What is up with Craftsman?

[@corvettefan91]

I buy older used USA Craftsman tools at garage sales etc, and they will still outlast me.

[@BELCAN57]

Exactly.

[@branned]

Same here!

[@2dawgsmiked684]

@@corvettefan91 same!

[@looseballs1966]

Yep way to do it if ya find them.

[@Whatsthishere]

This is the way

[@vasnellen9158]

I remember the 1970's tools were Sears, Wizard, Crescent. I was working in the Wilde Tool Co. Hiawatha, Ks. We hammered out millions of adjustable pliers and a ton of different hand tools. Millions of brake adjusting tools and the tiny channel locks. People would not believe the number of steps from red hot steel rod to the finished chromed product. The family owned factory is still there and limping along.

[@gwall1789]

Wilde still makes fantastic pry bars. Sold under the Wilde, Tekton, Hyper Tough and Channel Lock names. They made the same pry bars for Sears as well.

[@stealthbomber2127]

Its a miracle they have not been forced out of business by slick willie's nafta and gatt and our traitorous government.

[@jeremydavis2595]

Love Wilde products. The wood handled screwdrivers are my favorite.

[@dickgoesinya4773]

Yeah Crescent is junk there us made stuff was nice

[@bidenisasnake9932]

Who do they Sell to, China?

[@TheJayHamish]

When i enrolled for mechanic class at the junior college in my town, my dad took me to sears and got me a craftsman rolling tool box, and all craftsman tools. Fond memories.

[@Thestargazer56]

I did the same when my son graduated from getting his Associate Degree in Industrial Maintenance about 30 years ago, telling him that these tools will last you a lifetime. So far he still is using them and making a good living. I didn't want him to get into the Snap-On cult that drains your paycheck dry.

[@davelee9087]

@@Thestargazer56 I have spoken to mechanics at auto dealerships about their Snap-On tools and boxes and I am truly left with my jaw on the floor when they tell me how much they have "Invested" in them. Criminal!

[@bobbg9041]

​@@Thestargazer56I use both Jobs i use a tool for a lot I'll buy Snap on if its something i use the tool once and a wile for ill buy craftsman gear wrench that i bought at sears long ago or even now harbor fright or even a stanly tool. Yes i got one stanly ratchet That extends to give you that extra length and leverage that looks like it came off a tool truck.

[@HarmonRAB-hp4nk]

college? we get taught that in highschool.. your education system bothers me..... I'm building a 350 chev at 17 and your saying it takes college? I think your system is screwd with your goverment paying more to the military then they do you education system :-(

[@TheJayHamish]

@@HarmonRAB-hp4nk I am from a small Texas town right on the border of Mexico. It’s a very poor community except for the few lucky ones. My dad was a mechanic his whole life and he taught me a lot. I didn’t know my school system sucked until I moved to a different part of the state.

[@rossbabcock3790]

Back in the 60s, my dad, a machinist swore by Craftsman. He broke a ratchet once, went to the local Sears and they gave him a brand new one, no questions asked. Those days are long gone...

[@steven7650]

yea I read constant stories of lowes refusing to warranty tools

[@georgesheffield1580]

60 plus years ago ,ancient history .

[@olivertaylor8788]

Lowes replaces my craftsmans if they fail.

[@ab7rs]

New ratchet doesn't seem like a good deal when you bust your knuckles

[@LouisCapps-p3z]

I don't agree. Read what I wrote above.

[@2dawgsmiked684]

My single father retired as National Operations Director of Sears. Needless to say, I grew up Sears/Craftsman/Toughskins (Husky) in the late 70s and throughout the 80s. After they forced him into early retirement, he convinced the owners of a small chicken finger/wings restaurant (Zax) to franchise out, and this allowed it to explode. Despite Zaxby's success throughout the East Coast and the Southern U.S., my dad's heart broke as he watched what happened to Sears. I'm actually glad he was forced out, because he would have gone down with that ship. absolutely

[@ryanjewell9832]

Love me some zaxbys!!

[@lightningmacqueen4097]

@@codycox-mm6mq ☝☝☝ Found the Craftsman bot!!!🤣

[@dracodraco1982]

:/ I can only imagine, seeing something I spent so many years building up go to waste from mismanagement and foolishness.

[@MrMnmn911]

@@codycox-mm6mq Shut up. Fool.

[@patricksquires77]

@@codycox-mm6mqI care and you sir can go touch some grass.

[@nstooge]

I remember buying some Craftsman tools. They were expensive to me, but man, I loved them. I would get a great deal of joy opening my tool box and seeing Craftsman tools in it. I was proud to own them….

[@bobstaurovsky3506]

If Craftman went back to their original designs, and they were made in the United States of America 🇺🇸, I would buy them again !!!

[@steve2736]

It's cheaper to buy the Harbor Freak throw away junk and you'll still pay less.

[@kurtvonfricken6829]

@@steve2736 Harbor Freight is the new Craftsman. Craftsman is the new Harbor Freight.

[@TheDiamoniteG]

this is the best stuff they've made in like 30 years. i bought some of the new ratchets and im ready to turn in my junked up 30+ year old US made stuff.

[@patrickbouldinkm5l143]

Brushless should be Craftsman and let a different brand carry brush power tools.

[@alexpetree2038]

​@@TheDiamoniteGyeah, I'm convinced the people commenting haven't actually used their new stuff and just jump on the bandwagon. Their ratchets are pretty high quality, as even the lower tooth count ratchets work pretty well and have good arc swing.

[@KLX1990]

I enrolled in the diesel tech program at my local community college back in 2012, my grandpa took me to sears and bought me my first USA craftsman tools. I still have most of it today at home including the hand tool box. Great memories. Fixed a lot of trucks and made some good money over the years with those tools. Thanks grandpa

[@superdog1964]

I have a key on my ring that gives me access to my Dad's shop. He started it when he quit farming and retired as a machinist from Alcoa in 1994. He worked on mostly agricultural equipment until his death in December of 2023 at 83. Growing up the only tools I ever remember using were Craftsman? We had a smaller shop to repair our own stuff but he built a much larger building when he went full time in the machine shop.All of the tools in it were also Craftsman. He was fortunate enough to have purchased everything he needed before Sears went out of business. After a few trips into Lowes attempting to warranty a few things that broke he just gave up and stopped trying. At the same time Sears closed a Harbor Freight opened close by and if he needed something? that was his store of choice. To this day, the shop is frozen in time and if you go inside, the tools are everywhere from his last full day working. He had no idea that tomorrow would never come and the last part he was working on (a spindle) is still chucked up in the lathe. The plow he was working on is still in pieces in the middle of the shop floor with the Craftsman sockets, ratchets etc. still laying where he left them. That situation will probably be there for awhile because I can't seem to bring myself to clean it up? To top it all off, the owner of the plow died in February of this year and his family doesn't want the job finished? It's an old 3 bottom and probably wouldn't bring much at the sale because most farmers use no till and plowing is old fashioned. They don't even want the plow? When I think about tools, I remember all the repairs he and I did. Almost all of it was Craftsman from the hammers to the chisels and everything in between. The neighbors all used them too, as did my grandfathers and uncles. They really have no idea how iconic that brand really is and how much damage has truly been done to a name that used to go hand in hand with quality? I think it's just to late and it is impossible to get back to where it once was? 100 years or more to build that name and less that 10 years or so to totally destroy it. I also have a lot of Craftsman tools in my boxes. None of it has been bought lately. Just like my dad, it is gone forever and I will never get it or him back?

