Craftsman tools

I was hoping to get this feedback, seems to be a fair amount of Kobalt stuff mentioned. I actually have a set of SK tools I inherited on accident from my job several years ago. Used them quite a bit, been good except for one socket flared out and doesn't work now.

I am using Stanley socket set from Walmart in the yellow plastic housing for 4 years. With breaker bars, my impact now, hand tools, they have been EXCELLENT considering the price/source.

I will put more faith in the Kobalt stuff. Appreciate the feedback, also, NAPA and Fastenal replace Gearwrench stuff? I have 2 flex/swivel head ratchets of theirs that broke, also 3-4 ratcheting wrenches. I have hung onto them but Sears won't warranty them even though they sell the stuff individually.
 
Things might have changed since then but a few years ago they would give you a rebuild kit for ratchets


99Runnr said:
I have 2 flex/swivel head ratchets of theirs that broke, also 3-4 ratcheting wrenches. I have hung onto them but Sears won't warranty them even though they sell the stuff individually.
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Kel Varnsen said:
.

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...
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Per the Craftsman website
"To obtain the warranty coverage stated below, return the product to the retailer from which it was purchased."

If Kmart sells that model, they will replace them. Ace hardware as well.
 
I was an industrial maintenance mechanic for 43 years. I could not afford to buy anything but Klein, Snap On or Mac tools. The Craftsman even back when they were good tools were marginal for the type of use I put them through. You will find if you have to make your living with your tools sometimes even the best barely work. Most of the guys I worked with started with Craftsman but they were generally replaced in about 2 years time. The square shank screwdrivers that twisted to look like the stripes on a barber pole were a classic example of the quality. They are probably OK for home use but I am keeping what I have and my Grandson will get them when I'm gone. It is a classic case of buy once, cry once.
 
Back in the early 80's guys laughed because I used my Christmas bonus to buy more sockets for my Craftsman Sets. 1/2' sockets go up to 1 1/4". no failures here.
 
If I remember correctly not all craftsman tools are equal, right?
I mean don't they sell different types of let's say boxed end wrenches, a cheaper pair and a more expensive pair?

Just asking I can't really remember, I bought my craftsman tools around, let's say '98-'99 so I can't really remember. But they all have held up just fine, of course, I'm sure things are different now. As for the rounding of bolt heads, that's what happens when you use the 12 point crap! I only buy if possible the 6 point, yeah you are given less working position points but there is no way in hell those are going to round off a bolt head.
 
This thread has a lot of good info that i can use on my upcoming Christmas list!!!

It'd kind of be fun to have a thread with people's garage layouts too for organizational ideas and what not.

As for suggestions on tools; i've never had any issues with Kobalt but I do have a good amount of Snap On and Craftsman items that i use much more often.

Good Luck!
 
Didnt kmart buy sears?

Since then their quality has been s***.

based off reviews on their site seems like they are no longer then brand they once were...

Home depots's huskey seems to be the opposite. they gone from meh to above average + high price.
 
SK's warranty runs through the local Grainger stores, if none in town it has to be mailed back to SK in Illinois, who is owned by Ideal now. SK used to carried by Sears but no more. I think it is carried by some independent tool truck carriers. Good stuff, but not quite SO, Mac quality.

I don't know if NAPA will warranty Gearwrench. I have had to warran Gearwrench stuff that Fastenal doesn't have on hand so it goes to APEX tools in North Carolina. Can be up to a month wait for a replacement.

HF professional ratchets are very nice. Their professional impact sockets are also good along with their Earthquake impacts. They also have odd pieces not found anywhere else. I wouldn't own their stuff as a professional expect as a back up.
 
<Shrug>

My Craftsman tools go back to 2004 or so. Haven't let me down yet.

That said, since Lowe's is so much more convenient to go to these days that Sears, I've been picking up Kobalts lately...
 
USNA91 said:
<Shrug>

My Craftsman tools go back to 2004 or so. Haven't let me down yet.

That said, since Lowe's is so much more convenient to go to these days that Sears, I've been picking up Kobalts lately...
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Surely Craftsman, Kobalt, and Husky all come from the same plant, right?
 
KidVermicious said:
They do! I remembered to take my busted ones with me this morning, and they swapped them out. Store manager said I was supposed to have a receipt but did it anyway, so be ready for that.
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Good to know but sadly I have only paid for probably 10% of my Gearwrench tools from a store. The last time was 2010 probably. Fastenal has never asked me for a receipt. So far at least......

Per KidV' citing NAPA, NAPA's own line of Carlyle tools are good DIY stuff, with their top of the line ratchets being 90 and 100 teeth. My brother has broken two of them but he is worse than a bull in a china shop. He did keep his receipts for them....:bounce:
 
KidVermicious said:
They do! I remembered to take my busted ones with me this morning, and they swapped them out. Store manager said I was supposed to have a receipt but did it anyway, so be ready for that.
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we have a decent relationship with NAPA here at work. perhaps I need to try swapping out some of my gearwrenches. they were purchased off the SnapOn truck. but we don't have a driver that services this area, so im not able to swap them out easily.


also, very specifically gearwrenches, I would not spend money on them(all mine were gifts) they are crap. I have had to warranty many of them over the years. far too many failures.
 
nevada said:
we have a decent relationship with NAPA here at work. perhaps I need to try swapping out some of my gearwrenches. they were purchased off the SnapOn truck. but we don't have a driver that services this area, so im not able to swap them out easily.


also, very specifically gearwrenches, I would not spend money on them(all mine were gifts) they are crap. I have had to warranty many of them over the years. far too many failures.
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Really? I don't use mine on a daily basis, but I love the hell out of them. They've changed my life in the driveway, for reals. I have the set with the flexy heads and they're freakin' awesome at getting into tight spots where a socket or normal box end doesn't have room to work.

I have learned not to use them to reef on really stubborn fasteners though. That's what busted the two I just exchanged, they're not up for the really stuck stuff.
 
nevada said:
we have a decent relationship with NAPA here at work. perhaps I need to try swapping out some of my gearwrenches. they were purchased off the SnapOn truck. but we don't have a driver that services this area, so im not able to swap them out easily.


also, very specifically gearwrenches, I would not spend money on them(all mine were gifts) they are crap. I have had to warranty many of them over the years. far too many failures.
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Good luck with Snap-On warranty. They wanted to charge me $135 and wait 3 weeks, then charge me for parts for my 1/2 impact that had a bearing fail. So much for a warranty, I won't buy from them again.
 
i used to work as a mechanic for a mercedes benz dealership. there were crafstsman tools in almost every single tech's toolbox. with the lifetime warranty especially, you cant go wrong. some stuff is a no go like their ratchets. but big wrenches, they're not gonna break and they're a quarter of the price of snapon ones
 
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