Craftsman was just a marketing name for Sears and did not really make their own tools. The USA made ratchets and sockets were mostly made by EASTCO out of Maryland later merged with APEX. What is funny is that Craftsman now is actually owned by the tools maker Stanley so for the first time in it's history Craftsman now is a legitimate tool maker and not just a marketing name for a Department store even though some people would think otherwise.
I dunno, man. I rebuilt the entire front end of my car's steering suspension components with an old USA 44809 Craftsman ratchet and also equally as old USA Craftsman sockets. No problems at all. Nothing disappointed me in their performance.
I've used craftsman tools daily for 40 years and never had an issue. I had an 8mm socket crack and a 1/4 inch drive rachet break. That's it and both were replaced no questions asked. Whenever I can avoid buying chinese I do so.
Shocking to think that craftsman went down the drain yet companies like Wright tools are still making phenomenal tolls here in the good old United States for the same price as the ones showing up at harbor freight.
Can confirm Wright makes awesome tools. Their 4494 1/2" drive long handle ratchets are indestructible yet aren't insanely pricey like stuff from tool truck brands.
True, But very seldom does an us made product breakdown compared to other countries when it comes to tools. The only country that even comes to close to making good tools is spain, germany. Not sure about japan because I never use a japaness made tool.
Stanley Black and Decker is moving 50 percent of manufacturing to the US . The plant will be in Fort worth Texas and they will start to produce American made products again 2020. Lowes is selling all there Chinese Craftsman on sale by 35% to clear it out for new inventory !
Sometimes made in the USA is very deceptive those ratchets stamped made in the USA might actually have been made in China and then ship to the U.S. and then American workers put some ball bearings or spring or a clip in them and they’re calling it made in America or at least assembled in America a lot of companies are doing that now and have been for quite some time
my grand father gave me a old craftsman -v 43734 ratchet when I started auto mechanics class. I really like the fact I can take the ratchet apart and oil it. I had a pittsburgh extended ratchet the handle broke. I had a husky ratchet. now that was a great ratchet until it started making a sliding sound when I would use it an it was a tooth broke. but this old craftsman just won't die. not saying its the best. cause I've replaced it with a kobalt Ratchet 72tooth. its really good.
If we are to be honest. Compleatly unbiased, you can no longer count China or Taiwan out when it comes to metallurgy. They have full access to very high quality steel and all the alloys that improve the strength and durability of steel. They have no restrictions or EPA equivalent to impead or restrict there process. They can use Beryllium if they choose to. While are kids are learning Drama and liberal study's their kids are learning to weld ,cast and forge . While our kids play Fortnight their kids study the periodic table and learn what alloys to use and how to heat treat metals. The Chineese government encourages their factory's to make the best bolts in the world ever since the Bay Bridge problem. I just saw a you tube video where a guy measured the force it took to break all kinds of bolts and he was surprised to find the Chinese bolts far exceeded there specs and out preformed U S made. We can make great stuff ,no dought but we are no longer the only game in town. Ever break a Powerbuilt socket? Made in Taiwan, very hard steel, and high polished chrome. Not Snap On but made well enough for every day use at far lower cost . If we want USA made to mean something again we need to step up . If our stuff is going to cost more it has to be made sugnifagently better than the competition . Some one commented the U. S. A. Rachet was thicker so it is stronger right? Not so much. Bulky yes, Truck frames are half the thickness and weight as they used to be but 2x stronger due to cold drawn steel and special heat treating for different parts of the frame. Better alloys , and heat treating can make steel thinner and stronger than something much bulkier looking. Buy the best tool regardless of who makes it and U.S. stuff will improve. I bought an 1980's Chevy S10 instead of a Toyota . Huge mistake. The Toyota trucks where so good it made American car company's step up big in quality to compete. Now I drive a GMC and love it but it took competition from Japan to make our auto company's better. I have no loyalty to any brand , my tool box has stuff from every tool truck brands and even a few things from Harbor Freight I wouldn't be with out. And every auto parts brand going back 40+ years. If it works well I keep it. If it fails I replace it under warranty when possable. And that's all I have to say about that.
