Gearheads. Need some advice on mechanics' toolkit

[MANN]

Even if you are doing everyday serious work I would suggest craftsman. The only bonus to snap on is that the truck will come to your work (If that is availible). Sometimes it is a pain to have to go to sears every weekend to exchange tools that you break (I break alot of tools).

I have cut a craftsman wrench in two before with a plasma cutter (It was an odd job. I needed a short 1.25" wrench) I took only half of it in (it was the big half. I lost the other piece), and they exchanged it. As long as you have 60% of a tool they are required to exchange it.

Either way. Snap on, craftsman, mac, something with a lifetime warranty with a local distributer will work great.

[Swampy]

Also, don't bother buying one of those kits that come in the nice molded box. They usually cost more and you eventually scrap the molded box and just buy a real tool box / tool chest. Problem with the molded kits is that as soon as you buy a tool that is not part of the set, you have no place for it.

That was what mine came in (got it for Christmas) and mine had a little odds and ends storage space. I just ended up throwing it away because it wasn't water tight, my nephews opened once when it wasn't flat on the ground (chasing sockets in the driveway bad), and one of the snaps busted.

[CoolHand]

I own a lot of Craftsman tools, but I'm not buying another thing from them.

The last four times I've broken something, I was told point blank that their original warranty terms aren't in effect anymore. Basically, their stance is if you break a hand tool, you were obviously abusing it, therefore it's not covered under the warranty.

Two broken sockets, a ratchet that literally blew up, and a 30 yr old vise that finally kicked the bucket. They replaced the vise, but it took nearly a year to get the new one, and they told us it had zero warranty since it was a replacement. The split sockets and the busted ratchet they told me to pound sand on.

To tell you the truth, I'm done buying cheap-o tools that were made in China, even the good brand names of such like Craftsmen, Stanley, Proto, Black Hawk, etc. You end up paying for the name and still getting a crappy tool with a crappy warranty.

From now on, when I need ratchets, sockets, or wrenches, it's either going to be Snap-On, Blue Point, or if I'm really strapped for cash Kobalt (they make decent wrenches and sockets, though I don't care for their ratchets much).

For air tools it's hard to beat Chicago Pneumatics, though Ingersoll-Rand is a close second. For corded power tools my best performing tools have always been from Milwaukee, and now with their V28 Li-Ion batteries, their cordless stuff is hard to beat too.

For screwdrivers and stuff I like Klein and Snap-On, and it's really hard to beat Chanel-Lok for pliers, though Klein does come awful close. I've found that pin punches and alignment drifts are best from Starret. In my experience, a hammer is a hammer.

[skife]

In my experience, a hammer is a hammer.

until your using a solid metal hammer to bang on something and it bounces and hits you.
then you buy a deablow hammer




i perfer snap-on tools. have 2 sets of blue point ratcheting renches, metric and standard and a metric set of 3/8ths drive sockets and 2 ratchets.

i need to get both ratchets fixed, the on/off selector lever doesn't work anymore, my dad keeps forgetting to give them to the snapon guy at work.

[PyRo]

I own a lot of Craftsman tools, but I'm not buying another thing from them.

The last four times I've broken something, I was told point blank that their original warranty terms aren't in effect anymore. Basically, their stance is if you break a hand tool, you were obviously abusing it, therefore it's not covered under the warranty.

You may want to try another store or calling cooperate who will in turn call the store and straighten them out. Craftsman tools still have an unconditional lifetime warranty, it says it right on the package when you buy them. In fact it doesn't even have to be broken to return it, it says something to the effect of "if you are ever unsatisfied with this product bring it back". So if they're honoring their warranty you could bring them a thirty year old used ratchet and ask for a credit towards a better ratchet. My Sears must be pretty good because the only problem I've had is when I broke a hub puller that Craftsman no longer produces. They offered my a three jaw puller of my choice as a replacement though.

That said I also like S&K tools. Their are more dealers springing up and they honer their warranty (don't buy torx sockets from them though).

