well i hate to disagree

but i got rid of all my craftsman (just sold them)
and replaced them with chinease...
harbor freight dot com
the cheap china stuff fits now and is good quality and
i wind up having 4 or 5 of each socket so when there rolling
around on the garage floor i can just grab another 10mm from the
box.... i have about 5 or 6 ratchet and 3 or 4 of each wrench so that
they are easy to find and if i drop one i just grab another instead of having to dive under the car right away..

I've regretted every cheap chinese tool I have ever purchased.....except for my $15 4" angle grinder I bought at carlisle.....

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

That's great, but...if I have 4 or 5 of each tool I won't be able to find a single thing. I keep all of my tools organized so I know where it is, and I can grab it quickly without thinking.

I've got some Craftsman, some Gearwrenches (they rock!), and a Canadian Proto Challenger socket set (good luck replacing those in Texas -- but they simply DO NOT wear out).

Rock on!

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'01 SLK320, '79 450SL & '01 C320 -- What? 3 Mercedes? I am DEFINITELY crazy!!!

I read that someone in China is making knock-off Honda CRVs, nearly perfect, virtually indistinguishable replicas of an entire automobile, and selling them for $7500. You get sooooo many more tools for your money at Harbor Freight, the quality is good, the return policy is good. There's only one reason to buy at Sears - if Harbor Freight doesn't have it, which does happen.

There's another good reason to buy at Sears. Craftsman wrenches are MADE IN THE USA!

Hey, just trying to keep a few of the real jobs that are left here.

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'01 SLK320, '79 450SL & '01 C320 -- What? 3 Mercedes? I am DEFINITELY crazy!!!

I've had abysmal experiences with 'made in china' products, including tools. Also, I built a natural gas manifold for a house i was remodelling and the quality of the threads on all of the fittings would not hold 1 psi of air pressure. Half of the fittings, approximately, were made in the USA and all were good. Plus, I prefer to help keep American's employed (editorial comment, I know, but true). That said, I own a MB, so there are exceptions.

Amen, brother!

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1998 E320 4-Matic Wagon

Just to prove that you cant make positive statements without real proof. I have several Sears wrenches that are clearly marked "made in Japan" ! now what? Abe G

abe,

You mention that they are Sears tools, but Sears has a couple of different lines. I think Companion[or Champion or some such is their "entry" line. Is your MIJ a Craftsman tool, or a Companion line of Sears?

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The Golden Rule

1984 300SD (bought new, sold it in 1988, bought it back 13 yrs. later)

Sears sell two lines of tools Craftsman and Crap. I bet I know which ones you got.

J. Roncallo

Harbor Feight? this guy must not be a professional mechanic. I used "Duro" 50 years ago, have purchased nothing other than "craftsman" ,warrany is beyond question. I have broken sockets (1/4 to 1/2 with an adapter and then a pipe) they replace. You will not get the exact ratchet you had, styles change. If a salesman ever gave me an issue get the manager, there are people who buy tools use them and then request a refund! Their chinese tools are not warranteed for life "companion" brand. "Snap On" typically is used by the trade, the guy shows at the dealer and resupplies or warrantees things.
I am surprized that SEARS has never tried that!

any good tips or surprise trick methods for taking care of hand tools?

don't put them away wet.
regards,
Mark

The Harbor Freight by me has a replacement guarantee on all hand tools. It MIGHT require a receipt, though.

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86 560SL
With homebrew first gear start!
85 380SL
Daily Driver Project

http://juliepalooza.8m.com/sl/mercedes.htm

Hmmm..... I guess you guys don't have Sidchrome in the US???

Great tools, and as their slogan goes 'you canna hand a man a grander spanner'.

Stanley a pretty good too but they moved their manufacturing from AUS to the US.

Cheers

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1988 W126 420 SE

beware of fundamentalists!