Craftsman tools

[99Runnr]

Let my *****ing begin.. this recently unraveled with me at Sears.

I purchased a Craftsman professional 7" angle grinder about a year ago. I used it a bunch of times, the disc it came with cut/ground, did anything I needed. Finally wore it down and Sears does not sell nor make a replacement. Been back 5 times, talked to management, corporate (who hung up 3 different times), sent in requests via store management, after 4 months of persistence on a product they STILL SELL I gave up. No other stores have discs that work with the bore diameter/recessed center combination.

So now I have a $120 tool paperweight essentially. Now today, I am installing my Bilstein 5100's. Started up front and the top 3 14mm nuts. My 14mm wrenches have all ended up broken so I went to Sears strictly cause I have a gift card for $25. It covered one long box wrench for the job. I purchased a set of 9 long box wrenches for $22 at Harbor Freight on sale as well. Good deal for the money and they went up to large sizes, good for holding the other end of bolts, ect.

The Craftsman wrench actually rounded the nut on my truck. I threw the HF wrench on, and it removed all 6 top nuts with no issues and fit super snug. Has anyone else experienced Sears quality going this far downhill? Even my ratchets from them have broken easily under backyard mechanic duties with no breaker bars/extreme torque scenarios.

Who has the best bang for the buck tools now for us backyard mechanics? Seems like the Husky tools I've had, although really minimal, have been fine. Same with the Stanley socket sets I got at Walmart. Those have seen some true punishment and even impact tools with much more resilience.

 

[Koko4]

I think I've got Husky sockets (for my normal 3/8" wrench), and I have both sets of impact sockets from Harbor Freight. Those things have stood up to whatever I throw at them..

I don't have much, if any, experience with Craftsman products in particular.

 

[cashmoney]

Craftsman started going down hill 10-15yrs ago. Nothing but kobalt, husky, harbor freight, and O'reilly's in my tool box. Yet to have a single failure from any of them and I am absolutely abusive on my tools.

 

[Jabberjaw]

Just curious. How did you break a wrench ..or wrenches? I mean, I've turned wrenches into breaker bars by using pipe and have never broken a wrench.

 

[wnelax04sr5]

I've got quite a few craftsman tools, sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, even some air tools and my 33 gal compressor is craftsman and I've never had issues. definitely not the best tools I've ever used but they've never let me down thus far. interesting that you had this experience with their customer service

 

[99Runnr]

Wow, most people I know laugh at anything from Harbor freight. I've always gone there for simple things, electrical connectors, tape, zipties, ect. Never tools though, not that I'm brand proud of anything, but some of the stuff is total cheap garbage.

Good to know. I haven't really purchased much for tools in the last 5 years. My multiples have finally run thin, I got a nice cordless impact and I am getting those item's I never wanted to spend cash on before. Carpel tunnel changes that real quick when your wrenching frequently.

 

[99Runnr]

Just curious. How did you break a wrench ..or wrenches? I mean, I've turned wrenches into breaker bars by using pipe and have never broken a wrench.

Ratcheting wrenches, teeth break/strip, no more retention on the wrench.

Had 3 ratcheting wrench sets, 1 craftsman brand, and 2 "Gearwrench" brand. Costco use to sell them for like $20 a set and I got 2 sets one year for Christmas.

Qualified as broken to me when it wouldn't turn a bolt in a stick of butter

 

[1fast_e]

I had a socket wrench fall apart when tightening up a nut. I replaced it with one from Northern tools house brand. I am starting to like their stuff.

 

[Jabberjaw]

Ah ...clarification noted. I can see where a ratcheting wrench would give. Thought you meant you broke an old fashioned open ended wrench. Not impossible, but damned hard.

 

[99Runnr]

Ah ...clarification noted. I can see where a ratcheting wrench would give. Thought you meant you broke an old fashioned open ended wrench. Not impossible, but damned hard.

I have actually cracked the box end of a Craftsman wrench, with your previously mentioned breaker bar though. The non-ratcheting stuff is just not my favorite to use unless absolutely necessary. Like I said, carpel tunnel changes everything about mechanical work. Running CNC machinery and grabbing heavy awkward steel parts for 9 years tore my hands up. Bad part is I'm still in my 20's.

 

[KidVermicious]

My old Craftsman stuff is great. The newer stuff is not, and I too have had difficulty getting broken tools warrantied. Kobalt has replaced Craftsman in my purchasing decisions - I don't know if it's any better than Craftsman, but I've never had a hassle warrantying a Kobalt tool.

 

[TK-422]

I have had Craftsman tools for many years. Mostly socket sets and wrenches. I have never had any problems with them. I have heard many stories of their quality going down hill recently.

