ok this is going to be more of a question for the canadian readers but does anyone know who makes mastercraft tools for canadian tire..they are a good quality tool,life time warranty stamped mastercraft but gotta be made by one of hte big tool name's...is it grey? grey isn't known stateside either i dont believe... anyhow i'm just curious.
mastercraft tools
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Jared
Well-known member
I have been wondering the same thing myself
Der Bugmeister
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I wonder if a letter to their corporate head office would provide an answer to that.
When I was looking at power mitre saws a few years ago, I asked in-store who made their Mastercraft saw, and they looked it up for me...I think it was Black and Decker back then, so you might be able to get an answer in the store as well. I keep forgetting to ask!
The carrying caddy for my Mastercraft stubby wrenches indicates they're made in Taiwan.
When I was looking at power mitre saws a few years ago, I asked in-store who made their Mastercraft saw, and they looked it up for me...I think it was Black and Decker back then, so you might be able to get an answer in the store as well. I keep forgetting to ask!
The carrying caddy for my Mastercraft stubby wrenches indicates they're made in Taiwan.
filthy_shovel
Well-known member
I think you will have a hard time finding that out. I heard though that they have partnerships with other tool manufacturers (campbell hausfeld, B&D, etc.) to make their tools.
I do agree that they are of very good quality as i have many in my home box and even had some in my work box...
I do agree that they are of very good quality as i have many in my home box and even had some in my work box...
ampegor
Member
THe suppliers change every so often and not all "mastercraft" tools are made by the same manufacturer. IN the old days (1970's or so) grey used to make their handtools but I am not sure anymore. I know wrenches and ratchets changed manufacturers or at least got redesigned about 10 years back. Grey tools are an excellent brand (made in Canada) except for their ratchets (POS in my opinion).
Anyone got more info on Mastercraft?
Andy
Anyone got more info on Mastercraft?
Andy
trainer
Well-known member
If you look at CTC's other house brand items like patio furniture and electronics, they hire out the design, then book factory time in china to manufacture.
I imagine that thier hand tools are being made the same way now. The chinese can manufacture to pretty much any specs the customer wants now.
BTW, I dont buy CTC tools anymore because I was refused a replacement on a broken pliers some years ago.
I imagine that thier hand tools are being made the same way now. The chinese can manufacture to pretty much any specs the customer wants now.
BTW, I dont buy CTC tools anymore because I was refused a replacement on a broken pliers some years ago.
I actually threw my Mastercraft Professional ratchets in the garbage. I was that mad at them.
The sockets are ok, the chrome has chipped off around the end's of most of them. Now the sharp edges will catch your skin.
I haven't had any problems with the Professional wrenches, though I'm kinda leary to use them hard.
Keep in mind this is all home use.
I've got the good stuff at work, and now I'm replacing my junk at home (Mastercraft, Sears) with higher end tools.
The sockets are ok, the chrome has chipped off around the end's of most of them. Now the sharp edges will catch your skin.
I haven't had any problems with the Professional wrenches, though I'm kinda leary to use them hard.
Keep in mind this is all home use.
I've got the good stuff at work, and now I'm replacing my junk at home (Mastercraft, Sears) with higher end tools.
i've only managed to break a few of there products over the years..the odd ratchet wore out... but with lots of use and abuse...was as simple as goint to customer service with the old greasy one and being told to go pick a new one and bring it up there... if trainer is right and the chinese can meet specs to make quality hand tools like this..the western company's are going to loose all chances to compete..which is something i really dont like to see...
l_bilyk
Well-known member
[email protected] said:
It's almost 100% stanley now. Except for the gearwrenches. Those are KD i'm 99% sure.
Grey hasn't made mastercraft tools in 20 years.
l_bilyk
Well-known member
MrHappy said:
Why would you say the professional ratchets are garbage?
Canadian Charlie
Banned
I have a set of Mastercraft screwdrivers, some sockets, tap and die set.
Canadian Tire has a wide variety of tools to choose from, plus they give Canadian Tire money to use at the gas bar
Canadian Tire has a wide variety of tools to choose from, plus they give Canadian Tire money to use at the gas bar
thetreshon
Well-known member
Was searching for something else, and came across this, and I can't believe nobody else noticed that you called GrAy Canada ratchets POS!!! Wow...I've got several of them, and they're built like tanks...may have low tooth count, but they're by no means POS. I've got a few from the 60's or earlier.
My new ones are just better looking than my old ones, with Gray's current 'Mirror Chrome'
(Now I'm assuming you did mean GrAy with an 'A' and made in Canada...'GrEy' with an 'E' is Grey Pneumatic, most if not all asian made product, and they do make ratchets AFAIK. Never used one, so can't give opinion on those).
