Walked in to Ace Hardware yesterday and saw a display for Craftsman tools.
I don't know how extensive the collection will be, but it's good news
for anyone who's closer to an Ace than a Sears.

I have lots of Craftsman hand tools and I've only had to use their
lifetime warranty once. I've never been a fan of their power tools, but
their hand tools have never let me down.

(before you state the obvious... that one occasion was the result of me
being stupid, not a defect... but they still honored it.)


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com

---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

On Thu, 10 Jun 2010 23:00:31 -0500, -MIKE- wrote:

Walked in to Ace Hardware yesterday and saw a display for Craftsman tools.
I don't know how extensive the collection will be, but it's good news
for anyone who's closer to an Ace than a Sears.

I have lots of Craftsman hand tools and I've only had to use their
lifetime warranty once. I've never been a fan of their power tools, but
their hand tools have never let me down.

(before you state the obvious... that one occasion was the result of me
being stupid, not a defect... but they still honored it.)

I've used the free trade in twice.. first time was when I brought in a 3/4"
breaker bar that I'd snapped in the middle.. Returned with no questions asked,
but you could tell that they wanted to..

I've got craftsman hand tools that are 50 years old and still in use.. good
stuff!


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

Had an old 1/2" chisel to break. It was replaced with no questions.
Went to Sears and asked if they had hammer grip replacements. I
thought to purchase the replacement. They offered to replace the
hammer. I passed, that particular hammer style was no longer
available.... my favorite claw hammer for 25 yrs +.

Sonny

On Jun 10, 9:00*pm, -MIKE- wrote:
Walked in to Ace Hardware yesterday and saw a display for Craftsman tools..
I don't know how extensive the collection will be, but it's good news
for anyone who's closer to an Ace than a Sears.

I have lots of Craftsman hand tools and I've only had to use their
lifetime warranty once. I've never been a fan of their power tools, but
their hand tools have never let me down.

(before you state the obvious... that one occasion was the result of me
being stupid, not a defect... but they still honored it.)

--

* -MIKE-

* "Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
* * *--Elvin Jones *(1927-2004)
* --
*http://mikedrums.com
*
* ---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

Craftsman power tools wear pretty decent until the late seventies. I
have a about a 74 router that still runs , no switch plug and go sound
pretty bad, a same vintage belt sander runs like new both these tools
have had serious use. As for the router I just bought two on e-bay
guessing ones a 74 0nes a 76 the 76 was never used still in the box..
I don’t know about their power tools now the last one I’ve bought were
pretty bad. At one time their craftsman saying was “if it’s electric
it will break, if its gas don’t worry it won’t start”

On Jun 11, 9:25*am, Sac Dave wrote:
On Jun 10, 9:00*pm, -MIKE- wrote:





Walked in to Ace Hardware yesterday and saw a display for Craftsman tools.
I don't know how extensive the collection will be, but it's good news
for anyone who's closer to an Ace than a Sears.

I have lots of Craftsman hand tools and I've only had to use their
lifetime warranty once. I've never been a fan of their power tools, but
their hand tools have never let me down.

(before you state the obvious... that one occasion was the result of me
being stupid, not a defect... but they still honored it.)

--

* -MIKE-

* "Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
* * *--Elvin Jones *(1927-2004)
* --
*http://mikedrums.com
*
* ---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

Craftsman power tools wear pretty decent until the late seventies. I
have a about a 74 router that still runs , no switch plug and go sound
pretty bad, a same vintage belt sander runs like new *both these tools
have had serious use. As for the router I just bought two on e-bay
guessing ones a 74 0nes a 76 the 76 was never used still in the box..
I don’t know about their power tools now the last one I’ve bought were
pretty bad. At one time their craftsman saying was “if it’s electric
it will break, if its gas don’t worry it won’t start”- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I am pretty new to woodworking and I didn't know that the quality of
Craftsman tools had declined since the 70's I personally don't have
any craftsman products, but I have always thought highly of them. I
guess I think of them being great tools for mechanics. It is an
interesting discussion though.

