Ryan wrote in about news that Western Forge is closing. Ideal Industries, Western Forge’s parent company, is shuttering the brand and its USA factory. There are news reports that all 164 employees will be laid off.
Western Forge is a USA-based hand tool maker, well-known for making screwdrivers – especially their clear-handled styles – but also pliers and other hand tools, for Sears and their formerly-owned Craftsman tool brand. Western Forge has produced tools for other brands as well.
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Western Forge-made tools could usually (unofficially) be identified by having a “WF” added to the on-tool model number markings. Shown here is a Craftsman punch and chisel holder with their classic screwdriver handle.
Ideal Industries owns several other tool brands, including Ideal, SK Tools, and Pratt-Read. Ideal Industries purchased CREE’s LED lighting solutions segment last year.
Sears sued Western Forge (their then-supplier for Craftsman tools) back in 2017, around the same time that Sears launched a new line of imported pliers.
As you might know, Sears sold the Craftsman tool brand to Stanley Black & Decker. Since then, Stanley Black & Decker has launched new Craftsman hand tools at Lowe’s stores and later Amazon, relying on in-house production capabilities and reportedly existing supplier relationships as well.
About two years ago, Sears also launched a new line screwdrivers, imported like the pliers they replaced Western Forge SKUs with.
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With Sears shifting to imported tools over Western Forge’s USA-made SKUs, not to mention the dramatic decrease in Sears’ popularity as a source for tools, Western Forge lost a ton of sales volume. The sale of the Craftsman tool brand to Stanley Black & Decker likely decreasing interest in Sears among tool buyers as well. When is the last time you bought tools at Sears?
A southern Colorado newspaper, KOAA News 5, reports on Ideal Industries’ explanation for Western Forge’s closure:
the company says the major reason for the closure is the Western Forge facility made tools for other companies as well, including Craftsman brand tools, until Sears sold that division almost four years ago and its manufacturing was moved offshore.
This unfortunately makes sense. Consider how many screwdriver sets, pliers sets, open stock tools, and other tools that Sears would have ordered a couple of years ago under their Craftsman tool brand. Then, it all started changing.
The official statement reads:
The Western Forge facility made tools for other companies as well, including Craftsman brand tools, until Sears sold that division almost four years ago and its manufacturing was moved offshore. IDEAL and its Western Forge employees tried to streamline operations and offset the loss of the Craftsman volume for years but were not able to offset the loss enough to sustain the plant.
They summarize:
We just couldn’t survive the impact from the Craftsman move.
I have seen – and purchased – USA-made Husky screwdrivers that I believe were made by Western Forge, but let’s be honest here – a couple of product SKUs for Husky and maybe some other brands is nothing compared to the business Western Forge used to do with Sears and the Craftsman brand.
I predicted that Sears’ downfall and the sale of the Craftsman brand would likely have ramification for Sears’ former suppliers, but I was always on the lookout for acquisition news, or new partnerships. I hadn’t expected that former USA-based Craftsman hand tool suppliers would ultimately be forced to close.
Perhaps it should not be surprising. I am very much of the belief that Sears’ move to discontinue USA-made Craftsman hand tools was at least partially responsible for the closure of Apex Tool Group’s Armstrong Tools. It was widely believed that Craftsman Professional wrenches were produced on the same factory lines as Armstrong’s wrenches. Other Craftsman and Craftsman Professional hand tools might have also been made at Armstrong or shared facilities.
Ideal Industries says that their attempts to sell Western Forge’s facility was unsuccessful.
I have always hoped that Walmart might step in and work out deals with some of Sears and Craftsman’s former USA-based tool suppliers. When I was talking with Walmart about their efforts to push into the Pro Tools market, this was often on my mind. Couldn’t they arrange for affordably-priced and decent quality USA-made hand tools of the type that Sears’ Craftsman hand tools used to be known for?
Walmart recently entered into an arrangement with TTI to launch a new and very broad line of exclusive Hart tools and workshop products. Couldn’t there have been some opportunity there to tap some of Sears’ former USA-based Craftsman hand tool suppliers?
But, we also don’t know the state of Western Forge’s factory or production capabilities.
Milwaukee Tool, a TTI brand, acquired Empire Tools several years ago, and has pumped money into expanding and modernizing their capabilities.
It is possible that it wasn’t financially feasible for any companies to purchase and save Western Forge from closure.
Forgive my language, but this stinks. 164 workers are losing their jobs (Ideal Industries says there will be some opportunities for relocation to other Ideal facilities), and a USA-based hand tools maker is closing up shop after 54 years.