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carcajou
Well-known member
FYI Just took a 13mm Flexhead gearwrench into CT for warranty and the new replacement is of a different thickness on the open end.
lbgradwell
Well-known member
I think this may be the new record for "dead thread bumping"!!! 
I think this may be the new record for "dead thread bumping"!!!
Well let's keep this train rolling then.
According to this tekton rep @ 1:02, MIT is making mastercraft, probably just hand tools.
Mr54F100Man
New member
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- Sep 15, 2011
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Last I knew the mastercraft wrenches and socket stuff was the same as Allen (Apex tool group)
lbgradwell
Well-known member
No...
Hillbillyjim
New member
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2018
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I've had master craft tools in the past. They were always very poor quality. Roughly equivalent to harber frieght.
alexigtivr6
Active member
MIT tools has nothing to do with Canadatire's Mastercraft line of tools.
MIT tools has a maxcraft line of tools. Totally different.
-Hey_Now-
Well-known member
Excellent loaner tools with little to no worry if returned or not.
Jazz1
Well-known member
I have one master craft tool stamped Made in West Germany
Pro Series Mastercraft metric wrenches. Likely made in asia but excellent wrenches.
Couple mastercraft socket sets for vehicles, no complaints. They make excellent ratchets. No doubt made in asia as well
The dog bone wrench is stamped West Germany
Pro Series Mastercraft metric wrenches. Likely made in asia but excellent wrenches.
Couple mastercraft socket sets for vehicles, no complaints. They make excellent ratchets. No doubt made in asia as well
The dog bone wrench is stamped West Germany
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canadiantoolguy
New member
I finally decided to give up on Mastercraft tools, as of today. The quality has gone down hill so far that things like their socket sets are unusable - the new sets that is. I bought a socket set about 12 years ago that was awesome. Very tight tolerances and solid. The new set I bought recently has so much play in them - especially the extensions - that I broke a bolt and damaged my PCV valve while trying to tighten things down using the new Mastercraft socket set.
I am going to sell my Mastercraft socket set to someone who doesnt dislike it as much as I do.
I bought a car jack with their Certified brand stickered on the top. It lasted me about 4 - 5 uses and now makes a poping sound when I try to jack up my car. It isnt air trapped in the jack because I know how to purge a jack. Something else has failed with it.
The Mastercraft torque wrench I bought 18 months ago no longer works and the store wont exchange it, so I am SOL on that too.
I dont think Canadian Tire's house brands are worth buying anymore. Extremely cheaply made and they dont last more than 1 - 2 years with minimal use. I am going back to Craftsman tools.
I am going to sell my Mastercraft socket set to someone who doesnt dislike it as much as I do.
I bought a car jack with their Certified brand stickered on the top. It lasted me about 4 - 5 uses and now makes a poping sound when I try to jack up my car. It isnt air trapped in the jack because I know how to purge a jack. Something else has failed with it.
The Mastercraft torque wrench I bought 18 months ago no longer works and the store wont exchange it, so I am SOL on that too.
I dont think Canadian Tire's house brands are worth buying anymore. Extremely cheaply made and they dont last more than 1 - 2 years with minimal use. I am going back to Craftsman tools.
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Professional Tool User
Well-known member
For the supplier, it depends on the vintage. Very early on it was Gray tools. After that, everything was Made in China unless there are some exceptions I don't know about. Some of the recent Maximum hand tools look suspiciously similar to Gearwrench, so Apex tool group is probably involved.
Downwindtracker 2
Well-known member
A couple of years back my tool box got stolen out of the truck's canopy , at their quality level, more of an annoyance than a loss. So I replaced it with Mastercraft kit, a 200 for $79.99, you know the ones that go on sale. The sockets seem decent, ratchets not so much. The wrenches were the old style, satin finish, more clunky than I remember.. I've done more work with them than the good ones at home.
The Craftsman I've seen don't look to be much of an improvement. Spend some money, get some good tools, like Gearwrench or Tekton off Amazon.
The Craftsman I've seen don't look to be much of an improvement. Spend some money, get some good tools, like Gearwrench or Tekton off Amazon.
Professional Tool User
Well-known member
You get what you pay for with Mastercraft. The steel they use isn't the best, but I haven't heard any recent complaints about their sockets and wrenches from people who used them on the job. Their ratchets are definitely garbage. But you can't really blame the tool if you used excessive force on a bolt.
As for the certified jacks, those are cheaper than the Harbor Freight ones. They are obviously going to be cheaply built. In regards to the torque wrench, it's a one year exchange warranty.
Of course they are not going to help you out.
WittHay
Well-known member
The Certified tools at Canadian Tire are dollar store level. Made to compete with the cheapest offerings at Princess Auto and the car parts places. Probably Walmart too.
