Do you remember when Craftsman hand tools were made in the USA?
12 years ago, all Craftsman wrenches and sockets – and a heck of a lot more tools – were made in the USA. It wasn’t soon after that when Sears started experimenting with imported Craftsman hand tools. No big deal, I thought, the new SKUs weren’t going to affect the regular USA-made Craftsman hand tools.
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A few years later, Sears discontinued their line of Craftsman Professional hand tools.
After that, more and more “core” Craftsman hand tools were no longer produced in the USA.
When Sears sold the Craftsman brand to Stanley Black & Decker, most of their USA-made tools were replaced with imported versions.
After Stanley Black & Decker purchase the Craftsman brand, they pledged to bring Craftsman tool production back to the USA. That was three years ago.
In mid-2019, about 10 months ago, it was quietly revealed that Stanley Black & Decker was building a new factory in Texas, and planned to manufacture “Craftsman mechanics hand tools, including sockets, ratchets, wrenches, and tool sets” at this facility.
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Today, Craftsman sent out an email blast to customers, with a banner teasing that something new was “chroming soon.”
The banner shows off a couple of chrome sockets, with the messaging:
Select [Craftsman] mechanics tools and tool sets will soon be made with global materials in Fort Worth, Texas.
Stanley Black & Decker and Craftsman have yet to share any information about the new USA-made tools or the Fort Worth, Texas facility through PR channels, and so we’ll continue watching consumer and investor information channels for any new details. If you come across any news or developments, please let us know!
We knew that the emergence/reemergence of USA-made Craftsman hand tools would take time, and it seems that the wait is nearly up.
Sounds like good news to me.
Andrew
Exciting news. The China wrenches suck, although the ratchets and sockets arnt that bad.
DC
ditto
Al Poe
This be great news, I’m a major supporter of Made in America and willing to pay more to support our workers.
Albert
Agreed! I will be supporting them again because of this!
scorcher33
Always been a supporter of the made in the USA Craftsman tools. And will happily keep on as long as they’re still made in the USA. BRAVO, Texas, BRAVO. Keep America Great ???
Ron
I will always buy Made in the U S A first! Look what is going on with C-virus,we have to bring back factories to the USA!
Jp151
Absolutely, and being a heavy line mechanic I want the best and will pay for it. At home I can get away with cheaper tools for minor jobs.
Mike (the other one)
Finally!!
Mike (the other one)
Although American-stamped Chinesium isn’t that much better. I guess it’s better than nothing.
Jeff
Even better quality control to weed out the misfit tools that make it out of the factory is a step in the right direction.
Jerry
Great to hear.
Steve
I won’t even look at any of the Craftsman hand tools in the stores right now knowing this is coming. I’m waiting to see what they bring to market from Ft. Worth.
Also, I bet they are even happier they are starting up Ft. Worth with all the production problems in China the coronavirus is creating.
OhioHead
I wonder if this announcement will impact sales as “die hard” tool users wait till the new stock (MIUSA) becomes available vs. the casual user buying the imported stuff.
It is a dream that of the new MIUSA quality/aesthetics return to the Armstrong sourced quality/aesthetics & finish.
Stuart
To put it politely, I don’t think that enthusiast tool users are looking at any of the Craftsman mechanics tools yet. I bought a couple of hand tools, but out of editorial interest.
Diamond Dave
I was thinking similar thoughts. If they start pumping out USA stuff, let’s say June 2020…how long until we actually see them on the shelves as they already have filled the stores and warehouses with the China made stuff? 6 months, 1 year or longer? Will they reduce the China made stuff to clear it out to make room for the USA? Highly doubtful!
OhioHead
I don’t think we will see MIUSA stuff till 2nd half 2021 on store selves……
Django
I would say fathers day 2021 is the target date, so they can blow out Chinese craftsman Christmas 2020 and then have MIUSA stuff for fathers day. It won’t most likely change how much they are discounting in total just what they are putting the deepest discounts on.
John
U really wanna win me back. Use ameican made steel. Not global materials. SK Tools is the way for me to go. American Made with American steel. Made in Sycamore, IL
Michael
Finally someone said it! MIUSA isn’t enough, MIUSA with US materials. That’s the stuff right there.
