I need {UPDATE} Jules...

[highland145]

Brand suggestions? Got 3 crap craftsman ones from the early 80's. I don't use them much but I would like them to work. Mine never did but I didn't take them back because they were a once every few month+ thing.

Quality is the only concern. I have a lot of my Grandfather's tools from the 40's/50's and the quality is excellent.

Thanks.

 

[nedfunnell]

Craftsman tools are guaranteed for life. Take them into any Sears if they are defective, and they will replace them for new ones, no receipt needed.

 

[highland145]

Craftsman tools are guaranteed for life. Take them into any Sears if they are defective, and they will replace them for new ones, no receipt needed.

You mean the local one that just closed?

Screw it, I'll go with something else.

 

[jlee]

What about Ace Hardware? They carry Craftsman products. It's silly to go buy something else when what you have already is under a lifetime warranty and could be replaced for free.

If quality is your "only" concern, knock yourself out: http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/tools.asp?tool=a&Group_ID=683068&store=snapon-store

 

[master_shake_]

if you're allergic to money lol

http://store.snapon.com/QUICK-RELEASE-C629352.aspx

 

[JulesMaximus]

See if you can take them apart and clean/lube them. I have an ancient Craftsman ratchet that was sticking and all I had to do was remove a C-clip and drop the internals out which consists of maybe 4 or 5 parts, clean them up, lube them and put it all back together. Works perfectly now.

 

[highland145]

See if you can take them apart and clean/lube them. I have an ancient Craftsman ratchet that was sticking and all I had to do was remove a C-clip and drop the internals out which consists of maybe 4 or 5 parts, clean them up, lube them and put it all back together. Works perfectly now.

Can't hurt. I'll try it. They've sucked balls out of the chest, all 3. I thought they were stripped but I'm not a mechanic so I've put up with it.

I'm not anymore. Thanks for the snapon suggestions....I assume my kid will inherit useable tools...

 

[toronado97]

Can't believe I'm watching a guy bitch about Craftsman tools with a lifetime warranty, and can't be bothered to just walk into a store to get them replaced if they're defective.

 

[highland145]

See if you can take them apart and clean/lube them. I have an ancient Craftsman ratchet that was sticking and all I had to do was remove a C-clip and drop the internals out which consists of maybe 4 or 5 parts, clean them up, lube them and put it all back together. Works perfectly now.

Most excellent. The spring and bearing of the 3/8 had a ton of "old" grease in them. I'll work on the other 2.

Like I said, out of the chest in 1982, they were a problem.

Can't believe I'm watching a guy bitch about Craftsman tools with a lifetime warranty, and can't be bothered to just walk into a store to get them replaced if they're defective.

What do you do for a living?

 

[someone16]

To be honest, Harbour Freight ratchets are not bad.

Or you can grab the Gearwrench ratchets off amazon.

 

[highland145]

Jules, cleaned the 1/4 and it's good. The 1/2 looked like it had lacquer poured in it. No wonder they didn't work. And the 1/2...the bearing is now MIA behind my bench with a crap ton of sawdust. Might get to replace that one anyway.

Thanks.

toronado97

What do you do for a living?

 

[herm0016]

so... that crap, if kept clean and in good condition would have never failed?

good to know.

just in case: Mech. Eng.

 

[phucheneh]

Old Craftsman ratchets are awful. Most all old ratchets are awful. Some are plenty sturdy, but the ratchet mechs are coarse and sloppy.

http://www.amazon.com/GearWrench-812...BK7HP7XG4CZGAY

Something similar to that is worth the money. A pretty damn good value, in fact. New Craftsman ratchets are not much cheaper (and still suck) and tool truck brands would be about double.

 

[highland145]

so... that crap, if kept clean and in good condition would have never failed?

good to know.

just in case: Mech. Eng.

Like I said, out of the chest in 1982, they were a problem.

Under the crud is a white layer of more crud...lithium, maybe?


Breaking out the magnet this evening to look for the bearing. If it's magnetic...


That's 2 snapon and 2 gearwrench if I can't fine the bearing.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Wright ratchets are amazing, $$-aside, and they're cheaper than the truck brands.. I use my wrights more than the snap ons.

I stopped buying craftsman awhile ago. No longer made in USA and other, better choices.

I do still use and like my made in usa older craftsman stuff. But if it breaks I replace it then put it with my truck/vacation/2nds tools and buy wright or a better brand for the main toolbox.

 

[phucheneh]

Does Wright have any association with the truck brands?

Just curious. I know Armstrong are just Matco ratchets for less money. Last I saw, I think a nice 3/8" flex head is like $60 or so on Amazon. Easily 100-125 or more on with the Matco name.

Gearwrench is not the best, but they have a decent fine-toothed mech that should be plenty reliable for the DIY'er. And at like ~70 for two ratchets (or I think it was 110 for a four piece set; again, on Amazon), they are a good deal. The Snap-on ratchets I use daily are probably about $200 for the pair. And I've still broken them before.

 

[RLGL]

My 1/4 drive is SSK
My 3/8 drive is Matco
My 1/2 drive is Craftsman
All are used daily and are at least 15 years old.
Just like everything else, they need TLC

 

[highland145]

Just like everything else, they need TLC

Out of the box?

Alright the bearing is gone....I'll talk to the bro about another unless you guys have a suggestion.

Used goof off to clean the parts of the 1/2. What is that crap?

toronado97

What do you do for a living?

 

[T2urtle]

if you still have a lot of 40/50s C-man tools. Dont just trade those in for brand new working ones. Attempt to rebuild them.

Mainly because the quality is not the same anymore. The new stuff is all MADE IN CHINA VS the old stuff in the MADE IN USA. People on garage journal would pay more for the older stuff. In terms of ratchets i would get one of the higher teeth count ratchets, its just overall better.

 

[highland145]

Thanks, T2. Amongst others, have his Yankee drill and the bits...no idea how old that is (or is it's Craftsman). Remember thinking it was cool as a kid.

Think the white crud was lithium?

Called my bro to see if he had or had a suggestion for the lost bearing. And I'm staring at about 4000 of them...BBs...crossed fingers...Works like a charm. I seriously doubt that they would last with heavy use but that's not me and, thanks to Jules suggestion, it's a quick change out.

toronado97

What do you do for a living?

 

[phucheneh]

if you still have a lot of 40/50s C-man tools. Dont just trade those in for brand new working ones. Attempt to rebuild them.

Mainly because the quality is not the same anymore. The new stuff is all MADE IN CHINA VS the old stuff in the MADE IN USA. People on garage journal would pay more for the older stuff. In terms of ratchets i would get one of the higher teeth count ratchets, its just overall better.

'People' are dumb. I have plenty of 40's-60's era hand tools from Craftsman as well as Snap-on, Proto and others.

They're crap. Any supposed advantage they have from Americuh Fuck Yeah is negated by the unsophisticated design and materials of the day. Basically, the steel is not even very good. But far beyond that, things like sockets and wrenches have crude designs that are hard on fasteners as well as your hands.