One of the inherent risks with OEMs is that users don’t often identify the brand with tools they might be familiar with. I say this because I am now wondering whether there are other brands that might be in trouble or potential trouble in the wake of Sears’ downfall and Craftsman’s sale to Stanley Black & Decker.
It can be said that something similar happened to SPG International and their tool box product lines.
Some tool brands produce tools under their own label as well as for retailers’ private labels, and they have a better chance of recovering from the loss of business related to changes to Sears and Craftsman in recent years. It has been a couple of years now, but I’m increasingly concerned that Western Forge’s closure isn’t the last we’ll hear about.
What else has been happening in the wake of Sears’ downfall?
It seems unfair to play the blaming game without knowing more. Did Western Forge fail to modernize their designs? Did Ideal Industries fail to diversify Western Forge’s business after acquiring the brand in 2010? Were there simply too few opportunities in the market for Western Forge to make up lost sales volume resulting from changes at Sears and Craftsman?
According to a The Gazette’s 2008 article, “Forging Ahead,” Western Forge was at the time “the nation’s largest” screwdriver plant, celebrating the production of their billionth screwdriver. That article is a good read, but also a bit sad in the context of Western Forge’s closure.
Ryan, who sent in the news about Western Forge’s closure, also had a good question:
I’d like to buy a set (or a couple) of screwdrivers made by Western Forge since I think it would be cool to have screwdrivers made a mile from my house. Any idea where I can still get some? I know they made some Husky screwdrivers but I couldn’t find any at Home Depot that said “WF” on them.
I did buy a set of USA-made Husky screwdrivers maybe a year or two ago, and will have to dig them up to see if they’re made by Western Forge. I cannot find that same screwdriver set online, and will try to check my local Home Depot stores to see if I can find any sets there. If you check your local Home Depot, look for a 4-6 piece screwdriver set with acetate clear-style handles.
Also, Harry Epstein Co is a good source for tools like this – I’d do a search for Craftsman tools. You can always email (or call?) them if you want to double-check on a tool’s sourcing. I can’t guarantee they’ll know for certain, but I’d trust them to be experts on such matters.
You can also find some Sears Craftsman-era screwdrivers at Amazon, but at high mark-ups. They’re advertised as being made in the USA, such as this 17pc set, and they look like the Western Forge-made screwdrivers, but I’d pass on the inflated pricing.
My Western Forge-made tools aren’t top-shelf quality (well, some of them come close), but they were affordable, well-made, and are long-lasting. I didn’t like my Craftsman Professional screwdrivers, but nothing beat the value of their clear hand-handle screwdrivers, nut drivers and accessories.
I’ll say it again – this stinks.
Mark
Tekton had some nice USA screwdrivers. Maybe they were made by WF.
Kenneth Stephens
They still sell them and just released another line of hard handled USA screwdrivers. I doubt they’d release a new line of drivers with a factory on the edge of closing
Frank
Well sports fans, another one bites the dust. The poor employees are sadly just pawns in the big picture. Like many other niches in the “Made in USA” manufacturing world, the tool industry is now shaped more by one thing than anything else… Shareholders demanding greater profitability. In the last 30 – 40 years, maybe longer, that has frequently translated more & more into moves to off shore manufacturing platforms where everything from autos to screwdrivers can be made for less. OBTW, don’t foget your drawers too. Mine are made in Vietnam & the Dominican Republic. That translates to more $$$ for the owners & shareholders here in the USA. Frequently the consumer doesn’t benefit. Meaning the price we pay is the same & that equals increased $$$ for the owners & shareholders. Quality of the product usually suffers even in minor ways. Unless you are a professional / industrial user, you don’t recognize the difference. “Harry Homeowner” or the “Weekend Warrior” doesn’t notice the differernce or care. As a youngster, I looked forward with glee to trips with my Dad to the Sears Craftsman Tool World. My first job in High School was at Sears in Division 9 (Tools). Those days are now fond memories & are long gone along with those stores that recently closed. RIP Division 9 & the “no questions asked return & replace exchange policy” that many of us grew up with. Remember the “special bundles & deals” that were offered every Father’s Day & Christmas. See ya at Home Depot or Lowes.
Jim Felt
All true. Even if it’s just progress via Wall Street. Not Main Street.
BTW my Wera tools are frequently marked Made in the Czech Republic. As are German SUV Porsche’s Made in Poland.
Both the equivalent of the Right to Work* American southern states. AKA cheaper locations.