[@dracodraco1982]

:/ That's the way things often go. Seldom do any of us have the benefit of knowing what project, what pleasure, or what words will be our last. I get leaving things where they sat, though. Feels like the project is a piece of him, yeah? Hard to let that go, even if it's a mess. There's no words that can touch that kind of hurt, just mean to say you aren't alone in that. "Sorry for your loss" from a rando carries no real weight, but I am all the same. Sadly, as it relates to Craftsman, they may have a minor comeback, but I doubt it'll ever be more than a shadow of what it used to be. No one trusts the brand won't get sold off or wrecked by cost-cutting; swapping pieces out as needed for failures just isn't viable if you don't believe the store won't close, brand won't get sold, or the warranty voided. In the end, brands are fickle things. Good will takes decades to really get rolling, and it's become such a common experience for good will to be abused when ownership changes (after all, that's why the name had value -- cheaper quality at the same price, less reliable service, they just flat out exploit that good will until, finally, it's gone forever.) There will be reboots and investments, but so often that's marketing meant to spur optimism that it might come back, but that's just trading on virtual, future good will. It rarely pans out. >.o Capitalism doesn't reward those who make the best value for the lowest price anymore. It's all marketing hype; exploiting good will, optimism, and nostalgia while charging the most you can for the cheapest quality you can get away with; all while gobbling competiting brands and vertically integrating until there's only a handful of players in a given industry. As it is with tools, so too is it with meat packers, egg producers, seed sellers, retail stores. Just wait until they find a way to make tools a subscription like software and services. x.x You can't even fix your own tractors anymore, or plant feed corn because it's invariably going to be Roundup Ready, and you don't have the license to plant it -- even if you buy it from stock meant for lifestock and never agreed to those terms. Welcome to late stage capitalism. x.x Given inertia, monied interests fighting to preserve the system as it is, and a political establishment that shows minimal interest in fixing these practices.. It's fixing to get worse before it even has a prayer of getting better. I just sort of assume, anymore, that I won't be around to see the tide turn. x.x Wish I had a more optimistic read to share. As is often the case, I hope very much that I'm proven wrong, but I'm rather resigned to being proven right. x.x

[@jeffho1727]

Lost my Dad and Mom two years ago, start and end of summer. I feel you. My daughter just had a little girl, our first grandchild. I got the feeling your Dad would be happy about who you've become. I think of my Dad almost daily and I hope to be as good a granddad as he was. Take care.

[@DinDooIt]

@@dracodraco1982 You're 100% right and I feel the same way, we are in the end stages of an empire, just remember it's all done with a purpose!

[@brianhoxworth3881]

I feel for you..I say get to work, and clean that shop up. Get it running again. That's what your dad would have wanted. You can't do anything about the ones that have died.

[@dannyo6699]

We've got a few stores that sell Craftsman in my town, Ace is the big outlet for them, Mac's does carry a limited amount of stuff, and so does Menards. But we are about to get a Harbor Freight opening up here, and I'm shockingly considering selling all my Craftsman tools and buying Pittsburg Pro or even Icon. I already owned several Pittsburg Pro 25 inch breaker bars, and gave them to family and friends as gifts, hard to beat $19.99 for a bar that is close to or exceeding $100.00 from the next closest prices. One doesn't hear much bad about them online, unless one is extremely picky about their tools. I'm not.

[@manandatractor]

I started my Craftsman tool collection when I was a young man, some 50+ years ago. I still have everything and I'm happy to say it's still going strong with the exception of a socket or two that I had to get replaced, but Sears accepted the exchange at no charge. As a back yard mechanic / do it yourselfer, I have no complaints.

[@j.robertsergertson4513]

You lost the 10mm socket,huh?

[@darinbell6982]

Bring the manufacturing back to America and then I will buy them again. It’s just important to me. All of my current Craftsman tools are American made.

[@6atlantis]

They tried and failed.

[@madjackgamingandfitness498]

Even brands like capri are trying to go USA. Apparently forges are so backed up companies have to use laser cutting as an alternative which works, but not as refine and strong. .

[@cuethenewt9375]

Same. I think they’d have a huge market ready to support them. Even pay a bit more just to counter the higher labor/material costs. It’s a shame, really.

[@AToolWithTools]

​@@madjackgamingandfitness498It's just Tekton doing that. They call it LaserMill and they patented it, patent 11040432 granted 2018 so still plenty of life in that patent.

[@DinDooIt]

They tried but were screamed at for giving the companies tax incentives to bring production back to America!! They said it was just a scam to pad the pockets of the rich.

[@hydro2wheel]

30+ years ago I bought a Craftsman Mechanics set with a blow molded case during an after Christmas sale for $75.00. Other than having to replace the case's latches it has NEVER failed me... Although I still have no clue as to where the dozen or so 10mm 3/8 drive sockets I have bought over time actually are right now. Fast forward 9 years from then and I attended a trade school (M.M.I.. Motorcycle Mechanics Institute. ) My family helped me purchase the recommended tools they required and they gave me a comprehensive list; All were Craftsman tools, including the appropriate Craftsman tool box to hold everything. Not only did that tool collection last throughout the schooling, it also lasted through 15 years of the best career of my lifetime until the economic collapse of 2006. I still have same tools and although I wish I still had that career, the tools are still ready for the task. I never had to use the Sears warranty for any of them and that says a LOT for the quality back then.

[@xeutoniumnyborg1192]

The leprechaun who takes every technicians 10mms has your missing sockets.

[@kirstenspencer3630]

My husband has had to reinvent his career several times as the economy changes and doors close. With great effort he mostly landed on his feet. I am most proud of his considerable efforts to feed his family. Never give up as again you may use the beloved older craftsman tools. My husband's craftsman tools are over around 63 years young and still going strong.

[@wizardofahhhs759]

Why is it always the 10mm's.?

