craftsman tools

[therealdeal770]

ive been wanting to buy a tool set for a while and was at sears looking today.i would like to buy a set that would cover every nut and bolt on all my cars .i was looking at this one inpaticular.im pretty sure i wanna go ahead and get it i just need someone to say get it.
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?cat=Mechanics+Tools&pid=00933168000&vertical=TOOL&subcat=Mechanics+Tool+Sets&BV_SessionID=@@@@1957276065.1149382004@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccgcad dhmgekfddcegecegjdghldgfk.0
on top of this i plan to get a tq wrench,a 24mm socket since thats the only large bolt i can find on my trucks, and a decent tool box.can anyone recomend a tool box that will hold this set plus a couple pairs of pliers and screwdrivers that i can tote around from the house to the cars.

 

[XS650]

It looks like a good start for a reasonable price. A lot of people knock Craftsman, but for the home mechanic they are good and you can't beat the warranty.

 

[Dan4510]

Get some sk tools. Step up from craftsman and not that expensive.

Dan

 

[JHZR2]

quote:

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Originally posted by XS650:
It looks like a good start for a reasonable price. A lot of people knock Craftsman, but for the home mechanic they are good and you can't beat the warranty.

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Really, what is better than crafstman at reasonable prices, i.e. not snap-on?

Form what Ive seen, all of the 'high end' homeowner tools, whether crafstman, kobaly, or husky are mor eor less the same.

I cant discern the difference from the small snap-on ratchet set we have in our laboratory, except that the snap-on ratchet's action is a litle bit smoother.

But sockets crack all the same, dont they?

Im vry interested in this, as I have a mismatch of all sorts of stuff, but would liek to get a set at some point too...

JMH

 

[JavaMan]

I like Craftsman. Like XS said, you can't beat the warranty; at least I don't think you can. If there is a better warranty with more replacement locations please tell me.

 

[XS650]

quote:

---

Really, what is better than crafstman at reasonable prices, i.e. not snap-on?

From what I've seen, all of the 'high end' homeowner tools, whether crafstman, kobaly, or husky are more or less the same.
.......
Im vry interested in this, as I have a mismatch of all sorts of stuff, but would liek to get a set at some point too...

JMH [/QB]

---

I think you're right. That gives the edge to Craftsman with their no ** warranty.

I had good set of Crafstman mechanics tools in 1971, until they were stolen along with my van. I was working and going to school so was short on money. I got a set of tools from a new mail order discount store. Harbor Freight. The tools were well finished and I still use most of them today. Unlike modern HF tools, the early ones were made in Japan and good tools.

 

[Chispas]

I'd recommend that you "go-for-it" with those
Craftsman products.

There's a mystery where Sears is having their
tools made nowdays.

Many, many of the older products were marked
with a "V".

If you wondered who might have made those fine
wrenches, here's the story :

http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/vlchek-story.html

 

[moribundman]

There isn't a Craftsman tool I won't break. Especially their sockets seem to crumble. I'm sticking with Hazet and Gedore, thank you.

 

[drm7]

My grandfather started buying me Craftsman tools when I was little. I would get something new every Christmas. I've never had to return one and I'm not always that easy on them. I've snapped a few cheap tools though.

 

[JHZR2]

quote:

---

Originally posted by moribundman:
There isn't a Craftsman tool I won't break. Especially their sockets seem to crumble. I'm sticking with Hazet and Gedore, thank you.

---

Out of curiosity, where do you get your hazet tools from? Can you buy sets that are discounted?

Hazet makes most 'official' MB service tools, IIRC.

JMH

 

[Kestas]

realdeal, you're doing exactly what I did 20 years ago, except I opted for the 300-pc tool set. Back then I was sick of always lacking that specially-sized tool that would fit where my existing tools couldn't. This will be a good basic tool set that you could build on. After buying this tool set, you can then buy all the mini-sets to fill in your collection.

