Harbor Freight will soon be in St. Mary's County

[Gilligan]

I'm still using most of the tools I bought back in the early 70s, Craftsman, when the name Craftsman meant quality and durability. I've beat the snot out of some of those wrenches.

If I need a tool today, I get whatever fits the bill for short term.

Back in the 80s when I was working as an automotive machinist, the shop I worked for was behind the retail parts store and the store sold S-K tools. So I ended up with a pretty large assortment of S-K tools. Still have some of them, but you know how tools have a way of vanishing over time...

 

[Kyle]

 

[spr1975wshs]

I'm still using most of the tools I bought back in the early 70s, Craftsman, when the name Craftsman meant quality and durability. I've beat the snot out of some of those wrenches.

If I need a tool today, I get whatever fits the bill for short term.

We still have a Craftsman 300 piece mechanics set with steel tool box, which my father in law got us as a wedding present in 1982.
Have added other tools and other brands over the years.

 

[Kyle]

Back in the 80s when I was working as an automotive machinist, the shop I worked for was behind the retail parts store and the store sold S-K tools. So I ended up with a pretty large assortment of S-K tools. Still have some of them, but you know how tools have a way of vanishing over time...

I was fortunate. I had a mixture of Craftsman, Easco, Klein and very limited amount of Snap on and inherited my Grandfathers tools.

He had an assortment of Snap On, Blue Point, Blackhawk, Williams and others from working as an aircraft mechanic.

Of course some of them will never get used. ( Who really needs a wrench that fits 25/32" )

 

[Gilligan]

The old days, Craftsman was a good line..
I think HF is okay for a gadget tool, something you may use 3-4 times and ditch it or give it to a 9-10 year old kids...
Milwaukee Falls Saws at one time were the best, but cheepass saws are cheep...and who uses a handsaw anymore anyway.

And, I guess way back when, some horsewhip company was the best.... time keeps on slippin, into the future.

I recall when Black & Decker, Porter Cable, Rockwell, Craftsman and the like were premium power tools. Now they are just brand names slapped on Chinese junk. In my woodworking shop I have a Craftsman table saw (cast iron with extensions..one heavy sumbitch), Craftsman radial arm saw, Craftsman band saw, and Craftsman joiner. All 1960s models and all super heavy duty.

 

[Wickedwrench]

Some of their tools may be sub par but I can attest that I put 20+ years on a set of their Pittsburgh impact sockets without one failure. This was daily use in a shop environment and not weekend shadetree type work either. I can't say the same for the MAC/Matco/ Snap-On impact sockets that I have owned.

 

[Clem72]

I recall when Black & Decker, Porter Cable, Rockwell, Craftsman and the like were premium power tools. Now they are just brand names slapped on Chinese junk. In my woodworking shop I have a Craftsman table saw (cast iron with extensions..one heavy sumbitch), Craftsman radial arm saw, Craftsman band saw, and Craftsman joiner. All 1960s models and all super heavy duty.

I think everything other than hand tools were never actually produced by Craftsman, and even the hand tools were outsourced in the 60s or 70s (though made to "Craftsman" specifications of course).

 

[Kyle]

I think everything other than hand tools were never actually produced by Craftsman, and even the hand tools were outsourced in the 60s or 70s (though made to "Craftsman" specifications of course).

At one time Maryland tool maker Easco was making them.

 

[PrchJrkr]

HF marine shrink tubing is the bomb! It's got adhesive glue inside that seals well, but isn't too hateful if you have to remove it for some reason. Although, I haven't found a use for the smaller sizes, it's worth the $6 it used to cost for a nice assortment.

 

[Gilligan]

I think everything other than hand tools were never actually produced by Craftsman, and even the hand tools were outsourced in the 60s or 70s (though made to "Craftsman" specifications of course).

Sears Roebuck outsourced virtually everything since forever...my point was only about the quality of the products sold as Craftsman brand power tools back in the day.

speaking of...there was a 1930s Sear farm tractor at the big antique farm equipment auction in Mechanicsville a month ago. Very cool..had C-channel main frame, Model A engine and transmission...some big ole truck differential. Back in the late 80s when I first moved back to 7D, the place I rented had an old late 30s Sears "traction machine" with a plow and disc for implements. I got the old thing running and used it to put in a nice big garden. Liked to kill me horsing that thing around..

 

[Gilligan]

 

[SamSpade]

Most of the Craftsman tools I used in the 80s - I still have. A little worn and dirty, but still good. Almost all, of course, hand tools.