Joe
Very good news
Paul E Guiliano
Will the Guaranty be the same guarantee forever
Stuart
Seems like it.
https://toolguyd.com/craftsman-hand-tools-warranty-information-update/
Orlando
No solamente Craftsman es hecha en China y se lleva ella solita toda el agua sucia,también Snapon rey mundial de la mejor herramienta,la hacen los chinos y después Estafan al comprador con una bolsa plástica donde donde se Lee textualmente MADE un USA pero la bolsa O packing porque el contenido es hecho en CHINA y ahora quién podrá ayudarnos,Solo Comprar Made in USA,sin importar MARCA,only Made in USA for always. Lo
Bill
Orlando, when I used Google to translate your text I got this:
“Not only Craftsman is made in China and she takes all the dirty water by herself, also Snapon king of the best tool, the Chinese make it and then they scam the buyer with a plastic bag where you can read textually MADE an USA but the bag Or packing because the content is made in CHINA and now who can help us, Only Buy Made in USA, regardless of BRAND, only Made in USA for always. The”
It is obviously not a perfect translation, so maybe you can make any needed corrections to help us better understand your perspective.
Bubthebuilder
Wow you got everyone’s hopes up then at the end of the article comes the downer “global materials” that means they are made overseas and packaged here maybe laser etched at the most.
We have no manufacturing history here what so ever in Fort Worth. Its a bedroom community for the north Dallas citys of Plano, Frisco etc. What is here in Fort Worth is dying off and crime has been rising at a fast pace the last 5 years.
The area the black and decker facility is in is far North of Fort Worth in a warehoise district by Alliance airport where the 747s from china land all day long. It was annexed illegally by Fort Worth as it is an island of Fort Worth and does not touch the city boundaries.
There is no shortage of cheap labor here which is why they build here but they are too far from where their employees live which is far to the south and west.
As for the tools. I’m not enthused. I jave lots of the old craftsman and they never were great. They were mediocre tools with junk ratchets and painful to ise wrenches. They were never as good as people remember them to be.
Jim Felt
Encouraging picture you’re portraying here.
Maybe there’s a huge local tax break/incentive being offered? Maybe SBD cares about the community?
Maybe they’ve been offering training and exceptional by local standards pay to attract and retain the best workers to establish a core group of truly dedicated folks?
Maybe pigs can fly?
Thom
Is your name Ray.. You know.. Because you’re just a Ray of sunshine!
Stuart
Is that really necessary?
Thom
His rant or my sarcasm?
Stuart
You can disagree with his opinion and now he expressed it, but how does a personal attack against him contribute to the discussion in any way?
Bubthebuilder
I’m a realist and I tell it like it is. No sugar coating anything and not blowing sunshine where it doesn’t belong. I have been here since 89 and know the area very well and can cut through the press release story.
Also the many warehouses in that area that unload freight from containers and aircraft from China go through people like nothing else. Most have a policy of miss one day, don’t bother coming back cause there is a long line of people willing to take your spot. The pay those places offer is less than walmart and their added tax revenue to the area is less than a walmart or similar store.
I would love to say that yeah this factory (warehouse) will provide good paying jobs and a real US made product but we all know that isn’t going to happen and it doesn’t happen with any company these days. I would love for them to prove me wrong but know that won’t happen.
As for the old craftsman wrenches… I used to wrap them in tape because they were good at hurting hands.
Jim Felt
I want you to be pleasantly surprised by SBD actually not transshipping Chinese tools into ”Made in America” marked Packaging.
Maybe keep an eye out for them doing the right thing there by us all here?
Thanks. No really. Thanks.
Herb Britt
Well the “with global materials” is on there. So is this factory that’s being built a manufacturing plant or sorting and packaging one?
Wayne R.
If steel’s recycled, does that mean it requires the “global materials” label? How does that work?
I don’t mind where the base material comes from, so long as it’s the right metallurgical quality when it’s turned into a product. If “global materials”, in this case, start out as recycled steel, then that ID should be clarified, I think.
“Global Materials” is too ambiguous in today’s global markets.
Stuart
Years ago, that’s what I was told by a Stanley Black & Decker marketing exec – that if steel is recycled its sourcing is untraceable and they have to add a “global materials” mention.