ExtremelyAvg wrote in
:


I am pretty new to woodworking and I didn't know that the quality of
Craftsman tools had declined since the 70's I personally don't have
any craftsman products, but I have always thought highly of them. I
guess I think of them being great tools for mechanics. It is an
interesting discussion though.

Craftsman hand tools are just as good (just as adequate in some cases?) as
they always were. They're covered by the lifetime free replacement
warranty, so they have to be good. The power tools are something to be
treated with caution. They still have some great ones out there, but you
can't trust everything is good. They never were covered by the warranty.

Puckdropper
--
Never teach your apprentice everything you know.

Puckdropper wrote:
....
Craftsman hand tools are just as good (just as adequate in some cases?) as
they always were. They're covered by the lifetime free replacement
warranty, so they have to be good. ...

I think the quality (most particularly fit and finish) has degraded
noticeably from years ago even w/ the hand tools.

I'll allow as how functionally they're still the same or at least nearly
so, but many of them are noticeably cheaper. I've had warranty repair
or replacement of several over the last year or three -- specific
instances I can think of otomh...

Linesmans' pliers dating from late 60's -- eldest son got in head to try
them on #10 fencing wire and put a circle in the cutter. Replacement is
much rougher casting and the rubber handles are coarse, prickly and
uncomfortable as compared to the original. Do seem to be ok
functionally but if were comparing and considering purchase rather than
replacement, I'd go elsewhere, even if more $$.

1/2" Ratchet drive age unremembered, newer than above but in 70s/early
80s at latest -- retention ball spring lost compression and began either
letting socket simply fall off or if adjusted ball position it wouldn't
budge at all. Local (small catalog store) did have replacement repair
kit in stock for an atta-boy, but it had black pressure knob instead of
the original matching chrome and the gears themselves appear thinner
stamped instead of forged so don't think it'll hold up as long as the
original. The spring/detent ball problem reappeared albeit somewhat
reduced within a couple days of use (quite a lot of use in that time as
was hanging feedlot gates and repairing rail which entailed driving a
large number of lag bolts but really--again in that time?). I'll
probably go back in at some point when it gets too annoying again and
see what a demand for a tradeout entirely would yield. Meanwhile, the
original S-K I remember from a kid in the 50s that stayed on the farm
while I went of and engineer'ed for 35 years or so is still functional
w/ only an occasional slip of a gear.

--

On Jun 11, 12:00*am, -MIKE- wrote:
Walked in to Ace Hardware yesterday and saw a display for Craftsman tools..
I don't know how extensive the collection will be, but it's good news
for anyone who's closer to an Ace than a Sears.

I have lots of Craftsman hand tools and I've only had to use their
lifetime warranty once. I've never been a fan of their power tools, but
their hand tools have never let me down.

(before you state the obvious... that one occasion was the result of me
being stupid, not a defect... but they still honored it.)

--

* -MIKE-

* "Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
* * *--Elvin Jones *(1927-2004)
* --
*http://mikedrums.com
*
* ---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

"I've only had to use their lifetime warranty once."

Once?

*Once?*

Don't you use Phillips screw drivers? I can't tell you how many worn
Phillips screwdrivers, of all different sizes, I've traded in. As soon
as they get the slightest bit rounded, back they go. Better I make a
trip to the store than strip a screw when I least need it to happen.

My favorite trade-in was when I broke a Craftsman flat blade screw
driver on a Craftsman belt sander. :-)

I had a POS Craftsman belt sander that required you to push down
(back?) on the front roller to loosen the belt. The roller would lock
"loose" and then you had to stick a flat object in a slot and kind of
pry it backward to POP! release it. I used a Craftsman flat blade
screw driver and the tip broke off. A bit ironic, if I do say so....

I've traded in ratchet handles, locking pliers, pry bars, countless
screwdrivers and a few other items over the years.

"DerbyDad03" wrote in message
...
On Jun 11, 12:00 am, -MIKE- wrote:
Walked in to Ace Hardware yesterday and saw a display for Craftsman tools.
I don't know how extensive the collection will be, but it's good news
for anyone who's closer to an Ace than a Sears.

