Good tools to buy at Sears?

[betsy325e]

Hello all,

Just got an e-mail from the Smears entitling me to a bunch of points, yadda yadda yadda. I've already decided they're going towards a pair of Knipex cutters I spotted last time I was Smearsing.

I gotta go up there anyway to exchange a cman flex head ratchet with a completely useless ball detent -- literally used it once to change rear plugs on a 3.8 GM.

Got me thinking, though: what's sold at Sears that's worth jumping on when its on sale/you've got "points" to burn? Full disclosure: the pry bars, got 'em already.

THE SMEARS PASS/FAIL THREAD: LET IT BEGIN.

 

[Jarhead0408]

They've rebranded Lisle's seal pullers as well as Ullman's 16 lb. magnetic pickup tool. I'd personally go for the extended version of the magnetic pick up tool. It's super long.

They also have the Mityvac brake bleeder systems and I believe they might have the radiator test kits as well.

Inspection mirrors are Ullman rebrands as well.

Do you have the Craftsman/Wilde red handled 36" pry bar?

 

[77Ford]

The Craftsman adjustable wrenches still made in the USA are awesome and have been 1/2 price lately


DeWalt

 

[gdocktor3]

All craftsman made Channel locks, pliers, cutters, hard handle and some comfort grip screwdrivers, hammers, adjustable wrenches, awl, rubber grip hook & pick sets, 6 point ratchet wrenches, punch & chisels, pry bars and some others I'm forgetting are all made in USA and are best bang for buck. The manufacturers of those tools also make them for Matco, SK, Armstrong and more. They just put a different handle or etching on them and triple the price.

 

[Vantastic]

Wow. Calling it smears a hundred times is ******* clever.

 

[GTO]

Re threading kit

 

[finn]

Don't go, as you obviously have no respect for them.

Do your shopping elsewhere.

 

[cgrutt]

I haven't bought Craftsman tools in years but their full mechanics sets are hard to beat for the money, esp. for somebody just starting out with their tool collection. Have a nice combination wrench set that's not as nearly shiny or thin as my Snap-on wrenches but still get the job done. I usually use the larger sizes (1" or larger) because my other tool truck sets don't go that large (they make them of course, I just don't have them). Have some pliers and adjustable wrenches that seem to be good quality too. Been collecting tools my whole life and have amassed a decent collection of Craftsman tools.

 

[panknuckshovel]

Re threading kit

Isn't this posting a re-threading kit?

 

[maxpower_hd]

X2 on the re-thread set. It is the same manufacturer as the Snap On one. I have been waiting to pull the trigger on it myself.

 

[heywood22rbr]

I was in Sears, yesterday, and their tool section is about as Chinese-made now as a boat load of little plastic toys. And of course Sears has marked them up about 42,000 percent, making the tool isle a Frankensteinien cross between Harbor Freight and Snap-On. They do, however, carry Knipex for some odd reason, which would (you would think) make carrying a few USA-made Craftsman pliars redundant. Their boxes are always on clearance, too, and if you get the absolute bottom rock, they are an ok deal for home use -- saw several of the "ball bearing" line marked to the low $200 range.

 

[mikebaker1129]

Their wires strippers are still US made and are decent quality.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I was in Sears, yesterday, and their tool section is about as Chinese-made now as a boat load of little plastic toys. And of course Sears has marked them up about 42,000 percent, ...

That is what REALLY PISSES MY OFF ABOUT CRAFTSMAN ! You walk into to HF and you know it is all imported, but at least their pricing is appropriate.

 

[tarbellb]

"Good tools to buy at Sears?"... ended about 10 years ago.

 

[winlinmac]

^^^What about those HF tools which were once Made in Taiwan and production has not shifted back to China again? Can't trust a company which does this out of the blue. Suppose a warranty replacement needs to get done, you replace a defective item with something more inferior. Not in my books, lol

 

[winlinmac]

You got that right

"Good tools to buy at Sears?"... ended about 10 years ago.

