[61-63]

https://www.craftsman.com/support/where-its-made

I've ever had only one break and it was replaced no problem. I recently had two Craftsman torque wrenches recalibrated. Both were ?? 35 or so years old.

[4dblnkldude]

Originally Posted by 61-63

https://www.craftsman.com/support/where-its-made

I've ever had only one break and it was replaced no problem. I recently had two Craftsman torque wrenches recalibrated. Both were ?? 35 or so years old.

I have a broken one 15 years old. Where do you send them?

[61-63]

Originally Posted by 4dblnkldude

I have a broken one 15 years old. Where do you send them?

https://support.craftsman.com/hc/en-...RAFSTMAN-tool-

[bluejudge]

Originally Posted by 61-63

https://support.craftsman.com/hc/en-...RAFSTMAN-tool-

That’s great info. Thanks

[GT182]

Originally Posted by 4dblnkldude

I have a broken one 15 years old. Where do you send them?

Lowes will replace them at no charge. I had a 1/4" ratchet that's been broke for God knows how long. On a whim I went my local Lowes, and they exchanged it with a $30.00 1/4" ratchet with no questions asked and no cost to me. That should go for wrenches too.

The only thing I'd never buy is one of their flimsy Craftsman tool cabinets. To me they nothing but junk and told them so at Lowes. The Kobalt tool chests they used to have were top of the line. Far better than the Crapsman junk in every way.

[Half-Inch Stud]

Excellent tools for us layman. Professional tools include some Craftsman stuff huh. I prefer S-K for double-box wrenches. I got treed

[The Champ]

I quit buying Craftsman tools when the replacement ratchets for my 20 year old ratchets only lasted 6 months. That was years ago when Sears and Craftsman were both reliable names.

15 years ago, I quit buying Crapsman tools and started buying Kobalt. Much better quality and I've never broken one, despite giving them harder use.

[turbo69bird]

Yeah I have broken a lot of craftsman tools when they switched over to plastic inside and leavers from steel that was the mail in the coffin .
I have mostly bought kobalt stuff after but recently bought a craftsman set that was on special Don it’s been really good too.

My only complaint w the new set I bought is if I hold the head of the ratchet w one hand to speed the bolt out after breaking it loose my hand hits the switch easy and it slips the old ones didn’t do that . But otherwise they’ve been very strong and reliable .

[hurryinhoosier62]

Originally Posted by 61-63

https://www.craftsman.com/support/where-its-made

I've ever had only one break and it was replaced no problem. I recently had two Craftsman torque wrenches recalibrated. Both were ?? 35 or so years old.

Odd, the last Craftsman ratchets, sockets and wrenches I looked at were made in Taiwan; the same as Kobalt. This was in December. I still have Craftsman wrenches, sockets and extensions I had when I started as a power plant mechanic’s apprentice in 1983. Can’t say that about my Snap On, Proto and Cornwall tools. I would love to find a complete set of Craftsman wrenches ( in good condition) like the set my dad had. He bought his right after he got home from Korea in 1954.

[Sirrotica]

The truth is I have much more faith in hand tools made in Taiwan, than I do tools sourced from global (china) sources, and assembled in the US.

I first bought crapsman in 1971 when I was beginning my career as a mechanic. In 1977 when I took a breaker bar back to the sears store for replacement, because the knuckle had sheared off, they wouldn't give me another one, even though they had them in stock. They cited the corporate policy was only to replace the knuckle, and not the complete tool, and they had no replacement parts in the store. I had a head gasket job to do the next day, and it surely would be much easier if I had the breaker bar. But no way I could talk the moron in charge into replacing my broken tool with a new one. If you're making your living with your tools you don't want someone to recite their policy to save the company $5 by inconveniencing you by changing the rules on broken tool replacement. They also started only replacing the guts on ratchets about the same time too. If they were out of replacement parts when you came in, you had to make another trip to get the kit installed.

They even had the warranty on the wall in the tool department, but they weren't going to honor it that day. I swore off crapsman tools that day, and I doubt I've bought any since then. I happened to be looking for a new lawn mower that day too, and I didn't purchase one from sears after that exchange.

I started buying off the tool trucks after that incident, and Snap on or Mac were much better tools than crapsman by a long shot. I also saw the tool man once a week and never got any song, and dance about corporate policy says this, or that when it came to warranty.

Stanley, or Husky has better hand tools than crapsman does by a long shot, and they're usually quite a bit cheaper than crapsman is too. Yes, Stanley, and Husky, are made in Taiwan, but the tools compared side by side are better than crapsman tools are. I've actually never broken any of them, but I have lost them, can't blame anyone but myself for that. I'd rather buy the pro line from Harbor Freight, than buy crapsman tools.

I've never owned many Kobalt tools, because I don't like dealing with Lowes, but the few I've had were very good quality.

Tekton has a warranty that you take a picture of the tool and E mail it to them, they send you a replacement in a few days. Some of Tekton is US made, and some is Taiwan. Their warranty policy is head, and shoulders above anyone else's though. Tekton is middle of the road on most tools as far as pricing, good tools though.

[Tom Vaught]

I have two tool boxes with Craftsman tools bought years ago, American Made.

Two tool boxes made by Snap-on with Snap-on tools.
I used to have a Snap-on Truck Driver friend that always gave me a really good discount.

