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Re: craftsman vs. metrinch

To: Art Pfenninger <ch155@freenet.buffalo.edu>
Subject: Re: craftsman vs. metrinch
From: "William M. Gilroy" <wmgilroy@lucent.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Mar 1999 10:13:39 -0500
Art Pfenninger wrote:
> 
> Reading the post from the person that works for Stanley confirms my
> suspicion. This argument reminds me of a test they did on bottled water.
> When all the lables were covered up people could not tell the difference
> in
> taste. One women was upset because she choose NY city water over the fancy
> bottled stuff, she said the test wasn't fair(?). Any way put a pair of
> heavy gloves on close your eyes and remove a nut with a $3 dollar
> Craftsman or Husky wrench and then with a $15 dollar Snap On. Which one
> worked better?
> ...Art
> 

This is what I got from the guy at stanley, there are three major on-shore
tool manufactures: Snap-On, Stanley Mechanics Tools and Danaher Tools.
Since Snap-On is made by a separate company the quality can be different.
Quality is also a very subjective issue, like chevy vs. mopar.  The 
question I ask myself is just how much quality do I need for my jobs.
When I bought my tool box I purchased a Craftmans with regular drawer slides
not the ball bearing slides.  If I was a profession mechanic I would not
have made that choice.  But my box will not be opened hundreds of times
each day, each week, each year. With the use I will give my box it should
last to be handed down to my kids. 

I would be willing to bet there is a difference in quality in hand
tools.  The question I have to ask is that difference so large that I need
a Snap-On tool vs. a craftsman tool.  In my case the answer is no.  But
I do own six point sockets for all my drives and in both standard and metric.
I never try to remove a rusted or tight bolt with a twelve point socket.  Seems
like asking for trouble.  YMMV.  I will add this while I am not sure
I can see the difference in hand tools it is very clear in power tools, such
as drills and saws.  As my craftsman/sears circular saw and electric drills
die I have been replacing them with a better tool such as a Dewalt or
a Delta, etc.

Another things is convenience.  Sears is convenience for me, Snap-On is not.
It is reversed for the professional mechanic.  This is one of those things
that there is no clear cut answer, but I am willing to bet a large sum
of money we all agree that a cheap import tool is the wrong choice for a
tool that is used more than once or twice a year.  


Bill Gilroy
77 Midget
90 Shar-Pei
Assort Craftsman and Blackhawk tools
E-mail:    wmgilroy@lucent.com
Telephone: 732-957-4775
Fax:       732-957-4775

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