I have lots of Craftsman hand tools and I've only had to use their
lifetime warranty once. I've never been a fan of their power tools, but
their hand tools have never let me down.

(before you state the obvious... that one occasion was the result of me
being stupid, not a defect... but they still honored it.)

--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com

---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

"I've only had to use their lifetime warranty once."

Once?

*Once?*

Don't you use Phillips screw drivers? I can't tell you how many worn
Phillips screwdrivers, of all different sizes, I've traded in. As soon
as they get the slightest bit rounded, back they go. Better I make a
trip to the store than strip a screw when I least need it to happen.

Let me give you a small hint/trick to make your Philips head screw drivers
last longer before rounding. If you grinde a little of the point off, the
tip will actually seat deeper and better in the screw head. Often the screw
heads are short/not as deep, compared to the longer point on the driver tip.

"Leon" wrote in
:


Let me give you a small hint/trick to make your Philips head screw
drivers last longer before rounding. If you grinde a little of the
point off, the tip will actually seat deeper and better in the screw
head. Often the screw heads are short/not as deep, compared to the
longer point on the driver tip.


That's why I tend to avoid the #1 head Phillips screw drivers. The #2 fits
in just about everything a #1 does, and isn't pointy.

Puckdropper
--
Never teach your apprentice everything you know.

On 2010-06-11, -MIKE- wrote:

their hand tools have never let me down.

Not professional grade, but for a home DIY'r, good value. Only you
can decide.

nb

On 6/11/10 1:53 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Jun 11, 12:00 am, wrote:
"I've only had to use their lifetime warranty once."

Once?

*Once?*

Don't you use Phillips screw drivers? I can't tell you how many worn
Phillips screwdrivers, of all different sizes, I've traded in. As soon
as they get the slightest bit rounded, back they go.


Hmmmmmm........


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com

---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

On 6/11/10 2:04 PM, Leon wrote:

Let me give you a small hint/trick to make your Philips head screw drivers
last longer before rounding. If you grinde a little of the point off, the
tip will actually seat deeper and better in the screw head. Often the screw
heads are short/not as deep, compared to the longer point on the driver tip.


Tip of the month.


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com

---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

On 6/11/10 4:43 PM, notbob wrote:
On 2010-06-11, wrote:

their hand tools have never let me down.

Not professional grade, but for a home DIY'r, good value. Only you
can decide.

nb

I wouldn't say that. I know some pro mechanics who use them.


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com

---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

On 2010-06-11, -MIKE- wrote:

I wouldn't say that. I know some pro mechanics who use them.

I don't know you or said "pro mehcanics", but as a professional
mechanic, myself, I can tell you Craftsman tools are not good enough
to rely on for prolonged heavy duty use. Their guaranteed replacement
policy is totally worthless if you live 100 miles from the nearest
Sears store and are in the middle of a job. I know, I've been there.
Never again.

I won't say your "pro mechanic" friends don't know what they're doing,
but if I go to a mechanic and find him using Craftsman tools, I'm
back out the door and looking elsewhere.

nb

On 6/11/10 5:10 PM, notbob wrote:
On 2010-06-11, wrote:

I wouldn't say that. I know some pro mechanics who use them.

I don't know you or said "pro mehcanics", but as a professional
mechanic, myself, I can tell you Craftsman tools are not good enough
to rely on for prolonged heavy duty use. Their guaranteed replacement
policy is totally worthless if you live 100 miles from the nearest
Sears store and are in the middle of a job. I know, I've been there.
Never again.


The guys I'm referring to are in an opposite position. They are within a
stone's throw of a big Sears at a really upsale mall, so they have a
really good stock. I was talking to one of them and he said they prefer
Snap-on (and have some), but they went through a time when the Snap-on
truck was unreliable. Since the Sears was right next door, it was more
convenient to go there for a new tool, replacement, duplicate, whatever.


I won't say your "pro mechanic" friends don't know what they're doing,
but if I go to a mechanic and find him using Craftsman tools, I'm
back out the door and looking elsewhere.

nb

Why would you go to a mechanic? :-)

In my experience in music and carpentry, the tools don't make the man,
the man makes the tools.


