What Older (made in USA) Craftsman Set

[sgtgeo]

Question for the experts;

I have normal raised panel Craftsman wrenches

I have some of the full polish professional wrenches

I have 2 stubby 9/16" combination wrenched that I purchased loose for work that are raised panel and full polished. Marked USA -VV- 44106

what are these polished raised panel ones? the panel section almost looks melted they are very comfortable

 

[gtsgarage]

Someone tell us what you think? Who bought them?

 

[bluebolt]

Guys that 273 pc Craftsman Industrial set is looking really nice.

Can’t find much about the “industrial” line.

Between the normal and the professional stuff?

The pic *****, can’t see much. Any have this set or similar “Industrial”

Sets. Any thoughts? Pics etc.

Thanks
Geoff

Anyone have this set?

The Industrial line came out as the store stuff went import. The sockets and ratchets are the same as older Craftsman USA. The raised panel wrenches are also the same as older Craftsman USA. The Full Polish wrenches are not raised panel, they are identical to the Professional wrenches. I have both and they are the same . Here is my user Professional and my NOS Industrial. The chrome is brighter on the Industrial but that is probably just lack of use.


This set has a few skips in sockets but not as bad as other Craftsman sets I have seen. The teardrop ratchets **** and I would replace them. Overall this would be a good set for someone who is an occasional user and wants USA made.

 

[Jtels85]

If you’re ever in Ohio, I can point you in the direction of 3 (that I currently know of) Craftsman USA made 240 Pc. Mechanic sets in the 3 drawer plastic cases for $229.99 each + tax, retail. Yes, they are in fact “New Old Stock, USA made”. G2 Sockets, raised panel ratchets and VA wrenches, plastic cases sealed in original cardboard boxes.

Also know where a Craftsman USA 3/4” Drive set is located, “New Old Stock” for retail. I don’t have a use for it, but I may go get it soon to flip on eBay.

 

[Professional Tool User]

Do not waste your time and money on USA made Craftsman when shopping on eBay. For around the same amount of money you can get USA made Proto and other lesser known brands.

 

[sgtgeo]

Do not waste your time and money on USA made Craftsman when shopping on eBay. For around the same amount of money you can get USA made Proto and other lesser known brands.

The prices on eBay are amazing! I priced my craigslist finds.

The $40 I spent would cost me $375 on eBay. Lol

 

[Fixed]

The prices on eBay are amazing! I priced my craigslist finds.



The $40 I spent would cost me $375 on eBay. Lol

It's crazy to me too. Are people really paying those prices? I mean I think they're nice tools, but I can't believe the dough that they're listed for.

Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk

 

[bluebolt]

It's crazy to me too. Are people really paying those prices? I mean I think they're nice tools, but I can't believe the dough that they're listed for.

Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk

If you look at the SOLD prices some of that stuff goes for big money. You could buy one of those Craftsman Industrial sets from Amazon and sell just the full polish wrench sets and make money. And still have the sockets, ratchets and raised panel wrenches left.

 

[yrly]

If you’re ever in Ohio, I can point you in the direction of 3 (that I currently know of) Craftsman USA made 240 Pc. Mechanic sets in the 3 drawer plastic cases for $229.99 each + tax, retail. Yes, they are in fact “New Old Stock, USA made”. G2 Sockets, raised panel ratchets and VA wrenches, plastic cases sealed in original cardboard boxes.

Also know where a Craftsman USA 3/4” Drive set is located, “New Old Stock” for retail. I don’t have a use for it, but I may go get it soon to flip on eBay.

If they’re at a Sears have them scan them. Unless they got marked back up I got a 154 piece mechanics set marked down to $37. I know some stores had 3 drawer ones mixed with new stock ones as recently as last year because they always get a million of those things in and just stack them in a big pile.

 

[Jtels85]

If they’re at a Sears have them scan them. Unless they got marked back up I got a 154 piece mechanics set marked down to $37. I know some stores had 3 drawer ones mixed with new stock ones as recently as last year because they always get a million of those things in and just stack them in a big pile.

These aren’t at a Sears, they’re at a hardware store(s) in rural, Ohio.

 

[yrly]

These aren’t at a Sears, they’re at a hardware store(s) in rural, Ohio.

Figures. I knew a few Sears stores still had the 3 drawer ones mixed with new stock ones as recently as last year. I was tempted to buy one but really didn’t need another set. Our store has like a near permanent display of those (well giant pile) and just keep piling new ones in front of the old ones when they come in. I remember seeing some of the breaker bar bonus sets of them from two or three years ago buried in a similar display at another Sears. I’m not sure what’s still hanging around with all all the stores that have closed. Though I did find western Forge Channellocks slightly before Christmas. I’m sure there’s still some stuff hanging around out there.

 

[yrly]

The Craftsman stuff on eBay is ridiculous in price for some of the NOS stuff.

