Truecraft Tools
- Thread starter Bull
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Even the older offerings from them? Also, I thought they were made in Japan?
I am asking because Truecraft became part of the Daido Corp as of 1947, and Daido also owned the Allenite name. My Allenite ratchet is US made. So, I am trying to piece together whether Daido had a miox of US and offshore offerings, which seems to be the case based on your responses here.
With the satin finish and the fairly thick beams, they're not unlike my Protos.
MAD
Well-known member
I have seen Truecraft tools that were "Made in USA". (Mostly sockets) I remember buying two U.S. made Truecraft pullers around 10 years ago. The Truecraft ratchets I remember were made in Japan. The Japanese ratchets were basically Craftsman clones.
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They are not as heavy as some large Armstrongs I have but still feel solid. Considering how they were used working on and maintaining rock crushing equipment and related machinery (translation: cheater pipes, hammers, etc) they held up well, better than some of the other name brand tools he used. The beams are not as thick as SK Professional raised panels (which I like...girlie hands I guess
) but still have a very comfortable feel when you have to bear down on them. I also have a 1" which didn't get in the above pictures.I have not had to use these large sizes much but have not had any problems with them. Like I said ^, my dad worked his tools very hard so, with the wrenches anyway, I trust them. If I found some that match, I would not hesitate to add to these that I have. IMHO I would rate them at least on par with my SKs.
dieseldodge01
Well-known member
My dad has a set of wrenches made by Truecraft in the 70's that were made in Spain 3/8-7/8. I have larger 1 1/16, 1 1/8 and 1 1/4. There not too bad, wide beams but kinda on the thin side for me, around the same thickness as a Cman.
Coach James
Well-known member
The traveling tool show that goes through here each year always has Truecraft wrenches for sale. They've always been marked "Japan". They look nice and feel comfortable.
Coach
Coach
Eddie Hudson
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- Sep 16, 2008
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TrueCraft tools were made in New Jersey from the 1960s until around 2000. I have a few sockets and a few pullers and they are good stuff. Mine came from an auto parts place that was going out of bussiness. The owner told me he used to sell the TrueCraft tools. They were high quality at a reasonable price. TrueCraft is a Japanese company and I think they still make tools in Japan.
CarCrafter
Well-known member
I have Truecraft ratchets that are stamped Japan, and I have pitman arm pullers and balancer pullers that are stamped USA.
Tell me about the ratchets. How many teeth, how do they feel etc.?
old salvage
Well-known member
I've got a 1/2" roundhead ratchet somewhere. I know its marked 'Japan' and is very similar to 'challenger' ratchets from the 70's.
I'll dig it up and do a tooth count.
Edit
Its got 45 teeth.
I'll dig it up and do a tooth count.
Edit
Its got 45 teeth.
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I also have this 3/8 drive round head stubby that I bought at a travelling tool show a couple of years ago. As you can see from the pics, I haven't used it much. It's got 42 teeth and is 4" long (I forgot to put the tape in the photos). The action is very smooth, smoother than similar toothed Proto and circa mid 1990s Husky that I have. For $5 new, I've been very happy with it.
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Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I never saw Truecraft marked Taiwan. It was always Japan or USA. The line was a mixture of both. I think I still have some Truecraft US made Torx screwdrivers around here somewhere. Pepboys used to sell most of their line until around 2000. I also know a few independent parts house also sold Truecraft. I think the Truecraft brand disappeared with the onslaught of cheap PRC made tools started flooding the market.
superautobacs
Well-known member
I have a Truecraft sparkplug socket and it's made in Japan.
From my understanding, Daido Corp. did not operate any plants of their own; they contracted/outsourced/imported to build up their line of offering from both US and Japanese tool makers.
From my understanding, Daido Corp. did not operate any plants of their own; they contracted/outsourced/imported to build up their line of offering from both US and Japanese tool makers.
CarCrafter
Well-known member
The 3/8 has 24 teeth, and the 1/2 has 32 teeh. They both feel pretty good actually, not quite a snappy but its better than a craftsman. I've had them for probably going on 15 years now. I don't use them much these days since I don't know where I'd be able to get warranty since I believe they are out of business now.
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lbgradwell
Well-known member
Snap-on owns Palmera now... Palmera is part of their Eurotools division formed in 1995.
superautobacs
Well-known member
CarCrafter,
Thanks for the photos. I've wondered who was the Japanese supplier for Daido, and based on your picture of the ratchets I can be pretty certain that the OEM is SEK (Suekage Tools).
