Ok, where are you going to buy a "Built" mustang for $1500? That much won't get you a "built" shortblock. It won't even get you a rust free 4 banger LX around here. Any car like that for $1500 is going to take a lot more $ worth of tools to make into something decent.

 

Well working at a junk yard I have to break loose a lot of tough bolts.

First off, use the right tools, 1/2 for heavy work. The guys break ratchets of all brands all the time, useing 3/8 when it should be 1/2.

Never buy taiwan/china stamped tools.

Normal tools, i have snap on, and chraftsman. If i was buying again, I go to sears, for hand tools. I dont matter what you have, there are situatiuons where one brand will fit better then anouther.

You will loose tools, and when you drop that $12 1/2 socket and cant find it youll wish it was a craftsman. I do replace some of the snap on stuff, more because i like the feel or shap. Screwdrivers are all craftsman, but since someone pointed out the other brands that are the same, i may llok at them.

I got 8 rails of sockets 3/8 two of each. one is snap on the other either blackhawk or craftsman. Havent broke a socket in a long while, but i lost one the other day, and gues what, i had the snap on rail.

Buy good 6pt sockets, and depending how big or how old of stuff youll be working on, get a good 1/2 drive collection. That will save you more broken tools then any brand alone could.

I tell our guys, if you need a cheater, or are reaching for my long handle swivle ratchet, get the 1/2 stuff out. Problems is their boxes are short when it comes to 1/2, and they reach for the long snap on, add a cheater, and bam, i got to wait a week to get my favoite ratchet rebuilt. Yes it is mt fav, but i like the feel and the way the swivel head locks. If i found one like it somewhere else id buy one.

 

Also, no matter what you buy, the #1 rule is to not let anyone ever borrow your tools! rule number 2 and 3, always clean them and put them away when done, so they are there for when you need them next.

 

Here's a bit of info for all the die-hard Snap On guys. I went to school (college) with a woman who was employed by a tool foundry. They made wrenches and sockets for Snap on, Craftsman and a few other tool names that they had contracts with. The only difference is the name and price, same materials. Plus why would anyone spend more money on a tool when the same item could be bought cheaper with the same guarantee? You break it they replace it. Gimme Craftsman any day.

 

[QUOTE=Glackowitz]Hello, I have a nice broken Craftsman ratchet that sears wouldnt replace..They said I abused it and it was improperly used beyond the means of its use. So I took it to another sears..next town over..said same thing.

I can't believe that! I'd write to sears and tell them, I bet someone in Management will come around and replace your stuff. You'd be surprised what a well written letter to a company can accomplish. What were you doing? Using it as a hammer???

 

I'm not familiar with Cobalt, but most if not all tool mfgs out there will check chrome sockets for evidence they have been impacted, if they have its a no go on returning them. I dont know how you break Craftsman sockets, probably because your not using the larger drive size that you should be. It was always funny to talk to someone who says "I dont know why this cheap socket broke, I was using my 4 foot pipe on my rachet for leverage and the cheap thing just snapped". You will break few to no US made tools when they're used right.

I can understand your lament on the black sockets being thick walled, but if the fasteners your trying to remove are in that tight of confinments how do you get a big old air drive tool in there?

 

I think he's referring to Kobalt which is sold by Lowe's.

 

Huh. I had a craftsman ratchet that I put a pipe on to loosen a lug nut on a girl's car (2am, she was run off the road by a drunk) and bent the thing about 90 degrees. Put another Craftsman ratchet on it and got it loose (some happy kid with a new impact wrench put it on, I suppose).

The Sears counter guy looked at the bent ratchet (and looked and looked) but replaced it.
I think it's more the counter guy than Sears policy.

Bob

 

Let Sears find out you are a professional mechanic and see just how much junk you will have to go through to get them to swap anything. I had a Craftsman boxend wrench break in the handle just below the boxend. It was an air bubble. Never seen any of those in a Snap On. There is more difference in Snap on and Craftsman than the name. Break your nuckle with a Craftsman and you will see why they really are not any cheaper than Snap on. I use 3 ft. pull handle on 1/2" sockets, Pop Crfatsman sockets like popcorn. Napa tools are better than Craftsman tools. Yes I do have 3/4" tools, but try to avoid using them unless I have to.

 

With snap-on, you pay alot for the name and reputation.

 

I was a Machinist Mate in the Navy (Nuke Subs, M Div) we had Snap-On tools but never Craftsman. Does anyone know anything about the Kobalt tools that Lowes sales?

 

So, are you saying our government pays too much for tools??????

Bob

 

With a real long extension. The only things I run into the situation of having to use the thin walls on the impact are on large stone cutting saws, and stone working equipment. You either have to impact some of the bolts loose, or burn them. When burning, you risk messing up some of the electronics. You are right, for the normal mechanic, they would never have to use a thinwall on an impact. Kobalt is sold a Lowes.

 

[QUOTE=Glackowitz]Hello, I have a nice broken Craftsman ratchet that sears wouldnt replace..They said I abused it and it was improperly used beyond the means of its use. So I took it to another sears..next town over..said same thing.

[QUOTE=71_4X4_390] I can't believe that! I'd write to sears and tell them, I bet someone in Management will come around and replace your stuff. You'd be surprised what a well written letter to a company can accomplish. What were you doing? Using it as a hammer???

Glackowitz--> I was removing some exhaust minafold bolts on a motor...not a real tough job, stripped a few teeth inside the ratchet, now it skips a bit or jams up from loose teeth inside. Dont even kow if I have it still...Oh wait...Its in the bottom of my box of crap and junk in the corner of the garage, Well I found it and I am going to sears in the morning to see if it willbe replaced...has been a few years so Im sure the counter guy is new

Glack

 

I like Snap-On for the specialty tools. Far as your general tools(rachets, sochets, wrenches, screwdrivers and pliers) I buy SK. When it comes to specialty tools, I'll spend the extra money and go Snap-On. I also like OTC(good quality), KD tools(some of their specialty tools, you can't beat).

I guess to me it depends on the tool your looking for. Each Brand has their niche in the market.For some reason, i have shyed away from Craftsman tools the last 10 years. Some of there products have gotten cheaply made when they started changing manufacturers of there tools.

One thing I like about Snap-On is there quality in tool boxes. I like the fact that i can still get my money out of the box for trade-in if I decide i want to upgrade to a bigger Box.

i'm not a one brand person, I've got different kinds of tools from different kinds of manufacturers. It depends on what kind of tool I'm looking for. each manufacturer has there specialty when it comes to tools. Some of the respective manufacturers have an edge over another when it comes to certain tools.