carguy123 wrote: Keep in mind Craftsman doesn't have a lifetime warranty any more
Huh? Since when.
carguy123 wrote: Keep in mind Craftsman doesn't have a lifetime warranty any more
Huh? Since when.
Don't suppose there's some lesser-known tool manufacturer that has great quality that I don't know about? Snap-on is out of my price range, along with lots of others
I think that ratchet handles and torque wrenches don't fall under the lifetime warranty but just about everything else does. I've never had a problem getting a replacement for anything else, even for failure prone items like 1/2" to 3/8" socket adapters and 3/8" breaker bars.
when last I went to Sears to by something... picked up the tools I thought I wanted and the sales clerk pointed out that what I had was there second tier brand and had no warranty .... put back and grabbed the Craftsman... and moved on.... warranty in place
they even know that the thin wall deep set 19mm socket was to be used with my impact wrench on the Integra's lug nuts .... just said for me not to mention that fact if and when I have to bring it in for replacement 
Some of the older tools I have are better quality than the new craftsman tools. I have a set of old bonney wrenches which I think are better or on par with the new craftsman. SK also makes decent tools and they are around.
I buy good quality used, over mediocre new stuff every time. Most of my tools are Craftsman, which I bought at a hock shop 10 years ago.
I'm just not that enthusiastic about Craftsman anymore. I honestly don't feel that their quality is at all above what I get from the Pittsburgh Pro line that I can get for less than half the price at Harbor Freight, which is also lifetime warranty (including the torque wrenches, something not true with Craftsman anymore).
I still like the Craftsman tools I do have, but when I need new stuff, I can't justify the price they ask for the tools they sell.
Now, I'd love to have all Mac, Snap-On, or Matco, but if I had that kind of money, I'd buy a lift and keep my cheap tools, hahaha.
DirtyBird222 wrote: harbor freight ftw lol. If a tool breaks, who cares?
As you impale your hand on an alternator bracket.
Check your local community college tech programs. The one I went to had about 80 people entering the first year, and 30 exiting the last year. A lot of the dropouts sell their tool kits, not realizing what they are worth. It was pretty easy to find $8000 snap-on starter sets being sold with only a few missing pieces for around $2500. Students got them for 55% off, so they don't realize how cheap they are selling them for.
edit: this is a good time to start looking, it's nearing the end of the first semester which is when most left the program.
xci_ed6 wrote: Check your local community college tech programs. The one I went to had about 80 people entering the first year, and 30 exiting the last year. A lot of the dropouts sell their tool kits, not realizing what they are worth. It was pretty easy to find $8000 snap-on starter sets being sold with only a few missing pieces for around $2500. Students got them for 55% off, so they don't realize how cheap they are selling them for. edit: this is a good time to start looking, it's nearing the end of the first semester which is when most left the program.
That is a very good idea. A garage is my first priority, but I'll keep this in mind in the next couple years.
I buy Craftsman stuff (not the Companion which is the cheapo line) pretty much every time and have been happy with everything EXCEPT the ratchets. They reek, even the high end ones. I have recently bought a couple of the HF roller bearing ratchets (almost zero swing) and so far they are pretty good. I need to find something really tight to give them the full test, though.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=98745
Pawn shops for the basic stuff like sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, always name brand. If you dont like the scratches breake them and take them back for a new one. 
, When the pawn shops started to see me regularly the ones near me would hold stuff to give me first dibs with a good price. Always pay with cash (dead presidents that have a dark green tint) more negotiating power with those guys on your side 
. Buy the odd ball stuf as you need it from Sears, or LowesDepot. One day you will realize you havent bougt any thing new for quite some time. You know you have every thing you need and no extra.
To answer the original question I would never toss my entire box. its a smallish sears roll away that I have outgrown but it was a HS graduation present and has seen too much. It came to my first job and was on pit road at Daytona. I just keep adding pieces around it but you can't replace the scratches and stickers.
Several years ago craftsman switched manufacturers. Stanley makes craftsman tools last I checked. The folks that used to make craftsman were making husky.