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com

---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

On 2010-06-11, -MIKE- wrote:

Snap-on (and have some), but they went through a time when the Snap-on
truck was unreliable.

That sucks. Snap-On trucks are privately owned, so sounds like a bad
businessman. That's unfortuenate.


Since the Sears was right next door, it was more convenient to go
there for a new tool, replacement, duplicate, whatever.

I understand. I was a beginner once.

Why would you go to a mechanic? :-)

I saw that coming!

I've been wrenching since I was 10. My idea of "making it" is not a
26 room mansion, a fleet of hot cars, or a yacht and a villa on the
Med. It's being well off enough to be able to pay a trusted mechanic
to fix my car!

I'm old. I'm tired. I'm lazy.

In my experience in music and carpentry, the tools don't make the man,
the man makes the tools.

I agree a tool doesn't make the man, but a man that knows what he's
doing knows a good tool.

nb

On 6/11/2010 7:05 PM, -MIKE- wrote:
On 6/11/10 5:10 PM, notbob wrote:
On 2010-06-11, wrote:

I wouldn't say that. I know some pro mechanics who use them.

I don't know you or said "pro mehcanics", but as a professional
mechanic, myself, I can tell you Craftsman tools are not good enough
to rely on for prolonged heavy duty use. Their guaranteed replacement
policy is totally worthless if you live 100 miles from the nearest
Sears store and are in the middle of a job. I know, I've been there.
Never again.


The guys I'm referring to are in an opposite position. They are within a
stone's throw of a big Sears at a really upsale mall, so they have a
really good stock. I was talking to one of them and he said they prefer
Snap-on (and have some), but they went through a time when the Snap-on
truck was unreliable. Since the Sears was right next door, it was more
convenient to go there for a new tool, replacement, duplicate, whatever.


I won't say your "pro mechanic" friends don't know what they're doing,
but if I go to a mechanic and find him using Craftsman tools, I'm
back out the door and looking elsewhere.

nb

Why would you go to a mechanic? :-)

In my experience in music and carpentry, the tools don't make the man,
the man makes the tools.

Personally I'd be more concerned about whether the guy knows what he'd
doing than what kind of tools he uses. And part of knowing what you're
doing is knowing when you need a premium-quality expensive tool and when
something from Harbor Fright will be adequate to the task at hand.

On 2010-06-11, J. Clarke wrote:

doing is knowing when you need a premium-quality expensive tool and when
something from Harbor Fright will be adequate to the task at hand.

Bingo!

I have some Craftsman hand tools. Their screw/nut drivers are damn
good. Can't beat their tool boxes for the price. Likewise their deep
sockets when on sale. OTOH, I'm no longer making a living as a
mechanic and have seen hard times causing me to sell off many of my
better tools. Life goes on. Lesser brands are now enough.

Work with tools long enough and you will discover no one brand of tool
is the best across their line. All of Snap-On's tools are rebranded
from other suppliers. Their measuring tapes are Lufkin, which I will
not buy. Their wrenches used to be made by Bonney, which is no longer
in business. Many other great tool brands like Williams and Utica are
no more. Things change. Life goes on. If a tool works for you,
that's good enough. If it breaks, don't buy another. Pretty simple.

nb

I have lots of Craftsman hand tools and I've only had to use their
lifetime warranty once. I've never been a fan of their power tools, but
their hand tools have never let me down.

I've got my Dad's set(s) of Craftsman mechanic tools (c.
1950's-1960's) and a lot I've bought since. I've broke one socket (a
1/4" deep socket w/ a 1/4 drive w/ a 1/4"-1/2" adapter and an 18" 1/2"
drive breaker bar). They replaced it.

If anything has declined, it's the "fit and finish". Most sockets
I've seen lately are 6-point, rather than 12-point. That might be OK
(who drives square bolts/nuts anymore?), or even better.

The tools to avoid (aside from power tools) are the "accessories",
e.g: "router tables" or "dovetail jigs", &tc. They're crappy and a
joke.

Also, I don;t think I'll buy their edge tools (planes, chisels, &tc.).