The problem with Chinese (and a minority of Taiwanese) manufacturers is not that they are incapable of producing quality items, but that adherence to standards is almost always inconsistent. You can get proper goods out of China, but unless you have a QC team on the ground in the factory 24/7, you will _always_ run the risk of someone cutting corners. It's how the game is played there. I worked for manufacturing concern that brought in materials from Asia, specifically metal stock and the like. We quickly learned that when it came to the Chinese suppliers, you had to inspect your orders very, very carefully, because once you got past the first shipment or two they would inevitably try and make substitutions. Mild instead of tool steel, non-specified grades of stainless, visually indistinguishable yet significant dimensional variations, you name it. Shipments from Taiwan or Japan exhibited no such aberrations; oftentimes they were realistically no more expensive than the Chinese stuff once you factored in all the time you wouldn't have to spend unfucking an order.
I'm gonna bring this comment back to life with my 2 cents (carpenter, not mechanic). China sht sucka because we pay a fraction of the price for it. They sell good co parable tools but for high comparable prices. We love in a world where everything comes down to the bottom line and not quality. I buy top brand for industrial sites, MasterCraft for my home shop, and I'll even go princess auto(which is our harbor freight in Canada) for a tools I only need once or something that will be used in the rain. I love my stiletto hammer and cat's paw, stabila levels, knipex pliers, wiha driver bits, Tajima chalk line ext, but equally love my 75% off full MasterCraft wrench set. To me it depends on what I'm doing. At work professional, at home I'm tinkering and fckin around. :). To be completely fair though I'm a tools addict and buy everything. Brand new or 100 years old rusty and I'll clean it up, I'm happy with it all!
@andrewjk8962 Our education system is so bad , it proves it's self every year. Kids getting through collage that can't name one of our founding fathers. Can't count out change from a $5.00 bill. Or read a hand written letter awt to be enough proof on its own. Not to mention the only country that tests lower than the U. S. in science and math is Ethiopia.
My brand new Craftsman ratchet broke....took it to Lowes, and dude just swapped it out, as if this is super common!!....LOL.........I think craftsman tools are becoming a huge Headache for Lowes....I noticed they recently switched production to India, not many tools say China anymore.....But honestly I keep buying them.....because they honored the warranty....but also thinking about going with Husky, they seem slightly better built.
my USA craftsman socket set is from my great grandpa passed down to my grandpa down to my dad and down to me and the have got a lot use out of them and they dont have any problem if you take care of your tools the will last give them some oil and dont rip off the socketand you shoud be good
Personally i prefer USA made. I think that this CRAFTSMAN is in the Same league with USA made KOBALT, KD, Armsotrong, NAPA and others, the middle is SK, and highest point is Snap on, MAC, Matco.
Larry Ready Never seen an SK truck, most likely due to the fact that they are more of an industrial tool company rather than a more automotive tool company like Snap-On, and that is the big difference between them.
Back in the day when craftsman were made in USA, if you broke a tool you just went to Sears and had it replaced no questions asked! Internals of a Snap On ratchet I had broke and talked to the man on the Snap On truck to have it replaced. He examined it and asked if I ever had a pipe on the end of it. I told him no, and asked me more questions. His response was: "Well I"ll replace it this time".
I hear ya man, unfortunately the Sears/Craftsman day’s are long gone. In its place is Harbor Freight with its no questions asked warranty replacement. While I’m not the biggest fan of Harbor Freight tools I’ll definitely give them credit where it’s deserved.
The us made craftsman tools were really handy and durable, My dad was really rough all his tool with some of the thing he did with his car and they would never break and worked like brand new. Old school craftsman tools are very underrated.
Nice review, thanks for posting. I feel that Sears cheapened their ratchets with the last US version before sending production to China. The previous version with the sealed head was much better quality. From my experience the Chinese ratchets are junk. I will not buy Craftsman anymore.
They're bringing back USA manufacturing for their tools. There was an official announcement on their Facebook. Give them a chance again when it comes back out.
I don't think the last ratchets or tools that say USA on them we're actually even made in USA I think they were made in China and they put USA on them. If you notice the older stuff said forged in USA the later tools just says USA.
@@kylehaake7859 Most of the life of Craftsman made in the USA was made by Eastco company out of Maryland factory. Craftsman did not really make tools they were just a marketing name for all of it's life. Sears was in trouble in the 2000s so they went cheaper and went with TTI company from Hong Kong/China, the same TTI that makes Milwaukee, Ryobi, Ridged and HART (Walmart) so if you go in to Walmart and buy HART hand tools that is the same people that made the Craftsman (CHINA) Sears hand tools. The Craftsman hand tools today are made by Stanley at their facilities in Taiwan or China which I think is much better quality. The other maker is Apex (Gearwrench) and Chervon (Kobalt, SKILL, FLEX, QUIN, HYPER TOUGH and so on) Confusing I know.