Saw some socket caps on there to use with ratcheting wrenches sold for $80. I’ve still got standard and metric ones with the clearance tags still on them for like $5.

Now unless you’re a serious collector you have to ask yourself when you’re seriously ever going to use them?

A low profile ratchet is sufficient most of the time. I’ve never run across a situation where I needed them. I thought potentially I might at some point use them with these heavy duty ratcheting offsets I have if I needed rigidity that a flex head ratchet wouldn’t suffice for and they’re still sitting there unused 10 years later. I’m pretty sure my dad has a set too. He’s never mentioned using them before I’ll ask him later.

 

[Jtels85]

Figures. I knew a few Sears stores still had the 3 drawer ones mixed with new stock ones as recently as last year. I was tempted to buy one but really didn’t need another set. Our store has like a near permanent display of those (well giant pile) and just keep piling new ones in front of the old ones when they come in. I remember seeing some of the breaker bar bonus sets of them from two or three years ago buried in a similar display at another Sears. I’m not sure what’s still hanging around with all all the stores that have closed. Though I did find western Forge Channellocks slightly before Christmas. I’m sure there’s still some stuff hanging around out there.

I thought about purchasing them, but the return on my investment wouldn’t be worth the hassle. That’s also $690 + tax and both locations are well over an hour and a half drive from me, in opposite directions.

We went from 6 Sears locations down to 1 in the last couple of years. The Hometown stores were pretty good for finding older USA stuff up until about 2014/15. You could usually find a socket set or wrench set that was USA made, buried behind the others on the pegs.

It looks like Sears changed suppliers recently and the Apex/China made stuff is being phased out. Might not be long before the first Chinese Craftsman tools from 2011-2017 become collectible, lol.

 

[yrly]

I thought about purchasing them, but the return on my investment wouldn’t be worth the hassle. That’s also $690 + tax and both locations are well over an hour and a half drive from me, in opposite directions.

We went from 6 Sears locations down to 1 in the last couple of years. The Hometown stores were pretty good for finding older USA stuff up until about 2014/15. You could usually find a socket set or wrench set that was USA made, buried behind the others on the pegs.

It looks like Sears changed suppliers recently and the Apex/China made stuff is being phased out. Might not be long before the first Chinese Craftsman tools from 2011-2017 become collectible, lol.

I don’t know who they’re sourcing from these days, now they’re getting all these “Craftsman Ultimate” sets in. They had a table on display with a board and some nuts in it to test them when I was there today where you could test the new ultimate sets from the “original home of craftsman”. They feel a lot better made from a cursory look, now whether they are is a different story but from first inspection the ratchet was somewhat more comfortable. They didn’t have the wrenches out but had some on the shelf, it was 8PM when I got there so I really didn’t look at the wrenches.

I’m assuming this stuff is from China too and they have complete large mechanics sets as well.

 

[Jtels85]

I don’t know who they’re sourcing from these days, now they’re getting all these “Craftsman Ultimate” sets in. They had a table on display with a board and some nuts in it to test them when I was there today where you could test the new ultimate sets from the “original home of craftsman”. They feel a lot better made from a cursory look, now whether they are is a different story but from first inspection the ratchet was somewhat more comfortable. They didn’t have the wrenches out but had some on the shelf, it was 8PM when I got there so I really didn’t look at the wrenches.

I’m assuming this stuff is from China too and they have complete large mechanics sets as well.

Haha, I did see those Craftsman’s Ultimate sets last time I made the trip to Sears. The sets looked like a hodgepodge of new designs and current offerings. I walked away with a bit of sticker shock. I can’t believe they’re advertising themselves as, “The Original Home of Craftsman”. That’s not only funny but also sad at the same time.

Some of the newer tools (some sockets, extensions, adapters, ratchets, screwdrivers, etc...) are stamped with the letter “Z”, which I’m assuming indicates the factory or manufacturer. The tooling on some of these pieces is slightly different than the current Apex sourced Craftsman. I can’t speak for the quality, but if Sears is changing it’s suppliers, it’s probably okay to assume that the quality went even further down the toilet.

I’m a Craftsman USA guy, but I don’t really mind a lot of the older China/Taiwan stuff. My favorite Craftsman ratchets are the 84 tooth models. The flex head ratcheting wrenches might have the lobster claw open ends, but they’re pretty decent quality. Some of the stuff at Sears is still a bargain, others are just plain trash. The new pliers with exposed metal in the grips... what ***** thought that was a good idea? Lol

 

[yrly]

Haha, I did see those Craftsman’s Ultimate sets last time I made the trip to Sears. The sets looked like a hodgepodge of new designs and current offerings. I walked away with a bit of sticker shock. I can’t believe they’re advertising themselves as, “The Original Home of Craftsman”. That’s not only funny but also sad at the same time.

