Hey guys.

I have developed a deep trust of my Craftsman tool collection over the years. Enough so that I feel awkward raising this question. But with fewer nearby sources as Sears Hardware satellite locations close across the country, I have to begin to wonder: what other brand(s) can I put my faith in.

I say this because early on when I was broke or just needed a one-time tool, yes, I grabbed other brands or Chinese crap - and I got bit on occasion.

I learned that lesson and haven't strayed since.

So what other brands are people trusting? What else is the same quality or even higher now and has a large depth of available pieces?

This is a big deal for me. I feel like I'm about to burn my favorite hat and buy a new one.

 

....Snap-On !!... S&K and Proto are also well made tools (USA) !!....

 

I have all Snap On from my Dealership days !!!

 

I believe Cornwell tools are also all made in the USA. My old Craftsman tools from 30 years ago just seem so much better built than what's available today...kind of sad.

 

Sears is not the only source for Craftsman. True-Value hardware also carries the line and yes, it's the same Craftsman tools. Not some in-house brand.

 

Hasn't Craftsman's quality gone down the drain for the last few years. I think I read somewhere that these tools are now being made in China.

 

I fell you brother, most my tools are also Craftmans too but like they said above Snap-On are great. I had also bought Huskeys from Lowes and they aren't bad either.

 

House brands of Home Depot and Lowes aren't bad and they are guaranteed. The original Craftsman 3/8" drive flex head ratchet that I bought about 15 years ago has been replaced three times, keeps breaking the cheap plastic pawl that selects direction of rotation. I t was replace by the one Auto Zone sells. Yes Auto Zone. Yes, it's made in Taiwan, but is based on the old Snap-On head design and it's all METAL. I think it is a good piece.

Also for s**ts and giggles check out the gear wrench clones at Harbor Freight, you'll be surprised.

As a side note I got my first set of Craftsman sockets, ratchets and wrenches in 1976 they're good stuff and still my go to tools.

 

I have a multi brand collection of tools that I have put together over the last 45 years. I have some Snap-on (My dad swore by them), Craftsman, Mac and a bunch of no name. Rarely have I ever had a problem with any, unless I abused. overloaded or used in a way they were not intended. Unless you are a pro, any brand will probably do the job for you.

 

I have a real mix, ranging from Japanese Elora (cheap for the day) through Craftsman, Lowe's and Harbor Freight. Never broken one of them, but my original 1970 era 1/2" Elora ratchet stopped ratcheting - replaced with Craftsman. These days my first shot for hand tools is always HF - prices are unbeatable and they recently opened a store nearby - always busy. Carpark usually full of various contractor's trucks and vans, which tells you something.

Despite all the comments about them, they give incredible value. My "go to" miter saw at the moment is an HF double bevel 12" compound saw - $139 on special.

One big disappointment I have with Craftsman is with their power tools - over time I have collected quite a few. As they age, the power cords fail. I just replaced a number of them due to them getting hard, then developing cracks and splits, just cheap plastic I guess. I used electrical tape to wrap them for a while, then bought a handful of generic replacement power cords from Lowes and spent a happy afternoon cutting and soldering them to fit the Craftsman tools.

One Craftsman tool I really treasure is my 8" portable saw - not the standard 7 1/4" but a full 8". Bought it for deck building. Has the great benefit of making it easy to cut 6" square landscape lumber - two cuts and you are done. Got to be maybe 30 years old now. Only gets used when I really need it these days. My "go to" for the rest is a worm drive Ridgid - a very tough saw.

 

You can't beat Harbor Freight for value.

 

 

Some of Lowes tools look a lot like Snap On !!!

 

I was teased a lot in the Dealership about my Snap On tools, was said Craftsman were just as good and lifetime warranted. I liked that the Snap On guy came every week and was also just a phone call away. If you broke your Craftsman you had to go down to the Sears store, wait in line, most times had to be ordered. The Craftsman broke much more often than Snap On, and and sometimes when they broke they took some skin with them. I just liked the way Snap On's felt in my hands, and there was real trade in value. When you made your living with these tools the brand (to me) made a huge difference, the other note some other tools could be as strong but then did not fit in the same places as the Snap On's (especially sockets)

 

After my Craftsman stuff broke, I replaced it all with Snap-On. I never wanted to go so Sears after work to get it replaced

 

I learned a trick years ago, go to a big pawn shop, the one around here has every kind and size of hand and power tools cheap.

 

Here is how I rate tool brand not including pliers and screw drivers.
1. Snap on
2. Matco
3. Cornwel
4.craftsman
5. Mack

Bar none knipex makes the BEST pliers
Bar none white brothers which is a subsidiary of knipex makes the best screw drivers.

This is coming from someone that owns around 60,000 worth of tools and puts them to the test I am not easy on my tools and have high standards for them.

 

All stolen by some crack head

 

$60K worth of tools? Amazing.

 

When you use them for a living it adds up quickly.