But in today’s age… who knows what it means.
Steelworker
Steel is the most recycled material in the world. With that being said, how would you ever be able to trace the original source?
Paul
You don’t. But you can trace it if it is melted and manufactured with a domestic heat. Even steel that is mined, melted and manufactured in the USA is usually supplemented with scrap.
Mike (the other one)
Recycled steel is melted down and mixed together so there really isn’t a way to trace it. You might be able to trace certain impurities to known sources, but that would be a long shot, and wouldn’t mean it’s consistent.
However if it is properly done, the slag would be removed, making it more pure, and additional iron or carbon may be added to get the grade they want, Properly worked, it can be just as good as any other steel.
Moe
Why are Americans do dumb ? The tools will still be made with gobal materials not USA steel, Craftsman tools will still be crap.
Corey Moore
Why am Americans do dum?
Ckhonda
Lol
Chris
I hope they keep the classic acetate handle design on the screwdrivers
Jim Felt
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F193285184482
Edward Sibbering
I hope it realy happens I’m so sick of the greed of corporate america sold out usa made for cheap Chinese garbage
Wayne R.
Take commercial flying for example: Very few people fly for anything but the cheapest possible seats. Almost the whole aviation community is geared to suit the cheapest customers. It’s easy to blame the operators (and in some cases they fully deserve it), but it comes from the customers.
Most of the tool customers at the Big Boxes have no idea that the tools there are lesser than the tools their Grampa had – those things are older than two iPhones ago, ick.
DRT
I say exactly the same thing about flying. The seats are tiny because everybody wants to fly at 550 mph for no money, and then brag about how they got a great deal. Unfortunately, the thought process is probably even worse when the average Joe shops for tools.
Ice
Edward, Its not greed of corporate america, its the mentality of your fellow american and economics. Its adapt and survive or go by the way side. Look at Western Forge.
When you have a product that looks the same and is half the price, unless you see the value in the more expensive product, you’re going to buy the cheaper version. Most cant see the value, nor are they willing to pay more so a union worker can make 100k a year etc…
It amazes me the hate for corporate america, in reality it should for politicans in washington as they are the ones that allowed the free trade agreements that started this fiasco.
Dan
This guy gets it.
You can’t build factories here that comply with all of our environmental, social, and quality standards and still compete when everyone else doesn’t have to comply.
If we want American manufacturing to be viable, we have to force everyone else to meet those same standards. or get rid of this notion of “Free Trade”.
Here’s hoping that we get there someday soon!
Kentucky fan
I feel like we should wait and see how the factory works before we start the its not made here stuff.
Raycr
The fine tooth thumb wheel ratchets from Sears were great. The Dual pawl allowed you to really crank on them. I would put cheater pipes on them and they would hold. The worse that would happen is you would get a rebuild kit.
They were ahead of their time design wise but became too expensive to manufacture.
I bought the rebuild kits for 1/2 driving be from EBay to keep them going.
Sears should sell the design/ rights to Teng Tools or a German tool maker who could build them again with premium steel .
Mike R
I think this is great news that Stanley Black and Decker is moving production back to the USA, even if it does have the tagline “with Global Materials”. A lot of people do not realize how difficult it is for a large company to create a product that is entirely USA made. The FTC has a 40 page document filled with legalese that shows the requirements for a brand to be able to put “Made in the USA” without any additional stipulations. The bottom line is, creating a plant on US soil creates jobs for US workers and at the end of the day, that’s one reason I would consider a USA made tool over a Chinese made tool.
Carl J
I’ll hold off on the pom pom’s until we see exactly what manufactured with global materials means. It seems ever since Bill defined the new narrative ‘it depends on what Is, is” words no longer mean anything and are spun to what the user wants others to believe they mean.
KeithinSC
Almost all steel is from overseas now days.
But I hope they are going to forge, etch, plate and package these in Texas.
Be interesting to see if they get pre-forged blanks in from other countries and then do the finishing in-house.
Thom
Wow a lot of negativity for a product nobody has even seen yet…some of you sound like cranky old men yelling at people to het off your lawn!