The casing for the ratchet mechanism on the China version is not as thick as the US version. For a 1/2" ratchet .... I'd be more inclined to trust/buy the US version.
They also own Matco tools.Thats why I don't buy Matco tools anymore.I don't want to pay Stanley tools at Matco/Mac/Snap On prices.Even Cornell tools are made in china.My Matco tools are all originals.
I walked into Lowe's a few months ago to purchase a nice extended length Craftsman ratchet. I don't know what prompted me to flip it over but I was absolutely shocked to see made in China (Taiwan?) on the package...for a 100 dollar ratchet. To hell with that, went with Proto for the same price.
@@timsworkshop85 SBD didn't do that. It had already happened by the time they bought Craftsman. Stanley Black & Decker is actually made the decision to bring them back to the US from East Asia; they're currently building a fan Fort Worth, TX where they will be making hand tools, like ratchets, sockets, wrenches etc. Tools will be coming off the production line this year (late 2020), coronavirus notwithstanding.
You're comparing probably the last of the USA made ratchhet/sockets. IMHO, the last good Craftsman are those made by Easco, identified by a single "V" stamped into the tool by the part number. The last USA Craftsman units were cheaped out with plastic change direction switching and poor final finishing of the tool. I won a 1/4" metric USA Craftsman set that has such poor quality control that the stamping for the part number, USA, and vendor code were triple over struck so you cant make out the model or vendor code stamping. A sad example of a brand that once stood for a certain standard of quality, not the best, but, certainly good enough to be the best selling hand tool brand in the US.
My experience with this style ratchet the China made one the don’t even bother to clean up the edges where it’s cut out of the plate. Mine base serrations from its head to it grip and has sharp edges all over the place. I replay don’t like using it for these reasons and I also don’t trust it for any heavy applications I may need it for.
Almost all bearings in the hubs on semis and semi trailers in the last 12 years have been using made in china bearings. Made in usa timkin are better but the manufacturer can't compete using them. America just cant compete. American worker works half the time at work and wants $25 he plus benefits and company is taxed to death vs Chinese worker works over 90% of the day for 1/4 the wage and the company is not taxed to death. In america the companies have to pay for millions of Americans that dont work. In china you work or go hungry like it should be. I'm an american and were going to be 3rd world soon
I have used and stripped out a bunch of these style Craftsman ratchets. After using these for a while, I gotta say it's a pretty underwhelming experience. Go for something a bit better..
I must say, you're using them incorrectly. Tools wear out eventually, yes, but for you to have stripped a bunch of them, you're doing something wrong. If you're having trouble getting a nut or bolt loose for something, stop using a ratchet. Go straight for an 18 inch or longer breaker bar. Use PB Blaster or some other fluid. Break it loose, THEN use the ratchet. My neighbor across the street from me has nothing but old USA Craftsman tools and has been using them for 20+ years and none of them have ever broken besides 2 sockets he used for lug nuts.
I have 2 USA made Craftsman wrenches, and both were among the last they made. I am not being snide when I say, they are shit. The wrenches came dry as desert sand, rough, and the pawls on both do not engage fully. And yes, the selector switch feels like plastic. Bottom line, Id trade them both right now for Tiawanese made ICON tools. I dont know who made these 2 ratchets, but damn, they suck.
you are comparing and you left out the most obvious differences (to me). There is LESS METAL in the Chinese ratchet (it is slightly smaller all around). AKA less beefier. Maybe a pro is that it allows more access??? I donno... but I can literally SEE the size difference in the video.
Hey man, nothin special..........man that 1/2 inch ratchet could double as a blunt weapon in a pinch...........LOL!! BTW I can still use my 20 year old craftsman tools to work on my vehicles, it might be crappy, but there is something to be said about American made steel tools.
I've bought a LOT of Craftsman tools over the years, starting in the early 1980's. They LOST my Business the day I came in with a malfunctioning ratchet and the guy at the counter (Sears) barely stopped scrolling through his phone to say they "No longer honored the Warranty, but I could BUY a rebuild kit online". Corporations figured out they could pay SLAVE WAGES in China, and GUT American Manufacturing and STAB AMERICA IN THE BACK in the process. These companies don't give a DAMN about loyalty to the U.S.A., just their Profits. They LOST MY BUSINESS FOR GOOD.
