New craftsman flare nut wrenches

[Fedwrench]

I swung by Sears today to see if there was anything new that I couldn't live with out. I didn't see anything. However, I noticed that instead of the usual Craftsman Professional Flare nut wrenches made by SK hanging on the wall, they had a new style with offset ends. I looked them over. They seemed a little thin and not exceptionally well finished. I flipped the box over, and yes they are made in China. Granted, I expect the dogbones, spline and ratcheting wrenches to be made in China these days but, I am surprised to see elements of the basic Craftsman Hardline like line wrenches now made in China. Can our favorite Craftsman Professional clones of Armstrong combination wrenches be far behind? The new line wrenches are not listed on the website yet so, I can't provide a link. However they do have what appear to Gearwrench flex head flare nut wrenches labeled as Craftsman. Perhaps this is the future of Craftsman mechanics hand tools, rebadged Gearwrench, or just a typo on the website. If you're out and about at Sears this weekend, check out the new Chinese line wrenches.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...e+Nut+Wrenches&prdNo=5&blockNo=5&blockType=L5

 

[Jeff]

I went to the link. The description says Craftsman but when zooming on the image it shows Gearwrench. Go figure.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Gearwrench has made that style for a while. Between that, and the possible demise of SK, I am not surprised (sourcing replacement stuff). Dahaner isn't going anywhere, soon, so the Armstrong clone ones should be around.

 

[boybacon]

All of the "new, innovative" craftsman hand tools are coming out of China, and to be honest, it looks like the whole line is moving that way, wrenches and all.

 

[Case]

THAT is the reason ull never catch me in a sears ..... im not buying a quality american tool and it breaking and having it replaced with apiece of china ****....

 

[nismomans13]

it astounds me that people are still surprised that tools are being manufactured in China. Especially when some SO and other truck branded tools are manufactured there.

 

[Case]

it astounds me that people are still surprised that tools are being manufactured in China. Especially when some SO and other truck branded tools are manufactured there.

no its suprising that companys that were once ALL american made are now sourcing **** from china...

 

[Fedwrench]

it astounds me that people are still surprised that tools are being manufactured in China. Especially when some SO and other truck branded tools are manufactured there.

It's not as much of a matter as surprise as it is sadness. Like or hate it, the core Craftsman mechanics tools hardline has been around for more than a few years, and to see it slide into another Chinese made version of an American icon ***** plain and simple but, that's just me. I understand China makes tools for everyone.

Let me clarify something in my original post since it may have gotten blurred talking about two different sets of wrenches. At the two Sears stores I visited today, the Craftsman Professional flare wrenches were gone and in there place were the new Chinese made full polished flare nut wrenches with 15 degree offset ends. The Gearwrench flexible flare nut wrenches misnamed Craftsman at sears website are a completely different set of wrenches. Ok?

 

[willf650]

THAT is the reason ull never catch me in a sears ..... im not buying a quality american tool and it breaking and having it replaced with apiece of china ****....

It's more then just Craftsman going that way. One sad thing I've noticed from a couple companies other than sears is they are starting to pull the USA out of the casting on tools even thought they are still made in America at this point. I can only guess that this is for getting ready to ship it over for foreign manufacture.

 

[olds394]

I noticed that instead of the usual Craftsman Professional Flare nut wrenches made by SK hanging on the wall, they had a new style with offset ends. I looked them over. They seemed a little thin and not exceptionally well finished.

For me there is no excuse for the imported tools not to be flawless...when they ask the same money.

 

[jcfields]

It just confirms my fear with American tools: that they're going to be gone some day and that we should get them while we can. It started at the low-end and has been working its way up.

 

[apostrophe]

Are any of the Craftsman Professional line made off shore? Most of my 'main line' tools are twenty year old craftsman which have served me very well. But the past few years I've been buying the Pro line - screwdrivers, flare nut wrenches, etc. simply because the standard Craftsman items just aren't what they used to be. As far as the tear drop ratchets - I simply tossed them out, they were that bad.

I love the gear wrench stuff, I probably have five or six sets and reach for those first if I don't see rust. And I have several sets of the Taiwan-built impact sockets from harbor freight that I've found no fault with. Perhaps the plan is to move standard craftsman off shore, and retain the Pro line for the serious user. I'd be OK with that.

 

[DavidB]

It's not as much of a matter as surprise as it is sadness. Like or hate it, the core Craftsman mechanics tools hardline has been around for more than a few years, and to see it slide into another Chinese made version of an American icon ***** plain and simple but, that's just me. I understand China makes tools for everyone.

Let me clarify something in my original post since it may have gotten blurred talking about two different sets of wrenches. At the two Sears stores I visited today, the Craftsman Professional flare wrenches were gone and in there place were the new Chinese made full polished flare nut wrenches with 15 degree offset ends. The Gearwrench flexible flare nut wrenches misnamed Craftsman at sears website are a completely different set of wrenches. Ok?

These are the ones that are being replaced correct? http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00942013000P

These are what is replacing them correct? http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00993021000P?keyword=flare+nut+wrench+set&prdNo=10

If so thats a crazy price difference for one more wrench and all of them being made in China.

 

[D9H 90V]

Just curious if im the only one that sometimes uses flare nut wrenches for things other then lines

 

[poprockcrusher]

like what ?

 

[Jeff]

Just curious if im the only one that sometimes uses flare nut wrenches for things other then lines

No. I have only a basic set of flares. Just enough to get me by.

