Any catastrophic tool failures that caused you to switch brands?

[cgrutt]

My story is Craftsman to Snap-on...

My friend was helping me put a set of headers on my '72 Firebird (I don't own it anymore but will post pic in the Firebird thread, LOL). We were both in High School, probably 16-17 years old at the time (a long, long time ago, ha, ha). Being kids all I could afford and find were Craftsman tools at the local Sears. So Pontiac heads were angled unlike the Chevy's, which made it much harder to install headers. I was on the ground with a 1/4" drive set with a universal while my friend was above holding the headers in place. Gave it a good crank and the universal blew apart nearly taking out my friend's eye in the process. He wound up having 3 or 4 surgeries to save it and his sight. Fortunately he can still see out of it but still has a nasty scar across his iris to this day.

Yeah, I know a lot of safety measures on our part could have prevented the injury. Safety glasses and using a 3/8ths drive among others. Not withstanding, I started buying Snap-on tools ever since and haven't looked back. Never had a Snap-on tool brake on me either. Yeah, not trying to start a brand argument but I just feel better using Snap-on tools. It is what it is...

Anybody have similar experiences?

 

[GSMotorrad]

I had a similar experience, also with a universal. They like to explode and go flying. There were three of us, and luckily didn't hit any of us, be we all freaked out about its velocity and it left a dent in the drywall in his garage. We were using it "wrong", so I'm not sure you should only blame Craftsman. I think all universals do that. Actually, haven't even used one since, about twenty years, at least. I use the "swivel" impact style now.

 

[carcajou]

A co worker lost an eye a few years back. A small piece of a hammer i was using broke off and hit him in the eye. No more cheap hammers no matter how nice they feel to swing. I went and purchased several Stanley antivibe framing hammers, and Snap On ball pein deadblow hammers and never looked back. Also just a reminder guys, if you have not ground the heads of your mushroomed punches and chisels lately.......

 

[purplezr2]

Broke so many Cman sockets I switched to Snap On!

 

[jacked_72]

1/4 inch for installing header? I would have opted for the 3/8ths. Were you just using the little 1/4" craftsman ratchet? Must have been a really defectie ujoint unless you were using a cheater bar.

 

[Git]

1/4 inch for installing header? I would have opted for the 3/8ths. Were you just using the little 1/4" craftsman ratchet? Must have been a really defectie ujoint unless you were using a cheater bar.

That was my thought also.

Instead of "catastrophic tool failures" maybe "catastrophic tool misuse" would be a better title?

 

[PJNJ]

OP sorry for your friend's injury but cranking on a 1/4 drive universal sounds like a recipe for disaster no matter the brand. Maybe I was lucky to work in a service station when I was a teenager where I was told that 1/4" ratchets and tools were for small fasteners and obstructions. I have never used it on an exhaust manifold or headers.

 

[Bondo]

That was my thought also.

Instead of "catastrophic tool failures" maybe "catastrophic tool misuse" would be a better title?

Ayuh,... Exactly,....

I've been wrenchin' for well over 5 decades, 'n still have many craftsman tools,...
'n snap-on,...
'n 'bout everybody else's,....

 

[DemoFly]

The only tools I have ever broke was a Craftsman 3/8 ratchet...but I was probably putting about 500 ft/lbs through it with a cheater bar.

I replaced it with a Kobalt. Which I broke in a similar way.

Now I have a full set of correct tools, so I don't break anything.

 

[cgrutt]

LOL, yeah, just the small Craftsman ratchet, must have succumbed to my gorilla-like grip, ha, ha... Seriously, I don't recall specific size of the exhaust bolts but believe they were on the smaller size (maybe 1/4" bolt with 7/16" head or so?) and the size of the tool didn't seem quite out of line with the size of the bolt at the time. We were kids and didn't know any better. Between the angle of the exhaust manifold and pipes I don't think we were able to get a larger tool in there. Live and learn...

