Craftsman Tools Are Not What They Used to Be

Basic needs related to restoring a 6er including
Electronics, Bodywork, Welding, Painting, Engine Swap, etc
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sansouci
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Craftsman Tools Are Not What They Used to Be

Post by sansouci »

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.
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Da_Hose
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Post by Da_Hose »

Nope, craftsman definitely ain't what it was.

HF sells a long combination wrench set for $25 that includes a 22mm. I really like mine and they have a lifetime warranty.

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Post by sansouci »

I should have looked at HF online. My stores didn't have it.
Ken
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Post by jumbee »

I use Gear Wrench. They have the same contours on the shank as the SnapOn wrenches and cost a whole lot less. Even the ratchet heads have the same shape. I sometimes wonder if they're made in the same factory but branded differently.
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Post by Da_Hose »

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.

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Post by slofut »

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
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.
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Post by songzunhuang »

slofut wrote:
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
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.
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.

Ended up buying a set of Channel lock adjustable wrenches. Made in Spain and really great quality.
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Post by bpoliakoff »

Got rid of most of my Chraftsman tools as I had them so long, they bored me. Kept a ratchet or two, and a few sets of large 1/2â€
81 Euro 635 M90 with motronic. Currently under a complete nut and bolt restoration. Pictures at
flickr.com/photos/bertsphotos.
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Post by hornhospital »

Handiest wrenches I've come across lately:
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Ken Kanne
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Post by sansouci »

Ken,
Are those double headed wrenches from HF?
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93 E32 740il M60 Auto, Alpenweis/Ultramarine
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Post by hornhospital »

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.
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Post by ron »

bpoliakoff wrote: My favorite single purpose tool is an aircraft mechanics safety wire tool that twists the wires via a spiral cut shaft when you pull on it.
Like this?

Image

Image
They are ALWAYS rustier than you thought!!!!!!
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Post by bpoliakoff »

Exactly.
81 Euro 635 M90 with motronic. Currently under a complete nut and bolt restoration. Pictures at
flickr.com/photos/bertsphotos.
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Re: Craftsman Tools Are Not What They Used to Be

Post by slofut »

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
'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
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Re: Craftsman Tools Are Not What They Used to Be

Post by slofut »

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
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Re: Craftsman Tools Are Not What They Used to Be

Post by Brucey »

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...?

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Re: Craftsman Tools Are Not What They Used to Be

Post by songzunhuang »

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
Brucey, I read you comment and thought, "Who is NOT handy with a hammer?" LOL!
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. :lol:
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Re: Craftsman Tools Are Not What They Used to Be

Post by slofut »

songzunhuang wrote:
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
Brucey, I read you comment and thought, "Who is NOT handy with a hammer?" LOL!
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. :lol:
You know, I can't believe I hadn't considered that. And I am pretty handy with a hammer! :lol: I'm an old school bodyman from the 70's. Got a good bench vice too.
'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
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