o/t tools

[James Hill]

I just had a terrible moment today, went to Sears to look at replacing some of my tools, lost or missing with new ones, and found all the Craftsman tools with the unlike-able mark of made in the land of almost right, when did they do this, I realize its been 20 years since I bought my last craftsman mechanic tools, but it came as a surprise to me, oh well off to find an American set of mechanic tools...

 

[Phil9N3667]

Don't go off of the deep end here now! Some of the Snap-On tools I see on the truck have that distant locality stamped on them too. If you look closely at Sears, you can still find some USA made items. We got a Jasper reman engine at work to put in a truck and it had a decal that had the US flag on it and it said "REMADE IN THE USA" !! I don't think there's any getting around all the foreign made tools, because we've gotten so used to tying to get something for nothing. Keep yer eyes open for tools at yard sales. A lot older stuff shows up at them sometimes.

 

[Sawatch 8N]

I subscrib to a tool site and Cman has moved almost all its handtools to other than US made countries for a good while now, as have many US tool companies. I'm getting my tool cabnet filled with US made before they no longer exist.

 

[KL-VA]

Most "Made In USA" tool brands are no longer being marketed as Made in USA. A few of them got in trouble 6 or 8 years ago for marketing brands as Made in USA when they were really from various places around the world. It's very difficult to assemble a complete set of tools with every tool being Made in USA. It might be possible, but you'd have to do your homework, check packaging, and buy from about 6 different manufacturers.

 

[Fuddy Duddy]

I think it came about the time K-Mart bought Sears out. Or a little bit before that. It's a shame. You're not going to find much of anything made in the US anymore. Worst part is we are buying anything from the very countries that are likely to declare war on us in the future. Most people don't think that will never happen but history shows it all ways happens. What are we going to do? They will have all the money and all the manufacturing. Guess this is not the place for that discussion. But then again, I think in the not to distance future that will be the only thing to discuss. But will it be to late then.

 

[weaveman]

I just bought some in january and they were made in usa. They also had funky looking ones that were foriegn, but I stuck with the standard wrenches that looked the same since my grand dad bought a set in the 40s.

 

[Richard from SE AZ]

I haven't bought new tools in quite awhile because it is so hard to find MADE IN THE USA stuff. I prowl yard sales, flea, markets, and auctions for tools I need or may someday need. Got some great stuff at an auction this last weekend. All USA made.

 

[NOXJohn]

I believe that Sears has also dropped the life time warranty for their new hand tools. I do not know if they still honor the life time warranty for the older Craftsman tools.

 

[Kevin in MN]

(quoted from post at 06:04:16 04/12/11) I believe that Sears has also dropped the life time warranty for their new hand tools. I do not know if they still honor the life time warranty for the older Craftsman tools.

http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/nb_10155_12602_NB_Craftsman+Advantage?adCell=WH
From the Web Site:
lifetime warranty on all hand tools reassures you that no matter what your tools will show up for each and every project you begin.

I'm sure as long as the Sear/Craftsman name exists, so with the warranty.

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 07:24:36 04/12/11)

(quoted from post at 06:04:16 04/12/11) I believe that Sears has also dropped the life time warranty for their new hand tools. I do not know if they still honor the life time warranty for the older Craftsman tools.

http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/nb_10155_12602_NB_Craftsman+Advantage?adCell=WH
From the Web Site:
lifetime warranty on all hand tools reassures you that no matter what your tools will show up for each and every project you begin.

I'm sure as long as the Sear/Craftsman name exists, so with the warranty.

Just make sure it's a Craftsman badged hand tool - they now sell hand tools that are not Craftsman badged and those tools do not carry a lifetime warranty.

TOH

 

[Jack L]

John, I had a 15 mm open end replaced by Sears recently. It was about 10 years old. In our area they take the defective/damaged tool and ship you the replacement via UPS. It took about three weeks.

Jack

 

[Jubilee85 (VA)]

TOH,

I found that out the hard way the other day - I have about a dozen tape measures that my students use everyday, so I bought ALL CRAFTSMAN the past year thinking that the tape measures have a warranty.....6 of them "broke" during the school year, you know the first 2" are broken off from hard use (and abuse) - So I take them back to the local sears store, get a speeding ticket in a new to me suv on the way, and once I get there the lady tells me that "those do not have warranties on the blade - only the internal workings" Well - I was ------.....lady - "I bought these for that very reason! And after some real kind and sweet talking - she replaced 1/2 of the 6 I took back. Things aint what they use to be! I have a 1/2 to 3/8 reducer socket on my desk that I have had for over 2 years....almost afraid to take it back!

 

[Ultradog MN]

Richard, Good point - keep an eye out for used.
Last winter I picked up a set of Williams combination wrenches at a machine shop auction. The smaller sizes - below 5/8" are missing but I did get up to 1 1/2" sizes with several duplicates.
If I told you what I paid for them you'd probably shoot me.

 

[Ultradog MN]

Ride a bicycle when you go to return it

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 08:57:15 04/12/11) TOH,

I found that out the hard way the other day - I have about a dozen tape measures that my students use everyday, so I bought ALL CRAFTSMAN the past year thinking that the tape measures have a warranty.....6 of them "broke" during the school year, you know the first 2" are broken off from hard use (and abuse) - So I take them back to the local sears store, get a speeding ticket in a new to me suv on the way, and once I get there the lady tells me that "those do not have warranties on the blade - only the internal workings" Well - I was ------.....lady - "I bought these for that very reason! And after some real kind and sweet talking - she replaced 1/2 of the 6 I took back. Things aint what they use to be! I have a 1/2 to 3/8 reducer socket on my desk that I have had for over 2 years....almost afraid to take it back!