I agree, that’s partially why I don’t buy craftsman tools. All it is is a brand name that makes most of it’s tools overseas but still charges that premium price.
Don’t know man. I swapped out a ratchet at Lowe’s without any questions asked. The phone thing sounds like hyperbole seeing as most stores don’t allow the use of phones on the floor except for break time. Or if the inventory system they use is on a phone.
I've owned both. The older one wasn't well liked or used by professionals. The redesigned one while slimmer is way too heavy, bulky and clunky for Automotive use, and with only 36 teeth isn't even practical. These are home or industrial use ratchets where you have plenty of room.
Only if they went a different route with the gears and pawl. We should've been still buying them and yet complete with tool trucks once they went to 72- 90 and stuff cuz the handle is made ! But, the gears aren't smh
@@busman7228 lol my bad I was dead asleep ! I was saying if they changed their gears ⚙️ In their ratchets, They would probably still be around. The sockets never would break. The ratchet would always break prob cuz I received the plastic crap instead of the metal anvil. If they had redesigned their ratchets. It would probably be tool truck worthy and be on those tool truck
The USA 1/2 ratchet that you have has considerable wobble with the socket attached (as you pointed out). However, I noticed that your ratchet is marked "VN", whereas my 1/2 USA Craftsman ratchet is "VG" and it has far less wobble than your example. Perhaps the newer USA made Craftsman products were of lower quality or maybe your example is defective to some extent? These codes indicate the date of manufacture for Craftsman (mine is the older type). www.garagejournal.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-84807.html
brandon murphy I had a USA people say USA are well made and it went bad on me it’s a tool someday it will come to a end I don’t worry it has lifetime warranty craftsman has sent me new ones at no cost
I dont know why people from US complain a lot. Just go to lowes and change it anyone can go once a monthb or so. I am from Guatemala and here is a big problem because if the tool brakes or doesnt work there ia nothing we can do about it
Doesn't matter where a tool is made, as long as they use the same quality control standards of the designer. And the odds are a USA made tool uses non USA steel.
![What's Made in America? Tools and Companies [2022]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/VQeDZoHHoh0/mqdefault.jpg)
Craftsman was just a marketing name for Sears and did not really make their own tools. The USA made ratchets and sockets were mostly made by EASTCO out of Maryland later merged with APEX. What is funny is that Craftsman now is actually owned by the tools maker Stanley so for the first time in it's history Craftsman now is a legitimate tool maker and not just a marketing name for a Department store even though some people would think otherwise.
Wow didn't know that
I dunno, man. I rebuilt the entire front end of my car's steering suspension components with an old USA 44809 Craftsman ratchet and also equally as old USA Craftsman sockets. No problems at all. Nothing disappointed me in their performance.
It’s when you do repairs every single day when you will possibly notice an issue
I've used craftsman tools daily for 40 years and never had an issue. I had an 8mm socket crack and a 1/4 inch drive rachet break. That's it and both were replaced no questions asked. Whenever I can avoid buying chinese I do so.
Shocking to think that craftsman went down the drain yet companies like Wright tools are still making phenomenal tolls here in the good old United States for the same price as the ones showing up at harbor freight.
Craftsman was just a marketing name for Sears the sockets or most of them anyway, and ratchets were made by Eastco out of Maryland.
Can confirm Wright makes awesome tools. Their 4494 1/2" drive long handle ratchets are indestructible yet aren't insanely pricey like stuff from tool truck brands.
Being made in America does not guarantee that the tool will not be junk as well, just that it costs more.
This, this, this.
True, But very seldom does an us made product breakdown compared to other countries when it comes to tools. The only country that even comes to close to making good tools is spain, germany. Not sure about japan because I never use a japaness made tool.
Stanley Black and Decker is moving 50 percent of manufacturing to the US . The plant will be in Fort worth Texas and they will start to produce American made products again 2020. Lowes is selling all there Chinese Craftsman on sale by 35% to clear it out for new inventory !