*Oxymoronic anti union political labeling.
fred
We as consumers are hoist on our own petard. We apparently like low prices – so we shopped at Walmart more than we did at more costly emporia. The message was probably not lost on the tool buyers working for Sears, Home Depot, Lowes, Menards and more recently Amazon. Consumerism is not a bad thing – but when it drives everything to some bottom level don’t expect quality and good paying jobs will continue. Then add in leveraged buyouts of tool companies by venture capitalists, demands for ever increasing quarterly profits, and increased costs of externalities in the USA (and other countries too) – and its no wonder that we are constantly seeking to manufacture more and more in low cost locales. I conclude – to paraphrase Walt Kelly’s Pogo : “We have met the enemy and they are us.”
TheTool
Made by Wilde not Western Forge.
Joe
Craftsman screwdrivers with “WF” were Western Forge and those marked “PR” were Pratt-Reed. Wilde made for Sears tools have a “P” on them. Typical tools were some pliers and pry bars.
Chris
What a bummer. Really sad to hear about this. I was hoping WF would something going on with Lowe’s and make some more craftsman stuff in the US again. ?
Stuart
It was always a possibility, but a slim one.
In my opinion, Stanley Black & Decker is going to want to produce things in-house as much as possible. Remember, they purchased a steel tool storage manufacturer and also a stake in a lawn & garden tool company.
I was told SBD was working with 3rd party companies on their initial launch of Craftsman tools, but I’m guessing there are reasons for SBD not to work with Western Forge. Also, Ideal Industries could be considered a competitor.
What I’m most curious about is this – what made Western Forge undesirable for acquisition? Is it because Ideal Industries only looking to sell the factory? Would the infrastructure not have been of profitable use for any other tool brands?
KnowWell
?
Mike (the other one)
Maybe SBD would be interested in buying the WF plant and using it to make USA-made hand tools. It would be great if they could hire the former WF workers.
Kameron abbadi
They just built and are opening in the end of 2020 a new craftsman plant in Dallas and they are going to be making sockets and ratchets and some other stuff their
Jon
SBD is weird about there products like I have a set of Stanley proto adjustable wrenches made by western forge like would it be easier just to buy from a supplier you already have?
Popgun42
I looked at my Craftsman screwdrivers, bought years ago, and they all have WF on them. I do not use them much, will not all all now. I also have a complete socket set, Craftsman, made in USA.
Jim Felt
Me too (though without the hash tag).
And frankly my WF Craftsman stuff has long been supplanted with mostly (US made) Klein plus Felo, Wera and Wiha.
The smell alone is hard to shake. But boy the memories!
ca
That chisel holder is a pretty good idea; I’ve never seen that before.
Stuart
A couple of brands make them. I don’t always use one, but punch/chisel holders do come in handy. It’s a “good to have” accessory, but some of the prices out there are a bit too high.
ca
I just need Wera to make one so I can keep everything matching.
Allen
I’ve had one for many years. On the farm I need to really wack on some rusty and “organic” laden items. Mine has a jam nut on the threads, otherwise it would loosen with each blow.
ca
I usually use vice grips, but they rotate on the chisel to easily. These purpose built holders look like they wouldn’t do that.
Louie Orama
When is the last time I purchased tools at Sears? CONSTANTLY.
It is VERY unfortunate, more nostalgia disappears and of course the effect it has on people and history, but I can tell you, if you’re looking for screwdriver sets, go to either the Sears or Shop Your Way apps. There is still tons of stuff, but you have to dig at times. But they are literally giving this stuff away. I’m standing in my basement and looking at a Brand new Sears Bench and there are boxes and packages of unopened stuff because I’m getting it while I still can. 2 Grinder stands, 8 inch Grinding Center, a Drill Press (for the other grinder stand), a utility sharpener, two compressor kits, 3 Impact Deep Socket sets, Ratcheting Wrench Set, and 2 H.E.P.A. vacuum filters that I paid $6.88 apiece for.
What I just mentioned is merely a fraction, less than 10% of the last few years. It hurts to see it, but every time I see an item out of stock, I know it’s now extinct.
Getting into buying tools only about 6 years ago, I actually got the entire Bolt On system-all 14 attachments- and my brother told me I should get dedicated power tools which i ultimately did.
Little did I know about what was coming because it wasn’t a passion of mine nor did I pay much attention to the business side of the world. But I saw how the design of the bionic wrench was stolen (lack of better words), saw racks get emptier and emptier, heard the old men in line say how much of a “disgrace of what the place used to be” and complaints about things being made in China, then stores disappear. And then more.
When they would have their liquidations, the prices were actually HIGHER than what Sears were selling their tools for.
