Re: Tools

[Ajhsys@aol.com]

> kingwj@mail.del.net wrote:
> 
> >         I'd like to invite all listers to waltz right into a Sears to 
> attempt an
> >

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

This thread's getting a little long in the tooth.  
I have exchanged many broken Craftsman tools at the local Sears store and 
never had a problem.  

I borrowed my son-in-law's 3/8" drive, bar type torque wrench before I bought 
my own.  He had used it as a breaker bar so it read 20ft/lbs when at rest.  I 
took it back to Sears and was given another without any questions and without 
a receipt.

I burned off the tip of a phillips screwdriver when I changed an outlet and 
was too lazy to pull the fuse.  (What, walk all the way down to the 
basement?)  No hassle replacement.

I destroyed a woodworking bench vise by putting the bumper from my old VW Bus 
in it to straighten it.  (Oops!  You're not supposed to straighten bumpers in 
a cast iron woodworking vise?)  No problem getting a new one.

What I don't like is the quality of the newer Craftsman tools.  The ratchet 
wrenches feel cheap and I doubt they'll last for years of use.  They have two 
basic types of ratchet wrenches, one with a little lever that you push left 
and right to reverse, and one with a knob that you turn clockwise or 
counter-clockwise.  Avoid the lever type ratchets.  They are very weak, and 
my son broke his first one within the first few weeks of use.  I bought the 
other one in a 1/2" drive set and it seems better.

Just my 2 pence.  YMMV.

Allen Hefner
SCCA Philly Region Rally Steward
'77 Midget
'92 Mitsubishi Expo LRV Sport