Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2017 18:18:52 -0700
Reply-To: T3 Technique <christopher@T3TECHNIQUE.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: T3 Technique <christopher@T3TECHNIQUE.COM>
Subject: Re: General tool (brand name vs quality vs price) question. (NVC)
In-Reply-To: <CANTd7Fj9M957Y5Zov+bEF1cTbFvk+scouck_j40hjeZ81WT+_w@mail.gmail.com>
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One detail that is often overlooked when picking out things like sockets and box wrenches is the wall thickness. Many cheaper wrenches and sockets have really thick walls to make up for poor material whereas a better tool will have a thinner wall and be as strong or stronger due to better material and/or heat treatment. There's nothing worse than being in the middle of a job and have a cheap/poorly made wrench or socket that absolutely will not fit into a the available space.
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of moritz schmid
Sent: Monday, October 02, 2017 4:49 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: General tool (brand name vs quality vs price) question. (NVC)
My two cents on the subject
I have always owned old vehicles that usually will need a road side repair at one point or another usually means each one has a set of tools in it. I have been buying mainly harbor freight or husky or craftsman for those. If they get rusty or I leave them on the side of the road I don’t feel bad.
My garage is a different story. I started out with an old craftsman set and slowly as they break or get damaged I have been replacing them with a more professional set (snap on/Matco) mainly from yard sales etc.
Having tools that will get the job done when it’s cold and raining is important but the nice ones stay in the garage for the big projects. I agree the price for most of those new tools is extremely expensive but when your working on a really tough project the attention to detail in professional tools is incredible (grips, ergonomics, precision).
A decent set of tools are not bought all at once but acquired over a lifetime along with the skills to use them properly.
On Mon, Oct 2, 2017 at 7:41 PM David McNeely <davmcneely40@gmail.com> wrote:
> I was in a Harbor Freight recently. There were tools that were
> incredibly cheap (price-wise). Professionals were thick in the place,
> buying much stuff. I observed to a couple of them that the prices
> were amazingly low, and that I expected the quality was similar. I
> was told by both that the stuff was good, but I don't know ....... .
>
> On Mon, Oct 2, 2017 at 4:34 PM, Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Craftsman Tools was bought by Stanley in just the last year or so. I
> > have not used Kobalt, available at Lowe's, but they look good.
> >
> > Stephen
> >
> > Mobile
> >
> > > On Oct 2, 2017, at 5:09 PM, David McNeely <davmcneely40@GMAIL.COM>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > So, for a number of years Craftsman has been in Ace Hardware. In
> > > fact, last week. I assumed they were not the same as the
> > > Craftsman tools
> from
> > > that giant department store chain that is not yet resting
> > > comfortably
> in
> > > peace. So, is Ace now just selling remnants from whomever last
> > > built
> > them?
> > >
> > > On Mon, Oct 2, 2017 at 1:14 PM, Dennis Haynes
> > > <d23haynes57@hotmail.com
> >
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > >> Craftsman tools are no more. They sold the line out.
> > >>
> > >> Dennis
> > >>
> > >> -----Original Message-----
> > >> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf
> > >> Of Neil N
> > >> Sent: Monday, October 2, 2017 1:50 PM
> > >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > >> Subject: Re: General tool (brand name vs quality vs price) question.
> > (NVC)
> > >>
> > >> I've been using Craftsman tools (combo wrenches,
> > >> sockets-ratchets,
> > >> screwdrivers) for decades. The only issues I had was a cracked
> > >> 19mm 12
> > pt
> > >> 1/2" socket cracking, due to misuse, (no, you shouldn't use it on
> > >> a VW
> > tire
> > >> bolt. That was many years ago!) and one or two failed 3/8"
> > >> ratchet mechanisms. I think I've been getting incredible value
> > >> from
> > these
> > >> tools. They were purchased many years ago though. Who knows
> > >> if/how
> metal
> > >> content used in these tools has changed over the years?
> > >>
> > >> Neil.
> > >>
> > >>> On 10/2/17, TJ Hemrick <x53gunner@gmail.com> wrote:
> > >>>
> > >>> With the vultures circling for the eventual death knell to
> > >>> Sears//Craftsman, ..........
> > >>
> > >>> With all that being said, for you guys who turn wrenches
> > >>> several times a week, what are you using/recommending?
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> --
> > >> Neil n
> > >>
> > >> Blog: Vanagons, Westfalia, general <http://tubaneil.blogspot.ca>
> > >>
> > >> 1988 Westy Images
> > >> <https://picasaweb.google.com/musomuso/New1988Westy
> >
> > >>
> > >> 1981 Westfalia "Jaco" Images, technical <http://tubaneil.googlepages.
> > com/>
> > >>
> > >> Vanagon-Bus VAG Gas Engine Swap Group
> > >> <http://tinyurl.com/khalbay>
> > >>
> >
> > .
> >
>