Every amateur car repair I’ve done for the last 39 years has been with craftsman tools. What a shame. Well, at least the tools I have will last beyond my children’s lifetime. I’m not sure who’s brand I’ll buy now, and it sure isn’t going to that shit from Harbor Freight.
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The Craftsman brand is now alive and well and prominently marketed in Lowe’s stores. I haven’t made the plunge yet, but may make a small purchase and check out the quality.
Harbor Freight stuff is surprisingly good and astoundingly cheap. They obviously have put the spurs to the Chinese on quality. I’ve got 3 go karts that I’ve repowered with their 99 dollar Honda clone engine and they are excellent.
“Maybe I’ll pay more attention to farm auctions and estate sales...”
If you can find them check out SnapOn. I have a set of screwdrivers and box wrenches I bought when I was 17. I’m pushing 60 now and am still using them.
Not cheap, even secondhand, but worth it. Lifetime replacement, no questions asked, too. You just have to find a local dealer, which can be tough.
L
I too like shopping old farm auctions. I’ve found a lot of good tools there. If I have no alternative but to buy new and it will be chinese made crap anyway I might as well get closer to the chinese price and cut out a couple middlemen and shop at China Freight.
Mixed success with Harbor Freight stuff.
Some of the ratchets and impact sockets have stood up a lot hard use.
I buy moving blankets a lot from there. Sometimes they were free.
Power tools, not so much.