I like my Craftman tools! I have their adjustable timing light and it has served me well for years.

 

Most of my hand tools are Craftsman due to value, shopping convenience, and warranty.

 

Duralast looks good at first, just flip it over and look it is made in China or other foreign country.

I recently ran across a "refurbished " ratchet in Sears. When i was returning a stripped ratchet. So watch out for those when you are shopping for craftsman.

The tools sold by griots garage are excellent quality. Anybody ever hear of S -K tools?

How about blackhawk? Old name that used to make excellent tools.

One parts house guy told me almost all screwdrivers are now made by stanley.

 

Matco is as good as Snap-On & Mac for a little less. Craftsman are ok, but the combo wrenches spread easily - especially the pro series.

EDIT: Also, the roll-around boxes are what kill your wallet. I've seen too many guys spend way too much for an empty box from Snap-On/Mac. Craftsman boxes are too narrow & can be tippy. IMO the best box you can get for your money is Kennedy
http://www.kennedymfg.com/rc-3407.htm
But don't get the brown wrinkle finish - order the red. I have the 3407x in red. Very good box

 

Indeed. Some of the asian tools have clawed out of the cellar and may very well approach a mid-level tool on a good day. They can build excellent cars and massive public works projects so I suspect we only have seen their bottom of the barrel offerings over here for the last couple decades. Still it's good to know we have at least one industry here in the USA that hasnt' been taken over.

Never heard of or seen this - sounds like an anomaly. I have seen such tools sold sometimes at a discount but not at a 'new' price.

It's an old USA high quality brand. I think they have the rights to Facom for N. America and what you are seeing is restamped FACOM tools carrying the SK logo. Facom is very high quality european fare - I think it is made in various EU countries.

I 'think' its now a name owned by Stanley. Possibly Danaher but I'm thinking Stanley...

Or Danaher.


---------


Matco is made by either Danaher or STanley - always forget which.

I avoid using open ends whenever possible - never 'spread' a Craftsman box end and prefer the 6 sided w/ extruded corners. Using the box end on a combo leaves the open end available for 'cheating' a 2nd wrench and double it's length. Even w/ a 3 foot cheater on a craftsman box end w/ high torque heavily rusted grade 8 bolts I've never ever broken or damaged a Craftsman box end or combo.

 

I should have said "Craftsman Open Ends spread easily to include the open end side of the combo wrench".

 

I'm following and still reading and learning. I have not bought my Christmas presents yet but figure a nice tool upgrade is in-store. When I went away to college, my Dad bought me an emergency kit to keep in my car that was made in Taiwan. It was adequate for what I needed at school but I figure it's time to upgrade.

I have a tendency of breaking things and have only ruined a few of my Dad's Craftsman sockets. His tools were probably purchased in the 70's/80's and the quality is quite good in my opinion. After reading posts, I am a bit concerned about the future quality of Craftsman products but do like the convenience of going to SEARS for an exchange.

I'm still undecided and enjoy reading your opinions and experiences.

 

Be aware that Craftsmans box wrenches are currently having some finish issues. Run your thumbnail over the edges, some are sharp enough to catch!

(When I sharpen a knife... it'll stick to your thumb nail with only the weight of the blade...) Sharp enough to filet a cardboard box... a wrench thats sharp enough to slice?

 

After spending $50k on the snapon for tools and a tool box ,you cant get any better, Mac,Matco, Cornwell , and Craftsman are all great tools but ive never used there products

 

I use Mac, Matco, Snap-On and Craftsman. Hand tools. For general use, it's Craftsman. But if it is a size or style that I regularly have to really put the torque on, Snap-on or Mac only, Craftsman open end wrenches spread easier. For air tools, Ingersol Rand only. I hate CP. I went though 1 CP 1/2 impact per year until I bought an Ingersol, haven't had to buy another one and it's 12 years old. I also keep a running collection of cheap Taiwanese tools for those times when I have to make a specialty tool.

 

Yeah... stay away from imported air hammers... CP being one thats extra crappy. They tend to get "stuck" and just blow air out the vent.

I like ingersol rand (2131A for the 1/2 inch impact.) But they are starting to switch over to plastic bodied cases... I'm in plastics... I've got a problem with oiling up plastic stuff!

 

Tools definitely are not cheap. When i started in the business 5 years ago, i started with Craftsman. Then built up from there. When i grew out, i then purchased a Snap-on/Strap-on box. Then traded in worn tools for snap-ons and such. My only problem with Matco is, I made the mistake of purchasing one prior to the snap on, absolutely hated it, too much force to open, etc... The snap-on Master series i just purchased just absolutely overshadows it. Hand tools, all of my wrenches are still craftsman except for my ratching, which are snap on. Matco sockets, not so well either, they've exploded on me twice so I stay away from them as well. To sum it up, I'll only purchase Snap-on, Mac, and Craftman, hell even Kobalt tools, over a Matco anyday.

 

You realize that this thread is more than 5 years old, right?

 

Definitely did not pay attention to date of last post. . . should probably just delete the thread then...