Socket Set question

[5030]

Bird:

I stand corrected. They are nice tools though. Not bad for a box store.

 

[KiotiJohn]

Kobalt tools used to be made by JH Williams, and now by Danaher. Williams was a division of Snap-On, Snap-On owned the building where they were manufactured, but Snap-On never made Kobalt. In my research I've found that many people think the Kobalts are not as good as Craftsmen, Husky and others. John

 

[chim]

While it's interesting to see which brand has what parent company, you must remember that the Geo Metro and the Escalade belong to the same family. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif..................chim

 

[Rch]

I've accumulated various ratchet wrenches over the years. The Snap-on are nice but to change directions you have to press and rotate a disc on the back of the ratchet head and this is often a two -handed job and even necessitates taking the wrench out of a close space. By looking at it you can't tell easily what way it is set for /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif The Craftmans and some others have a little lever that a finger can flip- much easier to use /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
As someone mentioned, those big laser-etched size markings are worth it /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I also like to check how easy the ratchet backs up so a nut won't unscrew on you when first started.
Also, a finer toothed ratchet with a small angle can make it in a restricted area /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Junkman]

Snap-On makes a lot of different type of ratchets and some of them are the flip lever design. I have mostly Snap-On, but mine are all older production products, having bought them back in the early 1960's. I have 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" in every feasible configuration by Snap-On and still don't always have the one needed. I bought many of there used also, so they are well worked. My 3/4" drive is Craftsman USA. I have also seen Craftsman 3/4" drive sets that were manufactured in Taiwan. Not as good quality, but who cares. If you break it, then bring it back to Sears for a free replacement. Many of the tools that you purchase today, are all made by one company and branded for the different companies that sell them. In these cases, go for the least expensive. An example of this would be pullers, easy outs, etc. Just remember, when the largest tool to fit the nut, doesn't work, then get out the hot wrench. Never seen one that wouldn't come off that way.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Inspector507]

Sears also sells a line labeled "Sears" not Craftsman. They do not carry a lifetime warranty /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[thebigc]

I'd heard that Kobalt tools were being made by Allen. Is Allen also part of Danaher??

By the way, Danaher also makes Armstrong tools. Nice stuff.

Donny

 

[KENSFM]

Donny,
Yes, Allen is also owned by Danaher.
Ken /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[isucrazy]

Good point about how easy the ratchet backs up or ratchets as not to undo what ya just did! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif And it must cost a bundle to mark the sizes on sockets, cause they sure do mark em as lightly as they can it seems! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif That lazer marking is about time gettin here now that we all or most folks have a lifetime supply built up! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Am I the only one here that prowles the pawn shops for good tools on the bargan? Buy the broken ones if you can and trade em for new ones when you see the tool trk. somewhere. Good tools are higher than cheep tools for sure.

 

[OrangeGuy]

Rch,

All my Snap-On ratchets have little levers to change direction. My Craftsmen rachets require rotating a disk at the back of the ratchet head. Must be an age thing. My Snap-Ons are less than 5 years old while my Craftman go back 40 years.

The Craftsman are great tools. For the most part they are my everyday tools. However, my Snap-On tools are the "Cadillac" of tools. They are the best quality tools I have ever worked with.

OrangeGuy