I posted something about tools last week.I've been doing some research at local places , and I've come up with some results. As far as jacks, I got a 3 ton low profile one with 3 ton stands from Pep boys on sale for $99. Quality was better than Harbor Freight( their jack stands looked like they were made by blind guys with a negative IQ)." Hey Vern, ever work on one a them Japaneez transmisheeowns? "
Hand tools like wrenches and sockets go to Craftsman at Sears ( chrome finish vs.no finish ( oil ?) and the same price as Harbor Freight). Harbor Freight stuff just looks and feels cheap.Pneumatic tools go to either Sears or Pep Boys ( haven't decided yet, since I don't really have to have them now).They both look OK for the price, and they have a name on them I recognize.I hope this might help with anyone looking to get some things or to add to their present toolbox. Look for sale prices at these stores since they always have some kind of deal going on.

 

Im an SK tools man myself for wrenches and sockets. Its a little bit more $$ then Craftsman, but the quality is A+. I like Craftsman for screwdrivers.

 

Almost all my hand tools are Craftsman - have never had a problem with them.

 

No tool company will ever surpass the quality of Snap-On. Thats what 90% of mine are. I've had most since 1992 & seldom ever had to warranty any of them. When I did, it was no problem. I handed the tool guy a broken tool & he handed me a new one in return.

 

My dad owned Craftsman, I followed suit. Great tools!

 

Ditto.

 

Snap-On is losing market share daily... Check the Wall Street Journal article of a couple weeks ago...

And BTW, they don't make all of their own wrenches. A good portion of their blanks are made by a company called Grey Pneumatic.

But enjoy 'em... you certainly paid enough for 'em!

 

100%

 

Snap-on is primarily marketed to the Tech that is turning wrenches for a living...and they are great tools ( I bought my first set in 1972) But the problem with the "tool trucks" is that they do not service home accounts unless you are buying enough to make it worth the stop.
Craftsman does a good job for the hobbyist , some of their new tools look to be of higher quality than before {not that they were bad}
Stay away from the Chinese tools , the one that breaks as you are applying torque can be dangerous.

 

Same thing with all of my Craftsman,only had 2 in over 30 yrs and they gladly replaced them on the spot. (both that broke were 3/8 ratchets with a short "cheater" added!

 

We have Snap-on/Matco tools at the shop but here at home I have Craftsman. The tools here at home hardly ever get used since we have lifts and all at the shop.

 

IMO the cheapest brand of tools that i will buy are craftsman. Anything else that is cheaper seems to break easily, ect...

 

I've had Craftsman for over 35 years, and on the rare occasion when one broke, they always handed me a new one, free of charge, no questions asked!

 

Same here! Personally I think snap-on and Mac tools are over priced. If I had a shop where I worked on cars for a living I MIGHT think about buying Snap-On or Mac. Especially if their trucks stop by the shop all the time, bringing the tools to me. Craftsman and Sears have always done me right. I have never had a problem with bringing a tool in for warranty, they don't even ask how it got broken...(one of them was run over by an 18 wheeler. My dad is an owner operator)

 

I have Craftsman wrenches, GearWrench ratcheting wrenches, Craftsman Sockets and Snap-On 3/8 and 1/4 ratchets. There are a lot of tools that I use that Sears just doesn't carry so I went to the Snap-On truck. I don't think I could ever buy the Snap-On wrenches or sockets due to their outrageous price. I will however say that the quality of Snap-On tools is amazing.

 

Back when I was turning wrenches for a living, we did a little comparison with box wrenches. Took Craftsman & Snap-On wrenches and measured them with a machinists rule. The Snap-On wrenches were truly the size they were supposed to be. The Craftsman were always a little bigger. They didnt quite fit on the nut or bolt with the same grip as the Snap-Ons. Same thing with the sockets we compared.

I will tell you that the old "you get what you pay for" addage really is true when it comes to tools. Mac, Matco, Cornwell & Snap-On are the best professional grade tools you can get.

Most do-it-yourselfers will be fine with Craftsman tool. They have come a long way since I was buying tools on a weekly basis. I have all brands of tools in my box, just so happens most are Snap-On.

 

I've used craftsman tools for over 40 years. I have returned 2 sockets and both were replaced, no questions asked.

 

I use to say the same thing until my guy could never get tools that I needed after "months" of orders. Matco has some good tools & I never have to wait. I also have some craftsman wrenches & screw drivers.

 

I used to build custom Vettes many years ago and that is when I was introduced to Snap-On. Initially what impressed me where how sleek they were and they allowed me to get into tight places where some of my Craftsman tools just would not fit. I have only been to the emergency room three times in my life and twice it was from a Craftsman socket breaking (you would think I would have at least learned to wear gloves after the first time?). After the second incident I threw out all my Craftsman and have been pretty much all Snap-On ever since - never had one fail in over 35 years (so far).

Their business model really sucks for the non-profesional - nothing like chasing after a Snap-On truck in a Corvette like a Tick Bird, but they apparently don't "need" the general market. Now that I can order online from Snap-On direct - life is good (and outrageously expensive).

 

A couple of years ago, as they were emerging from bankruptcy, K-Mart bought Sears outright with some of the cash they'd gotten from closing stores.

I've got mostly Craftsman tools, but a few old JCPenney tools (great finish, great tools), and a few PowerKraft (Monkey Wards, RIP

Sears has always treated me right, and my friends who use their tools. Will that hold up under K-Mart's business model? Don't know, but I have my doubts.

Used to be you could get parts for Craftsman stuff forever. My Dad had an edger he bought in 1949 when he bought his first house in Hermosa Beach. I bought parts for it as recently as the middle 1990s - 45 years later. Tried to get a part for a lawnmower I bought from them about three years ago. They tell me (via website) to go to Husquvarna for mower parts, and Honda for engine parts - have a nice day!

Hopefully I'm wrong, and they'll sort it out. I have a Craftsman rollaway and chest full of Craftsman tools. But the JCPenney and PowerKraft tools had lifetime warranties, too. I suspect the lady in window coverings would just roll her eyes if I toted a wrench into the store for replacement. And Monkey Wards has winged its way to the place where general merchandise department stores are eternally blessed, so I'd have to go see Madame Ruby to even file a request.