Ah! Impact sockets! I hadn't made the connection that we were talking about impact sockets. I personally do not have an impact wrench, though I plan to buy one...and a compressor or two, sometime in the near future. That might explain why I've never had an issue with snapon stuff. Never applied that much instantaneous torque . Anyway, I feel better now I suppose. Regardless, for impact sockets I was planning on buying the Walmart special...cheap to buy, cheap to replace I figure. If they never break, all the better, IMHO.

 

Get a high lift jack and stands at sears. They come in a case and you can return them if they ever have a problem.

I run a rock crushing company and we are harder on ALL sockets and wrenches than any other company I have ever seen!

We use mostly snap-on due to the fact that they have a tighter tolerance and best of all once you buy them they last forever even if they break or wear out!! Any snap-on man will replace them forever and for any reason.

At the home shop I use craftsman due to the fact that they have the same warranty

 

You must like busted knuckles!

 

Hmm, I've been using my craftsman ratchets, wrenches, etc for years and don't have an issue with busting my knuckles...maybe it's your technique

I will say I'm looking at adding some ratchet wrenches, and gearwrench and stanley are on my short list.

 

I was using a $69 jack from the local hardware store. It was very good while it lasted, a few years. I now own a sears suv jack. It is supposed to have a higher lift. Seems fine for me. Jack stands came with it.
Keep your eyes open for a sale. Goes on sale all the time.
bullseye670.....................

 

Somebody resurected this thread....

I don't understand how the brand of socket has anything to do with busting a knuckle. Then again you use John Deere oil and filters. Anything that's green and yellow always cost twice as much and is no better than anything else.

Growing up on the farm we had several sets of Craftsman ratchets and sockets. Dad still has a 1/2 drive Craftsman that's probably 20 years old. It's outlasted all the other brands and it's alot more heavy duty than anything I've seen. We aren't real easy on tools either. Dad likes to use cheater pipes and hammers. I've never known a Craftsman socket or wrench to break. Heck even if it does break, you know exactly where to take it to get another one for free. Now we have broken cheap chinese crap, you know like the kind of stuff they sell at Wal-Mart.

 

Just and FYI:

John Deere doesn't make their branded oil or oil filters.

Heck they don't even make their own excavators and loaders. Basically they make a few tractors and they still make oil burners. (Engines)

Later-

 

Hi!,

I use my John deer 3/8 and 1/2 inch drive ratchet set's quite a bit for the last 20 years- You can't knock these , I purchased a Snap On 1/2 inch drive set recently, I still favor the Deers. Comfortable and trustworthy. I have a Craftsmen Impact set I got free with an Ingersoll Impact gun purchase - great socket set . I can't stand Craftsman ratchets they SUCK . well wait , there's one I liked with the easy to use leg you flip side to side , but those full twist shifts Craftsmen's are a pain and they break - The 1/4 inch drives lock up on you all the time - who wants to constantly take back tools - That's a hassle.

I have a John deer tractor and trailer - Okay it has a Kawasaki motor in it . What has always impressed me about John Deer is the quality of there parts - chassi system , I'm not sure if they make there own - I would think they have too . They either use quality metals or coat there metals with some kind of gold anodize or zinc coating that stays on the the chassi parts on the tractor - no rusty parts after 8 years of service. That's my 2cents - you get exactly what you pay for - you know I'm right if you've had the experience. Later

 

Well they were making rubber tire backhoes, the dozers with the shiny stack -w/diff steer, nice, motor-graders, generators . I like there dozers , usually run cat grader (14G) - I like the old 450'S & 550 dozers just as I do the D4's, I absolutely hate there rubber tire hoes. Not many I know like them - we call it operator harassment when we have to run one lol.. I haven't herd of them stopping production or selling out - They quit making equipment? is that what you mean?

 

I use the Sears "SUV" 3 ton jack and stands for my stock height 4x4. Work fine for the 'home mechanic'. Cost around $100 if I remember....

The jack has that quick raise feature, so with one or two pumps, it up against the front cross member. Takes several more pumps to get the front tires off the ground, then I place the stands on each end of the cross member. My 'regular' set of stands are too short. These "SUV" ones are taller, so they work well for me.

I did have a problem with the jack after about a month of use (used it twice). It would not hold any weight. I took it back and without even checking it, they gave me a new one. I've taken broken ratchets back to them, and they replace with no questions.

If you need tools to make a living, then spend the extra dough and get the 'good' brands.... If all you are is a home mechanic, then the Craftsman ones should be fine for the most part....

But, get whatever brand suits your budget! The main thing is that you are wrenching on your own truck and that's what really matters!!

Mitch

 

DANNNGGG, they all left Mitch!! - missed the party.

 

Tools? I bought a Benchtop socket set at K-Mart a few years back, and I'm really pleased with it. I also like the Kobalt brand at Lowe's, and yes I have a lot of Craftsman stuff as well. The decline in Craftsman quality is because most of their stuff is made in China these days. Hell, I looked into a Craftsman cordless drill just yesterday, and even it was made in China.

Stanley? Can't bring myself to buy the stuff. The company located off-shore to avoid paying corporate taxes. To hell with 'em.

The pickings are getting slim for good American-made tools.

 

I'll suggest one , but it's pricy - Go here , awesome on line flyer!! Click on page 30 for the jacks..

http://www.carquest.com/t_e_flyer.html