[@hydro2wheel]

@@wizardofahhhs759 Back then (I don't know about now-a-days) 10mm hex drive was the most common sized fastener found on Asian vehicles be they cars or motorcycles. Because it was the size used the most it was also the size lost the most. If I knew their escape strategies it would have saved me a lot of trips to Sears.

[@hydro2wheel]

@@xeutoniumnyborg1192 If I ever meet that little bastard I will kick him in his lucky charms! >: (

[@mrrevival6565]

I’ve never been able to feel the excitement that I felt when walking into Sears/down aisles of hand tools. Not HF, HD, Lowe’s, or Ace…only thing that’s comes close is finding the unicorn deals

[@donsurlylyte]

yeah.

[@davelee9087]

Just 'shopping' in the Sears/Craftsman area was a treat. Not buying, just shopping!

[@timp1051]

So nice to see USA made Craftsman tools in my garage.

[@johnmcdougald1238]

I'm just like you. Growing up in the 70s, Craftsman was THAT TOOL that I wanted and always went to when I was growing up. As a kid, after checking out the toy section at Sears, my parents would always find me looking at the biggest tool set display. My mom even talked about it possibly being a graduation gift after High school. Now, the last craftsman tool I bought was a smaller set that was being cleared out at Lowes just before they went offshore on their production. It was the last set of tools that were MARKED IN the USA. I haven't put money into the brand ever since. If I'm going to spend that kind of money on a tool, I may as well buy Tekton, Gearwrench, or one of the other Taiwan-made brands. It actually hurts me when I go to Lowe's or Ace and see these high-priced tools sitting there. I can't see putting good money into something that has the same, or slightly lower quality than so many other brands

[@jdshear01]

Same experience here...Tekton and Gearwrench are good replacements. Gearwrench is owned by Apex tools which has another brand called SATA. It's cheaper than Gearwrench and I've only seen it on Amazon...I thought about giving it a try sometime in the future. I believe it's warranty is right there with Gearwrench.

[@louisrauzi3872]

14yrs old Christmas present from dad. Craftsman metal tool box. I felt like a man. Still have it, 54 yrs later.

[@akbaird88]

My very first tool set was Craftsman and my first power drill was Black & Decker! So when I heard Craftsman was coming to Fort Worth Texas I applied and got the job in the Machine Shop. I was there before all the machines were in the building. I machined dies for the wrenches and ratchets, modified dies for the sockets. They really did try but it seems they just couldn't get the ball rolling. It really does suck because I really liked that place and the people I worked with. I really wish it would have worked out.

[@KameraShy]

Back in the 70's I worked for a company that opened a huge electronics manufacturing plant in Fort Worth. It was a mess. Total management incompetence at even the most basic levels. Tried to do too much, too fast. They eventually got the problems resolved, sort of, but not without a lot of pain, time and money.

[@kaohsiung99]

I bought a set that Lowe's was selling a couple of years ago (Made In Texas!). Thank you for posting & your work is appreciated.

[@DrJohn493]

Grew up with all things Sears including Craftsman tools. When my Dad passed away I got all of his Craftsman tools he used to keep the farm equipment running and the barns repaired. Even the old Craftsman Skilsaw from the early 60s is going strong with only the power cord being replaced. When I dig out one of his rachets or wrenchs to loosen or tighten something, it reminds me of my days on the farm when Pop would tell me to go get him a 9/16s box end wrench, and run to the truck, don't walk. Years later I added some Craftsman metric sizes to my tool box to do minor work on my (hobby farm) Kubota tractors.

[@Javelina_Poppers]

I'm a 73 year old retired aerospace machinist, all my hand tools I've acquired and used over the years are Craftsman and SK. I loved the unconditional warranty on Craftsman and the ease of exchanging the occasional broken tool by simply heading to your local Sears store. I once bought a 3 foot 3/8 extension for a special application and broke it and when I took it back to Sears the guy asked me how I broke it and I fessed up and admitted I used it as a pry bar. Didn't matter, they replaced it anyway.

[@sunoclockoneday2576]

😂 yeah they don't care they just want to hear the story. Lowes was giving me a hard time about swapping out a 1/2" ratchet because they didn't make the same design anymore. The guy at Ace said that's craftsmans problem and swapped it no questions asked

[@cwg2325]

@@sunoclockoneday2576 I inherited all my dad's old craftsman after he passed. There was a 3/4" busted ratchet (I'm sure there was a large pipe involved). I called the craftsman hotline. They asked for the old part number, told me to properly dispose of the broken drive and sent me a new one. They didn't ask to me to send the tool back or even see a picture. It was that simple.

[@111000100101001]

Ace is awesome!

[@SL-ss1un]

Where does one go now to replace a Craftsman wrench? I recently went to Lowe's and when I asked to exchange some Craftsman tools, they said , we are sorry, but we still sell them, but no longer exchange them. You will have to contact them on-line. I said lots of luck trying to get someone to answer your call!

[@Press1for]

👽 🚀

[@douglaspost5097]

Back 30 years or so ago. I had to heat and bend a craftsman wrench for a particular job. When I tried to heat it and bend it back it broke like I thought it probably would. I bought a snap on wrench to use until I got into town to replace the craftsman. I got the replacement which Sears replaced by the way. Even though I told the clerk what I had done to it, he said their wrenches were UNCONDITIONALLY guaranteed. Anyway, the craftsman was an inch or so shorter than the snap on, wasn't chrome plated like the snap on, but was a third the price. $5 vs $15, (that's how long ago it was). Also, snap on had what they used to call a flank drive box end wrench on the same idea as this box end you're describing. I always liked Craftsman wrenches, sockets, and ratchets. Too bad they were sold out.

[@crhend512]

I worked as a Program Manager for an electronics company and had to deal with Stanley. They may have made numerous claims about returning Craftsman hand tools to the US, but my personal experience is that was all smoke and mirrors (tax write off.) We had been building for Stanley for a period of time when the mandate came down to their buyers to "Go To China". I underbid and offered better delivery schedules than their selected Chinese supplier, didn't matter: off-shore it.

[@stealthbomber2127]

A result of slick willie clinton, the gift to china that keeps on giving.

[@raylopez99]

Well if those big tech companies leaving China for India are a harbinger, the next big fad will be to off-shore from China to India. Fashion is fashion.

[@Thomas-ul3uy]

I wouldn't doubt that China paid Black & Decker/Stanley to not make the tools in the USA/Texas. I'd almost bet that China was where the raw material came from to make the tools. There was a video I saw on KZbin, a guy who worked in the auto salvage industry. In the late 80s-early 90s I think he said people came in box trucks to salvage yards, buying every starter, alternator and fuel pumps - a lot of expendable parts. They all went to China to be reverse engineered and made. This is why cheap aftermarket parts have flooded the market. He said the salvage yard operators if they had known, should've held off selling the used parts instead of making a quick buck. It has definitely screwed things up now.