I guess the whole point of this is that it seemed no matter where I turned, anytime Sears was mentioned, there was negative connotations paired with it. I work Water Restoration and being at people’s homes and building relationships has found me hearing the nicer things, back when Sears was SEARS. Old man in a basement showed me a stamped pieces of lumber for his joists and went on to tell me that it was a Sears home. Sort of blew my mind, how they can sell an unassembled home. But Awesome. Yeah, living in the 30s, 3-5 grand would get you a home that you had to build yourself.
3 years before I was born, in Wilkes-Barre PA, they had “The Flood of ‘72”. The stories are larger than life. Your whole 1st Floor being underwater-across a city. I work there often. Was speaking with an elderly lady who couldn’t stop bragging about her late husband of 40 years. He retired from Sears.
After the wreckage, anyone who lived in that town who had anything on a payment plan with Sears, they wiped out the balance. If you WORKED for Sears, anything damaged in your home, whether you bought it from them or not, Sears replaced it for free.
It’s pretty uplifting to hear that there was a time that Sears, no matter how massive, could find a way to be so personal. And as time goes by, I’m longing to hear the next great story about how “things used to be.”
It is also very unfortunate that the world continues to spin and jobs/relationships are lost, and we need to rely on our resilience to bounce back.
Evadman
Totally off topic, but Sears homes were delivered on a train, usually a car or 2. Balloon framing and drywall, everything pre-cut. Standardized doors, windows and lumber (2×4, 2×6 and 2×8 which was novel back then). Most of the choices then are now ‘defacto’ standards. Try finding a front door that isn’t 1 3/4″ thick, 36″ wide, and 80 inches tall now.
Cost between $500 and $2k for most, or $6.5k to $26k today. They took around 350 hours to build. HVAC was extra; well, not AC. Plumbing was also extra, around $150. Lighting was $50 (acetylene based IIRC, not electric). There’s a couple of model 159’s near where I live, and what got me interested when I was growing up.
Stuart
Actually, the latest I heard was that Sears was found to have NOT wronged Loggerhead Tools when they released their own Max Axess tool.
The Loggerhead tool is based off an existing design/patent that they don’t own. Sears heavily marketed the Bionic Wrench during holiday seasons, buying up a huge quantity, with displays at every store. Then they decided to contract with Apex Tool Group to design something different, presumably cheaper for them.
It might have been nasty business dealings, but the courts ultimately deemed that Sears did not steal the design.
Louie Orama
Speaking of myself not paying enough attention to the business world, huh? After reading, I went online and see how the original jury verdict was overturned.
Thanks for the heads up.
Eric
Wait… what was that part at the end, you did it like Craftsman Professional screwdrivers? I first come across them a few months ago and have been halfway in the market for another set of screwdrivers as a 3rd set in my tool chest one being the WF craftsman ones your talking about and haven’t found one that was quite right yet and when I used one of them at work I fell in love with them. Have been trying to find a good used set of decent size but not looking to spend the money that they go for.
Stuart
The handles were okay, but some of the tips were soft. I had to do a warranty replacement on a lightly used Phillips #2, and I can’t seem to forgive/forget that. I still have the screwdrivers, but they’re buried somewhere.
Diamond Dave
Yeah a couple of decades ago I purchased the set of Craftsman “Professional” screwdrivers during their initial offering and hated them! Ended up giving them to my son.
Eric
Well I’ve looked at quite a few different models and brands thought about the Irwin set from Lowe’s was gonna get them while on sale until I actually saw them in peroson at the store and was disappointed in the handles. I have been close to getting the craftsman extreme grip with the diamond tip or whatever it is may still end up trying that
OhioHead
Stinks that the WF employees are losing there jobs & the factory closing.
IMO – Ideal could have moved manufacturing to this location to promote there own US made tools (think Klein) assuming the factory was in good working order.
The ripple from Craftsman/Sears is now just beginning to be felt – Stu awesome reporting (even if bad news).
Stuart
Thanks! I was pretty upset at this news and tried to be as objective as possible.
In my opinion, trying to strengthen the Western Forge brand might be a good idea over a long time frame, but it’s not a strategy they could have been pulled off in a few years.
Where would Western Forge sell their tools and in sufficient numbers to make a difference? It was the Craftsman name at Sears that drove high-volume sales. The Western Forge name wouldn’t have sold many tools on its own, at least not in a short time.
Western Forge was set-up as an OEM, making tools for other brands. Which large-enough brand or company could have contributed large enough orders to save the brand?
Sears isn’t what it used to be, the new Craftsman brand sources tools from within Stanley Black & Decker or their manufacturing partners, Lowe’s Kobalt brand has seen less emphasis in stores and they seem content with their current manufacturing partners, Husky seems to have experimented with a set of USA-made screwdrivers but probably saw better sales for higher-count sets of imported drivers. Channellock and Tekton have released USA-made screwdrivers in recent years, but it’s unclear as to who their suppliers are.