And I'm not referring to the breaking of the tool being catastrophic but rather the outcome. Couldn't care less about the universal joint and realize it could have happened to any brand. It happened to be Craftsman and I happened to start buying Snap-on after that. Could have just as easily been two different brands but facts a fact.

 

[gungatim]

nothing that made me switch brands, but in 30 years of wrenching, only had a few failures:
snap-on 3/8 drive short 3/8 6pt. socket with a 3/8 allen bit in it taking off a chevy caliper pin (Camaro/nova), already broke my 3/8 allen socket so used the bit in a brand new snap-on socket. used 1/2" long ratchet adapted to the 3/8. split that socket like it was made out of wood.

broke a 3/8 craftsman universal, as others posted.

had a set of HF deep impact sockets, metric, used the 17mm and it split in 3 places, later on the 19mm did the same. these were NOT current CR-V or CroMo sockets, but the old ones from the 80's Taiwan made back when they were mail order only. I doubt they were even impact rated as they looked more like regular thin wall black sockets. swapped out for a new modern set a few years ago...and no, did not have the receipt (but the cashier let me keep the metal box they came in!).

broke 1/2" snap on ratchet, the selector lever popped off and shot out the back.

not much else I can think of, unless you include torx bits or typical rounding of the cheap newer craftsman clear handled screwdrivers, but I pretty much consider both as consumables...

 

[scooz14]

i have only broken a few tools in the decade of wrenching ive got under my belt and i have a pretty good mix of tool truck and craftsman tools. usually i find its the person not the tools. i know a guy who will break snap on sockets regularly. im more they type to stop before it breaks and come up with a different solution. my motto is work smarter not harder. the other guy i know will just go ham until something explodes.

 

[cgrutt]

Apparently 3/8" x 3/4".

My 1/4" set goes from 3/16" to 9/16". Maybe its unrealistic to expect it to handle a bolt that is smack in the middle of its capacity without blowing apart under hand pressure...

 

[Loscaldazar]

1/4 drive for installing headers isn't unreasonable. Most headers I've messed with are around 20-30 Ft-lbs of torque. A 1/4 drive ratchet should be good for at least 50FT-lbs, and well known brands are usually around 70 Ft-lbs for 1/4 drive.

My only major failure wasn't catastrophic. Just had all my CMAN USA sockets rust through the exterior chrome after a year or so of use. What a joke when I was looking for sockets that were going to last me a few decades.

 

[vjquan]

1/4 drive for installing headers isn't unreasonable. Most headers I've messed with are around 20-30 Ft-lbs of torque. A 1/4 drive ratchet should be good for at least 50FT-lbs, and well known brands are usually around 70 Ft-lbs for 1/4 drive.

You must have Herculean strength if you can put that much torque on 1/4" ratchet that's only 5-6" long.

 

[JBradley500]

Or 9"... I love those extra long ratchets.

 

[AL`]

During the 80's and 90's I broke some cheap Taiwan made sockets and wrenches. My Craftsman have held up but I'm an occasional DIY user. I also use a breaker bar to break torque on fasteners of larger size if I know they are torqued tight or if normal effort with a ratchet doesn't break them loose. Anyways, I looked for better tools after breaking those cheap ones. I was young and broke at the time.

 

[cgrutt]

You must have Herculean strength if you can put that much torque on 1/4" ratchet that's only 5-6" long.

Yeah, either that or maybe the universal joint was ****, LOL...

Put some torque on it but was only using a standard Craftsman 1/4" ratchet with a deep socket and 1/4" universal joint. I was lying on my back on the garage floor reaching up using one hand and it just exploded. My friend was leaning against the fender reaching down holding the headers up and a piece of chrome from the universal joint tore through his eye, which was probably no more than a foot away from it. Say what you will but tools shouldn't explode when you are using them as they were designed to be used.

