I've been using Craftsman tools for a long time. More than 23 years ago, I bought a bunch of tools from a place called Harbor Freight (I had no idea what they were about back then) and the tools had good old American-sounding names like Pittsburgh Forge and Chicago Electric. When the package arrived, I noticed everything was made in China and I sent it all back even though I had to pay for shipping.

After that, I continued buying Craftsman. But as time went on, I noticed that more and more Craftsman tools were made in China. I bought a Craftsman 2-ton aluminum floor jack a few years ago and now it leaks. I didn't use the jack a whole lot (once every couple months), so I'm disappointed that now I have to buy a $50 rebuild kit (not available from Sears) for some seals that cost 25% of what I paid for it. Sears doesn't support their products for very long. I haven't had to return any of my US-made ratchets, but I fear the day when I have to return them for something made in China.

I'm starting to believe you can't buy quality. Instead, you buy a name that used to be associated with quality and pay more for the name, but the product you buy is only good enough to get you past the warranty. Other good names don't make a quality product. What you bought 10 or 15 years ago is better than what you'll buy now.

I'm looking for a compressor and air tools but when someone tells me their 20 year old IR compressor and impact wrench are performing flawlessly to this day, I know I won't be able to buy the same thing now. So, where are the decent quality tools for the average Joe Mechanic? I know there's always Snap On for those who are mechanics for a living, but what about decent tools that the manufacturer will stand behind for the DIY'er? Or should I just give in and buy the cheap stuff and throw it away when it breaks? What are you all buying these days and what are your impressions of the quality?

 

I hear ya. Basically, just buy stuff from "back in the day" at yard sales, estate sales, eBay, etc. Very sad.

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This^ plus pawn shops and shop shop and shop some more. Some of my harbor freight tools are my absolute favorite tools, some are junk. And this goes for most brands. Had good luck with Kobalt and Napa's everlast lately. That said I HATE Craftsmen, all there stuff is expensive junk these days and I already hate Sears.

 

I reference this website a lot, for more than just tools. Still Made in USA.com - American-Made Tools

 

I have a garage full of Craftsman stuff from years ago, no issues yet. I also have some newer craftsman battery powered tools that are pure and simply crap. They are fine for the hobbyist and light household maintenance but not for the guy who earns a living using these tools.

I'll never buy Craftsman again, Kobalt I hear has a nice tool and a great warranty.

 

there is nothing wrong with most harbor freight tools.
i have their inpact sockets in each truck, with a 1/2 drive ingersoll impact gun. i would rather have someone steal a $27 set of HF sockets than my $300 snap on sockets.
the HF sockets work fine. i have had them for over 5 years now, and they get used all the time.
the $125 3 ton floor jacks are the same way.
same with the $15 4 1/2 inch grinders. i have 2 that are over 10 years old.
ratchet wrenches work fantastic, at 1/4 the price of the known name wrenches made on the same exact assembly line.

25-30 years ago HF tools were poor quality. these days they are of the same quality as snap on, mac, or matco, except you are not paying for the name.

 

A lot of older name USA made tools are still made here----like so many others they probably also offer a lot of "imported" stuff built to a price. IR, Wright, Snap On, etc etc etc have top tier USA made stuff even today.

The advice to shop, shop, shot and shop some more is great! I cruise eBay for things like original Vise Grip's--I probably pay more for NOS or gently used tools this way but they will outlast me I'm sure. Generally when considering a tool check its overall condition---if it looks beat to death it probably was. Normal wear and tear isn't the same though---kinda have to develop a sixth sense for something so undefinable.

Perhaps I'm a bit lucky or just too stubborn to buy anything less than good quality tools---budget tends to be one of least important considerations for me. That being said SOME stuff such as Milwaukee's newer Li-Ion cordless tools are from China but built incredibly well. Oddly enough most of their corded tools are still USA made.......

In ratchets, sockets and similar stuff Wright Tools are made in Barberton, Ohio and I've yet to have any problems with their products. SK Tools are largely still made here in the USA but you have to check each category carefully. Their G-Pro line of ratcheting wrenches are Taiwan---good quality, nicely finished but still Taiwan with a good warranty.

FWIW the Craftsman brand once upon a time was mostly a selection of top notch USA tool manufacturers with that name, not a bit of dip in quality. Today they seem to be mostly imported with a few exceptions.

