Tool questions
 

I have some questions about tools if you don’t mind.

First of all, what makes a teardrop ratchet different than a standard style ratchet? I’ve read on some sites that they have a “compact” head, but it looks larger than a standard ratchet to me.

Second, I don’t want to buy tools that I don’t need. 12-point sockets are pretty-much unnecessary, right?

Also, besides recessed fasteners and studs, do deep sockets have any other uses?

Re: Tool questions
 

The teardrop may be slightly bigger in diameter, but it has less height, so it can get into low clearance spots more easily.

Why would 12 point sockets be unnecessary? I honestly use those more than 6 points. The only time I bother with the 6 is if it's a bolt that I'm worried there is a risk of it rounding off with a 12, but the 12 is so much easier to get on a bolt that is makes working with them a little easier.

Deep sockets also add some flexibility. Lets say you need to reach a bolt and the 6" extension is too short, but adding a 3" extension is a little too long. Instead you can throw the deep well on the end of the 6" and reach your bolt.

All tools have their place, and none are "unnecessary", it's up to you to know which one to use where to make things easier on yourself.

Re: Tool questions
 

Exactly! Some will think they are unneccesary, but I can't get enough tools. Im up 3/8 12pt metric swivel heads soon

Re: Tool questions
 

we need a tool section in this forum asap

Re: Tool questions
 

man i have over 150k in snap on tools its a good thing they do truck accounts and extended credit lol ive been paying for about 15yrs now and allmost have all of it payed off :)

Re: Tool questions
 

Oh, and I've recently abandoned Craftsman tools and switched to Kobalt (from Lowes). The Kobalt has the same "break it and we'll replace it" deal as Craftsman does, but the Kobalt tools seem to be much better quality. Craftsman used to be awesome, but their quality has dropped off a good bit in recent years, at least in my opinion.

Re: Tool questions
 

Heck yes. You can take a larger deep well socket on a 6" extension and slip it over the back of your ratchet and you instantly have a breaker bar.

Re: Tool questions
 

using a ratchet as a breaker bar :hammer:

I personally reach for my deep sockets before my shallow ones. I only use the shallow ones if I don't have the same size in deep, or if the length of the deep socket might cause the socket to slip off the bolt/nut head easier (ratchet head farther away from the bolt/nut).

I also use 6-point sockets primarily. Only time I ever really use 12-point is on the flywheel and clutch pressure plate bolts.

My dad got me a pretty extensive set of Craftsman sockets nearly 15 years ago and I'm still using them to this day. It came with both SAE and metric sizes, both deep and shallow. Since then I've just added a few larger or special sockets here and there, but those are usually just the ones from the auto parts stores. Sockets are sockets, not really much to go wrong with them. Ratchets are a different story. My Craftsman 1/4" ratchet is a total POS.

Re: Tool questions
 

But can you walk back into lowes with the broken tool and get a new one or do you have to send it in? I know that's how husky tools are from home depot. Craftsman you can just go back into sears and walk out with a new one

Re: Tool questions
 

You can walk into AutoZone with a Great Neck tool and they'll exchange it for you right there. At least that's what happened when my old torque wrench took a dump. Took it back in and they gave me a new one. :thumbup:

Not to say Great Neck is great quality (it is not) but at least the warranty is good.

Re: Tool questions
 

I you have a ratchet on something that you can't reach real well enough to put some oomph behind it. Slip a deep well over the back with an extension. It can give you that extra bit of length you need so you can put some ass behind it. It's not technically a breaker bar just making it longer to gain leverage. Breaker bars don't always do the trick since you can't turn the head to get the socket in the right position. It's not stupid at all. It's called being smart and figuring out a way to solve the issue.

Re: Tool questions
 

Yeah I guess I have no room to talk, I have a cheater pipe for that purpose, though I usually use it with my 1/2" drive ratchet. :P

Even with a deep socket I'd be afraid of it slipping off the end of the ratchet. With the pipe I can get it a good 5-6 inches over the end of the ratchet handle.

Re: Tool questions
 

At tractor supply you can pick up a 24'' breaker bar for around 30 bucks, about the same price as a smaller craftsman breaker bar, and it's pretty beefy. I don't usually buy TSC's tools like the ratchets and such, but they have some good deals on odds-n-ends stuff like prybars, winches, etc...

Re: Tool questions
 

I have a cheater pipe myslef but it's like 18" long and sometimes it won't fit in the area. So it was a quick solution. Not something I practice all the time. Just like putting the box end of a wrench over the open end to make it longer for tight spots.

Re: Tool questions
 

I agree 100%. I work in sears as a sales associate over in the hardware dept. and when older men bring in their 20+ year old craftsmen socket wrenches... im almost ashamed to give them the new replacement ones. They dont have a very fine ratchet and when i do re-stock and play with them as well as the ratcheting combination wrenches ($80+ :O), A LOT of them have a horribly chunky ratchet or its stuck...

Not to say i dont still buy a crap ton of them with my discount. The only thing that holds me too them is there fantastic warranty. And im too broke for snap ons :D

Re: Tool questions
 

Honestly, I don't know. I've yet to actually break any of the Kobalt stuff I've bought. Supposedly you are supposed to be able to bring a broken tool back to Lowes and get a new one. I'll let you guys know what happens if I ever break one.

If it makes any difference, Kobalt tools are at least mostly made in USA, all the one's I have are, but I can't say if all of their tools are. They are made by the Danaher Corporation, which is the same company that makes Matco tools.

Re: Tool questions
 

Lowes likes the play the receipt game and from what I've heard, they might decide to give you a tool of lesser value as a replacement. I've had good luck with Autozone's duralast tools. They're made great. When I needed to return a ratcheting combination wrench, they replaced it there at the store with no hassle, no receipt. I have heard people say that they had a hard time getting their duralast tools replaced, but those troubles were probably at the store level. One call to the corporate office and it would've been remedied immediately, because the warranty guarantees its replacement.

Speaking for the quality of duralast tools, they're made great. Some of my craftsman tools would rust up in my toolbox. I left a duralast ratcheting wrench out on my porch for months, even in the rain, and then wiped it clean with a rag and not a spec of rust, not even on the ratcheting mechanism. After that I was sold. Most of their tools are thin and comfy. They kinda look like snap-on tools. Most seem to be cheaper in price than similar craftsman tools.

From what I've seen, Kobalt is too expensive.

Re: Tool questions
 

I do like Kobalt tools also. I have a coping saw, air hammer, razor floor scraper, and a nice digital micrometer that all seem to be real nice quality.