If you started today buying all new tools

[Sam Mac]

Sears is selling the Craftsman brand to Stanley Black & Decker
http://www.popularmechanics.com/home...aftsman-brand/

[sir_lancealot]

Sears has actually already sold Craftsman to Stanley Black and Decker. It was finalized earlier this month. They'll still be carried in Sears stores, but will also start to be available elsewhere.

As for the tools I buy: Lowe's (Kobalt) is 1 mile from my house, so I usually go there first to get what I need. They carry the same lifetime warranty Craftsman has. If I can't find what I need there, I'll got to TSC or Sears to find it. Last resort is usually Amazon.

When it comes to power tools, my cabinet is full of yellow. I really like my Dewalt tools. I think the only one I've had fail was a circular saw that was plugged into a 220v outlet. It spun really fast for a few seconds before it went up in smoke.

Edit: Sam already stated the sale. I didn't see it before I typed this.

[DieselDoctor]

Tools for work always came off the Snap-on or Mac truck, and stuff for at home has been a mix of Craftsman, S&K, and Proto. Buying from Snap-on and Mac was really just a matter of convenience as they carried you on time payments weekly, and the tools were brought right to the shop. Given the crazy prices Snap-on charges now, I'm not sure if the average mechanic can afford to buy them. Looking back, I probably could have gotten by using S&K or Proto at work. They have held up well for the abuse I have given them at home.
As mentioned in a previous post, using the internet you can purchase high quality name brand tools used, for a bargain price, and many have lifetime warranty.

[finsruskw]

Ace hardware around here has carried the Craftsman line now for a few years.

I still have and use the Craftsman tools I was gifted in 1960 plus an SK socket set I bought at that time.

[J-Mech]

You know, I want to make another comment. Especially to the guys who say they still use tools from the 60's.

I work with some cousins of mine on their farm. The father, is between my dad and granddad's age... so he's far my senior. He has a whole toolbox of Snap-On tools and loves to brag constantly about how they are his "original" set of tools he bought when he went to college. Well.... guess what. Yes, they are Snap-On and yes, they are in excellent looking condition..... BUT THEY ARE SHOT!!! The sockets especially are so wore out that a lot of the time, the 12 point socket won't even attempt to remove a fastener. The end wrenches are so spread, that you can't hardly use them. I've busted far too many knuckles with those wore out wrenches, than I ever did with even the cheap tools.

REMEMBER: The tools carry a lifetime warranty against manufacturers defects AND wear! You CAN trade them in for new when they won't work correctly anymore. I DO NOT suggest that you attempt to trade in a complete set at once, they don't like that..... buy as they wear, you can get them replaced. I have certain sizes I wear out fairly regular. 9/16, 3/4..... I've traded those in at different times over the years so that the tool still bites that fastener like it should. Don't be afraid to make them honor what you paid for. Even if it was 50+ years ago.

[HerrBear]

If I purchase new tools I get Sunex and SK. I have been able to beat the snaught out of both those brands. Iv broken harbor freight and craftsman tools during typical factory equipment repairs.

[tinkerman]

I too have a set of craftsman sockets/ratchets that I've used for the last ten years or so. I HAVE bought a few kobalt tools. I have found that they are not top quality tools. I think it's more of a marketing ploy. I had a common hand tool , maybe channel locks BREAK (that doesn't happen) the air compressor I bought, the regulators went bad in a little over a year. And one other of their tools I had broke prematurely. I know the hand tools say lifetime warranty, but with the compressor no, and with the hand tools it's with receipt . Me and receipts don't get along. I've gotten from checkout to truck and couldn't find the danged thing

[johns cubs]

X2 on HF pro series. I bought a set of impact sockets must have been standard/ light use. Busted the side out of more than one socket, came out in a chunk rather than just a crack, returned for pro series and have not had any problems since. Pliars are channel-lock/vicegrip and sk, elect pliars dykes, linesmans i like greenlee, i have a Kobalt mechanics set for each of our trucks.I have had snap-on swivel head long handle ratchets now for 15-20 yrs and the screws keep falling out and local guy just keeps rebuilding rather than replacing, the half in ratchet I have had a 5-6ft pipe on and about 300 lbs on the end loosening wheels on an antique back hoe after heating the piss out of nuts without bending handle! Gears were replaced next day but screw holes are getting tired now cause they dont like staying in. Will try red loctite next. I use my hand tools almost everyday of my life, the worst thing I have found for any of my tools is my boys "fixing" their bikes!! Bad for mower blades too!!
Best thing I have found with HF is that the manager in my local store told me because my replacement plan ran out on a 4.5in angle grinder ran out to go pay cash for another one, go out to parking lot and put old one in box and return for full refund. Not sure if that is standard policy or she is just a sweet heart but either way, i watch time frames on all my extended replacement warrantys now.

[drglinski]

I got a lot of Craftsman from when I was younger. It works decent. Sears was close and convenient. Now my brother works at Lowe's. If I need something he buys it for me so I get his discount. They work good, have a good warranty and are shiney. If I need something way outta the ordinary (like a crows foot wrench to tighten the hydro lever on my 147) I hit up the mom and pop hardware store up the street that has discounted Tekton tools (that are also shiney haha) I'm not a professional and they work for me.

[SS5150]

I don't know what I'd do if I had to start fresh. At work I have a lot of tool truck brand stuff. At home I have a lot of Craftsman Professional, Allen, Channellock, NAPA stuff. I guess it would kind of depend on the budget. I'm big on made in USA stuff, although I have a lot of the German made Witte screwdrivers and a handful of Knipex German made pliers.

The nice thing about Sears (at least for me) is I could pick something up relatively easily if I needed it. When I heard that Sears was discontinuing their Pro line and moving production overseas, I stocked up on a lot of their better quality US made stuff- some of the Pro screwdrivers, 84 tooth ratchets, a few really nice wrench sets, bit sets, etc. My local store sold out in '12 so I was able to get a lot of this stuff at pretty decent discount & now I have a nice tool selection at home.....although with Sears discontinuing a lot if it I don't know how valuable the warranty is anymore.

I'd probably go SK if I had to start fresh, or for lower use items, probably order a used truck brand tool off ebay. Back when we had the Crash I ended up buying a lot of stuff used on ebay to carry me through. I was working at an indy that did a lot of heavy truck & industrial equipment & needed bigger stuff, so that worked well for me.