New craftsmans

[DBogo]

did anyone get the new craftsman cataloge in the mail that has the titanium coated blue tools there pretty sweet looking and you can get your name laser etched in them

 

[SKargo]

Those are crazy looking. I like the laser etching idea though.

 

[woodsrat]

the etching looks good but if you break somthing the replacement wont get etched.

 

[BarryG]

I just got done looking at it. Those did look pretty good. Realy liked the etching.

 

[willysrule]

Cool idea if you work at a garage, everyone would know who's tools they were...



I'll pass on jumping on that thou... I'm really unhappy with most of my current "crapsman" tools, I've found myself making many more trips to sears than I use to... the quality just isn't there anymore in most of the common hand tools...



Slowly, when I have some extra cash, I have been replacing my whole tool box with Snap-On stuff, pricey, but the quality is much higher...

 

[LesStallings]

Slowly, when I have some extra cash, I have been replacing my whole tool box with Snap-On stuff, pricey, but the quality is much higher...

I know what you mean. I only will buy Craftsman Professional from Sears. They seem to be fairly good quality for the price, but no where near Snap-On or some of the others. Still, the Professional series does have a good price break.

 

[DavidBurt]

The craftsman ratchets have really gotten bad those things are just junk.

Dave

 

[jwgary]

The craftsman ratchets have really gotten bad those things are just junk.

Dave

I didn't want to hear that. I just discovered the other day that the locking ball on my 1/4" drive ratchet is sticking and it won't hold on to the sockets anymore. I was thinking about taking it back for a replacement, but maybe I will try harder to get it unstuck. Any ideas?

 

[Nate]

I've had more trouble with Snap On ratchets than Craftsman for one reason or another. Most of the time we can't get the Snap On stuff replaced because it's used "commerically". Craftsman... . they never ask.



Snap On does the etching as well.

 

[RacinDuallie]

I didn't want to hear that. I just discovered the other day that the locking ball on my 1/4" drive ratchet is sticking and it won't hold on to the sockets anymore. I was thinking about taking it back for a replacement, but maybe I will try harder to get it unstuck. Any ideas?

Try soaking it in Radiator fluid

 

[dmhollister]

I didn't want to hear that. I just discovered the other day that the locking ball on my 1/4" drive ratchet is sticking and it won't hold on to the sockets anymore. I was thinking about taking it back for a replacement, but maybe I will try harder to get it unstuck. Any ideas?

try using diesel.



I had just taken one of my craftsman ratchets in for replacement and they gave me a rebuilt one, not one off the shelf. I was quite surprised at this, because I have always gotten one off the shelf for replacement. However, at work we have been rebuilding proto (stanley) ratchets for several years instead of replacing. eventually all the moving parts stuff will break.

 

[Turbo1Ton]

I had just taken one of my craftsman ratchets in for replacement and they gave me a rebuilt one, not one off the shelf. I was quite surprised at this, because I have always gotten one off the shelf for replacement.

Word on the street is that if you walk into a Sears with a broken craftsman ratchet and ask for a replacement, they will pull out a rebuilt one and give it to you. That is information from a friend of mine. Not sure how true it is.



I always go to the shelf and grab a new one and then go to the checkout counter. Never had them say anything about it. Just ring it up however they do it and go on my way.



Jeff

 

[dmhollister]

Word on the street is that if you walk into a Sears with a broken craftsman ratchet and ask for a replacement, they will pull out a rebuilt one and give it to you. That is information from a friend of mine. Not sure how true it is.



I always go to the shelf and grab a new one and then go to the checkout counter. Never had them say anything about it. Just ring it up however they do it and go on my way.



Jeff

I had done the same thing Jeff, grabbed new off the shelf and at the checkout, the clerk pulled a rebuilt one out of a drawer, and said that they have to use those rachets as replacements before they can give a new one. As long as when this rachet breaks I can get one that works, that is all I am worried about.

 

[DBogo]

yup they will give you a rebuilt one they are the best quality ones they have the new ones have plastic internals i broke a few of them but the rebuilts have been great

 

[DavidBurt]

As far as the sticky ball for socket retention soak it in diesel fuel as was said or wd-40, pb blaster or some type of penetrating oil for a while.

I have had better luck with the new off the shelf ratchets than the rebuilt ones. And I was under the impression that they had to give you a new ratchet if you didn't want the rebuilt one???

Dave B.

 

[Nate]

Dunno. I've never broken a ratchet yet. I've put 4ft pipe on my 1/2" one, figuring it would break, but that bolt needed to come off. Still going strong. I use my Craftsman sockets as impact sockets. A few extensions are getting sloppy, but otherwise they still work great.

 

[Spooled-up]

I was kind of surprised that I got a rebuilt ratchet when the internals of one of mine broke. When I got it home, I saw that it still had the name of the previous owner scratched in the chrome!

 

[willysrule]

I've had more trouble with Snap On ratchets than Craftsman for one reason or another. Most of the time we can't get the Snap On stuff replaced because it's used "commerically". Craftsman... . they never ask.

I get my snap-on stuff at work, I use my snap-on stuff at home but our tool guy doesn't know that, he thinks I use them at work. He NEVER question replacing something, he don't even look at the broken one... I've turned in tools that were visibly used incorrectly, like a broken screwdriver that the handle was beaten with a hammer... I hate to abuse my tools, but sometimes there just isn’t a “right” tool for the job…



The manager at sears told me that you have a choice, and if you push the issue they will give you a "new" off the shelf tool if you refuse to take the "rebuild"

 

[cruiser_2]

I have used both sets of tools. Most aviation guys use Craftsman mainly cause they are cheap. I worked as a professional auto/diesel mechanic and always used snap-on. Many years ago, the tool dealer disassembled the ratchet and installed replacement gear ect. Never had a dealer even question my use of tools, never looked at them, whether I abused them or not. I even modified them for my own use and they still warrantied them.



Other reason to use Snap-on is they come to you. My dealer even comes to my house. You can't beat that.

 

[J Shocik]

If you go to Sears for a replacement rachet & they try to give you a "rebuilt" one, make a stink about it, saying " This is the rebuilt one, I just got it earlier today, and it broke. I want a new one!!" I do this & get the new one every time without any problem.