 

[kwschumm]

No personal injury here but I received a 3-piece set of Craftsman locking pliers as a gift. One day I was using the largest pliers, locking it down, and the spot welded jaw broke off. Returned for a replacement and it was just as poorly made, misaligned jaws and all. Those all went in the trash and I haven't purchased a Craftsman anything since.

 

[cgrutt]

BTW haven't used a universal joint since. Don't even think there is one in my box. I bought a Snap-on 1/4" flex head ratchet right after this happened and has been a staple in my box ever since. Probably use this ratchet more than any others, even if the situation doesn't call for a flex head. It's just a great tool and very comfortable to use. (In a former life I installed automobile electronics and worked with 1/4" tools most of the time.) I also have a 3/8" MAC flex head that I use fairly often. My straight ratchets are mostly Snap-on but I still have a few Craftsman ratchets that I've picked up along the way.

 

[Harley-FXDWG]

1/4 inch drive on headers?!?!? I think a Darwin Award is in order!

 

[Lassen Forge]

I was driving from the Bay Area to Reno early one morning for an appointment when the serpentine belt blew about 1/2 way up the Sierra. I had a spare belt, but the only tools in the truck were this collection of Taiwanic **** I had collected over the years... anyway, I figured I was good, until I went to pull back on the tensioner pulley when both the 3/8" ratchet *and* the socket blew.

Ouch.

Between hitchhiking, a couple long walks, and a ride from an understanding CHP officer, I finally got back from the local auto parts store just before dark with an S&K 1/2" drive set, and once the belt was in place, took great joy n pitching every POS from that truck out into the bushes, and lit off for Reno without incident. (I hope no one ever found that **** and took their lives into their own hands using it)

As if it was destiny, the next morning coming back from my appointment I saw a Snappy truck in Sparks, the driver of which I made rather happy replacing all that roadside ****.

It may be from one extreme to the other, but if that's not a brand switch I don't know what is.

 

[AL`]

It may be from one extreme to the other, but if that's not a brand switch I don't know what is.

I'd say that story takes the cake. Too funny ... in retrospect, of course.

 

[cgrutt]

1/4 inch drive on headers?!?!? I think a Darwin Award is in order!

If you're a Vietnam vet I mean no disrespect by this but why be a douche nozzle about it? To put it in perspective the unthreaded portion of bolt is about the size of what I was dealing with. Here are your options, which would you pick?

I'm not sure if you ever worked on Pontiac headers before but there is not much room to access some of the bolts. The 1/2" ratchet would certainly not work. Possibly 3/8", not sure. Note a standard wrench for 7/16" head is smaller than the 1/4" drive. Would someone deserve a "Darwin" award for using it?

BTW, thanks for your service. I mean that.

 

[cgrutt]

I was driving from the Bay Area to Reno early one morning for an appointment when the serpentine belt blew about 1/2 way up the Sierra. I had a spare belt, but the only tools in the truck were this collection of Taiwanic **** I had collected over the years... anyway, I figured I was good, until I went to pull back on the tensioner pulley when both the 3/8" ratchet *and* the socket blew.

Ouch.

Between hitchhiking, a couple long walks, and a ride from an understanding CHP officer, I finally got back from the local auto parts store just before dark with an S&K 1/2" drive set, and once the belt was in place, took great joy n pitching every POS from that truck out into the bushes, and lit off for Reno without incident. (I hope no one ever found that **** and took their lives into their own hands using it)

As if it was destiny, the next morning coming back from my appointment I saw a Snappy truck in Sparks, the driver of which I made rather happy replacing all that roadside ****.

It may be from one extreme to the other, but if that's not a brand switch I don't know what is.

LMAO, that's great! (I'm sure not while it was happening, of course.)

 

[Harley-FXDWG]

If you're a Vietnam vet I mean no disrespect by this but why be a douche nozzle about it? To put it in perspective the unthreaded portion of bolt is about the size of what I was dealing with. Here are your options, which would you pick?

