New craftsman ratchets
- Thread starter KLG73
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Kirbot
Well-known member
Which kind?
They sell at least 3 different styles
They sell at least 3 different styles
shanker
Well-known member
if your talking about the new "premium" ones...then yes...they're great
Its like a Matco 88 head on a Cornwell handle..best of both worlds
Its like a Matco 88 head on a Cornwell handle..best of both worlds
archirelic
Well-known member
I wish the pricing were a bit lower!
earlthegoat2
Well-known member
Like my old boss always used to say, "Nice stuff costs a lot."
4x4gearhead
Well-known member
is it actually the 88 gear? I still havent laid eyes on them, no stores I know of stock the new "premium" ratchets.
Kirbot
Well-known member
If we are talking about the "premium" ratchets...
Keep in mind that you can buy a nice used Snap On 80 tooth ratchet for what a new craftsman costs.
Keep in mind that you can buy a nice used Snap On 80 tooth ratchet for what a new craftsman costs.
Watch the sales and coupons. You can pick up all 3 sizes for under $140.
shanker
Well-known member
a New FLH80 costs about the same as the entire set of Craftsman ones.
the Craftsman ones are nice, I gotta give them that...the handle is super comfy
the Craftsman ones are nice, I gotta give them that...the handle is super comfy
Kirbot
Well-known member
If your willing to shop around some, Ebay Snapon prices are about the same as new craftsman prices.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1-2-...Z290579209761QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00925482000P?prdNo=10&blockNo=10&blockType=G10
I've never once doubted the quality of the new craftsmans, but I just dont trust sears to stand behind the warranty properly.
Their constantly lowering quality and sending more manufacturing to china.
shanker
Well-known member
yes...but thats a different debate/subject
Craftsman hit the nail on the head with these latest ratchets.
the "Thin Profile" Craftsman ratchets were already lightyears ahead of the old Raised Panel ones, and the "Premium" Ratchets are a significant improvement over the "Thin Profile" ones.
Kirbot
Well-known member
Thats true
But when they came out with the thin profile, they dropped the even better rhft
Different subject or not, it's worth considering.
A perfect example is the professional wrenches that are now made in china.
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FJ 432
Well-known member
I was at Sears yesterday evening and finally put my hands on one of these. Having never had a nice ratchet I was considering the set.
Nicely weighted and it felt pretty good. Funny thing was I was kind of in love and asked if I could order the set of three from them because they didn't have the 1/4 or the 1/2". They could not order the set because the catalog code wouldn't come up in their system.
One other thing was that the 3/8" ratchet on handle had a flaw in the chrome. They are pricy and that flaw took a little bit of the love off the impulse buy I was feeling. Would that affect you? First time buying a wrench this nice and it really doesn't matter but did it? Would I possibly see a similar flaw in a Snapon? It looked like a imperfection was on the handle and they chromed it over.
Nicely weighted and it felt pretty good. Funny thing was I was kind of in love and asked if I could order the set of three from them because they didn't have the 1/4 or the 1/2". They could not order the set because the catalog code wouldn't come up in their system.
One other thing was that the 3/8" ratchet on handle had a flaw in the chrome. They are pricy and that flaw took a little bit of the love off the impulse buy I was feeling. Would that affect you? First time buying a wrench this nice and it really doesn't matter but did it? Would I possibly see a similar flaw in a Snapon? It looked like a imperfection was on the handle and they chromed it over.
powertrip
Well-known member
USED being the key word here. Also the craftsman is stamped USA. You might find a used snapon stamped USA but try getting a newer one is difficult. Also sears has the best tool warranty in the business. How many sears stores are there out there?
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warmpancakes
Well-known member
yes but My sears doesnt stock the premium ratchets so when It breaks Its 2 weeks for a new one to arrive. My snap on guy is never more than a phone call away and he will give me a loaner ratchet if he doesnt have the kit on his truck to fix a ratchet
timesrgood?
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 7, 2011
- Messages
- 72
I was at Sears yesterday evening and finally put my hands on one of these. Having never had a nice ratchet I was considering the set.
