I remember catching some shit last time I talked about breaking one but since I'm a gluten for punishment I'm back for more.

Anyway I was changing the brake hose on my CTD the other day, had to remove the ABS sensor. So I put a 8mm 1/4 deep on the bracket bolt. I broke the POS with nothing more then a slight tap with my open hand to the ratchet handle. So needless to I'll be buying a Snap On to replace it. So is that abuse? :flipoff2:

That's why I don't have craftsman. :flipoff2:

I didn't think it was possible to break a socket that small.

That's why I don't have craftsman. :flipoff2:

I didn't think it was possible to break a socket that small.

I actually found that the "cheap" sockets in 3/4" drive and bigger seem to be more robust then the smaller cheap sockets.

A friend of mine broke TWO of my crapsman 1/4" 8mm sockets in one day...

That reminds, me... he never bought me new ones. Im gonna be pissed when I need that size someday.

A friend of mine broke TWO of my crapsman 1/4" 8mm sockets in one day...

That reminds, me... he never bought me new ones. Im gonna be pissed when I need that size someday.

Hell even if he did get you new ones you'd still be pissed cause they'd break in the middle of the job. :flipoff2:

I have a few Craftsman socket sets, but the Duralast brand ones I bought from Autozone have taken a serious beating and are barely scratched. For a cheap socket set, I am pretty impressed.

I used a 1/2" drive 1" or so socket on a 3' breaker bar with a Hi-Lift handle for a cheater to break a bolt loose on the trail one day. I jumped 3 feet of the ground and landed on the Hi-Lift handle, bolt came out with no socket breakage.

I'll take all you craftman stuff

I remember catching some shit last time I talked about breaking one but since I'm a gluten for punishment I'm back for more.

Maybe you shouldn't torque it wheat so much force! :shaking:

Maybe you shouldn't torque it wheat so much force! :shaking:

Funny stuff!!!


TECH: I'm sticking with my 15+ year old crapsman sockets, they seem to be of pretty high quality--- They will not be replaced with another brand unless I loose them....

Maybe you shouldn't torque it wheat so much force! :shaking:

Eh yea I fawked that up. :shaking:

Funny stuff!!!


TECH: I'm sticking with my 15+ year old crapsman sockets, they seem to be of pretty high quality--- They will not be replaced with another brand unless I loose them....

I don't know if it's because of size or age but I've had good luck with my 1/2" drive sockets, and they are the oldest out of the bunch. 3/8" drive seemed to be the worst, they have all been replaced with Snap On stuff.

But I thought Craftsman crap has a lifetime warranty so if it breaks just take it into the store and they hand you a new one? Or is that not with every thing they make....hmmmm.....

But I thought Craftsman crap has a lifetime warranty so if it breaks just take it into the store and they hand you a new one? Or is that not with every thing they make....hmmmm.....

They do but my sockets have started to break at an unacceptable frequency. Plus I have heard nothing but bad things about their newest sockets. I hate cheap tools and unfortunelty I have to put Craftsman sockets in the cheap tools category.

Well that's just craptacular then. haha. My Dad just bought this great big set of new Craftsman sockets because they are laser etched and have the size real big on the side of them. haha. Said it's gettin hard to see the other ones (he just turned 58). I'm sure they'll be fine for him, I don't think he gets too carried away anymore.

Well that's just craptacular then. haha. My Dad just bought this great big set of new Craftsman sockets because they are laser etched and have the size real big on the side of them. haha. Said it's gettin hard to see the other ones (he just turned 58). I'm sure they'll be fine for him, I don't think he gets too carried away anymore.

Yea, I have been giving most of my crafstman stuff to my old man, for what very little he does they work fine for him.

the Duralast brand ones I bought from Autozone have taken a serious beating and are barely scratched. For a cheap socket set, I am pretty impressed.


Duralast = Bluepoint, definately good cheap shit.

I broke my 3/8" drive Craftsman about 2 years ago when it was about 1/2 year old. No cheater bar or hammering, just gave up the ghost for no good reason. Sears replaced it for free though...

i absolutly hate and refuse craftsman stuff... I hate it. cheap shit.

on the other hand, i do have a stanley socket set and combo wrench set that are probably pushing 10 years old.. I love them. It's a small 8-18mm 3/8 drive set but i have beat the hell out of them and finally broke the ratchet. I have litterally stood on the ratchet i dont know how many times, put a 3' cheater pipe on it, used it as a hammer, lost it in gravel and mud a thousand times.. they are in my opinion, the ultimate in cheap tools.

