jim968

I've still got Craftsman wrenches & sockets I bought 30+ years ago when I got out of the Navy. They're still good.

But I only use Smears as a source of other name brands anymore... Might buy their hand tools, wouldn't touch their power tools or other house brand stuff. Too many hassles & problems in the past. Warranties are fine, but who pays for my time & hassle returning the crap?

Some crummy flannel shirts, a crappy power drill, some sub-par auto service, and a lot of arguing over warranty matters have probably cost them at least $40K of my business over the past couple of decades.

Jim, then there was the "Eager One" lawn non-mower... don't get me started...

dave120

Peckster--The way they stay in business is because the vast majority of people don't call them for those problems. They either go buy a new one or call some applicance repair place. So for those who choose to bring it to their attention they are glad to do it most times so you'll keep doing business with them.

It's just like those Best Buy or Office Depot specials that offer like 50 writable Cds for $20 with a $20 mail in rebate..they're betting on over half the people forgetting to mail the thing in to get their money back. If they really were giving the things away for free they definately wouldn't be in business.

Again, great for those who take advantage, but most people don't so they make money off them, and maybe lose a little bit to the few who do, but they ultimately end up ahead, and with a good reputation on top of it most times.

Tabor

[quote]Originally posted by Tim Strayer:
<strong>Where can S&K tools be bought?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Well, besides you local Baxster Auto Parts store, and maybe some other places:
<a href="http://www.mytoolstore.com/" target="_blank">mytoolstore.com</a>

Tabor

[quote]Originally posted by Tabor Kelly:
<strong>

Well, besides you local Baxster Auto Parts store, and maybe some other places:
<a href="http://www.mytoolstore.com/" target="_blank">mytoolstore.com</a></strong><hr></blockquote>

Edit- BTW, I have used mytoolstore.com and the service was great. Also, they have very competitive prices.

Edit Edit- Whoops, that wasn't the edit button.

Jon-D

Those looking for good tools at a resonable price (i.e. not the 'investment grade' Snap-Ons that everyone loves) should look no farther than your nearest Lowe's. They carry a house-brand of tools called Kobalt. I own quite a few Kobalt tools and I've got to say that they are excellent quality (well, aside from the screwdrivers). Kobalt tools are actually made by Snap-On, so you needn't worry about these pliers seizing up on you after a little torque. I've got a 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2" set of sockets and ratchets and they are indestructible. All of their sockets and ratchets come crome plated and every Kobalt tool is guaranteed for life (seems like they all are now, even if you're taking them back a week later). For those looking to move away from Craftsmen tools I would suggest looking into these. I personally returned about $400 of Craftsman sockets & drivers so I could get the Kobalts... and the Kobalts were cheaper to boot!! You can check them out on <a href="http://www.lowes.com" target="_blank">Lowes website</a>. Their selection is kinda limited, though.

Manning

Kobalt tools, available at Lowes, is a division of Snap-on. I have a long handled 3/8th ratchet handle, and it kicks ***.

Snap-on tool are available online.

<a href="http://www.snapon.com/" target="_blank">Snap-on Tools</a>

The Facom tools available from Griot's Garage are awesome. I was pleased to get my first Griot's catalog a couple years ago and find they sell Facom tools. I hadn't been able to find a supplier since I moved to Cleveland from Atlanta.

I just broke the tip off one side of a Craftsman Pro needle nose. Didn't take too much pressure either.

Craftman torque wrenches flat out suck. I currently have a 3/8 inch drive micro click and it will not give a consistent torque. The other day I was torquing a bolt to 17 Ft Lbs and the damn thing would not click. I just knew had to be at or over 17 Ft Lbs by now, but it just wouldn't click. As I go a sick feeling that the bolt was yeilding, it snapped. Fortunately it was pretty accessible and I was able to remove it easily.

Make sure you store any torque wrench set to 0 and don't drop it.

Mark Parker

I've made a living for 25 years working on other peoples cars, and I don't know any professional mechanic who doesn't prefer SnapOn to any other brand. They're made for people who use them,,a lot. They're more ergonomically comfortable, they fit the fastener better, and not at all the least of their advantages is that all the SnapOn reps I've bought from have been professional mechs and understand that even though the Craftsman wrench has a lifetime warranty, you don't have time for it to break on you when you're trying to make grocery money. If the chrome on a SnapOn starts to peel, it's warranteed. If the chrome on a Craftsman peels, you've got a cut on your finger. I know that Craftsman touts themselve as tool suppliers for some big name racing teams, but I'd bet if you could look inside those Craftsman boxes, you'd find a lot of SnapOn tools.

billybones

Hmm 20 years here, I like snap on ratchets and sockets, also the screwdrivers, beat the crap out of them handles with a hammer.. But mack makes the best wrenches... IMHO... Craftsman, was good..(original 20 yearago stuff) anything that is replaced now is replaced shortly again. My original set from school was durochrome, never had a problem with that stuff.. other than lost. .. the old stuff just keeps on ticking.. I guess my box makes up of all kinds of stuff.. mostly what works the best.. My 3/4 drive is made of chinese steel NO TIWAN, and have yet to loose a tooth or crack a socket... that is with 10' pipe added..

IceShark

That is right, Mark. Who wants to be afraid of using a tool suspecting it will break any second. Of course that will happen at 9 pm when the Sears store that is 10 miles away is closed.

I just got a SnapOn and screw the CrapsMan. I don't even know if Sears will refund actual cash for this piece of junk, but I can't be screwing around driving 20 miles every few hours to replace crap tools. <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />

Deepice

I have always used Snap-On from day one. Granted MAC does make some specialty tools that are cool. and I don't do stupid things like buy my FLUKE meters off of the truck. but one time I broke a tool at 2AM on a Sunday and the bike I was working on was due to leave for Sturgis the next morning. I took a chance and paged my Snap-On guy. he arrived at 3 AM with a replacement.

Now it gets even better 5 days later wile I'm in Sturgis I get a page from a local number I call it and it turns out that my Snap-On guy had provided the regional Snap-On rep with my contact info. Snap-On Made sure I had tools available if I needed them.

Another thing I like is when I out grow my tool boxes I can trade them in.

IceShark

Sturgis, there is a town out of my past. I first went in about '70 when I got my driving permit. And built a bike out of scrap. Boy, that trip was on a wing and a prayer.

Bike electrical system shorted out. Middle of SoDak in summer heat. Made a HELP sign up and crawled into a drain pipe under I90 to escape the heat. Everything worked out well though.

Deepice

Wow 1970? I was 1 year old....

Luke

Lot's of people like S&K but I twisted an 8in' S&K extension in half while loosening X-member bolts I think there are always exceptions. I have a nice set of Crapsman ratchets. I like em'

IceShark

You don't stay young for long, deepice. But I was there before it became the "in" thing to do.

jim968

"Wow 1970? I was 1 year old...."

Wow! I was half-way thru my 4-year hitch in the Navy....

Jim, "It's not just an adventure, it's a f*&#in' job!"