New Craftsman Thumbwheel Ratchet?

[gatewaysysop]

Well, happened to be in Sears tonight and perusing the ratchet/socket section, see if there was anything new or any good deals to be had. Ran into something rather unfortunate.

It appears the 1/4" drive (only ones they had) thumb wheel ratchets are now made in Taiwan. I had to double check. They've changed the overall design too and it feels lighter in the hand than the US made one that I bought a few years ago. Doesn't feel as smooth either, but maybe that's just me. I really, really don't like the new design, even with the COO arguments aside. Just doesn't feel as nice to me.

Has anyone else seen this? I tried searching but didn't have much luck. Sorry if this is old news.

I wonder what's next.

EDIT: Hmm. Found a post on that Craftsman Community thing where someone else apparently found the China one as well. Check it out (second post down, I think):http://community.craftsman.com/topics/Why-Home-Depot-s-Online-Store-Won-t-Say-Where-Tools-are-Made/posts

 

[ImportTuner]

I never knew Craftsman made a thumbwheel ratchet .. I have the SK one ..

 

[NAYLOR]

Are they the ones that are anodized different colors? I don't think those are craftsman.

 

[gatewaysysop]

Are they the ones that are anodized different colors? I don't think those are craftsman.

No, sadly. They're the ones on the plastic tag that says "Craftsman" in big letters. They've sold these for years. You know, they look like the one pictured here. I think these used to be made by SK at one point, with a different style of selector, but otherwise pretty similar:

 

[dankicksass]

The Kobalt one is a Gearwrench plastic body clone, can't say I'm shocked to hear the Cman is TW. That's Apex/Danaher's big plan isn't it?

 

[kythri]

The old ones were, in fact, made by SK.

Don't think it was Sears/Craftsman plan that SK tanked, but that's the reason, at least in part, of why the new ones aren't US-made.

 

[4x4gearhead]

The old ones were, in fact, made by SK.

Don't think it was Sears/Craftsman plan that SK tanked, but that's the reason, at least in part, of why the new ones aren't US-made.

i heard that s-k was bought and is in kind of a limbo at the moment i have a pile of sockets and a ratchet or two for warranty and no one can get anything :[

 

[mrholeshot]

If you look in the catalog they show a picture of a "Craftsman" Thumbwheel. The actual photo has SK on it.

 

[sk farmer]

oddly, the cman thumbwheel ratchets used the tuff1 mechanism and the sk versions used the pro ratchet guts. the cman version was not really a rebage but a completely differant ratchet than sk offered. that made the cman a 72 tooth and the sk a 45. the kobalt pictured above was also available as a titan and harbor freight. they are also copies of the facom 72 tooth design.

 

[Fedwrench]

Yeah, I've seen the new Taiwan made thumbwheel ratchet hanging on the rack at Sears. Actually it was the large letters spelling Taiwan that caught my eye. It is lighter than the SK version and that can be a good thing since we're only talking about a thumb wheel ratchet. Unfortunately, I think that if a current US Craftsman tool supplier closes or discontinues making a particular tool, you can count on the replacement being from either Taiwan or the PRC.

 

[supertooljunkie]

I have the SK version.

 

[otis66]

Well, happened to be in Sears tonight and perusing the ratchet/socket section, see if there was anything new or any good deals to be had. Ran into something rather unfortunate.

It appears the 1/4" drive (only ones they had) thumb wheel ratchets are now made in Taiwan. I had to double check. They've changed the overall design too and it feels lighter in the hand than the US made one that I bought a few years ago. Doesn't feel as smooth either, but maybe that's just me. I really, really don't like the new design, even with the COO arguments aside. Just doesn't feel as nice to me.

Has anyone else seen this? I tried searching but didn't have much luck. Sorry if this is old news.

I wonder what's next.

EDIT: Hmm. Found a post on that Craftsman Community thing where someone else apparently found the China one as well. Check it out (second post down, I think):http://community.craftsman.com/topics/Why-Home-Depot-s-Online-Store-Won-t-Say-Where-Tools-are-Made/posts

I noticed that it was not made in USA also so I did not but it. I'll wait for SK . I will not buy any Craftsman tools not Made In USA.

 

[tales]

I have a Blue Point 1/4"square drive/1/4" hex. This is a stiff finger ratchet, when tightinging the ratchet backs out the bolt if there isn't enough pressure on the bolt.

I was in sears today & bought the craftsman thumbwheel ratchet 1/4" drive made in the USA. They also had "the new Taiwan made thumbwheel" it is lighter but too stiff like my Blue Point.

I never tried Snap On They sell for $40-$50 used on eBay.
IMO, Craftsman made in the USA or SK are the best bang for your buck. I never tried the Williams Super Palmster.

 

[DrkMtnDew]

I have the SK version.

this is the one i have also. they are very nice ratchets and the mechanism is nice and smooth. and i agree about the new ones, they just feel light and flimsy although i've never used one. just going off first impressions.

 

[Toolhorder]

I have the SO version...First one!

 

[Goinlow]

What are these called when they have a female drive end on the back so you can put it in-between your ratchet and socket?

 

[Toolhorder]

Thumb wheel extension?

 

[usdemt]

What are these called when they have a female drive end on the back so you can put it in-between your ratchet and socket?

A ratchet adapter? Ratchet adapters are made to make a breaker bar into a ratchet if that is what you are referring to.