Step in the right direction!

 

Started out as a Craftsman tool guy but after 5 years of hard use they are starting to all break. Even my 3 rachet already need replacing. Now everytime I need a new tool I look at DeWalt tools first. Not as good as Snap On but its a step up from Craftsman for a reasonable price.

 

I didn't even know DeWalt made hand tools. I've only seen DeWalt electric tools.

 

DeWalt electric tools, is what I meant.
As far as hand tools, Husky's (Home Depot) got a pretty good value too. Although you can't really beat Sears lifetime warranty on Craftsman's hand tools.

 

I see. Yeah, I was never much for Craftsman electric tools. I think a lot of them were made by other companies and Sears just put the label on them.

 

I should have made this thread a poll, but will say a lot of us do have and use craftsman tools.

 

of course because again not too many of us make a living with hand tools

 

Well, in that context

But its that way with most professions. If your making your living with something than you normally go for the absolute best. Yes there are better tools out there than craftsman my vote for the best is these

http://www.samstagsales.com/hazet.htm

But in the interim craftsman tools fit that niche that most of us need them for.

 

Plus, Craftsman has different lines of tools and some are of higher quality and cost.

I think for me, the difference comes down to training. I was taught not to use a ratchet to break a seized or over-torqued fastener. That was the job of the breaker bar. The bar could take the punishment of an extension handle, smacks with a hammer, whatever. After the siezed fastener was losened, you would switch back to the ratchet. I don't give my ratchets hell, so they have lasted for decades. Breaker bars are cheap compared to ratchets, so I think it is still more cost effective to have one of each from Craftsman than it is to buy one expensive ratchet.

I think today that people don't want to take the time to switch from one drive to the other and they want a ratchet that they can beat on.