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Please recommend hand tools brands varois83 04-20-2008
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Posted by dpb on April 20, 2008, 10:07 pm
01dyna wrote:
>
>
>> How picky are they in accepting them? Require receipts, throw out cases
>> of what would obviously have been abuse, etc., etc., etc., ...?
>
> ..in another life, I worked part time at a local True Value. Their
> policy is, if it's broke, replace it. No receipt is required.

That's good, I've not had any of theirs so just checking it's same or at
least similar...

>> Sears has a track record, not so sure how the others' stands up in
>> comparison is all...
>
> ...what track record is that? That they will replace a defective
> and/or broken item? They're not unique in that market, just the best
> marketing.

That was the subject in question and marketing or no, they've been at it
far longer than T V or much of anybody else that I know of. _That_
track record of continuing the policy for something like 40 years or so
now...how long has T V had their policy in effect?

>>> Craftsman/K-Mart are now one and the same FWIW.
>> Not a thing in this context...
>>
>> The point is, for a hand tool that would meet the objective of OP,
>> there's no doubt Craftsman will do the job at a reasonable price point.
>
>
> ..I wouldn't necessarily jump to that conclusion. Just because
> Craftsman has a "no questions asked warranty", that doesn't mean
> they're better, or even good. Personally, I'd rather buy *really*
> good tools over one with a great warranty.

There's no "jumping" to a conclusion whatsoever wrt Craftsman _hand_
tools about them being serviceable for the type of service OP requested
tools for. That, and that only, is the point of any response I've made
in this thread.

Whether your choice matches that of the OP isn't the question here.

> Working on something that *must* be fixed *right now*, doesn't give me
> the warm fuzzies when a critical tool snaps on me and I have to drive
> across town for a (free) replacement. I've had three Craftsman box
> wrenches and two socket wrenches crap out on me. Murhphys Law, it was
> a Sunday evening and the local Sears store was closed. Fat lot of good
> a replacement warranty did for me then.

Well, I've used a lot of Craftsman wrenches in very difficult
circumstances and can say have never managed to break one, even w/ the
hammer and/or cheater trick. You must be lucky that way, and I suspect
if the local Sears was closed on a Sunday evening odds are pretty high
your local T V was closed as well. Sometimes stuff happens.


>> There may be others w/ the combination of variety, warranty and value
>> that meet or come close; if so, recommend them. There's no reason to
>> try to denigrate Sears/Craftsman in the process--in this case its
>> unwarranted.
>
> I already did mention one. You tried to discredit it by inferring that
> their warranty isn't a good or as flexible.

I did nothing of the sort -- I simply asked for clarification as I've no
experience w/ theirs...

> ...Hey, if you're partial to
> Craftsman, knock yourself out.

I'm not particularly partial to Craftsman, no...I stand by the original
recommendation to OP for his purpose, however.

...
> apparent you have a soft spot for them to defend them so blindly.

I'm not defending them any more than I think your attacking is
unjustified for the purpose stated. I realize it is usenet protocol to
jump Sears, Wally-World, BORGs, etc., at a drop of the name, and where
justified I'll climb on board, too. In this instance I don't think it's
justified is all. You took a question for a personal attack, apparently.

> Me, I like to keep an open mind.
>
> Incidentally, if Craftsman were *that* good, you'd see more of them in
> professional mechanics toolsets but you don't. They have to use those
> tools *every day* and time down running across town to replace a tool
> is money lost. Snap On tools are some of the *best*. MUCH more
> expensive yes, but some day, I'd like replace everything (except my
> Proto socket set), with Snap Ons.

I've Proto stuff inherited from grandfather and father that is clearly
far superior to anything Craftsman made in finish, etc., ... OTOH,
there's some Sears stuff of the same vintage that is every bit as
serviceable if not quite as pleasing to touch.

This is working farm so tools are one of the life blood items...

