craftsman tools lifetime warranty

[3Ts]

I broke a craftsman 5/16" socket on a 1/4" drive rachet (without a cheater). Split about 1/2 the socket part off but left the drive section intact. I've gone to Harbor Freight hand tools. Better marked with numbers I can see and readily available with a wider range of sizes and includes impact types as well.

 

[jaxs]

Isn't it interesting that Sears pioneered mail order,watched it shrivel up and now Amazon has brought it back to become tall hog at the trough? I worked for Sears many years ago. Would believe many mechanics in Sears Auto Centers bought their tools off a Snap-On truck? That show's there's more to it than meet's the eye when it come's to marketing? Craftsman tools I have owned more than 50 years are amongst my most prized possessions.

 

[woody]

Ace hardware also carries craftsman, I have not had to carry anything back in years.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I have lots and lots of crapsman tools and for the most part, I haven't broken a huge amount of them.

One thing I have noticed is, as time went by their "replacement" sockets are thicker than what I took in to them... I've had Snapon sockets reach into a hard to get to places that the "newer" crapsman socket wouldn't go, like on certain head studs...

As quality went down, they "thickened" them up to make up for it...

Anyway, I do a lot less repairs these days...

SR

 

[Threepoint]

Hopefully Stanley will fix some of the issues with Craftsman tools. I was looking at buying a set (300 piece give or take) socket set to replenish my supply. They were made in America at the time which is why I was going to pull the trigger. But after reading a number of reviews people were complaining that the chrome plating was falling off. Not a huge issue but they also stopped imprinting the base with the size. So when the chrome peeled off it took the etching designating the size with it so you ended up with an unmarked socket.

Crazyal, markings on sockets?

I thought real mechanics went by feel. And mix metric in with SAE just to stay sharp. :laughing:

 

[crazyal]

Crazyal, markings on sockets?

I thought real mechanics went by feel. And mix metric in with SAE just to stay sharp. :laughing:

To be honest I can spot certain sockets by shape and size. Like the 1/2" and 9/16. It's when you get to the stuff not used as much like 5/8" and 21/32". Also when I'm working on a piece of equipment not at my box. I'll often grab what I know I need. Since i don't want to make two trips I verify that I grabbed the right socket. Then of course there's the vast number of times that the wife comes out to help me and I ask her to hand me a socket, wait that's never happened.

At one point in time all of my sockets were on holders. They were cheap ones from Harbor Freight and have either rusted or they are so hard to use that I threw them away. Between that and inheriting my grandfathers and fathers tools I have about 5 sets of each type of socket all in the same drawer (one for SAE and one for metric). It's on my list of todo things to sort out my box again. Right below buying a bunch of the plastic parts bins to hang on the wall for all the various nuts and bolts I've collected.

 

[mapper]

I gave up on craftsman many years ago, I think that their power tools went downhill before their hand tools. The only craftsman tool I still own is a late 40s drill press I inherited from my father in law, my son will probably inherit it and his kids too.
All of the craftsman power tools that were bought in the eighties have been thrown out and replaced.
Tablesaw - fence would not stay put, gave it away, would have been a crime to take money for it.
6" jointer - All time award for poor design, no adjustment between cutter head and out feed table, very very difficult near impossible adjustment on the infected table and don't even get me started on setting the knives. Gave it away and felt guilty about giving it to a friend.
Router - collet was too weak to hold bit in one position, garbage can.
Circular saw - committed suicide mid cut with a huge cloud of smoke! Garbage can.
Jig saw - no smoke just started running like half the windings were shot and the foot plate may as well have been made out of tin foil, garbage can.

 

[Oldpath05]

I have had pretty good luck with craftsman tools. We have a Sears store in topeka ks and they replace stuff no questions asked. I did break a 1/2 inch drive ratchet once. The put neew guts in my ratchet while I waited. I'm not a big fan of chinese, Taiwan or Japanese tools. I have nothing but trouble with those tools. Western auto used to carry craftsman tools, but I don't know where there is a western auto anymore. Craftsman,s k, husky, and those are my preferred brands. They all seem to hold up pretty well. Snap on is the Cadillac of tools, but who can afford them. Their prices are rediculas.

Western Auto............. I haven't heard that name in 40 years. Snap on is the Cadillac of tools<<<<<<< if they dont have big numbers on their sockets, there more like a 59 Studebaker sold at a Napa like store, open from 9-5 M-F and 9-12 on Saturday, what good is that, stores like that are fast becoming antiquated in my book, volume one, chapter one, paragraph one.............

 

[Oldpath05]

I gave up on craftsman many years ago, I think that their power tools went downhill before their hand tools.

I'll 10-4 that............

 

[Phillip w]

Western Auto............. I haven't heard that name in 40 years. Snap on is the Cadillac of tools<<<<<<< if they dont have big numbers on their sockets, there more like a 59 Studebaker sold at a Napa like store, open from 9-5 M-F and 9-12 on Saturday, what good is that, stores like that are fast becoming antiquated in my book, volume one, chapter one, paragraph one.............

