I'm putzing around in the garage..

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More often then none I get tools for X-mas sub-standard rated off brands such as Globe Master, Detroit, Pittsburg Steele and others I never heard of before, these are the ones I let my family, friends and neighbors borrow. lol.
 
I don't know what to say to you guys that have problems with the 1/4 Craftsmen.. maybe if I really used it everyday, I'd have problems with mine too. The heaviest thing I use it for is tightening hose clamps.. which is literally what I use it for the other day.. on a garden hose.
That said, I know damn well now that I said that, it's gonna break next time I use it. :)
 
I have gone through half a dozen in the past ten years. Half the time they spin without the gears engaging, drives me nuts.

I haven't used my crafts(junk)man 1/4" ratchets in years as I have others that work. My favorite is a Mac, the only thing is the handle is round and polished so it's slick with greasy hands.

Over the years I've had several craftsmen 1/4' ratchets break in normal use, yes I have the correct tools for stubborn stuff. Probably 12 or 15 years ago I returned one that didn't work and got a new one. The new one laid in the box for probably a year. When I needed to use there was no ratchet action, like it was stuck in neutral. So I returned a brand new unused ratchet and got a new one. I did check to see if it worked and it did. The new one is in my box and has probably never been used. The only craftsman ratchets I like are the fine tooth.

Give me a used US made Williams S-52 or a S-53 (not an A) any day over anything sears ever sold.
 
News flash-

Stanley owns both Mac and Craftsman brands as well as a host of others.

I also can't stomach snap on prices.

I do like "2nd tier" stuff, though like S-K.

I used to say about craftsman- "break it and get a free replacement, can't get much better"
 
The 1/4 inch drive ratchets from Craftsman suck. I bought Stanley's from Home Depot and am very pleased. I liked them so much I bought them in 3/8 drive as well. They were only around nine bucks and fit in the original Craftsman plastic boxes.
Stanley 1/4 in. Drive Pear Head Quck Release Ratchet-91-928 - The Home Depot

I manot sure they sell them anymore, bit the Craftsman professional fine tooth ratchets are awesome. I also never cared for the raised handle ratchets or wrenches from Craftsman.
 
News flash-

Stanley owns both Mac and Craftsman brands as well as a host of others.

I also can't stomach snap on prices.

I do like "2nd tier" stuff, though like S-K.

I used to say about craftsman- "break it and get a free replacement, can't get much better"
I got my SK tools in 1971 and they're still going strong 48 years later. I Bought a cheap 1/4" drive set back then from Menards and that's still working great. By the way how do you break 1/4" drive ratchet anyhow? Put a cheater pipe on it? LOL
 
I'm not a poster boy for Craftsman. Yes, I do have some tools that are.. I also have a bunch that aren't. I have a 30+ yr old Stanley 3/8 ratchet that takes anything I ask of it. I also have a cheapo, Chinese made no-name ratchet that I've had for 20 years or so.. it doesn't ratchet very well, but it comes in handy for holding a nut on the back of a bolt, so i still have it. The Craftsman stuff I have works just fine for me. I need to emphasize FOR ME. If it doesn't work for you, that's fine. I'm not going to throw out tools that have worked just fine for me for years, because they don't for someone else. I don't care if the name on it is 'Craftsman', 'Stanley', 'Snap-On', or 'El-Cheapo China Junk Tool Co.'. If it works for me, it works for me.
 
I'm not sure how my post 'my neighbor did a funny' went to 'YOUR TOOLS SUCK!'
'Tis a silly place, this FABO-land. :)
 
I got my SK tools in 1971 and they're still going strong 48 years later. I Bought a cheap 1/4" drive set back then from Menards and that's still working great. By the way how do you break 1/4" drive ratchet anyhow? Put a cheater pipe on it? LOL
Yes, I use 15mm pipes. You have to use your palm for extra pressure for this to work, though.

7.5pipes.jpg
 
I'm not sure how my post 'my neighbor did a funny' went to 'YOUR TOOLS SUCK!'
'Tis a silly place, this FABO-land. :)

I guess I should have said my Craftsman 1/4 drive ratchets suck....I wasn't trying to start a war, was actually trying to give a tip on some inexpensive ratchets that I thought were pretty decent.
 
I guess I should have said my Craftsman 1/4 drive ratchets suck....I wasn't trying to start a war, was actually trying to give a tip on some inexpensive ratchets that I thought were pretty decent.
I wasn't referring to anyone in particular.. just thought it was funny where it went. I know if I ever have to spend cash on a set of tools, I'll refer to this, lol. It's all good :)
 
I wasn't referring to anyone in particular.. just thought it was funny where it went. I know if I ever have to spend cash on a set of tools, I'll refer to this, lol. It's all good :)

I guess I should have realized that talking about someone's "tool" could get sensitive.
 
I have my share of Craftsmen, some old wrenches that belonged to my dad, you cant beat them, but I quit buying Craftsmen there new stuff just sucks ratchets strip and stick just not the same. I switched to buying Kobalt they will also replace anything broken for free so far Ive been pretty happy with there stuff, and about the same price.
 
Not to get off China Craftsman tools
But these pliers are the best I ever had
Better than Craftsman They never ever slipped in about 50 years I had them
Think I got them at JC Penny’s back in the early 70’s

DF014732-50A5-40CD-A7E6-270654F9C89E.jpeg
 
Not to get off China Craftsman tools
But these pliers are the best I ever had
Better than Craftsman They never ever slipped in about 50 years I had them
Think I got them at JC Penny’s back in the early 70’s

View attachment 1715336509
Snap-OFF! I thought this was a joke. I googled it, and it appears these are damn good tools.
 
I thought if you broke a Craftsman hand tool you could get a free replacement. They still have the
  • CRAFTSMAN full lifetime warranty
 
I thought if you broke a Craftsman hand tool you could get a free replacement. They still have the
  • CRAFTSMAN full lifetime warranty

Yes, I got my crappy 1/4 inch ratchets replaced for free with crappy new ones.
 
So much for lifetime warranty
Local distributor and Rigid won’t replace handle to my 36” pipe wrench
Due to putting pipe on it for leverage
Hardly used jaw teeth are 95% perfect
Tried to remove a flange on a 6 in steam line

4730FBA2-97A0-4799-A58D-D626D460703D.jpeg


E8D5844D-3B49-45F4-9770-0AFB76ACF2CD.jpeg
 
So much for lifetime warranty
Local distributor and Rigid won’t replace handle to my 36” pipe wrench
Due to putting pipe on it for leverage
Hardly used jaw teeth are 95% perfect
Tried to remove a flange on a 6 in steam line

View attachment 1715337595

View attachment 1715337596
Yeah, we broke a few aluminum 36 inchers working on the railroad. Never tried to return them. Then we bought a steel 48 incher. Put a 6 foot cheater pipe on it. Bent it a little but it wouldn't break. There were only a few guys that liked it but it did the job. A lot weight to lug around and maneuver. The railroad didn't want to pay for the high cost of aluminum wrenches so that's what we got. Helped to build muscle, lol.
 
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