 

[D9H 90V]

like what ?

Like regular nuts and bolts, stuff you could use a regular wrench or a socket on, say you were replacing a fuel pump and needed to remove a couple of bolts that hold down the lines and all you brang was a flare nut wrench, do you get a wrench or socket or just use your flare nut wrench?

 

[boybacon]

Personally, I use my flare nut wrenches for working on soft aluminum or brass fittings. Specifically the metric set finds use on hydraulic bicycle disc brake lines, and the insides of bicycle suspension forks. For the same reason, I use a set of metric flare crowfoot drivers to torque those parts to spec.

It seems that as the Craftsman USA made hardline tools are selling out of stock, they are being replaced with the Chinese made tools. I don't know if they've decided to compete with GearWrench or what, but I'd rather buy the USA origin tools, given the choice. If I had to pay more for a higher quality tool (or tools) that are made in the USA and end up with less tools in my toolbox, then that's what I'll do. Quality over quantity any day.

 

[jkeyser14]

I sent Craftsman an e-mail last night telling them I won't buy a made in China Craftsman product and that if I did want a Chinese made wrench I'd go to Harbor Freight.

I suggest some of you do the same. The only way they will know the customers aren't happy is to tell them (in writing, not just with your wallet).

 

[boybacon]

Sears has a "Community" website as well. Mysears.com. It's like an online Sears forum community. Anyway, they have an "ideas" section. If you go to that section and search "ideas" for "origin", about the 4th or 5th result that comes up is my idea to clearly label the country of origin for all Craftsman tools. That way they could track how much value customers place on the "MADE IN USA" label. I also encourage you to post your own ideas for keeping Craftsman in America. I don't mind that there are tools made overseas for dirt cheap, I just want the option not to buy them.

 

[dsan]

I sent Craftsman an e-mail last night telling them I won't buy a made in China Craftsman product and that if I did want a Chinese made wrench I'd go to Harbor Freight.

I suggest some of you do the same. The only way they will know the customers aren't happy is to tell them (in writing, not just with your wallet).

Good idea.

 

[Case]

I sent Craftsman an e-mail last night telling them I won't buy a made in China Craftsman product and that if I did want a Chinese made wrench I'd go to Harbor Freight.

I suggest some of you do the same. The only way they will know the customers aren't happy is to tell them (in writing, not just with your wallet).

i have done the same thing a few times..... never have gotten a response

 

[dede2897234]

Today, at the Ashtabula, OH Sears, I too saw the replacement Chinese-made Craftsman 5-piece flare nut wrench sets (with the 15 degree offset ends) for sale. Both the fractional and metric sets were $39.99 each. The model # for the fractional set is 42012. The metric set's model # is 42013.


Dave

 

[jethro29]

one thing you need to consider is if your going to buy some line wrenches,make sure you get six point and not twelve point.much less chance of rounding off a fitting . imo.

 

[Scooterfish]

Today, at the Ashtabula, OH Sears, I too saw the replacement Chinese-made Craftsman 5-piece flare nut wrench sets (with the 15 degree offset ends) for sale. Both the fractional and metric sets were $39.99 each. The model # for the fractional set is 42012. The metric set's model # is 42013.


Dave

Interesting the price is $40 now for Chinese and the older USA set was $35. I bought the older set recently for $25 on sale.

 

[orty228]

At the Sears in Manchester, CT they had both the old and the new flare wrenches on the shelf. They share the same part number.

Old Part #42012 5 Piece SAE Flare labeled Craftsman Professional $34.99
Rebadged SKs with No Offset Made in USA

Old Part #42013 5 Piece Metric Flare labeled Craftsman Professional $34.99
Rebadged SKs with No Offset Made in USA

New Part #42012 5 Piece SAE Flare labeled just Craftsman $39.99
Made in China, Offset

New Part #42013 5 Piece Metric Flare labeled just Craftsman $39.99
Made in China, Offset

 

[boybacon]

But why would you make it in CHina and charge more? The only thing I can figure is that SK was the manufacturer and either SK is no longer manufacturing, or they switched production to China. Either way, I'm not buying a chinese set of wrenches for more money than a US set of wrenches. Sheesh.

 

[gatewaysysop]

At the Sears in Manchester, CT they had both the old and the new flare wrenches on the shelf. They share the same part number.

Old Part #42012 5 Piece SAE Flare labeled Craftsman Professional $34.99
Rebadged SKs with No Offset Made in USA

Old Part #42013 5 Piece Metric Flare labeled Craftsman Professional $34.99
Rebadged SKs with No Offset Made in USA

New Part #42012 5 Piece SAE Flare labeled just Craftsman $39.99
Made in China, Offset

New Part #42013 5 Piece Metric Flare labeled just Craftsman $39.99
Made in China, Offset

Ugh.

Stuff like this makes me feel glad that when I had a few extra $$$, I bought both sets and whatever loose stock I thought I'd have a use for. At least that was when they were still SK and fairly decent quality for the money.

To see that they're now made in China, at a higher price point at that, just turns my stomach. The fact that they don't mark the country of origin on the tool (as I understand it) is, in my mind, even worse than the ripoff pricing.

I guess this means if I somehow manage to break or spread one of these puppies, I might as well chuck it in the trash and buy a replacement somewhere else. If the SK version doesn't cut it, I'm fairly confident the Chinese replacement won't hold up any better.