Wow
Turns out they sold the Chinese and moved to India
Round head ratchets are awesome! Mine are 30 years old.... Pro honda mechanic.... Daily use still going strong
Sometimes made in the USA is very deceptive those ratchets stamped made in the USA might actually have been made in China and then ship to the U.S. and then American workers put some ball bearings or spring or a clip in them and they’re calling it made in America or at least assembled in America a lot of companies are doing that now and have been for quite some time
my grand father gave me a old craftsman -v 43734 ratchet when I started auto mechanics class. I really like the fact I can take the ratchet apart and oil it. I had a pittsburgh extended ratchet the handle broke. I had a husky ratchet. now that was a great ratchet until it started making a sliding sound when I would use it an it was a tooth broke. but this old craftsman just won't die. not saying its the best. cause I've replaced it with a kobalt Ratchet 72tooth. its really good.
If we are to be honest.
Compleatly unbiased, you can no longer count China or Taiwan out when it comes to metallurgy. They have full access to very high quality steel and all the alloys that improve the strength and durability of steel. They have no restrictions or EPA equivalent to impead or restrict there process. They can use Beryllium if they choose to. While are kids are learning Drama and liberal study's their kids are learning to weld ,cast and forge .
While our kids play Fortnight their kids study the periodic table and learn what alloys to use and how to heat treat metals.
The Chineese government encourages their factory's to make the best bolts in the world ever since the Bay Bridge problem.
I just saw a you tube video where a guy measured the force it took to break all kinds of bolts and he was surprised to find the Chinese bolts far exceeded there specs and out preformed U S made.
We can make great stuff ,no dought but we are no longer the only game in town.
Ever break a Powerbuilt socket? Made in Taiwan, very hard steel, and high polished chrome. Not Snap On but made well enough for every day use at far lower cost .
If we want USA made to mean something again we need to step up .
If our stuff is going to cost more it has to be made sugnifagently better than the
competition . Some one commented the U. S. A. Rachet was thicker so it is stronger right?
Not so much.
Bulky yes,
Truck frames are half the thickness and weight as they used to be but 2x stronger due to cold drawn steel and special heat treating for different parts of the frame.
Better alloys , and heat treating can make steel thinner and stronger than something much bulkier looking.
Buy the best tool regardless of who makes it and U.S. stuff will improve.
I bought an 1980's Chevy S10 instead of a Toyota . Huge mistake. The Toyota trucks where so good it made American car company's step up big in quality to compete. Now I drive a GMC and love it but it took competition from Japan to make our auto company's better.
I have no loyalty to any brand , my tool box has stuff from every tool truck brands and even a few things from Harbor Freight I wouldn't be with out. And every auto parts brand going back 40+ years. If it works well I keep it. If it fails I replace it under warranty when possable.
And that's all I have to say about that.
The problem with Chinese (and a minority of Taiwanese) manufacturers is not that they are incapable of producing quality items, but that adherence to standards is almost always inconsistent. You can get proper goods out of China, but unless you have a QC team on the ground in the factory 24/7, you will _always_ run the risk of someone cutting corners. It's how the game is played there.
I worked for manufacturing concern that brought in materials from Asia, specifically metal stock and the like. We quickly learned that when it came to the Chinese suppliers, you had to inspect your orders very, very carefully, because once you got past the first shipment or two they would inevitably try and make substitutions. Mild instead of tool steel, non-specified grades of stainless, visually indistinguishable yet significant dimensional variations, you name it. Shipments from Taiwan or Japan exhibited no such aberrations; oftentimes they were realistically no more expensive than the Chinese stuff once you factored in all the time you wouldn't have to spend unfucking an order.
I'm gonna bring this comment back to life with my 2 cents (carpenter, not mechanic).
China sht sucka because we pay a fraction of the price for it. They sell good co parable tools but for high comparable prices. We love in a world where everything comes down to the bottom line and not quality. I buy top brand for industrial sites, MasterCraft for my home shop, and I'll even go princess auto(which is our harbor freight in Canada) for a tools I only need once or something that will be used in the rain.
I love my stiletto hammer and cat's paw, stabila levels, knipex pliers, wiha driver bits, Tajima chalk line ext, but equally love my 75% off full MasterCraft wrench set. To me it depends on what I'm doing. At work professional, at home I'm tinkering and fckin around. :).
To be completely fair though I'm a tools addict and buy everything. Brand new or 100 years old rusty and I'll clean it up, I'm happy with it all!
Good Lord man, don't criticize our education system until you understand the difference between "are" and "our". I had a stroke reading this comment.
