I must agree with your insight on Craftsman and Mastercraft tools. Last
summer I needed a good wrench set, went to Sears ( out of habit from loving
the good tools 20 years ago) and bought an ok quality craftsman 11 piece
set ( cost was approix $55 - $60 Canadian) , went home and the next day
Canadian Tire had a flyer with Mastercraft professional 11 piece wrench set
on for 1/2 price. The Craftsman was very quickly returned and for $25.00
each I bought a set of both english and metric wrenches. The quality was
much better, nice shiny finish looks like Snap-on. Mastercraft advertises
the same guarantee as Craftsman, I haven't tried it out yet. It seems
Canadian Tire will have a special once or twice a year for wrenches, just
wait for the 11 piece set instead of the nine piece set. I will be checking
out the Mastercraft ratchets if I ever wear out my existing ones. Oh yeah,
Canadian Tire also had some incredible deal on screw drivers, a box with 15
or 20 pieces for $25.00??? I can't remember the exact number or price but
got 6 or 8 good quality Mastercraft screw drivers along with some stubbies
and the smaller disposable drivers that are holding up good so far.
Has anyone tried out Canadian Tire on replacement of Mastercraft tools? Any
comments?
----- Original Message -----
From: "B. Vibert" <blur@ican.net>
Cc: <shop-talk@autox.team.net>
Sent: December 22, 1999 7:16 AM
Subject: Re: OK, then...whose ratchets?
>
> 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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