8 Harbor Freight tool boxes (6 are the add on chests to the side of the two large commercial 44" Roller Cabinets.)

I bought those years ago and have been very happy with them, considering they are offshore made.
The Roller Cabinets have matching 44" Top Chests.

I have so many chests/cabinets because I have a workshop in a "Out Building) I built,
Mostly Welding stuff and Lawn Mower maint tasks.

A workshop for doing Car mechanic work in my garage.

And a Work Shop in my basement for my Holley Carbs builds.

Too much trouble going back and forth in and out of the house or garage for tasks.

You only really need tools for what you are working on but I like limiting "my steps"
and not wasting time.

That will all change once my Morton barn gets put up. Everything will be done in one location.
So two of the three brands I own are American Made but I have owned all three types for at least 20 years.

Tool Boxes are CHEAP vs constantly wasting valuable time. Time is everything.

Tom V.

[A.W.Dille]

My (late) wife got me a set of Craftsman pass throughs. No complaints and good to get into the tight places on my 87 Ford diesel. I've had Craftsman tools for years and never any complaints. My Craftsman line wrenches do better than my Snap On's.

[61-63]

After posting this topic on here and the 348-409 forums and reading some of the comments I got back I researched Craftsman and Kobalt tools. I'm not sure all Craftsman tools are made in the US based upon what I've read but it looks like they are moving that way if they aren't there yet. They opened a new 450,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facciity in Fort Worth in 2019 to manufacture hand tools. It would not surprise me that there is still stuff on the shelves from Tiawan and China that are Craftsman. Kobalt has most if not all of it's stuff manufactured in Tiawan. Craftsman hand tools are still guaranteed for life and Kobalt has a 30 day guarantee from what I read.

[The Champ]

Originally Posted by 61-63

Craftsman hand tools are still guaranteed for life and Kobalt has a 30 day guarantee from what I read.

Apparently you didn't look hard enough.

CORRECTION:

"You should never have a problem with your Kobalt tools. However, if you do, return the item to the place of purchase for a free replacement. No
questions asked. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you
may also have other rights that vary from state to state. Please see store
or call 1-888-3KOBALT for details."

The 90 day warranty you refer to is for "satisfaction" - if you get it home and you don't like it, you have 90 days to return it.

As piss poor as Craftsman tools were when I made the decision to not bother getting warranty replacements, the warranty was worthless. My hands are worth more than ANOTHER free replacement ratchet when they kept breaking time after time.

I have no reason to try the new Craftsman tools to see if they've improved. My Kobalt's are performing BETTER than any of my older Craftsman tools ever did.

"If you're not completely satisfied with your Lowe's purchase, simply return the merchandise to any Lowe's store in the US. Most new, unused merchandise can be refunded or exchanged with proof of purchase within 90 days of the original purchase date. Some exceptions to the standard policy exist."

[dataway]

Taiwan makes some fine tools these days. Same country that makes some of the most complex computer chips in the world, and some of the most advanced machine tools.

There is a reason China wants Taiwan badly, Taiwanese technology is about a decade ahead of the China.

[Jonsie]

Originally Posted by dataway

Taiwan makes some fine tools these days. Same country that makes some of the most complex computer chips in the world, and some of the most advanced machine tools.

There is a reason China wants Taiwan badly, Taiwanese technology is about a decade ahead of the China.

2X on that!

[grandam1979]

Most craftsman tools are not USA made anymore look at the new ratchets not made here anymore. Even your link has select products at the top. I have mostly craftsman and snap on but a little older USA stuff.

[72projectbird]

I literally have a box full of broken Craftsmen ratchets. A heavy ass box. Some are missing teeth, others have their selector snapped off, some even have the socket drive twisted straight off. Have a few where the handles are bents/twisted, and others that just locked up.

After getting sick of trying to replace or rebuild them, as soon as they break they get tossed in the box. Thankfully I'm down to only a handful of Craftsmen ratchets. When they're gone, they're gone. I've broken less Harbor Freight crap than Craftsman.


It's too bad. I have some really old Craftsmen stuff that's been passed down generations, and still works great. But I won't touch the new stuff.

[hurryinhoosier62]

Originally Posted by 72projectbird

I literally have a box full of broken Craftsmen ratchets. A heavy ass box. Some are missing teeth, others have their selector snapped off, some even have the socket drive twisted straight off. Have a few where the handles are bents/twisted, and others that just locked up.

After getting sick of trying to replace or rebuild them, as soon as they break they get tossed in the box. Thankfully I'm down to only a handful of Craftsmen ratchets. When they're gone, they're gone. I've broken less Harbor Freight crap than Craftsman.


It's too bad. I have some really old Craftsmen stuff that's been passed down generations, and still works great. But I won't touch the new stuff.

My “newest” Craftsman ratchet is nearly thirty years old. It still works as good as the day I purchased it. When it finally fails, I will be look at Tekton or the Icon line from Harbor Freight.

[Goatracer1]

I have always like Craftsman tools. They were a good quality for the price. I also bought Snapon , Mac, Matco and Cornwell. Usually when the tool vendor came in and I needed something right away. My Snapon timing light quit working and I was told parts are not available. Then my Matco light quit. They told me they do NOT repair anything that is out of warranty. Might as well stick with Craftsman.