Here in the Great White North we have the cultural icon known as Canadian Tire.
I somehow usually find myself making a daily trip to one for some needed item.
They have a house brand of tools known as Mastercraft, in the last few years
they have added a "professional" line of wrenches, ratchets and sockets which
are quite nice, not quite Snap-On, but closer than Craftsman has become.
Both lines of sockets are flank drive, (or whatever the generic term is) the
ratchets are thumb-lever reversing and pusbutton socket release. The 1/2"
professional is 56 tooth and feels smooth. The professional Mastercraft stuff
is also priced about the same as Craftsman, the regular line can get quite
cheap on sale. (I just checked, there is a 56 piece 1/4"-3/8" set on sale for
$30CDN. About $20US!!)
It's funny, Mastercraft tools have been improving at about the same rate
Craftsman has been falling in quality. I wonder if sales in Canada reflect this
or are people still buying Craftsman based on brand loyalty and past
reputations?
Burl Vibert
Kingston, Ontario
1983 Porsche 911SC (stashed for winter)
1987 Audi 5000CSTQ (needs new snow-tires)
Assorted stuff in backyard.
Richard Beels wrote:
>
> >Sounds like the biggest bitch is with the ratchets...
> >I can certainly agree with that: my 3/8 drive gets a lot of use and it
> >really is a piece of shit; it skips teeth a lot.
>
> Ummm, take it back.
>
> >ratchets? I have a real thing about good ratchets now. I've heard and read
> >some good things about Facom. Any comments there? how about any other
> >high-end quality ratchets? any other reccomendations?
>
> FACOM tools are great. My ratchets are FACOM. 72 teeth = 5 degrees of
> swing, plastic handles are comfortable and you can press ON the top, swing
> the ratchet with pressure applied and have your hand "float" (instead of
> twisting with the tool) on top.
>
> Oh yeah, I have some craftsman handles but the "regular" ones just sit
> there, waiting for a FACOM to break. The Craftsman Pro handles do get some
> use (swivel head, extra long 3/8)...
>
> Cheers!
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