Nicely weighted and it felt pretty good. Funny thing was I was kind of in love and asked if I could order the set of three from them because they didn't have the 1/4 or the 1/2". They could not order the set because the catalog code wouldn't come up in their system.
One other thing was that the 3/8" ratchet on handle had a flaw in the chrome. They are pricy and that flaw took a little bit of the love off the impulse buy I was feeling. Would that affect you? First time buying a wrench this nice and it really doesn't matter but did it? Would I possibly see a similar flaw in a Snapon? It looked like a imperfection was on the handle and they chromed it over.
For me no those flaws don't matter. I see it in the USA made usually Armstrong/Danaher ones I have. I have a set of Armstrong box wrenches that are pretty bad that way, bought new by me for $$. The GM Performance ones I bought on road emergency for $20 on sale at Kragen are perfect and beautiful, made in C.
They are for turning screws with my hands, I don't mind the extra character. It means they didn't tumble polish the tools enough, didn't look at each one enough. That means nothing to me. The USA jobs mean everything, even if the guy inspecting was half asleep I will still take that. I am not so perfect as that either. If you look at some other samples most will be fine I bet.
powertrip
Well-known member
Not everybody works in a garage and has a snapon guy.
timesrgood?
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- Joined
- May 7, 2011
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So what I am hearing is not to buy the Sears ratchet, because if it breaks it takes too long to get another one? Even I have quite a few more than one ratchet of all the sizes, it doesn't mean I sit on my hands because the only one I have breaks does it?
Why not buy the cheap ratchets they sell, USA ones, nothing wrong with them I can see. If the 3/8 doesn't take off 200f ft/lb nuts and that makes it a bad ratchet, I am thinking people don't know enough about tool work to use the right size.
Why not buy the cheap ratchets they sell, USA ones, nothing wrong with them I can see. If the 3/8 doesn't take off 200f ft/lb nuts and that makes it a bad ratchet, I am thinking people don't know enough about tool work to use the right size.
WhiteTrash
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- Joined
- Oct 13, 2010
- Messages
- 155
I have all 3 of Craftsman's premium grade 84 tooth ratchets. They really are amazing. The handle feels good in my hand and the balance is right. With the absence of a socket quick release, they have a pretty low profile as well.
I hope they continue the line to include flex handle versions. Also, I would like to see a breaker bar with a matching handle.
I hope they continue the line to include flex handle versions. Also, I would like to see a breaker bar with a matching handle.
Kirbot
Well-known member
Usually takes about three days to get a replacement tool mailled to me when I call or email snap on
Kirbot
Well-known member
My point is that if/when you need to warranty it, you may simply not get another one. When sears discontinues these ratchets, who knows what **** they will replace them with.
The same way the craftsman rhft ratchets were discontinued.
And it took an argument at my local sears to even get mine replaced with a thin profile ratchet. Which still isn't as good
powertrip
Well-known member
By **** do you mean something not made here?
nato
Well-known member
****'s ****, no matter where it's made...
Your subliminal is regardless of that particular meaning.
...and yes, that is what he means, lol
Kirbot
Well-known member
If your trying to get into the whole Duel 80 COO argument again, stuff it
We have all been through that a million times already
I mean anything that is inferior to the current professional ratchets. And yes, I would be pissed off if I had a 80 dollar ratchet replaced with one made in China
Look at the "professional" combination wrenches if you want an example
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This is my biggest beef.
Since most of us buy from Sears due to the Made in USA component (otherwise we'd just buy a HF for 1/5 the price), the fact that Sears keeps outsourcing its tools is a major concern of mine. When they switched the pro wrenches and crowsfoot and flarenut crowsfoot to China I started to really get worried. Eventually, I would guess almost everything will be Chinese, or if the time comes South Africa or some other country. I'm just glad I was able to buy most of my stuff from Sears recently while still printed with Made in USA on them.
The premium ratchets are nice, but I really like the quick release of my thin profiles. The thin profiles with quick release are actually thinner than the premiums without QR. If Sears were to ever come out with a premium w/ QR I would probably get it, but for now I bought the 3 pc set of thin profiles for $53+tax so it made more sense to go that route. They are nice, but then again I have the raised panel ones to compare against, which I still use and don't mind using.