I saw the pictures of Toolmutt's round-head stubby and I immediately thought "SEK" as they're the only Japanese tool makers that uses a ball on the end of their stubby ratchets and still offers a round head style like that....but I wasn't totally sure.
However, your Truecraft ratchets closely resembles even the current production so I'm quite certain that it's SEK:
This is a 24-tooth like yours:
The round head style:
And here's a stubby with the ball end handle with a pear type ratchet head:
Thumper,
That's pretty neat, and certainly made finding the OEM for their Spanish-made tools a breeze!
FWIW, Palmera has been discussed in the "Tools from the Old World" thread.
Thanks for the photos. I've wondered who was the Japanese supplier for Daido, and based on your picture of the ratchets I can be pretty certain that the OEM is SEK (Suekage Tools).
I saw the pictures of Toolmutt's round-head stubby and I immediately thought "SEK" as they're the only Japanese tool makers that uses a ball on the end of their stubby ratchets and still offers a round head style like that....but I wasn't totally sure.
However, your Truecraft ratchets closely resembles even the current production so I'm quite certain that it's SEK:
This is a 24-tooth like yours:
The round head style:
And here's a stubby with the ball end handle with a pear type ratchet head:
Thumper,
That's pretty neat, and certainly made finding the OEM for their Spanish-made tools a breeze!
FWIW, Palmera has been discussed in the "Tools from the Old World" thread.
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CarCrafter
Well-known member
Cool... thanks.. Its nice to learn about where some of our tools are born..
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back2class
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Any truecraft warranty? I had a nice impact set made in Japan. My Trucraft pliers need a replacement.
CarCrafter
Well-known member
I think they are out of business. I finally threw my balancer puller into the scrap bin after 5 years of on and off searching.
plinker
Well-known member
Up here truecraft is what alot of farmers bought (as Truecraft was sold at Fleet farm) Thy are no longer in business for whatever reason.
I have seen made in Japan,Spain and USA (which I wonder if its rebranded)
I would rate Truecraft up with S-K aand Snap-on quality wise.
I have seen made in Japan,Spain and USA (which I wonder if its rebranded)
I would rate Truecraft up with S-K aand Snap-on quality wise.
That's high praise indeed!
jwith68
Well-known member
I have a few Truecraft items, namely a set of 8", 10", and 12" adjustable wrenches, and a 3/4" drive socket set, made up of two partial sets, both picked up cheap. All the above are marked "Japan", and all have been very good tools. The adjustable wrenches are in my "carry-around" box, and see limited use now, but the 3/4" drive stuff comes out when nothing else will bring it loose.
I have had an 8' cheater pipe on a Truecraft breaker bar and 1-1/8" socket pulling bolts out of an old Case high-lift, and not hurt them one bit. I'm not sure I would rate everything Truecraft I've seen so high, but what I have is very good quality, and can usually be bought cheap.
I have had an 8' cheater pipe on a Truecraft breaker bar and 1-1/8" socket pulling bolts out of an old Case high-lift, and not hurt them one bit. I'm not sure I would rate everything Truecraft I've seen so high, but what I have is very good quality, and can usually be bought cheap.
kc-steve
Well-known member
Pardon my bump, . . . but I was researching True Craft tools that are in an auction and found this thread on the 'Net.
The ones shown in the auction look similar to Craftsman in smaller pix, but when you zoom in on them there is a difference and do look like they might be fairly good quality. However, without a warranty, being out of business, I don't think I'll make any bids. Currently 17 bids at $500 seems a bit high also.
http://www.purplewave.com/cgi-bin/mnlist.cgi?110215/2375
Thanks all,
Steve
The ones shown in the auction look similar to Craftsman in smaller pix, but when you zoom in on them there is a difference and do look like they might be fairly good quality. However, without a warranty, being out of business, I don't think I'll make any bids. Currently 17 bids at $500 seems a bit high also.
http://www.purplewave.com/cgi-bin/mnlist.cgi?110215/2375
Thanks all,
Steve
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Our local fleet farm http://www.fleetfarm.com/ used to sell the truecraft brand that were made in japan
alex71
Well-known member
Here is a NOS Truecraft 1/2" drive ratchet stamped SPAIN. Dead ringer for Wright? or is it just the handle?
It's for sale BTW
It's for sale BTW
Our local farm stores sold them in the 80's and we still have several open/boxed wrenches all marked "Japan". Above 9/16" they were pretty decent but the smaller ones would bend if using the boxed end and the open end would be unusable after one tough fastener.