How many of you guys use them versus just a regular wrench?

 

I use them sometimes. Depends what I'm doing. If the wrench seams like its gonna round off the flare nut, I'll go right to them.

 

Gotta have 'em, especialy for brakelines.

 

Thats a fact!

 

I just bought a set of craftsmans yesterday. I need to replace the front brake hoses and don't want to round off any of the brake lines.

 

Take the Craftsman wrenches back. I have a set and they have so much "spring" to the wrench that they round off the nuts worse than a reg open end. Get a set of SK flare nut wrenches. Of course yours may be OK, -Craftsman specs such poor quality control that yours may be OK. It is the steel and/or heat treatment that may be bad with mine.

 

I found out recently that sk tools are made in France.Sorry, but I'm still not over it. I will deal with the springy.

 

SK tools are not made in France. They are made here in the USA. The holding company that owns many tool companies etc etc is originally based in France but has investors from around the world. SK is part of a world wide conglomerate just like many companies are.

If you are opposed to SK then get Snap-on or any number of other good tool companies. Don't just buy from Craftsman, -that buys their tools (designed to break) from the lowest bidder. Tools that are designed to fail will cause injuries and ruin important parts at the most inopportune time.

 

Yeah...like that ever happens.

 

Two things: 1) Every tool company outsources their manufacturing to the lowest bidder, so long as it meets the specs they desire for a given tool. If Sears really wanted the worst, cheapest tools to sell, they'd can craftsman all together and sell only their Companion line of tools. 2 distinct lines and price points of tools would make no sense if they were indistinguishable in quality

2) Craftsman tools and Snap-On I know specifically (and most likely Proto/Stanly/Mac as well as Matco) are made by the same manufacturer. 5 days a week they cast the tool with a Craftsman name on it, 2 days they do the same thing with the Snap-On name.

At least if you break a Craftsman hand tool, they replace it rather than sent it off to be rebuilt, ala Snap-On.

 

lol - I ought to start a running tally of how many times the argument of who makes what tools is debated... Thats interesting though, I was thinking about getting some craftsman flare nut wrenches - there is also an S-K dealer in town though so I may go that route. I just don't like it when the SK "SuperKrome" flakes off.

-Aaron

 

Not every tool company outsources their tool manufacturing to others. Most tool companies do buy products from various tool companies in order to complete their line of tools.

You are correct that most of the name brand tools you see heavily advertised are made by the lowest bidder but the bid specs can differ substantially from one buyer to another, -particularly in QC and tolerances... I know some of the people involved in some of those companies that make tools for others. SK makes most of their own tools and tools for others which is why I recommend them to people. At least the SK tool does not break when the chrome flakes off. The Craftsman tool chrome flakes off when the socket bulges or twists.

As far as who makes what tools, -that can change from wrench to wrench even within a "set", tool to tool, and week to week.

Craftsman tools are "designed" to fail so that you come back into the store to get replacements and buy some other things.

 

Entirely unfounded and unfactual. Not only does this make NO sense for Sears (conpiracy theorize all you want,) but it also would mean that all the manufacturers who make the Sears Craftsman tools also design other companies' tools to break as well. And yes QC may vary depending on who makes the tool on a particular day, and Sears may be to blame if they choose a 'bad' manufacturer, but their intent is not to control quality intentionally poorly.


I agree with your post in general except for the above statement. Also, it appears that the S-K 'krome' flakes off as well so Craftsman isn't alone in this.

On a different note, I do like Craftsman Hand Tools, but admittingly shy away from them then it comes to Electric power tools (made by ryobi and emerson, and a few by b&d... ugh...)
Air tools on the other hand are a big being made by IR

But you shouldn't have a problem with Craftsman Flarenut wrenches. Besides, if you do, you can always return them under their satisfaction-guarenteed policy

 

Yeah, I only buy their wrenches, too. Their power tools stink, big time.

 

Have you ever heard of a loss leader???

Their wrenches are designed to fail because they do not pay for the QC to control the steel quality, heat treatment, etc. This is part of the "design" or procurement process also. Sears WANTS a certain percentage to fail to bring people back into the store. If they did not want the tools to fail they wouldn't. They make them just good enuf that only a few fail in normal use. All tool companies do this but Sears is probably the worst (excluding the China tools). They sell the Craftsman tools at a premium and the tools they know are inferior without the Craftsman name in order to advertise low prices. They don't pick bad manufacturers, they just get what they pay for from the lowest bidder with SEARS specs. Other companies have DIFFERENT specs on their tools from the SAME manufacturers and they get different results. Some are of inferior quality and others of the highest quality. Sears wants to maximize profits and cut costs, they also want people back in the store. It is all very carefully controlled and they have years of experience at doing it.

I don't know what is so hard for you to understand about this. Do you have any retail experience with buying and specifying? Do you have any manufacturing or design experience?