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I still have most of the tools that I used during my professional life (A&P mechanic working on large round engines; factory certified small engine mechanic; worked on a 12V567 locomotive engine; even worked on bicycles). They are mostly Craftsman. I did buy some off the tool trucks that came to the shop.
Many times I needed a wrench to modify. That is when the Harbor Freight wrenches were purchased. I knew guys who would buy a Snap-On wrench then grind it or heat it and bend it. That seemed very foolish to me, to spend that kind of money then try to make something else out of it.
Now that I am retired, and my tools are rarely used and not tax deductible, I buy the least expensive I can find when I do need to buy something.
When working on aircraft, I had a Harbor Freight Central Pneumatic 3/8 reversible air drill. That thing cost much less than $30, IIRC, and over the years it drilled literally thousands of holes in aircraft metal (and other things). When it finally started to get tired, I traded it to the Snap-On guy for a Blue Point drill. I soon realized that the Harbor Freight drill was a much nicer unit. Smaller, lighter, more powerful (when new), and just easier to handle. He had already sold my old one, so I couldn't trade back.
Mostly all Craftsman. I learned when I was a teenager that it doesn't pay to buy cheap tools. I do have a few odd tools that are once in a blue moon use like ball joint tools and such that I got from harbor freight. They are those types of tools that as long as you make it through the one use, if you ever use them again in your lifetime it is icing on the cake.
I have broken one Craftsman socket and one ratchet over the years and swapped them out with no questions asked. The lifetime warranty can't be beat even though you may never even have to use it.
Craftsman is now also sold in Ace Hardware stores so even if Sears folds up, Craftsman will live on.
If you can get US made craftsman. They are the best. Im kinda lazy to track them down. So I starting buying sk tools. I have a set of Husky tools. They are same quality as Lowes kobalt.
A couple years ago on black friday I bought a Dewalt cordless drill/driver and Dewalt 400+ mech set. WOW The ratchets are the best and life time warranty like craftsmen. Wasn't even looking to buy a new set of hand tools but I'm so glad I got this set. I just needed the cordless but I got both for something like 225 bucks. This was at home depot.com
A lot of Harbor Freight tools now come w/ a lifetime guarantee. That being said, I have mutts. Snap on, Crapsman & some HF. Mostly buy HF now, as long as the reviews on it are good.
Relevant how?
Other than the warranty (which I have used twice in the last 50 years), the demise of Sears will not have any effect on my tools (or me) at all!
The local Ace Hardware store carries Craftsman tools, so the brand just might continue even if Sears expires. It is likely that the warranty will continue to be honored as long as Craftsman tools are sold in any store.
Relevant how?
Other than the warranty (which I have used twice in the last 50 years), the demise of Sears will not have any effect on my tools (or me) at all!
The local Ace Hardware store carries Craftsman tools, so the brand just might continue even if Sears expires. It is likely that the warranty will continue to be honored as long as Craftsman tools are sold in any store.
The potential reduction in numbers of stores carrying craftsman will impact a lot of peoples capacity to have the warranty honored.
The major selling point of craftsman, kobalt, etc is being able to go to the store after using a 5 ft cheater bar at the end of a 1/2 inch ratchet and get it replaced no questions asked.
I still have most of the tools that I used during my professional life (A&P mechanic working on large round engines; factory certified small engine mechanic; worked on a 12V567 locomotive engine; even worked on bicycles). They are mostly Craftsman. I did buy some off the tool trucks that came to the shop.
Many times I needed a wrench to modify. That is when the Harbor Freight wrenches were purchased. I knew guys who would buy a Snap-On wrench then grind it or heat it and bend it. That seemed very foolish to me, to spend that kind of money then try to make something else out of it.
Now that I am retired, and my tools are rarely used and not tax deductible, I buy the least expensive I can find when I do need to buy something.
When working on aircraft, I had a Harbor Freight Central Pneumatic 3/8 reversible air drill. That thing cost much less than $30, IIRC, and over the years it drilled literally thousands of holes in aircraft metal (and other things). When it finally started to get tired, I traded it to the Snap-On guy for a Blue Point drill. I soon realized that the Harbor Freight drill was a much nicer unit. Smaller, lighter, more powerful (when new), and just easier to handle. He had already sold my old one, so I couldn't trade back.
I love the sound of round motors. Living in Alaska I still get to hear them.
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