USA Craftsman... Fail

[soj]

Are we also sure it was a metric bleeder and not an SAE?

2003 Chevy truck, everything else is metric.

This forum truly never disappoints. Those who want to argue are ignoring the OP's repeated statements about just how little force was used & yet the wrench still failed.

In this case whether it was the right tool for the job is not the point. The point is that it failed so readily.

Thank you. This was my point, that the wrench broke so easily, it appeared to have a flaw in the metal, and was USA made vs. import, which is a HUGE topic of discussion on here.

LOL. You're right about never disappointing. But it's a likely 25+ year old tool as well. It's not like it's brand new out of the box and it just happened.

I haven't figured out what it matters how old it is. It is not mayonnaise, it doesn't have a shelf life. I feel sure I have never used that end of that wrench before, or it would have already broken, given how easily it broke. It would have happened the same if I had used it as soon as I got home from the store, or if my great-great-great grandson had used it when he was 80 years old. Can anyone explain how the age of a steel tool is a factor in durability?

Don't they have a lifetime warranty? So why does it matter? I'm not suggesting you shouldn't post it. Just don't understand why people get so upset

They do have a warranty, and I will take it back for replacement. I did not get upset, just disappointed. The first Craftsman tool to break on me, and I wasn't even close to abusing it. I posted it because the whole tool brand/country of origin thing is a point of lots of discussion on here, as it should be. This is, after all, a Garage Journal, and this is the Tools section. I read a lot of opinions on which tools are best/worst, where they should be made (opinions based on everything from quality of materials and workmanship to politics of the COO). I also see this a lot:



So I thought I could add to the discussion with a fact vs. an opinion, and throw in a pic or two for good measure.

I have opinions as well, and I try to base them on facts, as much as possible. My opinion of Craftsman has always been high, given the price to value ratio I have experienced. My opinion of the newer, imported Craftsman has been lower, but based on experience with other imported tools, as I have very few imported Craftsman. I am 67 so most of my tools I have had for a long time. I still have a small hand tool box and most of the tools from the first set I bought as a teenager.

So, although I see a lot on here disparaging "Crapsman" tools, (opinion, hopefully based on facts) my experience (fact, which has helped form my opinion) has been positive. This is my first breakage (fact), so I thought I could add some facts to the discussion that could help someone form an opinion. And I threw in the all important pic.
jp

 

[Wakefield]

Wrong. A line wrench is for slipping over a line (rubber, steel, copper, etc) and going onto a nut/fitting.

This is a brake bleeder wrench (6 points), the correct tool for the job:

There are various styles bend shapes and wrench sizes on those things and they might be specific to the vehicle. Otherwise a good 6 point box end or combination wrench might work wonders-a good argument why they should make combo wrenches available with 6 point end-still the flare wrench should not have broken and I think people do use them sometimes to loosen those screws

 

[Coopduc]

What I see here is many people making excuses for a poor quality tool made in USA and/or criticism of the OP. If this was an Asian imported tool I think the dialogue would be very different. Why not just call it what it is???

 

[toolman9w]

It broke with light pressure. That said it was a fluke and a small flaw. It happens to the best of tools.

 

[lightning02]

What I see here is many people making excuses for a poor quality tool made in USA and/or criticism of the OP. If this was an Asian imported tool I think the dialogue would be very different. Why not just call it what it is???

Guess SK is junk as well since in the 80s they had problems with there sockets cracking with light use. My father used alot of SK back then and he had to deal with this.

I like the OP have never broken a CM wrench or socket and I work on heavy equipment.

Every company has had a bad tool leave the factory every now and again. This is like saying a gun from S&W never left the factory without a defect lol

I see it like this and this is what I tell people. Any product that have a parts department or warranty has had a problem and or broken.

 

[kctyphoon]

The level of arrogance in here at times never ceases to amaze me.

 

[pauls_workshop]

Hey guys, there is absolutely no reason of any sort to be critical of the OP. The metallurgical picture of the failure is in complete agreement with the OP's description of the event. This is called "failure analysis" and is part of my field as a mechanical engineer. There was no fatigue here or misuse. It was a defect either from original forging or from the heat treatment (most likely original forging). OP is being completely honest here. Defects like this can happen to anybody. Better forging setups can reduce the frequency of defects but you can't eliminate them to zero for anyone. - Paul

 

[dwysywd]

They do have a warranty, and I will take it back for replacement. I did not get upset, just disappointed. The first Craftsman tool to break on me, and I wasn't even close to abusing it. I posted it because the whole tool brand/country of origin thing is a point of lots of discussion on here, as it should be. This is, after all, a Garage Journal, and this is the Tools section. I read a lot of opinions on which tools are best/worst, where they should be made (opinions based on everything from quality of materials and workmanship to politics of the COO). I also see this a lot:




Oh I understand. I agree, I'd be bummed too.

Maybe I misunderstood some of the other posters, they were the ones who seemed to be getting worked up. And while I own some snap-on, I have drawers full of craftsman because of the warranty. I have some ratchets that are 50 years old and they are starting to fail now.


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