I am glad SBD is keeping their promise and look forward to actually seeing the tools before I condemn them lol
Matt
I read somewhere they would have their own foundry at this new facility and this was going to be the real deal. If it’s merely a packaging/stamping facility and SBD is banking on the Craftsman heritage of old + misleading marketing tactics then it’s pretty much DOA. I’m pretty sure most of us who’ve held out for the ‘return of USA Craftsman’ will just throw in the towel and be done.
SBD hasn’t exactly been setting the world on fire with their line of lackluster Craftsman power tools or even tool storage. Even the 3000 series tool boxes are pretty chintzy when I went to look at them in store. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel a bit worried about this too. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love nothing more than for this to be a success. I just have my doubts.
It’s pretty clear that the Sears Craftsman tool department (Pre-Eddie) was always intent on having a high end line of products (Commercial,Industrial,Professional) to offer along with their mainstream homeowner products. Whether it was power tools, hand tools, tool storage, law & garden equipment, automotive tools (floor jacks, air compressors etc) or whatever. Craftsman was the #1 top dog at Sears. At Stanley, not so much. Mac & DeWalt are their top dogs. Craftsman is an adopted child. Mac will always have the better hand tools and tool storage, DeWalt will always have the better power tools and everything else. Craftsman will get the downgraded versions of everything, re badges and the leftovers. I understand it but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. Even though I’ve invested into SBD Craftsman, part of me now wonders if it should have just died with Sears. It’s just never going to realize it’s full potential under Stanley ownership because it won’t be allowed to.
Johnny
I don’t really get your point. Craftsman was never on par with Dewalt/Milwaukee/Makita and MAC/Snap-On/Matco/Etc. You’re lying to yourself if you believe it was ever a premium brand for professionals. Craftsman tools were never really that great. They just had a goodish replacement policy. They were basically what Harbor Freight is now, except they had the benefit of operating in a US manufacturing environment that was more favorable. They ditched that like everyone else. I own a lot of Craftsman tools from the 90’s when it was still considered “good” and it’s not that great. The ratchets just straight up suck. The sockets break pretty easily and the wrenches are short and uncomfortable as hell. They really weren’t special.
Matt
I’m sorry but I just disagree.
Matt
Craftsman had plenty of things under the commercial, industrial and professional names that rivaled the best other companies had to offer. Our 9000 series industrial cabinet at work is built as well as any truck brand tool cabinet I’ve been around. My 3 ton aluminum pro jack is extremely high quality. I’ve used several old radial arm and table saws under the commercial/industrial names built like absolute tanks that were and still are every bit as good as anything else out there. Many of their full polish wrenches and select ratchets lacked absolutely nothing compared to truck brands. Even under the Professional name they still had great stuff whether it was lawn tractors, tools, storage or corded power tools.
I remember looking at the professional battery circular saw in store probably 14 years ago. Lithium ion, slide pack battery, 7 1/4 inch, shoe fully stamped with measurements, laser guide, and Magnesium upper and lower guards. Nearly a decade and a half ago. I don’t recall DeWalt ever having as nice of a battery powered circular saw at the time and I looked. With Sears you at least had options.
Johnny
Most Craftsman users were/are homeowners. Professionals weren’t the major market for Craftsman. I’m not saying they never had a single good product. But most pro’s weren’t using a lot of Craftsman tools and if they were, they were stopping at Sears every weekend to get something replaced. Also, the ratchets sucked.
Mike (the other one)
You have to realize that Craftsman doesn’t make tools. “Craftsman” was just a brand name that Sears put on their tool line. The tools were always made by someone else, such as Western Forge, Pratt & Reed, etc. In many cases, they had tools that were made and sold by another company, such as Apex, Armstrong, and just had their name put on it. It was those companies that made Craftsman a reputable name.
The biggest benefit to Craftsman tools was the warranty and relatively inexpensive (compared to high-ed tools) cost. It was convenient, and they were (up until the last 10 years) were easy to work with.
Sears ruined Craftsman by switching to Chinese-made tools. They were cheaper to make, so Sears was hoping to make more profit. However the quality was no where near as good (then again even a lot of their USA-made stuff was mediocre) and the reputation was lost. This, along with stupid Father’s Day/Christmas gimmick tools hurt them. Sears is now spiraling around the drain, because the Craftsman mistakes were among many others that were made.
