JH Williams ratchet are good,
hey CheapRanger did you meant Instestro instead of Indestructo?

 

I have read something to that effect here. I seem the keep hearing " Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back" And Lifetime warranty. I have stopped at the local Sears to bring back cracked sockets and busted ratchets right after I got off work still wearing my shop shirt, and they bend over backwards to replace the tools. Funny thing about the ratchet the guy looked at it and said, do you happen to know what size ratchet this is? I said 3/8 (are you kidding me? )

 

I have have been mechanicing for the past 35 yrs or more. You don't have to buy the most expensive tools on the market to get the job done. Sears has good tools and Snap- on's are very good also.Home Depot and Lowes also carry a good line of tools at a very reasonable price. I don't know where you live but there is a Home Depot or Lowes within five or six miles from me. They are every where compared to Sears or your Snap-on dealer if you need a tool you don't have or need to replace a tool you have broken it is more convenient to shop those stores.If you wrench long enough you will make your own tools to get the job done. GOOD LUCK!!!!

 

An interesting side comment. Hardware store tools have their own group of very enthusiastic collectors. Certain defunct or early brands of all sorts of sundry items can have fantastic values. Old fans, vacuum cleaners, pocket knives, files, hand tools, tape measures, on and on... Might pay to Google the makers of those old tools.

-Smoky

 

THE Husky brand was good, but know i see it made in Twain. so i recommend not buying it, try the swap meets and look for USA made tools like Craftsman, SK, Husky, Snap-on, Mac, Matco, OTC, Proto, and Blackhack

 

I have found alot of Taiwan tools very good. If I'm not mistaken those GearWrench wrenches, that are made by KD Tools are made there. I also noticed the impact wrench I'm gonna buy an IR, I can't think of the model but it's the most powerful 1/2" composite they make (1000 ft lbs) and it says assembled in USA..........huh?

 

Yes Ford351, I had that wrong. Teach me not to check the toolbox.

Yes, on the made oversea's tools. The big difference being, they get our designs and specs for tooling to produce. Now compare that to HF, where the tools are taken from older designs that have been bought and reproduced oversea's, using cheaper alloy's, and you see the differences. Power tools made here are almost a thing of the past, as the last big holdout was bought out.

Some of the brands I have, have been bought out or merged with others (KD, Easco, Challenger), others have gone out of business (Indestro, Powerkraft), some are still around though hard to get a hold of (JH WIlliams, Wright). I think I even have some Penncraft around somewhere, if you know who they were. But when I started buying and filling in, Craftsman is and economical and easily replaceable substitute. If you use them professionally, it was supposed to void the warranty, yet they have/had a Craftsman Professional catalog (now handles directly by Dahaner). And if you weren't wearing a uniform, how are they going to prove it?

 

ok thanks for the advice, i will stick to USA made tools? what is the best ratchet you used? and not to expensive? less than $25?

 

So, how do they know what you do for a living??

 

Craftsman is the way to go. My friend ran over his craftsman garden hose with the lawn mower and they replaced it without question. I often mis-use my tools and break them so getting them replaced for free without a hassle is a great value.

 

I bought a Craftsman tape measure a number of years ago, last one I had to buy... when the lettering gets to where it isn't too good anymore, I take it back in, the sale guy takes a pair of scissors to it and turns it in on warranty... had more than a few that broke on their own. No problem on returns... I have heard others say they were denied for professional use of the tools, but have not experienced it myself. It might be more an individual store or employee even...

 

Not real sure how they would know, but considering that I work right across the street from the sears they would probably know who I am and what I do. Like it was said I think it is on more of an individual store basis. I just dont wont the chance of having to buy tools because they wont replace it under warenty. with Snap-on I know I dont have to worry
Scotty

 

Best Ratchet??
Sears has a two piece set that is the best for the money bar none. It's combo of a Long 3/8" drive polished pro series ratchet and a stubby flex head of the same series 3/8 drive. Sorry it's not under $25 but it's not much more than that. (Look for them to be on sale in that special Christmas catolog.) None of the tool truck ratchets come even close the action of these, and believe me I've owned em all. I like the Mac ratchets and I love the Matco ratchets ( just better and more expensive than Sears) And I will never own another Snap on. ( Couldn't keep em together more than a day or two and truck only comes once a week)

Ken

 

Craftsman is fine. try to get the professional craftsman line. They are longer and smoother. The extra legnth gives you more torque to loosen tight fasteners and the smooth handle is easier on the hands. The raised panel on many wrenches irritates the hands after a long day of wrenching.
Also when loosening a fastener always use the box end to break it loose and then use the open to continue removing the nut/bolt. Try to always pull on the wrench too instead of pushing. Safer that way.

 

Best Ratchet, depends on what your doing! I prefer the sealed head ones, though they go a little over your price range ($32.99, 44995), Snap~on's version (quick release) is not a sealed head. My second choice (I replaced all the standard ones with, and in your price range) is a fine tooth, with a knurled speeder built on in such a way, that it takes a lot longer for the grease to get contaminated. It is available in both straight and flexible styes (43781, 42794). These do not get returned due to breakage near as much due to the design, built like a tank.
As Craftsman has two things, a lifetime warranty, and a satisfaction guarantee on the package. If you don't need spare ratchets (or you build up too many) I'd take the spares back in under the satisfaction guarantee and swap them for the others (or the difference between your $25 and the total).
The standard pear head ones, the professional ones (round handle, not pro thin line) and Kobalt ratchets from Lowe's (told from someone who took this one apart) are all the same.
There is a reason there is so many ratchets
Now, my favorite ratchet, is a Snap~on sealed head, 3/8 drive in a 1/4 inch body, that's saved my hands too many times. I wish Craftsman had a version of this! (Christmas present)

Craftsman tape measures are lifetime warranty, and one of the most often returned items. They just got a review a while back, and came in as the second most accurate, actually beating Starrett's.
Craftsman's garden hoses are different, they have multiple warranties. Some I believe just say Sears (no warranty) then they have a 7, 10 and lifetime warranty ones.