Screwdriver marking AA

[t1r2u3s4t]

Hi all

From this great forum I learnt that WF stands for Western Forge who makes Craftsman Pro and Husky Pro screwdrivers. The non-pro, clear plastic handle CM and Husky are also made in the USA but with AA marking. My experience with them hasn't been great (ie soft tips) but I was wondering what AA stands for.

Thanks!

 

[Gtamazing]

Alcoholics Anonymous
Anodized Aluminum
Army Ants

on a serious note I have no idea.

 

[SMKS]

The regular Craftsman screwdrivers I have are marked "WF" and "PR."

The PR is for Pratt Read.

I've never seen one with an AA marking, but perhaps it's new.

 

[lbgradwell]

The non-pro, clear plastic handle CM and Husky are also made in the USA but with AA marking.

Photos, please!

 

[t1r2u3s4t]

Here they are. The handles are hexagon and the writings on 3 sides as pictured.

 

[ajchien]

Huh. I just looked at the 20 Cman regular screwdrivers I have. 11 are PR, 9 are WF. None are AA.

 

[lbgradwell]

Here they are. The handles are hexagon and the writings on 3 sides as pictured.

Those are all Husky though, aren't they?

Can you post a Craftsman with AA markings?

 

[pipsters]

AA is simply the date code. Z was last year and AA is 2011. They've already run thru A-Z so now on to AA.

 

[t1r2u3s4t]

mystery solved. Thanks!

Regarding the Sears' Craftsman set, I don't actually own one. I just noticed the marking while browsing the store. This 18-pcs set is very similar to the one by Husky

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00941608000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

AA is simply the date code. Z was last year and AA is 2011. They've already run thru A-Z so now on to AA.

 

[HandyManny]

Hi all

From this great forum I learnt that WF stands for Western Forge who makes Craftsman Pro and Husky Pro screwdrivers. The non-pro, clear plastic handle CM and Husky are also made in the USA but with AA marking. My experience with them hasn't been great (ie soft tips) but I was wondering what AA stands for.

Thanks!

Western Forge and Pratt Reed also make the basic (non-pro) Craftsman screwdrivers as well, about 60/40. The two were seperate companies up until recently when Ideal acquired both Western Forge and Pratt Reed.

 

[SMKS]

Those are all Husky though, aren't they?

Can you post a Craftsman with AA markings?

Same question here. I think that's a marking you'll only find on Home Depot tools.

 

[pipsters]

Same question here. I think that's a marking you'll only find on Home Depot tools.

No my local Sears has new smelly handled screwdrivers with AA as well.

 

[lbgradwell]

No my local Sears has new smelly handled screwdrivers with AA as well.

Then that's a new one AFAIK, and unlikely date-related. If it is a date code, it would be the first I know of on Craftsman tools...

Does that mean there is no manufacturer code on the new Craftsmans?

Have Husky screwdrivers really been around 27 years?

Just can't see that being a date code...

 

[jjjrmx5]

Then that's a new one AFAIK, and unlikely date-related.
Just can't see that being a date code...

I don;t see why not. I have several clear handled C'man screwdrivers(a full set plus many more) in my box with a C or D stamp and they were bought new by me in a Sears store more than 20 years ago.

 

[pipsters]

Then that's a new one AFAIK, and unlikely date-related. If it is a date code, it would be the first I know of on Craftsman tools...

Does that mean there is no manufacturer code on the new Craftsmans?

Have Husky screwdrivers really been around 27 years?

Just can't see that being a date code...

I doubt husky has but WF AA is their 2011 production code, or at least some time in 2011. I started seeing it a month or two ago.

I have a couple WF Y and mostly WF Z Craftsman branded screwdrivers which were bought last year around this time

 

[t1r2u3s4t]

Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure AA is not a date code. I have the same exact PH2x4" from years back that have the same marking...

Since you guys are so certain about no AAs on Craftsman, I wonder if I have imagined it too. I'll try to swing back to Sears and look for those mythical drivers...

 

[pipsters]

Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure AA is not a date code. I have the same exact PH2x4" from years back that have the same marking...

Since you guys are so certain about no AAs on Craftsman, I wonder if I have imagined it too. I'll try to swing back to Sears and look for those mythical drivers...

I don't know how WF did their markings years and years ago (although my father has a "WF P" he bought some 10-15 years ago he thinks just guessing) but you definitely saw AA.

I posted about this on 10/26/2011.

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1832100&postcount=73

It's possible they didn't change them in the past every year but the Y, Z, and AA codes definitely are coming out yearly now.

 

[davesnothere]

I just checked, and have 2 brand new 41584 cman screwdrivers bothe marked WF AA.
Both received as warranty replacements within the last few months.

 

[SO/PW newbie]

Western Forge and Pratt Reed also make the basic (non-pro) Craftsman screwdrivers as well, about 60/40. The two were seperate companies up until recently when Ideal acquired both Western Forge and Pratt Reed.

Does anyone know if the WF is any better quality than the PR or the other way around... eihter of the 2 stink less?

 

[SMKS]

I just happened to be at an ACE hardware that carries Craftsman tools, and I saw the screwdrivers with the additional markings.

It appears the AA marks are date codes. Here's a pic I took. There is a screwdriver with an old tag that has a "Z" marking and a screwdriver with a new tag that has the "AA" marking. I looked and there were other older drivers with "W" and "Y" marks.

 

[lbgradwell]

Well, I'll be..!

 

[ajchien]

Date code makes a lot of sense to me. I've got a lot of them marked Q and R. And a bunch marked Z. Probably bought the first batch about a decade ago, then just recently warrantied a whole handful last year when the Phillips tips wore out.