I dont know how they are now that walmart is sellin them

for what is worth i have never broke a craftsman socket, but have broken a lot of ratchets...... always with a cheater bar.... last one was a sammi t case output shaft bolt..... case strapped to a 8 foot peice of c channel, boddy standing on the case, me with a 4+ ft bar second ratchet finished the job, i call that abuse and it got the job done..... my .02

I've split two Craftsman sockets. Both by hand and not with a cheater. Last one was while taking apart a 14B and was slowly pushing harder and harder trying to get it to break loose. Looking at both of them after they broke I'd say it was a casting flaw rather than design or anything. Both times I had no argument with getting them replaced, but the last one I had to wait nearly a month for them to get one in stock to exchange for me and I admit that did torque me off.

My 3/8" Craftsman ratchet needs to have the lever held over while under load when tightening or it just spins. I took it in but could not duplicate the fault, so they didn't see a problem and won't replace it. Have to put a bolt in something and take that in with me to demonstrate to them.

Other than that, I can't really complain about Craftsman.

i absolutly hate and refuse craftsman stuff... I hate it. cheap shit.

on the other hand, i do have a stanley socket set and combo wrench set that are probably pushing 10 years old.. I love them. It's a small 8-18mm 3/8 drive set but i have beat the hell out of them and finally broke the ratchet. I have litterally stood on the ratchet i dont know how many times, put a 3' cheater pipe on it, used it as a hammer, lost it in gravel and mud a thousand times.. they are in my opinion, the ultimate in cheap tools.

I dont know how they are now that walmart is sellin them

Go by walmart, get the 800# off the back of something Stanley, call it and have the ratchet replaced. :flipoff2:
I have one of the smaller inch/metric Stanley sets in about every vehicle. I look for them at flea markets/pawn shops to find the stuff that was USA made.

Older Craftsman stuff, early 90's or so = Stanley, I cant remember what year their contracts changed.

I was in sears over the weekend waiting for the wife in the mall. Picked up a catalog to look at while waiting for her and Sears carries a mill/drill in the new catalog, not sure how long they have had it. It looks to be a Rong-Fu with different decals that Enco has for about half the price.

Snap On All the way, it may cost more in the begining but in the long run it will save you knuckles time and frustration plus gas money for haveing to drive out someshere to replace it. Not saying I haven't used craftsman I think I still have some sockets but thats it maybe one set of open/box up to 1 1/2". There quality has really gone down hill in the last 5yrs or so. And I make my living turning a wrench. I'm service Tech for a Harvester Company. I think if you don't loose your tools and take care of them Start small and buy good tools, If not and you don't care about them then buy HF specials I think I have lost a 3/8 Snap On ratchet and a pair of Linesmans pliers in the last 7 yrs. Start small and work your way up. little at a time. just my .02 Take it or leave it

I use Craftsman, Snap On, Matco, Mac, Cornwell, Harbor Freight, OTC, etc and haven't had any real issues I take care of all the toolboxes at work (work in the tool room) so I have a good idea of what lasts and what doesn't.

They all break from time to time. Some of the dealers were impossible to deal with Been ordering all Matco stuff lately since the Snap On guy I was going through is an ass clown.

I personally think if you stick with just one brand you aren't always getting the best tool.

I don't know about the newer Craftsman (doesn't sound good), but I have some really old Craftsman stuff that has held up extremely well. Then again I've been doing this long enough that I know when it's time to break out the impact sockets and HD 3/4" drive ratchet. I don't know how many guys I've seen break standard duty 1/2" drive ratchets with 4 foot breaker bars. Snap-on, Mac, whatever, they all break.

I personally think if you stick with just one brand you aren't always getting the best tool.

My box is some what diverisfied for that reason. However, Snap On sockets and wrenches are bar none the best money can buy.

I dont have too many issues out of my older (10+ yrs) craftsman. Although I have refused to buy anything from Sears lately due to the above mentioned problems. The ratchets I have bought recently (Needed something quick) have all had problems and I'm tired of returning them to Sears..

I have recently started replacing everything with Snap-On.. WOW what a difference a quality tool makes. But be prepared to hand over your wallet and take out a second mortgage on the house to get a full set.. They are expensive.

On a third note Stanley Tools owns MAC tools. I've never had problems with the MAC tools I own or heard anyone else complain about them. I wonder how different the tools stamped Stanley are from those stamped MAC. There's definitely a price difference. I've also heard that the cobalt line of tools at Lowes is pretty good quality comparable to that of the original craftsman.. Anyone have any experience with them?

