Garage Journal attacks wallet, again.

[Downwindtracker 2]

Thanks guys, I bought a set of S-shaped obstruction wrenches, something I didn't really knew about until being enlightened by you guys. 60% off, $29.99 Mastercraft Maximum, 8 piece metric and SAE. A Canadian dollar is worth 75cents USD . If I ever use one, it's paid for, and if I never have to use, it's also good. Who likes difficult to reach bolts ?

But, rather than talk about obstruction wrenches, an observation again about Chinese quality. Mastercraft Maximum is Canadian Tire's top line. At first glance they look pretty good, heavy plating, flank drive and square shank. But apon closer inspection the square edges are fairly sharp. Classic Chinese corner cutting. Good looking, but what extra cost detail can we get away with ? Here they didn't ease the edges enough.

 

[Professional Tool User]

I don't know what you are complaining about. You've got to be a poser to complain about minor details on a cheap tool. If it were about an expensive tool, that's another matter. The contour of the wrench beam boils down to personal preference. There are a lot of expensive options that are uncomfortable to hold like my old pre flank drive 13/16 Snap on wrench with a super thin beam. And a lot of the older USA made tools aren't all polished and shiny.

You can make fun of Mastercraft all you want, but Maximum tools for the most part are decent. If there's a job that's guaranteed to destroy a torx bit, I'll be using my Maximum impact torx sockets. The Snap on and Mac ones break just as easily. I've also only broken one Maximum impact socket in two years of professional use and that was while fighting a seized bolt. Not bad considering how cheap these tools are when they are on sale.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

Much more of a comment on Chinese attitude , then on Mastercraft tools. If they had eased the edges better, you are looking at some fine tools. I also would bet the samples and the first batch were as good or better than Macs ! I think that is were that much copied shank design comes from.

Being a Canuck, I'm not fond of China. But you have to be a realist and call a spade a spade.

 

[X1 Mike]

.......the square edges are fairly sharp. Classic Chinese corner cutting.…….

Pun intended?