@andrewjk8962
Our education system is so bad , it proves it's self every year.
Kids getting through collage that can't name one of our founding fathers. Can't count out change from a $5.00 bill.
Or read a hand written letter awt to be enough proof on its own.
Not to mention the only country that tests lower than the U. S. in science and math is Ethiopia.
My brand new Craftsman ratchet broke....took it to Lowes, and dude just swapped it out, as if this is super common!!....LOL.........I think craftsman tools are becoming a huge Headache for Lowes....I noticed they recently switched production to India, not many tools say China anymore.....But honestly I keep buying them.....because they honored the warranty....but also thinking about going with Husky, they seem slightly better built.
my USA craftsman socket set is from my great grandpa passed down to my grandpa down to my dad and down to me and the have got a lot use out of them and they dont have any problem if you take care of your tools the will last give them some oil and dont rip off the socketand you shoud be good
Nice post sir. My USA made craftsman sockets are all 12 point i almost don't want to use or especially lose any of them
I’m kinda the same way man, the USA Craftsman tools are like a classic now.
Buying 12 point means yeah you probably don't use them much.
Your absolutely right those ratchets have always sucked!
They are only good to use once in a while the corners of the ratchet dig into your hands
I’m glad you pointed out that the USA made weren’t anything special.
Personally i prefer USA made. I think that this CRAFTSMAN is in the Same league with USA made KOBALT, KD, Armsotrong, NAPA and others, the middle is SK, and highest point is Snap on, MAC, Matco.
As far as I've seen I've never seen a US made kobalt tool. They all say China when I pick up the packaging.
@@MadMetalShop when kolbalt fist came out ,they were made in the USA. made by the JH. Williams company.
I agree, but I think the SK is pretty much equal to the Trucks. Has anyone seen a SK truck?
Larry Ready Never seen an SK truck, most likely due to the fact that they are more of an industrial tool company rather than a more automotive tool company like Snap-On, and that is the big difference between them.
@@joepinci4395 They have trucks and are advertising open territories.
The old 36 tooth ratchets were junk. Too much play in them and frustrating to use. The 72 tooth ratchets much better
Back in the day when craftsman were made in USA, if you broke a tool you just went to Sears and had it replaced no questions asked! Internals of a Snap On ratchet I had broke and talked to the man on the Snap On truck to have it replaced. He examined it and asked if I ever had a pipe on the end of it. I told him no, and asked me more questions. His response was: "Well I"ll replace it this time".
I hear ya man, unfortunately the Sears/Craftsman day’s are long gone. In its place is Harbor Freight with its no questions asked warranty replacement. While I’m not the biggest fan of Harbor Freight tools I’ll definitely give them credit where it’s deserved.
Craftsman tools are taking over the Lowes stores displacing the Kobalt tools.
The us made craftsman tools were really handy and durable, My dad was really rough all his tool with some of the thing he did with his car and they would never break and worked like brand new. Old school craftsman tools are very underrated.
Nice review, thanks for posting. I feel that Sears cheapened their ratchets with the last US version before sending production to China. The previous version with the sealed head was much better quality. From my experience the Chinese ratchets are junk. I will not buy Craftsman anymore.
They're bringing back USA manufacturing for their tools. There was an official announcement on their Facebook. Give them a chance again when it comes back out.
@Chris Johnson What I did was go on Ebay and bought the 1980s style ratchets, much better than last USA made ratchet and the Chinese junk.
I don't think the last ratchets or tools that say USA on them we're actually even made in USA I think they were made in China and they put USA on them. If you notice the older stuff said forged in USA the later tools just says USA.
@@kylehaake7859 Most of the life of Craftsman made in the USA was made by Eastco company out of Maryland factory. Craftsman did not really make tools they were just a marketing name for all of it's life. Sears was in trouble in the 2000s so they went cheaper and went with TTI company from Hong Kong/China, the same TTI that makes Milwaukee, Ryobi, Ridged and HART (Walmart) so if you go in to Walmart and buy HART hand tools that is the same people that made the Craftsman (CHINA) Sears hand tools. The Craftsman hand tools today are made by Stanley at their facilities in Taiwan or China which I think is much better quality. The other maker is Apex (Gearwrench) and Chervon (Kobalt, SKILL, FLEX, QUIN, HYPER TOUGH and so on) Confusing I know.
