Yeah, I know this thread stretches back to the beginning of time, but here's some juicy tidbits dug up from the grave:
I went through a few of those flew head 3/8 craftsmans. Got one now that I think the internals are stripped same with both my 1/2 craftsman. And my local Sears is closing down so there's only the Ace for now, until lowes starts carrying them. The more tools I buy an break the less I care abt price and more I care about replacement warranty, how far do I have to drive to replace a broken tool and who has better customer service. The sears always had some jerk who had no idea what he was doing.
^^^ Winner. In addition to what you mention, "seeing my own blood" became a part of my tool-buying regimen. If a tool broke, I got it warrantied. If a tool broke, and I saw my own blood, I got it warrantied, sold it or donated it to someone, and
bought a real tool to replace it.
Thats exactly why i get ace/craftsmen or carlyle. .
That's exactly why I QUIT buying Crapsman. I got sick of warranties and just wanted tools that worked and didn't piss me off.
I'd imagine so... I assume they're keeping their Kobalt brand as well... I never purchased Kobalt, but I have used them and they're pretty good. I grew up with craftsman though, definitely my favorite along with Proto...Though Proto is much more expensive :/
When the Kobalt brand name was being launched, the tools were made by Williams--a Snap-On Industrial company. The tools were top-notch, genuine Professional grade.
Wasn't so long after the name got "established" that Lowes's quit dealing with Williams and went to Danaher instead. Now the tools were Craftsman USA equivalent. Professional-grade, as long as you remember that an apprentice is technically a professional, but at the beginning of his career.
Danaher switched to Asian crap, Kobalt went straight to hell. So Lowe's decides to pull a fast one, contracts with Stanley Black and Decker for a
different brand of Asian junk. (Crapsman)
The local Menards has a display of Crapsman, every bit of it Communist Chinese.
Proto is a well-respected name.
I used to be the same way; but after going through 4 ratchets and stripping out countless sockets I decided to treat myself.
Plus, the school I'm looking at going to for Automotive and mechanical training requires it's students to supply their own tools, so I figure I'll stock up on Craftsman, NAPA/Carlyle, and Milwaukee tools to keep the Snap-On man at bay.
I suppose it's too late now, but Snappy offers MASSIVE discounts to automotive "students". You could buy real tools for cheap instead of Asian junk.
For the record, when I worked professionally, I bought USA Craftsman in my early years, then Snap-On, some Mac, and a little Matco,
once I learned the real cost of cheap tools. Now that I'm fixing stuff for "fun", I tend to buy SK if they have what I'm looking for, used-but-good-condition Snap-On if SK doesn't have what I need, and new Snap-On* if I have to. SK is much less expensive than the Tool Truck brands, just as good in most cases. Wright, Proto, Williams are other top-quality brands that tend to cost less than Tool Truck stuff. Mac and Proto are sister companies just like Snappy and Williams. When buying Proto and Williams, be careful to get the USA-made product not the Asian product.
As has been said, Matco doesn't make anything except some tool boxes, which is what they made for Mac when they were known as
Mac
Allied
Tool
COmpany.
*Keeping with the spirit of this thread, my latest "new" Snap-On purchase was an impact wrench. This is the MG3255L, the "3/8" compact-body impact with a 1/2" drive extended anvil, in a kit with three double-ended lug nut sockets. My Snappy dealer was hot to sell, I think it had gone stale on the truck. I bet it's several years old, leftover stock. The price was "right" and it went home with me.
I did some research on old Snap-On air impact wrenches. Their first one, the IM5 and IM5B, had 200-ish ft/lbs of torque. Pathetic by today's standards, my 3/8 impact has FAR more power. The IM5B was still listed in the '83 catalog, but I think they started with them in the late '60s.