hand tools

[SELLERSRODSHOP]

in the near future, i'm going to be looking for a new set of sockets. between what was destroyed & lost in the fire i'm down to a handful of stuff thats left. i've always used craftsman, but seems like their quality has went down a bit with a majority of hand tools being made in china, not made in u.s.a.. any recommendations for other brands that make good, quality tools? not interested in snap-on/matco/mac & paying 5 times the price, but have been looking at grey pneumatic, sunex & a couple others i've seen. would really like to find a good affordable made in u.s.a. product if there is such a thing anymore.  what are you guys using these days???

[B67FSTB]

I don't know if is US-made , but I use UNISON but I'll bet its on the market under different names as well.
Tools cheap or expensive  ,you must use them what they are designed for and what they did costs.
I did buy a set of 8 long pipe sockets ( inch ) for $15 , and still have and use them.
I know that they are not designed to work with an air impact wrench .
Regarding screwdrivers , I am a fan of SNAP-ON.
IMO regardig screwdriver , take the best .Snap-on or Facom but then only the ones with grey plastiek and reinforced tips.

[lethal289]

I use mostly craftsman myself, but at work some guys are using a lot of kobalt stuff from lowes.  I have no real experience with it, but they say its a similar worry free guarantee.

[67 evil eleanor]

I have Craftsman, Kobalt, Snap on and several other names. I was buying a brand from the local auto parts store (Blue Point) until they dropped them. Now if I break one well, I'm just out of luck. Here lately I've stuck with Craftsman due to the fact I can get them replaced easy. The Snap-on guy went out of business and now it would be a headache getting one of them replaced. When I was in the Mines he would make regular stops both to sell and replace tools. Never had any trouble with Cobalt and actually I've had a set for several years now and I don't think I've broke the first one. Replacement is a key issue with me now that I've seen them come and go. Just some of my experience's

[Horseplay]

I have mainly Craftsman including my very first set which is now over 25 years old. I think in all that time I might have cracked two sockets (only because I shouldn't have been using a length of pipe as a breaker bar!) and had one 3/8" drive give it up. For over half those years these tools were part of my kit I used daily in my work.

It makes me wonder just how a big a deal a replacement guarantee really matters. If you buy a good tool it shouldn't need replacing. That said, my latest additions have been some of those Craftsman ratcheting wrenches and such which I can see me breaking and maybe needing to get replaced.

[cmayna]

I'm cheap and easy.  I use whatever is given to me.

[KBMWRS]

Craftsman has always been my choice, basically for the warranty. But I'd probably go with Lowes Kobalt now.

Sears/KMart will soon go belly up if they don't turn it around and then no more Craftsman.

[abrahamfh]

I purchased a mechanics socket set from craftsman in 2001, they get the job done, but if I compare them to my dads craftsman socket set from the early 80's I would choose them over mine all day long.

I purchased a set of MAC socket wrenches and SnapOn socket wrenches and you can really feel a difference in feel and strength. I think I posted pics of them somewhere. I can't afford all my tools to be Mac and SnapOn but if the tool is going to be handed down to the little guy and it's a tool that is going to be used a ton I will save up longer for the quality and US made.

[Horseplay]

Sears/KMart will soon go belly up if they don't turn it around and then no more Craftsman.

The Craftsman brand would live on. Someone else would take it up or that piece would remain when the Sears dust settled.

[RyanG85]

I use them all, Craftsmans quality has gone down some and the warranty is not what it used to be. Last few times was a hassle and half the stuff was out of stock. The 15 mile drive to sears also was a turn off when Snappy and Mac come to my shop every week. Macs quality seemed to drop off a bit too, Snap On is still good but you have to pay dearly for it. I bought a good sized used snap on box a few years back that was loaded with snap on and mac tools. With the warranty, it was a good lifetime investment!

[blue65coupe]

Most of my stuff is Craftsman but am obtaining more Kobalt.  I'm finding the Kobalt warranty to be better...actually the ease of returning something is better.  CS as Lowe's will replace like it's nobody's business.  The 16 yr old at Sears wants to "one up you".  If I don't see one of the "old timers" at Sears, I leave.  With Lowe's it's almost like they want to replace stuff.  I replaced an outdoor faucet about a year ago.  It had a very small drip as it wasn't closing itself off completely.  I cut the copper pipe (soldered into it), walked back in Lowe's with no rec't and just asked if I could get it replaced.  I explained I had replaced it a while back, it never completely shut off, is there a chance I could replace it or just buy a new one.  The lady was more than happy to swap it out. 

