen full polished had a few wrenches where the finish was 3/5 mostly around burring but not all the polished ones. Used them for light work so far and one tough suspension job... Made a huge difference All around to use tools with proper fit and strength.

 

[DaveInHouston]

I know Craftsman aren’t “premium hand tools” but I’ve been using them for over fifty years and they’ve always served me well. I didn’t really need another set of wrenches (got tons of them) but they caught my eye as I walked by so, what the heck. I just wasn’t aware they are now made in China and are nothing like they used to be. I’ve got enough wrenches for three lifetimes so I won’t likely be buying any more. I’ll just take better care of my old originals.

 

[Farmall450]

Yep, made in China, sold at Lowe’s. Easy to tell which is which.

Wow, not surprising to see, but sad nonetheless.

 

[mikeinri]

Around 20 years ago, I noticed a huge change in quality. When I had to get some older tools replaced, it was clear then that they were using noticeably less material. Can only imagine how much worse it's gotten now.

I always considered Stanley tools to be inferior to Craftsman, so when people thought selling the brand to Stanley was going to make things better, I couldn't wrap my head around that idea.

Mike

 

[nieuport17]

Craftsman is just a name. They don’t make anything.
It has not being made in USA for a while now.
Lowe’s Craftsman are over priced.

 

[Pawl49]

I know Craftsman aren’t “premium hand tools” but I’ve been using them for over fifty years and they’ve always served me well. I didn’t really need another set of wrenches (got tons of them) but they caught my eye as I walked by so, what the heck. I just wasn’t aware they are now made in China and are nothing like they used to be. I’ve got enough wrenches for three lifetimes so I won’t likely be buying any more. I’ll just take better care of my old originals.

Yessir lol got on a rant there

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Can GJ start a sub forum dedicated to Craftsman quality? No offense to OP, but this poor poor horse.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Not to defend the lowes craftsman, but looks have little to do with how the tool works. I have a wright wrench with weak/crooked stamping, same with snap on. I've had chrome fall off every brand in my box. But they work fine.


I just don't think it's exactly fair to open up a box of wrenches, and decide via kitchen table inspection the quality of the tool. My guess is that in actual use, they would be similar to craftsman made in the last 30 years. Your opinion on whether or not that's a compliment may vary.

 

[DaveInHouston]

Not to defend the lowes craftsman, but looks have little to do with how the tool works. I have a wright wrench with weak/crooked stamping, same with snap on. I've had chrome fall off every brand in my box. But they work fine.


I just don't think it's exactly fair to open up a box of wrenches, and decide via kitchen table inspection the quality of the tool. My guess is that in actual use, they would be similar to craftsman made in the last 30 years. Your opinion on whether or not that's a compliment may vary.

That's not a kitchen table, it's a welding table! Not hating on Lowes or the new "Craftsman", just noting that the esthetic qualities aren't what they used to be. They'll probably do the job just fine.

 

[azchrisf]

Craftsman tools used to be a middle of the road brand. SBD has done what every company does as standard operating procedure - buy the name and cheapen the quality to maximize the profit. With such an icon, this wasn't right. They could easily finish those wrenches much better for very little more investment. They almost look like they are straight off the forge and never got sent for polishing and deburring.

Truly sad.

 

[sberry]

Stanley didn't cheapen Cman. This happened a long time ago. The upside is they are brutally tough.

 

[allinon72]

Craftsman is just a rebrand. The quality is barely acceptable to the DIYer and the selection is atrocious. Megacorp Stanley saw an opportunity to capitalize on the loyalty (although they were years late, as many megacorps are). They didn't bother to carry on WHY people were loyal to the brand in the first place. And oh by the way, same price or more as old Craftsman, how convenient. I've poked around several times while at Lowes and end up shaking my head each time.

 

[DaveInHouston]

Sears never actually manufactured anything. They contracted that out to companies that built the equipment/tools to their specifications, or they took something someone else made and put their brand on it. I've got an old Atlas lathe branded Craftsman. Maybe not the best example, on second thought.
But the Craftsman wrenches were always made by reputable US manufacturers with Sears looking over their shoulder. I was one of those guys that couldn't really afford the high end wrenches like Snapon, but the Craftsman did the job and had a decent quality look and feel to them. I'm sorry to see they are gone.