I have also purchased about half the tools available from Harbor Freight. Some of the small tools are crap but most work just fine. The only thing I have broken was a 17mm deep impact socket but I brought the set in and they replaced it no questions asked. I didn’t even show a receipt.

They are great for one time use tools. Something you might need once but you need it you are damn glad you have it when you need it.

I regularly buy things like small drill bits that I break regularly. Buy a set of 10. I have packs in many sizes. Cut off disks. They fit in my Dewalt cordless and work great. Work gloves, when they get dirty toss them out and buy 12 pair for a few dollars. Wire for my Millar 250V MIG welder and copper ends? Fit just fine.


Ok enough about HF. My last set of Craftsman tools has the etched sides with the socket size and that enough is worth it for me.

 

[Tyota89]

Got a 240 pcs craftsman set 6yrs ago that I used and abuse still works fine. I got replacements for the bit set I broke. That is about it though. Just use a breaker bar where needed and ratchet when its loose.
How do you like your gearwrench? I have the 120xp and is probably my favorite ratchet. Compared to the craftsman, kobalt, HF, and husky ratchets I have. My kobalt seem prone to rust when kept in the same condition as the others.
Trident-supply have a 4 piece ratchet set for 106$ right now for those that are interested.

 

[Bigshankhank]

Man, what is the deal with the internet today, I was just reading another thread bashing Craftsman tools on a Honda minitrail forum.
Slowly my 250 piece Craftsman tool set I got when I graduated college back in 1996 is withering, but so far it has held up well. The tools I have gotten to replace the few broken or missing parts, however, are no longer CF as they wouldn't warranty them like they used to. Walk in, "This is broken" and a new one would be placed on the counter and you walked out with it. Simple, no questions asked was the policy. I haven't bothered to go high end yet, but so far the Kobalt and S-K tools (Autozone I think sells them) I have been getting have worked well for me.
About all I use Harbor Freight for is air line fittings and odd-ball stuff, or if I need to cut up a tool to make a custom fit one. I've had enough of their cut-off wheels and drill bits fail early and spectacularly to make me hesitant to rely on their stuff.

 

[KidVermicious]

I have some HF stuff. Like TK-422 said, it's mostly "I'm only going to need this once" kinda stuff, and if it sticks around, great.

Some of their stuff has been awesome. I bought a set of step drill bits several years ago that I've ended up using the hell out of, they've changed my life. Other stuff hasn't lasted long enough to finish the job it was bought for. It's very hit or miss.

 

[GMZ]

I try and buy the best tools I can from USA preferably but not averse to buying European or Japanese, I have been burned badly during many projects by inferior tools. You would be better off getting Gearwrench these days over Cman. I have mostly Wright in my box. Some Snap-On, and older Cman. I buy them from HJ Epstein's.

Wrenches- Wright "Wright Grip"
Pliers- Knipex
Screwdrivers- Wiha
Hammers- Estwing
Ratchets- Wright "Contour Grip"
Sockets- Wright or SK

 

[LittleCaesar]

Craftsman has been slowly going down the tubes for some time, though some stuff they rebadge is good (from Knipex for example). If you can find the Craftsman Industrial line that is made in the USA it is made much better that the stuff out of the PRC. I wouldn't touch a Craftsman power tool for any amount of money.

Gearwrench is good for hand tools if you have a return center (Fastenal for me) in your locale. Husky and Kobalt are good too, though the latter is going away to the way of Stanley.

 

[KidVermicious]

NAPA warranties Gear Wrench don't they?

 

[JBurt]

I've got tons of old craftsman tools that came from my grandpa and it's all fantastic, but everything I've bought on the last 5 years or so hasn't been good at all. The only exceptions are some ratcheting wrenches and a 33 gallon oiless compressor. The are nice and the compressors are cheap to rebuild.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Craftsman power tools are bad about having the replacement parts only available from craftsman. I have a high speed buffer I bought from sears years ago. I did not know only craftsman pads would go back on it when I wore the ones that came with it out. The replacement pads were so expensive I bought a buffer from the local ppg paint shop that took universal pads.

Craftsman hand tools are now mostly made overseas. The quality is nowhere near what it used to be. It is cheaper for them to replace a broken tool than it is to make it right the first time. I am so glad I have old tools.

Our nearest Sears is now over an hour away. I have a couple broken craftsman screwdrivers I would like to get replaced. Does anyone know if I can go to K-mart for replacements? I haven't been inside a K-mart for probably 15 years when ours closed. There is one about 30 minutes away though...