USA made tools

[Cowboy Gun Fan]

I've bought many of my Craftsman tools at the Flea Market. The nice thing is that they "were" guaranteed for life. Since Sears has gone out, I don't believe they are guaranteed anymore. Even though many places are still selling them.

[daytime dave]

I have mostly Craftsman tools from the 90's until they started to not be made in the US of A. I found the guarantee almost unneccessary as they have lasted very well. I can count on one hand how many Craftsman tool exchanges I had to make (when you could).
I have also purchased some tools at Harbor Freight. They are the secondary tools for things like camp and barn. I have since re-thought that strategy because when I needed to use them in a difficult application, I have found some of them coming up a little short.
My new thought process is USA made John Deere tools. They get pricey.

[clovishound]

Do you ever watch the Woodwright's Shop? Amazing how many different tools they used to use. Here's a whole episode on beading planes.

https://www.pbs.org/video/the-venerable-bead-rvo9nq/

Yes, I am quite familiar with "Saint Roy". He is both entertaining and educational. I don't have any beading planes, despite the fact that wooden beading and moulding planes were common and often inexpensive items at a lot of the fleas. I really never had a use for them, and was a little intimidated at sharpening them. I do have a (hand) router plane that does a good job with some applications.

[Cowboy Gun Fan]

I have mostly Craftsman tools from the 90's until they started to not be made in the US of A. I found the guarantee almost unneccessary as they have lasted very well. I can count on one hand how many Craftsman tool exchanges I had to make (when you could).

Same here Dave. In over 50 years of collecting tools, mostly Craftsman, I have returned very few all through the years. But a few are showing their wear now and I asked at Lowes, who now sell them too, and was told no more guarantee. But I'm going to give it another try somewhere just to verify that.

[Ernie]

I got an older craftsman socket wrench replaced at Lowes a couple of months ago. Maybe they won't replace the new tools.

[clovishound]

I bought a 1/2 in drive Craftsman socket set when I was in high school, probably 1971. At some point the ratchet stopped working properly. I quit using it for a while and then one day decided to see if I could get it repaired. I went to a local Sears, they were still open at that time, and they wanted to exchange it for a rebuilt one. I said, "No, it's got sentimental value since I'd had it so long.". He said they had some repair kits for the ratchet mechanism. He found one that fit that model, and I said I could install it myself. Got it back up and running.

[Sir Henry]

I thought this lawsuit about Craftsman fraud might interest people.

https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/ ... tsman.html

[Hatchdog]

Yesterday I needed to pull the water heater anode rod out to drain the tank in the rv. I grabbed the 1/2” ratchet I always use which is a craftsman and yep, made in the USA. I have lots of craftsman tools and have had them for many years so I expect they are all USA made. I have a small 4” bench vise from craftsman and it too says made in the USA.

[Sir Henry]

This website will tell you when and where your Craftsman tool was made. Fascinating reading if you like Craftsman.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/thr ... ges.84807/

[Sir Henry]

I bought a few Craftsman V,VV, and G code 1/2” drive sockets and ratchet/breaker/spinner tools. The sockets go up to 1-1/2” and 32mm. The Channels locks and other tools I’ve had.

C85A0DD6-FEE4-491B-A092-87F477D5BCCE.jpeg (5.52 MiB) Viewed 1369 times

These weren’t a super bargain but still a good deal.