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Craftsmen isn't made in the USA anymore? Wow, is anything made in the USA these days?
Jim
Wells Index Mills are made in USA. There are lots of things made in USA, sometimes and somethings you have to look for but there are lots of stuff still available.
If you don't mind exploiting inmate labor, you can buy Made In USA jeans. I can personally vouch for the item. These are the best made jeans I have ever worn.
Craftsman has been selling overseas manufacturing for a long time. For at least 20 years. Same warranty. Lifetime.
I hear that started in the 70's. Another thing to blame on Jimmy Carter
When Sears went bankrupt, they sold off their brands as assets. Craftsman became a part of Stanley, Black and Decker, DeWalt, Craftsman. Then the Craftsman brand became available at home improvement stores, discount stores, Amazon, etc. Now most of the tools with the Craftsman brand label are no longer as reputable as they once were. Old Craftsman tools became a collectable. Craftsman then launched a "professional" line that is supposed to be better than the normal retail line.
I still buy Craftsman. There's still a lifetime warranty. Although I am now at the stage where I already have most of the tools I need or want. I buy novelty items like a finger spinner for screwdriver bits. Or a long handle ratchet so that I don't have to use a pipe for more leverage. I also bought a telescoping, extendable handle ratchet. I recently bought some longer wrenches, so that in my old age, I won't have to exert as much muscle. I am kind of, sort of, phasing away any 12 point sockets I find sitting around, for 6 point sockets. If I grab my 15 mm socket for an oil change, and notice that it's a 12 point, or some random off brand, I look for a 6 point socket to replace it . I recently bought an attachment for my breaker bar, which ratchets, to make it a heavy duty ratchet. I finally bought a 1/4" magnetic bit holder, which I had but lost a long time ago.
Since I am a hobbyist, not a professional mechanic, lesser cost tools will suffice. I might change a water pump, or ignition coil, or something, every 10 years. Spark plugs have a 100,000 mile warranty. The most action I see are annual oil changes. Cars are made these days that most of the wrench turning is for things like the F150 where you have to remove the actual headlight assembly to change a simple bulb. Or the van where I have to remove the underbody panel to get to the oil drain and filter. I have a set of lug nut sockets, a 1/2" drive breaker bar, and a torque wrench that are practically new. Tire shops now rotate tires free. And I don't remember the last time I got a flat on the road.
I will have to do with my Stanley socket set, and Harbor Freight cheap tools. My mechanic days are over. My truck sits just high enough that I can't reach anything except the battery. Of course, that is a moot point since I have not had my truck for the past five months...
You could find yourself installing a new CB radio. Or something like an 8 track high fidelity gadget.
I installed a hot water heater with a few hand tools. You never know when wrenches will come in handy.
I like Harbor Freight. Depending on what you are buying, some of the tools suck. But some of their tools have worked out for me. What I like most are the coupons and low prices. I just can't pass up a $5 angle grinder.
One of my favorite tools from Harbor Freight was a set of oil drain plug sockets. They had a magnet for holding onto the drawing plug, and a grip ring for your fingers. Once you break the torque, you use the socket to spin off the drain plug. No more touching hot drain plugs. It was a facsimile of something that Gear Wrench had a patent on, and they had to stop selling them.
The biggest "surprise it works" item from Harbor Freight was the oscillating tool. Keep in mind that oscillating tools come with different levels of power for the motor. Some are way better. They have more power, and an adjustment for the power level. The cheap one is the lowest level of power, and will not do a lot. But for what it will do, you get a lot for $10.
That looks fabulous. It looks like there's enough for a few more meals. Smart. Make something yummy, and make enough to have it again, and again.
I bought some of that low cost chuck. The kind that is so bad, that they tie it up with string. I sliced one of them thin, and made chicken fried steak. Which is actually why I bought it. Frying an expensive cut of beef doesn't seem right.
Chicken fried pot roast? LOL. I had corn dogs for lunch and no dinner yet. Looks like grilled cheese sandwich and milk. Of course, I don't "grill" mine, I put two pieces of bread in the toaster, and when they are done, i put cheese between the two slices, then stick it in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds. Doesn't taste as good as a real grilled cheese sandwich but it is a lot faster to prepare, and I am starving. LOL
You mean this truck?
Picked it up about five minutes ago.  They lost one of the center caps, and they couldn't find the battery, so I bought a new two-year warranty battery from O'Reilly. Since they didn't charge for the fuel injector, I have no problem buying the battery. They didn't swap the bumper but they want me to bring it back after I have put some miles on it, so I told them I would be back Wednesday morning, and they can swap the bumper then. I am just happy to get it back. I wanted a three-year warranty battery from O'Reilly, but none of my credit cards had enough balance on them. Even though, in the end, we ended up putting partials on two cards.
They lost one of the center caps, and they couldn't find the battery, so I bought a new two-year warranty battery from O'Reilly. Since they didn't charge for the fuel injector, I have no problem buying the battery. They didn't swap the bumper but they want me to bring it back after I have put some miles on it, so I told them I would be back Wednesday morning, and they can swap the bumper then. I am just happy to get it back. I wanted a three-year warranty battery from O'Reilly, but none of my credit cards had enough balance on them. Even though, in the end, we ended up putting partials on two cards.