I'm not sure if you ever worked on Pontiac headers before but there is not much room to access some of the bolts. The 1/2" ratchet would certainly not work. Possibly 3/8", not sure. Note a standard wrench for 7/16" head is smaller than the 1/4" drive. Would someone deserve a "Darwin" award for using it?

BTW, thanks for your service. I mean that.

It wasnt meant as a personal attack against ya. Like somebody stated earlier, that 1/4 drive is best left for light duty hardware and I expect them to fail on anything heavier. Besides, I think its safe to say that we ALL have had our "Darwin" moments at some point or another. LOL

Although I appreciate your kind words but they are best left for the ones who deserve them. I was never a vet. My signature is just a way to honor and show some respect to the ones who never got it when they came home from there. (My late father included)

 

[cgrutt]

It wasnt meant as a personal attack against ya. Like somebody stated earlier, that 1/4 drive is best left for light duty hardware and I expect them to fail on anything heavier. Besides, I think its safe to say that we ALL have had our "Darwin" moments at some point or another. LOL

Although I appreciate your kind words but they are best left for the ones who deserve them. I was never a vet. My signature is just a way to honor and show some respect to the ones who never got it when they came home from there. (My late father included)

All good bro. That's cool about your sig, sorry for loss of your dad. My dad served in Navy during WWII and brother served in Marines in Vietnam. I never did but later in life wish I had. Utmost respect for those who did.

 

[bwringer]

Not quite the same, but... it took me quite a long time to start paying attention to the national origin of my tools.

When I was in college (late 80s), there was a Kmart near my house and I ended up buying a lot of my tools there.

As you do in college, I bought the cheapest bare minimum stuff that might do the job. I bought wrenches and sockets one at a time as they were needed. Sometimes it took several trips to get something done. If Kmart didn't have it, I'd have to catch a bus to Sears.

Some of it was fine (and I still have a few Kmart tools around), but much of it was just hateful ****. It took an embarrassing amount of time and broken tools for me to notice that all the broken stuff was from China or India (yes, India -- I don't even know how they made steel that buttery-soft). Over time, I mostly gave up on Kmart tools and went to Sears when I could looking for US-made tools.


Nowadays, there's actually some Chinese stuff that's pretty darn good, and some that's awful, but I've learned to tell the difference. Taiwan is usually the sweet spot -- high quality with low price.

 

[38D]

Broke a craftsman torq socket trying to remove a head bolt from a '97 Boxster engine. Drove to Sears, got a new one. Broke that too. Went back to Sears, got another new one, broke it. Went to autozone, bought a duralast. Broke. Went online and bought my first snap-on tool, and took all 16 bolts out with no issue. Now nearly everything I have is SO.

 

[Wes J]

It's my experience that some guys are just hard on things. I mean, really hard on them.

I started out working in a truck shop. I had all Craftsman and Allen brand tools. I did the same work everyone else did just as fast. The Snap on guy came around every other week and one guy I worked with would have a pile of warranty tools every time. I can count on my hands the number of tools and sockets I have ever broken and wanted to replace.

For me, the hex bit sockets are the ones that suffer the most. I buy the replacement hex bits and fix them myself. 5/32 and 3/8 are the ones I break the most. I've destroyed a few Craftsman scrapers by abusing them with a hammer and using them to pry. They warranty them for me even though they probably should not.

A long time ago I bought one of those cheap Harbor Freight 20 ton presses. I used it one time and give it to my neighbor. My OTC press cost 20 times as much, but the difference is indescribable.

 

[JJThrasher]

Not too happy with Matco tools right now. Practically new and never saw an impact.

 

[Kev442]

I wrap my universals with some tape as they get floppy after a while. Never knew I was saving my eyes, but it makes sense as one of the few tool failures I've ever had was a Cman 3/8 universal.
Can't remember the last time I used one, it has to be a crazy situation for a wobble to not get things done.