[@dennislarson4960]

The real test of those tools is when you put a 3' pipe on the 1/2" ratchet for a little extra "oomf". If it holds up to that (and the sockets don't split out), it's a good wrench. I have a ton of Craftsman tools from the 70s-90s that are well-built tools (which are rarely abused as aforementioned). A little side note: in the 1970s my dad (a farmer, and a big Craftsman fan) used a 6' pipe on a 1/2" ratchet wrench to loosen some badly rusted wheel lugnuts. As I recall, he broke nearly all the ratcheting pawls before he finally got all the lugnuts loose. He took the wrench into Sears (but failed to mention the "big pipe on the handle" thing) - they didn't question anything, just gave him a brand new ratchet. That's when their guarantee really meant something. And that was part of what you were buying when you bought Craftsman in those days. Shortly after that, he discovered Northern Tools and Harbor Freight -- and beefy 3/4" drive socket sets with a solid ratchet that he wasn't afraid of breaking if there was "extra pressure" applied. 🙂

[@8avexp]

Yep, when they said Craftsman tools were warranted forever, they weren't kidding. I had a Craftsman basin wrench that broke. Took it to Sears across the street (literally) and they replaced it, no questions asked.

[@gvxclassics]

My pipe is 6 foot long. I use it to break Stupid tight lug nuts from the tire stores loose. I use it with my craftsman 18" breaker bar. No issues

[@cgschow1971]

In my teens, i was helping to part out some vehicles. We had to take the torsion bar off a 60s Chrysler that spent life in Missouri. 1/2" drive Craftsman ratchet and 6 sided socket with 3 of us on a 10ft cheater pipe. It broke loose and those tools never failed.

[@bhoov1969]

1992, the year I ETD'd from the Army, I started working with an electrical contractor. I went to Sears and bought everything Craftsman that I thought I would need, from a screwdriver and wrench set to tape measure and lineman and slip joint pliers plus wire strippers. I used those tools every day until 2023 when I started with a company that supplied tools, only replacing the ones I lost or wore out (which didn't cost me anything except the time to return them). Guess I'll just pass them on to my nephew.

[@grantdavis5992]

About 10 years ago, Ace had sets of Craftsman branded "through drive" sockets and the sockets were metric and SAE and were "spline drive" which could also drive 4 sided fasteners. I bought 3 sets, one for my son, one for my brother and a set for myself. They are compatible with the large Gearwrench system, but are in black oxide finish.

[@tracycrispino3446]

Craftsman helped me feed my family for many years. I remain grateful to this day for affordable tools to make a living as an auto tech.

[@bradleyphillips204]

Almost all of my tools came from Sears from the 90s mostly still all working great. I remember needing a new screwdriver and one time i broke a shovel. Took them in. No receipt. They handed me a new one and put their tag on it. No questions asked. Also just going to Sears and going in the tool section was like a kid going to a toy store for me. Ashame Sears and even places like Montgomery Ward's are gone.

[@bradleyyounger8499]

I am keeping my fingers crossed that Craftsman will get this right.. huge Craftsman fan for 50 years or so. Breaks my heart that they now are exactly what they stood against for the first 80-90 years

[@ken2tou]

Roger this! 👍🏼

[@kitmaira]

I have so many Craftsman tools from the 30s through the early 2000s that I’ll probably never need to buy a new overseas tool ever. I am glad they are still around, wish it was still possible to make them domestically, but there are so many factors, environmental, economic, making this near impossible. I did enjoy this video, I’m a Craftsman fanboy as well.

[@johnpetersen3273]

I have a WILLIAMS 1/2" Drive Ratchet and ALL standard sockets to go with it and the Ratchet is a dual pawl design from back in the 1970's and it works JUST FINE. I really miss the days when ALL TOOLS were made in the USA.

[@PhillyFixed]

You happened to catch me on a day where I'm pissed at Craftsman. Helping my buddy replace a water pump on his truck, and his Craftsman torque wrench never clicked and he snapped off a bolt in the engine block. (Admittedly, he should have been able to tell he exceeded 90 ft lbs by feel, but still). I verified with it set to 10 ft lb on a random bolt and it never clicked. Brand new.

[@mattadams7922]

Lets be real a Torque Wrench is one if those things you never buy cheap and always wanna verify it works properly before you go using it. Ive watched a buddy do somwtbing similar with a Pittsburgh pro from HF and he went nuclear. That MFer never clicked. I said the same thing you mean you didnt realize you were past 75 ft/lbs. Tested it no click thoguht he was gonna smash the poor guys head with it at HF.

[@turbo32coupe]

If you are going to have one expensive tool in your box, it should be a name brand American torque wrench. Especially if you are working on engines, where torque is critical.

[@choccolocco]

That’s why I prefer the old cheap kind with a scale and needle. Of course, they’re not always the best as far as size, but you don’t have to worry about it “not clicking”.

[@alfredomarquez9777]

On the contrary, my old Sears Craftsman Micro-Tork 1/2" 20-150 ft-lb torque wrench bough in 1990, but fabricated several years before, and "forgotten" in the storage depot at a Sears store here in Mexico, has worked beautifully, and after many years of working, I had the chance of checking its calibration on a professional certifying lab, and it varied between 1.5 and 2 % maximun deviation, but under 1.4% over most of its range, which is well within the +/- 4% of the norm... That demonstrates that before the end of the 80s, Craftsman still had SOME great hand tools, but certainly not all of them...

[@jefferysill5539]

​@@alfredomarquez9777 I always unlock and dial back when I'm done with all of my 35 year old craftsman torque wrenches

[@FedUpCanuck]

I am 65 and have always had craftsman. Never had any issues and stuff I had years ago work fine today. I even have craftsman tools from 1977 when I first started out. And they still work great. Black and Decker is another story. They used to make amazing power tools and would last forever. The newer power tools especially the cordless drills are so under powered even the 20 volt are not much use other than screwdrivers

[@steveRBForge]

I’m nearly 70, my parents gave me a Craftsman mechanics set for my 18 birthday. I used them for 3 years working as a mechanics, never broke a tool. I love those old tools. The only tool that ever broke was a 13/16 deep socket that I had to used to remove a locking lug nut that I had lost the key for. You old guys know what I’m talking about. I have worn out several #2 Phillips but sears always replaced them. Now you have to go thru Stanley to get a replacement. I bought a mechanics set for my son about 8 years ago. It is junk compared to my 1975 set. I avoid any Stanley if I can.

