Bicycle Mechanics - affordable quality socket wrench

i'm going to buy a socket wrench tomorrow because i need it to install pegs on my flatland bike. i don't really like to buy cheap tools (ie. i chose the park advanced mechanics tool kit over a generic kit) but right now i can't afford to buy something expensive. i'm going to need the ratchet wrench,an extension(3" or 6") that will fit and go deep enough into a 5" long peg and a 17mm socket regular size or deep depending on what size extension i get. i'm thinking craftsman because of the quality and guarantee. there are also some craftsman kits that come with more than i need but would end up being cheaper in the long run if i ever needed the other sockets. but that would run me $40, a little more than i wanted to spend. if i bought the seperate pieces it would cost around $25 though so idk if i should just get more bang for my buck with the kit or if there is another tool i could buy. maybe a lug wrench with a 17mm socket? i'd appreciate any reccomendations. thanks.

go to sears, look in the tools section, they're called Craftsman, they have a lifetime guarantee. they are not that expensive.

Go ahead and buy a Craftsman set. Life is long, and someday you will run into something that needs to be turned that isn't 17mm. You'll thank me then.

Yep, Sears.

Smash craftsman on the ground, let it rust, anything you want. Bring it into sears and the will replace it no questions asked. Atleast they used to.

thanks for the push guys. there happened to be a craftman anniversary sale going on at sears so i got a 9 piece metric set(10mm-18mm) that came with a free ratchet for $20. i also picked up an extension pack for 50% off = $10. one thing i overlooked though was i needed a deep socket since my axle in the rear is so long. i was able to put my front pegs on cause the axle is shorter but now i have to go back for a deep 17mm socket. oh well... still a good deal.

My parents bought me a set of craftsman tools for my 16th birthday. That was in 1962. When I was moving into new quarters in Hawaii in 1980, I dropped one of the sockets and the moving van ran over it and crushed it. I figured that wouldn't be covered and went into the local Sears to buy another one.

When I explained my problem to the salesman, he handed me a new one and said they are guaranteed for life for any reason.

Last year, the ratchet stopped ratcheting. Brand new ratchet from the local Sears in Maryland.

No other tool manufacturer or retailer has such a deal.

Be careful shopping at Sears because they do sell some less expensive tools marked 'Sears' instead of 'Craftsman'. These tools do not have the same guarantee.

I definitely agree with the others that Craftsman are the way to go. Not only do they have a great guarantee, but they are excellent tools. Even with the best guarantee, it's no fun when a poor tool messes up the head of a tight bolt.

Allways use good tools. Cheap tools are more costly than good ones.

Leave it to me to be the antagonist.

If you want tools that will never mess up a bolt, virtually never give you any problem and have a great warranty there is no substitute for Snap-On. Yes they are obscenely expensive, yes the craftsman "any reason" warranty is better. But I spent five years as a professional auto mechanic (yes, 8 ASE certs) and craftsman tools are great for tinkering around the house but nothing but Snap-on wrenches touches my cars any more.

Once you use a set of Snap-on Flank Drive Plus combo wrenches, everything else is just a toy :-)

Allan

Fo da cheap n yet good stuff, Crapsman is da best yo.

There are a lot of Craftsman tools in my tool box. They are good tools, but not great tools; e.g., their socket wall will be thicker than Snap On so they won't get into as tight a space. The replacement policy is great. I buy Craftsman tools when they have a tool that will suit my needs at an attractive price. Usually this will not be a tool that I use "all the time."

Craftsman tools also tend to appeal to the “uneducated” consumer. E.g., twelve-point sockets are better than six-point; right? WRONG! They’re weaker and more likely to flex. Knowing mechanics only buy six-point sockets.

That said, my Roll Cab and Top Box are Snap On, along with a significant number of other tools, especially ratchet handles. Snap On tools qualify as great, especially if you're spinning wrenches all day. The finishes and balance are much better, IMNSHO.

