USA Made Craftsman - What's left?

[Conductor562]

Yesterday my dad's neighbor and I changed out the bearings on his trailer. Conductor Jr. Was helping and somehow lost his pin punch. He wasn't worried about it, but I was at the mall today and took Conductor Jr. to Sears to get a replacement and teach him that when you lose or break someone's ****, you replace it.

The punches and chisels were all still made in the USA by Western Forge and felt really nice. My punch & chisel set is a mix of old Dasco, HF, and chisels stol......err......borrowed from the Railroad (by someone other than me of course). So I bought the biggest set for $45 as well as a couple additional sizes and went on my way before they China them out as well.

With all the hating on Craftsman lately (deserved and undeserved) I got to wondering, what is left that is still made in the USA?

At my store I noticed the punches & chisels, adjustable wrenches, some pliers, screwdrivers (classic and pro), pry bars (pro models only), jaw pullers, and some of their automotive tools.

Is there anything I'm missing?

PS: If this has already been done I apologize

 

[thesilverone]

whatever isnt made by Danaher/Apex

 

[Farmall450]

I think that's all. Some tool organization is US. I hope the WF stuff stays...

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Premium ratchets

Hammers

crowbars

Some Garden tools---rakes, shovels etc

Newer tool chests are "assembled in USA"

I'm sure I'm missing something else

Forgot to mention

Craftsman is coming out with a new ratchet. I have an early release/pre-store inventory model. The wife brought it home for me to play with. They were given out during a sears convention in vegas a week or so go to Sears Managers. They should be in stores for christmas

I'm not seeing USA stamped on it, so I assume its sourced from overseas

 

[Farmall450]

Cman will no longer rebadge hammers I heard, all Vaugn US.

 

[Conductor562]

I looked at the premium rats, but I could've sworn they were Taiwan. I could be wrong though. Keep in mind also that this is the first time in a long time I spent any time in Sears beyond a quick in and out.

 

[basspro]

I have snap on ball pein hammers, but I really like the cmans for the price, hope they dont get rid of those!

 

[Farmall450]

Premium ratchets are US still.

 

[Farmall450]

I have snap on ball pein hammers, but I really like the cmans for the price, hope they dont get rid of those!

I believe vaughn makes them now anyhow.

 

[Brownsfan]

I have not seen any of the regular(non pro) prybars that are not USA. I have heard reports that some have been spotted. Screwdrivers, pliers, pry bars, punches, chisels, one re-thread kit and whatever NOS wrenches,sockets and ratchets are left. Still some out there. Oh nut drivers are still USA. Premium ratchets. I have a feeling once they start to run low on stock on premium ratchets they will get discontinued.

 

[Brownsfan]

I looked at the premium rats, but I could've sworn they were Taiwan. I could be wrong though. Keep in mind also that this is the first time in a long time I spent any time in Sears beyond a quick in and out.

I think you are thinking of the thin profile ratchets.

 

[Conductor562]

I think you are thinking of the thin profile ratchets.

Could be.

I forgot about the thread chaser sets. I bought one last year and it is a nice set. Kastar/Lang made and sold under a ton of different labels.

The non-pro pry bars were all China at my store.

I was hoping to find a USA made T-60 socket, but they didn't have one at all aside from part of a China made set.

 

[Conductor562]

Premium ratchets

Hammers

crowbars

Some Garden tools---rakes, shovels etc

Newer tool chests are "assembled in USA"

I'm sure I'm missing something else

Forgot to mention

Craftsman is coming out with a new ratchet. I have an early release/pre-store inventory model. The wife brought it home for me to play with. They were given out during a sears convention in vegas a week or so go to Sears Managers. They should be in stores for christmas

I'm not seeing USA stamped on it, so I assume its sourced from overseas

And you don't even show us a pic? What a ****

In all seriousness, I understand. I've gotten my hands on some pre-release items over time.

 

[AV tinker er]

I bought the CM gasket scraper set (4 scrapers) a few weeks ago. Stamped USA on the handles; could they be made by Wilde like the prybars?

 

[zkling]

Cman will no longer rebadge hammers I heard, all Vaugn US.

I don't understand, can you elaborate on that? So you are saying they are going to make their own hammers, from now on (probably china)? The current ones are Vaugn?

I think everything except sockets (barring 3/4 drive stuff), wrenches, drive tools and impact stuff is still USA. Pliers, screwdrivers, punches, hammers, scrapers are safe for a while.... I hope.

I bought the CM gasket scraper set (4 scrapers) a few weeks ago. Stamped USA on the handles; could they be made by Wilde like the prybars?

I THINK so, but don't quote me on that.

 

[AV tinker er]

barring 3/4 drive stuff

3/4 isn't USA anymore?

