Chinese Tools

[NewToy]

Chinese tools are not heat treated (hardened) you can get hurt when a wrench strips out, or an impact socket breaks in your hand.

sooo... you get what you pay for.

I earn a living with tools therefore I buy american steel with a warranty.

Ernie

You get what you order from China. If you want heat treat you get it. Go look at all the Craftsman impact sockets at Sears, all China AND heat treat. China can and does manufacture top notch articles, it is the buyer who specs the job and unfortunately orders the cheapest possible variant.
You are correct in that you get what you pay for, that's it.

John

 

[YanmarFever]

Are you saying that craftsman sockets are NOW made in china??

I did'nt know that, can anyone else verify this?

Ernie

 

[NewToy]

The impact sockets (black ones) that I looked at during my last Sears trip were all China made.

John

 

[EddieWalker]

I don't buy Craftsman any more. Not because of where they are made, but because I don't have any faith in them. The warrentee is fine, but I'd rather have a tool that doesn't break. Right now, my favorite set of sockets is from Mastercraft, but I also really like the Lowes Kobalt stuff. I have some Proto sockets for special stuff, but most of my tools are on the cheap end of the scale. I have some big wrenches from Tractor Supply that are probably chinese cheapies, but they work great.

I like Harbor Freight for some things. There grinder wheels are much better then Dewalt and Walmart ones, and allot cheaper.

Eddie

 

[DieselPower]

Interesting tidbit of info. Kobalt is owned by Williams tools which is owned by Snap On tools. Up until a few years ago the Kobalt tool packages actually said that on the back in really fine print.

 

[YanmarFever]

The impact sockets (black ones) that I looked at during my last Sears trip were all China made.

John

Were they stamped CRAFTSMAN -- made in china

or did they just sell non craftsman- made in china

Ernie

 

[NewToy]

Were they stamped CRAFTSMAN -- made in china

or did they just sell non craftsman- made in china

Ernie

They are marked "Craftsman" and made in China. Take a look at them next time your at Sears. They have a nice fit/finish. I have seen many different variants of the import sockets and these look as nice as any.

John