Another brand that I'm generally pleased with is Mac. I've got a ¼" drive Mac ratchet that's smoother than any Craftsman or Snap On I've seen. I think that you can only buy Mac tools from their dealers' trucks. They're not as expensive as Snap On, nor as inexpensive as Craftsman.

S-K tools are also quite good, although they can be hard to find.

Just my 2¢ worth,
Mel

Snap On tools aren't made for the home mechanic, IMO. Their cost is only justified if you use them to work for a living, not for a hobby. They're more expensive than Park, in any case. And they are hard to find, esp. if you don't work at a place where the truck stops. They do have online shopping though, but for warranty items, you will have to find a truck that'll swap it for you.

But I agree, Snap On is one of the better tool companies out there. I have a more or less complete aircraft workers kit and it feels much better than my old automotive Crapsman kit I have at home. Those wrenches just "feel" better. ;)

I wrench on cars for a hobby and do most of my own repairs. Just got done with intake gaskets on my Tahoe, and am doing a head gasket on the wife's Breeze. I use Craftsman tools and have no problems with the sockets and wrenches, although I agree that Snap-On has a nicer finish. Where I find it worthwhile to have Snap-On is the specialty tools - things like impact wrenches or long needle nose pliers. Plus they make a lot of single application tools that you just can't get anywhere else. Good stuff, but for most of the things I need I'll take the Craftsman and spend the difference on a new bike.

I think craftsman will do for putting on some pegs.

Originally posted by Flea77
If you want tools that will never mess up a bolt, virtually never give you any problem and have a great warranty there is no substitute for Snap-On. Yes they are obscenely expensive, yes the craftsman "any reason" warranty is better. But I spent five years as a professional auto mechanic (yes, 8 ASE certs) and craftsman tools are great for tinkering around the house but nothing but Snap-on wrenches touches my cars any more.

Obscenely expensive is right -- there's no f-ing WAY that an 18-piece wrench set (http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/Pro.asp?tool=all&Group_ID=530&Group_name=Standard+%2F+10%B0+Offset%2C+inches%2C+chrome&Cat_ID=1921695&Cat_NAME=Wrenches&Sub_Cat_ID=1923257&Sub_Cat_NAME=Box+%2F+Offset+%2F+Flank+Drive&store=snapon-store) should cost over $1000! :eek:

I would guess that the majority of people who buy Snap-On and pay the ridiculous price only do so because they can write off some of the cost as a business or trade expense on their taxes. They're great tools, sure, but I can't see how they're that much better to be worth the cost.

I remember when swapmeets first started up and smart people bought up old crapy craftsman everything for next to nothing and broke it and returned it for a free replacement.I wish i was that smart.

I would guess that the majority of people who buy Snap-On and pay the ridiculous price only do so because they can write off some of the cost as a business or trade expense on their taxes. They're great tools, sure, but I can't see how they're that much better to be worth the cost.

Then you havent used them :-) When I turned wrenches for a living I started with Craftsman etc thinking exactly what you stated. After a while I played with some of the tools the guy next to me had, once I used some for a while I was on the truck spending obscene amounts of money and happy to do it. For around the house or "tinkering around" Craftsman is fine. When your living by the turn of the wrench, Craftsman is junk.

On the other hand Mac makes some pretty nice stuff too, and I owned some. But I still stand by my Snap-On!

Great example: My Snap-On Flank Drive Plus combo wrenches were over $500 a set (about 11 wrenches, standard on one set, metric on another, $1000 for 22 wrenches). They DO NOT slip on bolts or nuts. Rounded off nuts? Craftsman jaws spreading and slipping? Grab a Flank Drive and have it off in seconds. The alternative of course is to chisel it off which of course wastes time and MY money!

Pros get paid book time. So I got x dollars for a job. The faster and easier the tools made the job, the more money I made in a day. Had nothing to do with write offs.

Allan

I am glad everyone is advocating Craftsman quality or better. There is really no such thing as a cheap tool, as the inexpensive ones will eventually cost you in time, frustration, injury, damage, and/or premature replacement. As a decent amateur mechanic and handyman, I use mainly Craftsman hand and power tools.

