Craftsman

Hey all was at Lowes today and seen a load of craftsman tools at Lowes. Whats up with that ? . Let me say I know the two big box stores like that lowes and Home Depot are kinda like a coke vs Pepsi kinda thing for most. Iam coke and depot guy usally.

They've got to sell them somewhere, all the Sear's stores are closing, KMart had Craftsman for a while but they're closing too.

Are they still made in the USA?

Lowes bought the Craftsman line sometime last year. If they haven't already, I expect they'll dump Kobalt.

I believe one of the things they plan to do is bring manufacturing back to the US from China.

I don't know how this affects the deal with Ace Hardware to sell Craftsman tool. Or if it does.

Here is a link to the announcement from Lowes.

Bkreutz said:

They've got to sell them somewhere, all the Sear's stores are closing, KMart had Craftsman for a while but they're closing too.

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I just closed out a retirement from K Mart this year took a lump sum . I worked for K mart back in good days 80 s in Auto repair service. It was a good company to work for 3 week paid vacation full medical paid by company 401 k and stock option. When they did a full close of all auto I knew it was time to part ways in early 90s . Plus they refused to compete with Wal-Mart

Muddyboot said:

Are they still made in the USA?

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Last I heard, they are made in China, like 90+% of the other tools made today.

GaryS said:

Lowes bought the Craftsman line sometime last year. If they haven't already, I expect they'll dump Kobalt.

I believe one of the things they plan to do is bring manufacturing back to the US from China.

I don't know how this affects the deal with Ace Hardware to sell Craftsman tool. Or if it does.

Here is a link to the announcement from Lowes.

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Lowes doesn't own them. Stanley Black & Decker announced they were buying them on January 5, 2017 from Sears. The deal was closed on March 9, 2017. That's what it says on Wikipedia at least. <<<Link to Wikipedia>>>

muddocktor said:

Lowes doesn't own them. Stanley Black & Decker announced they were buying them on January 5, 2017 from Sears. The deal was closed on March 9, 2017. That's what it says on Wikipedia at least. <<<Link to Wikipedia>>>

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Didn't D-Walt buy Black and Decker a couple of years ago?

It was the other way around. B&D bought Dewalt in 1960 from AMF, according to the Wikipedia article on B&D. And B&D merged with Stanley in 2010.

Same thing here in Louisiana, local Lowes had craftsman tool boxes, roll around ones and hand held ones. Not much of a selection of hand except some wrench and ratchets sets in the red plastic cases. And funny thing all Craftsman stuff was no where near any of the Kobalt stuff. This particular Lowes is about 20 minutes from my house and I use a lot of Kobalt hand tools. What with Craftsman being commonly known as being made in China one would think that they would have to re establish a consumer bond as when the tools the tools were made in the USA. One of my tool boxes represents a who's who of late 20th century tool makers. Craftsman, Armstrong,Proto,and others. Cannot remember the brand name but have a cord electric drill that runs on both 120 volts AC and will also run 120 volts DC. Frank

IMHO Craftsman Tools are NOT what they used to be! Even their Tool Boxes are cheap and flimsy now. As much as it pains me to say this....... I believe the Harbor Freight "Chinesium" US General tool boxes are made better and stronger than the Craftsman one's are (even though the label on the Craftsman says USA).

Almost all Craftsman tools are now made off shore and mostly in China. Some are Taiwanese which is a half step up but the Craftsman no questions asked 100% lifetime guarantee is NOT what it use to be!! Now they can give you a rusted, dented and scratched Ratchet to replace your broken one instead of a new one.

Used Craftsman (made in USA) tools can still be found on ebay and if you are looking for a "descent" hand tool for not much money, buy the Lowes store brand - Kobalt. I don't own any but from what I've seen at friends and neighbors houses, they are not too bad and are priced right! Lowes will replace them if damaged (or so they state).

Most of my Ratchets and Sockets are Snap-on, vintage Craftsman, Mac, Proto & Matco with a few Williams thrown in. Pliers are Klein, Channel lock, Krauter, Snap-on, Proto, and a few other American made brands but are older ones. I do have Snap-on and vintage Pro-line Craftsman screwdrivers but use Brownell's and Apex USA made screwdrivers almost exclusively now days.

If you are serious about hand tools, do yourself a favor and buy quality used tools on ebay for a fraction of what they cost new. You can easily get Snap-on for 25% - 50% of what they cost new and despite what the rumor is, Snap-on, Mac, and the other high quality Company's will STILL warranty them! I even bought brand new tools on line for 35 - 50% less than off the truck and the tools were new in box or as new. I have bought tools from the Tool Truck guy too, but will only buy them when on a "super special deal". Last year I bought the 7 piece 3/8" and 7 piece 1/4" Wobble Plus Extension sets from the S-O guy for less than half the regular price - on super-special. He threw in a stupid calendar too! Since it was even less than on ebay, I bought them right then and there.

