Cheap out on tools?

[truracer20]

Out of macabre curiosity .... in what situation were you using a ratchet where you could possibly break it?

I don't know how Theoldsone breaks his Craftsman ratchets but mine have failed at the pawl gear. It's caused by a mix of the plastic reverse lever fitting too sloppy and poorly made teeth on the pawl and gear. Add a weak or broken detent spring in the mix and you end up with knuckle busting junk. This actually started happening to me when the local Sears started "rebuilding" ratchets in store and keeping them at the register for exchanges. To me it seemed like maybe they weren't replacing the pawl gear, detent spring and ball and reverse lever. For a while they didn't even have rebuild kits on the shelves. It's been a few years since I've replaced a ratchet so I don't know if they still have kits available or if they still do the in store "rebuilds".
I will say though that I've never had issues with their 6, 8 and 12 point sockets, wrenches and pliers those items always hold up really well.

 

[ssn696]

My core tools are several sets' worth of older Craftsman, last purchased in the early '90s. Their ratchets have definitely declined in qualify. I have started buying stuff at Harbor Freight - wait for the emailed discount, and pay the least you can. Surprisingly, I have had very few tool failures in my years - mostly those damned Craftsman ratchet pawls.

Switching from brands to tool types - as I get older, and my hands put up with less abuse, I appreciate the 'smoothed' wrenches that you used to only get from Snap-On and the like. The best tools on which I ever spent good money was a set of metric and SAE GearWrenches - man these are worth gold. Smallest possible footprint for tight spots, but the convenience of a ratchet. But, you just gotta learn, they can't put up with heavy torque. If you are breaking something loose, and are tempted to tap with a hammer or use a cheater pipe, get a breaker bar and pneumatic gun sockets.

The silver medalist in tools are six-pointed spanners or sockets - you'll never round off a bolt head.

And my last opinion - safety glasses / goggles. so far, I have never had to take slivers of metal out of my eyeball (read about it on the forum). Don't go so fast that you don't protect your eyes. How much is a ER visit?

 

[Mike P]

Personally I’ve always preferred the feel of a wrench with a thicker beam than the Snap-on or Mac tools. When I started out almost 50 years ago it was with S-K Wayne, Proto and Black Hawk tools. I’ve had to find replacements for a few broken/missing sockets and wrenches, but still have complete sets. My first tools chests (which I also still have) were REMLINE and Waterloo. Pretty much all good quality second tier US made stuff.


25 years ago as I started my own shop I was still working full time at a friend’s shop, so over a year’s period of time I built up a complete set of Craftsman wrenches and boxes so I didn’t have to haul tools back and forth between the 2 shops.


I also carry a medium size tool box in each car, complete enough to do minor repairs alongside the road if need be or carry into a junkyard. Those are mostly junk China made stuff that if I lose doesn’t really matter.


I agree the current Craftsman quality is not even close to what it used to be. If I need to replace any lost/broken sockets or wrenches I usually check out the swap meets or E Bay for the older stuff.

 

[theoldsone]

I don't know how Theoldsone breaks his Craftsman ratchets but mine have failed at the pawl gear. It's caused by a mix of the plastic reverse lever fitting too sloppy and poorly made teeth on the pawl and gear. Add a weak or broken detent spring in the mix and you end up with knuckle busting junk. This actually started happening to me when the local Sears started "rebuilding" ratchets in store and keeping them at the register for exchanges. To me it seemed like maybe they weren't replacing the pawl gear, detent spring and ball and reverse lever. For a while they didn't even have rebuild kits on the shelves. It's been a few years since I've replaced a ratchet so I don't know if they still have kits available or if they still do the in store "rebuilds".
I will say though that I've never had issues with their 6, 8 and 12 point sockets, wrenches and pliers those items always hold up really well.

Exactly how I break them every time. Eventually over hard use the pawl gear just gives up. It spins freely and never locks. I have cracked sockets. Once you crack a socket it expands and rounds out the bolt head, extensions right at the adapter too. And not just craftsman other tools too like Pittsburgh and greatneck lol. I remember i shattered a box end wrench removing a brake caliper. 😕 And again all by hand.

 

[ssn696]

As the late, great Warren Zevon said, 'I'd like to meet his (your) tailor'. When the wrench breaks is that before or after you turn green?

 

[ssn696]

As the late, great Warren Zevon said, 'I'd like to meet his (your) tailor'. When the wrench breaks is that before or after you turn green?

 

[Rick_B_86]

Most of my hand tools are Mastercraft (Maximum series) I've yet to break one and I've had my work set for about 10 years now. I'm a journeyman millwright, and I'm not always that nice to my tools. Double wrenching, no problems. Beating on them with a hammer, a couple of dents is no big deal. My ratchets can be disassembled easily, so once a year or so I take them apart and clean all the gunk out.

Vice grips, nothing but Erwin. Channel lock for pliers, I also recently got some of their crescent wrenches and they seem to be holding up well.

One thing I don't recommend you cheap out on is precision measuring tools. I'm a Mitutoyo guy all the way. Starrett or Brown and Sharp are good too.

Don't even get me going on power tools, I'll be here all night!

 

[autonaut]

You can have your cakd and eat it too!

I buy my tools used. Old german tools will last a lifetime if used properly. I dont have any american brands so i dont know about those. But im guessing they're the same.

Where i live i can pick up old german and swedish tools for cheap. Check your craigslist or ebay for old good and cheap tools.

 

[pow3rwagon]

And my last opinion - safety glasses / goggles. so far, I have never had to take slivers of metal out of my eyeball (read about it on the forum). Don't go so fast that you don't protect your eyes. How much is a ER visit?

Not to take away from the use of eye pro because it is highly stressed in my job, but just because I can. ER visits are free for me 🙂

 

[theoldsone]

Not to take away from the use of eye pro because it is highly stressed in my job, but just because I can. ER visits are free for me 🙂

ER Visits are free but I do only have two eyeballs lol. Ive taken hits and learned. For example a 32mm socket flying right at my eye and striking it. I was left cross-eyed for a minute or two lol. Not fun quite scary too.