Really what this means is treat your "lifetime warranty" tools with care, as you might get another you might not get a US one in the future. Use the Chinese ones to beat on.
The premium ratchets are nice, but I really like the quick release of my thin profiles. The thin profiles with quick release are actually thinner than the premiums without QR. If Sears were to ever come out with a premium w/ QR I would probably get it, but for now I bought the 3 pc set of thin profiles for $53+tax so it made more sense to go that route. They are nice, but then again I have the raised panel ones to compare against, which I still use and don't mind using.
Really what this means is treat your "lifetime warranty" tools with care, as you might get another you might not get a US one in the future. Use the Chinese ones to beat on.
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powertrip
Well-known member
Not what i meant, but good point.
Man, isn't that a sad reality though? I'm not one to use a ratchet as a hammer or a screwdriver as a chisel and I still break stuff. It's not often that something breaks but lately I think about not using a ratchet I like because I don't want to break it. That's not a thought I want to have when looking into any tool drawer.
nato
Well-known member
On a sidenote, thus far, I know we can all agree on the simple fact that it really ***** that anymore, we have to worry about warranty and tool service moreso than the initial quality of the tool that we originally were in the market of purchasing. 
shanker
Well-known member
I think everyone stirs the pot on warranty a bit more than necessary regarding Sears.
IMHO, if you break a Premium series Ratchet, its because you were either pushing its limits, or were using it wrong.
Having the right tool for the job usually means very few broken tools.
I think its ironic when people complain about their 3/8 ratchet breaking when they were working on a 3/4 or larger bolt with a 2 foot cheater pipe...should be using a breaker bar
IMHO, if you break a Premium series Ratchet, its because you were either pushing its limits, or were using it wrong.
Having the right tool for the job usually means very few broken tools.
I think its ironic when people complain about their 3/8 ratchet breaking when they were working on a 3/4 or larger bolt with a 2 foot cheater pipe...should be using a breaker bar
05CarbonDRZ
Well-known member
I bought the 1/4" And 3/8" Crapsman Premium ratchets and sold them within a week.Compared to a Snap-On dual 80 they feel like ****,The Dual 80 is MUCH smoother.And no I am not a SO ***** that's just my honest opinion.
powertrip
Well-known member
Have the 1/4 & 3/8. Really like them both. I also have 3snapon rats but prefer the handle on the craftsman premiums.
Greatbear
Well-known member
dwm
Well-known member
I don't worry about warranty. And that's true of everything I buy. I never buy extended coverage on anything, and never will. I don't buy my cars based on warranty. I don't pay for home warranties. I buy the right product at the right price up front. If it's a one-time use widget or infrequently used, I'll buy cheaper (and lesser quality). If it's something I'm going to use the heck out of (say a 3/8" ratchet), I'll buy quality. Never once considering warranty. And I sleep just fine at night.
Frequently-used tools, I have multiples. Not because I think they're going to break, but because I need them in more than one box/location at home. But if one breaks, I've got a back-up. Without waiting for the truck or a delivery. If it's a big tool for which I expect to eventually have problems, I buy repair parts before they become NLA. One of the reason I have some Craftsman stuff is that searspartsdirect supports them for decades. Bought a couple new parts for my 12 year old power washer this year, as well as my 15 year old oil-free compressor. Still available.
An $80 good quality ratchet? I'm not going to worry about replacement cost; it's going to last a long time and $80 for several years of use is better amortization than most things I'd spend $80 on.
Frequently-used tools, I have multiples. Not because I think they're going to break, but because I need them in more than one box/location at home. But if one breaks, I've got a back-up. Without waiting for the truck or a delivery. If it's a big tool for which I expect to eventually have problems, I buy repair parts before they become NLA. One of the reason I have some Craftsman stuff is that searspartsdirect supports them for decades. Bought a couple new parts for my 12 year old power washer this year, as well as my 15 year old oil-free compressor. Still available.
An $80 good quality ratchet? I'm not going to worry about replacement cost; it's going to last a long time and $80 for several years of use is better amortization than most things I'd spend $80 on.