Tools....

[A/V1]

f**k craftsman. used to be good. now are chinese crap junk. they're what I've had for 30+ years. dread it when I have to replace one because the new stuff is awful. ratchets are hinky.
buy husky from Home Depot.

You took the words right out of my mouth. I have tons of Craftsman in my tall tool box. Some Snap-On. I take very good care of my tools. A couple weeks ago I had to take one of my Craftsman ratchets back to Sears for what I thought was going to be a replacement, as it pretty much skipped gears since I got it. The lady behind the counter reached down under the register and grabbed a tool box with various tools in it, found an old crappy rusted POS refurbed ratchet and said "here you go!"

I looked at the tool, then at her and told her "Not gonna happen." She then said the only other option was to have someone there replace the gears on my ratchet. So I had them do that.

Their service is crap, and their tools, which used to be the ones to own, are now Chinese made cheap crap! I don't shop at Sears any more, and the only reason I have been to a Sears in the last several years was to have tools replaced / repaired. One of my Craftsman tools can't even be replaced because they don't have it any more. It's only a couple years old.

Anyway, I guess the moral of the story here is don't go with Craftsman tools.

 

[Jernik]

Kobalt is made by JS Products and Husky is made by four different suppliers: Western Forge, Stanly Black and Decker, Apex Tool Group and Iron Bridge Tools.

Thanks for that info. :cheers:

 

[BettysNephew]

If you can withstand the sticker shock, invest in a Snap On ratchet. 20 years from now you will be glad you did. I have several that are over 35 years old and had to put a kit in one of them a few years back. I was an industrial maintenance mechanic for 43 years and mine were used every day. Also buy good screwdrivers, Klein or Snap On and do not use them for pry-bars. There are probably other good screwdrivers available but even the old Craftsman would end up with the shank twisted like a Twizzler licorice stick after a couple of years of use in my profession. Fine tools are a joy to use and you will have far fewer barked knuckles.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

These aren't as "good" as "real Snap-On" sets (take that for what it is worth) as they are Snap-On's "adorable" line. But I personally have used their 3/8" & 1/4" ratchet combo kit (I think they're 88 tooth ratchets IIRC) for years and have been extremely happy. They're pricey, but they fall under Snap-On's hand tool warranty and the case is very tough and well laid out. I would recommend them if your looking for a more "premium" option if you have the money.

http://www.snapon-bluepoint.com/en/products/detail.asp?id=469

 

[Bucket81]

If you can withstand the sticker shock, invest in a Snap On ratchet. 20 years from now you will be glad you did. I have several that are over 35 years old and had to put a kit in one of them a few years back. I was an industrial maintenance mechanic for 43 years and mine were used every day. Also buy good screwdrivers, Klein or Snap On and do not use them for pry-bars. There are probably other good screwdrivers available but even the old Craftsman would end up with the shank twisted like a Twizzler licorice stick after a couple of years of use in my profession. Fine tools are a joy to use and you will have far fewer barked knuckles.

These aren't as "good" as "real Snap-On" sets (take that for what it is worth) as they are Snap-On's "adorable" line. But I personally have used their 3/8" & 1/4" ratchet combo kit (I think they're 88 tooth ratchets IIRC) for years and have been extremely happy. They're pricey, but they fall under Snap-On's hand tool warranty and the case is very tough and well laid out. I would recommend them if your looking for a more "premium" option if you have the money.

Blue-Point

I've had Blue point and some Snap on, This issue isn't the worth of the tools it's what you do when they brake on a Sunday and you need to finish a job. Just pop into a HD, Loews, or a Sears.... and get a replacement.

I don't think I'm going to go with Craptsman. reading over these has brought back flash backs to replacing a ratchet.... I think I'm going to go with Kobalt.

 

[340W]

The lady behind the counter reached down under the register and grabbed a tool box with various tools in it, found an old crappy rusted POS refurbed ratchet and said "here you go!"

You have to be kidding me. Did that actually happen?! I would have freaked out!

 

[slapdappy]

You have to be kidding me. Did that actually happen?! I would have freaked out!

they hand you a replacement ratchet with the same tool number that says 'made in the usa" and which they have 'rebuilt' using crappy parts. Technically it is the same tool, but it really is not. the ratchet action is rough, it sticks, it switches directions when your using it. It becomes a very unpleasant experience using them. Underneath the truck, hands greasy, been at it for 4 hours, jamming my hands into spaces they don't want to fit into, and this crappy little ratchet pushes the frustration factor over the line. The epitome of 40 years ago made in USA vs contemporary made in China.

 

[340W]

they hand you a replacement ratchet with the same tool number that says 'made in the usa" and which they have 'rebuilt' using crappy parts. Technically it is the same tool, but it really is not. the ratchet action is rough, it sticks, it switches directions when your using it. It becomes a very unpleasant experience using them. Underneath the truck, hands greasy, been at it for 4 hours, jamming my hands into spaces they don't want to fit into, and this crappy little ratchet pushes the frustration factor over the line. The epitome of 40 years ago made in USA vs contemporary made in China.

I can only imagine. Part of me wanted you to be kidding, but I can see you're not. Initial quality aside, that's why I prefer to buy stuff from Home Depot and Lowe's. Take it in for a replacement and they give you a brand new one off the shelf.

I'm sure your experience with Sears was a partial result of their poor profits of late. The whole company is sadly going that way. [emoji26]

 

[7echo]

You have to be kidding me. Did that actually happen?! I would have freaked out!

Same thing happened to me on a Craftsman ratchet. It is a nice 3/8 old style V ratchet, had it for years. I couldn't get replacement parts for the mechanism. Go to trade it and they pull a box from under the counter and offer me a re- built newer ratchet. I said no thanks and left. Our dads Craftsman tools are no longer available new and the workers there have no clue as to the history.