Frankly, there is nowhere for Craftsman to go but up. SBD knows how marketable the Craftsman name is, or they wouldn’t have bought it from Sears. The difference is that SBD has a lot of experience making tools, and they have plenty of resources to do so. I’m glad they are bringing jobs back to the US, and I hope these tools live up to the name. The “global materials” has me worried, but I’m willing to give them a chance.
Diamond Dave
I think many of us older tool enthusiasts have the glory days of Sears combined with Craftsman stuck into our heads and we refuse to let those memories go and hope one day Craftsman will be back to the days of old. Beautiful tool depts with every tool you would need and multiple choices of tools in every category. This was decades ago and they are not coming back as time marches forward. Sears stores now look like the old Kmarts with empty aisles and peg hooks everywhere and no organization. Easy to see they are squeezing every penny out of what remains with the company. SBD paid too much for the
Craftsman memories IMO and just created massive confusion with Craftsman and what remains with the dwindling lineup of tools. We now live in a global economy and corporations have a much bigger market to not only produce from but to sell to. There are many companies still producing good tools and the global economy has allowed prices to remain cheap with tools comparatively to other products.
I believe many of us older guys mix our emotions of the old Craftsman Tool Depts, sprinkle in the awesome mail catalogs and top off the vision with “made in USA and guaranteed forever”and we are back in “Mayberry” again.
Back then Craftsman dominated the tool market because it was them against the “professional” tool companies and also the small offerings of companies that were importing tools from Taiwan and even Japan. There were no Husky, Kobalt or the literally hundreds of tool manufacturers there are today. Heck…I even have a few tools made by Montgomery Wards ie “Challenger” tool line up from “days of yore.” Craftsman will never be the tool company we so loved no matter how much money SBK throws into the line. You can’t bring back the past.
John
Made in the USA with global materials has different meanings depending on who you ask. US Customs and the Federal Trade Commission will each view this claim differently and those government agencies will likely influence SB&D’s marketing descriptions of these products. It’s interesting to note the older (presumed) investor materials say Made in USA with global materials and the new e-mail blast says made with global materials in Fort Worth, Texas. If you read these two statement carefully, they have vastly different meanings. The e-mail blast about “chroming soon” is probably closer to what SB&D will actually be be doing in the US. If they are using foreign steel because it’s cheaper, it’s probably also significantly cheaper to broach, machine and roll the sizes onto the sockets in another country. They will probably ship the raw, unfinished sockets to the US in bulk and chrome and package them in Texas. They add just enough value in Texas to give everyone a warm-fuzzy feeling.
Don’t get me wrong. The US manufacturing investment by SB&D is a terrific thing. The language in the e-mail blast just makes me suspicious about how much material and manufacturing will actually be of US-origin.
Nathan
So a few things hopefully outside of the knee jerk.
I’m glad I waited a tick before buying new new stuff so hopefully there is a fuller compliment of USA made craftsman stuffs to buy. Since it is SBD and they do have the MAC line of products to copy I will say here please for the love of all that is wholy bring me a cheaper locking flex head MAC clone. Thank you.
Now on the global material thing. First thing to realize much of your US made steel today starts life with some “globally sourced” constituties. So how far do you want to break down where the dirt comes from.
Next piece – what chromate mine is open in the US today? I don’t know of one but there might be a few. it’s just as feasible the chrome for the plating will be sourced out of Mexico or Brazil. Again globally sourced doesn’t mean exactly always CHINA.
Likewise it’s feasible since we are talking hand tools here that some of that global source materials might be the packaging – the clip rails, the bags, etc etc. So for all those crying foul on the global materials please get your heads upright and realize it is not necessarily a bad thing and getting more tools forged, broached, stamped, etc in USA is always a good thing.
I look forward to seeing what they put out and this is coming from a guy that a year ago bought the SK LP90 ratchet because I wanted to see what SK was doing. It’s a beautiful thing by the way. I would just as much love to see at my lowes’s store a craftsman 90 tooth low profile 3/8 drive ratchet made in TX. Thank you.
