tools

Egon · Feb 5, 2003

Pete:
youve discovered the real reason for a garage.

Egon

OkieG · Feb 5, 2003

Personally, except for tools, I think being a packrat must be a psychological condition of some kind 

After I posted my note, I realized packratitis is not limited to just guys and their tools (and any other useful shop item that might come along). I'm glad you exempt tools from the undesireable manifestations of the syndrome. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

OkieG

KENSFM · Feb 5, 2003

Craftsman tools are made by a number of suppliers around the globe. Their tool needs are put out to bid and the lowest bidder meeting all of their specs will make that tool for the length of the contract, usually a number of years. If you look at Craftsman wrenchs and sockets you will see letters like "G", "V", etc. This tells Sears who made the tool in case there is a problem with it. The 1/2" ratchet you bought today probably was not made by the same company as the one you have had for many years. And yes Sears has had problems with their newer ratchets, return one and they give you a rebuilt, hopefully better that the one you had, but who knows. Sears sends inspectors into their vendors plants to check on quality, they do a good job and are well trained. I would say for the money Craftsman tools are hard to beat, no I do not work for Sears, just my insight.
Ken /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

JerryG · Feb 5, 2003

soarkrebel,
Yes, they are in Springdale. The plant in on AR 265 north of town.

Bird · Feb 5, 2003

Craftsman tools are made by a number of suppliers around the globe

Ken, I'm sure that's true of most of the companies. I knew it was true of Craftsman and I know it's true of Matco, and I'm reasonably sure of the others, too. For instance, if you look at a Snap-on impact wrench, it's plainly labelled that it was made in Japan, as are Chicago Pneumatic, Ingersoll-Rand, etc. and I doubt that any of them have their own manufacturing facility there.

Sears sends inspectors into their vendors plants to check on quality

And I would suspect they do some in-house testing, too. I've been in Matco's test facility in Stowe, OH, and seen how they try to tear up tools from vendors who are bidding to make tools for them, and I suspect the same is true of the other major brands.

And I, too, have no stock, financial, or other interest in any of the tool companies anymore. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

soarkrebel · Feb 6, 2003

Jerryg i thought there was a factory there.

Anybody ever seen any ,i believe they were called , power craft? marketed by montgomery wards. once was huge like craftsman. i worked with an old guy who had bunches of it . said it was once the thing to have. not anymore!

How about bonney? ever see any of there stuff? used to make a bonney wrench. really a pump wrench . armstrong still makes them and matco sells them. i wish i had set of them. expensive!!!!

JATO_RaT · Feb 6, 2003

My deep impact 1/2 drive sockets are Bonney

Wingnut · Feb 6, 2003

Yeah, Egon .... garage #1 one is filled with boxes and "stuff"
garage # 2 has tractor, snowmobile, motorcycle and golf cart
"garage" #3 is my workshop ... filled with tools, more tools and still more tools .... and overflow boxes from garage # 1
ATV is parked inside the barn.
Pickup, Van and motorhome are, and have always been, parked in front of garage #1 and garage #2
Sigh
Some day, I will actually park my vehicles inside (in my dreams!)

BillyP · Feb 6, 2003

My wife is a supervisor for the plant that makes Craftsman chainsaws. They do come around every so often, to check things out.

This plant makes several makes of saws. Besides Craftsman, they make Poulan, Husky, Jonsered and Partner. They make more but that's all I can think of at the moment. Each brand is built to that company's specs.

Billy

gobbler · Feb 6, 2003

I had heard awhile back that the Kobalt brand of tools that Lowes carry are made by Snapon. I can't verify that, it's just something I'd heard.

Jim

BillyP · Feb 6, 2003

I have looked at those Kobalt tools at Lowe's. They look pretty good. I know they are a whole lot cheaper than Snapon

Billy

Anonymous Poster · Feb 6, 2003

I have also heard that kobalt are made be snap-on.

gatractorman · Feb 10, 2003

Hello Sawzall, being a Diesel mechanic myself for 12 years and being self-employed on and off the past 4 I have to say I've been around them all (tool mfg's) I've bought junk and good stuff as well mostly I'm Craftsman, I did and you will too have to buy specality stuff off the trucks, Mac, Snap-On, Matco, etc. I have had good luck with Harbor Freight's "professional" line stuff much better quality than regular HF stuff, had different circumstances struck me my tool selection might be better/different but I could afford Craftsman when I started and have been well pleased with them. Good Luck theres not alot of people that actually want to get their hands dirty to make a living anymore.

CTyler · Feb 10, 2003

I can understand that about not wanting to get your hands dirty. Well, not everyday anyway. I was a "mechanic" for about a year and did jobs out of my garage for a number of years. I used build motors and trannies for my own racing hobby, a couple circle trackers, etc...

Most of the tools I have are Craftsman and I never had any problems except for a one of thier cheaper ratchets. Most of these tools are 15 years old now. I did bust a 1/2 socket here a while back but that was my own fault for using it with an 1/2" air impact....Dohhh!! I'd misplaced my 1/2" impact socket and was in a hurry. Ended up having to find it anyway...LOL!!

Soundguy · Feb 12, 2003

I have both craftsman tools, and a bunch of odds-n-ends from harbor freight. I'vd found that when working on my tractor, there are a bunch of tools that you run across that you need...once. So I go get a HF tool.. does the job.. then sits in the tool box. Don't think I would trust them if I was a professional mechanic.. but for a tractor owner... can't beat the price ..

Soundguy

Anonymous Poster · Feb 12, 2003

I agree soundguy,
Things like a ball joint seperator or a harmonic balancer puller can be bought at HF ok. I do like a good set of wrenches and sockets though. Not necessarily a brand name just good tools. I have found the Popular Mechanics tools sold at Wal Mart to be of good quality and quite useable. I also buy some HF sockets, but always impact grade 6 point, they hold up pretty good.

Soundguy · Feb 13, 2003

Yep.. for instange.. when I did my tie rod ends... I couldn't see paying between 11 - 17 bucks ( napa, sears ) for an item I used to pop out 4 tie rod ends.. and then will probably never do again... I ended up with a 3$ HF one.. and it worked.. now it is ballast in my tool box...

Soundguy

soarkrebel · Feb 20, 2003

sawzall i said look at pawn shops earlier. well yesterday i just happened to stop off at one on the way home. i found a snap on 3/8 drive torque wrench . 40 to 200 inch pounds that had $99.00 on it . i got it for $79.00.
The wrench off the truck would be $206. it was brand new never had a socket on it . had all paper work in a case.
In aviation you need tq wrenches in inch pounds .
the shop had loads of sockets and wrenches in bins. i saw snap on , mac, matco and craftsman all mixed. there were alot of off brands mixed in great for just carry around boxes.

I just thought i would tell of my find and maybe you to will find some good deals. always talk them down . they mark it up and will take less. if they don't find another shop. and try and get a idea of prices before you go so you know your getting a good deal.