Good cheap tool vs. pricey tool discussion

[Thehead]

I've heard that about their ratchets. Have a buddy who has all the sizes in duplicate/triplicate and he went and bought a set of these on top of that cause he liked them so much.

How does the average Joe get tools swapped from Snap-on? No truck comes by my house. Are there local stores or something too?

WELLLLLLLL, you could give them to a friend that is a tech, or you can find a dealer in your area and catch up with them at a stop or give them a call and meet up with them. Most of the tool guys are good guys but on occasion you will run into an asshole. Those guys don't usually last very long though.

[EW]

How does the average Joe get tools swapped from Snap-on? No truck comes by my house. Are there local stores or something too?

I mail them to Snap-On.

[ceyko]

I mail them to Snap-On.

Did not really think of that as an option.

Those ideas would probably work too Thehead - thanks!

[68RR]

An old adage was : " A poor mechanic can't afford cheap tools".
Been turning wrenches on cars since 68', and since 86' on aircraft for American. Started out with Craftsman and slowly accumulated my "collection" of Snap-On, Mac, Proto, Bonney and others. IMHO, cheap made tool that round off fasteners, break nuckles, and take longer to do a job aren't worth it. I can understand not wanting to tie up a lot of money on tools that aren't used frequently, but as low priced as Craftsman tool are, why buy that imported chinese stuff??? Like many have said before, flea markets, pawn shops, and want ads are a great source of picking up good tools at a good price.
I just prefer to buy american made over imported.

Bill

[turbos66coupe]

Most of my stuff is Snap-on or Matco with some random craftsman and HF stuff. I have broken quite a lot of tools. I will not use anything but a snap-on ratchet. The new 80tooth stuff is the bomb diggity. I have only stripped one ratchet and had it fixed on the truck in a couple of days. As for wrenches, I like the snap-on and cornwell(cheaper then snap-on and decent) but most of what I use is a set of gearwrenches. They are super strong and have never broke one in the last 10 years using them every day. I have only broken one snap-on impact socket in the last 10+years and that was my 17mm that i use EVERY DAY for lug bolts. Tools are going to break if you use them enough but the lower end tools just break quicker then some of the more expensive ones. Convience of a tool man every week also has some value to it when wrenching for a living. I do have some HF tools including a set of standard wrenches that I keep in a tool bag and a few air tools that don't get much use. Over all I think that you get what you pay for either in quality, service, longevity,or convience, BUT just because it costs more doesn't necessarily make it a better tool. You may be paying for the service.

if you like the 80tooth try the 100 tooth its awesome. Buy tools is like anything else you have to be a smart consumer. A guy in his garage would be crazy to buy all the name brand stuff cause as christian said its the service that brings up the cost as well as the exstensive research and development they put into theese tools. All the way down to the littlest stuff. Like snapons flank drive wrenches. The open end is designed to act like a line wrench and it reduces rounded bolts trust me! But buying the cheaper blue point stuff from snap on is a waste as it is all repackaged crap with a snap on price tag. Pawn shops, flea markets are great tool places. I just bought a snap on digital torque wrench 1/2 drive brand new with an angle gauge built in does ft lbs, n.m., and rotaional torque etc for 100 dollars at a pawn shop saved me 300 from buying it on the truck.

[Thehead]

if you like the 80tooth try the 100 tooth its awesome.

I think my new 1/2 long swivel head ratched is the 100 tooth. I love these new ratchets....

[scootro]

will sears warranty rusty craftsman tools? just asking cause i know i have a few that are rusty lol...



nvm i found these topics

http://consumerist.com/2007/03/clarification-craftsman-lifetime-warranty-doesnt-apply-to-rusty-tools.html

http://community.craftsman.com/Tools/topics/Rusty/posts?forum=Tools

[ceyko]

just break them and then exchange them.

[Rotortrash]

will sears warranty rusty craftsman tools? just asking cause i know i have a few that are rusty lol...



nvm i found these topics

http://consumerist.com/2007/03/clarification-craftsman-lifetime-warranty-doesnt-apply-to-rusty-tools.html

http://community.craftsman.com/Tools...ts?forum=Tools

At sears, it seems to depend on whos working. I've actually seen someone exchange some tools they found under water. I've also seen them refuse to exchange actual broken tools, claiming they were abused. I've learned to find the little teenage girl being forced to work in the tool department, she'll exchange anything. Don't go to the old timer working there to supplement his Social Security, he'll deny you every time.

I once needed a 90 degree wrench, somthing like a 1". I heated my craftsman wrench, bent it and used it. I then took it to Sears and exchanged it for a new one, convincing the 16 year old girl I did it "accidently".

[ceyko]

curity, he'll deny you every time.

I once needed a 90 degree wrench, somthing like a 1". I heated my craftsman wrench, bent it and used it. I then took it to Sears and exchanged it for a new one, convincing the 16 year old girl I did it "accidently".

Hell, I thought that was the point of these lifetime warranty tools for a lot of people. Modify them and if one time use exchange it again.