[@antilaw9911]

Stanley... uuug

[@airmobiledivision7759]

You can just walk into a Lowe’s or Ace and they’ll replace your broken tool if it’s in stock.

[@brianwhite3051]

Nope where i live they want to see your receipt for proof of purchase. They won't honor the lifetime warranty that predates the new craftsman.

[@airmobiledivision7759]

@@brianwhite3051 I guess your Lowe’s just sucks. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen reports of people calling the main Craftsman customer service number and getting them to, over the phone, force Lowe’s to honor the warranty (since that’s a condition of the brand being sold there). You could also try asking to speak to the manager if you haven’t already.

[@michaeleverett2650]

Stanley wants to help you do things right.

[@randysmith9636]

I still have my raised panel i bought in the early 70s. They stay in the truck bag. I bought my son a American made full polish set when he started working. The Overdrive wrenches is actually a good set of wrenches.

[@hp7093]

I bought a set of craftsman tools 30 years ago. They have had moderate use. The 3/8 drive locked up recently. I walked in Lowe’s and customer service told me to pick out the closest model. Walked out with the $40 model. No complaints with Lowe’s and craftsman

[@Whitchhunter666]

Ace Hardware will not exchange, I will try Lowes, thank you!

[@JohnThomas-lq5qp]

Purchased my first Craftsman socket set while inhugh school ( 1960's ). Never liked thier channel lock type of pliers or sude cutters or needle nose pliers. In the 1970 & early 1989's Sears cane out eith yhe great " X " catalog maybe a month after Christmas. If you purvhased ten or more dockets, etenches, ratchets etc yhey gave you an incredible think it was 40% discount. It helped me to add on to my 1/4 &3/8" deep SAE & Metric sockets sets.

[@Yoyo81828]

Im like you- my dad had Craftsman while I was growing up and I always dreamed that one day Id have my own garage, filled with Craftsman tools. Sadly it didnt turn out that way. The folks over there over price their tools for what they are in hopes that people will buy them based on the reputation they had 40 - 50 years ago.

[@donsurlylyte]

not the only brand doing that either

[@mikeymopar440]

The Overdrive Box wrench design is a Revamped METRINCH which I had bought a set of YEARS ago when they first came out and I actually LIKED them.Was down to the LAST bolt on a transmission pan that would not budge and rounded off. Bought the set and FIRST try OUT IT CAME. Still have the set and has saved me a few times.

[@gills3141]

im 23 and the part where you said "I too want a garage full of craftsman". I did it too. I'm still collecting the old sockets and tools and have a solid collection to a point where I can use chrome sockets as impacts and be ok for quite a time. Thank you for the great upload! God bless! Whats sad is overdrive is just rbrt from mac. Its the same wrench,

[@southernbiker4728]

Stanley was bringing manufacturing back to the states to get around the tariffs Trump was handing out at the time. As soon as he left office, the plan stopped in its tracks. They also ran into a big money problem due to buying up so many companies. Now Stanley’s cutting every corner they can to get by. I’m a former employee and watched this all first hand. I left shortly after CEO Loree was fired for over spending.

[@Erik_The_Viking]

I'm so glad that I have my dad's Craftsman sets from the 70's and 80's. Those will outlive me. I'll only touch Crasftsman unless they're made in the US again.

[@rogerpaskell7838]

My Craftsman tools are all the “OLD SCHOOL” type. I have one major complaint now I bought a circular saw with three old style 20 volt battery. I haven’t had much use the last 10 years So now I want fresh batteries again, the new 20 volt batteries are about 3/16 than the original 20 volt lithium. The new ones don’t fit and as far as I have tried to find the original ones no luck or work around. I am told on luck from CRAFTSMAN 20 VOLT LITHIUM BATTERIES.

[@vanceg4901]

Have had my Craftsman mechanic tools for many years and thankfully don't need any more. The Craftsman V20 string trimmer, hedge trimmer and blower I haven't had a problem with over the last four years. Off topic but got a EGO electric lawnmower and like it alot. Goes through tall grass better than my Honda 6.5 HP mower did. Keep all 🔋 in a Bat Safe lithium battery fireproof box in the basement.

[@jamesplotkin4674]

I still have my dad's Craftsman socket set from the early 1960's. Never going to get rid of them, except the crappy 3/8" ratchet I can't get parts for. I didn't have the heart to replace it way-back when you could go to Sears when they'd just say to go over to that isle and choose one.

[@Mag_Aoidh]

I grew up at Sears being a kid of the late 60/70s. Every year I got one pair of toughskins and they were never worn out but my Mom wanted them to look nice before school started. I too will buy every older craftsman hand tool I can find.

[@erichood3169]

Craftsman fell off 25 years ago.

[@ralphturney2125]

Way longer than that! Any tool they made was overpriced, way underpowered, and just different enough that only Sears accessories worked on their tools. But to me, their biggest lies were the HP ratings they put on their tools! 1 HP drier motors were advertised as 5 HP! And all you had to do was look at the plate on the motor that SAID 1HP! All their power tools have been lowest bid junk sold at premium prices. Fcuk Sears.

[@freebehindbars8654]

A few years before Sears fell, Craftsman was reduced to a basic hand tool.

[@Therabbitmaze-v2j]

​​​​@@ralphturney2125I remember just a few weeks before Sears closed they advertised a "50% off- 75% off ! Sale", it was still the same prices, , but they called it a "Sale!" With BS like this it's no wonder they went out of business assuming their customers were stupid

[@nole8923]

Two words. Eddie Lampert.

[@KDlGG]

@@nole8923even before him they were only decent at best because you were either poor or because you hadn’t used much else.

[@dustinb.77]

With an iconic tool brand name such as, "Craftsman" there are no excuses! Craftsman hand tools, at least their wrenches, ratchets, sockets, screwdrivers, and allen wrenches, must be proudly "MADE IN THE U.S.A."

[@ASpinnerASpinner]

Globalism kills everything, even ecosystems. Welcome to hell. It will get worse than this.

[@briancasey4917]

Retired now, but as a truck owner operator for 35 years I carried Craftsman up to and including 1/2 inch drive. My reason being that as a trucker I could go to any Sears and replace a broken tool free of charge any where in the country. I maybe did that twice. They are ecxellent tools. Still have them. Sad what happened to Sears.

[@dougscott8161]

When I was a kid and bought my first tool set, I went to Montgomery Wards, which was still in business and I am still using them with only one broken wrench which was replaces with no argument.

[@dallasbeus2117]

My dad gave me a Craftsman toolbox for Christmas 1972 and I am still using it.