The stamped Mastercraft sockets from 8 to 10 years ago were good. Probably made by Stanley. More recently most people i know just buy the Maximum sockets. The laser engraved version was nothing special but worked (fitted fasteners ok) and the newer stamped version seems better
The stamped Mastercraft sockets from 8 to 10 years ago were good. Probably made by Stanley. More recently most people i know just buy the Maximum sockets. The laser engraved version was nothing special but worked (fitted fasteners ok) and the newer stamped version seems better
PhantomEB
Well-known member
I am a Millwright by trade yet all my sockets and wrenches at home for my little fab shop/ home garage is Canadian Tire stuff. I do not follow the typical GJ persona and hasn’t don’t me wrong yet.
canadiantoolguy
New member
Last night, I couldnt sleep as I was thinking about my tools. You know you are addicted to tools when you lose sleep over them while laying in bed. Anyways, I searched Amazon and since I am a prime member, Amazon gave me a deal on a Craftsman 189 piece socket set for $127 plus tax.
I checked out the warranty and it seems that if I ever have an issue with the new Craftsman sockets, all I have to do is take it to any local retailer than sells Craftsman and they will exchange the damaged or non-working pieces free of charge and then get reimbursed through their Craftsman sales rep. If that holds up to be true, then I will be happy.
Canadian Tire basically doesnt allow returns anymore. They refuse most returns and claim that you need the receipt and to return the item in unused condition. Well, if using the item voids the warranty, I dont see how I get around that. Plus with tools, they are items that you use once a month and so by providing a basic 1 year replacement warranty, Canadian Tire is essentially covering you for about 12 uses of each tool you buy. Use it 12 times and you better expect it to break and be up the creek in terms of warranty coverage.
For my car jack, I probably used it 5 times in total before it crapped out on me and was out of warranty. Same for my Torque Wrench. 16 years ago, I bought a Canadian Tire torque wrench that was great and lasted me over 10 years before I gave it to my friend who needed one. The new one, as I mentioned, only lasted me 18 months. That's a huge drop in quality and I wont accept it anymore.
I will try at all costs to avoid buying tools from Canadian Tire. Princess Auto sells the same quality as Canadian Tire but their return process is much easier.
Companies always do this these days - they start out offering high quality to attract customers and then they nickel and dime the suppliers to try and cut sourcing costs and increase profits. Eventually, the quality falls so far that the tools become worthless and you then start looking for a new tool brand to invest in. Companies never learn.
I checked out the warranty and it seems that if I ever have an issue with the new Craftsman sockets, all I have to do is take it to any local retailer than sells Craftsman and they will exchange the damaged or non-working pieces free of charge and then get reimbursed through their Craftsman sales rep. If that holds up to be true, then I will be happy.
Canadian Tire basically doesnt allow returns anymore. They refuse most returns and claim that you need the receipt and to return the item in unused condition. Well, if using the item voids the warranty, I dont see how I get around that. Plus with tools, they are items that you use once a month and so by providing a basic 1 year replacement warranty, Canadian Tire is essentially covering you for about 12 uses of each tool you buy. Use it 12 times and you better expect it to break and be up the creek in terms of warranty coverage.
For my car jack, I probably used it 5 times in total before it crapped out on me and was out of warranty. Same for my Torque Wrench. 16 years ago, I bought a Canadian Tire torque wrench that was great and lasted me over 10 years before I gave it to my friend who needed one. The new one, as I mentioned, only lasted me 18 months. That's a huge drop in quality and I wont accept it anymore.
I will try at all costs to avoid buying tools from Canadian Tire. Princess Auto sells the same quality as Canadian Tire but their return process is much easier.
Companies always do this these days - they start out offering high quality to attract customers and then they nickel and dime the suppliers to try and cut sourcing costs and increase profits. Eventually, the quality falls so far that the tools become worthless and you then start looking for a new tool brand to invest in. Companies never learn.
Downwindtracker 2
Well-known member
At Princess Auto, their breaker bars are very good, but I would be leery of their chrome sockets . Their ProPoint brand is their better quality brand. I buy their Taiwanese made impacts.
With torque wrenches,( maybe we should call them ratchets? ) it depends what you are using them for. I have a couple of $20 ones for lug nuts, one in the truck, one in the travel trailer, but for something critical like cylinder head bolts, I bought an expensive one. Mine is made in the States and says Wright on it. Even then I have a beam torgue wrench to check it against. No sense blowing a head gasket like my neighbour did, a couple of times no less, before he realized his torque wrench was out.