It was suspected that Pratt-Read, also an Ideal company, was the supplier for Channellock’s screwdrivers, but that was never confirmed. https://toolguyd.com/channellock-screwdrivers-usa/
There could have been some radical developments, such as Walmart or Harbor Freight contracting Western Forge for value-priced sets of USA-made screwdrivers, but perhaps that was never a serious possibility.
Husky is Home Depot’s private label brand, but it’s more of and entry-to-mid-level brand, with Dewalt and Milwaukee positioned as higher quality offerings. Today’s Husky might not have provided the order volume needed to save Western Forge.
I’m learning to not underestimate just how important Sears and Craftsman were to USA hand tool suppliers.
Unless I’m mistaken, Western Forge also produced Sears Craftsman’s adjustable wrenches, and at least some of their pliers options. I also believe Western Forge made adjustable wrenches for Ridgid, but I haven’t found the style I’m thinking of in quite a few years (I’ve searched a couple of times).
Basically, the Western Forge brand wasn’t strong enough to support sales under their own brand (in my opinion), and there simply weren’t enough available OEM opportunities to make up for the lost business.
Dan
WF definitely makes/made the ridgid adjustable wrenches. I’ve got the 8” and 10” and love them and they’re marked with a small “wf” near the loop of the handle.
Here’s a link for Acme, thats where I’ve gotten mine from fairly recently.
https://www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/ridgid-86907
Neighbor Joe
NO! WF at onetime was the largest maker of screwdrivers they even opened a second facility on East Coast to manage the work load. Great tools at a good price. 2016 the new Chinese drivers showed up at my local Sears, the Evolve and soft grip. WF still had a large presence but writing was on the wall. 2018 WF declined a one year contract likely offered to help Sears transition to all made in China. What a loss. WF was created at least in part financed by Sears back in 1960s. Long history of quality working class quality tools that last a lifetime.
Matt
Sears was the main driver in setting up WF. I sent through Sears history a few years ago when the whole collapse was going down and it was mind blowing how much they had a hand in and financed behind the scenes. They had a far bigger stake in many of the products they sold in store than I ever realized. I was just talking to a friend about the David Bradley-Sears/Craftsman history yesterday.. Nice that some of it will still live on long after Sears is gone.
John Damron
I was in a Rural King store in Muscle Shoals, Alabama this past weekend and they had an end cap display of Craftsman tools. They had several sets of Craftsman screw drivers that were western forge made. I didn’t need them but got a set anyway. The other Craftsman things that they had were Stanley Black and Decker but these screw drivers were Sears brand management Usa made WF tools. I have no idea what other Rural King stores might have and they don’t have them online that I’ve found. I have found a few WF made Craftsman tools at some Ace Hardware stores and Sears Hometown stores. Its a shame that WF is shutting down. Thank you WF employes for many years of great tools.
Richard Noggin
I also found mine at Rural King here in Clarksville TN. I was lucky and got the only set they had, it was a large set of torx, phillips and flatheads from WF. Rural King must have some sort of thing going on with Sears back-stock, they have been getting in a few sets of different Craftsman tools but they were all the China made crap that has been showing up at Lowes.
Toolfreak
Stanley Black & Decker could have EASILY bought the Western Forge brand and entire factory for a bargain price from Ideal years ago, and kept them in business making the iconic USA-made Craftsman pliers and screwdrivers, or even improved versions, for decades.
They decided not to.
It was also weird that they didn’t even bother to have WF make the stuff even just under contract, since even though IDEAL competes in the tool market, so does Apex, where Stanley has been getting the majority of Craftsman tools under contract since they bought the brand.
Part of the problem is a complete lack of accountability. Factory workers will lose their jobs, but you can bet the executives will continue to be paid millions of dollars long after the factory is closed, but those with any power to hold them accountable will just shrug and look the other way.
Tool Nerd
What I heard was that Sears owed Western Forge money and there was a clause in the contract that Western Forge would continue to make Craftsman tools for 6 months during the Stanley Black and Decker transition but that never happened leaving Sear’s tools empty.
Brian M
Sad really only for the employees. Really, their tools weren’t anything special, just low priced USA junk that people liked because they were made in the USA.
USA companies need to stop staying in their lane and keeping production on the same tools they’ve made for 60 years, at a price that’s unchanged for 30 years…because the metal quality and finishing suffers as they try to meet the price point. It’s almost driven me completely to European tools with some Japanese tools mixed in. That’s the REAL sad state of the American tool factories, that our factory’s production quality is falling behind other companies’ products.