[CoolHand]

You may want to try another store or calling cooperate who will in turn call the store and straighten them out. Craftsman tools still have an unconditional lifetime warranty, it says it right on the package when you buy them. In fact it doesn't even have to be broken to return it, it says something to the effect of "if you are ever unsatisfied with this product bring it back". So if they're honoring their warranty you could bring them a thirty year old used ratchet and ask for a credit towards a better ratchet. My Sears must be pretty good because the only problem I've had is when I broke a hub puller that Craftsman no longer produces. They offered my a three jaw puller of my choice as a replacement though.

That said I also like S&K tools. Their are more dealers springing up and they honer their warranty (don't buy torx sockets from them though).

I've been to both of them within driving distance. The next closest is nearly 200 miles away, and to tell you the truth, the fact that I have to go around my local stores to get them to honor their damned warranty is reason enough not to buy from them again.

They used to be very good, bring in a split socket, replace it from stock no questions asked. I once broke a 3/4" drive ratchet and they replaced that no questions asked, but those instances were all nearly ten years ago. I haven't been in a Sears looking for tools in at least five years, and I doubt I will be again any time in the near future.

My Snap-On guy replaced all the blades in my screwdrivers because I had a few in the set that were getting dull/rounded over. THAT is a good warranty. Hell, the Snap-On stuff ain't that much higher either.

Your mileage may vary of course, but that's my experience.

[PyRo]

My Snap-On guy replaced all the blades in my screwdrivers because I had a few in the set that were getting dull/rounded over. THAT is a good warranty. Hell, the Snap-On stuff ain't that much higher either.

Your mileage may vary of course, but that's my experience.

Only problem with the snap on screwdrivers is I've heard people complain that they only warranty the blades, break a handle and you're SOL. You aren't the first one I've heard complain about Sears though. I guess I'm just lucky and have a good store. They just gave me a new speed wrench a couple weeks ago because the handle was rusted and didn't spin.

[CoolHand]

Only problem with the snap on screwdrivers is I've heard people complain that they only warranty the blades, break a handle and you're SOL. You aren't the first one I've heard complain about Sears though. I guess I'm just lucky and have a good store. They just gave me a new speed wrench a couple weeks ago because the handle was rusted and didn't spin.

That's true, they only pull the blade and install a new one.

I've never broken a screwdriver handle before though, don't know if that's common or not, but I don't use mine for hammers either.

Honestly, I consider screwdrivers to be a consumable anyway. Inevitably the blades get dull, and they must be retired. For this reason, I really like the Kleins with the replaceable tips. Then you just toss a new tip in and go.

[Carbon]

Sweet, some more good info. My wrenching duties will be relatively light, just general maintenance on my bike. I've looke into Husky tool from the local home depot. Cheaper and more items per set than the craftsman sets and a the Husky tools has a lifetime warranty as well.

So generally speaking, a lifetime warranty is what im looking for.


Thnx dudes

[PyRo]

Sweet, some more good info. My wrenching duties will be relatively light, just general maintenance on my bike. I've looke into Husky tool from the local home depot. Cheaper and more items per set than the craftsman sets and a the Husky tools has a lifetime warranty as well.

So generally speaking, a lifetime warranty is what im looking for.


Thnx dudes

If Home Depot doesn't have the broken item in stock you have to mail yours in to get a new one though. And home depot doesn't carry many individual tools. Also watch out for the 250 piece tool sets that includes 41 allen keys, ascrewdriver with 50 bits, and other useless junk.

[skife]

buddy of mine swears by his husky stuff.

[Muzikman]

My only issue with Husky and Kobolt is that they are Home Depot and Lowes specific. Neither of those companies have been around all that long and I would fear that they could close up shop at some point. Even if Sears would go away, I am sure someone would pickup the Craftsman brand and continue to honor the warranty. Theyhave been around long enough that it would make sense.

[Lohman446]

SK is another good tool that seems readily available at many hardware stores / auto shops.

[MANN]

Theyhave been around long enough that it would make sense.

QFT. I believe it is now 80yrs.