Tool question
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,073
Likes: 6
+1 - For the weekend wrench, it's hard to beat what you get for the buck. Craftsman tools are not the top of the line professional grade tools, but then you're not doing this for a living. Over the past 30 years I've broken a couple of ratchets and sockets, but Sears replaced them for free, no questions asked, every time.
The lowest (and NOT WARRANTIED) is the Companion brand. They're crap, but they're cheap.
The middle of the road is the normal Craftman tool line. It carries the lifetime warranty and they're good tools. They can't compete with SnapOn, but they're reasonably priced and the lifetime warranty is an excellent thing.
The best tools are called Craftsman Professional. Now, those tools I'd put up against most, if not all, professional quality tools. They are well made, extremely precise in the sizing and on the ratcheting tools the mechanisms are solid and tight. In general, you pay about 30% more for the Pro tools.
Regarding returns, we had folks trying to bring Companion in all the time and those tools were generally new(ish) Standard Craftsman came in regularly, but it was usually tools that looked like they were about 10 years old or so. The new(er) tools returned were usually abused (replaced, NQA anyways) The Pro tools almost never came back, but there's a miniscule number of Pro tools out there compared to the plain ol' Craftsman.
FWIW, I have a mix of Craftsman and Craftsman Pro tools for working on everything. In general, socket ratchets and ratcheting box wrenches are Craftsman Pro, everything else is standard Craftsman.
And, as an interesting piece of trivia, I tracked the tools most often returned under warranty (out of boredom) were tape measures!
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 812
Likes: 8
From: Cowtown, USA
I used to work at Sears selling tools and there are three levels of Craftsman tools.
The lowest (and NOT WARRANTIED) is the Companion brand. They're crap, but they're cheap.
The middle of the road is the normal Craftman tool line. It carries the lifetime warranty and they're good tools. They can't compete with SnapOn, but they're reasonably priced and the lifetime warranty is an excellent thing.
The best tools are called Craftsman Professional. Now, those tools I'd put up against most, if not all, professional quality tools. They are well made, extremely precise in the sizing and on the ratcheting tools the mechanisms are solid and tight. In general, you pay about 30% more for the Pro tools.
Regarding returns, we had folks trying to bring Companion in all the time and those tools were generally new(ish) Standard Craftsman came in regularly, but it was usually tools that looked like they were about 10 years old or so. The new(er) tools returned were usually abused (replaced, NQA anyways) The Pro tools almost never came back, but there's a miniscule number of Pro tools out there compared to the plain ol' Craftsman.
FWIW, I have a mix of Craftsman and Craftsman Pro tools for working on everything. In general, socket ratchets and ratcheting box wrenches are Craftsman Pro, everything else is standard Craftsman.
And, as an interesting piece of trivia, I tracked the tools most often returned under warranty (out of boredom) were tape measures!
The lowest (and NOT WARRANTIED) is the Companion brand. They're crap, but they're cheap.
The middle of the road is the normal Craftman tool line. It carries the lifetime warranty and they're good tools. They can't compete with SnapOn, but they're reasonably priced and the lifetime warranty is an excellent thing.
The best tools are called Craftsman Professional. Now, those tools I'd put up against most, if not all, professional quality tools. They are well made, extremely precise in the sizing and on the ratcheting tools the mechanisms are solid and tight. In general, you pay about 30% more for the Pro tools.
Regarding returns, we had folks trying to bring Companion in all the time and those tools were generally new(ish) Standard Craftsman came in regularly, but it was usually tools that looked like they were about 10 years old or so. The new(er) tools returned were usually abused (replaced, NQA anyways) The Pro tools almost never came back, but there's a miniscule number of Pro tools out there compared to the plain ol' Craftsman.
FWIW, I have a mix of Craftsman and Craftsman Pro tools for working on everything. In general, socket ratchets and ratcheting box wrenches are Craftsman Pro, everything else is standard Craftsman.
And, as an interesting piece of trivia, I tracked the tools most often returned under warranty (out of boredom) were tape measures!
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 812
Likes: 8
From: Cowtown, USA
Going to have to say that must be a location thing. I have never seen that jack for that price here and I go to Sears a lot. Or maybe we are talking about different jacks. If that price is real then jump on it, it's a hell of a good jack.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: newport RI
if it's the same jack, the price is around $119. i'll be going to my local sears manyana to check it out. i have some shorty shocks coming from licks this week, and will need a jack soon, so probably won't wait for a sale that might not happen. thanks for good recommendations from everyone.
i have a new tan leather solo seat from lepera, and some distressed tan leather saddlebags and tool bag from http://www.foxcreekleather.com/lugga...illiamson.html, and even a distressed leather licks solo bag heading my way, so i'll get some pics up here when all is put together. i use my bike for my bizz as well as pleasure (pro photographer and beach wedding officiant), so need cargo capacity for my gear... and it's nice to have a cool ride to head to the beach with!
i have a new tan leather solo seat from lepera, and some distressed tan leather saddlebags and tool bag from http://www.foxcreekleather.com/lugga...illiamson.html, and even a distressed leather licks solo bag heading my way, so i'll get some pics up here when all is put together. i use my bike for my bizz as well as pleasure (pro photographer and beach wedding officiant), so need cargo capacity for my gear... and it's nice to have a cool ride to head to the beach with!
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 812
Likes: 8
From: Cowtown, USA
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,899
Likes: 3,412
From: OH
I pieced my tool set together. I bought it in individual sets as I only like 6pt sockets. The higher grade crapsman stuff is pretty good. I agree on not buying the sets. There is a ton of stuff in there that you don't need for the harley.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,073
Likes: 6
Plus, if you make nice with the guys in the tool department, they might have a returned tool set for 20% (or more) off. I bought mine two years after I quit working at Sear's for 25% off. There were two or three missing sockets, but there's a number you call to report this and they send them right out to you.