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Rusty Craftsman tools

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Its not lame to take back rusty tools or tools that break. They have their lifetime warranty. If I have some crescent wrenches that no longer open and close due to rust, whether its my fault or not, if the tool does not perform, they will take it back.

Hell, I have a ratchet right now that after using it for a few seconds, the switch reverts back to the middle and it freewheels. You then have to re-engage the switch so it ratchets again. It still works, but is annoying, and I'm going to take it back to ACE this weekend to get another one as well since it doesn't work like it should.
 
slag said:
Its not lame to take back rusty tools or tools that break. They have their lifetime warranty. If I have some crescent wrenches that no longer open and close due to rust, whether its my fault or not, if the tool does not perform, they will take it back.

Hell, I have a ratchet right now that after using it for a few seconds, the switch reverts back to the middle and it freewheels. You then have to re-engage the switch so it ratchets again. It still works, but is annoying, and I'm going to take it back to ACE this weekend to get another one as well since it doesn't work like it should.
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Rust is the fault of the user, not the manufacturer. If you leave your tools where they can get wet and rusty, replacement should be at your expense, not the warranty.
 
I bought rusty tools at auction before and the nice people at ACE HARDWARE said it doesnt matter. If they dont work, bring them back, so I do. Their rules, not mine.
 
I always look for old Craftsman tools at flee markets. Rusty or not if I need something or have a use for it I buy it. Yes, you can get most Sears to replace even rusty tools but if they are usable who cares? I don't think I have ever exchanged a tool solely for rust. My favorite Crescent wrench is a very old J. H. Williams brand that has rust on it. The wrench is awesome, I don't care about the slightly rusty patine.

I picked up an nice large Craftsman pipe wrench at a flea market for $12.50. Jaws were lightly rusted but still sharp. The red paint is fine. It was an older one, made in Japan. Good wrench. The rust is irrelevant. I hit it with a wire brush and it works fantastic. That same wrench new made in China costs over $40.
 
A spray of WD-40 and a rub with a rag will probably remove all of the rust.

I have heard of people soaking in oil, them baking them in the oven on low heat (200F) to "open the pores" and impregnate the metal with oil.
I doubt it works though...
 
edro said:
A spray of WD-40 and a rub with a rag will probably remove all of the rust.

I have heard of people soaking in oil, them baking them in the oven on low heat (200F) to "open the pores" and impregnate the metal with oil.
I doubt it works though...
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It kinda works.
But Mili-tec is better.
 
The warranty is to replace what the warranty says it replaces. If several of you choose not to because of some inexplicable self decency ... good for you. C'est la vie. Meanwhile the rest of us love that warranty. C'est la vie

If Sears changes the warranty some day, so be it. Keep your damaged tools as defined by the warranty & be proud of your values. I and apparently others will abide by the warranty.

Oh, the OP's rusted tools were in the case that Sears sold them in. So it really is the fault of the seller not that the warranty makes that distinction. Just trying to help those thru this moral turpitude. I also would make sure that the replacements (if OP decides to have them replaced) are in better storage which Sears sells also.
 
I'm a fan of putting a spraying WD-40 on a towel and wiping my tools down once in a while. I have wrenches that are 25 years old that look new because of that.
 
For some reason, "Rusty Craftsman" strikes me as a fine porno name. 😛
 
PsiStar said:
The warranty is to replace what the warranty says it replaces. If several of you choose not to because of some inexplicable self decency ... good for you. C'est la vie. Meanwhile the rest of us love that warranty. C'est la vie

If Sears changes the warranty some day, so be it. Keep your damaged tools as defined by the warranty & be proud of your values. I and apparently others will abide by the warranty.

Oh, the OP's rusted tools were in the case that Sears sold them in. So it really is the fault of the seller not that the warranty makes that distinction. Just trying to help those thru this moral turpitude. I also would make sure that the replacements (if OP decides to have them replaced) are in better storage which Sears sells also.
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Or just take care of your tools in the first place?
 
PsiStar said:
The warranty is to replace what the warranty says it replaces. If several of you choose not to because of some inexplicable self decency ... good for you. C'est la vie. Meanwhile the rest of us love that warranty. C'est la vie

If Sears changes the warranty some day, so be it. Keep your damaged tools as defined by the warranty & be proud of your values. I and apparently others will abide by the warranty.

Oh, the OP's rusted tools were in the case that Sears sold them in. So it really is the fault of the seller not that the warranty makes that distinction. Just trying to help those thru this moral turpitude. I also would make sure that the replacements (if OP decides to have them replaced) are in better storage which Sears sells also.
Click to expand...

The problem with this outlook, I'm only taking advantage of the warranty they wrote, is that is has led to the de facto definition of success for most corporations ie. "I'm not doing anything illegal." As a man, do you really want that as a mantra?
 
slag said:
Its not lame to take back rusty tools or tools that break. They have their lifetime warranty. If I have some crescent wrenches that no longer open and close due to rust, whether its my fault or not, if the tool does not perform, they will take it back.

Hell, I have a ratchet right now that after using it for a few seconds, the switch reverts back to the middle and it freewheels. You then have to re-engage the switch so it ratchets again. It still works, but is annoying, and I'm going to take it back to ACE this weekend to get another one as well since it doesn't work like it should.
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does craftsman claim it won't rust?
 