 

[4xdog]

...I'm sorry to see they are gone.

TBH, the Craftsman brand is probably closer to coming back than being gone. The offshoring and aesthetic quality drop happened ten years ago. Those newest wrenches may look better than the "lobster claw" ones from way back.

If SBD can get the balance right between price-appearance-durability (pick two easily, but to get all three it's not easy) they'll probably have a place in the tool marketplace.

 

[1982fxr]

Pretty sure any USA Allen, KD, etc are the same as Craftsman just a little different style-wise. Didn't they all come out of the same factory in Texas?

 

[Bigblockyeti]

I have a set of USA made 1/4" drive deep well "Easy-Read" socket from 15+ years ago and I busted the 1/4" socket. Fortunately I was able to get a single from Lowe's instead of the whole set as the quality just isn't there. It would be difficult to get pictures of the minuscule deficiencies in quality but they are certainly there. The chrome isn't as dark, the depth of broach of the hex isn't as deep, there's less meat at the corners where a 1/4" drive engages and the chrome also has imperfections around that same area. The differences are minor but added up equals an inferior product vs. what I bought originally.

 

[fsae0607]

Taiwan generally does OK stuff these days. Their costs and standard of living have moved Taiwan well out of the **** made there decades ago.

These wrenches I assume are from China? Everything is possible in China. SBD have chosen to specify junky stuff in that case, undoubtedly to hit a price point/margin expectation.

Could be worse -- could be from an even lower price point country like, say, Bhutan.

Silent But Deadly?

Maybe I didn't google this good enough.

 

[1982fxr]

Silent But Deadly?

Maybe I didn't google this good enough.

Stanley/Black and Decker

 

[fsae0607]

Stanley/Black and Decker

Thanks!

 

[bobcatdan]

I think we need a a sticky that says most craftsman tools have been imported for over 10 years and are nowhere as nice as you remember them.

 

[lardy1]

I'm not a fan of any of the big box stores. But, the last time I was in Lowe's I wandered around in the tool section. I actually find the Craftsman display depressing. I've never felt like Craftsman tools were top notch but to see what has happened to the brand is not what I like seeing. Like Harbor Freight with a huge price increase.

 

[finn]

Pretty sure any USA Allen, KD, etc are the same as Craftsman just a little different style-wise. Didn't they all come out of the same factory in Texas?

Allen, KD, and Armstrong are gone, as In defunct. There are certainly some deals on discontinued products from them out there from liquidators, but liquidators don’t set market prices for tools. They are essentially scavengers, clearing out discontinued product, for the most part.
I
I just checked, and that 70 piece Craftsman set is about $74 at Lowe’s, not on sale. It probably cost no more than $50 on sale.

A cursory search shows a 19 piece Wright set going for $264. I didn’t look up SnapOn, but I recall about $370 for a set of them (from memory).

Tecton lists their set at $100, and their is a Crescent set at about the same as the Craftsman with five minutes of searching

At those prices I wouldn’t expect similar “quality”, whatever that is over the several hundred dollar price swing.

Not worthy of a rant, anyway.

 

[1982fxr]

Yes I know those brands are gone, just telling the op the old USA ones were the same as USA Craftsman except for cosmetics.

 

[DaveInHouston]

I hate to add fuel to the fire but. Was digging through my “other” garage and found another set of virtually unused Craftsman wrenches, in a nice hard plastic case, that I bought at least ten years ago. They looked pretty good. Not quite as good as my thirty plus year olds, but you have to have them side by side to tell a difference. Assumed they were made in the USA. Looked on the back of the case and NO, made in China! The “old” one is at least thirty years old but who knows where it was made?
If all else fails, turn the wrench over.

 

[The Fall]

Lay off the guy. He's got a nice '56 F-100 and Craftsman tools were the starter set for the majority of folks on here, at least Americans. They were pretty outstanding until 2011. Unbeatable bang for the buck.