Originally posted by Flea77
Then you havent used them :-) When I turned wrenches for a living I started with Craftsman etc thinking exactly what you stated. After a while I played with some of the tools the guy next to me had, once I used some for a while I was on the truck spending obscene amounts of money and happy to do it. For around the house or "tinkering around" Craftsman is fine. When your living by the turn of the wrench, Craftsman is junk.
You're right, I haven't made a living turning wrenches and I'll defer to those that have, but I just can't see how it takes more than $50 per wrench to design one that doesn't slip or round off bolts. :confused:

You're right, I haven't made a living turning wrenches and I'll defer to those that have, but I just can't see how it takes more than $50 per wrench to design one that doesn't slip or round off bolts.

First the design is patented, so Craftsman would have to pay a boatload of money to even use the design (and that is one of many patented designs Snap-On uses). Next, it is about the material used, and once again Snap-On uses much more expensive material which is much harder without being brittle, and once again much more expensive. Lastly it is about the manufacturing, and Snap-On spends much more money on the quality of manufacturing than others.

Think of it just like bikes. Schwin bike are made of the same basic elements as Colnago, so they are the same, right? WRONG!

And of course, some of it is in the name :-) Hope this helps clarify it a little.

Allan

Craftsman much eaiser to return and AJ Foyt uses them to.Best bang for the buck.

another good option for craftsman tools is flea markets, and remember no matter where you got them you can return them to sears.

Originally posted by shokhead
Craftsman much eaiser to return and AJ Foyt uses them to.Best bang for the buck.

Absolutely they are easier to return if you are not a pro, for the pros though the truck comes to you for Snap-On and Mac (and sometimes Matco) so that is much easier. But for the home user assuming you have a Sears within 100 miles Craftsman are indeed much easier to return or exchange.

As for AJ Foyt using them, I wouldnt use anything but Craftsman either if they gave me all the tools I wanted for free (they are a sponsor and basically pay Foyt racing to use them).

Allan

If you really want to be cheap about it;

Go to Home Depot and choose the Stanley tools (not the highest quality but the highest they carry at that store). Do the repairs on your bike and when you are finished take the tools back for a full refund. Home Depot has a 30 day money back, no questions asked guarantee on their tools. They take them back even if you have used them for the full 30 days.

Originally posted by Flea77
Absolutely they are easier to return if you are not a pro, for the pros though the truck comes to you for Snap-On and Mac (and sometimes Matco) so that is much easier. But for the home user assuming you have a Sears within 100 miles Craftsman are indeed much easier to return or exchange.

As for AJ Foyt using them, I wouldnt use anything but Craftsman either if they gave me all the tools I wanted for free (they are a sponsor and basically pay Foyt racing to use them).

Allan
If i was snap-on and mac,i'd drive to sell my high priced tools to.:D

Originally posted by Ti-Guy
If you really want to be cheap about it;

Go to Home Depot and choose the Stanley tools (not the highest quality but the highest they carry at that store). Do the repairs on your bike and when you are finished take the tools back for a full refund. Home Depot has a 30 day money back, no questions asked guarantee on their tools. They take them back even if you have used them for the full 30 days.


I've got a Stanley 1/4 and 3/8 inch set. I was in a pinch and only had a few bucks, these were cheap a wally world(oh no!). I'll probably get Craftsman when I need something better.

Have you guys ever looked at the Kobalt stuff at Lowes? I did, and I think it's junk. It had a terrible feel, and even looks cheap.

Don't forget Husky tools at Home Depot. They are just as good as Craftsman and also life time replacement guaranteed.

One mechanic told me Snap-on are expensive because, "They come to you." It's just different way of marketing. Is it worth the price? It depends on who you ask.

I have used many tools in different qualities from cheap tools worth nothing to snap-on. What I currently use are Craftsman and I'm very happy with it.