The Chinese 1/4 inch ratchet isn’t big enough it just falls off
Talk about them all you want, gotta break them to see who's the best!
The casing for the ratchet mechanism on the China version is not as thick as the US version. For a 1/2" ratchet .... I'd be more inclined to trust/buy the US version.
There is no more craftsman Stanley Black & Decker bought the craftsman line from Sears
They also own Matco tools.Thats why I don't buy Matco tools anymore.I don't want to pay Stanley tools at Matco/Mac/Snap On prices.Even Cornell tools are made in china.My Matco tools are all originals.
I walked into Lowe's a few months ago to purchase a nice extended length Craftsman ratchet. I don't know what prompted me to flip it over but I was absolutely shocked to see made in China (Taiwan?) on the package...for a 100 dollar ratchet. To hell with that, went with Proto for the same price.
I really don’t like how Stanley B&D has taken the Craftsman brand production overseas and yet still charges a premium price for the tool.
@@timsworkshop85 SBD didn't do that. It had already happened by the time they bought Craftsman. Stanley Black & Decker is actually made the decision to bring them back to the US from East Asia; they're currently building a fan Fort Worth, TX where they will be making hand tools, like ratchets, sockets, wrenches etc. Tools will be coming off the production line this year (late 2020), coronavirus notwithstanding.
I never bought those type of Craftsman ratchets because of that grip. I used them, and the rectangular handles are very uncomfortable.
Interesting to see how similar they are...
You're comparing probably the last of the USA made ratchhet/sockets. IMHO, the last good Craftsman are those made by Easco, identified by a single "V" stamped into the tool by the part number. The last USA Craftsman units were cheaped out with plastic change direction switching and poor final finishing of the tool. I won a 1/4" metric USA Craftsman set that has such poor quality control that the stamping for the part number, USA, and vendor code were triple over struck so you cant make out the model or vendor code stamping. A sad example of a brand that once stood for a certain standard of quality, not the best, but, certainly good enough to be the best selling hand tool brand in the US.
How does that little post help push off the scoket??? Look at a socket, the "hole" goes all the way through. The test is to see which fails first.
I'm betting the one with the "hole" will snap first.
Both of these have the same steel made in China
I don't like that style of Craftsman ratchet no matter where they are made.
Standard Craftsman Ratchets, Junk Then-Junk Now!!! USA Made Sockets Very Nice I Agree!!! Thanks Tim!!!
I had the same craftsman ratchets for over twenty years used for work . Put snap on grease in them and they feel like snap on
My experience with this style ratchet the China made one the don’t even bother to clean up the edges where it’s cut out of the plate. Mine base serrations from its head to it grip and has sharp edges all over the place. I replay don’t like using it for these reasons and I also don’t trust it for any heavy applications I may need it for.
Almost all bearings in the hubs on semis and semi trailers in the last 12 years have been using made in china bearings. Made in usa timkin are better but the manufacturer can't compete using them. America just cant compete. American worker works half the time at work and wants $25 he plus benefits and company is taxed to death vs Chinese worker works over 90% of the day for 1/4 the wage and the company is not taxed to death. In america the companies have to pay for millions of Americans that dont work. In china you work or go hungry like it should be. I'm an american and were going to be 3rd world soon
I have used and stripped out a bunch of these style Craftsman ratchets. After using these for a while, I gotta say it's a pretty underwhelming experience. Go for something a bit better..
I must say, you're using them incorrectly. Tools wear out eventually, yes, but for you to have stripped a bunch of them, you're doing something wrong. If you're having trouble getting a nut or bolt loose for something, stop using a ratchet. Go straight for an 18 inch or longer breaker bar. Use PB Blaster or some other fluid. Break it loose, THEN use the ratchet. My neighbor across the street from me has nothing but old USA Craftsman tools and has been using them for 20+ years and none of them have ever broken besides 2 sockets he used for lug nuts.
I have 2 USA made Craftsman wrenches, and both were among the last they made.
I am not being snide when I say, they are shit.
The wrenches came dry as desert sand, rough, and the pawls on both do not engage fully.
And yes, the selector switch feels like plastic.
Bottom line, Id trade them both right now for Tiawanese made ICON tools.