Some of the newer tools (some sockets, extensions, adapters, ratchets, screwdrivers, etc...) are stamped with the letter “Z”, which I’m assuming indicates the factory or manufacturer. The tooling on some of these pieces is slightly different than the current Apex sourced Craftsman. I can’t speak for the quality, but if Sears is changing it’s suppliers, it’s probably okay to assume that the quality went even further down the toilet.

I’m a Craftsman USA guy, but I don’t really mind a lot of the older China/Taiwan stuff. My favorite Craftsman ratchets are the 84 tooth models. The flex head ratcheting wrenches might have the lobster claw open ends, but they’re pretty decent quality. Some of the stuff at Sears is still a bargain, others are just plain trash. The new pliers with exposed metal in the grips... what ***** thought that was a good idea? Lol

Lol, I bought the big set of those pliers with points for $1.65 just a few weeks ago even though I’ve got their older ones, I think the best one is the exposed metal on the handle of the Linesman that has to be the funniest. I didn’t really use any yet, I only bought them because my wife says she can never find needle nose pliers and I had points that could go at any time if sears decides to close.

The other thing about those pliers is they’re like lacquered to prevent rust. I’m sure the lacquer would wear off eventually. I’m not going to know how the rest fare until the spring, I rarely do anything except snowblower maintenance at this time of year.

Outside of their novelty stuff most of the Craftsman stuff I have was from when they cleared the USA stuff out. I’m tempted in a way to try a smaller craftsman ultimate set just to see if it’s any good but if I do it’s going to be if I have points. I tend to try the novelty stuff in case of the next diamond in the rough turns up. If they don’t go out of business I’m kind of hoping they get a smallish set in.
I could justify a smallish set to carry in my truck since it’s only a single cab. The ratchet seemed nice enough and the sockets seemed better finished but appearances can deceive.

I don’t generally mind Taiwanese stuff, I haven’t had any really bad luck with Taiwan. China stuff is more questionable. Even worse is India, before they had harbor freight nearly everywhere they had really really cheap questionable things from India and they made the Chinese stuff look like Snap-on.

 

[yrly]

I should note back when Sears was clearing out Companion sets I got a couple of these companion wrench sets for $10 in these nice blow mold cases that were Chinese and really nice, I’ll post a pic in a bit.

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

In looking at the responses maybe getting a nice tool box or top chest and fill them for each of the 3 sets is the way to go rather than try to find an original USA craftsman set.

My goal is the same as Shane6377 I have all the tool I need, these 3 sets are for my kids future.

Thanks everyone for the input and ideas

I have a 193 piece brand new unopened USA Craftsman set. Message me if you are interested in it.

 

[yrly]

Here’s the nicest Companion wrench set I ever saw from Sears, can’t believe I paid $20 total for two sets of these. This one I have hardly used but the set I used more held up better than I expected for the price.

 

[sgtgeo]

Set arrived,

Of course with a rip in the edge of the box.

Wife unit is conducting an inventory right now. sent a pic of a 13mm socket double struck "Craftsman Industrial" "Armstrong" So if there was any doubt who made these tools....

 

[four.cycle]

just a note:

Ebay seller bruceb440 just listed several sets of US made Craftsman sockets:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nk...asl=bruceb440&_sop=10&_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_fosrp=1

great seller. great guy to deal with.

 

[Halfrican]

I bought a nice Craftsman set back in 2014 when I was going to A&P school. It sat in a hanger for a few years, and then a garage for a couple more. I just retrieved it when I went back home to visit. Most of the stuff in the set is untouched or used just a few times. Never used enough to be abused.

I’d be willing to part ways with a lot of the stuff I have already upgraded.

 

[sgtgeo]

Update in OP

 

[gtsgarage]

Update in OP

Good stuff. Glad it worked out. Very tempted myself.

 

[hangfirew8]

Re: What Older (made in USA) Craftsman Set UPDATE in OP

I did order 1 of the 273 piece Craftsman Industrial sets to look over.
Here are the details of that set:

-Ratchets are the ones everyone seems to dislike Code KAD

Somewhere on this board is a description of how to modify the insides of these last USA Cman ratchets so they don't auto-reverse. Something about filing the profile of an inside part. However searching on variations of "craftsman ratchet" on this board is pointless.

I have a pair of KAD's, 1/4 and 3/8, the edges are a bit sharp and the chrome finish is rough but very shiny, backdrag is awful (even for a new Craftsman pearhead) and they do auto-reverse. If they're the only clunkers you got, you still did OK. It's not like you can't augment any tool set with your own choices.

 

[calandrod]

Re: What Older (made in USA) Craftsman Set UPDATE in OP

Anyone know where I can find a Craftsman 540 piece set? I know they have been discontinued but I so badly want to own that set. One of my friends found one recently but when I called they were sold out. I’ve contacted every Sears within two states.


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