The Popular Tool Manufacturer Behind Craftsman (& Many Other Brands)
The Craftsman tool brand has been with us for just shy of 100 years and has long been popular with DIYers for its affordable hand and power tools, accessories, and storage — just the kind of things to help you put together a basic household toolkit for under $100. The brand also has an extensive range of garden equipment. However, since 2017, it has been owned by another popular tool manufacturer: Stanley Black & Decker.
Stanley has been around since 1843, originally the Stanley Bolt Company. Black & Decker was created in 1909 and began life as a general machine shop. Stanley acquired Black & Decker in 2010, creating one of the biggest tool manufacturing brands in the world. It claims to employ over 60,000 people in 60 countries and to sell 50 tools every second.
Stanley and Black & Decker still sell their own tools (the latter now rebranded as Black+Decker), and in addition to Craftsman, Stanley Black & Decker also owns DeWalt, Porter-Cable, Bostitch (a favorite with professional roofers), Irwin (known for its hand tools), and automotive tool specialist Mac Tools. There are more, but if we had to list them all, we could be here all day.
Does it make a difference which Stanley Black & Decker brand you buy from?
While it's not always the case, there are often times when Black & Decker, Craftsman, DeWalt, Porter-Cable, and Stanley all produce similar tools. Yet there can be significant differences in their prices. So if they're all made by the same manufacturer, why not just buy the cheapest?
Although, for example, DeWalt and Stanley tools might look similar, they are far from the same. DeWalt is considered a premium brand (perhaps rivaled only by Milwaukee when it comes to equipment for professional users) and is rated the most reliable tool brand, according to users. It's renowned for its performance and durability, but it has a price tag that reflects that. Stanley's other power tool brands tend to be seen as DIY options, built with an eye to affordability.
The bottom line is that each brand should be viewed as a separate entity. Craftsman offers budget-friendly tools that have been popular for almost a century. Each of the other brands has its fans, so as with any tool purchase, it's important to compare specifications before deciding which meets your needs best.