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I used to work at Sears while a good buddy worked for Home Depot. and we bought our tools where we worked. For the most part I've found them to be quite comparable except I found myself borrowing his Husky 3/8" torque wrench, because mine wouldn't go high enough, plus I like the adjustment lock better, so when it was time to buy a 1/2" torque wrench I got a Husky...

and for a while the Home Depot was exchanging broken Snap-On, MAC and Craftsman hand tools for new Huskys... not sure how long that lasted though...

 

Home Depot is evil just like Walmart. Buy Craftsman.

Ever tried the warantee at Home Depot?
I just recently tried it with Craftsman.... a wratcheting wrench....Got a new one in less than 60 seconds; no questions asked.

Also; a lot has to do with precision...you want a tool manufactured with pride...a micrometer difference can cost you a stripped bolt in some cases (Experience speaking; Pinion shaft bolt).

 

I'm pretty much a craftsman owner for hand tools. Power tools....not so much

 

Snap-on are the best, but I can not afford them. I used to work on my Mustangs and my 54 Ford pickup at a friends body shop. He had all snap-on stuff. The tools make you want to take stuff off and put stuff on! I settle for Craftsman in my tool box, they are great for my needs. I wonder if Tony Stewarts crew uses Huskey.

 

I work on cars for a living day in and day out, so my tools consist mostly of Snap-on, Matco, and Mac stuff, with a spattering of Craftsmen stuff here and there. This has made me somewhat of a tool snob; I have used Husky tools before, and they worked alright and they'll prolly do just fine for the at home DIY'er. I've never experienced their warranty service, so I can't comment on that.

I have had a few bad run ins with Sears and their warranty. Once upon a time, I bought a 170-something piece tool set from Sears, came with the usual assortment of ratchets and sockets, in a multi drawer plastic blow molded tote box. Well, one day I broke the 3/8 drive hand ratchet. Okay, no biggie, Sears guarantees their stuff for life. I went to Sears after work and took the old ratchet to the tool department to exchange. The girl behind the counter gave me an overhaul kit. Uh, no. I didn't buy a some-assembly-required ratchet, I bought a new, complete, ready to use ratchet, I want the same in exchange. So eventually the chick tells me to go get a new one off the rack, rather curtly.

I came back with the new ratchet and was about to get outta there, when the manager shows up and asks where I got that ratchet. "Off the new rack," I told him. The manager then tries to give me an overhaul kit in place of the new ratchet. Um, no, I did not buy a some-assembly-required ratchet. So we went back and forth, and I eventually told 'em to keep the effin' ratchet and their rebuild kit, I'll buy one from Snap-on. Another time they when I went to exchange some stuff after work while I still had my uniform on, they told me they didn't warranty tools to professional mechanics. Well, why the hell do you sell a line of tools branded "Professional" if you don't?!

Warranty service from my Snap-on dealer has been excellent - I've beaten and broken and abused things that I was fine with paying for to replace, but he gives me new ones, no questions asked. I minimize my buying with Sears nowadays.

 

I think a lot depends on what Sears store you go to. Oh and don't go to KMart.

 

Most of my SAE & metric are Craftsman. Anything new or being replaced is Snap-On. Totally worth the money.

 

i too use my tools to make a living, working on Cat equipment. i buy from the big 3 tool trucks that show up at work, but mostley get Snap-on.

i have had a hard time replacing tools at some sears but go to the next and have no problem.

a guy at work has a lot of husky tools and they are ok. the only problem is most tools are sold in sets, like allen wrenches and sockets set. if you need to replace one you need to mail it off because the store wont open a set to replace yours. they used to sell sockets individually but don't now.

i had this same problem with Lowe's also. kolbolt tools are made by snap-on so my snap-on man hooked me up.

 

Where did you hear that? That would be sweet.

 

I remember when Sears sold Husky. My mother used to buy them, for my brother and I, when we were young. They were the most uncomfortable jeans I've ever wore. We hated those pants; but, they were cheap. I won't touch anything with the brand name "Husky" now, just on principle. The thought alone makes my thighs chafe.

 

To me, it is hard to beat an Armstrong tool. I sell Proto, Armstrong, Williams [part of Snap on now], Allen, and a bunch of names that most people have never heard of. We had a customer return a 1-3/4” combo wrench that had the box side broken open. You could see where the cheater bar [pipe] had bit into the shank. Armstrong warranted it without a problem. Most people do not realize that the major players all warranty their tools for life, so there is not a major difference on those.

If you are looking for a good priced tool, try Urrea. They are mostly made in Mexico at the old Stanley Proto plant: good tools, full warranty and a wide range of items. They are making a real push into the automotive and industrial market.

Woof
Bowser

 

snap-on doesn't warranty Kolbolt tools. my tool man did because he is cool and i buy alot of stuff from him.

as far as snap-on making them, thats what my tool man said when i broke a Kolbolt breaker bar and i said it looked like the snap-on one.

Bowser4x4,
your correct most tools have a warranty. the only thing i don't like about others is exchanging them if they do break.
with Snap-on, the truck shows up at work twice a week and normally has a replacement. if i break a uncommon tool I'll give him a call and let him know and hell bring it with him. when i need a tool i want it now so buying from a truck is very easy.

 

One thing I did learn about tools and their warrantees, a warranty is worth s**t on that sunday evening when that Craftsman 1 3/16" deep 6pt socket cracks in the middle of a procedure. Better have a spare vehicle close by to make that long, high-speed trip to Sears. You get waht you pay for. Just my 2cts.

 

I thought most all tools had a lifetime warranty... I mean even the cheap Popular Mechanic ratchets at Wal mart are life time quarnteed.

How ever if you strip the guts out of a Popular Mechanics... then you can go to an S&K dealer, get the guts out of the same size ratchet, they will drop right in a Popular mechanic case, and you have a Popular S&K.

I use craftsman.. and I dont always use them for what they are intended for. The yare highly abused, My ratchets are often hammers and/or pry bars... Only thing I've had to take back is a 3/4 drive, 3/4" socket that I used to knock u-joints out of a drive shaft using the 3/4" drive ratchet as a hammer..

I'd obviously had beat the crap out of it with something, it no longer fit on the ratchet. They took it back no questions asked and handed me a new one right then.