 

[e_d]

The non-pro grade pry bars are American made at my local store, I just bought a set for $20 on sale.

 

[RM209]

Within the past couple of weeks I've been in two Ace hardware stores that recently began stocking the Craftsman line of sockets and ratchets. Although the ratchets were made in China, all of the sockets that were sold individually (and both stores had large dispays), were made in the U.S. Don't know about the sets.

RM209

 

[AV tinker er]

The non-pro grade pry bars are American made at my local store, I just bought a set for $20 on sale.

They are made by Wilde, and I dont think you will find a better deal than $20 for a set of prybars of that quality. Are there better prybars out there? probably, but you will pay for them.

 

[e_d]

I haven't seen a new American socket in over a year. Impact or chrome.

 

[Fordman7795]

The non-pro grade pry bars are American made at my local store, I just bought a set for $20 on sale.

They may be for now, but when the next boat comes in they will be china

 

[Fordman7795]

3/4 isn't USA anymore?

3/4" drive stuff is china as well

 

[zkling]

3/4 isn't USA anymore?

No, what I was saying is that all the sockets and drive stuff at are store is china barring some old 3/4 drive stuff. Sorry, I guess I could have worded that better. Actually most of the 3/4 drive stuff I see at the store has dust on it. I don't think they sell much of the 3/4 stuff here in the city attached to the mall. Or at least that is the way it seems. Everything else socket, drive and wrench wise is china

 

[ChevyEFI]

Craftsman is coming out with a new ratchet. I have an early release/pre-store inventory model. The wife brought it home for me to play with. They were given out during a sears convention in vegas a week or so go to Sears Managers. They should be in stores for christmas

I'm not seeing USA stamped on it, so I assume its sourced from overseas

And you don't even show us a pic? What a ****

No doubt!
Marker.

 

[DanCo]

Probably the last catalog.

Dan

 

[rednotch]

They may be for now, but when the next boat comes in they will be china

Taiwan, I have both, no usa sets in either the local mall sears or Kmart when I picked another set up.

 

[CWP1616L]

At my store I noticed the punches & chisels, adjustable wrenches, some pliers, screwdrivers (classic and pro), pry bars (pro models only), jaw pullers, and some of their automotive tools.

Is there anything I'm missing?

The nut drivers are still Western Forge USA the last time I checked. Hopefully they'll stay that way.

 

[Farmall450]

I don't understand, can you elaborate on that? So you are saying they are going to make their own hammers, from now on (probably china)? The current ones are Vaugn?

I think everything except sockets (barring 3/4 drive stuff), wrenches, drive tools and impact stuff is still USA. Pliers, screwdrivers, punches, hammers, scrapers are safe for a while.... I hope.



I THINK so, but don't quote me on that.

No, Sears will just carry Vaugan badged hammers instead of rebadging them cman.

 

[DMAR]

Cman will no longer rebadge hammers I heard, all Vaugn US.

I don't understand, can you elaborate on that? So you are saying they are going to make their own hammers, from now on (probably china)? The current ones are Vaugn?

I think everything except sockets (barring 3/4 drive stuff), wrenches, drive tools and impact stuff is still USA. Pliers, screwdrivers, punches, hammers, scrapers are safe for a while.... I hope.



I THINK so, but don't quote me on that.

The way I read that is that Craftsman will no longer put their names on all those nice Vaughan hammers, they will just be branded 'Vaughan.'

It seems to me that Sears is pretty committed to off-shoring all of their tools. They probably have to wait for production contracts to expire with existing USA vendors, waiting for replacement (China) suppliers to gear up, or have managed to beat up their current USA suppliers enough to keep them around, for a while... This is a process, it takes time to make these changes, and destroy a brand/company. Big ships don't sink in a minute.

Sears is owned, and managed, by a holding company. Their only motivation is to maximize profits. As long as Asia production is more profitable than USA production, they will continue to shift to Asian tools. Finance guys are running that company, they are not looking too hard at the demos, just the bottom line margins per tool line.

That's business in the USA right now, look at what Lowes has been doing to their tool lines, same thing. These stores primarily target homeowners that wouldn't know a quality tool if it dropped on their foot. 90% of the customers just care about price, and these companies know it. Most people today don't even know how to use a tool, our country has shifted it's focus away from such things. Even a lot of contractors seem ok with this China ****.

There will always be suppliers of quality tools, but it won't be in a big box store, and with less competition, they will be more expensive than ever.

 

[woody 73]

The way I read that is that Craftsman will no longer put their names on all those nice Vaughan hammers, they will just be branded 'Vaughan.'

