View Poll Results: Pick a tool, any tool:
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Tool poll
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,263
Likes: 1
From: The dark carnival
I recently got a set of MAC metric flex combination wrenches and I am a bit disapointed. My Armstrong ones are much nicer than these MAC ones. The heads on the MAC have a fair amount of slop in them where as my Armstrongs have none. I was expecting a member of the "BIG 3" to surpass Armstrong or any other non-member is quality.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 247
Likes: 2
Amost all of my socket set and wrenches are Craftsman. Affordability is the main reason. They are quite good for the weekend mechanic. The new laser etched are neat. I can afford to get several sets for the price of one expensive brand. I think I have all the possible permutations, like 1/4" drive deep metric, shallow, etc. etc.
My ratchets and breaker bars are SK and Mac and Matco, with the latter being the favorite. They are real similar to Snap-On, not sure what the difference is. SK has the best handle fit apparently don't make very long ones.
One surprisingly good brand is Benchtop. K-Mart brand from about 10 years ago, made in Taiwan. Very cheap, Chrome-Vanadium and as good as Craftsman or better. I think they got worse now. I've had them for 15 years and surprisingly, haven't lost or broken any sockets, though the ratchet finally did quit recently.
Good tools are definitely worth it, with auto repair costs what they are. Even if you spend $100 on nice 1/2" ratchet, it's worth it over some years.
My ratchets and breaker bars are SK and Mac and Matco, with the latter being the favorite. They are real similar to Snap-On, not sure what the difference is. SK has the best handle fit apparently don't make very long ones.
One surprisingly good brand is Benchtop. K-Mart brand from about 10 years ago, made in Taiwan. Very cheap, Chrome-Vanadium and as good as Craftsman or better. I think they got worse now. I've had them for 15 years and surprisingly, haven't lost or broken any sockets, though the ratchet finally did quit recently.
Good tools are definitely worth it, with auto repair costs what they are. Even if you spend $100 on nice 1/2" ratchet, it's worth it over some years.
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: In a house.
After 50 years of collecting tools I've got most all kinds. I have a lot of Craftsman tools and smaller sets of tools in various vehicles. I am loosing my loyalty to Craftsman tools, and wonder if the hardware chain stores change brand names to get out of the lifetime warranty.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,236
Likes: 2
From: Vancouver Island
Mostly Craftsman, bought as a big set in the '80s when they were still made-in-USA, plus some I picked up in the US later. A bunch of years ago Sears Canada went to some off-shore source for "Craftsman" tools while just across the border they were still American-made. One time I found 3/8" ratchet beside the road, missing some of the ratchet parts. I took it into Sears, and they gave me the bag of parts to fix it. And, when a socket broke, dunno why, maybe because I was standing on the breaker bar, they replaced it no problem. (Fortunately it was one of the offshore Craftsman sockets, not a good one)
Lately I've been buying Mastercraft from Canadian Tire, since the quality is OK, and the prices are great when they're on sale. I haven't broken any yet to test their return policy.
A few bits of Snap-On, Matco, and Jet.
Lately I've been buying Mastercraft from Canadian Tire, since the quality is OK, and the prices are great when they're on sale. I haven't broken any yet to test their return policy.
A few bits of Snap-On, Matco, and Jet.
Last edited by angus; Mar 17, 2007 at 10:36 PM.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
From: North Dakota
[QUOTE=apropos]Amost all of my socket set and wrenches are Craftsman. Affordability is the main reason. They are quite good for the weekend mechanic. The new laser etched are neat. I can afford to get several sets for the price of one expensive brand.
If you make your living with tools like I do the Craftsman sockets with just laser etching would be useless. I have some Snap On impact sockets with laser etching and the ones that get used alot the etching is already gone but they have sizes stamped in. And if you work on especially Cat construction equipment where you have metric and standard sizes it would be a pain in the but trying to tell the difference.
If you make your living with tools like I do the Craftsman sockets with just laser etching would be useless. I have some Snap On impact sockets with laser etching and the ones that get used alot the etching is already gone but they have sizes stamped in. And if you work on especially Cat construction equipment where you have metric and standard sizes it would be a pain in the but trying to tell the difference.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,852
Likes: 1
From: Living under the bosses d
Not liking SEARS TOOLS
I have to say that I used to be a Craftsman guy but not anymore. The quality has dropped too far to justify the price. Also if I could got to Sears and buy a tool that would be nice too, it seems as though all they have now is bed sheets TV's and power tools. I now buy alot from NAPA. they have good quality with lifetime warrantee. I like Ridgid< Cresent<Milwaukee and anything that Just feels good in the hand. Craftsman just does not feel good anymore.
Last edited by MARTYSTOWRIG; Mar 25, 2007 at 03:56 PM. Reason: title
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