[@Graham_Wideman]

With all the heartwarming tales in the comments from old timers about how when they came of age their Dads took them to Sears to buy a full set of Craftsman tools.... I can't help thinking maybe it was a solid fatherly way to give you a solid foundation in life when a chat about the birds and the bees was a bridge too far....

[@billbarnhill8776]

I bought my first set of Craftsman hand tools in 1966 and still using them today. If you want quality go to flea markets and yard sales you can quite often find old Craftsman tools there.

[@donaldhollums3278]

Nostalgia appears to be what pert near every manufacturer relies on nowadays to sell their products. Yet, Stateside jobs, longevity of the product, customer service, and value are lost. Instead we get products “assembled in the USA with global components”, planned obsolescence, and higher prices with lower quality. It’s unfortunate that what we strive to hang onto from the days of yore are never coming back at the previous level. The last two generations or so will never understand what our generation had and how it is lost because of this globalization nonsense.

[@ricklavigne4466]

I have the Craftsman and Snap on tools that I bought in the early 80's. All made in the USA..I guess I bought them at the right time.

[@DFisk75]

My first set of tools was a craftsman set i purchased back in 2000. I was excited they were bringing back USA manufacturing and disappointed it didn't work out.

[@ispeedalot1]

I too was a Craftsman fan boy so to speak. When I turned wrenches for a living, they were the best bang for the buck compared to Snap On. I particularly liked the warranty service and they were always being pretty innovative with creating some new tools. I had many options to have a misused socket or tool replaced at. To be fair, I didn't really have that many that needed replaced, but when I did, it was always a no hassle, always available type of situation. Not so much now. Lowes and Ace seem to be the most likely places to go too for Craftsman, but there is no guarantee they will even have anything but a basic socket, or wrench to trade out. Try finding a universal or something like that. As mostly a DIY now, most well built tools will work. I look more at fit and finish. are the sizes easily read, are the tolerances good or sloppy. are they readily available in all sizes. is the warranty easy and where can I go to have it taken care of. Are the tool's proportion's right for their intended purpose etc. And price is still important. Now they sell sets that skip sizes and a single size can cost almost as much as the set. Maybe they don't sell it individually but only in the set. If I am completing a set of sockets, I don't want one or two of them being some other brand.

[@bradhayes8294]

I have and have used Craftsman tools for years. Most all of them I received as gifts from my parents over the years. I've always thought their hand tools were too bulky. Their open and closed end wrenches are too wide for getting into tight spaces. I have some Mac and Snap-on tools and I really like the look, feel, and fit of them all. Having a Snap-on wrench in your hands just feels and fits much better than a similar Craftsman wrench. But of course there's always the price issue. Especially when it comes to the high price of Snap-on tools. Some years ago I interviewed for an engineering job at the Snap-on toolbox/chest manufacturing facility in Iowa. I didn't get the job, which turned out to be a good thing, as I got a much better job. What shocked me when I was there was the head of the company bragging to me at how their tool chest division was Snap-on's "cash cow". Admitting to me that even though their tool chests were way overpriced, people were still willing to pay for them because of the name.

[@Caje-zf8md]

As a Harry Homeowner, Sears hand tools have always been adequate for my needs. When I started seeing Chinese and Taiwan roll marks on their tools, I stopped buying from their stores. I now go down to the local flea market and find older "Made in USA" Sears hand tools that are not only better quality, but are cheaper, too.

[@johnl2727]

The flea market sellers are not stupid. Used Craftsman stuff is not cheap.

[@NealB123]

I bought a DIY collection of Craftsman tools back in the 80's -- wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, ratchet set and a few other odds and ends. All have been well used and still look good as new to this day. Haven't bought anything Craftsman since they started outsourcing to China in the 2010's. I live close to HD and now buy Husky whenever I need something I don't have. Never had a failure with either brand.

[@hands-on-m8c]

We all just need to give up on craftsman, I use to love them and I still have tons of their USA made tools so yes it was a hard breakup but its time to let them go. With all the other decent tool brands out there who the heck needs Chinese made craftsman.

[@branned]

Most are made in Taiwan like Icon that I have seen.

[@dougfowler6898]

@@brannedI think that’s an important point. The Taiwanese made Craftsman are way better than the Chinese tools.

[@larrymcgowan8974]

When it came to needing extra torque to remove bolts, I always turned to my craftsman half inch drive ratchet. I had a 6 foot pipe on it and it didn’t fail. I’ve bent snap on ratchets without putting a pipe on them.

[@jeffwright9431]

When I was a teenager in late 60's I was able to build a Craftsman tool set one piece at a time at garage sales, swap meets, and believe it or not, Sears itself. The Sears tool department in Long Beach, CA would have buckets and trays of single wrenches and sockets that were on close out, or had been returned, or who knows why, but I picked up 1/2" drive sockets for as little as 50 cents each. When I use the tools today they bring back fond memories of the search and I enjoy explaining to people who see them what the differences are in the design and finish of the older tools.

[@spartanwarrior1855]

Me too

[@Alan-pv2bi]

Bought a set of Craftsman tools in 1988 when i started working at a quarry in the maintenance department. Still have them, but left the quarry in 2005 and was provided tools on site after that. Likely my nephew will get them.

[@willb3018]

I started working for Sears part time in the hardware dept working my way through college in the fall of 1970. As a kid everyone I knew had Craftsman and while working there I started accumulating using my employee discount. Screw drivers, pliers, sockets, ratchets etc. Probably haven't bought any Craftsman in 30 years now. So all USA made. But that isn't to say I've stopped buying. Just for fun I have purchased some HF and Tekton stuff. honestly, for the price, HF isn't bad at all. I like Tekton too. It is a shame what that Lampert did to Sears and Craftsman.

[@917Stefano]

Good video! I don't know much about Craftman's newer tools, but I think you did a fair job describing their strengths and weaknesses in this review. Most of my wrenches and sockets are Craftsman that I purchased in the early 1980s. They still work fine, 40 years after I bought them. On the other hand, I am not a professional mechanic, so I don't use them every day.

[@Saw_Squatch]

My grandfather left me an entire shop full of USA made craftsman from the 70-90's, I never liked handles from the last 15-20 years so I'll be rebuilding the old stuff for as long as kits are available

[@antilaw9911]

Cool 👍

[@DinDooIt]

Treasure it because tools will never be made that good again!!

[@DJAlup]

I agree Craftsman wrench handles suck. They cut into your hands. That stupid raised panel.

[@gvxclassics]

I've had my craftsman tools since I was a kid and my Dad stopped wrenching. They are 50+ years old in some cases. I have two ½" ratchets, both old, the new one I dug out of a freshly paved road and it was curved from the steam roller. Went to Sears and got a new one. Their walk up warranty was the winner for me. Nothing left of that. Sad.

