When did Craftsmen start using non-USA steel

[saturninin]

Hello,

I'm a college student and love picking up tools at yard sales/thrift stores/pawn shops....ect... and often pick up craftsmen screwdrivers for under a buck a piece. My question is when did Craftsmen go to steel from China (with weaker tips) from USA steel?

 

[stonesfan68]

To the best of my knowledge the screwdrivers still use USA steel.

 

[uniballer]

To the best of my knowledge the screwdrivers still use USA steel.

NOPE! Look on back of the new ones, coo!

And this has been stated before.

 

[zkling]

If it says USA on it you are probably safe.

 

[mrvm]

Currently the Craftsman screwdrivers are still made-in-USA. Its on the handles and proudly displayed on the package.

Product Description:

•Phillips blade tips are designed to provide tight tolerance and fit
•Slotted blade tips provide excellent screw holding
•Butyrate handles are designed for high strength and chemical resistance
•Heat-treated blades for maximum strength and durability
•Satin nickel finish
•Made in USA
•Backed by a lifetime Craftsman warranty

 

[Norcal]

Not "Made in USA with globally sourced materials"? Seems to be a trend with a lot of things. This time I am not trying to bash Craftsman.

 

[Parabellum]

Not "Made in USA with globally sourced materials"? Seems to be a trend with a lot of things. This time I am not trying to bash Craftsman.

Stanley products use that quote alot

 

[saturninin]

NOPE! Look on back of the new ones, coo!

And this has been stated before.

I know some stuff such as the evolve series are China Made.... but my brand new Craftsmen professional screwdriver says made in USA

How do you know the USA made Craftsman screwdrivers don't use US steel for the blades?

I was reading it on one of the online forums.... I don't remember where....

Not "Made in USA with globally sourced materials"? Seems to be a trend with a lot of things. This time I am not trying to bash Craftsman.

I guess if I don't see this, I should be still buying USA strong tools (no China steel)

Like I said my big deal is what do i return to Sears compared to fix myself

 

[Stephenw]

Craftsman screwdrivers are still made in the USA by Western Forge.

 

[thetreshon]

Unless it's just the quality of the manufacturing/hardening of the steel that say Western Forge is using for it's Craftsman contracts is lower/faster than for other contracts to keep costs down.

Maybe Craftsman keeps pressuring WF for lower costs, and that's what we end up with is lower quality product in the end - even if all US materials are used.

I've noticed over the last 5-10 years with most if not all Craftsman that was still made in the U.S., the quality looked a little to a lot worse than previous decades. At the time I believe they were still trying to hold onto U.S. production, but the quality had to suffer to keep that production I guess.

 

[T-Mac]

When I first started turning wrenches professionally about 30 years ago I bought 2 sets of craftsman wrenches-standards were made in japan-metrics were usa-go figure!

 

[exmaxima1]

Really? I have yet to find a Phillips screwdriver that fits WORSE than a standard Craftsman #2

 

[wssix99]

Hello,

I'm a college student and love picking up tools at yard sales/thrift stores/pawn shops....ect...

This is a perfect opportunity to test that fancy college education of yours...

What have you learned in your chemistry class that points to differences between steel made in the USA and steel made elsewhere?

Does the natural magnetic polarity of the earth in other regions impact the strength of the finished steel?

 

[OccupantRJ]

I am in tool manufacturing, and we use many, many thousands of pounds of metals per year in our products. It is getting pretty hard to source USA materials these days. Where metal distributors once had large warehouses, now many are specific delivery from ship, to their dock, to ours or others. Lead times have escalated to months in some cases.

 

[rockinacummins]

OP,

even though I can't attest to the question about screwdrivers, I must say that its good to see someone else who fits into the same catagory as me - college student who would rather be digging through the nasty greasy bins at pawn shops or cruising around finding yard sales just to pick up American made tools for cheap. Life is good.