--

Posted by SteveB on April 20, 2008, 11:51 pm

>
>
>
>>
>>How picky are they in accepting them? Require receipts, throw out cases
>>of what would obviously have been abuse, etc., etc., etc., ...?
>
> ..in another life, I worked part time at a local True Value. Their
> policy is, if it's broke, replace it. No receipt is required.
>
>
>>
>>Sears has a track record, not so sure how the others' stands up in
>>comparison is all...
>
> ...what track record is that? That they will replace a defective
> and/or broken item? They're not unique in that market, just the best
> marketing.
>
>>
>>> Craftsman/K-Mart are now one and the same FWIW.
>>
>>Not a thing in this context...
>>
>>The point is, for a hand tool that would meet the objective of OP,
>>there's no doubt Craftsman will do the job at a reasonable price point.
>
>
> ..I wouldn't necessarily jump to that conclusion. Just because
> Craftsman has a "no questions asked warranty", that doesn't mean
> they're better, or even good. Personally, I'd rather buy *really*
> good tools over one with a great warranty.
>
> Working on something that *must* be fixed *right now*, doesn't give me
> the warm fuzzies when a critical tool snaps on me and I have to drive
> across town for a (free) replacement. I've had three Craftsman box
> wrenches and two socket wrenches crap out on me. Murhphys Law, it was
> a Sunday evening and the local Sears store was closed. Fat lot of good
> a replacement warranty did for me then.
>
>>
>>There may be others w/ the combination of variety, warranty and value
>>that meet or come close; if so, recommend them. There's no reason to
>>try to denigrate Sears/Craftsman in the process--in this case its
>>unwarranted.
>
> I already did mention one. You tried to discredit it by inferring that
> their warranty isn't a good or as flexible. Hey, if you're partial to
> Craftsman, knock yourself out. I personally don' t have anything
> against Craftsman, but they're not the only tool in town. It's
> apparent you have a soft spot for them to defend them so blindly.
>
> Me, I like to keep an open mind.
>
> Incidentally, if Craftsman were *that* good, you'd see more of them in
> professional mechanics toolsets but you don't. They have to use those
> tools *every day* and time down running across town to replace a tool
> is money lost. Snap On tools are some of the *best*. MUCH more
> expensive yes, but some day, I'd like replace everything (except my
> Proto socket set), with Snap Ons.

I agree. I was raised on Craftsman and I'm sixty. But lately, I've had a
lot of Craftsman stuff crap out on me, and there's items that seem just a
little cheesy. They're an okay tool brand, but definitely not the best.

What's the best? Whatever works, doesn't break or strip out when you're
using it, and lasts until you have gotten your money's worth out of it.
That can mean a tool chest of mismatched tools. A good craftsman can make
lots of marginal tools terminate in a good ending. And then, a guy can have
good tools, and not be able to do a lot. Talent and training are worth far
more than tools. Of any brand.

Steve



Posted by Aaron Eel on April 20, 2008, 7:17 pm
> varois83 wrote:
> > Hi
>
> > I would like to get myself some tools set at home depot or lowes for
> > common jobs at home or for the car. What shall I look for as far as
> > brands and prices?
> > I don't need the top or bottom, average stuff is good.
> > I would like to buy complete hand tool sets like they have often,
> > wrenches, screw drivers and the likes.
> > Not sure what is a good deal or not either.
>
> For the home mechanic it's hard to beat the Craftsman sets when on
> sale--just watch for sale fliers.
>
> --
Yes but don't get sold on the Craftsman name just because their hand
tools are lifetime guaranteed. Their other tools are not. My brother
had the seals in the Craftsman floor jack that we bought him go bad
within the first 18 months.

(Ehrin Lloyd)

Posted by dpb on April 20, 2008, 7:47 pm
Aaron Eel wrote:
...
> Yes but don't get sold on the Craftsman name just because their hand
> tools are lifetime guaranteed. Their other tools are not. ...

Never said they were...

--

Posted by Frank on April 20, 2008, 7:49 pm

> varois83 wrote:
> > Hi
>
> > I would like to get myself some tools set at home depot or lowes for
> > common jobs at home or for the car. What shall I look for as far as
> > brands and prices?
> > I don't need the top or bottom, average stuff is good.
> > I would like to buy complete hand tool sets like they have often,
> > wrenches, screw drivers and the likes.
> > Not sure what is a good deal or not either.
>
> For the home mechanic it's hard to beat the Craftsman sets when on
> sale--just watch for sale fliers.
>
> --
Yes but don't get sold on the Craftsman name just because their hand
tools are lifetime guaranteed. Their other tools are not. My brother
had the seals in the Craftsman floor jack that we bought him go bad
within the first 18 months.

(Ehrin Lloyd)


________________________________________________________



Craftsman hand tools are pretty good and warranted for life even without a
receipt as noted by others. The price is about 5X more than the no name
Chinese hand tools that is also warranted for life so Sears could afford to
replace a socket or a wrench once in a while. I noticed the steel on the
hand saws and cold chisels are not as good as from the 960s but still
warranted for life. Their floor jacks, dill bits and other non powered tools
are not warranted for life. With the exception of the Professional series,
my experience with Craftsman power tools are not good and its no wonder its
know as "Crapsman" by many.

http://groups.google.com/groups?as_q=Crapsman&num=10&scoring=r&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_ugroup=&as_usubject=&as_uauthors=&lr=&as_drrb=q&as_qdr=&as_mind=1&as_minm=1&as_miny=1981&as_maxd=20&as_maxm=4&as_maxy=2008&safe=off



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