 

It's disturbing for us older fellas when we venture into a store these days. We remember when our homes or our parents homes at least, were filled with decent quality goods. Maybe not the best in the world, or the fanciest, but sturdy and long lasting. Maybe there isn't anything exciting either about a mixer, or a toaster or a drill, but they also provided jobs for millions of men and women and allowed them to raise a family. Today whole entire industries are totally gone - textiles, electronics, consumer goods. Today "we" import low wage illiterates (with the backing of labor unions!?) and export the jobs, politicians shower confetti aka the dollar to their fellow crooks around the world.. It's total bizarro world folks. Ah, sorry. for the rant. Pay attention and learn your history folks. Turn off your TV, and be sure to laugh when you hear the experts say "nobody saw this coming" and "we're in uncharted territory". Sometimes I can't believe how stupid this country has gotten. Happy New Year! Sent from my iPhone using IB AutoGroup

 

I went into a pawn shop a few years ago and it just had this sleazy feel to it. Stuff was overpriced, but I don't know if they expect you to try to bargain with them. Plus, everything there was warm to the touch. I haven't been to any pawn shops since.

I've been eying the Kobalt tools at Lowe's. I heard they rated pretty highly and I've noticed that the ratchets have a higher tooth count. Still, it's tough for me to pull the trigger when I see they're not made in the US. But, I'd rather buy tools made in Taiwan (our ally) than from China. I'm really disappointed that Sears seems to have subscribed to planned obsolescence as their business strategy. There's no real reason that the design of the floor jack that they make should change. It's not like it has electronics in it. They should support their products with parts like they used to. I bought it thinking they would.

 

Personally Made in the USA isn't so important to me that I'd sacrifice paying a lot more and getting less. Who I buy it from and who I give my money to is more important to me then where it's actually made. Harbor Freight has treated me very well and given me fantastic value for my money. Sears has treated me like total scum of the earth and cost me thousands upon thousands of dollars.

 

I hear this a lot and have experienced it myself.

 

Hello and good morning.

I strongly concur with your views and I always attempt to buy american made products first but it is, as you say, very difficult.

Check out www.madeisusa.org where you can purchase underware to bicycles.

It definitely sucks that Craftsman has sold out to offshore companies and I am glad that I bought around $700 worth of mechanic's tools when every Craftsman tool was made here.

Regarding an air compressor I bought a Bostitch 150 PSI 6 Gallon Air Compressor with 2 different nail/brad tools.

Ironically, the compressor is made in USA but the nailers are not which is alright as I wanted only the compressor. I bought the kit recently from Menards so if you want a USA compressor Menards is the place. The Bostitch is the only one made here.

In my view there are 2 shortcomings to offshore products: terrible metallurgy and quality control.

Milwaukee, Porter Cable, DeWalt, Ridgid, to name a few have all SOLD OUT!

However, on the bright side there is On Shoring where some companies are returning to the US as the wages and benefits are becoming too expensive for the Off Shore companies so at least this is a trickle.

Hopefully, more will follow.

We MUST keep American Jobs here and to all please by American whenever possible.

Take care and Godspeed!

Boon

 

When it comes down to a choice between tools made in China or made in Taiwan, generally speaking I've found a much greater overall quality level with the Taiwan product. Taiwan was the defacto import choice long before globalization and, as a result, there are plenty of experienced, high quality factories producing product there now. China is much more hit or miss.
The last few years has seen names (in the woodworking industry) like Powermatic, Jet, Grizzly, Steel City and Ridgid(Emerson) producing very high quality product from Taiwan. Oftentimes, moreso than Delta (who is using many factories in China now and providing crap customer service to boot).
Common sense dictates staying away from "universal" motors and junk castings, regardless of where manufactured.

 

There's a lot of wisdom there and in many ways I concur. However since I'll forever beat the Buy American drum its not that difficult to find products or sellers of USA-made goods that at least equal Harbor Freight etc etc. As for Sears and Craftsman----terrible demise of a once proud American retailer that's become a big joke these days.

What I do notice though is the retailers of even auto/truck parts sellers who tout lower prices more often than high quality tend to be overly accommodating to the general public, defaulting to the old adage "the customer is always right..", almost too often IMHO. Some ham-handing lout destroys something and its obvious gets the same treatment as someone with a legitimate issue----good for the lout, bad for everyone else because this puts pressure to continually lower the cost of doing business simply to continue the practice. End result is pressure on vendors to lower their costs which ultimately means less and less quality.

Perhaps being one of the "old guys" here my backlog of who's a good vendor, who to avoid is mostly a result of being around almost too long. I HATE paying "more for less" just because its made here but learning who to trust product-wise is just tuition for the school of hard knocks.

Tools to some people are merely that---something absolutely necessary to get something done, perhaps just one time. For others they're a matter of pride, tangible things obtained as a result of our own efforts that others can see. Whether a viewer recognizes their value is another matter----for me I enjoying simply knowing I've bought well and tried supporting those who keep USA jobs in the USA!

Rant over, peace out!

 

The Pittsburgh line of sockets and wrenches from HF have a lifetime no questions asked warranty. I did buy the 3/4" drive to be able to service some items on my old F 450 and had no problems, although I didnt use them much. The price I paid for a full set was less than a comparable 3/4" breaker only from craftsman.