 TOOLS? revisited
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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OP
Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
I'm just curious as to why Matt's (Leithal) thread "TOOLS?" was placed in the The Vault. He clearly stated he didn't want to post there because no one could leave comments. I (and I'm sure others) would like to chime in with ideas and thoughts on the topic. What say ye powers that be? Can we open this discussion for Matt? 
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: TOOLS? revisited
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
First I know we have a tool thread in the vault but I can't post anything there.
I was just gonna ask if any of you have any opinions of the following. Kobalt, Craftsman, Husky and of course Snap-on. I've owned all and still have most of them around, and all have a liftime warrenty.
Speaking of hand tools, rachets, sockets, wrenches, ect.. but if you wanna add/comment on anything else please feel free.
So....... whats yer opinion?
We could do it ourselves and see if the mods object. They'll let us know :-)
So Matt, I have a collection spanning well into the mid 20th century because I "inherited" some of my wife's grandfathers bits from his tenure in the Bell System. I also have my first mechanics set of Craftsman metrics, purchased in 1973, a 1/2" a basic set of sockets and the ratchet is still in tip top condition. Very well made. I asked a tool vendor once and he wa under the impression that Crafstman, Kobalt and S&K were manufactured by the same company to the specs of the brand. I know first hand about "badging" products so I don't find this unreasonable to believe but I have no knowledge of tool origins when it comes to actual manufacturing. That's really another discussion.
I find this to be true, if you want a tool to last, buy a known brand. If you want a tool for a job, charge for it and use it up...that's the contractors creed. So less expensive knock offs make economic sense.
The better Kobalt is akin to Craftsman and S&K, tools that feel good in your hand and are dependable and sturdy. You can readily separate out the expendable tools that are also members of these brands...and that's a new feature of the past decade and a half, they've introduced lower quality bits into otherwise fine tool lines.
Don't have any Mac tools but I'd bet they're fine. The Mechanics linemfrom Ace hardware holds up very well too and looks suspiciously like Craftsman. I tend to stay away from Harbor Freight and flea markets. Sometimes those things are okay but I look at my tools as an investment and I want that long term pay back. Not to say you can't find a bargain and be well satisfied...I'd just bet they won't endure like my first tools have.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: TOOLS? revisited
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 155
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 155 |
Quote:
I was just gonna ask if any of you have any opinions of the following. Kobalt, Craftsman, Husky and of course Snap-on. I've owned all and still have most of them around, and all have a liftime warrenty........ whats yer opinion?
When I worked for Mac tools years ago they went through several iterations of "Lifetime warranty" and for a while made their distributors eat the cost of returns, all because Sears offered a lifetime warranty so Mac had to do the same. Sears did it for good will and to get customers back in the store where they usually bought something else on visits to return tools. Mac tools were/are a good quality and at the time I was there introduced a polished finish line to compete with Snap-on at perhaps 20% less than the Snap-on price. Snap-on distributors made much of their income from interest on payment plans offered to mechanics on their expensive tools, While Mac distributors did not benefit from a company run payment plan. Snap-on had patents on their "flank-drive" which was an advantage and a good feature that Mac incorporated when the patent period expired, so there was little difference in function and materials between the two and little cosmetic difference when Mac switched most products to the full polish finish. Both are very good tools.
I also worked 24 years for the company that makes Craftsman hand tools (not the "Sears" brand which come from off shore) and the Craftsman brand is close to the same quality at a much lower price; they also moved to the full polish finish on the Craftsman line so there is little difference today between Craftsman, Snap-on, and Mac besides price and a possible slightly wider variation in Craftsman size specifications (read quality control in opening sizes) brought about by Sears pressure in maintaining low prices to them since Craftsman tools are 85 to 90% of the production of the company (or it was up to 2004 when I left there)
I don't know much about Kobalt, but I believe it is an off-shore product and has a different plating finish than the nickle-Chrome used by the three previously mentioned. Husky is an old US company name that's been around a long time like Blackhawk, Williams, and others but I don't know where they are made today.
BTW, I still have and use a 13 pc set of Craftsman wrenches I bought at a Sears & Roebuck in Ohio over 55 years ago and they look just like the traditional Craftsman matte finish, panel wrenches still made today except for the single "V" stamp indicating they were made by Moore Drop Forging of Springfield, Massachusetts before all wrench production was moved to Springdale, Arkansas. Moore Drop Forge also made tools for Ford Model Ts and N tractors back in the day.
Phil in Northwest Arkansas
04 America, Black, Corbin seat, TORs, no AI, 34K
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