Tools are on order!

[Jaymez]

James, why go with an air saw, just out of curiosity? A right angle grinder with a cut-off wheel will go through spring bolts (and shackles LOL) with no trouble, and does double duty as a rust remover with a wire wheel. A good one, (Dewalt) will set you back 80 bux at Costco. And if you are as dumb as me, you can grind some skin off your arm with a rust remover disc!

I used a die grinder to cut the bolts for the front springs and it was more work than it's worth. The air saw will fit right in there and I won't have to worry about the occasional rotational kick back.

I swear, every time I work on my Square Body I end up breaking tools. The majority of my hand tools are all Craftsman because when they were bought they were the most reliable and affordable brand around. Here, you can only buy Mac or Snap On online or off the truck if you work for a garage that they stop at.

Most of my air tools are CH brand. I've only had one complete failure when the bearing in my DA seized and turn it into a grinder while doing some prep work.

 

[HotRodPC]

Most of mine are Craftsman, because I bought them way back in the early 80's when they still had good warranty. Most of my wreches say Forged in USA on them, but beleive it or not, I have some that say Forged in Japan, and thats about when I started thinking twice about Craftsman tools. The Forged in Japan things didn't last long though. It hurt them so bad, they came back to USA within a year.

 

[RetroC10Sport]

i have had one of the japan wrenches. Quite honestly, it was better quality than what Danaher puts out today.

 

[Irishman999]

I bought the big Craftsman socket set from Home Depot last year (black ones) and am more than satisfied with them. The only complaint is the black finish, they look different and cool but if you leave them in the sun to long the tools are searing hot and burn the **** out of your hands. Under 200 bucks was not bad for a good set of 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 drive.

 

[HotRodPC]

i have had one of the japan wrenches. Quite honestly, it was better quality than what Danaher puts out today.

You are right. The quality wasn't bad, it was still Craftsman quality, but I think people and myself, sure thought twice after seeing Forged in Japan. Although I have seen some newer Craftsman items at my neighbors house, some ratcheting thin boxed end wrenches with a nice looking Snap On look alike finish that look to be pretty good. It would be great is Craftsman makes a come back. I always thought they were a much better price point and decent quality where Snap On, Mac, and Matco, although very good tools, were way overpriced. And I like the idea I could go to the local Sears and swap a tool now or go buy a decent tool now, and I didn't have to wait for the Snap On or Matco Rep to come by, give him my broke stuff, then wait another week for him to bring it back to me. It appears Lowes Kobalt brand is a good product, and I hear Husky brand is fairly good too. Don't have any though.

 

[RetroC10Sport]

HD sells Craftsman??

 

[RetroC10Sport]

You are right. The quality wasn't bad, it was still Craftsman quality, but I think people and myself, sure thought twice after seeing Forged in Japan. Although I have seen some newer Craftsman items at my neighbors house, some ratcheting thin boxed end wrenches with a nice looking Snap On look alike finish that look to be pretty good. It would be great is Craftsman makes a come back. I always thought they were a much better price point and decent quality where Snap On, Mac, and Matco, although very good tools, were way overpriced. And I like the idea I could go to the local Sears and swap a tool now or go buy a decent tool now, and I didn't have to wait for the Snap On or Matco Rep to come by, give him my broke stuff, then wait another week for him to bring it back to me. It appears Lowes Kobalt brand is a good product, and I hear Husky brand is fairly good too. Don't have any though.

Many of C-Man's newer wrenches like the spline wrenches are made in China. As for the ratcheting wrenches, they are the same as Matco.

Kobalt and Craftsman are made by Danaher Corp. They are made on the same assembly line as Matco. Just the matcos are heat treated for like 10 seconds longer.

I have a Kobalt socket that was stamped "craftsman" and then stamped Kobalt!!

As for Husky, Stanley owns them. The black finish tools are also sold off the Mac truck.

As long as Danaher owns Craftsman, don't expect that comeback. Unfortunately.

Most of my Craftsman tools are older than myself at 33. I routinely go to the local pawn shops and dig through the bins for vintage Craftsman tools. I collect them. I have many ranging around from 1930 to 1970.

 

[Irishman999]

HD sells Craftsman??

HAHA no, I just realized I have husky tools. My tools are husky, not craftsman.

 

[Old77]

HD sells Craftsman??

This was my exact thought as I was reading through this thread!! I was like, since when did Sears and HD team together??

 

[Old77]

HAHA no, I just realized I have husky tools. My tools are husky, not craftsman.

That's a pretty significant difference...

 

[RetroC10Sport]

Which reminds me, I need to run to HD for weed trimmer string and an ignitor for my potato cannon.

 

[Jaymez]

OK, so who is still considered a quality manufacturer of hand tools?

 

[RetroC10Sport]

Armstrong, Wright, Proto and of course Snap On if you want to pay a premium.

 

[greencountry05]

Thanks MrGM for the info on the jack and jack stands, I'll go with the 6 ton. Lots of good info in this thread, I hate buying stuff that's built in other countries but it's hard to find anything made in America anymore it seems lol. I'd buy Snap-On if I could afford it, my tool set is a Stanley from Wal-Mart, never payed attention but I'm sure they're made overseas or hecho en mexico.

 

[HotRodPC]

You're right GC, and we wonder why our unemployment rate is so high, and our economy is jacked. Blame it on the greedy jerks with plenty of money wearing suits and ties sitting around a large conferance table making decisions to outsource our jobs to other countries so they can put an extra $50K in their own pocket with extra profits for lower quality products as if their $200K salary isn't enough. Gotta get those bonuses too ya know. Its all greed and about the almighty dollar. The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer. The NEW american way.