Bill
While it is important for any major economy to have a robust steel making industry, it is not possible for the US to produce all of the steel here that is consumed here. Big steel has not made any investments in primary, integrated steel mills here in ages. So we are stuck with older, less efficient facilities that have not received much investment – largely because there is a global overcapacity for steel making. The top tier integrated mills are typically located outside the US. When you get into specialty alloys, they may not be made here at all.
Let’s not forget that steel starts with Iron – made from metallurgical coal (aka: coking coal) and iron ore – which is subsequently converted into steel. While we typically have a surplus of metallurgical coal in the US, we still import well over 3 million metric tons of Iron Ore – so even steel made here may well have content from outside the US.
Furthermore, focusing on the steel itself it is a pretty inexpensive material – not a significant component of the overall cost of the tool. Let’s look at a 3/8 Snap-on Dual 80 ratchet – it weighs under 11 ounces. The wholesale value of the metal itself is ~$0.50. Making steel is done on a mass-scale – making it very inexpensive, so who really cares where that is done. The real value of the $99 Dual 80 is in the conversion of the raw material by forging, machining, grinding, plating and assembly – that’s where the high value American worker comes in. Hell, the packaging may cost more than the raw steel does.
SBD has to put “global materials” on the label because they may not always be able to source the required steel from the US. Of course if they bring in forged, semi-finished product from Asia and plate the product here, then that’s being more than a little disingenuous.
Given modern production methods, the American worker is still more productive than most of our counterparts.
Besides all of this, steel production always has some percentage of scrap content, typically 15-40%. I have yet to see a scrap purchaser segregate scrap metal by country of origin…
The quality of the tool will be based on the quality of the engineering and the manufacturing process design – not by the source of the metal itself.
mattd
this is meh for me. I have already switched over to German tools for alot of my stuff, though for new tool buyers this is good news, the only issue I have is the “with global materials” the question then becomes just how made in America will they be? will they be made in china/india and then lazer etched and chromed in the US? the usa with global materials actually allows them to hide the COO so it could be WORSE than a cheep chineese tool.
fred
I wonder what some of the “still made in USA” brands use for materials – like sourcing steel.
I’m thinking about folks like Martin, SK and Wright – along with SBD brands like Mac and Proto. Is SnapOn even 100% USA content? SnapOn’s Williams Brand now seems mostly Asian.
BRYAN KING
As a war veteran I remember time in Iraq where are 1100 Humvee models needed constant upkeep and repairing. Even though I was an infantryman it was beneficial for me to work with mechanics so that we could drive on and continue missions and complete our task. I had been through I don’t know how many impact sets before I wrote Craftsman, and in fine style they sent me an entire SAE + MET Impact set that lasted the remaining deployment, making for and easy yoke in a heavily burdened world. Of course, nothing last for ever and I handed the set down to the next replacing unit. I hope they got their use out of them. Thanks Craftsman, Hoooah!
Bob
Im glad they built the plant in Texas. I get the tung and cheek chroming soon comment. But with the wording: “with global components” are they just preping and chrome plating foreign forged parts?Hopefully not.
I will wait for more details to unfold before passing judgement.
Also it will be interesting to see if there are new tool designs with the new domestic (well sort of) produced vs the chinease produced stuff they have out now. I know the old Sears designs are long gone.
Honestly once I saw made in china on the package in Lowes I didn’t even bother to look over the tools. I don’t NEED anymore hand tools but I might WANT more hand tools that are well made, USA produced, for a competitive price.
To others points about supply chain and existing stock. My guess is we will see these Fathers day 2021.
loup68
I agree with Raycr, the strongest ratchets that Sears had were the Easco made dual pawl fine tooth ratchets. I changed the frame on my 68 Corvette and first used the standard single pawl 3/8″ flex head. I broke it, got the repair kit and fixed it and sold it to a friend at work.
I went back to sears and bought the fine tooth version and it did not break like the single pawl model, even with a cheater pipe!
I had a Williams ratchet at work that was also double pawl, but it did not have the socket release button.
When Sears came out with the pretty shiny chrome ratchets, everyone started buying the pretty ones.
