Sears tool size conspiracy?

[Briar Hopper]

This is strictly satire, all in fun... . don't nobody take it the wrong way!

Ever notice with your Craftsman tools, the size you need is the next size up from the size the set stops at? For example, I have a set of "shorty" wrenches, the SAE set stops at 3/4, and I need a 7/8..... NOT AVAILABLE. The metric set stops at 18mm, and I need a 19mm... . NOT AVAILABLE... .

Same thing for sockets... . It's a safe bet for all of you that started out with Craftsman, that you now have two to four different brands in your toolbox, like Snap-On, Matco, Great Neck(AutoZone's brand) S-K, and names nobody ever heard of. Even the ones that have no name, just a made-in-China stamp on them. All because only another brand offered the extra size you needed. Funny, but annoying, unless you're one of the lucky few to have a complete Snap-On set.

Not quite as hilarious as a Whitworth tool set for working on the little old British sports cars, but it's up there in the giggles and thrown-tools department !

 

[Rob Thomas]

I hear ya Tom, I ran into the 7/8 shorty bit last week, bring out the torches!



Later, Rob

 

[tgbol]

Just when you have cut, ground, and bent your wrenches to do the job some SOB comes along and steals the box with all of the customs in it. Absolutely useless to them, but gold to you.

 

[QRTRHRS]

About a week ago, I saw Sears had 1/4" deepwells half price. When I went into the store, I saw these specials and thier "el cheapo" 1/4 inchers there. For a minute there, I though they "had me". I walked to the socket display and they did indeed have the Craftsman brand 1/4" on sale so I grabbed both metric and standard.



I was thinking though, some poor schmuck might grab el cheapo for 9. 99 when he could have had the regular for the same price.

 

[jcbrown]

Next Size...

... is usually available seperately in the tools section or by ordering from catalog. I have found a use for the 5. 5 mm socket.

 

[jerryrigg]

Don't forget the "Creeper" factor.....

when working under the truck you grab the wrenches and sockets you'll need for the job layback on the creeper and roll under the truck your down to the last nut or bolt and it's metric instead of SAE... ... oh s**t



-Matt

 

[ladyjaine]

Selective Gravity

Yeah and a busted bit tossed towards the trash can will be a flubbed throw when it sticks to your fingers. The gadget a buddy tosses towards you, slips through your grasp and lands under the sofa.



Anyone run into the Japanese version of a Phillips head screw? Screws are "plus" and "minus" to the Japanese and the "plus" grooves aren't shaped like Phillips are. They are flat.



Jean

 

[mikel]

The one that REALLY steams me is the "set" that is not complete. I have seen many wrench sets that skip sizes, for example a metric set with 9, 10, 12, 15, and 16. Where the HE!! is the 11 and 13???? Freakin' irritates the @#$@$@ outa me.



Since you asked





Mike

 

[willyslover]

" Funny, but annoying, unless you're one of the lucky few to have a complete Snap-On set"... . Guess I'm one of the lucky ones. . funnier yet is how lucky I was to pay for them too LOL

[Oh and Tom quit doing this "This is strictly satire, all in fun... . don't nobody take it the wrong way!". . we love ya man]

 

[illflem]

The same thing seems to apply to adjustable end (Crescent) wrenches also, seems that many times they're like a sixteenth short of the nut when open all the way.

 

[WadePatton]

When I started wrenching on my cars at 16, all the bolts were SAE on my 1974 model. Then I got into German cars for some time and got used to ALL metric. Then I come back to "domestic" products and find them not only mixed SAE/metric, but FREAKING USELESS sizes on stuff you'd never find on a german car like 16 and 18mm. Germans think that 13,14,15,17,19,21 cover it nicely--and it DOES.



Don't start me on Sears.

 

[Gizmo 007]

Originally posted by illflem

The same thing seems to apply to adjustable end (Crescent) wrenches also, seems that many times they're like a sixteenth short of the nut when open all the way.

I got a cure for that. Bought a cheap crecent at a tool sale. It's 4 feet long, with jaws that open to 4" and close to 1/4" . Overkill?

 

[tgbol]

Gizmo 007

But at some time you will need 4 1/32 wrench

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

For the SAE/Metric thing try a set of Metrench sockets. I bought mine off of the infomercial and they work awesome. I believe you can buy just the sockets now and that's what I'd get. The open ended wrenches suck (the closed end side works great) and the ratchet that they came with busted but the sockets work great and I haven't busted one yet. In case your not familiar with them they work on sae and metric fasteners. If you want a bigger one you just grab the next size - doesn't matter if it's SAE or metric. They work great getting on rounded off stuff too.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Originally posted by tgbol

Gizmo 007

But at some time you will need 4 1/32 wrench

In that case, did you ever hear the term "beat it with a stick". Or a big wrench, maybe?

 

[QRTRHRS]

Originally posted by WadePatton

When I started wrenching on my cars at 16, all the bolts were SAE on my 1974 model. Then I got into German cars for some time and got used to ALL metric. Then I come back to "domestic" products and find them not only mixed SAE/metric, but FREAKING USELESS sizes on stuff you'd never find on a german car like 16 and 18mm. Germans think that 13,14,15,17,19,21 cover it nicely--and it DOES.



Don't start me on Sears.

Reminds me of a job I had about that age. I was doing new car prep on VW beetles. The head mechanic had all the tools he needed in one tool tray. (Except the specialized VW tools which the dealer had. )



Now days, you need a 2 grand chest cabinet configuration to hold everything you need.

 

[nickleinonen]

Originally posted by tgbol

Gizmo 007

But at some time you will need 4 1/32 wrench

at that point, you get a pipe wrench out. in my tool box at work i have 5 pipe wrenches and i use them daily, and i am an apprentice mechanic, not a plumber . the 8", 10", 12" ones get used on pipes and fittings, but the two 18" ones i have get used on everything. they become hammers, prybars, and wrenches. they work great, especially with a 48" cheater bar on the end. [not too bad, i've only broken one in 3 months time. they are a dime a dozen at work. a saying at work that applys here "there's the right way, the wrong way and the rail way" :-laf]

 

[Briar Hopper]

Steve's right, the Metrinch stuff is great, I even have two sets, and one stays with the truck at all times. BUT... . there are a few fasteners here and there, that it's useless for. The starter bolts, for example, need a 12 point socket. We rarely use the Metrinch in the shop, we have metric Snap-On sets that work best.

And those nasty little 8mm hex head bolts holding the rear driveshaft u-joint straps? I'd like to curse the Chrysler engineer who came up with that, to a lifetime of busted sockets and rounded off bolt heads on EVERY project he attempts... .

I ended up getting a 3/8" drive six-point Snap-On impact socket, 8mm, specifically for that. Works like a charm. And in the rare case where a bolt was rounded off by the previous mechanic to touch it, our Metrinch sockets get it right out.

Know where I bought the Metrinch sets? Three guesses? Sears. Yup. They had them on a special sale a couple years ago! LOL

 

[bmoeller]

I bought a set of Metrinch tools at Sears also. I keep them in my truck mostly. Kept them in the combine this fall and they worked great. Just wish they put 15mm socket in there. They also work great on compression fittings when a normal flare-nut wrench won't fit over the line and a regular open-end wants to slip.

 

[Brandon]

snapon only... . they deliver when you are in a jam..... can I say anymore, when you make a living from your tools you cant beat them





BTW..... Mike mearse you rock, thanks for everything you do for me!