In general the Craftsman lifetime gaurantee seems to only apply to hand tools without moving parts. Cutting tools and anything with moving parts subject to normal wear are not lifetime AFAIK. Now I have a couple 1/4" drive ratchets that have been replaced at no cost when the pawls failed. On the other hand my 30+ year old Craftsman "clicker" torque wrench stopped working and it cost me almost as much as a new one to get it repaired and re-calibrated. I still had the the original paperwork that came with it and it was clearly stated (in small print) - 1 year warranty.

TOH

 

[souNdguy]

5ys ago I notice many craftsman tool on the shelf ( wrenches.. etc ) were marked MIC...

soundguy

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 09:04:45 04/12/11) Richard, Good point - keep an eye out for used.
Last winter I picked up a set of Williams combination wrenches at a machine shop auction. The smaller sizes - below 5/8" are missing but I did get up to 1 1/2" sizes with several duplicates.
If I told you what I paid for them you'd probably shoot me.

<img src="http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h56/Ultradog/tools/100_01791.jpg">

A full set of JA Williams combo wrenches from 1/4- 1-1/6 runs $100-$120. Or you could pay many times that for Snap-On badged wrenches. They are the same parent company and quite arguably the same wrenches. Another name with a big reputation is Armstrong - I own some of their industrial open end wrenches in oddball 1/32th sizes. Very fine tools.

TOH

 

[gahorN]

(quoted from post at 21:55:51 04/11/11) I think it came about the time K-Mart bought Sears out. Or a little bit before that. It's a shame. You're not going to find much of anything made in the US anymore. Worst part is we are buying anything from the very countries that are likely to declare war on us in the future. Most people don't think that will never happen but history shows it all ways happens. What are we going to do? They will have all the money and all the manufacturing. Guess this is not the place for that discussion. But then again, I think in the not to distance future that will be the only thing to discuss. But will it be to late then.

Why would they attack their major customer/buyer?
And why do you think history proves your theory? China has never gone outside it's borders to attack any foreign country. (Not the same as their assisting one of their allies....but China has no history of meddling in foreign wars on their own.)
Not defending stuff made in China. I hate what we do to ourselves. Complain and whine...but refuse to pay our neighbors a fair wage for good stuff...and blame it on unions. B.S. It's not unions that export jobs!

Meanwhile...as for tool warranties....even Harbor Freight has a lifetime warranty on their "Pittsburgh" line of hand tools.

 

[Jubilee85 (VA)]

Dayum! It was 24 miles ....one way!!! Cop was a nice guy - let me go!!!! 72 in a 60....unlike the POS i usally drive this SUV was smmmooooothh and fast!

 

[Art B+10]

Look closely - not all Craftsman are made overseas. I work with a small manufacturer right here in Kansas and they make pry bars, chisels, punches, etc. for Craftsman. Wilde Tool - Hiawatha, Kansas. Good, small business right here in the good ole US of A.

Cheers
Art

 

[36 Coupe]

China invaded Tibet and had a strong role in Korea.My cousin died in Korea.Your knowledge of history is lacking.

 

[gahorN]

(quoted from post at 19:29:54 04/12/11) China invaded Tibet and had a strong role in Korea.My cousin died in Korea.Your knowledge of history is lacking.

Re-read my post. Tibet is IN China despite what the Tibetians say. And No. Korea was an ally of China, who came to their aid.

Try reading a few history books and you'll come to realize that it was the United States of America which decided to DIVIDE Korea up in agreement with their azzhole buddy Stalin., thereby setting up the Korean War. No. Korea disagreed with major powers taking the liberty of dividing their country up and tried to reverse the decision, resulting in the Korean war. (can you spell Corporate America?)

...Your knowledge of history is lacking.

My bachelor degree from Baylor is in History.

 

[oldtanker]

(quoted from post at 16:36:49 04/12/11)

(quoted from post at 19:29:54 04/12/11) China invaded Tibet and had a strong role in Korea.My cousin died in Korea.Your knowledge of history is lacking.

Re-read my post. Tibet is IN China despite what the Tibetians say. And No. Korea was an ally of China, who came to their aid.

Try reading a few history books and you'll come to realize that it was the United States of America which decided to DIVIDE Korea up in agreement with their azzhole buddy Stalin., thereby setting up the Korean War. No. Korea disagreed with major powers taking the liberty of dividing their country up and tried to reverse the decision, resulting in the Korean war. (can you spell Corporate America?)

...Your knowledge of history is lacking.

My bachelor degree from Baylor is in History.

China in the 90's went to 6 million man standing army. They also started training offensive tactics which they had not done sense the Korean War. You could conclude one of several things from that. 1. They don't get along all that well with Russia and have long standing border disputes with them. 2. The tactics thing is something designed to pull our chain. 3. They are getting ready (for a very long time now) to invade someone. 4. They need a 6 million man force to control their own population. I can venture a guess but most likely I'd be wrong. Am I worried about them invading the US? Not really, the logistics of supporting an invasion across that much ocean is astounding.

Rick[/i]

 

[Ultradog MN]

A bachelor's in history? Why that's an entirely worthless degree. Almost as bad as one in Literature. wink

 

[gahorN]

(quoted from post at 20:56:57 04/12/11) A bachelor's in history? Why that's an entirely worthless degree. Almost as bad as one in Literature. wink

LOL!
Well...I didn't seek the degree for purposes of financial enrichment.... :wink:

 

[hawaii_fire]

I work part time at Lowes It is how I get my tractor money. Kobalt mechanic tools are lowes answer to craftsman. lifetime hassel free gaurentee. They are on clearance now and about half of the sets say crafted with pride in the USA. It is right on the front label.

 

[Jubilee85 (VA)]

HF,

on that note - are Kobalt "jacks" a lifetime warranty? I bought floor jack - seems to have played out, dont have a receipt....should I take it back to lowes?