[Gigantopithecus]

My toolbox has craftsman and kobalt.  I find myself buying more from lowes since its literally across the street, and the two Sears stores that were close to me are gone now.  And I've had the same return experience owl slayer mentioned.

[silverblueBP]

I primarily have Craftsman. Other than replacing the 3/8" drive ratchet, they've been trouble free. I do have a large 25" screwdriver from Matco that is affectionately known as "Bertha". If she can't move it, it doesn't need moving! My air tools are all IR.

I have a lot of Stanley woodworking tools that I've used since new (1980).

[SELLERSRODSHOP]

i'll have to stop in lowes & look at the kobalt stuff. don't go in there much since a new "cost cutter" manager was put in place a while back. place is like walmart now with 15 checkout registers but only one open...

the old tools i lost were 25 yr old craftsman. i have a newer small set that was a gift a few yrs back that i use when i go to the junkyard. i broke 4 sockets in that set removing the mark vii rear disc brake assemblies for the mustang, so know the quality has dropped alot.

[KBMWRS]

i'll have to stop in lowes & look at the kobalt stuff. don't go in there much since a new "cost cutter" manager was put in place a while back. place is like walmart now with 15 checkout registers but only one open...

Get on their website and complain. Nothing says action like a call from the corporate office.

[jims6t6]

The Craftsman brand would live on. Someone else would take it up or that piece would remain when the Sears dust settled.

I agree. Ace is selling them in Knoxville

[Midlife]

I'll refrain from making a dirty comment about "hand tools"....

[SAC69]

Get on their website and complain. Nothing says action like a call from the corporate office.

...assuming the corporate office listens to the average joe.  (I just went 9 rounds with Whirlpool and lost, the bastards...not to hijack the thread.)

I've used Craftsman for 30 years and only broke one 1/2 ratchet and one 3/8 ratchet. 

[lethal289]

Did you know Gear wrench and craftsman hand tools are made by the same manufacturer.  Gear wrench is all over the place.  I have a few pieces and seems pretty good.  Napa covers them.

[blu67]

I spend the money on tools that I am going to use often, like Craftsman, and buy what I need from wherever I can find it if it will be one time or limited use. I've had good luck with my Craftsman stuff but when used properly, I have had luck with the cheap stuff as well.
Orchard Supply Hardware (OSH) here in Cali sells Craftsman stuff now as well. Good deals sometimes on hand tools too.

[GrabberOrange69]

We used 2 brands of tools in my dad's sole proprietor machine shop for 30 years: Craftsman and Snap On.  Back in the early 90s he tried some Mac tools because of the convenience, but didn't like the quality vs price on them.  We he sold the business and retired 9 years ago, he kept most all the hand tools - his small shop at his home is enviable.  Virtually no tool he doesn't have.

We found Craftsman to be a solid tool and a reasonable price, but the Cadillac is Snap On.  We always had some Snap On sets for items that were prone to fail if they were Craftsman - not necessarily the tool itself, but fail for the job.  For instance, Snap On wrenches contact the "flat" on the nut, not the corner like virtually every tool on the market.  What this means is when the nut is stubborn/rusted badly, applying the torque to remove it may cause the corners of the nut to round BEFORE the nut moves.  The Snap On tool is relieved at the corners of the box/socket wrench and much more torque can be applied before damaging the nut.  Same for the Phillips head and flat blade screwdrivers.

You get what you pay for, but Craftsman is a great compromise.

[stangg]

I've busted a couple of craftsman sockets, but nothing out of the ordinary.... but in my opinion their rachets absolutely suck... very loose and coarse rachet mechanisms.   I feel like I'm going to bust a knuckle everytime I use the 3/8 craftsman rachet.  I ended up getting a <$20 husky pearhead rachet that has a much more comfortable handle and a fine solid rachet mechanism. 

[Midlife]

Pete always laughs at my socket and ratchet set that I bought at Montgomery Wards (remember them?) circa 1975; it was my first set of tools.  1/2" drive, sockets 7/16 - 15/16".  Never busted a one of 'em!

[GrabberOrange69]

Pete always laughs at my socket and ratchet set that I bought at Montgomery Wards (remember them?) circa 1975; it was my first set of tools.  1/2" drive, sockets 7/16 - 15/16".  Never busted a one of 'em!

we still have a Monkey Ward arc welder, circa 1970s...

[70_Fastback]

I have recently bought a set of wrenches & a couple of larger, deep well sockets from Northern tool.  They have limited lifetime warranty.  So far I am happy with them.