Garage Shop: Tools

do you have a need to pay the tool truck premium ?

one Ratchet is $100 or more, set of sockets $150+, you might get lucky and get a kit special for $200ish on occasion.

Matco has nice tools, I have many, but I also use them professionally so I need the quality and the serviceability.
To be honest, if you aren’t a regular and a professional the tools trucks won’t wanna mess with you.
I don’t buy often, but when I call he answers and he knows I’ll pay because I have history, and I don’t have issues warrantying anything. I deal with SnapOn as well, same deal.
Because I’m a road mechanic I don’t buy a lot of high dollar tools, to easy for them to be swiped or lost. And I’ve lost my fair share of expensive stuff.

 

I’ve posted these before, 3/8” drive SAE and Metric, short and deep all 6pt $125 shipped to the door.

Can’t beat that anywhere

https://www.tekton.com/3-8-in-dr-skt-and-r-sets-1-4-1-inch-6-24-mm?quantity=1&set-range=combined

 

^^what he said. Tool truck tools are 50-80%ish better than craftsman, husky, pitsburg, etc. Their cost reflects that though. I carry Craftsman in my truck because they are fair quality and you used to be able to make a quick trip to replace it anywhere in the country. I've broken tools on the trail, finished with a breaker, and stopped at a Sears to replace my ratchet on the way to the next trail, where my friend ended up needing it. That convenience is gone. It was also what kept me from buying up in the first place. The set I have now has ALL 6pt sockets. Shallow and deep, 1/4-3/8-1/2 and was $165. The same set of Tool Truck sockets would be in the $1,500+ range. The convenience of replacing them the few times they did break justified the commitment. Tool Truck tools are less much less likely to break, most have a warranty, which you will use less often. That's a good thing because there are VERY few brick and mortar stores.

For now I have backups and will use them until I don't. At that point I'll get my wallet and the lube ready and choose a new tool God to worship.

 

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I never heard of Matco until I started seeing there tool truck driving by. Then one of my friend had a Matco ratchet that needed repairing or replacement.

When I worked at Toyota, the only tool truck that stop by was Snap on. Toyota manager said something about a contract with the tool company.

I talked to a few tool truck drivers from Snap-on, Mac, SK, Matco. Since I live in their route they will come to me. Considering they drive by my house while going to there next destination. So, the convenience is there but is it worth the extra premium of the tools. To me, probably not.

There no stores now in mt area that sells tools. Home Depot, Lowes is about half hour away. Ace Hardware is up the road but they are very limited on hand tools. I then look at SK tools. The prices jump 2 to 3 times higher than the last time I looked at them.

 

Are Craftsman hand tools are still quality?

Home Depot rep told me the same company makes Craftsman tool makes the Husky hand tools. Do know if it true.

While looking for a replacement for a Craftsman product under warranty the phone rep told me that Stanley want to make Craftsman a quality tool company where they once was.

When I used to work at Toyota the techs tool boxes are pretty impressive. Some are 20 feet long with all the extra add on storage boxes, taller than me. My guess is 7 to 8 feet tall. Add on storage lockers. My friend's has insurance on his work tool box and home box that are insured for $300,000. He has been collecting tools for 40 years. A lot of rare, limited editions tools. Some insane prices he paid for limited editions tools.

 

My Porter Cable 7424 sander/polisher was leaking grease, oil.

What's a good replacement grease?

 

Stanley said they were going to start manufacturing Craftsman tools in America again. They also talked about Craftsman tool trucks. Right now I would give them a 10-20% improvement over Pittsburgh tools. I had high hopes with all their promises, but at this point it is looking like they were just trying to save what was left of the name. Guess the fact that Stanley also owns Mac shoulda been a warning sign.

 

googlefu there is a bunch of info on this polisher

 

if the tool trucks are going to stop by your house, you better be buying, or that won’t last long.

As for signing a contract, if you buy a tool box or other high dollar tool that requires financing, it’s just like buying a car, but the interest rate is f**king ridiculous 24% (I literally paid for my box on credit card because the interest was stupid to finance thru the dealer financing, that box has been long ago sold, current home box is HF cart, van box is a 15yo Craftsman 42” roller drawer.

IF you be come known and pay your way, you might could Float a purchase on the truck (usually an under $500 purchase), but default and THEY WILL come looking for you..... And they aren’t nice about it.

 

Since Stanley took over Craftsman have you seen any improvements in the hand tools?

Stanley rep told me it's going to take years to get Craftsman back to where they want them to be.

 

I Google replacement grease for the Porter Cable. Most replies were, use a tool grease, or use a automotive grease, but it doesn't say which automotive grease or which tool grease.

Out of all the YouTube video I watched on replacing the grease only one actual say which grease they used.

Is Wolf's Head red lithium grease good to use in the 7424?

 

The tool truck driver I talked to gets 30% interest rates. The way I look at if I can't afford to buy it outright, I'll hold off. I don't want to own anyone money for tools. It's not a mortgage on a house.

To float a purchase the driver wants all of the personal information, like social security number. I wasn't going to give anyone my social security number unless they were my employer. The master techs told me he tell most people starting off just get a Craftsman box and tools and there get by just fine. He also mentioned Snap on tools and boxes are mostly for bragging rights.

 

I'm not sure if their quality has improved or decreased. I went to exchange a broken ratchet and they wouldn't exchange it at Lowes or Ace unless I could prove I bought it at that store. For one, I didn't buy it from either, and 2 I'm not going to save a receipt forever, especially when the warranty specifically states you don't need one. In reality Craftsman tools are fine. Snapon, Mac, etc however are, at least for now, heritage tools. Their quality is not fine, it is good/great. Except their cordless powertools. Those are garbage.

As for the box. A craftsman, husky, or harbor fraught box will be good. Most come with ball bearing drawer slides, locks, decent wheels, etc. Snapon boxes are pure bragging rights. Not going to find any boxes at harbor freight with cup holders...

 

Just saying this works great as a cupholder for beer cans.. less than $10 with a 20% off coupon

 

Yes, but is it insulated or air conditioned? If not it's not snapon!

 

I really never looked a power supply like that should be around it would come down to cost.

It should be pretty easy to make any 12VDC power supply into a variable voltage by the addition of the correct Rheostat it would depend how fine of a voltage adjustment you need.

I just bought a 10 and 20 amp 12VDC Power Supply before the China Flu event just never got around to the projects

 

Can you exchange the broken Craftsman tools at a different Ace, Lowes location?

Does the stores makes up the return policy or does Craftsman?

I read for boxes as long as it have ball bearing drawers slides it should be fine.

 

Don't forget the heated cup holders for the morning coffee.