Craftsman ratcheting wrenches

[spoogenet]

Are they worth it? I think Sears is selling a 7-pc set for $99, down from $119, through Saturday. I think these are the unidirectional ratcheting ones, so you'd have to flip the wrench over to turn the opposite direction. The bidirectional ones seem pretty nice, but cost a lot more. Also the unidi's have I think 1 degree ratcheting versus the 3 degrees of the bidi's.

Anyhow, just wondering if anybody had much experience with them. Are they as tough as a regular closed-end wrench?

b

[ebpda9]

why not get a big set of tubular wrenches for $80. it's all you need. i fixed my suspension with it, i worked on the engine with it anmd it suited me just fine. however you need some special key for other stuff too but those you can get them separately, and no sets incorporate them. my dad and i bought that set of tubular keys with 3 wrenches, and a set of 15 regular wrenches for 120 and it's all we need for fixing any japoanese car ('cause they use metric). for domestic cars he got a set of regular ones in standard

[spoogenet]

I'm not as familiar with tools as I should be....so please enlighten me on just what a tubular wrench is.

And by a special key, just what do you mean there as well? Is it a similar concept to lock nuts on wheels, having a key to put into a socket or wrench or something to work on an awkwardly shaped nut/bolt/screw?

I'm also not just looking for wrenches for the car, this is for my general tool collection that I am slowly building.

b

[ChrisCantSkate]

i have mostly craftsman tools(some weird specialty tools arnt), you get free replacment if anything ever breaks, and the quaity is top notch. i love my craftsman ratches, tq wrench, screwdrivers, sockets, box wrenches, alen wrenches, power tools...... yeah, its alot to invest, but if you think your going to keep them for a long time... you will have them when you 50 and if anything breaks, you take it back 30 years from now and free replacment.

[ChrisCantSkate]

im not sure if my powertolls have free lifetime but i know all the mechanical tools do. oh, i do have a makida(sp?) drill. but saws/grinder/table saw/vice/etc is all craftman. my next thing is impact tools and a air compressor.

oh... my dad had some sockets his dad had when he was a kid. the box looks old as hell, and we got a free replacment on one of them that i cracked(the socket had to be pushing 50 years old) on a seized nut. just to let you know the warentee reall is LIFETIME

[ebpda9]

Originally posted by spoogenet
I'm not as familiar with tools as I should be....so please enlighten me on just what a tubular wrench is.


ok i messed it up. i forgot they are called sockets :P and the special key i was talking about it's more like a socket but with like 14 sides

<-----what a dumb ass ;)

[spoogenet]

Ok. :)

The only tools I really believe in buying are Craftsman and Snap-On. I believe in quality, and they certainly have it. Since Sears is so convenient and offers Craftsman, that pretty much limits me to Craftsman only. At least for regular mechanical tools....power tools, well, I don't have any of those.

Never buy Evercraft, I borrowed a couple things from a buddy of mine when I put on my CAI and the tools couldn't hold up to the torque when trying to remove a bolt.....the Craftsman worked like a charm. :)

I'm actually now thinking of getting one of their mechanics tool sets. They've got a 246-pc set with a big chest to go along with it for $299.99. Not a bad deal at all. Only problem is I have nowhere to store it right now.....when I finally do get my garage, though, I'll have somewhere to keep it. :)

I definitely consider tools a good investment, at least quality tools, because as you said, they will last a lifetime.

b

[ChrisCantSkate]

wow, 299 for a 246 peice kit.. thats awsome. i think im gonna save up and buy a big tool set soon. i dont have all the deep mid and normal in all the sizes i need. just some mid, and some regular.

[spoogenet]

Yeah, I'm liking that price also....but don't forget about the big tool chest that comes with it. :)

Check Sears online to see what kind of stuff it comes with. This is all for the Craftsman 75th Anniversary sale. They'll have other sales, though, for things like Christmas.

b

[spoogenet]

Dang, or should I get the 318pc for $400? No free tool cabinet, but the tool cabinet is a pretty low-end one anyways, either way I'm saving $100 from normal price.

b

[blind34_1]

Either way its all a good investment. Craftsmen is the only option if you want tools that actually work. All other tools I have bought that aren't craftsmen have either broke or worn down. If a craftsman ever does break you can just walk into any sears and say "this broke." They will walk in back and hand you a new one no questions asked.

They did change their warranty policy on electronics. I got this really nice drill for my birthday, and you have to buy a service plan (which generally isn't comprehenive with other manufacturers, they're a joke).

I also got a very nice 128-piece tool box with all craftsmen tools. They are great and I definetly recommend them to any one wanting to do moderate things to their car. Just buy a nicer case for them because the one they come in is complete crap. (it also comes with like 5 10mm sockets! Yea!)

my .02

[spoogenet]

Well, I picked up the 256pc and then returned it only to get the 318pc instead. So I ended up paying way too much, over $400 after tax, but it was on sale down from $500. I definitely do consider good tools to be a wise investment for anybody who wants to save money on simple things they can do themselves. These tools will pay for themselves pretty quickly after doing a few mods to my car and other odds and ends that require tools.

But I wouldn't say Craftsman is the only brand. SnapOn is very good stuff, just too dern expensive.

b

[ChrisCantSkate]

IMO i think snapon is better, but they are more expensive. i went looking for crasftsman tool chests yesterday..... i saw some nice ones on sale

[spoogenet]

Oh yeah, there are some very nice ones on sale right now. The one that came free with the 246pc is a crappy one, IMO. I'm sure it would do just fine....but after checking out the nicer ones, there's no way I could live with the low end. I like that each drawer latches individually, and the bearings are nice too.....aahhhh I'll be getting one for Christmas. :)

b