Jensenman wrote: I buy Craftsman stuff (not the Companion which is the cheapo line) pretty much every time and have been happy with everything EXCEPT the ratchets. They reek, even the high end ones. I have recently bought a couple of the HF roller bearing ratchets (almost zero swing) and so far they are pretty good. I need to find something really tight to give them the full test, though. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=98745
Man am I glad to hear that!!
You ready to start on the Shuttle?
DirtyBird222 wrote: harbor freight ftw lol. If a tool breaks, who cares?
I do, when the rod in thier spring compressor nearly snaps while tring to reassemble a strut
. The rods started bending and the spring wasn't even compressed enough to remove the top mount yet. And it was only a wimpy toyota camry spring, if it had been a spring with some real meat in it, it probably would have snaped. I took the mangeled tool back as soon as the job was done.
To be fair I do have a lot og HF tools that I've been completly satisfied with, but the next time I need a spring compressor I will buy a legit, not made in china version.
JeepinMatt wrote: Don't suppose there's some lesser-known tool manufacturer that has great quality that I don't know about? Snap-on is out of my price range, along with lots of others
S-K and cornwell are both good and much less expensive then the high profile pro tools.
I've heard of Cornwell. Stacy David uses them on his show Gearz, though they probably provide it for advertising purposes
I did discover that Craftsman sells a few tools that do not have lifetime warranties. Their torque wrenches only have a year warranty. I discovered this when a torque wrench I bought at a pawn shop turned out to be bad, and I figured that was okay with a lifetime warranty.
They showed me the language in the warranty... and replaced it anyway.
HappyAndy wrote: S-K and cornwell are both good and much less expensive then the high profile pro tools.
I've used some S-K stuff, and it's pretty good. I don't have a clue where to get it though.
The Craftsman lifetime warranty on hand tools was still in effect as of yesterday's newspaper ad circular.
Sears would have a very tough time ending that warranty. If they sold me a tool last year, or 30 years ago, with a lifetime warranty - they can't change their mind. It is effectively a legal contract. So they would have to change the design of every tool to differentiate it from those covered by prior warranty agreements - which is what they are attempting with the "Companion" and "Evolv" sub-brands.
That said, the quality has suffered over the years. All of my ratchets are 20+ years old, and I've never had a problem - but I've heard stories about the new ones.
Not a hand tool, but I recently purchased an intermediate box to match the chest and cabinet I bought in the mid-80's. Visually, it is a perfect match but it is a flimsy POS as compared to the older stuff.
I'm a hobbyist, not a professional - for me, the Craftsman stuff has always been an acceptable compromise of quality with a nationwide network of retailers. My original 3/8 ratchet and sockets - which I received as an X-mas present in 1973 - are still going strong.
pete240z wrote: Getting the altenator out of the way took the longest time......who designs these GM cars?
They made an easier-to-service package for these cars. The marketing folks called it the "SS" for some reason. No altenator removal necessary 
xci_ed6 wrote: I've used some S-K stuff, and it's pretty good. I don't have a clue where to get it though.
www.thetoolwarehouse.net ...where I've been buying most of my tools recently... free shipping on $100+ orders... and for me it's uually next-day delivery.
Their S-K prices are about 2x Craftsman, but about 50% of Snap-on...
bludroptop wrote: I'm a hobbyist, not a professional - for me, the Craftsman stuff has always been an acceptable compromise of quality with a nationwide network of retailers. My original 3/8 ratchet and sockets - which I received as an X-mas present in 1973 - are still going strong.
In my experience the craftsman tools from the '70's were almost as good as snap-on! Sadly the set of '70's craftsman ratchets & sockets that my grand dad gave me were stolen
Jensenman wrote: ...the HF roller bearing ratchets (almost zero swing) and so far they are pretty good. I need to find something really tight to give them the full test, though.
I was taught that ratchets were for speed, not strength. That could be the problem lots of folks have with them going bad. I always crack the fastener loose first with a breaker bar (wonder why they call them that?), then swap the bar for a ratchet (usually without taking the socket/extension off the bolt). I can't remember ever having broken a ratchet.
You'll need to log in to post.