With torque wrenches,( maybe we should call them ratchets? ) it depends what you are using them for. I have a couple of $20 ones for lug nuts, one in the truck, one in the travel trailer, but for something critical like cylinder head bolts, I bought an expensive one. Mine is made in the States and says Wright on it. Even then I have a beam torgue wrench to check it against. No sense blowing a head gasket like my neighbour did, a couple of times no less, before he realized his torque wrench was out.
PhantomEB
Well-known member
Be picky on what you choose, know just what the usage is gonna be and be realistic about it. I am a 100g a year guy, yet don’t see me buying top dollar stuff. Every dollar I can be realistic with on my hand tools for my hobbyist garage with off-road toys means a 30t press, a TiG/stick machine and who knows maybe a milling machine to replace my drill press (that one is a really? Why?)
Here’s my socket drawer. 99% Canadian Tire. I brought one big set then been adding on what didn’t come with it or lost.
Here’s my socket drawer. 99% Canadian Tire. I brought one big set then been adding on what didn’t come with it or lost.
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charger 73
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- Nov 4, 2017
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I have found their tools adequate for home use. but would still be Leary of using them daily at work. I have had no warranty issues to date but also know that when I but a set of pliers for $20 or a 100 piece screwdriver set for $30 I know that i am not getting professional grade. however they seem good for general home use. the same applies to their wrenches and impact sockets plus they are a 5 min drive from home if i need something.
canadiantoolguy
New member
I received my Craftsman 189 piece socket set on Friday and the play/movement at the point where the socket and the rachet meet is worse than on my Mastercraft set. So, I will be returning the Craftsman set through Amazon Returns immediately. I am so disappointed in the quality of things being offered these days.
For comparison purposes, I have a rachet that I bought from a dollar store some 20 years ago. I tested it out to see the amount of play it owns and to my surprise, it is tighter with less play than either the Craftsman or Mastercraft. Just goes to show you that it isnt cost cutting that is producing poor quality results these days - its incompetence. Because if the dollar store supplier can bring a reasonable offering to the marketplace for $1, then these brand named offerings should be much better as well.
I really hate when I put a socket onto a rachet and there is so much play and movement where the two parts meet that you worry about pulling off a nut, or rounding one off, or breaking a bolt. It shouldnt be the case. I am willing to spend more than $100 on a socket set and I should be able to find something worthwhile. I am not a professional mechanic, but in a way that is even more reason to get a socket set that works well.
I have also started to sell my other Canadian Tire tools - linesman pliers, diagonal cutting pliers etc. I find everything from CT to be relatively useless. In the past, I would buy their multi-pack specials at 70% and think I was getting a fantastic deal. Now I realize that a quality tool at one unit is more valuable than a multi-pack of poor quality tools at the same price.
I am thinking of buying husky pliers on sale because I find their quality to be better than Mastercraft and then invest in some Knipex hand tools when I feel it is necessary. I saw a Knipex Linesman set of pliers for $42 on Amazon that look fantastic.
If I do run into problems with Husky tools, at least their exchange or refund policies are worlds better than Canadian Tire's policies. Canadian Tire does everything in their power to make sure you leave the store without them losing a penny on the return.
For comparison purposes, I have a rachet that I bought from a dollar store some 20 years ago. I tested it out to see the amount of play it owns and to my surprise, it is tighter with less play than either the Craftsman or Mastercraft. Just goes to show you that it isnt cost cutting that is producing poor quality results these days - its incompetence. Because if the dollar store supplier can bring a reasonable offering to the marketplace for $1, then these brand named offerings should be much better as well.
I really hate when I put a socket onto a rachet and there is so much play and movement where the two parts meet that you worry about pulling off a nut, or rounding one off, or breaking a bolt. It shouldnt be the case. I am willing to spend more than $100 on a socket set and I should be able to find something worthwhile. I am not a professional mechanic, but in a way that is even more reason to get a socket set that works well.
I have also started to sell my other Canadian Tire tools - linesman pliers, diagonal cutting pliers etc. I find everything from CT to be relatively useless. In the past, I would buy their multi-pack specials at 70% and think I was getting a fantastic deal. Now I realize that a quality tool at one unit is more valuable than a multi-pack of poor quality tools at the same price.
I am thinking of buying husky pliers on sale because I find their quality to be better than Mastercraft and then invest in some Knipex hand tools when I feel it is necessary. I saw a Knipex Linesman set of pliers for $42 on Amazon that look fantastic.
If I do run into problems with Husky tools, at least their exchange or refund policies are worlds better than Canadian Tire's policies. Canadian Tire does everything in their power to make sure you leave the store without them losing a penny on the return.
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The professional series started off made in Taiwan. I stopped using mastercraft tools when it switched to maximum. I bought my first ser of proto when they ditched pro series. My hands ache just thinking about pulling hard on a maximum wrench