Taiwan can produce nice tools, which isn't to say China can't, but the majority of nicer tools from Asia are of Taiwanese origin. The post-2011 CMan RP wrenches are, without much hyperbole, garbage and definitely aren't from Taiwan.

SBD sends mixed messages in sort of a botched revamp. Who knows what will ultimately happen concerning COO? I don't trust them. I don't care.

The older stuff -- there are CMan mavens on here and I think those were Easco up until the '80s.

OP -- I'd give up the CMan ghost or just hit up the Sears Outlets for dead stock. I've moved onto SK, Williams (USA) and Proto.

You childhood tool line died back in 2011. Sears is dead, long live Sears.

 

[anndel]

I looked at a bunch of sets while I was there and they're all made in china. Even through the box they look awful and cheaply made not like the old made in USA raised panels from Sears back in the 70's. But in a bind during an emergency they're great. 10 years ago I was helping part out a truck and got a chinese made 1/2 socket set from Sears and banged the **** out of them with my air impact on severely rusted bolts and they still look brand new.

 

[Kev442]

Stanley didn't cheapen Cman. This happened a long time ago. The upside is they are brutally tough.

Chinese Cman is brutally tough?
I must have missed that memo.

6 years ago I watched as my nephew got Cman wrenches for Christmas. His proud Grandad was smiling away, I don't think he had a clue he bought chinese products. I sure didn't educate anyone, I didn't have a horse in the race.

Having just inherited my dad's limited amount of vintage Williams DBE wrenches to add to my combos and ratcheting, I think I'm more than good on wrenches the rest of my life, Thank Goodness!

 

[Jtels85]

Stanley/Craftsman sources some of their tools from the same suppliers as Sears, raised panel wrenches being among them. They’re the same China made raised panels wrenches at Lowe’s that Sears has been selling since 2011.

All Stanley did was keep the contract with who ever has been making them. Just throwing that out there...

 

[CJM8515]

What were you expecting? You bought craftsman from Lowe’s, not premium hand tools.

 

[M635_Guy]

Chinese Cman is brutally tough?
I must have missed that memo.

Let me get this straight - you think it isn't possible that China can make excellent tools?

 

[DaveInHouston]

Lay off the guy. He's got a nice '56 F-100 and Craftsman tools were the starter set for the majority of folks on here, at least Americans. They were pretty outstanding until 2011. Unbeatable bang for the buck.

OP -- I'd give up the CMan ghost or just hit up the Sears Outlets for dead stock. I've moved onto SK, Williams (USA) and Proto.

You childhood tool line died back in 2011. Sears is dead, long live Sears.

I appreciate the kind words. Old habits die hard, and I know Sears is gone. This got me digging through old tools and found some of Dad’s old Proto, SK, even Indestro and Vlchek. Like I said I’ve accumulated enough tools to last me forever. Thanks on the ‘56. It’s my favorite. Got a 1960 Apache C10 that’s not too shabby. Old cars for an old guy.

 

[ROBZ71LM7]

But the Craftsman wrenches were always made by reputable US manufacturers with Sears looking over their shoulder. I was one of those guys that couldn't really afford the high end wrenches like Snapon, but the Craftsman did the job and had a decent quality look and feel to them. I'm sorry to see they are gone.

The quality slide began while Sears owned Craftsman around the early 00's, maybe a little sooner. The last of the US made tools were pretty rough. And, Craftsman wrenches were made in China while Sears owned them which was a long time ago. Google search "craftsman lobster claw".

 

[sberry]

Chinese Cman is brutally tough?
I must have missed that memo.

6 years ago I watched as my nephew got Cman wrenches for Christmas. His proud Grandad was smiling away, I don't think he had a clue he bought chinese products. I sure didn't educate anyone, I didn't have a horse in the race.

Having just inherited my dad's limited amount of vintage Williams DBE wrenches to add to my combos and ratcheting, I think I'm more than good on wrenches the rest of my life, Thank Goodness!

Show us busted cman wrenches.