We used to have a western auto store up until about say 20 years ago. I don't worry about big numbers on tools, I can get glasses if I need them. I want a tool that will hold up or be replaced if it breaks
Harbor freight tools, and foreign stuff break like a piece of glass. Screw drivers are not hardened metal, easy to screw up the head on the screw driver. I have had many of guy try to talk me into that junk and the results are always thee same. Junk junk junk. Nothing more frustrating than to break a tool right in the middle of a project and Have to stop and run to town and get another tool

 

[TractorGuy]

Crapsman tools sure aren't what they USE TO BE,

I had to go find my S&K breaker bar to finish the job!

SR

I think after you bent the handle and broke the first one was a clue you needed a 3/4" or 1" drive for the task at hand.

 

[Threepoint]

To be honest I can spot certain sockets by shape and size. Like the 1/2" and 9/16. It's when you get to the stuff not used as much like 5/8" and 21/32". Also when I'm working on a piece of equipment not at my box. I'll often grab what I know I need. Since i don't want to make two trips I verify that I grabbed the right socket. Then of course there's the vast number of times that the wife comes out to help me and I ask her to hand me a socket, wait that's never happened.

At one point in time all of my sockets were on holders. They were cheap ones from Harbor Freight and have either rusted or they are so hard to use that I threw them away. Between that and inheriting my grandfathers and fathers tools I have about 5 sets of each type of socket all in the same drawer (one for SAE and one for metric). It's on my list of todo things to sort out my box again. Right below buying a bunch of the plastic parts bins to hang on the wall for all the various nuts and bolts I've collected.

Nice that you have your grandfather's and father's tools. I, as well, and often when I reach for one, a fond memory comes back and makes me smile. Happens to my wife too, but it's usually reaching for a piece of her mother's or grandmother's china. Heirlooms can come in different forms!

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I think after you bent the handle and broke the first one was a clue you needed a 3/4" or 1" drive for the task at hand.

aaaaaaaw, who said I "bent the handle"? Does the broken breaker bar handle look bent to you??

AND then there's the fact that the 1/2" drive S&K breaker did the job, no problem at all...

SR

 

[ultrarunner]

I gave up on craftsman many years ago, I think that their power tools went downhill before their hand tools. The only craftsman tool I still own is a late 40s drill press I inherited from my father in law, my son will probably inherit it and his kids too.
All of the craftsman power tools that were bought in the eighties have been thrown out and replaced.
Tablesaw - fence would not stay put, gave it away, would have been a crime to take money for it.
6" jointer - All time award for poor design, no adjustment between cutter head and out feed table, very very difficult near impossible adjustment on the infected table and don't even get me started on setting the knives. Gave it away and felt guilty about giving it to a friend.
Router - collet was too weak to hold bit in one position, garbage can.
Circular saw - committed suicide mid cut with a huge cloud of smoke! Garbage can.
Jig saw - no smoke just started running like half the windings were shot and the foot plate may as well have been made out of tin foil, garbage can.

I have hand me down Craftsman from the 1950's to early 70's power tools and they have done right by me... just about all are metal construction with very little plastic anything.

I did not leave Sears but Sears left me.

About the only thing I buy from Sears Craftsman today are Garden Hoses... a fine value especially on sale.

 

[tjkubota93]

I exchanged some tools and a garden hose about 2 months ago. Have they slid downhill even more since then?

 

[goeduck]

I think after you bent the handle and broke the first one was a clue you needed a 3/4" or 1" drive for the task at hand.

I tend to upsize my drive selection to avoid breaking things. I recall breaking a breaker bar about 40 years ago and that is about it. I like Craftsman and still buy at Sears to this day.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

If I think there is a chance of bending or breaking my 1/2" drive Craftsman breaker bar, I'll get out the 3/4 inch drive one. Won't break that without huge effort.

 

[mapper]

If I think there is a chance of bending or breaking my 1/2" drive Craftsman breaker bar, I'll get out the 3/4 inch drive one. Won't break that without huge effort.

Used to use a 3/4" inch breaker bar with a 2" socket and a 24" cheater to tighten the hub nuts on my 8n, they required, if I recall correctly, 600 ft/lbs to torque properly. Definitely couldn't do that to my 1/2" BB!

 

[tjkubota93]

aaaaaaaw, who said I "bent the handle"? Does the broken breaker bar handle look bent to you??

AND then there's the fact that the 1/2" drive S&K breaker did the job, no problem at all...

SR

You probably got some breaker bars with drive adapters that were improperly hardened in china. I have a lot of sk tools. I like them.

 

[tjkubota93]

Used to use a 3/4" inch breaker bar with a 2" socket and a 24" cheater to tighten the hub nuts on my 8n, they required, if I recall correctly, 600 ft/lbs to torque properly. Definitely couldn't do that to my 1/2" BB!

You could use a torque multiplier.