Craftsman Hand Tools

[Jimmy B.]

Re: Craftsman Hand Tools

I still use my 1/4" HUSKY socket and ratchet set I bought from the Snap-On dealer for $15.00 in 1969 that he had taken in used when he sold another mechanic some new tools.

[Don H.]

Re: Craftsman Hand Tools

Very sad, Craftsman has been a standard for many years. All my tool chests are Craftsman and will stay - I bought my first Craftsman set of tools about 42 years ago . . . time and "things" march on. I guess I qualify for the "old" club. Don H.

[John D.]

Re: Craftsman Hand Tools

This may have been mentioned. Over the weekend I was catching up on reading my newspapers. I see that Sears is contemplating selling off Craftsman, Kenmore, and Die Hard. The writing is on the wall folks. Doesn't look good for Sears.
I used to walk to highschool at lot. Was about 2 miles or so. At the time I was a young teenager. On the way home from School I would walk into the Sears store and buy tools. Still have most of them today and a ton more. Have a handful of Snap On but was always too poor to buy them.
I use my Sears tools daily. All the ones I would use for FI work are hanging on my workbench. Some of them are custom made to work on weird fittings, etc on FI units.
The last Sears tools I bought were a set of the polished and maybe chrome open end wrenches. I absolutely love them. Haven't bought a Sears tool in years except for awls. I use awls like crazy on FI units.
Anyhow my Sears store never seems to have many people in it. It's the peoples a fault these stores are hurting you know. Not just the stores.
"People" today are mainly concerned about price. They don't give a crap if a part is foreign made or not as long as it's cheap. So what chance does a quality store have today.

[Donald O.]

Re: Craftsman Hand Tools

Any opinions on MATCO tools?

Don

[Brooks G.]

Re: Craftsman Hand Tools

I have bought a number or Craftsman tools over the years prior to 2000. They used to go to the shelf to get a replacement tool. Then they started giving you reconditioned tools for replacements. About a year ago my Craftsman torque wrench quit working and I brought it in for replacement or to be repaired. Sears offer neither. Instead they offered me $25. My reply was what good is this going to do me as I still need a torque wrench. The lowest priced one they had on sale at the time was $49.95. I don't buy Craftsman tools any more. Brooks Glover 2141

[Domenic T.]

Re: Craftsman Hand Tools

Haven't bought tool lately but started out with SK then a full set of Crqftsman many years ago. Had issues with a auto parts replacing my SK ratchet. they didn't. But the worst and most time consuming that never worked out was Snap On. My pneumatic valve compressor has various screw on adapters for different valve springs and the Chevy one gave out after years of use. The Snap On truck owner took the broken piece and that was the last I saw of him or the piece. So I found another truck and he wanted the set of adapters to what to replace. They were never seen again. Then I called the west coast distributor and he set me up with another truck owner that said they did not carry that tool any more but there was a new version available. Some where I got my old ones back (all but the Chevv SB one), so now to the headquarters in the Midwest. They said there was a change in ownership and would not honer the lifetime warranty on that tool any more, and offered me a discount on a new model. So much for lifetime tools. All that took place about 20 years ago.

Dom

[Thomas S.]

Re: Craftsman Hand Tools

I also have my original SK socket set in its green metal hinged case from 1970. I don't think it has more than 8 socket sizes an extension and a swivel yet it can be the set of choice for working on any older pre-metric vechicle. Every piece is totally usable uncluding the ratchet which has doubled as a hammer on more that one occasion.

Many industrial supply companies have the option of filtering searches for "made in USA". MSCDIRECT.COM offers this option and its not only usefull for tools but fasteners as well. I agree with another post in that we are in a throw-away society. People that know and actually use their hands to build or repair appreciate quality. Those that do not are usually clueless.

[Dan T.]

Re: Craftsman Hand Tools

I have used craftsman on some of work too. They just do not measure up to the specs of a good quality tool. Take a allen wrench from craftsman and they are a thousand or two off. Use a snap-on, or mac and the specs are quite a bit better, you will not strip it out, the snap-on fits better, quality costs, and working on these cars you need to make the sure correct tools work for you.