When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
The majority of my hand tools are Craftsman that I bought back in the late 80's, early 90's when I moved out on my own. Now, I've got a large collection of tools of all kinds. I inherited my fathers tools and a lot of my grandfathers tools. Most of those are Craftsman, S&K and some Snap-on thrown in. Over the years I've bought stuff at tool sales for just occasional use. I've bought quite a bit of Harbor Freight tools when I need something fairly specialty that I don't use much. If there's a tool I need that I know I'll need often I try to buy quality.
Here`s a pic of one of the tools I fabbed for doing safety wiring in really tight spaces, it doesn`t twist the wire, just makes it easy to move the wire into position in spaces where fingers or pliers won`t fit.
Safety wiring has become pretty much a thing of the past on modern aircraft, new mechanics will never know the joy of safety wiring a circle of 24 bolts inside a channel where your fingers don`t fit...
Maybe that's why those Boeing wheels keep falling down these days.
P.S. Damn seems like they literally kill this whistleblower for revealing this BS
Hmmmm . . . I may be in the minority but I recently donated all my old Craftsman miss matched sockets, wrenches, plyers, and socket drivers and bought all new ones. Craftsman was running a special where you get EVERY socket they make, 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" in metric and SAE, both 12 point and 6 point, all with LARGE laser engraving. Now I can see the size AND have them nicely organized in my HUGE Husky roller.
For us weekend warriors, minor car and bike wrenching, Craftsman works fine. I have yet to break any of the tools I have.
Now if I was a professional or rebuilt bikes regularly I would probably spend for a better brand, but I cannot justify $15K+ worth of Snap-on or Mack tools for the amount of wrenching I do.
Last edited by Calif Fat Bob; Mar 21, 2024 at 03:27 PM.
Maybe that's why those Boeing wheels keep falling down these days.
P.S. Damn seems like they literally kill this whistleblower for revealing this BS
"Modified Tools" ... The mark of a creative mechanic ... Putting camshafts in the 4 banger Pintos could be done without a total tear down with a few specially modified ones
As a homeowner (and shade tree mechanic) Craftsman tools are more than adequate and even though there's no more lifetime replacement warranty (that I know of) I would still buy them and recommend to others.
no, they still have lifetime warranty on their tools. used to be anything that had 'craftsman' on it, but now it seems like it's limited to their handtools. this is from one of lowe's ads for tools....
I've got quite a mix of different brand hand tools. When I have to buy a new or replacement I've been buying the Gearwrench brand, they seem to be well made, have held up well and are reasonably priced.
I have a mix of tools, a lot of Craftsman & some older tools
I went to buy a new Toolbox to organize tools I have, box was $65+, same toolbox w/full set of tools $90 on sale
It was a nice deal
They went on sale again & I bought my son the same set
Went thru a bunch of tools & found dups & gave them all to my son
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