I dont know who made these 2 ratchets, but damn, they suck.
both ratchets need greased.use syl glide.my usa crafty sounds great with it
you are comparing and you left out the most obvious differences (to me). There is LESS METAL in the Chinese ratchet (it is slightly smaller all around). AKA less beefier. Maybe a pro is that it allows more access??? I donno... but I can literally SEE the size difference in the video.
Hey man, nothin special..........man that 1/2 inch ratchet could double as a blunt weapon in a pinch...........LOL!! BTW I can still use my 20 year old craftsman tools to work on my vehicles, it might be crappy, but there is something to be said about American made steel tools.
chinese one sound like it has less teeth, rough cranking, sharp edges, different thickness around the head
I've bought a LOT of Craftsman tools over the years, starting in the early 1980's. They LOST my Business the day I came in with a malfunctioning ratchet and the guy at the counter (Sears) barely stopped scrolling through his phone to say they "No longer honored the Warranty, but I could BUY a rebuild kit online".
Corporations figured out they could pay SLAVE WAGES in China, and GUT American Manufacturing and STAB AMERICA IN THE BACK in the process. These companies don't give a DAMN about loyalty to the U.S.A., just their Profits. They LOST MY BUSINESS FOR GOOD.
I agree, that’s partially why I don’t buy craftsman tools. All it is is a brand name that makes most of it’s tools overseas but still charges that premium price.
Don’t know man. I swapped out a ratchet at Lowe’s without any questions asked. The phone thing sounds like hyperbole seeing as most stores don’t allow the use of phones on the floor except for break time. Or if the inventory system they use is on a phone.
Good Idea
They should lower there price and put made in China in there tools
Yep, they like to hide behind that Craftsman name when all it is now is a cheap Chinese tool!
Yeah should be marked China.
I've owned both. The older one wasn't well liked or used by professionals. The redesigned one while slimmer is way too heavy, bulky and clunky for Automotive use, and with only 36 teeth isn't even practical. These are home or industrial use ratchets where you have plenty of room.
What is the difference in the rebuld kits?
Not sure what, but when I had my 3/8 ratchet craftsman USA rebuilt they had to specify a rebuild kit for the USA model.
Only if they went a different route with the gears and pawl.
We should've been still buying them and yet complete with tool trucks once they went to 72- 90 and stuff cuz the handle is made !
But, the gears aren't smh
Old cars, your last two paragraphs don’t make sense,
@@busman7228 lol my bad I was dead asleep !
I was saying if they changed their gears ⚙️
In their ratchets, They would probably still be around.
The sockets never would break. The ratchet would always break prob cuz I received the plastic crap instead of the metal anvil.
If they had redesigned their ratchets. It would probably be tool truck worthy and be on those tool truck
The USA 1/2 ratchet that you have has considerable wobble with the socket attached (as you pointed out). However, I noticed that your ratchet is marked "VN", whereas my 1/2 USA Craftsman ratchet is "VG" and it has far less wobble than your example. Perhaps the newer USA made Craftsman products were of lower quality or maybe your example is defective to some extent?
These codes indicate the date of manufacture for Craftsman (mine is the older type).
www.garagejournal.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-84807.html
Sears hasn’t made a good hand tool sense the 70s
Does the Chicom ratchet have the little keeper ball, sticking out the side? You didn't show it.
Yes, it does.
Some of those ratchets are marked km and vm anyone know whats the difference?
I could be wrong, but I think they are either date codes, or to signify where they were made.
Craftsman vn usa ratchets are garbage you need to buy the usa k model ratchets better quality.
I will not buy the China ones!
The chineese stuff still gets the job done it does suck not seaing the usa tho
Brake them!
You mean break?
Thanks Obama
Craftsman made in USA all the way!!!
Craftsman USA is still low quality . I
brandon murphy I had a USA people say USA are well made and it went bad on me it’s a tool someday it will come to a end I don’t worry it has lifetime warranty craftsman has sent me new ones at no cost
Chinese sounds worse but might just not be lubed. Also stanley craftsman is absolute garbage. Worse than end of sears craftsman
I dont know why people from US complain a lot. Just go to lowes and change it anyone can go once a monthb
or so. I am from Guatemala and here is a big problem because if the tool brakes or doesnt work there ia nothing we can do about it
Doesn't matter where a tool is made, as long as they use the same quality control standards of the designer. And the odds are a USA made tool uses non USA steel.
I have a Craftsman USA it's pretty crap can't see how the China mead version could be any worse
So they both suck
its all the same crap