I worked at Sears for almost 2 years in the tool/fitness/paint/L&G section. Our store was pretty lenient on what you could bring back. If I recall correctly, rust technically isn't covered under the lifetime warranty since the product didn't actually break or malfunction in any way. Now if the rust is preventing you from doing what the tool is intended for, then yes, that's definitely covered. If it's just cosmetic though, you may be taking a chance. We personally didn't care...as long as you had the new one and the old one at the register we'd happily just do an exchange. I'd just break the tool in some way and then bring it in. The one thing you have to watch out for is certain tools that don't specifically say they have a lifetime warranty (people assume all Craftsman hand tools do). Torque wrenches, riveters, C-clamps, bar clamps, and a few others do not carry a lifetime warranty. Make sure you read the package first!

For anyone who doesn't know, Craftsman doesn't make tape measures anymore because they were losing a lot of money due to all the exchanges taking place with them. When they were the yellow and black version they had a full lifetime warranty...but those got phased out and replaced with the red and black version which had a full lifetime warranty *except* for the blade. They offered replacement blades you could buy in the store. Well, if the blade broke on one of the red and black ones, people would just break the switch or the case or some other part on purpose and then exchange it.

Now they offer either a refund or a one time replacement with a Stanley or Komelon tape measure. Know the right people (or have previously worked at Sears) and you may be able to convince an associate to swap out a stainless steel 30 foot Komelon for your crappy 20' Craftsman 🙂

We got some beautiful tools during the time I worked there that people exchanged. The one that stands out the most was a commercial grade torque wrench from the 50's. It was in perfect shape with the original box and included the document showing the torque specs for different cars lug nuts (Chevy, Ford, Chrysler, etc). It had a nice weight to it and was all metal. I kept it behind the counter for months since I wanted to postpone it's melt-down phase as long as possible. As you recall, I said earlier that torque wrenches didn't have a lifetime warranty...however are department manager at the time didn't care. It was too nice of a tool to refuse.
 
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MagnusTheBrewer said:
The problem with this outlook, I'm only taking advantage of the warranty they wrote, is that is has led to the de facto definition of success for most corporations ie. "I'm not doing anything illegal." As a man, do you really want that as a mantra?
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Yes. They wrote the warranty, I will let them decide. Again, if you think it unfair to that company. Fine. Write a letter to Sears management and report the SOB that you believe took unfair advantage of them.

"As a man ... " LOL You have to be kidding me. Who talks like that?
 
Bignate603 said:
Or just take care of your tools in the first place?
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There is that of course. For a home owner there is little excuse except possibly disuse. OP's situation sounds as if the tools were purchased & seldom if ever used. If it were me and that was the case, I would be upset upon opening the tool case & seeing rust. Can the rust be removed with a paper towel or is a wire brush on a grinder needed?

I have a set of Craftsman tools >40 years old in the original case ... no rust & I cannot conceive how they could rust. On the other hand, the tool boxes on the farm tractors have tools that "stay" with the tractors. Always! They are not pretty. Rusty (looking), stick, gritty, hard to adjust in the springtime, but a few wacks against a wheel weight + a little oil (kept with tractors also) & they are functional enough. Yes, they are candidates for a warranty swap. But, that would mean that they would not be where they are supposed to be for some period of time. And, if a tool was needed out in the middle of large field ... well, it just is not worth the upgrade yet ... someday possibly/likely. in 5 or 10 years.
 
It is common to have high humidity is places tools are kept. (Basements, garages, etc.)
I don't blame him for having rusty tools.

Also, I hate oiling tools up a bunch. Then, every time you use them you get oil on your hands.
WD-40 wipe down seems to be a good alternative since it is so thin and a lot of it evaporates.
 
I still think asking Sears to replace rusty tools is a dick move, since it's an end-user caused problem, but apparently Sears says they'll still replace them:

http://consumerist.com/2009/03/sears-clarifies-craftsman-tools-warranty.html

Subject: Craftsman Hand Tool Lifetime Warranty

There have been several news articles and emails regarding customers being denied Craftsman Hand Tool exchanges for reasons that are not part of the warranty. We've had specific complaints of denied exchanges based on:

- Tools having rust on them

- A 3 Piece per day limit on exchanges

These are NOT valid reasons for denying our customers their right to exchange their Craftsman Tools under the Lifetime Warranty.

The warranty states: "If for any reason your Craftsman hand tool ever fails to provide complete satisfaction, return it to any Sears store or other Craftsman outlet in the United States for free repair or replacement. This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state."

Our Craftsman Hand Tool Lifetime Warranty is one of the most important competitive advantages we have in the market. It is crucial that we ensure all of our sales associates are trained to understand all the hand tools that are covered under this warranty.
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MagnusTheBrewer said:
The problem with this outlook, I'm only taking advantage of the warranty they wrote, is that is has led to the de facto definition of success for most corporations ie. "I'm not doing anything illegal." As a man, do you really want that as a mantra?
Click to expand...

PsiStar said:
Yes. They wrote the warranty, I will let them decide. Again, if you think it unfair to that company. Fine. Write a letter to Sears management and report the SOB that you believe took unfair advantage of them.

"As a man ... " LOL You have to be kidding me. Who talks like that?
Click to expand...

Someone who believes the individual has the power to change all the crap in the world? As opposed to the multitudes who seem to believe "I got mine and screw you." Rusty tools are hardly a tipping point but, the situation bespeaks the willingness of people to game their way through life because they either lack self confidence, feel helpless to make changes or, are simply mean spirited. So, which are you?
 
I recently went through the rusty tools thing they were my late dads as well and the garage at my moms flooded..Well it didnt even dawn on me that water had seeped into the box and when I went and looked Wow they were RUSTED! So I let them soak in Diesel Fuel for a month and then took a wire wheel on a drill and did every wrench and socket...they turned out great...I did have a few casualties but nothing major...Also found WD40 works well too..
 
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