IMHO Craftsman did a great job for many years and made quality tools for great prices - however as most things in life go - nothing is forever and Craftsman is now only a shadow of their former self!

Frank46 said:

. . . Cannot remember the brand name but have a cord electric drill that runs on both 120 volts AC and will also run 120 volts DC. Frank

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I'd like to see the battery . . .

If you are interested in Power Tools (saws, drills, routers, etc) the USA made vintage ones from Milwaukee, Porter Cable and others can ALSO be found on-line in used excellent condition, as new, and sometimes even NIB.
There are some great buys and those tools while not under warranty any longer will usually last a lifetime!

Just last week I purchased a new in original sealed box, Weller D-550, 240/325 Watt professional Soldering Gun (made is USA) from the 1970's I believe. I paid less than the new ones cost now, it's more powerful than the new ones, and is made in USA where as the new ones are not!

Craftsman and Kobalt were, and maybe still are made by Danaher Tool. Couldn't figure out why Lowes would want to sell both, but I visited there yesterday, there were both, side by each. Kobalt went off-shore a few years before Craftsman. When they did, Lowes clearenced out their USA made tools for 50% off. Scored a bunch of stuff I really didn't need, but couldn't pass up. The only problem I've got now is I'm afraid to damage or break any of my USA made Craftsman or Kobalt. Take it back, and I'll likely as not get an off-shore replacement.

muddocktor said:

Last I heard, they are made in China, like 90+% of the other tools made today.







Lowes doesn't own them. Stanley Black & Decker announced they were buying them on January 5, 2017 from Sears. The deal was closed on March 9, 2017. That's what it says on Wikipedia at least. <<<Link to Wikipedia>>>

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That is correct.

It’s a shame what’s happened to so many too companies. Not that I consider craftsman a big loss.

Donn,
The reason Lowes sells both is the SAME reason Ford had Mercury and Lincoln, the same reason Toyota invented Lexus and the same reason Snap-on came out with Bluepoint - MORE MARKET SHARE.

There are people who will not buy Kobalt simply because they never heard of it. I doubt there is a person on the planet that hasn't heard of Craftsman. That is the reason Coke, Pepsi and many many Company's have simultaneously had different brands of similar items under different labels.

Frank46 said:

Same thing here in Louisiana, local Lowes had craftsman tool boxes, roll around ones and hand held ones. Not much of a selection of hand except some wrench and ratchets sets in the red plastic cases. And funny thing all Craftsman stuff was no where near any of the Kobalt stuff. This particular Lowes is about 20 minutes from my house and I use a lot of Kobalt hand tools. What with Craftsman being commonly knownas being made in China one would think that they would have to re establish a consumer bond as when the tools the tools were made in the USA. One of my tool boxes represents a who's who of late 20th century tool makers. Craftsman, Armstrong,Proto,and others. Cannot remember the brand name but have a cord electric drill that runs on both 120 volts AC and will also run 120 volts DC. Frank

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Craftsman tool boxes /roll always are (or were) made in the same factory in Waterloo Iowa that makes Proto and Waterloo roll ways and maybe the Kennedy Line.

I worked with a guy that bought a "Waterloo" shipped from the factory for 300 bucks. The factory shipped it to Grainger which was literally at the far end of our parking lot and they charged him 20 bucks to put it on a fork lift and drive it 200 yards.

When he unboxed it there was ZERO difference between it and the 150 dollar Craftsman roll away I bought at Sears

Smoke said:

Craftsman tool boxes /roll always are (or were) made in the same factory in Waterloo Iowa that makes Proto and Waterloo roll ways and maybe the Kennedy Line.

I worked with a guy that bought a "Waterloo" shipped from the factory for 300 bucks. The factory shipped it to Grainger which was literally at the far end of our parking lot and they charged him 20 bucks to put it on a fork lift and drive it 200 yards.

When he unboxed it there was ZERO difference between it and the 150 dollar Craftsman roll away I bought at Sears

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Smoke,
there are manufacturing Company's that ONLY produce items and tools but do not put their name on them. For instance, Ohio Forge use to produce screwdrivers for Snap-on, and Craftsman Pro line. (Don't know if they are still in business anymore or who they produce what for now). Other than the name on them, they were identical. They also produce screwdrivers for other Company's however they might NOT be the same quality! Company's specify what spec's they want their products made to. So even though the same manufacturing Company makes items for different name brands doesn't necessarily mean they are of equal quality - but sometimes they are.

High Standard use to produce Shotguns for Sears but they were cheapened examples of their normal quality and did not have the Hi-Standard name plate. I believe they marketed them as JC Higgins, Ted Williams, etc.


So sometimes a manufacturing Company will produce a single quality example and sell it to different Brand Names, and other times they will cheapen or make better the quality depending on what the customer wants and is willing to pay.