Most importantly, I ended up buying 1/2"-drive impact sockets - both std and metric - for the really tough jobs under the car. After all, the broken socket guarantee doesn't help if you know you're gonna bust it again.

 

[BlownF150]

Looks like a good setup. I have Craftsman, Stanley, Kobalt, Snap-On, Proto, and Husky wrenches, sockets, and ratchets and they all do very well. All have great warranty (especially Stanley and Craftsman) service so you really can't go wrong. I broke 2 15mm 1/2"-drive sockets removing the brakes from my brothers 1995 Mustang GT, one Stanley and the other Snap-On. I was using a 24" breaker bar on them too (yeah...I know). The Stanley was just a 5 minute phone call and they mailed me a new one no questions asked (besides the part #). The Snap-On I had to take to a local dealer and they were really reluctant to replace it but they did. Funny thing is they didn't even blink when I brought them a 3/8" extension and swivel that was found wedged between the transmisson and firewall on a friend's truck that had rusted solid. Must have been a tool left from the dealership. Oh, and got that brake removed by buying a set of "cheap" impact sockets from a nearby Autozone...

So my advise is just buy what you can afford and not worry about it. Any reputable brand-name tool will serve you well.

 

[moribundman]

quote:

---

Out of curiosity, where do you get your hazet tools from? Can you buy sets that are discounted?

Hazet makes most 'official' MB service tools, IIRC.

JMH

---

I buy single pieces when I happen to spend some time back home, or I have someone send me what I need. HAZET and GEDORE are there commonly available at hardware stores. I can't remember seeing discounted sets. Even if there are any, they'll still be costly.

I wouldn't want to pay the prices that the importers charge here, but I have bought HAZET tools on occasion from samstagsales.com if I needed them fast. ZDMAK and zelenda.com also carry HAZET.

 

[Kestas]

realdeal, I just looked at our Sunday circular advertising two mechanic's tool sets that may interest you:

155-pc tool set (#35155) for $99.99
263-pc tool set (#33263) for $169.99

So, compared with the link you provided, you can either get a similar tool set for less, or more tools for the same price.

Prices good through June 10th.

 

[Racerjk]

I like my Craftsman tools just fine!

 

[road_rascal]

Never had any problems with the Craftsman tools I use. We pound the heck out them at our plant (1/2" and 3/4" tool sets) and only had to replace a few ratchets in the last ten years (stripped gears).

 

[Razl]

When I turned 16, my parents gave me their old Escort wagon with the understanding that I would take care of the repairs. Within a couple of month I had to bring it in to the shop. Half and hour later I paid them $95 for replacing a clogged fuel filter.

Out of curiousity, I went to an auto parts store and found out that fuel filter costs only $20! From that day forward, I was determined to learn how to do my own repairs. Within a week I bought my 1st set of sockets and wrenches at Sears. I enjoyed working on cars so much, I started doing the PM on my parent's cars too. They paid for the parts and always gave me a little extra. Then in college, I used to do repairs for other students. I used the money to by more Craftsman tool (and some beer too).

I knew Craftsman wasn't the best, but I still have and use them to this day. They have paid for themselves over and over and over. BUY THEM!!!

 

[Brett Miller]

I think for the average person Craftsman tools are hard to beat. They are good quality, available everywhere and you can't beat the return policy.

 

[TooManyWheels]

Is there anyone in this love-fest besides me that has had outright bad quality Craftsman tools? Mine include a 3/8 wrench with a 5/16-ish opening, a 3/8 ratchet extension with less than a 3/8 square hole (makes it REAL tough to put on the ratchet), and some rather "spreadable" open end wrenches.

If it weren't for these incidents I would consider them to be of good value, but that has been enough to make me start buying upscale. Yes, I could take them back, and will eventually, but I won't buy anymore anticipated problems.

 

[Schmoe]

I've had a few ratchets strip out on me, the 3/8ths size, but take them back and you get a brand new one, no questions asked and no receipt required. Don't get any better than that.