All my stuff is craftsman, except for one small Kobalt socket set, and my Snap-On torque wrench.

Duralast = Bluepoint, definately good cheap shit.

Can you positively verify this? Definitely an interesting claim...

Can you positively verify this? Definitely an interesting claim...

Can't provide actual proof, but my snap-on rep told me bluepoint and duralast are made in the same factory in Taiwan. Just compare a duralast, snap-on, and blue point ratchet... they all look identical.

Snap on

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/OBJECTS/35000/34973.JPG

duralast

http://www.autozone.com/images/products/dur/dur72-126003.jpg

My box is some what diverisfied for that reason. However, Snap On sockets and wrenches are bar none the best money can buy.

Same here, but I almost shed a tear yesterday when I split a 15mm deep 3/8 Snap-On socket. Now I have to go and find a vendor....

Same here, but I almost shed a tear yesterday when I split a 15mm deep 3/8 Snap-On socket. Now I have to go and find a vendor....

http://www.snapon.com/customer_service/dealer_finder_pg1.asp, enter your zip and it will give you the number for your local customer service center. They can put you in touch with the local dealer.

Can't provide actual proof, but my snap-on rep told me bluepoint and duralast are made in the same factory in Taiwan. Just compare a duralast, snap-on, and blue point ratchet... they all look identical.

Snap on

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/OBJECTS/35000/34973.JPG

duralast

http://www.autozone.com/images/products/dur/dur72-126003.jpg

I can promise you they are not the same. Especially the snap on brand, all snap on branded tools are made in the US. It's been discussed several times on here and other sites, duralast tools are copy cats.

I can promise you they are not the same. Especially the snap on brand, all snap on branded tools are made in the US. It's been discussed several times on here and other sites, duralast tools are copy cats.

Yea, they are made in the same factory as blue point.

I dont have too many issues out of my older (10+ yrs) craftsman. Although I have refused to buy anything from Sears lately due to the above mentioned problems. The ratchets I have bought recently (Needed something quick) have all had problems and I'm tired of returning them to Sears..

I have recently started replacing everything with Snap-On.. WOW what a difference a quality tool makes. But be prepared to hand over your wallet and take out a second mortgage on the house to get a full set.. They are expensive.

On a third note Stanley Tools owns MAC tools. I've never had problems with the MAC tools I own or heard anyone else complain about them. I wonder how different the tools stamped Stanley are from those stamped MAC. There's definitely a price difference. I've also heard that the cobalt line of tools at Lowes is pretty good quality comparable to that of the original craftsman.. Anyone have any experience with them?

Stanley Owns ALOT of stuff... MAC tool is the largest company Stanley Owns and they are about 5% of Stanley. The tools are nothing alike. Two totaly seperate lines of tools.

Yea, they are made in the same factory as blue point.

And you don't think it was possibly for that factory to copy the Blue Point design and label them as Duralast? Vatozone knows their tools look like Snap On with the hope people are fooled into thinking they are re-badged Snap On tools.

And you don't think it was possibly for that factory to copy the Blue Point design and label them as Duralast? Vatozone knows their tools look like Snap On with the hope people are fooled into thinking they are re-badged Snap On tools.

Possibly, but why would my snap-off rep tell me that they are made in the same factory?

Possibly, but why would my snap-off rep tell me that they are made in the same factory?

:laughing: I heard from mine they are Blue Point and Duralast are not the same. No idea why he'd say that but I have learned that tool dealers can be a great source of misinformation.

My box is some what diverisfied for that reason. However, Snap On sockets and wrenches are bar none the best money can buy.

Try some Wright stuff sometime and you'll likely change your tune.

Try some Wright stuff sometime and you'll likely change your tune.

Maybe on the sockets, but nothing will ever come close to being as good as the open end of a flank drive plus wrench. I actually use them in place of line wrenches, they are that good.

Old craftsman = good, new craftsman = shit.

Still running alot of craftsman stuff, but when it cuts lose its replaced by either Mac or Snapon.

Old craftsman = good, new craftsman = shit.

Still running alot of craftsman stuff, but when it cuts lose its replaced by either Mac or Snapon.

x1000

I am a MAC distrbutor and I think MAC, SNAP-ON, and MATCO make the best stuff out there. Some stuff we do a little better some stuff they do a little better, none of it is junk though its all quality tools. Kinda odd hearing a tool man saying the other guys make nice stuff huh? :D I don;t bull shit my guys by telling them lies like some the others do... My guys are smart enough to know whats good and whats not and they appriciate me being up front and honest with them.