BTW, I’m not saying we need these companies to make $120(Snap on) screwdriver sets but they’re making $15 screwdriver sets when they could be making $30 screwdriver sets.
TheTool
“It’s almost driven me completely to European tools with some Japanese tools mixed in.”
Good keep driving and maybe you’ll empty the wallet further at no real difference besides spending more due to tariffs.
Bobby
This is a bummer. I always liked the Craftsman/Husky acetate screwdrivers, and the Craftsman black handle pliers. They’re good especially for the price.
Someone needs to buy the facility and keep it going. Harbor Freight? Channellock?
Does Pratt-Read still have a facility up and running?
loup68
I totally blame Stanley, Black and Decker for this. They took over the Craftsman brand and promised us made in the USA tools. Where are they?
They could have contracted with Western Forge to continue making the classic Craftsman screwdrivers. The tooling is not cheap to make! They then could have bought the plant, probably very cheap, later on.
They bought Waterloo and 20% of MTD that I worked at. Why not Western Forge?
Instead their greed took over. It took them what, almost two years to bring out cheap China made copies of the Craftsman screwdrivers.
Every tool they came out with is made in China or Taiwan, none in the USA.
SBD makes some of their tape measures here. All the Craftsman ones are made in China.
I purchased a Craftsman knife made in China that I thought was similar to my favorite Dewalt, made in America knife, the DWHT10046. It was a totally ill conceived product, that I returned to Lowes.
The best part is that the abortion knife made in China cost MORE than the made in USA Dewalt knife!!! This knife is Home Depots best seller from what I can tell.
Jim Felt
Nostalgia lives!
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F193285184482
Lynyrd
After a quick scan of comments, what hasn’t been mentioned is that Western Forge and SK are both part of IDEALl Industries, and the majority of SK Screwdrivers, Pliers, Pry Tools are made at Western Forge. As well, core Sockets and Wrenches were being produced as well for SK at WF, soooo……
What happens to SK? Will IDEAL procur SK tools from another U.S. Source? If SK doesn’t stay committed to “Made in the USA,” I don’t think they survive in this competitive tool industry environment.
Western Forge produced Pliers and Screwdrivers for the Craftsman Brand since the late 90s. They were instrumental in production of the Craftsman Professional line, and also produced similar screwdrivers for Armstrong in an agreement with Apex Tool Group.
I agree with Toolfreak, that SBD could have, an I think should have purchased Western Forge. I have written before that when Apex Tool Group had the first chance to buy the Craftsman Brand but instead, doubled down on Gearwrench, it was the end of the design and style of the Craftsman we all knew. Again Apex and Western Forge has worked together throughout the years.
Somehow, I hope Apex steps in and saves Western Forge and SK. That said, with Gearwrench as the Retail brand and Apex agreements with Matco to be the Tool Truck Brand, I just don’t know where SK is going to fit in.
We lost Craftsman USA*, now we stand to lose SK.
*(Even though SBD is building a plant in the USA to build C’man, it is more an all new line of tools, and not a natural evolution of Craftsman’s Western Forge/Danaher/Apex designs).
Toolfreak
News articles say SK “will consolidate manufacturing at its SK Professional Tools plant in Sycamore, Ill.” and there are still other plants throughout the country that make other SK tools. Ideal obviously wouldn’t have closed the plant if tool production couldn’t be maintained.
As far as Apex, they were my guess as to who would get Craftsman in a more or less done deal, but apparently SBD made an incredibly high offer out of nowhere so of course they got it.
Thing is, when SBD bought Craftsman they also bought the rights to all the Craftsman stuff, meaning the design of the screwdrivers, pliers, etc. etc that Western Forge made, so it would have been no big deal for SBD to buy the place and not only just have them crank out more of the same tools they had been making for decades prior, but they could have used any additional production capacity to make tools under contract as well.
AFAIK the new SBD facilities in DFW aren’t going to be making any screwdrivers or pliers, just sockets, ratchets, wrenches, etc., basically chrome plated stuff.
Right now SBD gets the China-made Craftsman screwdrivers from Apex, who also supplies them to the Sears stores that are left.
Given the screwdrivers weren’t the greatest even when they were made in the USA, what I’d really like to see is for SBD to not only buy Western Forge and keep all the workers employed, but to have the metallurgy of the shafts and the chemistry of the handles updated so the screwdrivers are even better. Same with the pliers.
Stuart
An SBD exec mentioned watching Sears and Craftsman very closely, years before the actual acquisition.