-Zz

"-MIKE-" wrote in message
...
Walked in to Ace Hardware yesterday and saw a display for Craftsman tools.
I don't know how extensive the collection will be, but it's good news
for anyone who's closer to an Ace than a Sears.

I have lots of Craftsman hand tools and I've only had to use their
lifetime warranty once. I've never been a fan of their power tools, but
their hand tools have never let me down.

(before you state the obvious... that one occasion was the result of me
being stupid, not a defect... but they still honored it.)


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com

---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

Last year someone posted a link to the 3 major US tool manufacturers
(Stanley, Danaher, & SnapOn) and the brands they make. I couldn't
find the post but found the link.
http://www.yotatech.com/f106/kobalt-...87/index2.html
About 1/4 of the way down. Poster is Claude_Suddreth.
Art

"Leon" writes:

"DerbyDad03" wrote in message
...
On Jun 11, 12:00 am, -MIKE- wrote:
Walked in to Ace Hardware yesterday and saw a display for Craftsman tools.
I don't know how extensive the collection will be, but it's good news
for anyone who's closer to an Ace than a Sears.

I have lots of Craftsman hand tools and I've only had to use their
lifetime warranty once. I've never been a fan of their power tools, but
their hand tools have never let me down.

(before you state the obvious... that one occasion was the result of me
being stupid, not a defect... but they still honored it.)

--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com

---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

"I've only had to use their lifetime warranty once."

Once?

*Once?*

Don't you use Phillips screw drivers? I can't tell you how many worn

Perhaps if you bought a better screw driver to begin with, you wouldn't
need to keep taking it back. I've Vermont America #2 and #3 phillips that
are over 15 years old, have driven thousands of screws with them, and they're
still good as new.

scott

"Zz Yzx" wrote in message
...
I have lots of Craftsman hand tools and I've only had to use their
lifetime warranty once. I've never been a fan of their power tools, but
their hand tools have never let me down.

I've got my Dad's set(s) of Craftsman mechanic tools (c.
1950's-1960's) and a lot I've bought since. I've broke one socket (a
1/4" deep socket w/ a 1/4 drive w/ a 1/4"-1/2" adapter and an 18" 1/2"
drive breaker bar). They replaced it.

If anything has declined, it's the "fit and finish". Most sockets
I've seen lately are 6-point, rather than 12-point. That might be OK
(who drives square bolts/nuts anymore?), or even better.

The tools to avoid (aside from power tools) are the "accessories",
e.g: "router tables" or "dovetail jigs", &tc. They're crappy and a
joke.

Also, I don;t think I'll buy their edge tools (planes, chisels, &tc.).

-Zz

That's been pretty much my experience too. The Craftsman garden tools
have really crappy fiberglass handles anymore. The resin cracks and the
fibers separate. I've returned many shovels, pitchforks, and garden forks.
The hickory handles stood up much better.
Art

On 6/11/10 10:12 PM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
writes:
Don't you use Phillips screw drivers? I can't tell you how many worn

Perhaps if you bought a better screw driver to begin with, you wouldn't
need to keep taking it back. I've Vermont America #2 and #3 phillips that
are over 15 years old, have driven thousands of screws with them, and they're
still good as new.

scott

Thousands?!

Discover the cordless drill, friend. :-)


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com

---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

On Fri, 11 Jun 2010 20:19:39 -0700, "Artemus" wrote:


"Zz Yzx" wrote in message
.. .
I have lots of Craftsman hand tools and I've only had to use their
lifetime warranty once. I've never been a fan of their power tools, but
their hand tools have never let me down.

I've got my Dad's set(s) of Craftsman mechanic tools (c.
1950's-1960's) and a lot I've bought since. I've broke one socket (a
1/4" deep socket w/ a 1/4 drive w/ a 1/4"-1/2" adapter and an 18" 1/2"
drive breaker bar). They replaced it.

If anything has declined, it's the "fit and finish". Most sockets
I've seen lately are 6-point, rather than 12-point. That might be OK
(who drives square bolts/nuts anymore?), or even better.