It seems to me that Sears is pretty committed to off-shoring all of their tools. They probably have to wait for production contracts to expire with existing USA vendors, waiting for replacement (China) suppliers to gear up, or have managed to beat up their current USA suppliers enough to keep them around, for a while... This is a process, it takes time to make these changes, and destroy a brand/company. Big ships don't sink in a minute.

Sears is owned, and managed, by a holding company. Their only motivation is to maximize profits. As long as Asia production is more profitable than USA production, they will continue to shift to Asian tools. Finance guys are running that company, they are not looking too hard at the demos, just the bottom line margins per tool line.

That's business in the USA right now, look at what Lowes has been doing to their tool lines, same thing. These stores primarily target homeowners that wouldn't know a quality tool if it dropped on their foot. 90% of the customers just care about price, and these companies know it. Most people today don't even know how to use a tool, our country has shifted it's focus away from such things. Even a lot of contractors seem ok with this China ****.

There will always be suppliers of quality tools, but it won't be in a big box store, and with less competition, they will be more expensive than ever.

Good post well said.

 

[AV tinker er]

What's the sole purpose of a pubicaly traded company?

To increase stockholder equity. Charge the same price for a product that is made for pennies on the dollar. Instant increase.

 

[Farmall450]

I haven't seen a new American socket in over a year. Impact or chrome.

I do all the time!

 

[Farmall450]

The way I read that is that Craftsman will no longer put their names on all those nice Vaughan hammers, they will just be branded 'Vaughan.'

It seems to me that Sears is pretty committed to off-shoring all of their tools. They probably have to wait for production contracts to expire with existing USA vendors, waiting for replacement (China) suppliers to gear up, or have managed to beat up their current USA suppliers enough to keep them around, for a while... This is a process, it takes time to make these changes, and destroy a brand/company. Big ships don't sink in a minute.

Sears is owned, and managed, by a holding company. Their only motivation is to maximize profits. As long as Asia production is more profitable than USA production, they will continue to shift to Asian tools. Finance guys are running that company, they are not looking too hard at the demos, just the bottom line margins per tool line.

That's business in the USA right now, look at what Lowes has been doing to their tool lines, same thing. These stores primarily target homeowners that wouldn't know a quality tool if it dropped on their foot. 90% of the customers just care about price, and these companies know it. Most people today don't even know how to use a tool, our country has shifted it's focus away from such things. Even a lot of contractors seem ok with this China ****.

There will always be suppliers of quality tools, but it won't be in a big box store, and with less competition, they will be more expensive than ever.

Exactly what I meant.

 

[Farmall450]

No, what I was saying is that all the sockets and drive stuff at are store is china barring some old 3/4 drive stuff. Sorry, I guess I could have worded that better. Actually most of the 3/4 drive stuff I see at the store has dust on it. I don't think they sell much of the 3/4 stuff here in the city attached to the mall. Or at least that is the way it seems. Everything else socket, drive and wrench wise is china

Yeah, they don't move much 3/4" stock.

 

[zkling]

No, Sears will just carry Vaugan badged hammers instead of rebadging them cman.

Then what happens if or when I break one of my craftsman hammers? Will they exchange a Vaugan for the old Cman?

O Sears,

 

[mrjaw14]

Yesterday my dad's neighbor and I changed out the bearings on his trailer. Conductor Jr. Was helping and somehow lost his pin punch... and teach him that when you lose or break someone's ****, you replace it.

I want to say that I'm impressed you think like this and are teaching your child. I was taught this as well from my father, and it PO's me to no end when I see other people not doing right by someone if they loose or break a tool. I applaud your integrity sir

 

[Farmall450]

Then what happens if or when I break one of my craftsman hammers? Will they exchange a Vaugan for the old Cman?

O Sears,

I believe so. Like the tape measures maybe?

 

[hamma]

The wood chisels and the bottle openers are made in USA.

 

[byoungblood]

The non-pro grade pry bars are American made at my local store, I just bought a set for $20 on sale.

It is old stock. The Hometown store near the house has nothing but China pry bars now, one elsewhere in Memphis had one or two USA sets left, all the other sets were PRC. Individual ones are still USA, but it is safe to assume that they are all old stock.

As mentioned before, if it is made by Apex, it is, or will soon be made in Taiwan or China. I fear everything else is just a matter of time, probably just a matter of when their current contracts expire with their other suppliers they'll offshore those too.

 

[Hootbro]

I believe so. Like the tape measures maybe?

If that is the case, then it will only be the one warranty exchange and then you are on your own dealing directly with Vaughn. If it is like the tape measures, then Sears must be warrantying more hammers in a given time frame than they are selling and hence dropping Craftsman line.

I know in my local Sears store, the small tack hammers have gone over from Craftsman to a no name import one.