 

[fastbike02]

I personally like craftsman sockets, while they might not be the highest quality for a diy'er you can't beat the warranty. nothing like walking in and getting a replacement no questions asked

 

[d.mcfarland]

The Shop Your Way program has really given this forum alone a good reason to shop at Sears. Honestly, some of their stuff is good and some is bad. Just like anywhere else.

Sears nowadays seems to be moving production and cutting costs, so stick with known brands and USA made stuff from there and you shouldn't have a problem.

The cheap imported stuff you can get cheaper (and usually a bit better) elsewhere.

 

[CNGsaves]

OP drives a Beemer . . . spent plenty of money to get SYW points at Sears . .
. . .
. . . . . . now trashing them as "Smears" . . . . I don't get it.

Kind of like wondering why overheating and oil gunk problems happen on the Beemer . . . .
. . . after you already bought it !!

Sears . . . is what it is . . . just like the over-priced Beemer !!!

 

[barrybeefburger]

^^^What about those HF tools which were once Made in Taiwan and production has not shifted back to China again? Can't trust a company which does this out of the blue. Suppose a warranty replacement needs to get done, you replace a defective item with something more inferior. Not in my books, lol

Not starting a ******* match, but why would a piece thats been made in China be inferior to one made in Taiwan, do you know this for fact, or did you get this first hand from experience with a like for like item?

 

[jd_1138]

Channel Lock, Irwin vise grips/clamps, maybe some consumables like torx bits, drill bits, etc.. Appliances, clothing.

 

[winlinmac]

My apologies for not elaborating, though my statement may have been perceived as being over-generalized, I never have seemed to encounter a smooth-ratcheting feel on the Craftsman ratchets compared to Harbor Freight's Pittsburgh Pro Taiwan ratchets. It's also probable, my conclusions are being drawn based on coming across a bad batch from Craftsman.

Not starting a ******* match, but why would a piece thats been made in China be inferior to one made in Taiwan, do you know this for fact, or did you get this first hand from experience with a like for like item?

 

[jd_1138]

Not starting a ******* match, but why would a piece thats been made in China be inferior to one made in Taiwan, do you know this for fact, or did you get this first hand from experience with a like for like item?

Taiwan is a better, more ethical place than China so it'd only be natural to prefer a Taiwanese made tool.

But sure, depending on the specs agreed to, Chinese made stuff could be just as good as Taiwanese stuff or even North American stuff. Depends on the specs outlined by the customer.

 

[Brownsfan]

Taiwan is a better, more ethical place than China so it'd only be natural to prefer a Taiwanese made tool.

But sure, depending on the specs agreed to, Chinese made stuff could be just as good as Taiwanese stuff or even North American stuff. Depends on the specs outlined by the customer.

As long as quality fade has not yet happened. China manufacturers are notorious for this

 

[Jim C.]

Wow. Calling it smears a hundred times is ******* clever.

Yeah, I found that a little annoying too. I think the OP is more interested in starting another Sears bashing thread versus getting an answer to his question.

Don't go, as you obviously have no respect for them.

Do your shopping elsewhere.

Agreed. I had a couple recommendations but based on my suspicion of the OP's motives, I won't waste my time listing them.

 

[four.cycle]

I had a couple recommendations but based on my suspicion of the OP's motives, I won't waste my time listing them.

^ this.

 

[betsy325e]

Yeah, I found that a little annoying too. I think the OP is more interested in starting another Sears bashing thread versus getting an answer to his question.



Agreed. I had a couple recommendations but based on my suspicion of the OP's motives, I won't waste my time listing them.

People -- I am legitimately interested in getting **** at Sears. If it's good, I'll buy it. Wtf is up with the weird brand loyalty rigamarole on here? Sometimes they have deals. Calm down. Bunch of weirdos. Yeah, I said Smears. I sincerely apologize to all the people who were hurt by my disrespectful comments about their preferred store. Holy hell.