Scott
My guess is that SBD is marketing Craftsman as a middle ground brand. Better than the chinese made Stanley tools, but not as high quality as the made in USA MAC & Proto brands. And that’s why, in my uneducated opinion, they will use “with global materials” on all products made in the U.S., regardless if they are made with global materials, or 100% U.S. made. SBD has been repackaging Lang snap ring pliers that were made for Sears Craftsman as being made “with global materials”, even though in the Sears Craftsman package, as well as Lang’s packaging, and also Channellock and Gearwrench (also Lang rebrands) just say “Made in USA”
dstblj 52
Those older labeling requirements had a grandfathering thing for anything built before a certain date but when sbd bought the stock it became new stock they had to repackage to current regulations.
Doug
In this case, “Global Materials” means that some of the small items in the sets, such has hex bits, Allen wrenches, and probably some packing material, will be sourced outside the US. Also the gear and other components in the ratchet, at east… for now.
ALL forging, machining, stamping, plating, polishing ,and assembly of wrenches, ratchets, and sockets will be done in the new site, along with Mac and Proto tools (although on much newer and faster machinery!). What’s more, they’ll be full polish wrenches, rather than the old Sears/ Apex flat panel wrenches. I’ll miss that look, but will be glad for the comfort and ease of cleanup of a full polish design.
All steel for the products will be US steel, sourced from the same suppliers used today for Mac and Proto.
There is a staggering amount of negativity and disinformation in these comments, attempting to tear down a noble effort to repatriate a great American brand, while keeping them within reach, financially, of American consumers, most of whom prefer to buy American, but are not willing to pay significantly more for the products. And don’t look down on them for that. We ALL have bills to pay and families to feed, and I’ve rarely met a tool enthusiast who has never been to Harbor Freight.
Kentucky fan
Yes it is really sad to see people doing everything they can to disparage SBD if we want our jobs and manufacturing back we have to start somewhere and appreciate the brands doing this.
Ckhonda
Agreed. I am encouraged and looking forward to the USA Craftsman sockets. Stanley and Proto are, for the most pare pretty durable. So, in theory, they have a foundation for making a solid product. Thanks Stanley for at least resurrecting a failing brand. I tried Teng, not nearly as refined as my Craftsman laser etched industrial.
Ace
A lot of craftsman’s tools where rebranded from various industrial big brands.
A tell tale sign to see if a socket is made in USA is the chroming, in the states manufactures have to limit the amount of chromium used and so they have to use nickel giving it a gun metal finish.
I’m somewhat hopeful, i was born in 91 and grew up looking at Sears catalogs hoping some day I can have a tool box filled with tools. By the time I was old enough to buy them, the coo was Chinese which I realized after I bought by 334 piece set and my tool boxes.
Since them I’ve given up on USA tools at a budget, and added to my tool sets by GearWrench at a great price and I love them a lot.
My dad bought me a small socket set from craftsman USA made which was a Armstrong rebrand and its lasted me 15 years without any issues.
The old quality will not return since the shut down of Armstrong’s factory but one can be hopeful.
Ray CR
I still have my Sears Craftsman Best 12 inch table saw from 1976. Cast iron with steel extensions. It is 220 volt with 3 1/2 horse spinning up to 5 horse.
It growls when it comes to life . I just keep changing the blades and it marches on.
My Sears best drill died but the router and jig saw still works .
Sears best power and hand tools were great value for the money.
My 1976 red and gray tool chest and cabinet still gives me service but I supplemented them with the series 2 US General cabinets since I like ball bearing draws. The Sears is built like tank but the Generals weigh 25 pounds more ( mostly in the wheels ) than the Sears cabinet.
I still have the tool catalog from that time. The only negative were there were not many 6 point sockets nor 6 point box/ combo wrenches in that era. I miss the pre Eddie Sears.
Bill
*Yawn* Well I guess it’s good for American employment, but doesn’t mean they’ll be great, or even better than some Taiwan makes. They were an American budget brand, decent but not amazing even in their heyday. I expect the same with the new made in USA offerings. Made of foreign bought steel tells me all I need to know. They’re still cutting corners.
JustSomeOldDude
“…made with global materials” I’m willing to bet that the actual hand tools are made in China but the vacuum formed cases they go in and the cardboard wrapper are made in the US. and the tools are boxed in the US. Thats why you can look at the cardboard cover and see “Made in the US” because the cover was literally made in the US.
