Tool Time

How so?

 

So....all of your craftsman tools are breaking from putting in audio eqpt?

 

You'll never regret buying quality tools especially if you use them professionally. It might be Snap-on, Mac, Proto or Sears Industrial -I don't have a "brand" but you can tell quality when you pick it up.... and when you pay for it.

 

All Craftsman tools are not equal. There are expensive made in the USA forged high quality Craftsman tools guarenteed forever. And there are garbage made in China cheap crap craftsman tools which Craftsman claims the later is needed to compete with other Chinese tool companies. They are not even in the same ball park and the later is an embarrassment to the brand. They require the original receipt for replacement, where as made in the USA tools only need the 'Made In USA' stamp on the tool to be replaced without question, even decades after purchase.

 

If you are asking hand tools, craftsman and snap on.
But my favorite tools are starrett, brown and sharpe, and mitutoyo.

 

Funny. I just took a craftsman tool (a 19mm socket) that I had bought nearly 20 yrs ago back for replacement. No questions, no receipt, no grief. Free replacement.

 

I have an old set of 1/4 throght 1/2 drive craftmans socket wrenches that have been going strong since the 80s. They have broken many many pittsberg sockets over the years (free replacment on those too) and have never missed a beat.

 

Craftsman pliers and cutters/dykes are shit. Craftsman tools are ok for here and there projects, but for everyday use I wouldn't want to depend on them unless I had to.

Craftsman making there tool repair/exchages easier is a plus, but I'd rather just spend the extra money on a higher quality tool.

Have you seen the size of the Snap On catalog or their Supplemental products one? Probably any tool you could possibly need.
And the 0% financing from the snap on guy doesn't hurt, only the purchase price does.

 

I love my bluepoint/snap on tools, but they aren't cheap and until I started working at a shop and working on my own restorations they weren't worth the cost over craftsman.

 

How exactly does the "life time" warranty on Pittsburg equipment from HF work? Will they replace the socket on the spot or do you have to send it off and wait?

 

Whatever is cheapest that gets the job done. Own Snap-On, Craftsman ect... And more important, get to write them off on my taxes.

 

Snap On and Klein tool here.

 

Tool box is made up of 2nd generation Craftsman and Snap-on and have never had a problem exchanging broken for new at either..

Truth be told the other 2 vendors, Mac and Matco have great return policies also.

 

Has anyone ever had any troubles with returning a "life time warranty" product? Not specific to Craftsman, but any tool manufacture.

 

The cheap harbor frieght hand tools I have broken where just a hand off for a new one at the store. But I think its not as universal a policy as with sears. I have "customized" a hf wrench that they would not swap out that sears had when I did the same to a craftsman one.

 

I have a mix of Craftsman, Snap-on, and Mac, with some other random stuff mixed in. That being said, I mostly buy Craftsman nowadays. Seems like a good mix of quality/price/warranty.

 

I think it completely depends on the tool. My snap on ratchets were totally worth the money but I feel like for other things like screwdrivers, sockets, and wrenches, you would never need anything more than craftsman. Snap on may be a little bit higher quality for things like that but definitely not enough to make it worth the extra money

 

100% agree , my main tool purchases are for my construction business but I always try to buy the best tool regardless of brand

 

while I prefer craftsman, for the rarely used tools, harbor freight is good for me.