Craftsman Tools Are Not What They Used to Be
Craftsman Tools Are Not What They Used to Be
When I was in high school (mid 60's) I had a nice collection of Craftsman tools to work on my 396 Chevelle and have bought more over the years.
But last week, I needed a 22mm box wrench to do the pitman arm removal. So I ordered a combination 22mm (box and open end) item 42922 from Sears mailorder (delivery to store).
I'll post some pictures later.
1. They didn't clean up the milling burrs at the open end before they plated it so I'll have to dress it up to avoid cuts
2. The face of the box end is not shiny as you would expect but pebbled like the handle.
3. The biggest shortcoming is the design of the shank (the section you hold onto. The edges are not eased at all and it's uncomfortable to bear on it without gloves. Even then, it's not the best.
4. The bearing surface of the open end looks poorly milled
5. The plating hardly covers the grinding marks of the milled open end.
By comparison, the smaller Harbor Freight tools are looking a lot better. They didn't have the 22mm either in a set or individually. I've never bought MAC or SnapOn but with a lot of eBay vendors, it's bye-bye Craftsman.
But last week, I needed a 22mm box wrench to do the pitman arm removal. So I ordered a combination 22mm (box and open end) item 42922 from Sears mailorder (delivery to store).
I'll post some pictures later.
1. They didn't clean up the milling burrs at the open end before they plated it so I'll have to dress it up to avoid cuts
2. The face of the box end is not shiny as you would expect but pebbled like the handle.
3. The biggest shortcoming is the design of the shank (the section you hold onto. The edges are not eased at all and it's uncomfortable to bear on it without gloves. Even then, it's not the best.
4. The bearing surface of the open end looks poorly milled
5. The plating hardly covers the grinding marks of the milled open end.
By comparison, the smaller Harbor Freight tools are looking a lot better. They didn't have the 22mm either in a set or individually. I've never bought MAC or SnapOn but with a lot of eBay vendors, it's bye-bye Craftsman.
Sansouci
84 E24 633Csi Auto, Bronzit/PearlBeige 6997510
93 E32 740il M60 Auto, Alpenweis/Ultramarine
60 528i M30 5-speed Green/Beige (crushed)
71 240Z 4-speed White/Blue (rusty & sold)
65 396 Chevelle 4-speed, Marina Blue/Black (stolen)
84 E24 633Csi Auto, Bronzit/PearlBeige 6997510
93 E32 740il M60 Auto, Alpenweis/Ultramarine
60 528i M30 5-speed Green/Beige (crushed)
71 240Z 4-speed White/Blue (rusty & sold)
65 396 Chevelle 4-speed, Marina Blue/Black (stolen)
I should have looked at HF online. My stores didn't have it.
Ken
Ken
Sansouci
84 E24 633Csi Auto, Bronzit/PearlBeige 6997510
93 E32 740il M60 Auto, Alpenweis/Ultramarine
60 528i M30 5-speed Green/Beige (crushed)
71 240Z 4-speed White/Blue (rusty & sold)
65 396 Chevelle 4-speed, Marina Blue/Black (stolen)
84 E24 633Csi Auto, Bronzit/PearlBeige 6997510
93 E32 740il M60 Auto, Alpenweis/Ultramarine
60 528i M30 5-speed Green/Beige (crushed)
71 240Z 4-speed White/Blue (rusty & sold)
65 396 Chevelle 4-speed, Marina Blue/Black (stolen)
I would bet heavily against that one. Maybe it "looked" like the one at HF. Even SnapOn's cheaper stuff these days wouldn't be HF quality.Da_Hose wrote:SnapOn does a lot of their items third party.
Someone on here commented how he bought a new SnapOn toolbox, only to see EXACTLY the same box at HF. That would WAYYYYY suck.
Jose
'87 635csi, 5sp man, dk blu on pearl beige
'88 635csi, auto, black on grey
'63 BMW Isetta
'75 XJ6C, 2dr, warm 350
'86 XJ6, th700r4
'75TR6
'64 Olds 88 conv
"68 T120 Bonneville
'88 635csi, auto, black on grey
'63 BMW Isetta
'75 XJ6C, 2dr, warm 350
'86 XJ6, th700r4
'75TR6
'64 Olds 88 conv
"68 T120 Bonneville
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I also had a complete set of made in USA Craftsman. Went to look for something the other day, and it's all made in China now.slofut wrote:I would bet heavily against that one. Maybe it "looked" like the one at HF. Even SnapOn's cheaper stuff these days wouldn't be HF quality.Da_Hose wrote:SnapOn does a lot of their items third party.
Someone on here commented how he bought a new SnapOn toolbox, only to see EXACTLY the same box at HF. That would WAYYYYY suck.
Jose
Ended up buying a set of Channel lock adjustable wrenches. Made in Spain and really great quality.