[@Tolbat]

Craftsman name was sold when Sears died, meaning this is NOT Craftsman and never has been since Sears died. They are now bottom tier cheap tools.

[@victormarinelli5660]

In the late 70s, early 80s I work at a Honda motorcycle dealership. I was one of the service managers at that dealership. As much as I liked Craftsman hand tools, I preferred to purchase brands that were considered to be, higher end tools. Working as a mechanic, along-side of other mechanic that had toolboxes full of Craftsman tools, I witnessed many failures of Craftsman hand tools by the other mechanics. To them, it was no big deal. They would just bring them back to Sears and have them replaced under the lifetime warranty. I may have paid more for my tools but, I never broke one. My tools had lifetime warranties, also. I never had to waste my time with warranty issues. That saved me time and much more. Craftsman had the price and the warranty but, they never had the quality.

[@michaeladkison98]

I feel like Tekton is turning into the new craftsman. Made in America, lifetime no questions asked warranty, and quality tools and boxes. I tried to take my dad's craftsman tools back numerous times and have always been told "we don't service items that old..". I've sent a pictures of a broken socket or wrench to tekton, gotten an email back within a few hours with a tracking number for an overnight package containing my replacement. Times have changed sadly :/

[@jimmydrew4215]

While you were. talking about these tools and the ratchets, I was so wanting you to show the old style ratchets and compare them. I hate the big bulky ones and I prefer the old teardrop style. Much easier to use particular in tight places.

[@RockyRaccoon3281]

I have several complete sets of craftsman wrenches, sockets, ratchets, & screwdrivers from 1983. The only thing that broke was a 3/8 universal. A few months ago, my son & i replaced all the brake lines and hoses in his truck. I couldn't find my line wrenches, so i went to Ace and bought a sae & metric set. We kept stripping the flare nuts, and the lines leaked. I figured the new craftsman chineseum line wrenches stretched out, so i measured them with a micrometer, and they were stretched by almost 1/8" on average. But then i measured the wrenches we didn't use, and they were too big by about 1/16" on average. Then i got the typical jerk job when i tried to return them. What part of lifetime warranty is so hard to understand. I eventually found my original 1983 line wrenches, and they were still measuring dead on balls accurate. I miss the good old days!

[@tsl7881]

Exact opposite of what a flare wrench is supposed to accomplish. Could have done that with a "Crescent wrench".

[@RockyRaccoon3281]

@tsl7881 yea, we used a crescent wrench to stop the leaks where we could. I was really trying to teach my son the old right tool for the job scenario. Plus, he had never seen line wrenches yet. He learned more than one lesson on that project and saved over $1000. Plus, we got to hang out together for 2 days and get his truck safe and roadworthy. Except for the crappy craftsman line wrenches, we actually had a great weekend together. Priceless.

[@johndelvisco4528]

I purchased a new craftsman hand tool set 2 yrs ago. 1/4 and 3/8 drive ratchets locked up after about 2 months of use. Won't engage either way and nobody wants to replace them. Spent about an hour on the phone trying to get replacements and all I was able to do was waste my time. My craftsman rachets that I bought in 1991 work great. The fact that Stanley now owns them explains a whole bunch. I have bought my last craftsman set of tools.

[@jamesmurphy9346]

The Wayback Machine takes us to 1971. I bought a Craftsman set , like 108 piece including box AND a 3/8th Electric Drill. I started decarboning a set of heads with the drill and it dies in 5 minutes. Sent it in for repair, 3 months later I got it back, started using it, died again, threw it away and bought a Black and Decker, did well. The Craftsman tools did well and got me into the Auto Tech trade . They more than made the money back that I invested. Craftsman to me is a wait-n-see . Thanks for the info.

[@manuelvalenzuela5729]

Did Mr. Peabody and Sherman go with you?

[@jamesmurphy9346]

@@manuelvalenzuela5729 actually it was a guy in a stainless steel sports car. Lol !

[@weekendminitoystruckcarclu4632]

When i enrolled in Denver Automotive & Diesels College in Denver, CO, back in 86 87 we had the option of getting Craftsman big box and 300 set mechanic tools or they offered snap on i believe with box and 100 peice set so most of us went with Craftsman as more bang for your buck. Quality tools now junk just junk.

[@waterbottle4782]

When I first entered trades over four decades ago I bought one of those big box with 100s of hand tools from Sears. One of the best things I did considering I still use the same tools today. I do not know about quality of Craftsman tools now because Sears no longer exists in my country.

[@orsonwells7997]

Thirty years ago I bought the craftsman tool kit in the blow molded case. The first time I used the half inch drive ratchet the guts gave out. Off to the local sears store with the ratcet in hand and before I got to the desk the guy seen me coming and had the new repair kit on the counter. He already knew what the problem was going to be. Have not had any issues since or with any of the other tools in the kit. Best seventy bucks I have ever spent on tools.

[@NGMonocrom]

They haven't been around for nearly 100 years. Original Craftsman that our grand-fathers had access to were better than the stuff made overseas, that is simply labelled as "Craftsman." With the current owner Stanly Black & Decker having the legal rights to put that brand name on any sort of metal junk they wish. Not sure when the _real_ Craftsman expired and was buried. But that has already happened. BTW, are there still three separate "Craftsman" line of tools distinct from each other that don't use the same battery for their cordless power-tools? Or, did some lawyers get together for SB&D and finally correct that situation? Seriously, $900 Million to buy the rights to Craftsman from Sears?? But that didn't come with full exclusivity to the Craftsman name. Who was the raging "genius" over at SB&D who agreed to THAT stipulation? (As far as storage? Screw it! Go to Home Depot, buy any of the Husky storage boxes/bins. Take a can of black spray-paint. Take some painter's tape. Now you have a nice place to put your tools that wasn't ridiculously overpriced. Heck, a buddy of mine keeps his Milwaukee power-tools in HART brand tool bags to make sure no one steals them.)

[@liquidrockaquatics3900]

I used to keep a lot of my tools in dirty buckets🤷‍♂️. The truck got the lock smashed in and they stole a drain machine and a couple tool boxes with faucet wrenches and parts, but they left all the buckets. Thankfully, security through obscurity isn’t just for the tech field.

[@keithliermann692]

Always loved craftman but my wife bought me my first set & rachet stripped & prybar end broke. Got new exchange which I loved. But new rachet stripped too. I found an old rachet that never failed prob from the 60s. It was stolen,I got it back and it looked like it was used as a hammer. It has probs but is better than the new ones. I can’t let go of it.

[@johnpoerio4071]

Hi, I have some 40-year-old craftsman. Wrenches that say made in USA but now I’m sticking with icon.