I'm very much of the belief if you need a tool you intend to use a lot over a long period of time - get the best you can reasonably afford.
Don't ever buy anything so cheap it might not last more than a couple uses, although OCCASIONALLY I will break this rule if it is cheaper to do that way.
But anything you intend for short term use or very sporadic use - buy the cheapest tool that you believe will do the job.

I don't see this as wisdom, but ROI basic knowledge. Think of it as "cost per USE".

 

[PeoplesElbow]

Most of the Craftsman tools I used in the 80s - I still have. A little worn and dirty, but still good. Almost all, of course, hand tools.

I'm very much of the belief if you need a tool you intend to use a lot over a long period of time - get the best you can reasonably afford.
Don't ever buy anything so cheap it might not last more than a couple uses, although OCCASIONALLY I will break this rule if it is cheaper to do that way.
But anything you intend for short term use or very sporadic use - buy the cheapest tool that you believe will do the job.

I don't see this as wisdom, but ROI basic knowledge. Think of it as "cost per USE".

That's why I a Delta table saw instead of a Powermatic.

 

[Sneakers]

HF marine shrink tubing is the bomb! It's got adhesive glue inside that seals well, but isn't too hateful if you have to remove it for some reason. Although, I haven't found a use for the smaller sizes, it's worth the $6 it used to cost for a nice assortment.

I was going to say this too...
HF is great for more than just tools. Inexpensive, but usable expendables, like grinder and cutoff blades, Dremel and multicutter accessories, buffing pads, and so on. Won't buy their drill bits anymore.... even the 'titanium' ones break and leave you with a partial set. Cheaper to buy a new set than replace the individual broken ones.

And flashlights. FREE flashlights. I have them all over the house, in the truck, the shop, with the camp gear..... quick battery change form HF cheap alkaline batteries and good to go again. When they die, toss it, get another freebie.

 

[Gilligan]

Won't buy their drill bits anymore.... even the 'titanium' ones break and leave you with a partial set.

That reminds me of a story. Years ago, HDC used to have a big "tool sale" at the Hollywood VFD. I bought a complete drill index for little of nothing. Went to drill a 1/4" hole in something metal and the bit grabbed. Then it wouldn't restart...wouldn't cut a lick. I fussed with it a bit before I came to the realization that the bit had "untwisted" itself!...so much so that the first inch or so of were now twisted in the opposite direction of the rest. Laffed at my foolishness and threw the whole index in the trash.

 

[Clem72]

Sears Roebuck outsourced virtually everything since forever...my point was only about the quality of the products sold as Craftsman brand power tools back in the day.

speaking of...there was a 1930s Sear farm tractor at the big antique farm equipment auction in Mechanicsville a month ago. Very cool..had C-channel main frame, Model A engine and transmission...some big ole truck differential. Back in the late 80s when I first moved back to 7D, the place I rented had an old late 30s Sears "traction machine" with a plow and disc for implements. I got the old thing running and used it to put in a nice big garden. Liked to kill me horsing that thing around..

My still working lawn tractor, as opposed to the one that needs a new engine, is a 30 year old craftsman. I believe it was actually made by husqvarna.

 

[my-thyme]

I was going to say this too...
HF is great for more than just tools.

Oh, Oh.

I had their green house years ago. Loved it.

Had the men in my life erected it where I wanted it, rather than in the edge of the field where the wind crumpled it into a ball of aluminum and plastic, it would still be standing.

Probably.

 

[Gilligan]

My still working lawn tractor, as opposed to the one that needs a new engine, is a 30 year old craftsman. I believe it was actually made by husqvarna.

That raises a sad present-day fact...good names like Husqvarna, John Deere, etc are now nothing more than paint colors and decals on the small garden tractors/mowers these days, all massed produced by the same one or two companies..MTD comes to mind.

 

[Gilligan]

Had the men in my life erected it where I wanted it,

Must. Avoid. Comment.

 

[Gilligan]

So just for chits a giggles, I "inventoried" just the combination wrench drawer of my shop roll around. LMFAO...it's the "United Nations of Tools" drawer. Here is what I found at least one of:
Crescent
Thorsen
Lectrolite
Carlyle
TRW
S-K
Kobalt
Craftsman
Armstrong
Stanley
Barcalo
Fuller
GearWrench
Companion
Alden
Williams
Snap-On
TrueCraft
Wizard
Great Neck
K-D
Duratest


Nobody could every accuse me of having a "favorite" tool brand....