Tool Thread
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From: Smalltown
Originally Posted by Legal Bill,Apr 16 2009, 09:18 AM
Plus, I think mechanics buy Snap On out of peer pressure. If they have Craftsmen stuff, their co-workers probably make fun of them.
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From: Crack house in Norton, MA
Originally Posted by Legal Bill,Apr 16 2009, 09:17 AM
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.
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From: Crack house in Norton, MA
Originally Posted by Legal Bill,Apr 16 2009, 09:30 AM
If you don't have room for a bar, then you don't have room for an extension on the handle of the ratchet either. BUT, you will have room for a wrench and you can bang on that too.
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From: Canton, MA
Nope, I've never broken a Craftsman ratchet just using it with my hand. I don't hammer on them and I don't stand on them while trying to remove a fastener. I also don't brace my body weight against the fender of the car and then lean back with my weight to try and pull the fastener free. In other words, if I feel the amount of force I am using is excessive, I switch to a breaker bar, or a closed end wrench.
I once broke a quarter inch drive craftsman ratchet using it with a pipe extension and a hammer. Dumb idea and I learned my lesson.
I once broke a quarter inch drive craftsman ratchet using it with a pipe extension and a hammer. Dumb idea and I learned my lesson.
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From: Manchvegas, NH
Originally Posted by Legal Bill,Apr 16 2009, 08:18 AM
Plus, I think mechanics buy Snap On out of peer pressure. If they have Craftsmen stuff, their co-workers probably make fun of them.
What are those 
Snap-on is not the only choice of the pros , there is Cornwell , Mac , Matco ... etc . I dont criticize Craftsman .. so leave my Snap-on tools alone
Bill we need a rap this morning
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When I was in the AF, all our tool boxes were Snapon. I've seen Snapon tools broken (being used properly, mind you). And I've seen us wait literally weeks to get a replacement (and that's when funds were not an issue) from the Snapon guy. Keep in mind that most of the tool kits on the base were filled with Snapon tools, and you'll understand why I stick to my Craftsman tools.
At work now, we use Craftsman tools. They're easy to replace and have the same lifetime warranty. And believe me, some of the places we have to reach with those tools make your cars look like child's play
Ironically, I did indeed break one of my Craftsman 3/8" drive ratchets this past weekend - however, I had a backup and will be heading over to Sears tomorrow to replace the one that's skipping. For less than half the price, I have what I feel to be better tools and I don't have to try to find a Snapon guy to replace my broken tools.
Power tools, I prefer DeWalt. I do have a Ryobi router (just b/c I didn't want to spend $200 on a router at the time), but it will be upgraded to DeWault sooner or later.
At work now, we use Craftsman tools. They're easy to replace and have the same lifetime warranty. And believe me, some of the places we have to reach with those tools make your cars look like child's play
Ironically, I did indeed break one of my Craftsman 3/8" drive ratchets this past weekend - however, I had a backup and will be heading over to Sears tomorrow to replace the one that's skipping. For less than half the price, I have what I feel to be better tools and I don't have to try to find a Snapon guy to replace my broken tools.
Power tools, I prefer DeWalt. I do have a Ryobi router (just b/c I didn't want to spend $200 on a router at the time), but it will be upgraded to DeWault sooner or later.
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Originally Posted by Legal Bill,Apr 16 2009, 09:54 AM
Nope, I've never broken a Craftsman ratchet just using it with my hand. I don't hammer on them and I don't stand on them while trying to remove a fastener. I also don't brace my body weight against the fender of the car and then lean back with my weight to try and pull the fastener free. In other words, if I feel the amount of force I am using is excessive, I switch to a breaker bar, or a closed end wrench.
I once broke a quarter inch drive craftsman ratchet using it with a pipe extension and a hammer. Dumb idea and I learned my lesson.
I once broke a quarter inch drive craftsman ratchet using it with a pipe extension and a hammer. Dumb idea and I learned my lesson.
Still works, just not as smooth as it should be. Won't be beating on a ratchet again...