[@thistledownwoodcraft3426]

Dad brought home a Snap-on 1/2" socket set from a blown out 6x6 during WW2 with up to 1 1/4" sockets and the ratchet on that looks about the same as the new Craftsman. Here is the thing, at 90 years of real abuse that Snap-on still rocks. Last thing I need in a tool is for it to blow up when put to the hard knocks. If the Craftsman can do that, then I don't care how chunky it is, it just has to work.

[@mavision6525]

I inherited a lot of old craftsman tools and it's very rare for me to buy hand tools. If I need something I usually get Icon. I've never bought Craftsman battery tools since they were sold. Nostalgia yes, but my Craftsman buying days at the new big box store are done.

[@hu5116]

I love the V20 series battery tools and own most of them, and love em! Have not had any complaints and work well. Also, look for the tool packages that include a battery and charger: it’s usually notably cheaper than buying the batteries separately. So I now have plenty of chargers and batteries at both home, the office and the shop and it was all very affordable.

[@yukonjohn9480]

I am a retired railroad machinist working on locomotives. We had to buy our own hand tools 1/2” drive and below. Most of us used Chraftsmen tools. They were great in the old days.

[@YourMothersHouseChillin]

Railroad machinist?

[@ginfizz20]

I had a fire that gutted my shop. I'm 86 yo so didn't need to replace all the Snap-on tools at the new prices. So, I was like you and always had a lot of respect for Sears/Craftman tools, I went to my Sears store and picked up a new tool box and some of the hand tools I wanted around the farm. Wow!! The drawers on the box didn't have "rollers". They put a strip of "nylon" for the drawer to slide on. With in days 3 of the nylon strips snagged on something and bent up--stopping the drawer. I picked up a set of 3/8th drive sockets. When I opened the box I found the engraving was so light that I had to get a magnifying glass to be sure what it said. Since I have learned that Craftsman, Photo, Mac, DeWalt and many other companies have been bought up by Stanley-Black and Decor. This company is doing what ever they need, to make these companies show a profit. Since the purchase , they have changed air compressor manufacturers and I bought a new DeWalt and I consider it "junk". I called DeWalt and all they would say is I had to call the ph# painted on the tank. I did, and they answered the phone, "Campbell Hausfield". I'm at a loss as to what to do now

[@denoftools]

And sadly CH is not what they once were either.

[@dirtlegdirtleg]

Wonderful lighting so we can see everything

[@ChristopherHudetz]

I used to work at Sears in the auto center. I got a discount on all the craftsman tools I bought there. Still have them all, but haven't worked as a mechanic for years now.

[@n9wox]

I've bought a good amount of Craftsman over the years. I've moved onto Tekton and Gearwrench.

[@chrismurray3390]

I have been monkeying around in garage for most of my 60yrs. I believe the love of old Craftsman tools is because in that Era there was not a lot of places you could go that stocked shelves full of tools. Dare I say the HF of yesterday. There is just so much competition today. Some have good tools some not. Currently I have a bunch of tools that just do what I want. No brand loyalty anymore.

[@normangiven6436]

I do not like the newer stuff. I shop FB marketplace for children selling Dad's tools, not knowing or caring about them.

[@Geeksalmonbanana]

I have a old craftsman sockets set my dad gave me. For power tools I use Dewalt XR line and couldn't be happier. The only thing I hate is battery prices but I'm guessing most brands r the same.

[@kb9oak749]

Craftsman used to be my go to brand. Unfortunately that is no longer the case. Why pay a premium for just a name when comparable tools can be had for less?

[@whiteshadow1771]

I used Craftsman for years. I remember in the 90s, I could walk into any Sears with a damaged hand tool and walk out with a replacement no questions asked. I haven't seen any craftsman products since Sears went belly up. I have a Stanley set that has been great.

[@astridsactionrc545]

I left the mechanic trades 20 years ago. I’m a recovering Craftsman fan boy too. I never fell for the tool truck scam. I have thousands of dollars worth of Craftsman tools. Other techs used to trash talk me all of the time. I gave up on Craftsman when they introduced and pushed their Evolve line. 🤮 I worked at Sears at the time and I couldn’t stand it!

[@Failure_Is_An_Option]

Liar.

[@busman2050]

Many years ago sears had a cheaper priced tools like adjustable wrenches that were made in Japan. I have one of those. They were cheaper than craftsman in price but the quality was just as good, they were far superior to any adjustable wrenches sold today.

[@busman2050]

The evolve tools were junk

[@OCT566]

@@Failure_Is_An_Optionkeep stepping pansy

[@Gabriel-i1z1z]

I already replaced 2 ratchets from my new set. It sucked that I had to get it threw the mail.

[@branned]

I wish Craftsman would make the repair kits for old USA ratchets.

[@4GSR]

I have a bunch of those repair kits I picked up way back for all of the ratchets I have and still have. Have not had to repair one, but I have them if needed. My son will probably do the repair.

[@jesusmunoz5184]

You can find them, but cheap. I bought a kit for my angled, multi position ratchet, works like it use too. But it was pricey.

[@branned]

@@jesusmunoz5184 I find the whole ratchets for $1-5 at estate sales. EBay wants way too much for the old repair USA made kits.

[@kenfrank2730]

I've been buying Craftsman tools since the 1980s. The only drawback I've found is with the ratchet wrenches. The ratchet mechanism doesn't last. I've had to replace a few broken ratchets over the years. And since I do mechanical work on trains, I bought 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 Snap-on ratchets to replace my Craftsmans. Expensive but well worth it. What I don't like about the Overdrive ratchets is the chunky profile. Not good when working in tight spaces. I'm curious what happened to all the workers who made Craftsman tools in the USA. How many lost their jobs, and what happened to the factories. Also, what did they do with the Texas factory?

[@CallLeeFree]

I always had Craftsman until I went to buy a new master set 12 years ago and it said 'made in China'. I instead bought Tekton master sets and love them.

[@ronvance1958]

I still have mine that were bought in the 1970's and a few older given to me by my dad and father in-law that still work like a charm.

[@jasonsmith373]

The USA-made Craftsman Professional line in the 1990's was nearly as good as Snap-On for half the price.

[@peterkwan4772]

But it was not profitable for Craftsman to keep the USA-made Craftsman Professional line in the 1990's going.

[@evanodder6948]

CMM12033 is not the overdrive line. Red case, no ridges, basically not the tools you're talking about. Afaik Amazon doesn't carry Craftsman overdrive tools. Lowe's has them.

[@Samson_Customs]

When I was a teenager my dad bought we a Western Auto socket set still have it. I’m 73 years old now.