The tools to avoid (aside from power tools) are the "accessories",
e.g: "router tables" or "dovetail jigs", &tc. They're crappy and a
joke.

Also, I don;t think I'll buy their edge tools (planes, chisels, &tc.).

-Zz

That's been pretty much my experience too. The Craftsman garden tools
have really crappy fiberglass handles anymore. The resin cracks and the
fibers separate. I've returned many shovels, pitchforks, and garden forks.
The hickory handles stood up much better.
Art


Try the Craftsman socket chisels if you come across them at a yard sale or flea.
They were probably last made in the 50's. They're worth the effort to flatten
and sharpen, even if you have to make a replacement handle. Excellent steel,
and somebody may have already flattened the back for you.

The black plastic handled chisels they currently sell are made from good steel.
I spent a lot of time flattening the backs of the set I bought. Every one was
convex. They're hard chisels, hold a good edge. Too much trouble to get flat
though.

On 6/12/2010 12:15 AM, -MIKE- wrote:
On 6/11/10 10:12 PM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
writes:
Don't you use Phillips screw drivers? I can't tell you how many worn

Perhaps if you bought a better screw driver to begin with, you wouldn't
need to keep taking it back. I've Vermont America #2 and #3 phillips that
are over 15 years old, have driven thousands of screws with them, and
they're
still good as new.

scott

Thousands?!

Discover the cordless drill, friend. :-)

Thing about it, 20,000 screws (he didn't say "tens of thousands" so
place an upper bound at 20,000) over 15 years is four or so a day.

On 2010-06-12, Artemus wrote:

find the post but found the link.
http://www.yotatech.com/f106/kobalt-...87/index2.html
About 1/4 of the way down. Poster is Claude_Suddreth.
Art

Thanks for the link, Artemus. Looks like I was misinformed about a
couple things. I looked for Williams tools on the web many yrs ago
and could find nothing and thought they had expired. Maybe they just
hadn't discovered the internet, yet. Glad to see them still around.

I have Williams 4" adj wrench on my keychain that's been there for
over 40 yrs. I've used it for just about everything imaginable
including loosening some pretty rusty nuts. The thing has been beat
to death, yet the jaws will still close down accurate and tight enough
to hold a rolling paper. That's another story.

S-K is another good brand. Used to be you hadda look for 'em at huge
flea markets, as almost no establish stores carried the brand. They
were amazingly inexpensive for the quality. Now, they can be found in
many knowledgeable auto parts stores, even if prices have increased.
I've never broken an S-K socket, even when incorrectly using regular
S-K sockets on impact wrenches. That's tough.

nb

On 2010-06-12, Lew Hodgett wrote:

I'll take 6 point sockets every time out of the box.

I have found over the years that 12 point are simply too easy to strip
out.

What you need are flank drive sockets. These are designed to grab
more on the flat of a hex nut/bolt, not so near the corner. You can
actually grab fasteners that have already been rendered useless by
rounding by other wrenches.

I think it was Bonney that invented this design and it was patented,
so no one else could make them. They were quite expensive. Now, the
patent has expired and most good tool companies make a version. The
wrenches are specially handy cuz they will give you the short throw of
a 12 point but the non-rounding ability of a 6 point.

Flank Drive is the brand name used by Snap-On. I think Bonney used a
different Name. Craftman now also makes this type of wrench/skt under
still another name. Posi-Torque and Surface Drive are names from other
tool companies. You can tell a flank drive cuz it looks more like a
circular sine wave rather than pointed corners of a 6 or 12 pt.

http://machinedesign.com/content/con...-12-point-1103

Like one person said, it may sound "gimmicky" but they do work. I
have several sockets and wrenches of this type in the most used
fastener sizes. When you need one, they are life savers.

nb

On Jun 11, 7:40*pm, notbob wrote:
On 2010-06-11, -MIKE- wrote:

Snap-on (and have some), but they went through a time when the Snap-on
truck was unreliable.

That sucks. *Snap-On trucks are privately owned, so sounds like a bad
businessman. *That's unfortuenate.

Since the Sears was right next door, it was more convenient to go
there for a new tool, replacement, duplicate, whatever.

