Craftsman replacing Kobalt?

[Josh B]

We should have an entire forum on tools. In the mines, we had tools. In the oilfields we had tools. In the shipyards we had tools.
Every individual trade has tools (ask a plumber for a framing square )

We need tools!

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

There was a thread on homemade tools. It petered out a few years ago. There is enough new members to maybe revive it for a bit.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Stanley Proto for me when it comes to ratchets. They're great ?

+1
Have beat on my 1/2" with a 4lb sledge. It does not care.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

There was a thread on homemade tools. It petered out a few years ago. There is enough new members to maybe revive it for a bit.

Homemade tools you say?

That's pretty much half of my speciality stuff.

Hell. I built a wringing press last year to process peat Moss for carnivorous plants.

 

[Josh B]

Here's some I picked up in the last few weeks. There's more but I'm not sure where they went

 

[Dirtman]

When I worked at the airport you had to check tools out and then check them back in for safety reasons. But they just wrote down something like (1/2" wrench), not a brand or its condition. So everyone there would buy garbage tools at yard sales or whatever and bring them to work. Then check out nice shiney snap on or other expensive tools and return the piece of crap tools. Eventually someone would complain about the crappy junk in the tool room so the boss man would order new tools. Then the process started over... This went on for years before they got smart and started engraving the tools and checking the condition when you returned something.

Got my very first set of snap on wrenches that way...

 

[Josh B]

When I was working they were adding 15 tractor-trailer rigs a month. They sent me and another guy up to the Great Dane plant in Indiana to In-Service them straight out of the plant and they straight to haulin from there. We'd be there a couple days once a month, and ours was like ever tenth trailer so we got to wander around the plant.
I saw one sign there that said
"Love Thy Neighbor, But Mark Your Name On Your Tools! "

 

[sgtsandman]

When I worked at the airport you had to check tools out and then check them back in for safety reasons. But they just wrote down something like (1/2" wrench), not a brand or its condition. So everyone there would buy garbage tools at yard sales or whatever and bring them to work. Then check out nice shiney snap on or other expensive tools and return the piece of crap tools. Eventually someone would complain about the crappy junk in the tool room so the boss man would order new tools. Then the process started over... This went on for years before they got smart and started engraving the tools and checking the condition when you returned something.

Got my very first set of snap on wrenches that way...

The Air Force has their tools etched to a specific box with the size, type, brand, and model number. Shenanigans like that won't fly with them and would result in fraud, waste, and abuse charges being filed.

 

[Dirtman]

The national guard didnt have time for all that. No one there gave a crap about much.

I know a bunch of those guys who would dumpster dive for old equipment (sleeping bags, packs, etc) that the guard threw out. Then after a drill or whatever bring the dumpster equipment in and get new stuff and take it home. They were suppose to destroy anything that got thrown out so people couldn't do that but everyone was too lazy.

 

[sgtsandman]

The national guard didnt have time for all that. No one there gave a crap about much.

They do now. Hell, we're worse that Active Duty in a lot of ways now. A little over 9 years until I can retire....

 

[bobbywalter]

until the craftsman deal....kobalt was top stuff. lowes had it figured out pretty good. husky as well at home depo and...autozones baseline is nice.

i have been watching the phasing and packaging very closely since the craftsman deal and do not like what i am seeing..


my main box, road tools are kobalt.... so i do really like them.

 

[Dirtman]

Eh this was the 90s. Everything was ok in the 90s!

 

[bobbywalter]

We should have an entire forum on tools. In the mines, we had tools. In the oilfields we had tools. In the shipyards we had tools.
Every individual trade has tools (ask a plumber for a framing square )

We need tools!

you wouldnt believe the stupid shit i have in my trucks.

 

[lvwill]

Couple weeks ago I exchanged a cracked husky socket at home Depot. They told me to go get it and bring it back to customer service no problem. I brought the cheap ass Chinese socket they now sell and she told me that it's not the same. I said no shit you don't sell any American made tools anymore.

 

[racsan]

I noticed craftsman at lowes a few months ago, and that the kobalt stuff was missing. I had heard some time ago that sears had sold off the craftsman name, I figured lowes had bought the name and decided to axe kobalt. Ive got mostly craftsman stuff, from the late 80’s. the tools that I broke the most (like 3/8 drive metric sockets) I replaced with snap-on, and I do have a few mac items. My road box is a real menagerie, only new stuff in it is some stanley items.