Lynyrd
Actually nearly all “Designs/Patent” were owned by Apex and not Craftsman. Not including rebranded items from Lang, Lisle, and so on.
Beyond the name and logo, Sears Craftsman owned very little beyond licensing rights. So SBD did not get everything.
I couldn’t disagree more about the quality of Craftsman USA, particularly Craftsman Professional. If the quality is/was a concern then by proxy, you’re also saying Matco USA, Armstrong, and SK are poor quality from about 1997 to 2012.
Diamond Dave
I still have my original and first Craftsman Set of Screwdrivers from the late 1980’s. I cut the package in such a way where the whole plastic package and cardboard identifier remained as the holding tray for the screwdrivers. It fit perfectly into my deep drawer tool box. Because I had purchased other Craftsman screwdrivers sets on Christmas clearances, etc throughout the years this “original set” has had very very little usage. Sure, the acetate handles have yellowed on them but when I do open that tool drawer occasionally (usually I have misplaced one of my other screwdrivers) it brings back fond memories of my youth and the Sears tool dept!
Bob
Ahh this realy does suvk!
As soon as I realized all the sears Craftsman tools were going the ChiCom route I hunted down a set of the red handled pry-bar set made by WF. Alaways wanted a good set of pybars so I figured better by then or pay tripple the price for tool truck brands. 3 piece set. Small, medium, large. Came with a nice little plastic tray that fits in my box. The extra large 36” bar was not included in the set but I bought it anyway. I have beat the s#!+ out of these things and have not damaged them. This includes using 4’ cheater bars. Pounding on the top of the handle etc.
These are no frills pry bars. Just a black metal oxide coating. Hard plastic handles. No striking cap. But they work. I can trust them to hold when Im hanging off the end of one. Price was fair. And they were made in America by Americans. Sad they will be no more.
I will not buy any new SBD Craftsman until or if they are made in USA. I hear they are building a factory etc etc. Hoping to start building a tool set for my son soon. Hope they pull it together soon.
Ps if you find a prybar set on Ebay or where ever for a good price I would grab them for sure.
Stuart
I’m fairly certain that Wilde made those pry bars, and I feel the same – I bought one pry bar previously but when I grew concerned about future availability I purchased the same 3-piece set.
Sears/Craftsman switched to a made-in-Taiwan supplier in 2013. https://toolguyd.com/fyi-craftsman-pry-bars-now-made-in-taiwan/
Bobby
Yep, your’e right Stuart. Wilde made them for Sears. They still make them under their own name, and for Menard’s as Masterforce. I have the HyperTough branded versions and they’re excellent quality.
Toolfreak
Wilde made the Red-handled versions, but Western Forge did make the Craftsman pry bars before then. They were the same hex-shaped shafts as the WF punches/chisels, with the same handle shape as the WF-made screwdrivers.
Jkr
Sad for the workers, but…
A factory manufacturing mostly for a single client, and the client is in financial trouble. Outdated products were the competition had better products decades ago.
Why does it sound familiar?
Seriously. Out of the US hard non ergonomic handles are considered 70s nostalgia.
Being dependent on a single clieny, never mind how big, is managemant laziness.
Usually in a large corporate ther are other options. So it seems to me ideal industries didn’t really want WF. It kept it while Sears needed it. Once done its done.
Mike
I have a fair amount of older Craftsman hand tools that are great. I will not buy the new junk from SBD. Even though made in China I actually like the Kobalt stuff and have had good luck with them.
RIP American made hand tools of old.
Tom
Doesn’t SBD already have US manufacturing for screwdrivers? They have Stanley and Dewalt branded made in USA models, so clearly they have a source for screwdrivers with non-acetate handles. Given that, I don’t think it would make sense for them to buy WF. Makes more sense to just expand their existing capacity if/when the demand for USA made Craftsman screwdrivers materializes.
And let’s not forget that first they have to sell it to the customer (i.e. Lowe’s, Menards, etc.). Retailers are very price point conscious. If you can’t hit their target retail prices and still offer them a decent profit margin, they won’t buy them. No large demand from retailers = no products for consumers, despite the potential to make them.
Stuart
I’ve only seen a couple of Stanley USA-made screwdrivers.
SBD’s USA-based screwdriver production is more focused on higher-end more premium-priced drivers, and I’ve presumed that the facility lacks the ability to produce high volumes of budget-priced Craftsman screwdrivers, or we would have seen them by now.
It’s possible that this is something the new under-construction factory will be equipped to produce.
Ray CR
WF makes the 3/8 Husky
16 inch long slotted screwdriver for Home Depot.
It looks like last call for them now! They are a clone of the famous Craftsman version except handle is all red.