Stuart
Read this:
https://toolguyd.com/dewalt-brushless-drill-building-and-factory-tour/
Lots of stuff goes into a “built in the USA” drill. Motors (for a different tool than what we were building) were spun on-site using components made somewhere else, motor shafts were made at a different USA factory, the housings were made elsewhere in the USA, chucks and gearing were of unspecified origins, and the electronics board was made in Asia.
It’s good to ask questions, but you’re sure to lose a bet that they’re opening a factory just to put imported tools into USA-made tool boxes. They could do that now. There’s no need to invest in a new facility if all they had in mind was to dupe American consumers.
Andrew
I suspect Made in USA will see a boom after the pandemic. I’m looking at some China tools thinking they may see a yard sale soon in favor of anything that says USA on it, maybe something European if I cannot find USA.
Ron
I have stopped buying China junk as everyone should! I am with you BUY MADE IN THE USA ! All of us should have learned a lesson from what is going on with the world ! Sears going with all there merchandise made in CHINA was the end of there brand ! Most of Craftsman tools where made by Stanley/Black & Decker anyway !
Stuart
As far as I’m aware, only the Craftsman Bolt-On tools were made by Stanley Black & Decker for Sears.
Ron
Yes your correct most hand tools where made by Western Forge which is closing (maybe)! A lot of there corded power tools where made by Black & Decker!
Andrew
Forget just sears and the craftsman name. All products in general. If I didnt have so much invested in Makita I would probably swtich to dewalt. At least that’s Japan. Honestly, thats why I never buy anything at Depot, most all their tool products are owned by TTI. Sure everything at Lowe’s is Stanley but at least that has American’s on top of the supply chain. Now we look at Lowe’s and Depots responses to the pandemic, where are you going to shop?
Matt
I agree with you that American Made enthusiasm is on the rise. Not just on tools either. My family was shocked to find so many of our medications come from China. Who thought that was a good idea?? Sadly, even German or Japanese brands like Bosch or Makita make many of their tools in China too now. Concerning Craftsman though, SBD has a huge opportunity to restore the name in ways they couldn’t have before this all happened. Americans need jobs, Americans want to buy Made In USA products, Craftsman was an American icon. They’d be foolish to not capitalize on this opportunity and go all in with their efforts.
Add to it, with any luck Eddie’s mess of Sears will finally be laid to rest after this too.
Russell
I know that I’m late for this, but I might have a possible update. Blackhawk is being phased out by SBD. Also the current Proto factory, that is where the old National Hand Tool (they bought out New Britain in the late 70s-ish and their brands, Blackhawk and Husky, along with Thorsen Tool Company. NHT in turn was bought by Stanley) factory was in Dallas, is going to be moved to the new Craftsman factory in Fort Worth. I think at least some of the stuff will be rebranded Blackhawk.
Nathan
So thought I would find this again. Is there any update on a release timing?
Stuart
There have not been any official communications about this yet.
Calvin
If you google SBD Jobs in the vicinity of Forth Worth, several manufacturing positions are available. SBD is looking to fill positions like Manufacturing Management, Shift Supervisors, Cold Form Machine Operator, CNC Operators, Metal Materials Manager/Service Techs. Good news for those of hoping for production of tools on site rather than chroming and repackaging of foreign tools.
My prediction, the new MIUSA materials will come out in June/July 2021. This gives SBD some time to sell off current stock and take advantage of marketing (selling on Father’s Day or 4th of July ). I also see them keeping the Made in China/Taiwan tools around for a while at a cheaper price (my guess is 10-25% cheaper than the MIUSA Craftsman).
While it’s not manufacturing of the 80s/90s, it is a step in the right direction. Hopefully the quality is up to standard and Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, and other stores build up their in store stock to support warranty of older tools.
James H Rightmire
I bought all my tools which are Craftsman in the mid 1960’s to the 1980’same, I have never bought a craftsman tool again to replace broken ones,I have them in a box.I went to yard sales and flea markets to replace them. China to me is no is in rant since they poisoned the world,I haven’t been to China mart in years and never will buy from then.