I understand. *I was a beginner once. *

Why would you go to a mechanic? * :-)

I saw that coming! *

I've been wrenching since I was 10. *My idea of "making it" is not a
26 room mansion, a fleet of hot cars, or a yacht and a villa on the
Med. *It's being well off enough to be able to pay a trusted mechanic
to fix my car! *

I'm old. *I'm tired. *I'm lazy. * *

In my experience in music and carpentry, the tools don't make the man,
the man makes the tools.

I agree a tool doesn't make the man, but a man that knows what he's
doing knows a good tool.

nb

"I agree a tool doesn't make the man, but a man that knows what
he's doing knows a good tool."

So true!

A lot of what I do as volunteer work and as my main hobby (which very
often cross paths) involves both hand tools and power tools. Very
often, it also involves other people using their hand tools and power
tools in close proximity to me.

When the guy next to me pulls out his brand new 47-in-1 ratchet handle-
screwdriver-claw hammer-box wrench-paint brush tool and 9.6 volt screw
gun-air compressor, I can pretty much tell the level of expertise to
expect from him.

On Jun 10, 11:00*pm, -MIKE- wrote:
Walked in to Ace Hardware yesterday and saw a display for Craftsman tools..
I don't know how extensive the collection will be, but it's good news
for anyone who's closer to an Ace than a Sears.

I have lots of Craftsman hand tools and I've only had to use their
lifetime warranty once. I've never been a fan of their power tools, but
their hand tools have never let me down.

(before you state the obvious... that one occasion was the result of me
being stupid, not a defect... but they still honored it.)

--

* -MIKE-

That puts Craftsman in a lot of smaller and rural markets that Sears
doesn't otherwise cover, except by internet.

What luck - you can buy Craftsman's latest useless gimmick, at
inflated prices, at the neighborhood Ace store.

I still like Ace but maybe a little bit less now :^}

RonB

On Jun 11, 9:53*pm, "Lew Hodgett" wrote:
"Zz Yzx" wrote:
If anything has declined, it's the "fit and finish". *Most sockets
I've seen lately are 6-point, rather than 12-point. *That might be
OK
(who drives square bolts/nuts anymore?), or even better.

I'll take 6 point sockets every time out of the box.

I have found over the years that 12 point are simply too easy to strip
out.

Or, for those twelve-point nuts (don't laugh, they DO make 'em), and
four-point
nuts and lag bolts. For an impact set, all six-point makes sense.
Otherwise,
the twelve-pointers aren't always unneeded, and I'm usually not
pulling so
hard as to fracture anything anyhow.

If I have the right size, I drive square items with an eight-point
socket...

On Jun 11, 2:26*pm, Puckdropper puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com wrote:
"Leon" wrote om:



Let me give you a small hint/trick to make your Philips head screw
drivers last longer before rounding. *If you grinde a little of the
point off, the tip will actually seat deeper and better in the screw
head. *Often the screw heads are short/not as deep, compared to the
longer point on the driver tip.

That's why I tend to avoid the #1 head Phillips screw drivers. *The #2 fits
in just about everything a #1 does, and isn't pointy.

#2 doesn't fit in a #1 head, and doesn't bottom in #3; you need a set
with all
the right sizes (as well as Pozidrive and maybe some Japanese standard
shapes as well) to do it right. I discourage doing it wrong.

The right tip for a multitip screwdriver, or a custom-ground blade for
the old slotted screws, is a joy to use. Get yourself some joy.

Can anyone find a web page that can clarify one thing for me. I was
under the impression that a Ponzi and JIS were the same bit. Some
equipment I maintain have the JIS screws. And yes the Phillips head
often will strip them if it is tight. So I use the Ponzi and usually do
not have any stripped screws.

Mike in Ohio

#2 doesn't fit in a #1 head, and doesn't bottom in #3; you need a set
with all the right sizes (as well as Pozidrive and maybe some Japanese standard
shapes as well) to do it right. I discourage doing it wrong.

The right tip for a multitip screwdriver, or a custom-ground blade for
the old slotted screws, is a joy to use. Get yourself some joy.