this is crazy, hand tools!
Senior User
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 258
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From: Powell River, B.C.
Here I am talking about Canadian Tire again but rght now there's a 9 pc. box end/open end set in Standard or Metric for $8.34 Canadian, regularly $35.00. Great deal for wrenches to leave in the truck, boat or cabin. Lifetime warrenty and not bad in the hand. They are NOT comparable to my Snap-on or SK....but for $8.34 Canadian (about $6.74 US) I couldn't resist.
Pat
Pat
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Well for my two cents, I would rather spend a little more for a tool, and only buy it once. I would rather have a tool I can swear by, than one I swear at. I run Snap-On, Matco, Mac, and even some Craftsman; I enjoy them in about the same order. I like the feel and movement of the Snap-On, but I don’t use them as I once did. I now only spin wrenches as a hobby, and not for a living. I am of the opinion that I would rather not have a tool, than have one that will let me down or cause the truck or me hurt. Now I have broke, or wore out any of them, and yes it is a pain to track down the Snap-On man. I think this is the reason I am leaning more for the Matco now a days, he lives just up the block.
My two cents for what it is worth, Da’Moose
My two cents for what it is worth, Da’Moose
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 216
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From: Elizabethtown,KY
My box at work is all Snap-On and Craftsman, I have no problems getting either replaced when they break/wear. My Snap-On dealer is great, exchanges/fixes stuff with no problems. I've always owed him over a grand and give $40 a week, I get him paid down a bit and run it back up. The reason I buy Snap-On (aside from the quality of course) is that I can't buy $2000 dollars worth of tools at Sears or elsewhere and pay for them weekly.
When these two companies have nothing but foreign made tools, I will start to buy elsewhere. Some of the stuff on the Snap-On truck isn't american though, but it's usually things like wrench cases and stuff. The majority of the stuff is USA though. I WILL NOT buy a taiwan/china/japan made tool, finally rid my box of the cheap overseas crap I bought a while back.
They (foreign tools) may be cheaper, but I rely on my tools to put food on the table. I don't have time to deal with cursing at a broken wrench and blood just to save a few dollars.
When these two companies have nothing but foreign made tools, I will start to buy elsewhere. Some of the stuff on the Snap-On truck isn't american though, but it's usually things like wrench cases and stuff. The majority of the stuff is USA though. I WILL NOT buy a taiwan/china/japan made tool, finally rid my box of the cheap overseas crap I bought a while back.
They (foreign tools) may be cheaper, but I rely on my tools to put food on the table. I don't have time to deal with cursing at a broken wrench and blood just to save a few dollars.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 258
Likes: 0
From: Powell River, B.C.
I try and buy Canadian and then American if Candian isn't available. China and other offshore stuff is attractive at times and sometimes I do cave in but the more I hear of buying locally the stronger the feeling gets. Seems to me that supporting your neighbour only makes sense. That guy down the road's gotta eat too and if I'm sending all my money off shore, then who'se going to be maintaining old Fords and giving me a hand with doing the work on mine.
Pat
Pat
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
I have a complete 400 some piece craftsmen rachet/socket set and they are my favorite tools I have used. I have a Kobalt set that I keep in my truck and they seem to work just as good and have a lifetime warranty. When I am at my friends house we sometimes use his dads snap-on and I dont see anything special about them. We broke a ratchet and it took a year to get it(just the inside parts rebuilt). I will just stick to Craftsmen and Kobalt, which are both american made.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
I have a complete 400 some piece craftsmen rachet/socket set and they are my favorite tools I have used. I have a Kobalt set that I keep in my truck and they seem to work just as good and have a lifetime warranty. When I am at my friends house we sometimes use his dads snap-on and I dont see anything special about them. We broke a ratchet and it took a year to get it(just the inside parts rebuilt). I will just stick to Craftsmen and Kobalt, which are both american made.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
I was refering to the time it took to actually find a truck to replace it. Thats kind of cheap they should just give him a new one.
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
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A year?? I have NEVER had to wait more than a week and that was for a ratchet from the 40s that was my fathers. I want to keep it just for sentimental reasons but could have turned it in for a NEW replacement. I would find a new dealer. Greg
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
Go with craftsman there really no that expensive I mean for a 180 the most you get a full rachet and socket set allen keys screwdriver set and the nessesary wrenchs and you can takem back to sears and throw them at the guy if there broken and still get the same tool back so definatly go with Crafts fudge Husky Snap-on and all that other bs
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 240
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From: Meridian, ID
Most of my tools are craftsman - and as a home / DIYer they're fairly adequate yet I'm really not satisfied with the ratchets.. The sockets are OK but compared to SK and snap-on they're obviously not set to the same casting / chroming / tolerance standards. For someone who doesn't wrench professionally they're great tools but then again if a ratchet gives way was the less money you spent worth the busted knuckles? After working my way up in the career field and saving my money I hope to at least replace all my ratchets with snap on ones, and at least SK flare nut wrenches... We'll see.... Tool junkie for life I guess...
-Aaron Griffith
(By the way - used to be fordman65, had e-mail problems and couldn't change my profile, been away for several months busy flight instructing but its good to be back on FTE!)
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-Aaron Griffith
(By the way - used to be fordman65, had e-mail problems and couldn't change my profile, been away for several months busy flight instructing but its good to be back on FTE!)
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Last edited by montanafordman; Feb 5, 2005 at 11:47 PM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 24,418
Likes: 3
From: San Francisco, Ca.
I've had Craftsman tools since 1972-3 and have broken only 2 or 3 sockets. That's because I used a breaker bar with a 3 foot piece of pipe on some old u-bolts and then I snapped most of those bolts. I don't know what the quality is nowadays. Just don't expect alot from tools made across the Pacific Ocean that sell a set of 250 pieces for 19.95.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 240
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From: Meridian, ID
Quote: (Just don't expect alot from tools made across the Pacific Ocean that sell a set of 250 pieces for 19.95.)
Agreed. Not to be too hard on craftsman (although I do think they could address some quality control issues) they're going to be much better than your K-mart or parts store sets, theres lots of JUNK out there. - and craftsman will function great for a home user, and many professional mechanics use a mixture of some craftsman as well. All in all though - if you plan on any big projects, stubborn projects, wrench professionally and/or plan to use your tools for a lifetime simply buy the best you can afford. (as long as you don't over extend yourself).
-Aaron Griffith
Agreed. Not to be too hard on craftsman (although I do think they could address some quality control issues) they're going to be much better than your K-mart or parts store sets, theres lots of JUNK out there. - and craftsman will function great for a home user, and many professional mechanics use a mixture of some craftsman as well. All in all though - if you plan on any big projects, stubborn projects, wrench professionally and/or plan to use your tools for a lifetime simply buy the best you can afford. (as long as you don't over extend yourself).
-Aaron Griffith
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
From: North East
i think power built is a good small name brand i have had these tools for almost 2 years now and have not broken on of them and i use the sockets on a 270 ft lbs impact gun and never had a problem
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
Here's some information about tool quality for almost all major brands.
http://www.team.net/www/morgan/tech/whotools.html
http://www.team.net/www/morgan/tech/whotools.html