They were great pry bars and I lost one inside a concrete foundation 30 years ago. It fell in during a cement truck pour and couldn’t be saved.
Harbor Freight Doyle pliers and screwdrivers are made in Taiwan like their new premium tool line.
The new Doyle electrical stripping pliers are really nice for 16 with coupon. They use India now for their pry bars. I believe the tariffs and even the virus issues will have them shift more hand tools to Taiwan. So I do not see them buying an American tool plant.
So run to Home Depot to buy WF tools while they last.
Bobby
I hope Home Depot continues to carry the Husky acetate screwdrivers, maybe they will still be made in other facilities in the US. I did pick up some extra Husky screwdrivers from depot the other day just in case.
For what it’s worth, I contacted Home Depot and asked them if they were going to discontinue the Husky clear handle screwdrivers, and was told there are no plans. Take that with a grain of salt, it’s possible the employee has no knowledge of this.
I was pretty disappointed with The HF Doyle screwdrivers. After one time using the phillips #2, the tip was noticeably deformed. Not sure if a bad head treat, or a fluke, but it definitely wasn’t super hard.
Mike
I have a set of Philips/Flat Husky Screwdrivers and I would bet heavily they were made by WF.
I bought them specifically because they appeared to be from the same manufacturer that my father’s set of Craftsman screwdrivers (which survived years of hard use) were.
The serial on the handle is:
1000014576 AD
Ray
The serial number on my Husky 16 inch long 3/8 flat screwdriver is
USA. 1000014585 AT. My second one ends with AG
It does not say WF but is a clone without the blue on the handle.
It has micro ridges accross the blade which the Harbor Freight does not.
Now I use the Freight one as a pry bar and save the Husky for changing the oil in the lower unit of an out board that has a very large screw head for the upper and lower drainage screws.
I have doubles for many tools since I believe 1 is none and 2 is 1.
Mike
i was wondering if the Channelock USA made screwdriver were made by Western Forge
Bill K
This is just another sad chapter to poor vision & management at Sears.
At one time, Sears was the go to mail-order supplier for the masses….. just like Amazon is today.
I bought my first tools from a Sears mail-order store.
Ray
Some of the brand new Husky acetate screwdrivers have made in China on them.
There still were some large WF slotted ones left today.
Rob
I was under the impression that Ideal snatched up Western Forge a short while back because Sears was already dropping their orders. I thought it existed to support their new sister companies (ie SK) and parent?
Mike Hillman
I just retired after 50 yrs in the hand tool business. My first job was with Sears in hardware Div. 9. My wife worked 30 yrs for Sears before their downfall. It’s a shame that a hedge fund mgr. leveraged Sears and K-Mart only to sell them for profit and had no intentions of keeping them in business. It’s all about money and greed. I am very familiar with WF. Ideal Industries is an electrical mfg. that wanted to get into the hand tool business to compete with Klein Tools. Klein is a professional line of quality hand tools. Klein Tools is one of the few USA mfg.’s that is family owned and has been in business since 1857. They are the number one brand electricians, power utility, iron workers, AC -Refrigeration, electronics, and cable installers demand. Tough to beat a USA made quality product. I know. I worked for them for 24 yrs and sold the product. Just ask an electrician. That’ all they have in their tool bag.
moji.uslover
what happen to parker pen ??? motorolla ? craftsman ?? i my self for example buy craftsman tool for its made in usa … made in china american brands for me is not different to unknown local chinese brand .. this company either cheat us and you .. i myself dont buy chinese made american brand .. you are so dupe or gull that make china a superpower and teach them to produce higher quality products and now you are in trouble .. your politicians are dumb or even traitor … they deliberately kill your icon .. they change newyork taxicab from ford to toyota.. its very clear for us nonamerican.. i bet even now no chinese man even know what is the brand of its screwdriver in its house … and you have alot of forum and sites and youtube chanels talking about tools brands quality and compare them … its clear that when you american that have experience of working with a klein and channellock and snap on tools its hard for you now to work with chinese garbage and rubbish tools .. but they force you to buy and work with this rubbish stuff and cheat you with stamp the famouse brands on them .. i even dont buy made in usa with global material … i am not stupid ..
Stuart
You will find similar outsourcing all over the world.
Quite a few tools are now said to be “engineered in Germany, made in [other country],” instead of simply being made in Germany.
You digress too much for your rant to be taken very seriously. For instance, what does Ford vs. Toyota have to do with tools? Are you aware that Toyota has manufacturing facilities in the United States?
The fact of the matter is that people vote with their wallets. As long as there is demand for it, there will always be different tiers of tools – budget, mid-range, and premium.