The question was "Good tools to buy at Sears?" because I occasionally get the surprise points or whatever...not because I want to sit here and circle jerk about some corporation and bash the Chinese for an hour. Like...I want to know what's worth buying at Sears. Holy ****. There has to be a way to discuss purchasing TOOLS on this forum without everyone flipping **** about their favorite corporate color scheme.

To the posters who replied with their recommendations: much thanks.

To the guy who doesn't like my BMW: how dare you, sir.

 

[byoungblood]

Their interchangeable tip snap ring pliers are pretty good. They've removed the "Professional" branding from them, but they're still the same tool. That's the only tool I've bought there in the past 12 months that they still carry still made in the US by (apparently) the same manufacturer.

If they're the same relative quality as the ones I have, their slip joint pliers are kind of meh quality. I bought a set of Channelocks a couple of years ago and they're much better.

Mine are USA made, but apparently the Taiwan made thin profile ratchets are still pretty good. Honestly that's what Sears should have been including in their sets instead of the old RP ratchet for as long as it has been available. I haven't seen but a few comments about their new 75T ratchets that are apparently replacing the RP ratchets.

I've got a ton of Craftsman stuff, but probably most like many folks here, it is older, US made stuff, so I can't offer much opinion on what they're selling now.

 

[Nunci0]

I thought it was a legitimate and appropriate question. I think there are a lot of people looking to score (at a decent price or with free points) the last made in the USA items before they are gone or Sears is gone.

I was going to suggest the Craftsman 1.25lb Camp Axe made by Vaughan that I got with my last surprise points, but I can't even find it on the website anymore.

 

[Jim C.]

I thought it was a legitimate and appropriate question. I think there are a lot of people looking to score (at a decent price or with free points) the last made in the USA items before they are gone or Sears is gone......

It seemed like a legit question and that's why I initially checked into the thread. Once I got into the content, it seemed more like another bash thread. Maybe the OP's presentation just rubbed me wrong. Whatever.... No big deal.

Jim C.

 

[Cato]

Their screwdrivers are awesome - especially considering the price.

 

[Jeremy77]

The majority of their hammers are rebadged Vaughan. I have several Craftsman ball peins, drilling hammers and pry bars. Been pleased with them all. The 10" & 7" Alligator pliers set can be had for around $40 and are rebadged Knipex. The Craftsman punches and cold chisels are quality items in my opinion. Their nicer boxes are made in the U.S. by Waterloo and contrary to many, I think they are fine boxes for the price and warranty (6 years on the heavy duty and limited lifetime on the premium heavy duty and industrial lines.). As others have said, their adjustable wrenches and the majority of pliers are made by Western Forge and are very solidly built.

 

[TigerDude]

I think the clicker torque wrenches are good buys when in the $30's.

Tool bags when cheap and on sale.

Some of the tools, as mentioned above.

 

[d.mcfarland]

The hammers are a steal. Good point Jeremy.

 

[betsy325e]

Could definitely use some cold chisels/punches...I don't need them that often, but when I do I always make do with something else and hate myself the entire time. Anyone know who makes them for cman?

 

[jrobb316]

Channellock and knipex are both sold on the shelf. For CMan, I use the hammers, chisels and punches, and maybe an adjustable wrench. Everything else I source elsewhere for better quality. They do have more online, not in the store, like Witte screwdrivers. I've bought that before with points.

 

[1950mercury]

Their screwdrivers are awesome - especially considering the price.

I strongly disagree....

 

[d.mcfarland]

Could definitely use some cold chisels/punches...I don't need them that often, but when I do I always make do with something else and hate myself the entire time. Anyone know who makes them for cman?

Western Forge as marked by the WF on them.

 

[betsy325e]

thanks d.

i didn't even think about the online stuff. I really like to get a look at **** before I buy it...but that's a great idea for when sitting on points.

 

[winlinmac]

Depends on what screwdrivers we're talking about here

I strongly disagree....