[mdlug] OT: DIY Geek Tools

[Dave Arbogast]

Garry Stahl wrote:

> That is why I recommend Craftsman over all over lift time choices.
>
>Craftsman is a third the price of Mac and Snap-on and Sears stores are
>common as weeds.  You walk in "it's broken", they give you another. 
>That simple.  It doesn't matter why even.  My son bend my ultra fine
>needle nose pliers trying to do heavy plier jobs with them.  I chewed
>out son as to proper tool usage and took the abused pliers to Sears. 
>Walked out with new pliers, no cost.
>
>Second thing, I have had to do it twice in 49 years.  They are GOOD
>tools, they don't break.  I was given a cheap set of JC Penny sockets. 
>I broke those bastards right and left.  Warranty? What warranty.  I have
>never broken a Craftsman socket, and I use tools hard.
>
>Cheap tools break, frequently.  Good tools are lifetime replaceable, and
>don't break.  Do the math.  OK, I pay twice as much for a Craftsman tool
>than some no name at Harbor Freight.  How many times will I replace the
>Harbor Freight tool?  How many times will I replace the Craftsman?
>
>BTW, I have two copies of every wrench.  I prefer combination wrenches. 
>That is box end and open end on one tool.  Why two?  I cannot count the
>number of times I have had to turn one nut and hold a second in place
>while turning the first.  So I have two sets of English and metric wrenches.
>  
>
I buy Craftsman too, but you have to start watching them closely and 
complaining.... First it was the Craftsman tin snips - sold as lifetime 
warranty as "all Craftsman hand tools", but when you try to replace them 
they give you "Sears" band or refund your money from the last time they 
sold them.. next, wire strippers, same thing. Now, Craftsman tape 
measures of the Yellow and black color are replaced with "Craftsman" Red 
and Black with a simple 1 year replacement warranty. Beyond 1 year, your 
Craftsman tape measure is like any other w/o a warranty... I suspect the 
trend will continue until people start buying Snap-On or Mac....
-dave