-----
Song Huang
1984 633CSi
Last 7 of VIN: 6997383
Song Huang
1984 633CSi
Last 7 of VIN: 6997383
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No, those are from the Internet. I'll look up where I they came from. They were about $140 for the set. Incredibly useful.
Edit: It was eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Platinum-EXTRA- ... 67&vxp=mtr
Notice they have both 16 and 18 mm, sizes that are missing in most sets, but are used in many BMW suspension parts.
Edit: It was eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Platinum-EXTRA- ... 67&vxp=mtr
Notice they have both 16 and 18 mm, sizes that are missing in most sets, but are used in many BMW suspension parts.
Ken Kanne
'84 633CSi "Sylvia"; '85 635CSi "Katja";'85 325e "Hazel Ann"; '95 M3 "Ashlyn"
'84 633CSi "Sylvia"; '85 635CSi "Katja";'85 325e "Hazel Ann"; '95 M3 "Ashlyn"
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Re: Craftsman Tools Are Not What They Used to Be
Thanks for the link Ken, those are pretty cool.
Browsing through the same seller, this looks interesting too...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/252330788061?ss ... Track=true
Browsing through the same seller, this looks interesting too...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/252330788061?ss ... Track=true
'87 635csi, 5sp man, dk blu on pearl beige
'88 635csi, auto, black on grey
'63 BMW Isetta
'75 XJ6C, 2dr, warm 350
'86 XJ6, th700r4
'75TR6
'64 Olds 88 conv
"68 T120 Bonneville
'88 635csi, auto, black on grey
'63 BMW Isetta
'75 XJ6C, 2dr, warm 350
'86 XJ6, th700r4
'75TR6
'64 Olds 88 conv
"68 T120 Bonneville
Re: Craftsman Tools Are Not What They Used to Be
Been riding around a craftsman 9/16 combo wrench in the floor of the 6 for about a week. It's one I've had since the 70's and the open end has been tweeked open by a few thousandths. It irritates me sometimes when I grab it out of the box to use and I realize it's the one that's been spread open (prob with a long helper pipe). So I tossed it in the car to go exchange it, then I realized it says "Craftsman forged USA" on it ... Just can't bring myself to do it.
'87 635csi, 5sp man, dk blu on pearl beige
'88 635csi, auto, black on grey
'63 BMW Isetta
'75 XJ6C, 2dr, warm 350
'86 XJ6, th700r4
'75TR6
'64 Olds 88 conv
"68 T120 Bonneville
'88 635csi, auto, black on grey
'63 BMW Isetta
'75 XJ6C, 2dr, warm 350
'86 XJ6, th700r4
'75TR6
'64 Olds 88 conv
"68 T120 Bonneville
Re: Craftsman Tools Are Not What They Used to Be
if you are handy with a hammer, or use a bench vice, you can often close up a slightly flared wrench of that sort. Better that, than a cheap new wrench...?
cheers
cheers
~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Re: Craftsman Tools Are Not What They Used to Be
Brucey, I read you comment and thought, "Who is NOT handy with a hammer?" LOL!Brucey wrote:if you are handy with a hammer, or use a bench vice, you can often close up a slightly flared wrench of that sort. Better that, than a cheap new wrench...?
cheers
It's not one of those tools that takes a lot of finesse to use. Ok maybe if you are a carpenter and you are framing a house driving hundreds of nails precisely. But as far as beating a piece of metal into submission, that's just stress relief.
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Song Huang
1984 633CSi
Last 7 of VIN: 6997383
Song Huang
1984 633CSi
Last 7 of VIN: 6997383
Re: Craftsman Tools Are Not What They Used to Be
You know, I can't believe I hadn't considered that. And I am pretty handy with a hammer! I'm an old school bodyman from the 70's. Got a good bench vice too.songzunhuang wrote:Brucey, I read you comment and thought, "Who is NOT handy with a hammer?" LOL!Brucey wrote:if you are handy with a hammer, or use a bench vice, you can often close up a slightly flared wrench of that sort. Better that, than a cheap new wrench...?
cheers
It's not one of those tools that takes a lot of finesse to use. Ok maybe if you are a carpenter and you are framing a house driving hundreds of nails precisely. But as far as beating a piece of metal into submission, that's just stress relief.
'87 635csi, 5sp man, dk blu on pearl beige
'88 635csi, auto, black on grey
'63 BMW Isetta
'75 XJ6C, 2dr, warm 350
'86 XJ6, th700r4
'75TR6
'64 Olds 88 conv
"68 T120 Bonneville
'88 635csi, auto, black on grey
'63 BMW Isetta
'75 XJ6C, 2dr, warm 350
'86 XJ6, th700r4
'75TR6
'64 Olds 88 conv
"68 T120 Bonneville