 

[B_Bimmer]

This could have been such an interesting, enlightening thread. The few who followed the original theme were really fun to read. OP, I am sorry you had to spend so many posts explaining how it wasn't your neglect that almost cost your buddy his vision in one eye. I can't believe how many bandwagon jumpers have never used 1/4" drive stuff to it's potential... sometimes I wonder if half of them have ever used tools at all in real life.

 

[derosa]

Agree with the above. I've installed exhaust manifolds using bronze nuts, being readily available at the zone they must not be an uncommon feature. Don't see why a 1/4 wouldn't be a good idea when trying to fit around a turbo or downpipe where space is limited.

On topic, had a cheap set of Chinese channel lock rip offs. Was squeezing down on a bolt that didn't want to move, there was enough flex to allow the handles to slip. Ended up with a giant blood blister on the palm of my hand. Started watching coo and overall quality after that. It was early in the accumulation so the collection didn't end up awash in junk early on.

 

[John in OH]

There's probably not much science behind this rule-of-thumb, but I was taught that if you're doing some serious cranking on fasteners, the bold size (shank or threaded portion) should not exceed the drive size.

So, a 1/4" drive set should be used on bolts only up to 1/4" diameter (which would typically equate to a 7/16" bolt head size); 3/8" drive set up to 3/8" diameter bolts; and 1/2" drives up to 1/2" bolts. Now, obviously, this isn't rigid as most 3/8" drive socket sets go up to a 3/4" socket size (or larger) which would equate to 1/2" dia. bolts, and 1/2" drive socket sets go up to a 1-1/8" socket size which would equate to 3/4" dia. bolts. And, also obviously, for moderate to snug tightening none of us follow this rule-of-thumb.

But, I think you get the idea.

 

[1969]

I had a snap on ratchet break, went to Harbor Freight and bought one from them. No more snap on junk for me!

 

[cgrutt]

This could have been such an interesting, enlightening thread. The few who followed the original theme were really fun to read. OP, I am sorry you had to spend so many posts explaining how it wasn't your neglect that almost cost your buddy his vision in one eye. I can't believe how many bandwagon jumpers have never used 1/4" drive stuff to it's potential... sometimes I wonder if half of them have ever used tools at all in real life.

Thanks man, appreciate that.

 

[Wamsutta]

I could write a whole list of the reasons why I moved away from Craftsman.

 

[cgrutt]

There's probably not much science behind this rule-of-thumb, but I was taught that if you're doing some serious cranking on fasteners, the bold size (shank or threaded portion) should not exceed the drive size.

So, a 1/4" drive set should be used on bolts only up to 1/4" diameter (which would typically equate to a 7/16" bolt head size); 3/8" drive set up to 3/8" diameter bolts; and 1/2" drives up to 1/2" bolts. Now, obviously, this isn't rigid as most 3/8" drive socket sets go up to a 3/4" socket size (or larger) which would equate to 1/2" dia. bolts, and 1/2" drive socket sets go up to a 1-1/8" socket size which would equate to 3/4" dia. bolts. And, also obviously, for moderate to snug tightening none of us follow this rule-of-thumb.

But, I think you get the idea.

Wow. I guess I had better toss out most of my tools then. So just to be clear, I shouldn't use any of the sockets below that are larger than the drive size (the 1/4 ratchet is next to the 1/4 socket, 3/8 ratchet next to 3/8 socket, etc.)?

So I should buy that 1" impact to snug up my 21mm lug nuts on my F150, right?

Thanks!

 

[drink]

Many years ago I was using a pair of Vise Grip long nose pliers. As I clamped down on the handles to lock the pliers I heard a big snap. Suddenly the broken piece of the jaw went flying past my eye and swooshed through my hair. It was a near miss and I did not get hurt. I still have several pairs of locking pliers and still use them as needed. Who can actually stop using Vise Grip pliers? Anyway, I began looking at Armstrong locking pliers and noticed they had CRV on the side where the regular ones had something like 6LN on them. At that moment I began to try to figure out if the Armstrong locking pliers were made with chrome vanadium or stronger steel than the regular pliers.