CRAFTSMAN Tools
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 213
Likes: 3
From: Phx/Az
I've broken several 1/2" breaker bars from Craftsman and never had a problem with getting them replaced. I currently have a 3/4" bar with the sliding head, and some how I bent 2 "S's" into it but haven't broken it. I prefer Craftsman for 2 reasons;
1) There's a SEARS around most any corner.
2) They question how you broke it they just replace it.
1) There's a SEARS around most any corner.
2) They question how you broke it they just replace it.
New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: indiana
i am a heavy equipment mechanic and I have tools from every brand. If you don’t use the sockets on impacts they are ok and the wrenches are fine I stll have some from 1983 when I started. The only thing I would advise is to spend the money for you line wrenches for gas lines, brake lines and so on the craftsman just wont do the job they spread and round the nut off. I have snap-on and when you put it on a nut that has had the points rounded of just a little you have to file it so the wrench will go on but they hardly ever round the corners.
heavywrench
heavywrench
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 8
From: Cook Forest and Irwin PA
Im gonna reaffirm my stance on the craftsman band wagon...I have gotten too good of service from them.
but when I last did a ford front end, removing the nut on the lower ball joint I snapped off *two* $26 NAPA 3/4->1/2 converters yet the $9 stanley 1/2" breaker bar from walmart did the trick....
if you need some oddball or large metric sockets - look at the stanleys at walmart, I got a ton of them to keep in a portable tool box I use to service my tractors when something breaks in the field
but when I last did a ford front end, removing the nut on the lower ball joint I snapped off *two* $26 NAPA 3/4->1/2 converters yet the $9 stanley 1/2" breaker bar from walmart did the trick....
if you need some oddball or large metric sockets - look at the stanleys at walmart, I got a ton of them to keep in a portable tool box I use to service my tractors when something breaks in the field
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 342
Likes: 0
From: British Columbia
I have to chalk one for Craftsman as well. I took in a No.2 Robertson that was around 20 years old, I had been using it as a pry bar so it was mangled nicely(very obviously intentional damage) guy at the Sears counter takes a look and grabs me new one off the shelf no questions. Plus I got to keep the old mangled one which I took home and straightned in the vice and I still use it.I wasn't even the original buyer of it the screwdriver was a 5o cent garage sale score from years back. If it had been a Mac or Snap-on tool I bet my story would be a different one.
Junior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
craftsman tools are as good as they get.
I have busted knuckles for a living about 34 years now. I started out with a craftsman tool kit my first boss gave me as as a graduation gift from high school, i am 49 now. I still have those tools and a lot more. When i moved on to my first line mechanic job, I bought Snap On tools because they stopped at the dealership I worked for. As did the Mac, Cornwell, and Matco trucks. So my tools are mixed to say the least. I now do the booking and dispatching for a Daimler Chrysler dealer and I tell the rookie collage grad techs. to go to sears and buy the biggest tool set with the biggest tool box craftsman makes. Then when they want air tools and stuff that breaks and wears out like impacts, air ratchets, die grinders, air drills, or tech stuff like guages, meters, and diagnositc modules. go to the tool guys that service the shop. This way they will be there when you need that special socket craftsman dosen't have.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,545
Likes: 4
From: Coal Region
i dont know i have broken a few craftsman tools and they took em back no questions asked. at school we always break snap on tools and find most dont work like they should. majority at my school be it teachers or students dont like snap on but they still buy em...ill keep my craftsman tools and keep buyin em...
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
I've got mostly snap on, but my wrenches are the craftsman professional polished ones. The are very similar, if not the same, as matco. I think they are great. They are a bit longer than normal, they fit the bolts very well, and both sae and metric sets cost me 200. And for all the different sized wrenches in the set, going with snap on would easily be over a grand.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 215
Likes: 2
From: San Diego
I've got quite a lot of Craftsman tools. They look and feel nicer than the Chinese junk from Harbor Freight and yet they're still very affordabe, especially on sale, and the warranty is fairly convenient. However, Craftsman tools have poor tolerance. Their sockets and wrenches all seem a little oversize with the result that it's easy to round off bolts. I have an electrical tool of theirs and the wire stripper sizing is wildly innacurate. Finally, their power tools are each pieces of junk. I had one of their routers (and its replacements) self-destruct three times. I finally bought a Porter Cable with which I've never had a problem.
If I turned wrenches for a living I'd invest in better quality tools than the Craftsman line. More recently I've bought an IR Ti impact wrench and SK impact sockets. Oh, and a set of Gear Wrenches. These tools blow Craftsman away.
If I turned wrenches for a living I'd invest in better quality tools than the Craftsman line. More recently I've bought an IR Ti impact wrench and SK impact sockets. Oh, and a set of Gear Wrenches. These tools blow Craftsman away.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: Watertown, NY
I use craftsman for the most part but only because of the free replacement. When working a lot on trucks I typically have at least one ratchet break per week. So I go about one a month to get a bagful of new tools. I even broke a 1-1/8" socket when I was changing my ball joints. You should have seen the guy look at me at the counter considering I was only 120lbs at the time in high school.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 1
From: Northern California
Go easy on those 1 1/8 sockets Ryan! You msut have had a pretty big breaker bar on that, eh? It is nice being able to just go on down to the store and get a new one, no questions asked thats for sure.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
Yeh Craftsman is it!.. I was trying to remove the axle nut on a 93 ford probe.. broke TWO 1/2 breaker bars. at the socket connector..
bought a 3/4 in breaker, and used a 10 ft pipe.. that worked..
Sears didn't even blink..
Sam
bought a 3/4 in breaker, and used a 10 ft pipe.. that worked..
Sears didn't even blink..
Sam
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 258
Likes: 0
From: lancaster ohio
your guys sears store sucks. really. mine is great no problems. most of em even no me by my first name. if you do have a problem get hte store manager and if he gives you trouble remind him how much money you spend at his store.
Elder User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 836
Likes: 2
From: Shreveport, LA
I think when you deal with names like Sanp-On, Mac and Craftsman, youre only buying the name. It's been my experiance that they are all fantastic. The only problem I've EVER had with any of them is I seem to round out 3/8 open end wrenches ALLLL the time.
Oh, and I once got upset and used a Craftsman crescent wrench as a hammer. It wouldnt open or close afterwards. But just go get a new one.
Oh, oh..yah..ONE more thing, is I cant seem to find a craftsman dealer here in my town..I'm sure there IS one, but I havent been able to replace my 3/8's wrench. That's not so much of a tool problem, though.
Oh, and I once got upset and used a Craftsman crescent wrench as a hammer. It wouldnt open or close afterwards. But just go get a new one.
Oh, oh..yah..ONE more thing, is I cant seem to find a craftsman dealer here in my town..I'm sure there IS one, but I havent been able to replace my 3/8's wrench. That's not so much of a tool problem, though.